Prodigy

"Prodigy" is the nineteenth episode of the fourth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
Cadet Jennifer Hailey gets Major Samantha Carter's attention after noticing her intelligence, which rivals Carter's. She decides to send her on a mission with an expedition team on M4C-862. There, the teams manage to anger a group of tiny flying orbs, which can literally pass through solid matter with fatal consequences for the teams.

Plot
While Colonel Jack O'Neill and Teal'c are visiting an off-world research facility on a moon and Dr. Daniel Jackson is on a mission with SG-11, Major Samantha Carter is sent to the Air Force Academy to give a lecture on wormholes. During her stay, Carter meets Cadet Jennifer Hailey, a cocky, insubordinate, brilliant cadet, who even finds a mistake in one of Carter's equations. Carter believes that Hailey would be a great asset to Stargate Command and tries to convince her stay in the academy, although she always gets in trouble and is even threatened with expulsion for breaking an upperclassman's nose.

O'Neill and the scientists stationed at the facility in the meantime begin to butt heads. The scientists are irritated that O'Neill seems paranoid about everything, while O'Neill believes that the scientists are not being careful enough in their research. While exploring the moon, the team discovers an alien lifeform similar to a Will o' the wisp that can fly, phase through solid matter and act intelligently. Despite O'Neill's protests, the scientists capture one for further study. The scientists believe that it may be an energy based life form and that it would be one of the greatest discoveries for mankind.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Carter discovers that most of Hailey's negative attitude stems from boredom and frustration with the courses she is taking. Hailey is so brilliant that none of the classes at the academy challenge her. However, Hailey is also angry about being constantly compared to Carter. Carter gets permission to reveal her work and gives her a tour through the SGC, as well as her first alien world. They arrive at the same moon as the research facility where O'Neill and Teal'c are located.

At the facility, things are not going well. Two scientists venture out into the forest to find more wisps, but the wisps are apparently aware that one of their numbers had been captured, and the scientists are mercilessly attacked. One scientist, Dr. Bill Thompson, is killed when the wisps pass through him several times and every time they do so burn the person. The other, Dr. Bill Lee, is injured, but manages to run and warn the others. The team on the moon is forced to take shelter in the main building. Carter runs an electric current through the aluminum walls of the facility to keep the wisps out, but because nobody can remember when the power generator was last fueled, it could cut out at any minute.

There Carter and Hailey clash about what to do. Carter thinks the wisps are angry at one of their number being imprisoned; Hailey thinks they turned violent as a result of substantial changes in the magnetic field present around the moon, caused by its polar orbit about the parent planet. Finally O'Neill decides to let himself be shot with a Zat'nik'tel, so that for some time he will be immune to the wisps and can run to the Stargate to open it. That done, the team run for the gate, with SG-1 holding off the wisps with their Zats. SG-1, Hailey, and the remaining scientists make the escape to Earth, and an excited Hailey decides to stay in the Air Force to work at the SGC after graduating.

Memorable Quotes
O'Neill: (to General Hammond) Sir, I'd like to talk to you about this mission we are about to embark on. A bit ridiculous don't you think?

Hammond: Have you met General Ryan?

Ryan: Hello Colonel.

O'Neill: (stares in disbelief) The General Ryan? Chief of Staff?

Ryan: That's right.

O'Neill: (to General Hammond) Shouldn't there have been a memo or something?

Hammond: You were off-world.

O'Neill: Ah! So what brings you to our secret base sir?

Ryan: That would be the ridiculous mission you just mentioned.

O'Neill: Of course.

Ryan: I have read a lot about you colonel. From General Hammond's reports.

O'Neill: Yes sir?

Ryan: Thus far, we like your work.

O'Neill: Thank you sir. I like your work too. Your air force. The air force. I love the air force.

Hammond: Was there anything else, Colonel?

O'Neill: No sir. Well actually, sir, I would like to know how Jackson and Carter got out of this... very important mission.

Hammond: Dr. Jackson is off-world with SG11. Major Carter is giving a lecture in astrophysics at the air force academy. If you would like to take her place?

O'Neill: No.

Hammond: Then you're dismissed.

O'Neill: Thank you sir. Sirs. Sir... both of ya.

Ryan: Got your hands full with that one, eh George?

Hamilton: Hey, I didn't come halfway across the galaxy to wait for permission to do my job!

Lee: I know, but... Colonel O'Neill...

Hamilton: Colonel O'Neill doesn't have a clue what we're trying to accomplish here, he's too busy polishing his M16.

O'Neill: (Who was out of sight of the talking scientists and is in-fact polishing his weapon) Actually, it's a P90!

Hamilton: This is typical military thinking. You encounter something you don't understand, you immediately assume it's a threat.

O'Neill: Well. Until we determine there is no threat, I will assume there is one. Do we have a problem here?

Hamilton: Colonel, with all due respect...

O'Neill: Really?

Hamilton: When I agreed to this assignment, I was under the impression that I was going to be in charge.

O'Neill: You are in charge. Of the other scientists.

Hamilton: That you even think you are qualified to decide what we can and can't do around here is...

Teal'c: Colonel O'Neill is indeed qualified, Dr. Hamilton. Having encountered many alien species, as have I since before you were born. I strongly suggest you do what Colonel O'Neill says.

O'Neill: Thank you, Rocco.

Teal'c: Are you ready O'Neill?

O'Neill: No. Give me a warning.

Teal'c: I am going to shoot you.

O'Neill: I was thinking more along the lines of "on three". One... (Teal'c shoots him) Two!

Goofs

 * When the scientists discover the swarm of the alien beings, a can be seen driving by in the background. This can be seen on the DVD at approximately 22:43 (to the viewer's right/scientists' left).
 * When Major Samantha Carter and Cadet Jennifer Hailey travel through the Stargate, Carter enters the gate to Jennifer's left, while she is on her right when they arrive at the destination gate.
 * Hailey is supposed to have broken the nose of an upperclassman, leading to her possible expulsion. However, she is shown to be wearing the insignia of a USAFA Cadet 1/c, and is thus a "senior" by civilian terminology. It is possible, as she is an "unranked" 1/c, as judged by her insignia, that she struck a higher ranked cadet. This is also supported by the fact that she appears in Season 5 as a Second Lieutenant. If she had been in a lower class, she would not have been commissioned in time to appear at that rank.

Characters

 * Dr. Bill Lee
 * Cadet Jennifer Hailey
 * Brigadier General Michael Kerrigan

In other languages

 * French: Prodige (Prodigy)
 * Italian: Prodigio (Prodigy)
 * Spanish: Prodigio (Prodigy)
 * Czech: Zázračné Dítě (Miracle Child (Prodigy))
 * Hungarian: Őstehetség (Indigenous Talent (Prodigy))