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"Maternal Instinct" is the twentieth episode of the third season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis[]

Apophis has taken control of Sokar's forces and is racing the Tau'ri to search for the Harcesis, a child with all the knowledge of the Goa'uld, on Kheb. SG-1 gets there first, but it is only a matter of time before the enemy catch up to them.

Plot[]

Stargate Command is visited by Bra'tac, who has barely survived an attack on Chulak, which claimed the life of Moac. Bra'tac is upset, stating that the rebellion should be led by someone younger since he fears he is becoming too old to be effective in battle. Bra'tac then tells them that Apophis is still alive and is now commanding the dead Sokar's forces, making him in fact the most powerful Goa'uld. He was the one who attacked Chulak in his search for the Harcesis child, which Sha're hid on Kheb, a legendary planet on which, according to Earth legends, Osiris hid from Setesh. With Bra'tac's help (who has also heard of the planet in Jaffa legends) they locate the planet, something SGC was unable to do in the last months. So SG-1, SG-2 and Bra'tac travel to the planet to get the child, since it hosts the whole knowledge of all Goa'uld and could be the undoing of all the Goa'uld.

While SG-2 guards the Stargate, they come across a group of footprints. Teal'c explains that six Jaffa stopped there, and Bra'tac continues, stating that an additional two more went scouting and brought back a woman before heading into the forest. In their search of the forest, they find the Jaffa bodies, sizzled to a crisp although it appears as nothing has touched them. Bra'tac finds the woman who was possibly carrying the Harcesis child since her hands aren't bound. She tried to run, and the Jaffa shot her low enough to ensure that they did not accidently hit the child. Then someone or something took out the Jaffa.

The team then finds a Buddhist-like temple. After removing their weapons (since the place is sacred ground), Colonel Jack O'Neill, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Bra'tac go inside and are surprised by a Monk. When they start asking about the child, the monk replies in riddles. Bra'tac sits down with Daniel to receive training from the monk. After the monk explains to Bra'tac that because he holds evil inside, he will be unable to connect with nature unless he removes it. Bra'tac says he is not ready to remove his symbiote because he'll die, and excuses himself. After Bra'tac leaves the temple, he tells Teal'c that he feels younger and renewed and still has fight left in him.

Daniel begins to learn about how to access the hidden powers of telekinesis and pyrokinesis. He also learns of Oma Desala, which Daniel translates as "Mother Nature" and who is the basis of the monk's religion. Carter is convinced that there is some hidden technology, but Daniel interrupts and asks if there's even a small part of her that believes someone can achieve a higher level.

Meanwhile, the others become more and more impatient since they know that Apophis will send another strike force to the planet. However, Daniel convinces them to stay and continues his training so that he can protect the child. Nevertheless, the fears of the others become true when they discover that a Goa'uld assault force is on the planet. So, SG-1 sets up a defense at the temple while Daniel sees an ethereal being which leads him to the Harcesis. When he is about to leave with the child, he realizes that he doesn't have any powers. It was the being herself, trying to communicate to Daniel that Oma only wanted him to realize that the child would be safer with her. He lets the being take the child, although he knows that the boy would give them a great strategic advantage against the Goa'uld.

Meanwhile, SG-1 and the Jaffa are at a standoff, both sides unwilling to bow to the other. The monk, saying they are not welcome, is shot and killed by the Jaffa. Suddenly, Daniel arrives and tells SG-1 to drop their weapons, because using them would anger Oma Desala, the ascended being who is guarding the temple. SG-1 surrenders, but before the Jaffa can execute them, the shots from the staff weapons are dispelled much to the amazement of Bra'tac and Teal'c while seconds later, a bolt of lightning shoots from the clouds above and kills all the Jaffa. The monk's body meanwhile vanishes in a bright light as he ascends. Then, Oma appears in her Ascended form and carries the Harcesis through the Stargate to destinations unknown.

Appearances[]

Appearances for Maternal Instinct

Locations

Events

Items

Vehicles

Sentient Species

Organizations

Mentioned

Notable quotes[]

O'Neill: Son of a bitch!
Teal'c: Apophis must have transferred off of Sokar's ship before it exploded.
O'Neill: Somebody's gotta teach that guy how to die!

O'Neill: What is it?
Teal'c: Six of the Jaffa stopped here.
Bra'tac: Two went on ahead. They returned with another. A woman.
O'Neill: How do you know that?
Teal'c: Here. The third of the prints are small and light. The shoe an open toed sandal worn by Jaffa women.
Bra'tac: When they all met up again, there was a struggle. Then they headed into the forest. Each print is spread wide. They were running.
O'Neill: He's good.
Teal'c: Extremely.

Bra'tac: I am not yet ready to give up. I feel alive Teal'c; like a young man, of eighty. We still have false gods to slay.

