Dr. Elizabeth Weir is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring another galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices. Elizabeth Weir is introduced as a recurring character in the Stargate SG-1 season seven two-parter, Lost City. She does not hold any military rank since she is a civilian. Weir is the leader of the Atlantis expedition in Stargate Atlantis until the last episode of season three, titled "First Strike".
The character was primarily played by Torri Higginson, although when introduced in the Stargate SG-1 two-parter Lost City, she was played by Jessica Steen. In the season 5 Atlantis episode "Ghost in the Machine", the consciousness of Elizabeth Weir, having been transferred to sub-space by a group of Replicators hoping to ascend, was transferred to a Replicator template and portrayed by Michelle Morgan.
Role in Stargate
Character arc in Stargate SG-1
Dr. Elizabeth Weir first appears in the episode Lost City and was portrayed by Jessica Steen. She was put in command of Stargate Command (SGC) by President Henry Hayes, replacing Major General George Hammond to put a "civilian" face on the organization. Vice-President Kinsey wanted to use Weir as a civilian "puppet" to achieve his goals to gain control of the Stargate program. Dr. Weir, however, proved to be an ideal choice, quickly learning not to trust Kinsey and to put her faith in SG-1.
She was in charge of Stargate Command during Anubis' attack on Earth and suggested deploying Prometheus (under the command of her predecessor, Gen. George Hammond) and the Allied powers' combined air forces to Antarctica, in order to defend the newly discovered Ancient outpost. Earth repelled the attack, thanks to weapons deployed from the Ancient Chair in the outpost. Dr. Weir remained the Chief of Stargate Command during the fallout from the battle and impressed her senior staff when she successfully bluffed Earth's position during tense negotiations with a delegation of System Lords. Not long afterwards, Dr. Weir accepted reassignment to the Antarctic Research Outpost and its international staff, which she felt was better suited to her skill set. She took particular delight in informing Jack O'Neill of his appointment as her successor and his accompanying promotion to Brigadier General. O'Neill remained in command of the SGC for the remainder of the eighth season.
Character arc in Stargate Atlantis
Some time after Dr. Weir was sent to lead the research envoy studying the Ancient defense facility that had been discovered in Antarctica, Daniel Jackson realized that the lost city of Atlantis was located in the Pegasus Galaxy. Dr. Weir was placed in command of the multinational expedition that was sent through the Stargate to explore Atlantis. As a diplomat, Weir sought treaties with the human populated worlds in Pegasus, one of them being the Athosians. There was often tension between her and the leader of the Athosians and the latter eventually left the city to live on the mainland of the planet where Atlantis was hidden.
Weir approved several projects throughout Atlantis in season two including the Wraith retro-virus that she later gave as part of a treaty to a sect of Wraith looking to replace the human food source with Wraith infected by the virus. The retro-virus suppressed the Wraith genetic material in the DNA of a Wraith, leaving only the human DNA. Weir became infected with the consciousness of an alien soldier named Phoebus that was at war with another consciousness called Thalan who also took over John Sheppard. Both rampaged through the city, triggering a hostage situation which was caused by the aliens' desire to defeat one another for good. After nearly 24 hours, the rogue consciousnesses were subsequently expelled, resulting in both Sheppard and Weir returning to normal once again.
In season 3, Weir's leadership abilities were questioned by the International Oversight Advisory (IOA) Committee after two Wraith hive ships attempted to attack Earth. Although she managed to stop both hive ships, the IOA was divided over whether she should be allowed to remain leader of Atlantis and it was only with some help from Richard Woolsey that she was able to keep her position. She also unsuccessfully tried to negotiate an alliance with the Asurans and was infected with Asuran nanites. They later tried to assimilate her body and she very nearly didn't survive. In the final episode of season 3 ("First Strike") Weir was critically injured by the Asuran Satellite Weapon, leaving the city without a leader and adrift in space.