Ep 20. The Last Man

In Stargate Atlantis season 4 episode 20, titled "The Last Man," viewers are taken on an intense journey through time. The episode opens with a devastated Atlantis as the city is being abandoned. John Sheppard (played by Joe Flanigan) activates a special device in the city and is suddenly transported 48,000 years into the future. There, he discovers a desolate and barren wasteland, where the once-great city of Atlantis is no more.

As Sheppard struggles to comprehend the extent of the destruction, he realizes he is completely alone. His only hope is to find a way to go back to the past and stop the cataclysmic events that led to the ruin of the city. Sheppard embarks on an epic journey, exploring the ruins of Atlantis and encountering evidence of a massive war that took place long after his own time. He learns that his past actions were the catalyst for this war, and it is up to him to put things right.

While much of the episode takes place in the distant future, there are also several flashbacks that reveal how Sheppard first came to be stranded. In these flashbacks, we see a rising tension within the Atlantis team as they try to prevent a powerful enemy from destroying the city and Earth itself. Along the way, we see some surprising alliances and heartbreaking goodbyes.

Throughout "The Last Man," Joe Flanigan delivers a powerful and emotional performance as Sheppard struggles to come to grips with his isolation and the weight of his responsibility. Meanwhile, the visual effects team truly shines as they bring to life the ruins of Atlantis in stunning, haunting detail.

As the episode progresses, Sheppard's desperation grows as he realizes that time is running out. The device that brought him into the future is malfunctioning, and he must act fast to prevent himself from being stranded in a barren wasteland forever. With the clock ticking down, Sheppard must face the ultimate challenge: go back to the past and try to undo the damage he caused, even if it means making a terrible sacrifice.

Overall, "The Last Man" is a gripping and emotional episode that offers a fresh perspective on the Atlantis team and their struggles. Through stunning visuals and powerful storytelling, viewers are taken on a journey through time that is both epic and deeply personal. This is a must-watch episode for any fan of the Stargate franchise.