Message in a Bottle 

SG-1 discovers an ancient artifact and brings it back to the SGC. Ariving at the SGC, it becomes active, pins O'Neill to the gate room wall, and unleashes a virus into him.

Director:

David Warry-Smith

Writers:

Brad Wright (developed for television by), Jonathan Glassner (developed for television by)

Stars:

Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Richard Dean Anderson	...	Colonel Jack O'Neill
Michael Shanks	...	Dr. Daniel Jackson
Amanda Tapping	...	Captain Samantha Carter
Christopher Judge	...	Teal'c
Don S. Davis	...	Major General George Hammond
Teryl Rothery	...	Dr. Janet Fraiser
Tobias Mehler	...	Lieutenant Graham Simmons
Gary Jones	...	Sgt. Walter Harriman
Kevin Conway	...	SG-3 Leader
Dan Shea	...	Sgt. Siler

Storyline

On a mission SG-1 finds an ancient, apparently lifeless metallic sphere-shaped object and brings it home to study the minute, elaborate writing on it, hoping they can then open it. Jack was eager to get away from the tedious examination, which seemed to be going nowhere, on yet another planetary mission, when the sphere suddenly 'warms up' and surprises everyone by sprouting long spikes in various directions, one of which happens to go straight trough Jack's body which soon infects. A staff-weapon doesn't even affect it, Sam fears it is only being fed energy. The fast-spreading infectious organism causes necrosis even on dead material, such as Jack's uniform and, worse, the computer system; yet it is slowed down by an antibiotic, tetracycline; UV-light shows it even got trough the walls, sneakily infecting everyone, starting with young control chamber Lieutenant Graham Simmons, who is allergic to the tetracycline (and clearly has a timid crush on Carter), only Teal'c is protected by ...

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Plot Keywords:

stabbed in the shoulder | bottle episode | energy | self destruct | alien life form | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

First appearance of Tobias Mehler playing Lt Graham Simmons in the series.

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Goofs

The orb shoots rods into concrete, they appear to be completely straight and rigid. However, the one which pierces the colonel's shoulder can clearly be seen bending. Therefore, it is made of something far more pliable than all the other rods. For example, it may be wood, fiberglass or plastic which is then painted the same bronze like color as the rest of the device.

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Quotes

Teal'c: The symbiote I carry appears to protect me.
Jack O'Neill: Way to go, Junior!

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Connections

Featured in Stargate SG-1: Disclosure (2003)

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Soundtracks

Main Title
Written by Joel Goldsmith and David Arnold

User Reviews

Tense Episode

While visiting a desolated planet similar to the moon, Jack, Daniel, Samantha and Teal'c find a spherical object and Jack decides to bring it with them to study. Out of the blue, the artifact warms up and Jack and Teal'c bring it to the Stargate to deliver it back to the planet. However the orb releases spikes to hold it in the Stagate Command and Jack is pierced by one spike and is hold against the concrete wall. He is infected by a virus that soon invades the computers. General Hammond seals the base and cut-down to self-destruction. However Samantha discovers that the orb feeds of energy and will grow with the blast. But the self-destruction process cannot be stopped since the computers are infected with the alien virus.

"Message in a Bottle" is a tense episode, with an apparently unsolved situation. Unfortunately the way it is resolved in unconvincing. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Message in a Bottle"

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1998 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gekko Film Corp., MGM Worldwide Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16 : 9