(Entering Buddhist Temple)
Carter: No welcoming party.
O'Neill: Someone's been reading Martha Stewart.

(Inside Temple)
O'Neill: (surprised by the monk's entrance) Hey! Whoa! Where'd you come from?
Monk: I have been here for some time.
O'Neill: No, you weren't here when we just came in.
Monk: Here is everywhere you are.

Monk: Put no barriers between you and where you are.

O'Neill: We've been walking a ways today.
Monk: Your journey has only begun.

Monk: When the mind is enlightened, the spirit is freed, the body matters not.

Jackson: We've come looking for a boy, a baby.
Monk: Lightning flashes, sparks shower, in one blink of your eyes you've missed seeing.

Monk: The sun is warm, the wind is wild, the grass is green along the shores.  Here, no bull can hide.
O'Neill: Oh, I don't know about that.
Jackson: Jack, he's speaking in Zen koans. Whatever theology he follows may be an original basis for Buddhism on Earth.
O'Neill: Well, that's very nice. I'll be sure to call the Dalai Lama when I get home.

Jackson: Is there a child here?
Monk: There is a child in all of us.

Bra'tac: He seeks a real human boy, of flesh and bones.
Monk: Those who seek oneness, find all that they seek.

Jackson: I think this is going to take a while.
O'Neill: Really? What gives you that idea?

Monk: Words cannot express things; speech cannot convey the spirit. Swayed by words, one is lost.

Monk: Why do you seek this child of flesh and bones?
Jackson: He is the son of my wife.
Monk: But not your son.
Jackson: No. But my wife is dead now and I promised her I would make sure the boy is safe.
Monk: And you are sure he will be safe with you.
Jackson: Yes. Absolutely.
Monk: Because it is so clear, it takes a longer time to realize it. If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, then the meal was cooked a long time ago.
Jackson: Right. I, ah, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Monk: You must trust. You must believe.
Jackson: Well, maybe what I don't believe is that I can light a candle with my mind.

Monk: Place your hand in the flame.
Jackson: (in pain) Ah! Why did you tell me to do that?
Monk: Why did you do it?
Jackson: Because you told me to.
Monk: Because you trusted.
Jackson: Yes.
Monk: Within you is the capacity for trust. Trust Oma Desala. Do not believe you can light the candle; believe she can light the candle.

Monk: Cannot teach you what you already know.
O'Neill: Oh, I don't think I know as much as you think I know.

O'Neill: Daniel, that was a glider.  We're out of time.
Monk: Time means nothing to the...
O'Neill: Ahh-ehh!!  Don't say it.

O'Neill: If we happen to make it out of this in one piece, remind me to harm Daniel severely.

(Leaving Temple)
O'Neill: Daniel.
Jackson: Yeah?
O'Neill: Shoes.

Cast[]

Main Characters

Guest Stars

Notes[]

  • This episode marks the first appearance of the Ancients (and an ascended being in general), though they are not identified as such until season six.
  • Although Dr. Daniel Jackson determined the philosophy of the Kheb Monk as being the basis of Buddhism, this episode makes several references to the "path to enlightenment" echoed in later seasons by the Ori especially when one learns of the Ascended being Oma Desala's involvement. It is possible the Ancients purposely changed the teachings of the Book of Origin at the time of their schism to reflect a more peaceful route to enlightenment based on self-discovery and not subservience to the Ori.
  • In this episode the Jaffa who came still wore the mark of Sokar but he was already dead and his armies taken over by Apophis. This could be for various reasons, such as limited time, requirements or even desire to have the change done to his new soldiers.
  • After "Family", this is the second time that Bra'tac informs Stargate Command that Apophis (whom they believed to be dead) is still alive.
  • The Kheb Monk's line about "if you immediately know the candlelight is fire then the meal has been cooked a long time ago" is repeated by Jackson in "Reckoning, Part 1" to what he believes is Oma but is really Replicator Carter. When she is confused by the line, it allows Jackson to realize she's tricking him but not before she gets what she wanted. He also tells O'Neill in "Abyss" when trying to help him Ascend that that would be something Oma would've said to convince him.

Goofs[]

  • During the scene where Colonel Jack O'Neill requests backup and the Jaffa march upon the temple, the Jaffa leader says "Tok'ra Kree". Clearly, a mistake.

Other languages[]

  • French: Instinct Maternel (Maternal Instinct)
  • Italian: Istinto Materno (Maternal Instinct)
  • Spanish: Instinto Maternal (Maternal Instinct)
  • Czech: Mateřský instinkt (Maternal Instinct)
  • Hungarian: Az anyai ösztön (The Maternal Instinct)

Links and navigation[]

Smallwikipedialogo This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Maternal Instinct (Stargate SG-1). The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with SGCommand, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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