I really don't care that the science is bad on this one. It's campy and fun. So bad it's good!
27 Reviews
Guilty pleasure
sharondwb8 February 2019
Hilarious and ridiculous
Metal_Robots17 March 2022
Just watched Star Trek TNG series 7, ep 19 "Genesis": It was absolutely hilarious! I don't remember it at all from the first time around but I'm very glad I saw it now! It's so utterly ridiculous, I place it on the level of a Simpsons Halloween special: IE it was just meant as a bit of fun and is not to be considered as a real episode.
So spiders are part of human's genetic past??? And Spot the cat suddenly becomes an Iguana with a pink collar? No expense spared on SFX there!! And never has an abrupt TNG "and they all lived happily ever after" ending been so apparent as with this one! So the crew ends up joking as usual, suffering no disturbing after-effects after having just spent three days morphing "The Fly"-like, into all manner of pustulating, venom-spitting creatures and trying to rape / eat each other?!
I seriously can't decide if I love or hate this ep, at least the hilarity levels make it a memorable one. Being the final season, they had nothing to lose I guess. Why not have a laugh and camp it up with a horror parody?
So spiders are part of human's genetic past??? And Spot the cat suddenly becomes an Iguana with a pink collar? No expense spared on SFX there!! And never has an abrupt TNG "and they all lived happily ever after" ending been so apparent as with this one! So the crew ends up joking as usual, suffering no disturbing after-effects after having just spent three days morphing "The Fly"-like, into all manner of pustulating, venom-spitting creatures and trying to rape / eat each other?!
I seriously can't decide if I love or hate this ep, at least the hilarity levels make it a memorable one. Being the final season, they had nothing to lose I guess. Why not have a laugh and camp it up with a horror parody?
You will become a lemur or a pygmy marmoset
CCsito25 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This was one of the better episodes in the final season of Star Trek the Next Generation. The plot involves Reginald Barclay who complains about coming down with an alien fever. He is treated by Dr. Crusher who injects him with a serum to activate a gene that would help him to feel better. Unfortunately, the treatment results in a ship wide gene mutation to everyone on board. Picard and Data have gone on a shuttle craft mission prior to the infection and return to find the ship adrift in space. Everyone on board has mutated backwards on the evolutionary scale (Deanna to an amphibian, Barclay to a spider, Riker to a early form of hominid, Worf to a reptile form, Nurse Ogawa to a early ape, and Spot to an "iguana"). By coming on board, Picard also becomes infected and begins to act like an early ape. Data gets crucial information from the birth of Spot's kittens and uses the embryo of Nurse Ogawa to help to revert the mutations.
One of My Faves
cyninbend-149-61048912 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this episode simply because it was so creative. The first time I saw it, it blew me away to see what each crew member devolved into. Data and the Captain in the darkened ship...very cool. I had goose bumps over the sounds...
My only question was why earthlings could be different from one another. A spider and a cave man? Probably should have brought in a few aliens to turn into some different species. And the reviewer wondering why more were not eating/eaten bugged me too...again some aliens could have picked up the slack. But then they kind of explained a bit? All in all, it was exciting, crazy and unlike the hundreds of other episodes of the franchise. Give it a break--such overly critical thinking only restricts imagination and chance- taking.
Regarding Paramount's dirty decision to cancel TNG to maximize immediate profit, those persons should be named and blamed for their poor judgment--we fans will pay the price forever, missing more exceptional episodes of one of the best shows ever. Their bonuses are spent by now, yet we are still watching this fantastic series all these years later. Let them serve as a warning to other selfish suits by making their names live in infamy.
My only question was why earthlings could be different from one another. A spider and a cave man? Probably should have brought in a few aliens to turn into some different species. And the reviewer wondering why more were not eating/eaten bugged me too...again some aliens could have picked up the slack. But then they kind of explained a bit? All in all, it was exciting, crazy and unlike the hundreds of other episodes of the franchise. Give it a break--such overly critical thinking only restricts imagination and chance- taking.
Regarding Paramount's dirty decision to cancel TNG to maximize immediate profit, those persons should be named and blamed for their poor judgment--we fans will pay the price forever, missing more exceptional episodes of one of the best shows ever. Their bonuses are spent by now, yet we are still watching this fantastic series all these years later. Let them serve as a warning to other selfish suits by making their names live in infamy.
An earlier state.
russem314 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:171 - "Genesis" (Stardate: 47653.2) - this is the 19th episode of the 7th and last season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
As Picard and Data take a shuttlecraft to investigate the problem with Worf's new weapons system, the Enterprise crew begin to show signs of unusual behavior (i.e. Worf gets very agitated and starts eating profusely, while Troi begins to like salty foods and complains the air temperature is off as they eat lunch together).
