star trek next gen conspiracy

Conspiracy (episode)

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After Captain Picard receives a dark warning from an old friend, the Enterprise -D returns to Earth to stop an alien invasion from taking over Starfleet Command.

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 1.7 Log entries
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Production history
• 3.2 Script and story
• 3.3 Production
• 3.4 Cast and characters
• 3.5 Sets and props
• 3.7 Continuity
• 3.9 Reception
• 3.10 Video and DVD releases
• 3.11 Apocrypha
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Guest stars
• 4.4 Guest stars
• 4.5 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.6 Stunt doubles
• 4.7 Stand-ins
• 4.8.1 Library computer references
• 4.9 External links

Summary [ ]

" Yes, very humorous indeed. Hysterical, in fact. "

The USS Enterprise -D is en route for the planet Pacifica for a scientific mission. Commander Riker , along with the rest of the crew, is looking forward to seeing the blue waters and beaches that make the planet a jewel of the galaxy. On the bridge , Geordi La Forge is telling a joke to Data , who, after going into detail of why it is funny, starts to laugh rather unconvincingly before stopping and returning to his console . While talking to Riker, Counselor Troi says that she is most looking forward to taking a swim while visiting Pacifica. After asking Worf if he will do the same, he remarks that he finds swimming to be too much like bathing . A moment later, Data detects a code 47 transmission coming in – meant for the commanding officer 's eyes only.

Walker Keel's clandestine communiqué

Asleep in his quarters , Captain Jean-Luc Picard is contacted by Riker and is told that the ship is receiving a code 47 emergency message from one Walker Keel , an old friend of Picard's who is captain of the Ambassador -class USS Horatio . Keel asks Picard for a secret rendezvous on the abandoned mining colony on Dytallix B . Even though it is a secured channel, Keel says to Picard that he cannot tell him what this is all about and insists they meet face to face.

Act One [ ]

Picard quickly arrives on the bridge and asks Data what he knows about Dytallix B. Data reports that Dytallix is one of seven planets mined for the Federation by the Dytallix Mining Company . Picard orders the helm to travel there immediately, with no record of the change and no communication to Pacifica. He goes to his ready room , leaving Commander Riker to wonder what is going on.

On arriving at Dytallix B, Picard meets alone at the entrance to a mining tunnel with Walker and two other captains, Tryla Scott and Rixx , who, after confirming Picard's identity with a series of questions about his past, tell him about their suspicions of a conspiracy of some sort reaching up to the highest levels of Starfleet Command . They don't have all the answers, but they cite recent suspicious orders and deaths. They are convinced that people, even top-level personnel, are "changing" somehow. Keel already suspects his first officer and chief medical officer . The only sign of the change appears to be loss of long-term memories. They ask that Picard stay vigilant.

Act Two [ ]

After returning to the Enterprise , he first consults Deanna Troi, saying he believes Keel and trusts him as a friend, even though he is violating Starfleet regulations . Picard looks into the matter, having Data review Starfleet directives of the past six months . While Data is reviewing the records in Picard's ready room, the Enterprise continues on to Pacifica, but along the way encounters an unusual disturbance in a nearby sector. Picard re-directs the Enterprise toward it, and they eventually identify it as shipwreck debris . Speculating that it could be one of the three ships they encountered at Dytallix B, Worf informs them that based on the volume of debris, it could only be the Horatio , Keel's ship.

Act Three [ ]

In light of Keel's death , Picard tells Riker about the suspicions Keel voiced in the observation lounge . Picard is connecting them with Rear Admiral Quinn 's earlier that year when the admiral was aboard the Enterprise during its visit to Relva VII . During their conversation, Data enters and reports what he has found: during the past six months there has been a great deal of " uncustomary reshuffling of personnel – usually in the command areas " of a select number of starbases . Furthermore, the new officers have had a great deal of contact with the highest levels of command. Data hypothesizes that the reorganizations are an attempt by a hostile force or individual to control important sectors of Federation territory. Faced with this information, the Enterprise returns to Earth .

