Stargate Atlantis

McKay is investigating the disappearance of a research team when he becomes infected by a mysterious parasite. The organism attaches itself to his brain, devours his memories, and leaves him with only a few days left to live. Time is rapidly running out.

The Shrine is a self‑contained episode of a programme that falls under the episode genre. It presents a concise, focused story rather than a long‑running series, and the narrative is driven by a single investigative thread. The central plot follows McKay, who is on the trail of a missing research team. While probing their disappearance, he becomes the host of a parasitic organism. This parasite latches onto his brain and begins to consume his memories, a process that gradually robs him of his past. As the creature feeds, McKay realises he only has a few days left before the infection proves fatal. The episode’s tension stems from the parasite’s relentless consumption of McKay’s recollections and the ticking clock it creates. With each passing moment, his mental store shrinks, leaving him with a stark, limited timeframe to confront the threat. The story therefore hinges on his race against time, as the parasite’s appetite for his memories pushes him ever closer to an inevitable end.