Things get even stranger so by the time Picard and Data return to the Enterprise, they discover that the crew has turned into different and bizarre creatures! And Picard begins to exhibit the same signs! Watch what happens in this exciting episode.
Dwight Schultz returns as Lt. Reginald 'Reg' Barclay III (an even more hyper version of himself). Dr. Selar is mentioned again. We see an Enterprise bathtub. Patti Yasutake also returns as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa - this time pregnant! And so is Data's cat Spot!
As Picard and Data take a shuttlecraft to investigate the problem with Worf's new weapons system, the Enterprise crew begin to show signs of unusual behavior (i.e. Worf gets very agitated and starts eating profusely, while Troi begins to like salty foods and complains the air temperature is off as they eat lunch together).
Things get even stranger so by the time Picard and Data return to the Enterprise, they discover that the crew has turned into different and bizarre creatures! And Picard begins to exhibit the same signs! Watch what happens in this exciting episode.
Dwight Schultz returns as Lt. Reginald 'Reg' Barclay III (an even more hyper version of himself). Dr. Selar is mentioned again. We see an Enterprise bathtub. Patti Yasutake also returns as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa - this time pregnant! And so is Data's cat Spot!
Something strange happens to the crew of the Enterprise
Tweekums23 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Early on in this episode we see Lt Barclay visiting sickbay convinced that he has some fatal disease; Dr. Crusher reassures him that it is a minor condition that his body should be able to deal with; She explains that he only notices because there is something wrong with certain genes that haven't been activated
a quick jab can fix that though. Meanwhile on the bridge a test of an 'improved' torpedo goes wrong; this leaves Worf furious with himself as he was the one who'd modified it. While Capt. Picard and Data take a shuttle to retrieve to torpedo strange things start to happen on the Enterprise. Troi starts complaining about the cold, Barclay becomes confident and Worf develops venom glands! By the time Picard and Data get back the entire crew has reverted to an atavistic state; whatever the cause it is now also affecting the captain; they will have to work fast to find the cause and a cure before he turns into a lemur!
This is a rather strange episode but fun if you don't think about it too much with many characters turning into deadly predators it is odd that we only see one death. Early on it was fun seeing Dwight Schultz return as the hypochondriac Lt. Barclay as he suggests various fatal ailments he might have. As the crew start changing things are intriguing as there is no indication were it is going until Worf bites Troi the sprays Beverley with poison! Once Picard and Data get back it is clear that the crew has entirely changed and many of the ship's systems are offline; this leads to a distinctly creepy atmosphere as they here strange noises while walking through darkened corridors. Many TNG episodes are directed by members of the cast and this time it was Gates McFadden's turn; she did a fine job maintaining the tension here in an episode that was closer to a horror story than the usual clean sci-fi.
This is a rather strange episode but fun if you don't think about it too much with many characters turning into deadly predators it is odd that we only see one death. Early on it was fun seeing Dwight Schultz return as the hypochondriac Lt. Barclay as he suggests various fatal ailments he might have. As the crew start changing things are intriguing as there is no indication were it is going until Worf bites Troi the sprays Beverley with poison! Once Picard and Data get back it is clear that the crew has entirely changed and many of the ship's systems are offline; this leads to a distinctly creepy atmosphere as they here strange noises while walking through darkened corridors. Many TNG episodes are directed by members of the cast and this time it was Gates McFadden's turn; she did a fine job maintaining the tension here in an episode that was closer to a horror story than the usual clean sci-fi.
Memorable and random episode
snoozejonc3 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Enterprise crew contracts a virus that alters the DNA sequence on the carrier.
This is an enjoyable episode but it has one of the more random stories of the show.
I am no genetic scientist and not really qualified to comment on the sci-fi aspect of the plot, but it feels a bit silly. The vibes I feel from Data informing Captain Picard of his theory about the crew "de-evolving' are reminiscent of Dr McCoy informing Captain Kirk that Spock's brain was missing. Also the dues ex machina resolution is priceless.
That being said there is plenty of entertainment. The horror movie moments are excellent and the makeup effects on a number of characters are tremendous. Generally it feels quite tongue in cheek which helps when things get quite outlandish.
Everything considered I think the actors do a great job with mostly physical performances and the production values are superb.
I notice this episode cops a lot of criticism from fans generally, but personally I think if you do not take Star Trek more seriously than you should, it's definitely worth a watch.
This is an enjoyable episode but it has one of the more random stories of the show.
