[s5e3] Broken Ties <Authentic>

is the third episode of the fifth and final season of Stargate Atlantis . Originally airing on July 25, 2008, it is a high-stakes character piece that focuses on Ronon Dex and his complex history with the Wraith and his own people. Plot Overview

: A secondary plot follows Teyla Emmagan as she struggles with the balance of being a new mother and her duty as a member of the expedition. By the end of the episode, she officially decides to return to active duty on Sheppard's team. Production & Character Impact [S5E3] Broken Ties

: The Wraith Commander subjects Ronon to a brutal cycle of "feeding" and "reverse-feeding," draining his life and then forcing it back into him. This process eventually breaks Ronon's will, brainwashing him into becoming a Wraith Worshipper . is the third episode of the fifth and

: Martial artist Mark Dacascos reprises his role as Tyre, delivering intense action sequences, including a memorable sword fight with Ronon. By the end of the episode, she officially

: This episode is famously associated with the removal of Ronon's signature dreadlocks. Due to the weight of the hair causing Momoa physical strain, it was cut off; for the rest of the season, he wears a wig that was specifically styled to match his original look.

: During the mission to save Ronon, Tyre sacrifices himself by detonating explosives to destroy a Wraith laboratory, taking the Wraith Commander with him while allowing the Atlantis team to escape.

The episode begins with the abduction of Ronon Dex by , a former friend and fellow Satedan soldier who first appeared in the Season 4 episode "Reunion". Tyre, desperate to regain his standing with the Wraith and addicted to their life-giving enzyme, trades Ronon to a Wraith Commander. Key story beats include: