Upgrades (Stargate SG-1)

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Stargate SG-1 episode
“Upgrades”

Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 3
Guest star(s)	Vanessa Angel as Anise/Freya Teryl Rothery as Dr. Fraiser Dan Shea as Sergeant Siler
Writer(s)	David Rich
Director	Martin Wood
Production no.	403
Original airdate	July 14, 2000
Episode chronology
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"The Other Side"	"Crossroads"
Episode chronology

"Upgrades" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

1 Plot
2 How the Armbands work
3 Quotes
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details for Stargate SG-1 Season 4 follow.

The SG-1 team (minus Teal'c) becomes guinea pigs for a Tok'ra experiment which uses special armbands to enhances all their natural abilities. The armbands do not work where there is a symbiote present, so they won't work on the Tok'ra or Teal'c. Their strength, speed, agility, and metabolism (and therefore appetite) are all increased massively. At the same time, the device which grants them power decreases their ability to make rational decisions. This new sense of invunerablility leads the three to rash actions (such as going to a local steak house against a direct order and getting into a brawl). They decide that they are capable of taking on a large force of Jaffa that are guarding a Goa'uld ship under construction. The altered SG-1 members are in the middle of sabotaging this ship when their armbands fail. Jack and Daniel make it out okay, but Carter becomes trapped behind an energy shield prompting Jack to stay behind with her. Fortunately, they are able to escape with the assistance of Teal'c.

[edit] How the Armbands work

The armbands work using a virus as a biological interface with the host's metabolism, in effect translating the information in the armband's systems into chemical commands. The armband then greatly increase physical abilities-while at the same time increasing the rate at which the body consumes nutrition. It also seems to have the effect of lowering inhibitions, as many chemical stimulants are known to do.

Unfortunetley, the body eventually becomes immune to the virus, severing the link between the host and the armband, causing it to fail and fall off.

[edit] Quotes

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Upgrades (Stargate SG-1)

Jack: General, sir, about the obviously impending court martial...
Hammond: You were all under the influence of an alien technology, Colonel. That's a pretty solid defense.
Jack: Even so, I'm sorry.
Sam: Me too.
Daniel: Me three.
[pause]
Teal'c: I have no need to apologize.
Hammond: Teal'c was actually following my orders.
Jack: Of course he was.

[edit] Notes

An alternate SG team composed of Colonel Mitchell and others are briefly shown wearing these armbands in the 9th season episode "Ripple Effect."
A scene was filmed which showed Daniel stealing the naquadah, but didn't make it into the episode. However, it was shown in flashback in Divide and Conquer. The flashback is one of SG-1's more comedic moments. In it, Daniel Jackson punches out a Jaffa while appearing to move only slightly (as he moves so fast, he appears to only twitch slightly, but the Jaffa is visibly sent flying).