I am no genetic scientist and not really qualified to comment on the sci-fi aspect of the plot, but it feels a bit silly. The vibes I feel from Data informing Captain Picard of his theory about the crew "de-evolving' are reminiscent of Dr McCoy informing Captain Kirk that Spock's brain was missing. Also the dues ex machina resolution is priceless.
That being said there is plenty of entertainment. The horror movie moments are excellent and the makeup effects on a number of characters are tremendous. Generally it feels quite tongue in cheek which helps when things get quite outlandish.
Everything considered I think the actors do a great job with mostly physical performances and the production values are superb.
I notice this episode cops a lot of criticism from fans generally, but personally I think if you do not take Star Trek more seriously than you should, it's definitely worth a watch.
I just love how divisive this episode is among fans
gassydabber6 September 2018
The people who have problems with the science and plot-holes of this episode specifically (instead of the science and plot-holes of all of the other episodes) are the fans the Simpsons would make fun of, nudging their glasses up their nose and hoping someone got fired for their blunders.
This episode is a departure from anything philosophical or deep that the other episodes provide, and instead is just FUN. I always welcome these episodes to break up the season's tone and just do whatever they want.
Sure it's not realistic, sure it's got plot holes, but you know what it also has? A well-executed change of atmosphere, well directed build-up, and just a unique, Twilight Zone-esque journey through some space silliness that, at the very least, is a joy to watch the crew indulge in as its last crazy-hurrah of the season.
I do not envy anyone who can't voluntarily put aside their elitist fanboy-ism of a serie's tropes and universe and just take something at face value, for they probably don't get much entertainment from much else.
This episode is a departure from anything philosophical or deep that the other episodes provide, and instead is just FUN. I always welcome these episodes to break up the season's tone and just do whatever they want.
Sure it's not realistic, sure it's got plot holes, but you know what it also has? A well-executed change of atmosphere, well directed build-up, and just a unique, Twilight Zone-esque journey through some space silliness that, at the very least, is a joy to watch the crew indulge in as its last crazy-hurrah of the season.
I do not envy anyone who can't voluntarily put aside their elitist fanboy-ism of a serie's tropes and universe and just take something at face value, for they probably don't get much entertainment from much else.
The series devolves.
planktonrules6 December 2014
The show's prologue involves Lt. Barkley acting like a worried whiner in the sick bay. Dr. Crusher gives him something for a fever. After the credits, the Enterprise soon becomes a mess! Slowly the members of the crew begin devolving into lower life forms. Fortunately, the Captain and Data are not aboard and when they do find the ship is a very sorry state, they set about correcting this problem.
This is a mildly entertaining episode. While it was pretty cool seeing the cool primordial makeup on a few crew members, a few things seemed odd. Shouldn't many of the crew members have been eaten by some of the more aggressive changelings? And where is all the manure and territory that the creatures would have 'marked'? In addition, the show never became enthralling...only interesting.
By the way, Data the living computer made a mistake in this one! He used the term 'de-evolution' whereas the correct term is 'devolution'. Look it up if you don't believe me.
This is a mildly entertaining episode. While it was pretty cool seeing the cool primordial makeup on a few crew members, a few things seemed odd. Shouldn't many of the crew members have been eaten by some of the more aggressive changelings? And where is all the manure and territory that the creatures would have 'marked'? In addition, the show never became enthralling...only interesting.
By the way, Data the living computer made a mistake in this one! He used the term 'de-evolution' whereas the correct term is 'devolution'. Look it up if you don't believe me.
Badly executed plot supported by terrible science
nic-of-time21 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I can't decide whether this or "Sub Rosa" is the worst episode of the season.
Honestly, who thought that this story would be entertaining in any way? In addition to having plot holes big enough to fly the Enterprise through (e.g. Where was Alexander during all this? If the disease started in sickbay, why are Worf and Troi the first to be affected? When did Spot get a sex change?), it simply wasn't very interesting to watch, unless you enjoy seeing the regular actors wearing ridiculous make-up shot with cheap-horror-movie lighting. And because this is a reset-button story where nothing that happens will have any consequences on the characters (even the final scene mocks the notion that the previous 44 minutes happened), this episode really has nothing going for it.
And now I'm going to be self-indulgent and pick apart the "science" of the show, because I feel like it. Let's start with the term "de-evolving". No. Just no. The term is "devolving". Of course using the correct term would not have saved the science. If something causes your DNA to change, you will die. Period. And the notion that a T-Cell did it is even more ludicrous because T-Cells are about 4,000 times larger than DNA strands. Writer Brannon Braga obviously did SOME research in an attempt to make his idea halfway believable, but it was not nearly enough. Seriously, why bother with all this pseudo-scientific gobbledygook that doesn't even make sense within its own framework, much less in any plausible vision of the future? Why not just say a "magic potion" transformed everyone into creatures and back again? It would still have been bad, but at least a little less tedious.
