History Recap / StargateAtlantisS03E01NoMansLand

* MortonsFork: The situation facing the ''Daedalus'' characters after Rodney proposes the "There's air on the Hive!" plan. If they do nothing and remain on the ''Daedalus'', they'll die of asphyxiation. If they beam over, they're still about about 100 USAF personnel against the full might and much larger crew complement of an entire Wraith Hive. And even after Michael proposes a third option (beam the gas over), they're still in danger of dying of asphyxiation anyway (given there's not enough oxygen left on the BC-304 to sustain them while the retrovirus runs its course).

* RunningGag: With the destruction of the ''Orion'', ''Atlantis'' formally inherits the old ''SG-1'' "tradition" of the Tau'ri getting a new alien spacecraft...and losing it almost as quickly.

* EurekaMoment: Rodney gets one when Zelenka suggests they try and repair the communications array to let Earth know they stopped the Wraith and their sacrifice wasn't in vain. Rodney snarkily replies that while it's a noble sentiment, he'd prefer to dedicate his last breath of air to finding more air. Then, it hits Rodney: There ''is'' more air nearby...on board the disabled Wraith Hive.

* HeelFaceTurn: Michael

* LockedOutOfTheLoop: It turns out the betrayal during "Allies" was just as much of a surprise to Michael as it was to the Atlantis Expedition. As Michael learns, the Queen ''despises'' him because he wasn't fully converted back to a Wraith after the Retrovirus wore off. She feels there's still too much human in him and so withheld the details of her true goals (while making him think weaponizing the Retrovirus against rival Hives ''was'' the plan).

* MortonsFork: The situation facing the ''Daedalus'' characters after Rodney proposes the "There's air on the Hive!" plan. If they do nothing and remain on the ''Daedalus'', they'll die of asphyxiation. If they beam over, they're still about about 100 USAF personnel against the full might and much larger crew complement an entire Wraith Hive. And even after Michael proposes a third option (beam the gas over), they're still in danger of dying of asphyxiation anyway (given there's not enough oxygen left on the BC-304 to sustain them while the retrovirus runs its course).

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: A justified instance (possibly the very best one during the period when ''SG-1'' and ''Atlantis'' were running in tandem with one another). Again, "No Man's Land" aired the same night as "Flesh and Blood". While SG-1 isn't technically mentioned, they're busy dealing with the Ori Crusade and are thus unable to lend a hand to stopping the inbound Hives. And even if they were, SG-1 ''couldn't'' as the SGC has no available ships because of the Battle of the Supergate (with the destruction of the ''Korolev'' and the damage sustained by the ''Odyssey'').

* CharacterOverlap: General Landry and Richard Woolsey (who incidentally makes his first crossover apperance on ''Atlantis'' with this episode). With an impending Wraith attack on Earth, the SGC's commander would naturally be on the front lines and getting involved. With the SGC and Atlantis Expedition now reporting to the IOA, Woolsey's presence is also justified (as he was appointed the IOA's American Ambassador during "Prototype").

* ShoutOut: Sheppard's trick of hiding the [=F-302=] on the hull of the hiveship is right out of ''{{Star Wars}}.'' He even says so:

* IdiotBall: everyone gets their turn!
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: [[spoiler: It turns out the betrayal during "Allies" was just as much of a surprise to Michael as it was to the Atlantis Expedition. As Michael learns, the Queen ''despises'' him because he wasn't fully converted back to a Wraith after the Retrovirus wore off. She feels there's still too much human in him and so withheld the details of her true goals (while making him think weaponizing the Retrovirus against rival Hives ''was'' the plan).]]

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: A justified instance (possibly the very best one during the period when ''SG-1'' and ''Atlantis'' were running in tandem with one another). As detailed in Continuity Lockout and Continuity Overlap, "No Man's Land" aired the same night as "Flesh and Blood". While SG-1 isn't technically mentioned, they're busy with the Ori Invasion and are unable to lend a hand to stopping the inbound Hives. And even if they were, SG-1 ''couldn't'' as the SGC has no available ships because of the Battle of the Supergate.

* ContinuityOverlap: As noted in Continuity Lockout, "No Man's Land" originally aired the same night as the ''Stargate SG-1'' Season 10 premiere "Flesh and Blood". It uses the events of ''SG-1'' to further its own narrative (and justify Woosley's presence as he was already on site at the SGC in ''SG-1'').

* LockedOutOfTheLoop: [[spoiler: It turns out the betrayal during "Allies" was just as much of a surprise to Michael as it was to the Atlantis Expedition. What happened was the Queen ''despises'' him because he wasn't fully converted back to a Wraith after the Retrovirus wore off. She feels there's still too much human in him and so withheld the Hives' true plan.]]

