McKay and Mrs. Miller

McKay and Mrs. Miller
Production
Series	Stargate: Atlantis
Episode	3.08
Production #	308
Original air date	September 8, 2006 (Sci-Fi Channel) October 30, 2006 (The Movie Network) December 6, 2006 (Sky1) December 5, 2007 (RTL II) April 17, 2008 (Channel 7) December 3, 2008 (AXN)
Written by	Martin Gero
Directed by	Martin Wood
More Information
Gallery
Transcript
Credits
Chronology
Preceded by	"Common Ground"
Followed by	"Phantoms"

"McKay and Mrs. Miller" is the eighth episode of the third season of Stargate: Atlantis. It is also the 250th produced episode in the Stargate franchise.

Synopsis

Jeannie Miller, Dr. Rodney McKay's sister has thought up a theory to bridge two realities together. Stargate Command, and McKay convince her to come to Atlantis to reform Project Arcturus but everyone's left stunned when another Rodney from an alternate reality named Rod McKay arrives.

Plot

Jeannie Miller finds mathematical solution to zero point energy problem

Jeannie Miller, Dr. Rodney McKay's sister, is seen playing with her daughter Madison Miller. While watching her daughter push a toy train across a bridge, Jeannie is suddenly hit with a moment of inspiration, and begins writing down mathematical formulas using fingerpaint and Madison's easel. She submits her work to Professor Graeme Peel of the California Institute of Technology, and catches the eye of the US Government, more specifically, the Stargate Program. The next thing she knows, Jeannie is approached by Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter, who appears on her doorstep flanked by a couple of Mounties with an offer to work for Stargate Command.

Jean, Rodney and Sam aboard Daedalus

Jeannie, however, refuses to work for the US Government because she believes her physics calculations serve no practical purpose and vehemently opposes the commercial exploitation of theoretical science. McKay is brought back to Earth in an effort to convince his sister to work for the SGC. McKay visits Jeannie and her husband Kaleb Miller and daughter. They don't really know what to think of him, and McKay and his sister bicker about the past. McKay wants her to come with him and help out for a few months because she's almost as brilliant as he is and would be a great help to the Stargate Program. Jeannie balks until McKay beams her aboard the Daedalus. McKay then reveals that Jeannie's calculations can help solve the problems that plagued Project Arcturus. Instead of trying to draw zero point energy from our own universe and release hazardous exotic particles, McKay plans to draw energy from a parallel universe via a Matter bridge so the exotic particles would be vented into the hopefully uninhabited parallel universe instead. Working together, McKay and Jeannie managed to resurrect Project Arcturus and successfully activate it without releasing exotic particles. While being tested, a foreign object suddenly materializes inside the containment chamber. When the scientists arrive to investigate, they are shocked to discover McKay, or an alternate version of him. The alternate McKay demands to see the person in charge of the project – McKay.

Meanwhile, the friction and differences between McKay and Jeannie becomes more evident as their bickering and sibling rivalry become more intense. Matters aren't helped when they first meet the alternate McKay. Alternate McKay explains to the Atlantis team that he was sent to this universe in order to warn them that his universe is slowly being destroyed by the exotic particles being created by Project Arcturus. The project is immediately shut down to prevent any more damage. However, the alternate McKay admits that the trip through the matter bridge is one-way only, so he will be staying in Atlantis permanently.

Alternate Rodney "Rod" McKay

Already, there are major contrasts between McKay and alternate McKay, who is soon called "Rod". Rod is more outgoing and social than McKay, and is more comfortable in engaging with personal relationships. Much to McKay's dismay, Rod quickly befriends most of the Atlantis team, including Jeannie. McKay slowly realizes to his horror that he is actually jealous of Rod and his ability to socialize, as well as being able to get along well with Jeannie. Meanwhile, more problems begin to arise. Even though Project Arcturus had been shut down, the matter bridge is still open and Rod's universe is still being destroyed. The Atlantis team in Rod's universe devises a way to stop the process but it would involve destroying McKay's.

Suddenly, McKay realizes that there is an alternate way to close the matter bridge without having to destroy either universe. The plan involves using massive amounts of energy to forcibly close the matter bridge. Unfortunately, they only have one energy source powerful enough to use, the Zero Point Module. While preparations are being made, Rod approaches McKay, telling him that he is going to attempt to beam himself back through the matter bridge and return to his own universe. McKay tries to dissuade Rod, pointing out that everybody in Atlantis likes him. Rod however is adamant, stating that even though his teammates in his universe have their faults, they are still his team. Rod even admits that he is slightly jealous of McKay's self-confidence in his own talents and ability to say what is on his mind without hesitation.

