Stargate Atlantis: Common Ground

I guess it was the Arachnid like way it acts like a tick that gave me the spider perception.

And no good McKay moments... I can't wait for the next

The "spider" is called an Iratus bug (not a spider or even spider-like) and the Wraith evolved from them as the bug began to assimilate the human DNA from the victims it fed on. The process actually took millions of years. Here's a link to Gateworld's Stargate Omnipedia for a much better explanation than I can provide:
http://www.gateworld.net/omnipedia/miscellany/i/iratusbug.shtml

I *knew* there was something familiar about the Wraith and it took me half the episode to place his voice as Christopher Heyerdahl who played the role of Halling, one of the key Athosians and Teyla's right-hand man from Season 1. Distinctive voice. Good actor though.

I forgot to add my guess, but I would guess that maybe, since the wraith do communicate telepathically, that the spider could have absorbed memory when they absorbed the Ancient DNA. Maybe they will esplain that for their technological growth over a short period.

The wraith weren't around before the Ancients moved there. They quickly evolved from some parasitic spider after it fed on an Ancient. They haven't gone in a lot of detail over how long the ancients lived in Atlantis, but I would imagine it was for quite some time since they appeared to have colonized just about every habital planet in that part of the universe.

They explained the Wraith/Spider connection in that episode in the first season where Shepard had one feeding on him.

I hope they explain how the Wraith could have evolved to the point of having hyperspace capable ships without being noticed by the Ancients until they became a threat.

The Wraith acor in Common Ground was the actor who played Hallings in the very beginning episoeds of Atlantis--REmember him--he has an unusual name and rather long one but is a great actor, have seen him this yr on Dead Zone and couple other shows that are made in Vancouver--

Christopher Heyerdahl was the actor. The episode was excellent. The wraith "became real"! Mary

What actor played the wraith in Common Ground. The wraith actors have been excellent. Who are they? Thanx. M.

Dear true fan,

I have to agree with you that I love both shows and honestly like(d) every episode of both...every time. I've also been a fan since the beginning of both series and am sickened to see SG-1 getting the axe by SciFi. I'm still holding out hope for SG-1, however silly and useless that may be.

When it comes to fans criticizing the episodes though, I have to disagree. I think most of the criticism and negativity from fans of any show really comes from their love of that particular series. As fans they want it to be the best it can be and sometimes their disappointment of a particular episode comes across as if they *could* do a better job, but all they want is the quality they've come to accept. It's good to have fan criticism because it proves that a series has true-blue fans who care instead of just casual viewers who don't invest much of themselves in said series.

I'm a relatively new member/poster here, too, and I'd like to be the first to say that both you and your comments are welcome...even if you may some day annoy me with your opinions! I certainly have a knack for bothering people myself. :o)