Ronon Dex is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
in the 2004
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
television series ''
Stargate Atlantis
''Stargate Atlantis'' (usually stylized in all caps and often abbreviated ''SGA'') is an adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's ''Stargate'' franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper ...
''. Played by
Jason Momoa
Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa (; born August 1, 1979) is an American actor. He made his acting debut as Jason Ioane on the syndicated action drama series '' Baywatch: Hawaii'' (1999–2001), which was followed by portrayals of Ronon Dex on the S ...
, he is from Sateda, a civilization which was at a technological level comparable to Earth in the mid-20th century before it was devastated by the Wraith alongside all other advanced civilizations in the
Pegasus galaxy. When Ronon Dex and the Atlantis expedition first met in the season 2 episode "
Runner
Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...
", Ronon Dex had been a
Runner
Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...
for the past seven years. He joined the Atlantis Expedition shortly afterward, effectively replacing
Aiden Ford
First Lieutenant Aiden Ford, USMC is a fictional character in the 2004 Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series '' Stargate Atlantis'', a military science fiction show about a combined civilian and military team exploring another gala ...
on
Sheppard's team after Ford had become addicted to a
Wraith enzyme and had fled Atlantis.
Jason Momoa, along with some of his fellow cast members, has said that they think of Ronon as the Atlantis version of
Chewbacca
Chewbacca ( ), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute, bipedal, intelligent species originating from the fictional planet of Kashyyyk. Chewbacca is the loyal friend and firs ...
. This joke is also carried through into the show, and Lt Col Sheppard occasionally refers to Ronon as "Chewy."
Role in ''Stargate Atlantis''
Ronon is a native of Sateda, a
planet
A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a you ...
with an advanced level of technology. His grandfather suffered from Second Childhood, a condition with symptoms similar to
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
. Ronon became a member of the Satedan
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
and held the rank of Specialist. He was very close to a woman named Melena, whom Ronon considered "close enough" to a wife in "
Sunday
Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. In most Western countries, Sunday is a day of rest and a part of the weekend. It is often considered the first day of the week.
For most observant adherents of Christianity, Sunday ...
". Approximately seven years before Ronon's first contact with the Atlantis Expedition, the Wraith attacked Sateda. Ronon remained behind with Melena to fight the Wraith, but the Wraith defeated Satedan forces and Melena was killed before Ronon's eyes in an explosion.
Ronon was later captured by the Wraith. When the Wraith discovered that he was much stronger and more resilient than the normal human on Sateda (or any other human civilisation in Pegasus), they turned him into a Runner, implanting a tracking device in his upper back and setting him loose to be constantly hunted.
(for sports, training etc. as Ronon said later to Teyla).
Ronon stayed alive for seven years by learning several new tricks and deciding to hunt the Wraith back with his weapons.
He owns a rare energy
pistol
A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...
which emits red bursts of energy that stun or kill at the user's discretion. It resembles a
revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
with a power cell where the ammunition cylinder would be located.
The same type of weapon is shown to be used by a people in the season 4 episode "Travelers", but Ronon displays no knowledge of these people. Ronon also carries a sword; the hilt is made from a Wraith mandible and humerus wrapped in Wraith hair, the blade is made from the metal of a Wraith ship, and the scabbard is made from a Wraith leather coat. The episode "
The Hive" shows Ronon carrying several knives hidden on his person for use in emergencies. (He uses four in the episode and it is implied there may be more.) Ronon's seemingly unlimited supply of these blades is a source of occasional comic relief.
When the Atlantis team encounters Ronon for the first time in season 2's "Runner", they arrange the removal of the tracking device in his back. Ronon returns with them to Atlantis, where he learns that Sateda had been completely destroyed.
Sheppard offers Ronon a place on his team in "Duet" after Ronon proves his worth against the
Marines
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
and
Teyla in hand-to-hand combat and demonstrates his experience with guns.
Ronon finds out in "Trinity" that about 300 Satedans survived the Wraith attacks and moved to other planets. In season 3's "Sateda", Ronon gets revenge on the Wraith who originally turned him into a Runner.
Ronon meets with three of his old Satedan friends in season 4's "Reunion" and seriously considers leaving the Atlantis Expedition for the first time until he learns that his old friends are Wraith Worshippers. In the end, Ronon remains with the Atlantis Expedition, stating that his friends are "right here".
In season 4's "Midway",
Teal'c
Teal'c of Chulak is a fictional character in the 1997 military science fiction television series '' Stargate SG-1''. Portrayed by Christopher Judge, Teal'c is a Jaffa warrior from the planet Chulak. As a Jaffa, Teal'c is a genetically modifi ...
comes to Atlantis to advise Ronon on how to deal with the
IOA. This immediately provokes a rivalry, and Ronon and Teal'c engage in a sparring match. After an hour of intense but inconclusive fighting, it is proven they are equally matched. Together, they fight a group of Wraith who attempt to gate to Earth; in the process, Dex saves Teal'c from a Wraith who is feeding on him and earns IOA approval of his presence at Atlantis.
["Midway"] (The rivalry as such is resolved; the question of who could beat whom is left open, but they become friends instead of rivals.)
In one episode of season 4, Ronon and Dr.
Jennifer Keller appears to take a romantic interest in each other. In Season 5 episodes "Taken," "First Contact," and "The Lost Tribe," their potential attraction is again suggested until Dr. Keller reveals that she is interested in Dr. Rodney McKay. In season 5's final episode, "Enemy at the Gate", Ronon is killed during an assault on a Wraith hive that had reached Earth's orbit. He is then revived by a Wraith and interrogated, only to be rescued by Sheppard and crew. Dex is last seen with the Atlantis Expedition crew as they safely land a cloaked but disabled Atlantis near the
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, California—the northern tip of the San Francisco Pen ...
.
Conceptual history
The working name for Ronon's homeworld planet was Atteria, not Sateda.
After Momoa was cast in the role, the
Sci Fi Channel
Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Lau ...
objected to him keeping his long, heavy 6-pound dreadlocks. However the hair soon became a signature of the character, and when Momoa decided to cut them off (with the producers' permission) after the completion of Season 4, he was still required to have his hair sewn back on for at least the first three episodes until there would be a scene where Ronon cuts his hair off in "
Broken Ties". According to Momoa, it took nine hours to sew his hair back on for the beginning of the fifth season but wearing it was too painful for him to continue working. Meanwhile, the Sci Fi Channel overruled the decision for Ronon to lose his hair, the scene had already been filmed and got cut, so he was eventually given a custom-made $10,000 wig that weighed the same as Momoa's former hair, as a replacement for the rest of the season.
In interviews, Momoa says that the wig was more painful and cumbersome than his original dreadlocks. Also, Momoa used various tricks to cover up several of his tattoos, including the sizeable tribal tattoo on his left forearm. Eventually, the writers incorporated a scene in the episode "
Reunion
Reunion may refer to:
* Class reunion
* Family reunion
Reunion, Réunion, Re-union, Reunions or The Reunion may also refer to:
Places
* Réunion, a French overseas department and island in the Indian Ocean
* Reunion, Commerce City, Colorado, U ...
" wherein he gets the tattoo.
When Valerie Halverson took over as lead costume designer in the fourth season, Jason Momoa would bring her pieces of fabric from flea markets, which the costume department would fashion into clothing for his character.
References
External links
Ronon Dexat
''Stargate'' wikia
Ronon Dexat
scifi
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universe ...
.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dex, Ronon
Fictional soldiers
Fictional hunters
Stargate alien characters
Television characters introduced in 2005
sv:Lista över rollfigurer i Stargate#Ronon Dex