Who Are The Wraith In Stargate Atlantis?

Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper’s “Stargate Atlantis” is a spin-off journey that bridges the hole between seasons 7 and eight of the beloved, long-running “Stargate SG-1.” This may provide the impression that “Stargate Atlantis” is a fast, one-shot story set in house, however this five-season sci-fi collection is something however. Right here, issues kick off with the invention of an Antarctic outpost created by an historic alien race, adopted by the unearthing of the misplaced metropolis of Atlantis, which shortly turns into the bottom of operations for the Stargate fleet investigating it. Underneath Main John Sheppard’s (Joe Flanigan) succesful management, the Atlantis crew navigates the legendary metropolis and learns that its native inhabitants have been compelled to flee after an assault by the Wraith. Who’re these mysterious beings, and why do they go about exterminating civilizations?

These questions hang-out “Stargate Atlantis,” and we’re quickly granted uneasy solutions about these formidable antagonists. It’s steadily revealed that the Wrath are a humanoid hive-based species that harvests the life drive of different sentient beings throughout the galaxy. Not one of the Wraith who seem all through the collection inform us their true names, however Sheppard typically attributes generic names like James or Tyler to them for comedic impact. Whereas the Main’s efforts to familiarize the unknown inject the crew with much-needed levity, the Wraith are harmful and lethal, poised to cull scores of residing beings after lengthy durations of hibernation. Per the male Wraith commander referred to as Information (whom Sheppard names Todd), this race is over 100,000 years outdated and is believed to have originated from a human-devouring bug.

Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the Wraith-Lantean battle and what occurred to this race by the top of “Stargate Atlantis.” 

The Lanteans (natives of Atlantis) have been recognized to be a peaceable race, however they have been additionally a part of the Ancients lineage that had genetically experimented on the Wraith 900 years earlier than the Atlantis invasion. This deep-seated hatred spurred the Wraith to demolish the Lanteans, however the latter had extra technologically superior weapons and defend mechanics. Though the Wraith have been at an ideal tactical drawback, the Lanteans flew too near the solar by sending their warships deep inside enemy territory. After some hard-won battles, the Wraith have been capable of overpower a few of these warships and steal energy modules that might tip the chances of their favor.

One would suppose that this hive-based species used these insanely potent energy sources to craft higher weaponry, however they went one step additional. The Wraith used it to arrange cloning amenities to drastically improve their numbers. The Lanteans did not anticipate this shrewd transfer and spent years preventing off their enemy till solely Atlantis remained. When issues appeared too bleak, the Lanteans initiated a truce however have been ambushed as a substitute. 

Earlier than lengthy, Atlantis fell, and the native survivors fled. What occurred subsequent? Effectively, the Wraith had full management over Atlantis apart from its capital metropolis, which was protected by a defend dome and automatic drones. After 100 years of laying (unsuccessful) siege, town sunk underwater, and the Wraith went on their merry approach to feast on different species.

Quick-forward to 10,000 years. The Stargate Atlantis crew arrive within the Pegasus galaxy and arrange base within the underwater metropolis of Atlantis. Main Sheppard and Lieutenant Aiden Ford (Rainbow Solar Francks) lead a rescue mission for people kidnapped by the Wraith on the planet Athos, the place the hive species kidnap an Atlantis crew member and (sadly) study that Earth is an enormous feeding floor for long-term sustenance. This isn’t excellent news, as this could imply the top of humanity if the Wraith are left to their gadgets, unchecked.

A lot occurs after the Stargate Atlantis crew will get concerned with the Wraith on Athos, however let’s go over the important thing developments. A hive queen referred to as Loss of life emerges as a formidable risk after she amasses the scattered Wraith beneath her management. Furthermore, she additionally kidnaps Dr. Rodney (David Hewlett) and turns him right into a Wraith (!), utilizing his experience in defend expertise to her favor. The nice physician is ultimately rescued, and a climactic battle is fought on the frozen planet on which the Wraith first got here into being. The Queen is killed, and the true perpetrator behind the Wraith’s aggressive machinations is revealed and appropriately handled within the collection episode, “Legacy.”

With the Queen and the grasp manipulator gone, the Wraith commanders give up and signal a peace treaty, agreeing to relinquish their maintain over the Pegasus galaxy. However how was the Wraith feeding downside solved? In spite of everything, it’s their organic impulse to feed on different beings to outlive and hibernate as soon as they really feel sated. A useful little type of gene remedy referred to as the Iratus bug retrovirus (developed by Dr. Carson, who’s a part of the Atlantis expedition) was initially developed to subdue the Wraith. 

Now, this could possibly be used to curb their insatiable appetites by turning them into people for a short while. People injected with the retrovirus grew to become stronger, which means that they could possibly be fed upon (by the Wraith) with out the chance of imminent dying. When you ask me, that is sort of tousled, however I suppose that is higher than letting a hive species feed indiscriminately upon life forces throughout the galaxy.

This marks the top of the Wraith battle in “Stargate Atlantis,” and the residual storylines about this race revolve round Information monitoring down the person answerable for sudden Wraith deaths. The Atlantis crew intervenes as standard, and this results in a surprising reveal that’s greatest skilled first-hand. In the long run, an uneasy truce is agreed upon, however all is nicely on this a part of the huge galaxy.