SGA 5.16 "Brain Storm" Episode Guide

Précis

McKay brings Keller to Earth to visit an old rival physicist at his secret research facility. The rival demonstrates a wonderful new invention that’s intended to fight global warming, but things do not go as planned.

Guide | Transcript

MGM/SciFi.com Official Summary

The official summary is not available as this episode has not yet aired in the United States.

Spoiler Summary

McKay and Keller have returned to Earth. McKay has been invited to visit an old academic rival, Dr. Malcolm Tunney, and is bringing Keller along as his date. Rodney is bitter about Tunney, who has achieved great success on Earth and rubbed it in by sending a private jet to bring McKay and Keller to his secret facility in the desert. Tunney is throwing a party to demonstrate his new invention, a global warming fighter that can pull in cold weather from across a space/time bridge. Tunney has been funded by The Cause, which has a great stake in the success of the device.

While some of Tunney’s colleagues think it’s too risky to proceed with the “live” demonstration, Tunney insists everything will be fine. But once his team turns the device on, they find they can’t turn it off. The facility’s temperature begins to plunge, and no one can get out. Tunney and Rodney must somehow shut down the device and save Keller from freezing to death.

Cast

• Joe Flanigan as Lt. Col. John Sheppard
• Rachel Luttrell as Teyla Emmagan
• Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex
• Jewel Staite as Dr. Jennifer Keller
• Robert Picardo as Richard Woolsey
• and David Hewlett as Dr. Rodney McKay

Guest Stars

• Dr. Malcolm Tunney
• Terrence Kramer
• Ken the Scientist
• Steve the Scientist
• Front Desk Guy/Girl
• Assistant

Casting (but roles unknown):

• Dave Foley
• Billy Nye
• Neil deGrasse Tyson

Production

• Written by Martin Gero
• Directed by Martin Gero

Production Gallery

The following are links to images concerning the production of this episode and were published by Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog:

• Candid: Martin Gero congratulates Carl Binder for the "Carl Binder Memorial Theatre" venue used in this episode (July 21, 2008)

Related Articles

Keywords

• Earth

Other

• Season Five Episode Guides
• Episode Guides
• Season Five Transcripts
• Transcripts
• Previous: SGA 5.15 "Remnants" Episode Guide
• Next: SGA 5.17 "Infection" Episode Guide

Production Notes

• "Martin Gero 'written and directed by spectacular'..." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, April 29, 2008.
• "Martin almost had himself a new story today. I say almost because, after spinning out what he felt was a wonderfully exciting idea, Martin returned to his office and, in the process of writing it up, came to the conclusion that, hey, this concept has the potential to go wrong in so many different ways. So, he’s back at Square #1. ... Well, hey. Marty G. just dropped by to pitch out his new, wonderfully exciting idea for Episode #15. We all love it. I suggested he rush back to his office and write it up before he changes his mind. Again." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, May 8, 2008.
• "We spun Marty G.’s latest story idea this morning, going back and forth on various notions as the room argued containment fields, points of science, and hot vs. cold air masses. The thematic shift of his story has turned out to be a good new/bad news situation for me. Good news: HE is now writing “A Very Special Stargate: Atlantis”. Bad news: He takes the #16 slot which means I’m writing #15 which will have to be ready to prep on the day we get back from our summer hiatus. It would be great to have a story locked some time before then, but it’s been mighty slow going. And I’m getting mighty anxious. By the way, best exchange of the day: Brad: But that contradicts the laws of thermodynamics! Martin: Laws are made to be broken!" — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, May 12, 2008.
• "'I have no idea what it's going to be yet,' Gero told us regarding the episode he will write and direct. 'I'm focused on getting this two-parter really, really great. I think, ideally, [it will] be a smaller, quieter episode and save some money.' More recently Gero informed GateWorld exclusively that this fourth episode will be Earth-based. The title is still not known." — Martin Gero in Gateworld interview, June 4, 2008.
• "Speaking of Martin, we’ll be breaking his episode #16 when he gets back into town next week. Apparently, finding an oil rig-like setting for his script has been a bit of a challenge. John Smith did find one suitable-looking place however. The only drawback = it’s a sewage treatment plant and, by John’s own admission, tends to get “a little ripe in the summertime”. But sacrifices must be made for art and I, for one, don’t really have a problem shooting there despite the olfactory downside. Of course, the fact that I have no intention of visiting the location during production could have something to do with it. Also, the fact that Marty G., the director of said episode, WILL have to be there may result in a conceptual change. Maybe the story doesn’t take place on an oil rig after all. Maybe it takes place in a second-hand book shop…" — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, June 6, 2008.
• "The rest of the gang is understandably busy. Still, we did find time to gather and discuss Martin’s script (a very special Stargate Atlantis). The highpoint of the afternoon’s progress was, of course, the place-holder title we came up with: Snow Globe. Ah, the satisfaction of another day’s work well done." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, June 9, 2008.
• "We did get around to breaking Martin’s story today. The place-holder title, Snow Globe, lasted all of one day. It looks like, instead, we’ll be going with Rob Cooper’s suggestion: Brain Storm." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, June 10, 2008.
• "Once that was done, the producers took a stroll down to the lot where we checked out the (and hilariously named) reefer truck that Marty G. will be using for Brain Storm. The guys from SPFX were on hand to offer demonstration of the “burst pipe” sequence. Chilly!" — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, July 21, 2008.
• "Martin Gero was stumped. The Art Department needed a name for the venue in Brain Storm. You know, the one where Tunney gives his big speech and demonstration. “So what do I call it?”he asked the room. Before anyone else could even consider the possibilities, Paul already had the answer: “The Carl Binder Memorial Theatre”. Brilliant! Word went out to the Art Department and, three hours later, the plans for the Carl Binder Memorial Theatre were distributed." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, July 21, 2008. (Image of Carl getting honors for his theatre from Martin.)
• "Alan finished his rewrite of Infection, Martin is prepping Brain Storm, Carl is poised to prep Identity, and Paul has broken ground on #20. With less than two months to go, it looks like it’s going to be a mad dash to the finish line." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, July 23, 2008.
• "Well, it’s a race to the finish line as Marty G. begins directing Brain Storm today (which, if you haven’t heard by now, will guest Dave Foley, Billy Nye, and Neil deGrasse Tyson)..." — Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, July 31, 2008.
• "So it's a slow day around here. Martin Gero is directing his episode "Brain Storm" and the first unit is not on the lot (they're on location). ... And if the science aspects of the show excite you, stay tuned for Brain Storm - Martin Gero's upcoming episode - which will air in the fall." — Alex Levine, scifi.com blog, July 31, 2008.

Further Reading

• Joseph Mallozzi's Blog
• Gateworld: interview with Martin Gero, June 4, 2008.
• Solutions: SGA S5 Spoilers: "Brain Storm", July 18, 2008.
• Alex Levine's scifi.com blog, July 31, 2008.

---

--DeeKayP 06:29, 19 July 2008 (PDT)