Poisoning the Well (Stargate Atlantis)
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| Stargate Atlantis episode | |
|---|---|
| “Poisoning the Well” | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 7 |
| Guest star(s) | Alan Scarfe as Chancellor Druhin Allison Hossack as Perna Paul McGillion as Dr. Beckett Dean Marshall as Sgt. Bates James Lafazanos as Steve the Wraith |
| Writer(s) | Damian Kindler |
| Director | David Winning |
| Production no. | 107 |
| Original airdate | August 20, 2004 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Childhood's End" | "Underground" |
"Poisoning the Well" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis.
[edit] Plot
The Atlantis team discover the Hoffans, a race of humans that have advanced to a technological level similar to that of Earth in the middle of the 20th century. Their knowledge is stored in several hidden libraries to prevent total destruction with each Wraith culling. They have been working on an inoculation which will prevent the Wraith from feeding on them. Major John Sheppard volunteers Dr. Carson Beckett's help, and Beckett helps a Hoffan scientist, Perna, to complete the drug ahead of schedule. To the reluctance of Dr. Elizabeth Weir, they are eager to test the drug, using a terminally ill Hoffan volunteer as a human trial. They inoculated him with the drug and test him against Steve, the Wraith Sheppard captured a couple of episodes before. The drug works better than they thought: Steve was killed by it.
Beckett wants to run more tests but the Hoffans start mass-production and mass-inoculation immediately. It's then discovered that the drug has a severe side effect: a 50% mortality rate. After a planet-wide vote proves that a 96% of Hoffans are willing to risk it so the Wraith can't feed from them, the Hoffan leader asks for the Atlantis team help distribute the medication to other worlds. The team, appalled by the society's ruthlessness, refuses to cooperate and leaves.
[edit] Notes
Dr. Beckett tells Perna that there is an oath among Earth doctors that starts with "First, do no harm". It is a common misbelief that the Hippocratic Oath begins with this, but Beckett never explicitely stated that he was referring to the Hippocratic Oath.
[edit] External links
- Official Stargate Atlantis site. MGM. Visited June 8, 2006.
- Transcript from GateWorld. Transcribed by Callie Sullivan. Additions by Calico. Visited May 14, 2006.
- Review from GateWorld. Reviewed by Taylor Brown. Visited May 14, 2006.
- Production from GateWorld. Visited May 14, 2006.
- Gatenoise from Moon-catchin'. Visited June 23, 2006.
