Stargate Atlantis/Recap/S03/E20 First Strike

Zelenka: They're ready.
McKay: This is a bad idea, isn't it.
Zelenka: We're here alone. We could make them not ready.

McKay: They're building an Armada, Radek. I saw them - they showed me the pictures. I'd feel pretty stupid if we break this thing only to have the replicators show up and destroy the city.

—McKay and Zelenka consider the ethics of building nukes for an unprovoked first strike.

Tropes:

• Conflict Ball: Weir's authority up for debate yet again for really no reason.
• Cool Starship: Atlantis
• Crowning Moment of Awesome: When they fly Atlantis off the planet.
• Crowning Music of Awesome
• The Danza: Technician Chuck's first name (Chuck) is finally revealed. He is presumably named for his actor, Chuck Campbell
  • He's definitely named after his actor; Tori Higginson (Dr Weir) Accidentally called the unnamed character by the actor's name on camera and it just kinda stuck.
  • Luckily, the fandom had already been calling him Chuck since he turned into an Ensemble Darkhorse sometime the previous season, making this an unintended example of Ascended Fanon.
• Explosive Instrumentation
• Hey, It's That Guy!: Dr. Keller is Kaylee from Firefly
• Ironic Echo: Ellis's "Go 12 rounds" speech, echoed later by Weir. And it's still a dumb thing to say.
• Like an Old Married Couple: McKay and Zelenka

Sheppard: Why don't you guys just make out and get it over with?

• Meaningful Echo: Sheppard objects to being placed in command of Atlantis on the grounds that it would make him "the man." This is the same objection that O'Neill raises to being placed in command of the SGC, although he ends up taking the job.
• Nuclear Option / Nuke'Em
• Season Finale
• You Look Familiar: Dr. Keller was the wraith girl Ellia in the second season episode "Instinct"