Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' - Ghost In The Machine

"For all we know it could be Oberoth inside that body." -- Woolsey "That's creepy." -- Sheppard

The SGA team is flying away from a planet apparently filled with flying monkeys when the puddlejumper goes berserk. For a few moments, things look pretty bad for the team, but they manage to mysteriously regain control.

However, things take a stranger turn when the same bizarre malfunctions infect the entire city of Atlantis. The malfunctions turn out to be a ghost in the machine going by the name of Elizabeth Weir.

Repli-Weir and the rebel Replicators tried to ascend by putting their minds into subspace. Yeah ... that didn't work out so well. So, Repli-Weir found her way to Atlantis and to McKay's Replicator-making device to build herself a new body. Presto! We get Repli-Weir in FRANs body.

Woolsey and the team argue about what to do with her, but things quickly spiral out of control when eight more "sub-ascended" possess Atlantis demanding to have bodies made for them.

It is fast-paced twists and turns with quick techno-babble saves and betrayals wrapped with a chilling end to Repli-Weir and her Repli-Allies.

What Worked

This episode comes with lots of back story, not just in continuity but behind the scenes.

"Ghost In The Machine" continues the story arc of Repli-Weir and picks up the cliffhanger from the end of "Be All My Sins Remember'd." The producers wanted Torri Higginson to reprise her role as Repli-Weir, but alas she refused. Are there hard feeling between her and the producers or is her explanation to fans that she didn't feel the episode gave enough closure to Weir the real reason?

Either way, the creative lot at "Atlantis" came up with an interesting idea: put Weir's mind in FRAN's body. And you know what? I think it worked pretty well. Michelle Morgan mimicked Higginson's mannerisms and speech pattern remarkably well. This twist made Weir truly a ghost in the machine and amplified Repli-Weir's feelings of alienation and the discomfort felt by the SGA team.

Yes, I liked Morgan's performance so well in this role and as the first FRAN that I think the "Atlantis" writers should think about bringing her back. Heck, maybe "Atlantis" could get their own Data.

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