One False Step

"One False Step" is the nineteenth episode of the second season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
SG-1's efforts to communicate with some strange inhabitants causes an outbreak of illness. They soon discover a UAV crashed into one of the planet's plants, which hurts and upsets it, spreading the illness to the natives.

Plot
After a UAV is downed on the mysterious flora-covered planet PJ2-445, SG-1 must travel there to recover it. The video from the UAV shows that it has crashed into a plant, and that the planet may be home to intelligent life.

After arriving on the planet SG-1 soon discovers a primitive people who do not talk. After recovering the UAV, the people immediately begin to fall ill to unknown "illness". After much study back at Stargate Command, SG-1 and Dr. Janet Fraiser discover that the plant the UAV crashed in was releasing a sound at a certain frequency. This sound made the humans feel ill and irritated. It also made the native inhabitants seriously ill. Furthermore, they discover that the natives relied on this sound that the plants released in order to survive.

Captain Samantha Carter sets up a special sound system to cure the natives. With SG-1 watching the village from afar, the natives release a sound that causes the plants to bloom. Carter realizes that the natives and the plant had a symbiotic relationship. While the plant released one sound, the natives released a different sound to help the plants survive. SG-1 returns to Earth.

Notable Quotes
Teal'c: Since it is their planet, is it not we who are the aliens?

Jackson: Actually the word 'alien' refers to anything characteristic of a very different place or culture, anything really strange relative from our own perspective.

O'Neill: Think we call you 'alien' because you're from Chu'lak?

O'Neill: You're videotaping a plant.

Jackson: Well, I think this might be important.

O'Neill: Well, I think you might be losing what's left of your mind.

Jackson: What's that supposed to mean?

O'Neill: It means that on a good day you can be a little flaky.

Jackson: And on a good day you can be a little ignorant and condescending.

Jackson: Oh, please! We have a difference of opinion on just about everything.

O'Neill: Give me an example.

Jackson: I don't know, pick something! How about mythology!

O'Neill: Rumors, lies, fairytales.

Jackson: See, see, see, see, see, see! Mythology is one of the primary motivations for cultural development!

O'Neill: Maybe it is! What's that got to do with filming a plant?!

Jackson: Exactly!

O'Neill: What does that mean?!

Jackson: I don't know!

O'Neill: I agree with you, but I haven’t had the brilliant revelations you seem to have had.

Jackson: Well, maybe you could try coming up with something a little bit better than inappropriate sarcasm.

O'Neill: You want sarcasm? Nice to meet ya.

Jackson: Deja vu!

Teal'c: I am unfamiliar with that term.

Jackson: Um... it means I feel like I've been here before.

Teal'c: That is correct, Daniel Jackson. Yesterday, when we first arrived on this planet.

Jackson: Right... What was I thinking...?

O'Neill: What's up?

Jackson: The plant... or at least, it was.

O'Neill: What?

Jackson: Well, it had grown to over 6 feet tall, and when I came up to it, it just shrank back down into the ground. I'm gonna back up again, see if... see if it does it again.

O'Neill: (nothing is happening) Witness if you will: squat.

Carter: I had a feeling that there was some sort of symbiotic relationship between the aliens and the organism. They probably don't even realize it.

Jackson: How did you realize it?

(long pause)

O'Neill: Captain...?

Carter: I talk to my plants, okay?

Goofs

 * As Dr. Daniel Jackson attempts to communicate with the aliens inside one of their huts, his jacket patches switch from the usual SG-1 and Earth symbol designs to two Earth symbols between shots.
 * We rarely see the aliens close-up for extended periods of time in this episode. However, early on in this episode, a camera catches the back of one and an invisible zipper seam running up the back of the costume is clearly visible.

Character

 * SMSgt. Russell Benson

In other languages

 * French : Le Faux Pas (The False Step)
 * German: Tödliche Klänge (Deadly Sounds)
 * Italian: Un Passo Falso (A False Step)
 * Spanish: Un Paso en Falso (A False Step)
 * Czech: Jeden chybný krok (One False Step)
 * Hungarian: Egy rossz mozdulat (One Wrong Move)