Ep 15. Before I Sleep

In the Stargate Atlantis season 1 episode 15, "Before I Sleep," the team discovers an Ancient facility hidden in the depths of the ocean. Once they activate the stasis pods, they find an elderly woman who claims to be an Ancient named Janus.

Janus explains that she created the facility as a backup plan during the war with the Wraith. She designed the stasis pods to hold the last remaining members of her civilization while they waited for the Wraith to die off. She then put herself into stasis, intending to awaken in the future and help rebuild society.

Janus quickly realizes that she has been asleep for thousands of years longer than she intended. She explores the ancient city, observing the world around her and discovering that her civilization had died out long ago.

The Atlantis team offers to help Janus adjust to the present day and find a way to fulfill her mission. However, their efforts are complicated when they discover that Janus's backup plan wasn't fool-proof. The pods' power source is failing, and they must find a way to transfer the power to the city's shield generator so that the remaining stasis pods will not be destroyed.

"Before I Sleep" is a powerful episode that explores themes of loss, loneliness, and the importance of preserving knowledge. The character of Janus is a brilliant creation, a woman trapped out of time, trying to find a place for herself in a world that has long since passed her by.

The episode also delves deep into the lore of the Ancient civilization, revealing fascinating details about their culture and technology. Fans of the original Stargate SG-1 series will appreciate the ties to the mythology established in that series.

Overall, "Before I Sleep" is an excellent example of Stargate Atlantis at its best: intelligent, action-packed, and emotionally resonant. Fans of the series won't want to miss this standout episode.