If you are not a Trekkie and you see this episode, please don't judge the series or the franchise by it. At least see a classic episode like "Lower Decks" or "The Best of Both Worlds" before making up your mind.
Honestly, who thought that this story would be entertaining in any way? In addition to having plot holes big enough to fly the Enterprise through (e.g. Where was Alexander during all this? If the disease started in sickbay, why are Worf and Troi the first to be affected? When did Spot get a sex change?), it simply wasn't very interesting to watch, unless you enjoy seeing the regular actors wearing ridiculous make-up shot with cheap-horror-movie lighting. And because this is a reset-button story where nothing that happens will have any consequences on the characters (even the final scene mocks the notion that the previous 44 minutes happened), this episode really has nothing going for it.
And now I'm going to be self-indulgent and pick apart the "science" of the show, because I feel like it. Let's start with the term "de-evolving". No. Just no. The term is "devolving". Of course using the correct term would not have saved the science. If something causes your DNA to change, you will die. Period. And the notion that a T-Cell did it is even more ludicrous because T-Cells are about 4,000 times larger than DNA strands. Writer Brannon Braga obviously did SOME research in an attempt to make his idea halfway believable, but it was not nearly enough. Seriously, why bother with all this pseudo-scientific gobbledygook that doesn't even make sense within its own framework, much less in any plausible vision of the future? Why not just say a "magic potion" transformed everyone into creatures and back again? It would still have been bad, but at least a little less tedious.
If you are not a Trekkie and you see this episode, please don't judge the series or the franchise by it. At least see a classic episode like "Lower Decks" or "The Best of Both Worlds" before making up your mind.
Almost like a Red Dwarf Episode - Odd science but very fun
cheesustoast8 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Anything that could be construed as a spoiler is pretty vague but I have put it just in case.
The science within this episode is somewhat strange but overall it is one of my favourite episodes. It almost seems on a par with something you would see on Red Dwarf (a series that parodies Sci Fi).
I would have preferred it if more of the main characters were present. There was an odd sense of emptiness where that was concerned. If it were not for that then I would have given this 10/10.
The nature of the occurrences were not exactly scientifically believable but it did not really matter to me. It is a fun episode that is light hearted but at the same time still exciting.
The science within this episode is somewhat strange but overall it is one of my favourite episodes. It almost seems on a par with something you would see on Red Dwarf (a series that parodies Sci Fi).
I would have preferred it if more of the main characters were present. There was an odd sense of emptiness where that was concerned. If it were not for that then I would have given this 10/10.
The nature of the occurrences were not exactly scientifically believable but it did not really matter to me. It is a fun episode that is light hearted but at the same time still exciting.
"Before I start swinging through the ship looking for breakfast, we better find some answers."
classicsoncall25 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Well, at least they got Reg Barclay's (Dwight Schultz) Terellian Death Syndrome and Symbalene Blood Burn out of the way early, so the story could move on to the Enterprise becoming infected by an intron virus caused by a synthetic T-cell Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) experimented with on Barclay to alleviate his hypochondria. The resultant de-evolving of the entire crew had different repercussions for everyone, with Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) living out the dream fantasy of Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) in the previous episode, 'Eye of the Beholder', and biting her on the neck in a moment of aggressive passion. Right after, Worf began mouth spraying venom to further the infection, with Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) turning into a caveman, or at least like one of those guys in the Geico commercials. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Commander Data (Brent Spiner) had all this to come back to after retrieving an errant torpedo via shuttlecraft, so they missed the initial hysteria. Leave it to Data though, his analytical mind saved the day while the Captain was beginning to succumb to the effects of the syndrome himself, getting increasingly paranoid and on the verge of panic. Hypothesizing that dormant and prehistoric genes in humans and other species were reawakened by the intron virus, he concocted a way to reverse the process and bring all thousand people aboard the Enterprise back to normal. Which was quite a feat in the case of Counselor Troi, who was breathing her bath water with the help of gills that developed in her metamorphosis. Besides the major positive outcome, Dr. Crusher found a way to calm Barclay down following his turn as a spider, and awarded him by naming the problematic virus the Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome. That had quite a ring to it.
