I didn't mind it at all. I don't mind it not feeling exceedingly "cliffhanger-ish" because it's not really a very long break this time. I wouldn't even necessarily consider it a two-parter (though I haven't seen spoilers for the next episode, so perhaps it is).
As for the plot - yes, it was obvious very early that it wasn't the real Atlantis, but I don't think they were trying to keep that hidden for a big "reveal." And yes, it's been done before, but it's a standard staple of all sci-fi, so it was inevitable that SGA would get to it (especially given the nature of the replicators). To not duplicate some or all of the team at some point might have felt even stranger to me.
Didn't even blink at seeing the ship - the POVness of the episode was not so obvious to me that a shift was jarring. Didn't bat an eye at all the talkiness either.
I had no preconceptions about this episode, so I wasn't expecting a whiz-bang Siege II sort of thing. It was just a nice, basic episode that extended the current through plot.
I do agree, however, that the offer of the spare team to serve as decoys was handled somewhat cavalierly. However, I don't think we're meant to believe they are all dead except Sheppard (the others should heal too). And think about it from their POV - they're still essentially our heroes - they would choose to take a risk to save others and would probably assume they could do some damage and/or escape later. It just would have been nice to see a brief argument between the two groups about which ones should be the diversion....
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As for the plot - yes, it was obvious very early that it wasn't the real Atlantis, but I don't think they were trying to keep that hidden for a big "reveal." And yes, it's been done before, but it's a standard staple of all sci-fi, so it was inevitable that SGA would get to it (especially given the nature of the replicators). To not duplicate some or all of the team at some point might have felt even stranger to me.
Didn't even blink at seeing the ship - the POVness of the episode was not so obvious to me that a shift was jarring. Didn't bat an eye at all the talkiness either.
I had no preconceptions about this episode, so I wasn't expecting a whiz-bang Siege II sort of thing. It was just a nice, basic episode that extended the current through plot.
I do agree, however, that the offer of the spare team to serve as decoys was handled somewhat cavalierly. However, I don't think we're meant to believe they are all dead except Sheppard (the others should heal too). And think about it from their POV - they're still essentially our heroes - they would choose to take a risk to save others and would probably assume they could do some damage and/or escape later. It just would have been nice to see a brief argument between the two groups about which ones should be the diversion....