Sunday

Summary | Production | Transcript

The team tries to relax during a mandatory day off, until an explosion leaves three people dead – and reveals that one scientist is a walking time bomb.

RATINGS SCORECARD
OUR RATING -
FAN RATING - 8.43 
NIELSEN - 1.1 
EPISODE #317
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 06.01.2007
SYNDICATION AIR DATE: 04.21.2008
DVD DISC: Season 3, Disc 5
WRITTEN BY: Martin Gero
DIRECTED BY: William Waring
GUEST STARS: Matthew Del Negro (Mike Branton), Kavan Smith (Lorne), David Nykl (Radek Zelenka), Brenda James (Katie Brown), Caroline Cave (Dr. Cole), Lara Gilchrist (Dr. Hewston), Daniel Bacon (Dr. Watson), Lindsay Collins (Dr. Biro), Chuck Campbell (Technician), Linda Ko (Nurse), Pearce Visser (Opponent), Brandy Heidrick (Pretty Marine)
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It's a typical Sunday in the city of Atlantis, as Dr. Elizabeth Weir and her people go about their everyday business. A handsome young scientist, Mike Branton, finds Elizabeth at work in her office on her day off.

Mike is obviously smitten with the expedition's leader, and is fighting an uphill battle when he tries to convince her to go to lunch with him. Elizabeth has a personal rule against dating people under her, but Mike persuades her that there's nothing wrong with eating lunch at the same table.

During their "not a date" the charming man begins to wear down her shields, and even kisses her. She seems attracted to him, but decides she can't allow a potential romance to bloom. She's saved from the awkward situation when the control tower radios her: There has been an explosion in the city. Three people are dead and more are injured, and they believe it may have been a bomb.

PRODUCTION NOTES

  • "There's an episode that I want to do but it's not really a Stargate episode. But I feel like it doesn't really belong – I'd love to do a Stargate episode that has no jeopardy at all, that is just a Sunday afternoon, essentially, kind of speaking to that off-duty thing, and in vignettes about each character in their off time. Basically five short films about each character. But I'll probably never do it, to be honest.

    "... Brad is more adventurous than any of us with the types of stories that he wants to try and tell. It's got to feel like a Stargate. It's got to have that science fiction for a science fiction show. The shows don't work without a certain amount of jeopardy, I think. So I don't know. It's on the shelf. ... I'll figure it out someday." (Writer and co-producer Martin Gero, in an interview with GateWorld)
  • "That's going to be an awfully good episode and one that every fan needs to watch. I don't think I should say much more than that.

    "Part of me likes this story a great deal, while part of me was challenged significantly by it because essentially it's a day off for our people, and the truth is, drama is driven by everyday things we have to do. It's that urgency that drives drama, but when you have a day off, by its definition there is literally no urgency. For 'Sunday' we shot these scenes that felt a little bizarre because Sheppard and the others are dressed in their civilian clothes and hanging out, making small talk, drinking beer, playing golf, etc., and generally goofing off.

    "So that's the basic set-up. They have no deadlines, they're kicking back, it's Sunday, time to chill out ... or is it? Oops, guess not. The action obviously then picks up, but filming those off-duty moments was an unusual challenge to say the least." (Actor Joe Flanigan, in an interview with Starburst magazine [#346, January 2007])
  • "Elizabeth goes on a date. It was so nice to see there are other people in Atlantis that our main characters have growing relationships with, and in this case Weir obviously knows this man well enough and is at the point in their relationship to say, 'Yes, let's go out.'

    "This romance-type of situation always feels slightly strange to play. Someone who you've never met before arrives on set that morning and you're like, 'I guess we're going to kiss in an hour. It's nice to meet you.' That's kind of an actors' challenge, but our guest-star on Atlantis, Matthew Del Negro is just so adorable that I didn't mind in the least. Seriously, he's an exceptionally talented actor and the two of us got on very well. We felt extremely lucky to have him." (Actress Torri Higginson, in an interview with SciFiAndTvTalk's Steve Eramo)