New details on Atlantis‘s ‘Epiphany’

New information has surfaced on “Epiphany,” a mid-season Atlantis episode written by Brad Wright from a story by series star Joe Flanigan (“John Sheppard”).

Beware of spoilers in the report below!

As previously reported, Colonel John Sheppard finds himself pulled through a portal to a planet where time passes much more slowly, so that a year for him is only a matter of minutes for the rest of his team on the other side (story). There John encounters “the Cloister,” a group of people who believe he has arrived to help them ascend to a higher plane of existence.

The people here are apparently descendents of the Ancients, and each possess special powers. Teer, a beautiful woman in her 30s, has clairvoyance. Young Hedda possesses the Ancient healing ability. Their mother possessed telekinesis before her ascension. Teer tells Sheppard that it is not uncommon for such abilities to manifest in those who are on the path toward ascension.

But all is not flowers and ascension in the Cloister. Beyond there is a wilderness where a creature lives. Teer and her siblings fear the creature, knowing it only as the Beast. Sheppard barely escapes with his life when he first arrives, and later takes on the Beast again without success.

Dr. Weir also gets in on the action in the episode, attempting to translate alien writing around the portal that took Sheppard.

Sheppard wishes to leave the Cloister, but the inhabitants assure him that there is no way to do so — other than to ascend. They must all do so simultaneously so as not to leave anyone behind, and Teer believes that she knows what is preventing them: The Beast must be defeated.

Guest characters include Teer, Avrid (a young man), and Hedda (a young teenage girl who develops a crush on Sheppard).

“Epiphany” will go before cameras in mid-July, following the show’s hiatus. Check out GateWorld’s Season Two episode guide to find out more about the episode!