Altered States
Hitchcoc14 October 2014
There are so many messed up evolutionary events in this offering that it slips into the ludicrous. People are already acting strangely before Picard and Data take off to chase a torpedo that his gone off course, flying into open space. While they are gone, the crew begins to "devolve." They turn into various incarnations of their individual evolutionary past. What is strange is that they seem to come from all kinds of different entities. Data's cat, Spot, retreats to being an iguana. Are cats supposedly the ancestral progeny of reptiles? Picard and Data must confront these things as the Captain begins to show symptoms of regression. Once again, they are facing something that is so utterly foreign to them it would take a group of researchers months to come up with an antidote, if they could even do such a thing. Other than the jump-out-at-you stuff as the ship is filled with combative critters, there's not much here if you have the ability to think. How did Patrick Steward keep a straight face.
Barclay's Proto-morphism Syndrome
XweAponX22 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"Gates" does an incredible job of directing this Ep - Which takes the plot element of a Medical Conundrum and mixes it with an Homage, either deliberate or Accidental, of the film "Alien".
Of course, it is all Barclay's fault - This guy is an even worse hypochondriac than I am. I think all of us at one time or another, read too many Medical Journals, and have developed symptoms equivalent to things we had read about. Even so, this is Dwight Schultz' Penultimate Performance as "Barclay" - And his last in The Next Generation until his cameo in Star Trek: First Contact.
This Ep had some great Makeup effects, very realistic. Except for Worfs feet, at 12 minutes and 23 seconds, take a look at Worf's foot, this is not a Klingon foot, we saw Worf's feet in the episode "Ethics". Of course Spot might not have "Devolved" into an Iguana, but it would not have been cost effective to use makeup on a Cat. But to see Barclay as a Spider, Riker as a Cro-Magnon man, Nurse Ogawa as a Neanderthal, and Troi as a kind of Newt-Woman (Which of course was another nod to the Alien/Aliens Universe, as there was a character named "Newt" in Aliens) - Was enough to satisfy my Trek Injection of the time, as I saw this Ep First-Run.
The homages to Alien were done very well, especially the finding of the Shed Skin, and Worf's denting of the Sickbay Doors, and although his makeup looked more like "Predator" - Well, it is still an homage to Alien. There were some very startling moments in this- Two specifically I can think of, but I've put enough Spoilers into this. It is too bad the Series ended so soon after, "Gates" should have helmed more Eps - She mastered this one, Probably all of Riker's directing ability rubbed off on her.
We can thank Braga again for this story, another one of his better ones. At least he didn't blow up the Enterprise D in this ep (yet)- Or turn the Borg into Wimps. One of the stronger stories of the 7th Season.
Of course, it is all Barclay's fault - This guy is an even worse hypochondriac than I am. I think all of us at one time or another, read too many Medical Journals, and have developed symptoms equivalent to things we had read about. Even so, this is Dwight Schultz' Penultimate Performance as "Barclay" - And his last in The Next Generation until his cameo in Star Trek: First Contact.
This Ep had some great Makeup effects, very realistic. Except for Worfs feet, at 12 minutes and 23 seconds, take a look at Worf's foot, this is not a Klingon foot, we saw Worf's feet in the episode "Ethics". Of course Spot might not have "Devolved" into an Iguana, but it would not have been cost effective to use makeup on a Cat. But to see Barclay as a Spider, Riker as a Cro-Magnon man, Nurse Ogawa as a Neanderthal, and Troi as a kind of Newt-Woman (Which of course was another nod to the Alien/Aliens Universe, as there was a character named "Newt" in Aliens) - Was enough to satisfy my Trek Injection of the time, as I saw this Ep First-Run.
The homages to Alien were done very well, especially the finding of the Shed Skin, and Worf's denting of the Sickbay Doors, and although his makeup looked more like "Predator" - Well, it is still an homage to Alien. There were some very startling moments in this- Two specifically I can think of, but I've put enough Spoilers into this. It is too bad the Series ended so soon after, "Gates" should have helmed more Eps - She mastered this one, Probably all of Riker's directing ability rubbed off on her.
We can thank Braga again for this story, another one of his better ones. At least he didn't blow up the Enterprise D in this ep (yet)- Or turn the Borg into Wimps. One of the stronger stories of the 7th Season.
Unique Season 7 episode with amazing special effects and lighting.
leetylr23 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this episode, the premise is interesting and the special effects and the lighting are beyond amazing especially Lieutenant Barclays transformation. This is in essence a blockbuster horror movie on a tv budjet and with the material they had to work with I believe they did an amazing job.
The science and the evolutionary branching may not be accurate but the only issue I have is the scene in sickbay, Doctor Beverly Crusher notices something unusual on the side of Lieutenant Worf's mouth and concludes it is a venom sack, she then asks him to open his mouth and gets sprayed in the face. It made me laugh out loud, because as a doctor she was not very professional and should have known better lol.