* ContinuityOverlap: As noted in Continuity Lockout, "No Man's Land" originally aired the same night as the ''Stargate SG-1'' Season 10 premiere ''Flesh and Blood''. It uses the events of ''SG-1'' to further its own narrative (and justify Woosley's presence as he was already on site at the SGC in ''SG-1'').

* Continuity Overlap: As noted in Continuity Lockout, "No Man's Land" originally aired the same night as the ''Stargate SG-1'' Season 10 premiere ''Flesh and Blood''. It uses the events of ''SG-1'' to further its own narrative (and justify Woosley's presence as he was already on site at the SGC in ''SG-1'').

At this opportune moment, the ''Daedalus'' and the ''Orion'' arrive and manage to destroy the other hiveship. Michael's hive takes down the ''Orion'', however, and Major Lorne and his crew have to be beamed to safety. Michael and Sheppard meet up with Ronon and [=McKay=] and together they steal a transport ship. They are able to destroy the dart bays, before they too must be beamed to safety aboard the ''Daedalus''. It is a stalemate—the hiveship can't escape or attack them, but the ''Daedalus'' is out of nukes and severely damaged.

Worse, the ''Daedalus'' is venting atmosphere and life- upport is down. They stop the leak, but even if they somehow managed to destroy the Hive, there wouldn't be enough hours of breathable air for the return journey to Atlantis. And because they're between galaxies, the only source of O2 for light-years is… that hiveship right next to them. It's also full of Wraith—but that can be solved. Michael proposes returning to the original plan—using the ''Daedalus'' to beam in the canister of aerisolized retrovirus (remember that?), thus turning hostile Wraith into amnesiac humans.

* MacrossMissileMassacre
* NeckLift: How Major Lorne learns that the retrovirus doesn't work on Wraith females

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Operation "This will most likely end badly"

The Daedalus is badly damaged, Sheppard is missing in action, Earth is screwed, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Rodney won't shut up]]. Things are looking pretty bleak for our heroes. The one good thing is that, being organic technology, the two Hives will have to stop at some point to recover from "hyperspace radiation." The Daedalus and the Orion should be able to just catch them - although without time for desperately needed repairs, this will probably end in their destruction. Earth, however, has no other options.

At this point, the International Oversight Advisory (I.O.A.) decide to recall Dr. Weir to answer for her last two seasons of leadership. She heads out, leaving Teyla in charge of Atlantis. The IOA needs a scapegoat, and Weir is the likely (and justified) target. General Landry is confident she'll come out of it all fine ...presuming the Earth doesn't get destroyed of course.

Working on that is Colonel Sheppard, alive and well in his F302, which managed to hide out on one of the Hive Ships as it went into hyperspace. He tries to raise Ronon and [=McKay=] on his radio...but reaches Michael instead. Not to fear - Michael is pretty irritated at the Hive Queen for not sticking to the retrovirus plan (which he really thought was a good one) and for treating him like a second-class citizen. Realizing he's as much a pariah (or more) among the Wraith as among the humans, he offers Sheppard his help in taking out the Hive Ships. Sheppard manages to take out the hyperdrive on the first ship, then comes aboard to resue [=McKay=] and Ronon - who have already escaped and are trying to cause trouble with the computers.

At this opportune moment, the Daedalus and the Orion arrive and manage to destroy the other Hive Ship. Michael's Hive takes down the Orion, however, and Major Lorne and his crew have to be beamed to safety. Michael and Sheppard meet up with Ronon and [=McKay=] and together they steal a transport ship. They are able to destroy the dart bays, before they too must be beamed to safety aboard the Daedalus. It is a stalemate - the Hive ship can't escape or attack them, but the Daedalus is out of nukes and severely damaged.

Worse, the Daedalus is venting atmosphere and life-support is down. They stop the leak, but even if they somehow managed to destroy the Hive, there wouldn't be enough hours of breathable air for the return journey to Atlantis. And because they're between galaxies, the only source of O2 for lightyears is...that hive ship right next to them. It's also full of Wraith - but that can be solved. Michael proposes returning to the original plan - using the Daedalus to beam in the canister of aeresolized retrovirus (remember that?), thus turning hostile Wraith into amnesiac humans.

* ShoutOut: Sheppard's trick of hiding the F302 on the hull of Hive Ship is right out of ''{{Star Wars}}.'' He even says so:

* TooMuchInformation: [=McKay=] when he realises the Wraith found out the location of Earth by uploading a virus to his computer.
--> '''[=McKay=]''': Something like spyware. Something like when I stupidly downloaded porn...
--> *''Realises what he's just said''*

--> '''[=McKay=]: ''Music!'' When I downloaded ''music!''

* XanatosSpeedChess: Sheppards moves throughout the episode.