January 5, 2012: Resuming our trip down Stargate: Atlantis memory lane with seasons 5′s Search and Rescue! A slew of behind-the-scenes pics and vids!

SEARCH AND RESCUE (501)

When production resumed on Stargate: Atlantis’s fifth season, little did we realize at the time that it would be our final year.  We were coming off a terrific fourth season and had some great scripts on deck and some big ideas for what lay ahead.  Samantha Cater was on her way out and a new Commander was on his way in.  And this time, there would be no discussion over potential candidates.  There was only one. I picked up the phone and called Robert Picardo, told him we’d love to make Richard Woolsey a regular.  I pitched him what we had in mind, a move that would complete Woolsey’s transformation from pencil-pushing pain-in-the-ass to surprising and lovable friend and ally.  Bob loved the idea, welcomed the opportunity and his deal was closed that day.  It was tough to say goodbye to Amanda, but we were happy that she would be leaving for a passion project, the first season of Sanctuary, in which she would be producing and starring (and, eventually, directing as well over the show’s five year run).

The change in command was not the only development in this final season.  Teyla would finally give birth, the Michael storyline would be concluded, Elizabeth Weir would make a (sort of) return, while the introduction of a powerful new enemy would complicate matters for our intrepid expedition.

But first things first.  We had a story to conclude, some trapped team members to rescue and, of course, a baby to deliver…

VFX Supervisor Mark Savela at the Search and Rescue concept meeting.

The show’s visual effects were second to none, thanks to the work of Mark Savela and his crew.

Art Department package for the episode. The Construction Department had their work cut out for them on this one.

The former village set is transformed into a ruined facility on what we used to call The FX Stage.

That’s a load-bearing ladder!

A relaxed Jason Momoa returns from hiatus sans dreads. It would be a couple of episodes before we could write them out so we had to wig him to start the season. The wig, by the way, was made of his own hair.

One easy to handle baby for the birthing season.

Don’t forget the umbilical cord!

Inside Michael’s hive ship.

An Alien-esque feel.

The wraith tech was always very organic-looking.

Wraith tablet.

Michael (Connor Trineer) at the controls.

An Andy Mikita joint.

A visit to the wraith OB/GYN.

Kanaan, Teyla’s baby daddy, relaxes between takes.

Martin Christopher (aka Major Marks) checks out the craft service offerings.

Amanda Tapping and Mitch Pileggi.

Stand-ins (or, more appropriately in this case, sit-ins) aboard the Daedalus.

And…Action!

Preparing to send out the MALP.

Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok at work.

David Hewlett and Kavan Smith take a break from the dust and debris.

Major Lorne looking the worse for wear.

Exhausting work. McKay’s jacket gets a workout.

The ruined facility.

The jumper. Stage 2.

And a few behind the scenes vids…

Wraith tech:

On the hive ship:

Search a rescue rehearsal:

And the scene:

Tagged: science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, Search and Rescue, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis season 5, Stargate: Atlantis