I do understand the opinions of the other reviewers but I do not share them and for me this was one of the most ambitious and interesting episodes of the 7th season. If they had continued for another season we can only imagine what could have been.
The science and the evolutionary branching may not be accurate but the only issue I have is the scene in sickbay, Doctor Beverly Crusher notices something unusual on the side of Lieutenant Worf's mouth and concludes it is a venom sack, she then asks him to open his mouth and gets sprayed in the face. It made me laugh out loud, because as a doctor she was not very professional and should have known better lol.
I do understand the opinions of the other reviewers but I do not share them and for me this was one of the most ambitious and interesting episodes of the 7th season. If they had continued for another season we can only imagine what could have been.
Next Generation parodies itself which is then parodied by Red Dwarf
temporalcoldwar2427 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Could it be that many people don't like this episode because the characters lose control ? No "always in control" ego trip here ! I always thought Barclay was Next Generations master stroke. He's not an idiot he's human ! His fears of what is happening to his own body get played out by the virus that his own body created. A massive case of subconscious projection ? But amongst all the shenanigans there is a serious story. I always love episodes where the Captain returns to find his ship adrift with some mystery to solve. Voyager does that a few times. Someone else mentioned Red Dwarf. It seems clear they parody this episode with "Pete" ( http://reddwarf.wikia.com/wiki/RD:_Pete_I ). The pet bird devolving into a dinosaur ? Data's cat devolving into a lizard ? The dinosaur connection ! So this is one of my favourites. For some reason Riker standing there looking dumbfounded, unable to remember the security code to authorise reporting to Starfleet, always sticks in my mind.
Feeding time at the Enterprise Zoo
bkoganbing15 February 2018
While Captain Picard and Lt.Commander Data are off chasing an errant Floton torpedo, Sick bay is is busier than usual. Dr. Crusher does some genetic therapy
on Ensign Barkley's equivalent of an alien common cold.
On 21st century earth she would be sued for malpractice. What happens is she creates a virus that spreads through the ship like a wild crown fire and the crew be it human or another race reverts to the primitive.
Some of the reversions are something else. Lt.Worf's and Commander Riker's are the most frightening.
Once again androids are handy to have around in these situations. Data is impervious to these biological ailments and he does work at super speed.
One of the more off the wall TNG stories.
On 21st century earth she would be sued for malpractice. What happens is she creates a virus that spreads through the ship like a wild crown fire and the crew be it human or another race reverts to the primitive.
Some of the reversions are something else. Lt.Worf's and Commander Riker's are the most frightening.
Once again androids are handy to have around in these situations. Data is impervious to these biological ailments and he does work at super speed.
One of the more off the wall TNG stories.
Barclay needs his own series
GoldenGooner0416 June 2022
Surprisingly great episode
nbrettel23 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
In this dark but intensely fun episode, Captain Picard and Data go out to retrieve a wayward torpedo. Three days later, they return to find an adrift and unmanned Enterprise. The crewmembers have become animals, bizarre creatures of their individual planets' origins - Counselor Troi has become an humanoid/amphibian hybrid, Commander Riker has become a cave man, Lt. Barclay has become a terrifyingly grotesque half-spider, half-man and Worf has become a terrifying pre-historic Klingon monster who wants to mate with Troi.
The two discover that the de-evolution of the crew was caused by a synthetic T-cell that has been mutated to activate a humanoid body's introns, causing the host to literally revert to a prehistoric state.
It's up to Captain Picard and Data save the ship, the crew... and themselves from possible annihilation from protomorphosis.
Directed phenomenally by Gates McFadden (who portrayed Dr. Beverly Crusher), "Genesis" provides an atmosphere akin to sci-fi horror stories from the "Alien" movies and "The Island of Dr. Moreau".
Unlike Dr. Moreau, Dr. Crusher unintentionally and unknowingly creates a whopper of an intron virus when she tries to soothe Lt. Barclay's hypochondriac fears with the synthetic T-cell.
As a director, McFadden strikes the perfect balance of suspense and horror without pushing the episode to tread on the gory section of horror. Patrick Stewart is phenomenal in portraying his usually unfazed Captain Picard, who shows open displays of fear, even when bravely takes on the dangerous task of distracting the feral Worf away from his crew. Brent Spiner is great as Data, who provides as the steadfast rock to Picard's sudden fearfulness.
This episode is not for the faint of heart, but highly recommended to watch (just try to watch it in the broad light of day).
The two discover that the de-evolution of the crew was caused by a synthetic T-cell that has been mutated to activate a humanoid body's introns, causing the host to literally revert to a prehistoric state.
