- I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’d like to come fishing with me on the mainland, is there?— Dr. Beckett has about as much success finding a fishing partner as O'Neill.
Atlantis is experiencing an enforced day of rest. Everyone is indulging their hobbies, be it chess, fishing, painting, babysitting ferns, or making Sheppard look like an idiot in improbable Satedan fighting games. Those without personalities are expressing their interest in the opposite sex - even Dr. Weir has a hot date with some guy we've never heard of before. What a nice, happy, Breather Episode. KABOOM!
The Kaboom turns out to have been Dr. Hewston, a pretty brunette who just exploded for no reason. They eventually piece together that Dr. Hewston and Dr. Watson were exposed to some radiation that caused...wait for it... exploding tumors. That's right. They manage to track down Dr. Watson, who was injured when Hewston blew up but hasn't managed to explode yet, and Dr. Beckett removes the tumor. Huzzah!
But wait - these are exploding tumors, not "safely removed and therefore now harmless" tumors! Even though that's how McKay's Hand Wave explanation suggests they should work. KABOOM! Cut to a massive funeral scene, complete with bagpipes and dress blues, while the fans scratch their heads and say "wait, what?"
Tropes:
- Accidental Marriage: McKay accidentally proposes to Katie Brown, but manages to backpedal out of it without completely ruining the date.
- Amazing Freaking Grace: Averted! Possibly the only scene in television featuring a funeral complete with bagpipes playing something other than Amazing Grace.
- Dead Person Conversation: McKay and Beckett compare notes on the funeral (although "Carson" is a figment of Rodney's imagination so he can say a proper goodbye).
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: Dr. Beckett. Via exploding tumor. His pall-bearers are made up of all the people who refused to go fishing with him.
- Funny Background Event: When Rodney is chewing out two scientist he starts by stating "You know I think I am a pretty easy guy to work for" Carson standing behind him turns and gives Rodney a look that shouts "Are you kidding me Rodney?"
- How We Got Here: The flashbacks push the storyline ever earlier, each time from a different character's point of view, to ultimately explain the explosions.
- Lockdown: Beckett locks down the infirmary while removing the exploding tumor from Dr. Watson.
- Made of Explodium: The Ancient device causes people to develop tumors that eventually explode. Even Beckett points out that it simply doesn't make sense.
- Red Shirt: The unnamed Explosives Ordinance Disposal tech that Beckett was handing the tumor over to when it exploded. Beckett gets a big fancy funeral and much tears shed on his behalf. Unnamed EOD guy? Not so much.note The funeral scene opens with Weir saying "we've said goodbye to a lot of friends today." Apparently the funeral was for everybody who died during the episode's events, but we only get to see Carson's memorial on-screen.
- Ridiculously Potent Explosive: The exploding tumor is small enough to be held in the palm and explodes like a brick of C4.
- Shipper on Deck: Ronon apparently supports Sheppard and Teyla as a couple.
- Smart People Play Chess: Zelenka, in particular. And he's winning.
- Switching P.O.V.: The bulk of the episode recounts the events leading up to the first explosion several times from different points of view.
- You Just Told Me: Beckett says Weir must have a hot date to dress casually. When she is embarrassed and asks how he knew, he explains that it was a joke and now he does know.