The plan continues, and the alternate McKay begins to draw energy from the ZPM to close the matter bridge. They successfully close the bridge, but McKay keeps the energy running in order to give Rod time to beam back to his own universe. Once the power is cut however, McKay realizes in horror that the ZPM has been drained of all power as Atlantis is plunged into darkness.

AR-1 hanging out in Atlantis mess hall

With her job done, Jeannie begins to pack up and prepare to return to Earth, but not before Sheppard shows her the video McKay recorded two years previously before the Wraith siege. McKay comes to see her one last time, and the siblings reconcile their differences. After a tearful farewell, McKay goes to the mess hall, where he finds Lt. Colonel John Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan, and Ronon Dex just hanging out, talking and joking with each other. McKay joins them, and is surprised as his teammates admit that they didn't quite like Rod all that much, stating that he was "creepy". They also wonder if Rod ever made it back to his own universe. Then, in a surprising move, McKay begins to hang out with the trio, talking and joking along with them.

Notable quotes

Jeannie: What have you got yourself involved in here, Meredith?
Carter: Meredith?
McKay: Ouf... long story.
Jeannie: It's his name.
Carter: Your name is Meredith McKay?
McKay: Meredith Rodney McKay, yes, but I prefer to go by Rodney. (to Jeannie) Stick to the point here, look out the window, much more interesting than my name.
Carter: Your name is Meredith?

Carter: It was an attempt to generate zero point energy.
Jeannie: That would be virtually limitless power. What happened?
McKay: A slight problem. It was the creation of exotic particles in the containment field.
Carter: He destroyed a solar system.
Jeannie: Meredith! (She smacks his arm.)
McKay: It was uninhabited!

Jeannie: I solved your problem in my spare time... with finger paints.
McKay: Here we go.
Jeannie: I just can't imagine how you're surviving the humiliation.

Carter: Siblings...
McKay and Jeannie: Sorry.
(Carter, onscreen, is smiling.)
McKay and Jeannie: What?.
Carter: It's just that you both said "Sorry" in that cute, Canadian way. (pause) Sorry.

McKay: Now, I don't want to scare you, but you need to know the stakes. We are at war.
(Jeannie looks at him suspiciously.)
Jeannie: Did you start it?
McKay: (indignantly) What? No! Come on!

McKay: Back off Sheppard. She's married and she's my sister.
Sheppard: I was just saying hi.
McKay: Yeah, I've seen that look before... Kirk.

McKay: Where are we?
Zelenka: Simulations are all in the green, we're ready to try power-up.
Jeannie: Really? So soon, that's amazing! Excellent work Radek!
Zelenka: (surprised) Thank you!
McKay: Yes, we try not to encourage him. Little bit of an ego.

Ronon: (to McKay) Relax, we all have embarrassing childhood stories.
Sheppard: Of course we do.
Ronon: There was one time the school bullies made me eat lunch with my underwear on my head.
McKay: Oh?
Ronon: Oh, wait, that was you.

Rod: I need to speak to whoever's in charge of this project.
(Radek, confused, looks round briefly at the other scientists before turning back to Rod.)
Zelenka: But... that's you.
Rod: (smiles and puts his hands on his hips.) Well, then... I guess I need to speak to me.

McKay: So, what else has been happening?
Sheppard: Well, Teyla's got the hots on one of the new marines...
(Teyla steps on his foot.)
Teyla: That is not true.
Ronon: You know it is.
McKay: Hardly news, either.

Cast

Main Characters

• Joe Flanigan as Lt. Colonel John Sheppard
• Torri Higginson as Dr. Elizabeth Weir
• Rachel Luttrell as Teyla Emmagan
• Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex
• David Hewlett as
  • Dr. Rodney McKay
  • Dr. Rod McKay

Guest Stars

• Amanda Tapping as Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter
• Kate Hewlett as Jeannie Miller
• David Nykl as Dr. Radek Zelenka
• Brendan Gall as Kaleb Miller
• Madison Bell as Madison Miller
• Trevor Devall as Voice of Hermiod
• Sheri Noel as Scientist
• Jon Johnson as Parker (Uncredited)
• Eddy Huber as Coughlin (Uncredited)
• Colin Decker as Marine (Uncredited)
• Lalo Espejo as Scientist (Uncredited)

Notes

• A similar plot, where a more charismatic version of a main character, from a parallel universe, is seen in the British sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf in the episode "Dimension Jump".

