Learning Curve (Stargate SG-1)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stargate SG-1 episode | |
|---|---|
| “Learning Curve” | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 5 |
| Guest star(s) | Brittney Irvin as Merrin Andrew Airlie as Kalan Lachlan Murdoch as Tomin Stephanie Shea as Solen Diane Stapley as Mrs. Struble Rob Farrell as Guard Sarah Goodwill as Student Laara Sadiq as Technician Teryl Rothery as Dr. Janet Fraiser |
| Writer(s) | Heather E. Ash |
| Director | Martin Wood |
| Production no. | 305 |
| Original airdate | July 23, 1999 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Legacy" | "Point of View" |
"Learning Curve" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.
[edit] Plot
The episode opens with the SGC participating in an exchange of information and technology. The SGC has made contact with another world, Orban, the Orbanians are more technologically advanced than Earth, but know little of the Stargate or Goa'uld. The SGC provides them knowledge of both, in exchange for Naqahdah generator technology. Teal'c and Daniel Jackson remain on Orban while Samantha Carter and Jack O'Neill return to Earth. Teal'c relates all his knowledge of the Goa'uld to an a boy a named Tomin, who is Urrone, an Orbanian apprentice. Daniel works with other Urrone to investigate the ancient temple where the Orbanian Stargate was discovered. On Earth, Kalan, the Orbanian liaison, and an Urrone girl, Merrin, present Sam with a Naqahdah generator, and Merrin remains behind to explain the generator technology to Sam.
On Orban, Daniel realizes the Orbanians are not of Aztec but Teotihuacan descent, and theorises that the arrival of the Goa'uld caused Teotihuacan's downfall. Daniel is directed by Kalan to explain this to Tomin. Back on Earth, Sam is having trouble understanding Merrin's explanation of the generator technology. She attempts to have Merrin simplify her explanations, but Doctor Fraiser interrupts and asks to conduct "Follow-up tests" on Merrin. When the tests are complete, Fraiser calls a meeting with General Hammond, Jack, and Sam, explaining that she has discovered Merrin has nanites in her bloodstream and brain, superseding her normal brain synapses. General Hammond quickly begins preparing for a crisis, but Merrin explains that the nanites were designed on Orban, that all Orbanians carry them as a means to gather information, and that each Urrone is given millions of nanites to assist them in learning large amounts of information very quickly, accounting for the high intelligence of the Urrone children that had been observed. Merrin also tells the group that each Urrone must undergo the Ovarium and that at each Ovarium all of the Orbanians are given one nanite, but does not explain any further. General Hammond is mollified and allows Carter to continue studying the Naqahdah generator with Merrin's help.
The next morning on Orban, Daniel recovers evidence of Goa'uld occupation, and Kalan gives Daniel more tools to continue excavation. Kalan also directs Teal'c to teach a new Urrone boy, Solen, of methods to combat the Goa'uld. Teal'c asks to teach Tomin instead, but Kalan tells Teal'c he is unavailable. Teal'c and Daniel point out that Tomin is already familiar with the subject, but Kalan insists it is impossible as Tomin has undergone the Ovarium, and Teal'c demands to see Tomin. Kalan takes Teal'c and Daniel to see Tomin, but Tomin does not respond or interact with them. Teal'c asks Kalan to explain the Ovarium, and Kalan tells him that an Ovarium is a ceremony where an Urrone's nanites are removed and dispersed among the population to increase the Orbanians' knowledge. Daniel asks Kalan what will happen to Tomin, and Kalan replies that he will remain with the other past Urrone in an institution as he cannot be taught because his brain will reject nanites. Daniel asks if it has been attempted to teach Urrone children without nanites, but Kalan appears confused. Teal'c returns to Earth and tells General Hammond what he has learned, where Doctor Fraiser hypothesises that as nanites replace natural synapses in a the brain, the Ovarium reverts an Urrone's mind back to an infant state. As Merrin will be required to undergo the Ovarium when she returns to Orban, SG-1 and General Hammond attempt to have the Orbanians not remove Merrin's nanites in an attempt to retain her personality. The Orbanians, however, refuse and Merrin does not accept the offer of amnesty. Daniel, who remained on Orban, prevents Kalan from attempting to travel to Earth without first sending an IDC, but Kalan insists he must retrieve Merrin, as without her the Orbanian scientists waiting for her nanites will be forced to wait another twelve years as another Urrone is chosen to specialise in Naqahdah generators. Daniel realizes the effect that withholding Merrin is having, and takes Kalan to the SGC with him. General Hammond agrees to allow Merrin to return to Orban and undergo the Ovarium, but Jack intervenes and takes Merrin from the base, without permission.
Jack takes Merrin to a nearby school and the teacher allows her to participate in an art class, where the students are asked to paint something they love. Merrin, displaying a characteristic of the Orbanians, struggles with the concept of 'fun', and begins to paint a Naqahdah generator. Jack gives Merrin a new sheet of paper to paint on and directs her to paint the flowers in Samantha Carter's lab. Merrin struggles with this task as well, as Jack attempts to break her mindset by asking her to paint a garden without the correct colors or brushes to paint fine lines. Eventually, Merrin comprehends the task and enjoys painting, thanking Jack for giving her the opportunity. Jack offers her amnesty again, but Merrin insists she must return to Orban and undergo the Ovarium to help her people. Jack takes Merrin back to the SGC and gives her a box of crayons before she returns to Orban. General Hammond threatens to Court Martial Jack, but he merely replies that he was giving Merrin a chance to be a normal child and will accept any punishment General Hammond decides to give him, which sways him into giving Jack no punishment.
Several days later Kalan asks SG-1 to return to Orban, and SG-1 is taken to the institution for past Urrone. The institution is now filled with children playing, rather than sitting around in an infant state, and SG-1 is informed that all past Urrone children will now learn, without nanites, after their Ovarium, as a result of changes caused by Merrin.
[edit] Quotes
- Merrin: Urrone children require little sleep.
Maj. Carter: Okay, now I am jealous.
- Jack O'Neill: Dogs are my favorite people.
[edit] External links
- Official Stargate SG-1 site. MGM. Visited October 15, 2006. Most of site requires Flash.
- Screenplay (PDF). Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Casablanca Continuity (1999-07-19). Retrieved on 2006-10-15. Linked to from Official Stargate SG-1 site. Also see Google's cache.
- Summary from GateWorld. Visited May 7, 2006.
- Review from GateWorld. Reviewed by Penfold. Visited May 7, 2006.