It's up to Captain Picard and Data save the ship, the crew... and themselves from possible annihilation from protomorphosis.
Directed phenomenally by Gates McFadden (who portrayed Dr. Beverly Crusher), "Genesis" provides an atmosphere akin to sci-fi horror stories from the "Alien" movies and "The Island of Dr. Moreau".
Unlike Dr. Moreau, Dr. Crusher unintentionally and unknowingly creates a whopper of an intron virus when she tries to soothe Lt. Barclay's hypochondriac fears with the synthetic T-cell.
As a director, McFadden strikes the perfect balance of suspense and horror without pushing the episode to tread on the gory section of horror. Patrick Stewart is phenomenal in portraying his usually unfazed Captain Picard, who shows open displays of fear, even when bravely takes on the dangerous task of distracting the feral Worf away from his crew. Brent Spiner is great as Data, who provides as the steadfast rock to Picard's sudden fearfulness.
This episode is not for the faint of heart, but highly recommended to watch (just try to watch it in the broad light of day).
We're Toast Anyway, so What the Heck?
championbc-99-50059 December 2014
The title says it all for me. These guys know that the "powers that be" do not want to pay the high salaries of seven year veterans for another season, that they can go cheaper with "Deep Space 9" and the soon-to-be-released "Voyager." So, with the light at the end of the tunnel, why worry? The series has been picked up for a full season, and it's too late to cancel the six episodes that remain.
Let the makeup people have some fun. Cut back on the writing talent, and above all, just shelve the science books for a week. Maybe this episode with pick up a cult following like the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" or something.
Better yet, while the first and second seasons were really not that hot, STTNG has never really made a total stinker like Voyager will do with "Threshold," or STTOS did with "Spock's Brain," among others. So it's time to make one so horrible, it will be remembered forever.
Except I had forgotten it. My wife remembered bits and pieces, though it was scrambled. She though that Troi would turn into a spider (she didn't; someone else did), so I'm sure we had seen it together. But my subconscious, protecting me, had erased it totally from my memory, but after watching it a second time, said, "Sorry, Bud. This time you have to live with the memory forever." So here I am.
But it's not the end of the world for me. I actually dozed off in my chair for about 5-7 minutes of the story, and had to ask my wife what had happened.
So many STTNG episodes will be with me forever, treasured and watched again. But I have marked this one mentally. I will never watch "Genesis" again. I would watch "Spock's Brain" first.
Let the makeup people have some fun. Cut back on the writing talent, and above all, just shelve the science books for a week. Maybe this episode with pick up a cult following like the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" or something.
Better yet, while the first and second seasons were really not that hot, STTNG has never really made a total stinker like Voyager will do with "Threshold," or STTOS did with "Spock's Brain," among others. So it's time to make one so horrible, it will be remembered forever.
Except I had forgotten it. My wife remembered bits and pieces, though it was scrambled. She though that Troi would turn into a spider (she didn't; someone else did), so I'm sure we had seen it together. But my subconscious, protecting me, had erased it totally from my memory, but after watching it a second time, said, "Sorry, Bud. This time you have to live with the memory forever." So here I am.
But it's not the end of the world for me. I actually dozed off in my chair for about 5-7 minutes of the story, and had to ask my wife what had happened.
So many STTNG episodes will be with me forever, treasured and watched again. But I have marked this one mentally. I will never watch "Genesis" again. I would watch "Spock's Brain" first.
No Consequences?
STMyles19 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
So, Dr. Crusher accidentally creates a disease that almost destroys the crew and kills at least one of them, but at the end she says (basically) "Oh, my bad!" and life goes on. I agree that the whole plot is unbelievable, but can we accept that there is no accountability for this incredible goof?
REVIEW 2022
iamirwar14 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
We took a walk in the arboretum: Riker boasting about his love life again. He mentions his latest flame, Rebecca Smith. I believe this scene is designed to remind us all that Riker has moved on from Deanna Troi and that Worf has an open run at it. Reg is onboard again and still the hypochondriac.
Much as I like cats, I don't think Spot should be treated in the same medical centre as the humans. Does Crusher even bother to wash her hands between flitting from one patient to another.
It seems to be the case that Alyssa is also with child. Hers must be the fastest courtship in the history of space. Well, Star Trek's universe anyway.
Is it wise for the Captain to go chasing after the errant torpedo? There are many other crew members on board who could go chasing after the thing, including Worf who fired the darn thing.
This is another episode I very well remember from first airing, and another one I had assumed was part of the first season when ideas for the show were still stumbling along and we could allow for the odd-turkey to trot across our screens. The mystery and the devolution was intriguing in itself, but the basic premise of the story was totally ridiculous and just not creditable, even for a science fiction show.
