- I really need to stop making housecalls.— Dr. Beckett
The team makes friends with a planet full of humble dirt farmers who claim to be defended from the Wraith by the all-seeing Lord Protector in the Tower. Investigating further, they discover that the "Tower" looks exactly like the central spire of Atlantis - all that remains visible of a second identical Ancient city-ship.
While McKay and his trusty sidekick native guide Baldric stay behind to take energy readings, the rest of the team gets menaced by the Lord Protector's guards (when they try to top the former from beating innocent peasants). The situation is diffused by Otho, the Lord Protector's chamberlain, who scans them all and then forcibly invites Sheppard back to the Tower.
Tropes:
- Boldly Coming: Sheppard. Again. He first assumes Mara is visiting him because he was worried "How's your father"... then realises she's there for how's your father...
- Cut the Juice: With the ZPM running on fumes and Otho about to commit a massacre, Sheppard has McKay fire up the stardrive to drop it to zero and render the Tower lifeless, thereby taking away Otho's claim to the throne.
- The Dandy: The Lord Protector's son... To clarify, he's very flamboyant in his mannerisms and frilly dressed even for a mediaeval society, not to mention he seems very concerned his sister has any progeny of her own that could usurp him.
- Decadent Court: The nobles who lord over the people of the planet; hoarding the majority of the food and indulging in Jabba Table Manners while the farmers are basically starving.
- Deus ex Machina: The episode more or less serves as an excuse to replenish the drone and Jumper stocks of Atlantis following the battle with the Wraith.
- Dress Hits Floor: Mara when she propositions Sheppard.
- Evil Chancellor: Otho the chamberlain initially seems like The Good Chancellor, but Sheppard's friends question if he can be trusted, and he's plotting to poison his liege and steal the throne for himself.
- The Evil Prince: Tavius, the Lord Protector's son, envies his father's throne. Turns out to be a Red Herring, as it was Otho who was actually poisoning the Lord Protector.
- Feudal Future: The nobles have access to the same tech as Atlantis, but with little understanding of how it functions, so they use it as a big stick to lord over the peasants.
- Grew a Spine: Mara spends most of the episode afraid to do anything to risk her own survival, but in the climax, she tells Sheppard that Otho is planning to destroy the village where his friends are and gives him a radio to warn them. Later, she yells out a warning when Otho tries to stab Sheppard In the Back.
- Jabba Table Manners: The nobles eat like this - made all the more disgusting by its juxtaposition with the all-but-starving farmers who provide the food.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Otho dies at the hands of his own poison dagger.
- Macross Missile Massacre: Courtesy of the Ancient drone chair, though Otho's attempt is cut short.
- Magical Security Cam: Justified with Ancient tech: the Tower's sensors can provide pristine audio and visual tracking of any location within miles of the city, no camera required.
- Offered the Crown:Dr. Weir: They didn't offer you king?
Lt. Col. Sheppard: I turned that down too! - Outgrown Such Silly Superstitions: Subverted.Baldric: I’m not so sure this is wise.
McKay: Okay, I’m not interested in your primitive taboos, okay? It is a dark and scary place but it’s not cursed or haunted or anything like that. It’s perfectly safe.
Baldric: Actually the catacombs are prone to earthquakes.
McKay: (worriedly) They are? - Poisoned Weapons: Otho is very good with poisons. Shame he's not so good at stabbing.
- Ready for Lovemaking: Mara is quite open about being willing to have sex when she and Sheppard are alone together, complete with Dress Hits Floor.
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Recycled Set: Justified; the Tower and its catacombs are an Ancient city-ship like Atlantis. - Royals Who Actually Do Something: Specifically, operate the Ancient drone weapon. Nobility is synonymous with possessing the ATA gene.
- Wham Line: When Otho reveals himself to be the mastermind behind the plot:Otho: Mara is perfectly safe now. Tavius has been arrested for the murder of the Lord Protector. And you...really should have left when you had the chance.