• This episode reveals that McKay's full name is Meredith Rodney McKay.

• The Rodney McKay from the alternative reality appears inside the testing chamber in the same pose as the Terminator.

• The outside shot of the Miller Residence is a reuse of footage of the Major Samantha Carter's house in "Ascension".

• Some notable differences between the two universes:
  • The alternate Lantea is in a different location, as the matter bridge exits into open space above the planet.
  • The alternate Lt. Colonel John Sheppard is a member of Mensa. He constantly reminds Rod McKay of his intellect, making the Rodney McKay of our reality appear modest by comparison.
  • The alternate Teyla Emmagan is not very social.
  • The alternate Jeannie Miller has three children instead of one.
  • Ronon Dex however is apparently the same in both universes.
  • Both Earth and Atlantis possess Zero Point Modules making travel between the two much simpler.

• When Rod appears he is using an Ancient personal shield emitter that his Atlantis found. McKay ruefully tells Rod that he drained theirs, referring to the events of "Hide and Seek".

• McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a 1971 western, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, and directed by Robert Altman. The episode borrows nothing from the film but its title.

• The bucket of golf balls Lt. Colonel John Sheppard uses says "Property of Daedalus. Do not remove."

• When McKay scolds Sheppard for potentially flirting with Jeannie, he refers to him angrily as Kirk. This a reference to the well know flirtatious attitude of James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series.

• The two men that accompany Carter to Jeannie Miller's house are Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers as Jeannie's house is in Vancouver, Canada.

• Before alternative Rod leaves, he goes to Dr. Radek Zelenka and says in Czech "měj se", which means "take care".

• When Sheppard says that Teyla has the hots for one of the new Marines, this may be a reference to the fact that Rachel Luttrell married stuntman Loyd Bateman who played a Marine in the episode "Duet".

• In the alternate universe, "Rod" mentions that Jeannie has three kids - Madison, Bradley and Robbie. The boys are probably a reference to series co-creators Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper.

• This episode marks the final appearance of Hermiod on the series.

• Carter refers to the events of "Trinity", McKay refers to those of "Hide and Seek" and Sheppard refers to those of "Letters from Pegasus".

• The events of this episode occur over the course of around a month. This takes into account the fact that the Daedalus takes roughly eighteen days to travel between Earth and Atlantis and that the events following Jeannie's arrival on Atlantis appears to occur over at least a few days before she departs.

• Before its drained to collapse the matter bridge, the Atlantis ZPM is shown to have been at 66% power.

• Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter) also appeared in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Memento Mori", which was originally broadcast on the same day (September 8, 2006).

• Amanda Tapping (Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter) is credited as a Special Guest Star.

• Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett) does not appear in this episode.

• Jeannie Miller is portrayed by Kate Hewlett, who is the real-life younger sister of David Hewlett, who plays Dr. Rodney McKay on the show.

Goofs

• The "ZPM Module depleted" notice on the computer is incorrect. Because "ZPM" stands for "Zero Point Module," the word "Module" is redundant.  It should instead be "ZPM depleted".

• When Dr. Rodney McKay and Jeannie Miller meet the parallel universe Rodney McKay and he invites them to sit down it is very obvious he is not looking at them while speaking to them.

• Before Lt. Colonel John Sheppard shows it to her, Jeannie has not seen McKay's message from "Letters from Pegasus" nor is she aware of its existence. The personal messages are confirmed to have gone out as Lt. Aiden Ford's cousin Lara mentions the message he sent while talking to Sheppard in "The Intruder"—though one could assume that Ford either followed through on McKay's request to edit it down or to tack it on to the end and be the bit cut short if the complete data burst didn't go through.

• Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter comments on the McKay's pronouncing sorry in "the cute Canadian way", but she also did the same thing a few minutes before at the start of the same scene. (Amanda Tapping is also Canadian)

Awards

• Nominated Gemini for "Best Writing in a Dramatic Series" (Martin Gero)

Other languages

• Russian: МакКей и миссис Миллер (McKay and Mrs. Miller)
• Hungarian: McKay es Mrs. Miller (McKay and Mrs. Miller)
• French: La Guerre des génies (The War of the Geniuses )
• Japanese: 兄妹 Keimai (Siblings) - specifically, an older brother and a younger sister

External links

• McKay and Mrs. Miller on GateWorld. (backup link)
• McKay and Mrs. Miller article on Stargate SG-1 Solutions' The StargateWiki