Emergence

Episode aired May 7, 1994
TV-PG
46m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

2.7K

YOUR RATING

Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Space Sci-Fi Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

Strange images begin appearing throughout the ship's decks and holodecks. Data and the rest of the crew begin to investigate only to discover that the ship's computer itself is exhibiting th... Read allStrange images begin appearing throughout the ship's decks and holodecks. Data and the rest of the crew begin to investigate only to discover that the ship's computer itself is exhibiting the strange behavior as it begins to become self-aware.Strange images begin appearing throughout the ship's decks and holodecks. Data and the rest of the crew begin to investigate only to discover that the ship's computer itself is exhibiting the strange behavior as it begins to become self-aware.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

2.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos6

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This is the 25th TNG episode directed by Cliff Bole, making him the show's most prolific director.

Goofs
When Data is depolarising the power grid while holding the cab back with his left arm, the scene cuts to a view from over his right shoulder. There is a brief moment when his right arm is moved back to show his left hand. Since his left arm is no longer holding the cab, it should be in motion running him over. Even so, the wheels are still heard burning on the road as if still being held back.

Quotes
[last lines]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [on Data's suggestion that the new life form may be dangerous] The intelligence that was formed on the Enterprise didn't just come out of the ship's systems. It came from us, from our mission records, personal logs, holodeck programs, our fantasies. Now, if our experiences with the Enterprise have been honorable, can't we trust that the sum of those experiences will be the same?

Connections
Referenced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Adversary (1995)

Soundtracks
Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews20

Featured review

7/10

An interesting way to retell a rehashed plot

As we approach the final episodes of season seven it is obvious that the writers are having a difficult time bring new plots into the scripts. In this offering we have another story of a developing life form. But the writers reach deep down on this story and the new life form is the Enterprise itself.

It all begins on the holodeck when a program malfunctions and begins running more than one program. Then the Enterprise begins operating on its on accord as if the ship is thinking for itself. And as with all these types of programs it will be up to the crew to help with a possible emerging life form.

This was a rehashed story that has been used many times in the series. But what saved this show from becoming another repeat plot was the way the episode used the holodeck program characters to tie the story together with the main plot. It was a new way to bring an old story-line to life. As we approach the end of the series this episode proved that you can do new things with old plots. Which should have been used on many of the episodes in weak season seven.