The series finale of Stargate Atlantis entitled “Enemy at the Gate” (9 pm) delivered a 1.5 HH rating with 973,000 Adults 18-49, 1.15 MM Adults 25-54 and 2.02 MM total viewers (P2+). This marks a season high in all key measures and is the best performance for an Atlantis episode since the season 4 finale on March 7, 2008.

Also, GateWorld has posted an editorial questioning the motives behind the show’s cancellation as well as a look at what Season Six of Stargate: Atlantis might have involved had it gone into production.

Cast of Stargate: Atlantis (Copyright SciFi.com)

Set in the Pegasus Galaxy, Stargate: Atlantis followed a new cast of characters as they investigate the “lost” city of Atlantis (built by the Ancients) and battle a new and deadly foe: the Wraith. As the series progressed, alliances were forged (even with the Wraith) and additional enemies combated as the Atlantis expedition battled both the Wraith and the Replicators.

Stargate: Atlantis had its share of cast turnover: Rainbow Sun Franks (Lt. Aiden Ford) left the cast after the first season, replaced by Jason Momoa (Ronon Dex). Star Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir) left after the third season and Amanda Tapping (as Col. Samantha Carter from Stargate: SG-1) joined the cast for its fourth season as commander of Atlantis. For its fifth and final season, Jewel Staite (Dr. Jennifer Keller) and Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey) joined the cast. Paul McGillion’s character, Dr. Carson Beckett, was written out of the series only to return later.

Tonight’s series finale, titled “Enemy at the Gate,” looks to be a thrilling conclusion to Stargate: Atlantis — but will it end on something of a cliffhanger as Stargate: SG-1 did? A made-for-TV movie has already been ordered and may or may not be a standalone story.

Post your thoughts on Stargate: Atlantis in the comments section. Are you sad to see the series end or do you think it was high time it came to a close?