Submersion | [s3e18]

In the Stargate Atlantis: Legacy novels, this specific Queen is identified as Cold Amber and revealed to be the original "Queen Death".

The team explores a mobile geothermal drilling platform, hoping it can provide a new, nearly infinite power source for Atlantis.

An ancient Wraith Queen (portrayed by Andee Frizzell) has been hibernating in a nearby crashed cruiser for 10,000 years. She survived by feeding on her own crew after her ship was downed during the original siege of Atlantis. [S3E18] Submersion

The Queen activates a self-destruct sequence on her crashed cruiser. Because the facility sits on a very thin part of the planetary crust, the resulting explosion would trigger a volcanic cataclysm capable of destroying the platform and Atlantis itself.

Teyla senses the Wraith presence immediately upon arrival. The Queen eventually takes control of Teyla's mind to use her as a puppet to facilitate her escape. In the Stargate Atlantis: Legacy novels, this specific

Sheppard and McKay use 10,000-year-old Ancient diving suits to reach the cruiser. Teyla uses a mental "counter-bluff" to trick the Queen into deactivating the self-destruct codes, allowing Sheppard and McKay to eliminate the Queen and save the city. Fun Facts & Trivia

Fans often note that Teyla is psychicly compromised or "taken over" in the 18th episode of every season up to this point. She survived by feeding on her own crew

The episode is noted for its "spooky" and claustrophobic feel, often compared to the movie The Abyss . Key Plot Points