And if the story itself wasn't bad enough, the resolution was even more trite and implausible.
The idea that once having devolved so far back that the 'virus' could some how be reversed so that all crew members return to their normal self is equally silly.
Troi's lying at the bottom of a pool with lizard like eyes... "Will, can you understand..." Captain Picard can really be an idiot at times, can't he?
That is really all that can be said about this Meleagris.
This Episodes Clue: Meleagris
(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
Much as I like cats, I don't think Spot should be treated in the same medical centre as the humans. Does Crusher even bother to wash her hands between flitting from one patient to another.
It seems to be the case that Alyssa is also with child. Hers must be the fastest courtship in the history of space. Well, Star Trek's universe anyway.
Is it wise for the Captain to go chasing after the errant torpedo? There are many other crew members on board who could go chasing after the thing, including Worf who fired the darn thing.
This is another episode I very well remember from first airing, and another one I had assumed was part of the first season when ideas for the show were still stumbling along and we could allow for the odd-turkey to trot across our screens. The mystery and the devolution was intriguing in itself, but the basic premise of the story was totally ridiculous and just not creditable, even for a science fiction show.
And if the story itself wasn't bad enough, the resolution was even more trite and implausible.
The idea that once having devolved so far back that the 'virus' could some how be reversed so that all crew members return to their normal self is equally silly.
Troi's lying at the bottom of a pool with lizard like eyes... "Will, can you understand..." Captain Picard can really be an idiot at times, can't he?
That is really all that can be said about this Meleagris.
This Episodes Clue: Meleagris
(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
A Senior Trekker writes........................
celineduchain14 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The final season of Star Trek, the Next Generation gave us some splendid episodes and also a fair share of stinkers. Everyone knew by this stage that they would not be renewed and attempts were made to wrap up various story lines before they said their final goodbyes. There is still a great deal to be enjoyed.
This episode is pure nonsense...............and I loved it.
Reg Barclay gets the Urodelean flu and Dr Crusher tries some fancy gene editing technique which goes horribly wrong, unspooling the entire crew's DNA in spectacular fashion. Everyone turns into monstrous creatures representing earlier stages of their evolution and starts attempting to kill/eat each other.
It's just as well Picard and Data were off the ship at the time, although when they return and Data informs his Captain that he will de-evolve into a primitive primate such as a pygmy marmoset, the look on Patrick Stewart's face is priceless. Lots of high jinks follow as they rush around the ship escaping lizard/spider/ape people until they eventually find a cure in the amniotic fluid of a pregnant crewmember. I've just a few questions though:
1 Why have we never seen the Aquatics Lab? It sounds really cool.
2 Does the instant reset button which allows for a happy ending include the crewmember on the bridge who had his chest ripped open?
3 If Dr Crusher initiated the intron virus protomorphosis with such catastrophic consequences, why has she not since been struck off?
4 Did the Riker-monster succeed in eating Picard's pet fish?
5 Will somebody feed those poor starving kittens?
Gates McFadden directed and apparently Marina Sirtis moaned like a drain about her transformation into an amphibian but this is the sort of laugh-out-loud slapstick we Trekkers need every so often to stop us taking ourselves too seriously.
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.
This episode is pure nonsense...............and I loved it.
Reg Barclay gets the Urodelean flu and Dr Crusher tries some fancy gene editing technique which goes horribly wrong, unspooling the entire crew's DNA in spectacular fashion. Everyone turns into monstrous creatures representing earlier stages of their evolution and starts attempting to kill/eat each other.
It's just as well Picard and Data were off the ship at the time, although when they return and Data informs his Captain that he will de-evolve into a primitive primate such as a pygmy marmoset, the look on Patrick Stewart's face is priceless. Lots of high jinks follow as they rush around the ship escaping lizard/spider/ape people until they eventually find a cure in the amniotic fluid of a pregnant crewmember. I've just a few questions though:
1 Why have we never seen the Aquatics Lab? It sounds really cool.
2 Does the instant reset button which allows for a happy ending include the crewmember on the bridge who had his chest ripped open?
3 If Dr Crusher initiated the intron virus protomorphosis with such catastrophic consequences, why has she not since been struck off?
4 Did the Riker-monster succeed in eating Picard's pet fish?
5 Will somebody feed those poor starving kittens?
Gates McFadden directed and apparently Marina Sirtis moaned like a drain about her transformation into an amphibian but this is the sort of laugh-out-loud slapstick we Trekkers need every so often to stop us taking ourselves too seriously.
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.
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