Nothing to worry about, we're all fine here

Upon entering orbit of Earth, the Enterprise is contacted by three admirals from Starfleet Command , requesting an explanation for their return. Picard states that he would prefer a discussion of that sort occur in private; the three admirals convene for a moment, then invite Picard and Riker to dinner at Starfleet Headquarters for the discussion to take place. Quinn says that he will not be able to attend the dinner, but that he would like to see the Enterprise once again. Just before he is beamed up to the ship by Dexter Remmick , he looks at a purple , scorpion -like creature he has in a case.

Act Four [ ]

When Quinn is on board the Enterprise , he bluffs his way through references to old times, stating that his earlier perception of a threat to the Federation was merely a metaphor for the "tumultuous process" of assimilating new species into the Federation. Picard realizes that Admiral Quinn is an impostor of some sort and after leaving Quinn, tells Riker to observe the admiral closely while he beams down alone to dinner. Also, he wants Doctor Crusher to give him a full medical examination under false pretenses; after Riker reaches his conclusions, he is to join Picard on Earth, in force if necessary. Picard then beams down and meets with Rear Admiral Savar and Vice Admiral Aaron , as well as Remmick.

A scan of the parasite attached to Quinn

On the ship in the guest quarters , Quinn offers to show Riker the creature and tells him about it. It was discovered by a Starfleet survey team on an uncharted planet , and Quinn refers to it as "a superior form of life". When Riker says he'll get his science officer to examine it, Quinn grabs his arm very strongly, saying the creature will only like Riker. After a brief scuffle, in which Quinn displays amazing strength, Riker is knocked unconscious, but not before calling security . Running down the corridor , Worf and La Forge arrive, calling a medical emergency . Quinn says that Riker slipped and hit his head, and then announces his departure. When they try to detain him, however, he throws La Forge out into the corridor, his body knocking down the door . He turns to Worf and tells him it is now between he and him.

Act Five [ ]

He similarly beats Worf before being repeatedly phasered with increasingly powerful stun settings into unconsciousness by Dr. Crusher. In sickbay , Crusher's scans show that Quinn really is Quinn, but she and Worf discover a bizarre appendage sticking out of the back of his neck .

On Earth, the two admirals try to subtly persuade Picard that there is in fact no conspiracy. However, they reveal they know his first officer by name, which is unusual. Furthermore, they know the Horatio is destroyed, and they blame Keel's negligence. Dinner is announced, so Picard takes a moment to contact Riker. Crusher answers on Riker's combadge , as Riker is unconscious. Crusher informs Picard that a parasitic creature of some sort has taken control of Quinn and all his brain functions. The spike at the back of Quinn's neck appears to be a gill , which is a helpful indicator of those who have been taken over by one of the creatures. Crusher states her doubts about removing the creature, believing it would kill Quinn. She instructs Picard to set his phaser to kill rather than stun, which has little effect on the creature or its host; Picard, however, believing that no one beams down to Starfleet Headquarters armed, has no phaser with him at all.

Insect larvae – it's what's for dinner

Picard goes in to dinner. The dish being served is a bowl filled with insect larvae . Picard is disgusted, and realizes that everyone at the dinner has been infiltrated by the aliens . He gets up to leave and runs into Riker. Riker has also apparently been taken over by the creature: he has a gill in his neck, as confirmed by the being inhabiting Aaron. So, too, has Captain Scott. The "conspirators" announce that they have known of Picard's intentions the whole time. They talk of their plan to infiltrate the Enterprise . Riker moves to eat the living food, but instead he pulls out a type 1 phaser and shoots the dining security guard. When Captain Scott draws her phaser at Riker, Picard grabs at her arm and throws off her aim, allowing Riker to shoot her as well. However, Admiral Savar begins to subdue Riker with a Vulcan neck pinch .

Savar tries to render Riker unconscious with a neck pinch

Picard then grabs the Captain Scott's phaser and uses it to take down Savar. Admiral Aaron flees the dining room, and Picard and Riker pursue and shoot him in the hallway after he returns fire. The admiral falls to the ground, and the parasite infesting him crawls out of his mouth and goes under a nearby door. They follow it to find Remmick sitting in a chair . He turns to look at it, unconcerned; Riker goes to shoot it, but Picard stops him, as the creature crawls up Remmick and enters his mouth. He swallows it, and it begins moving around in his neck. " We mean you no harm ", he says as he stands, his neck noisily bulging in and out. " We seek peaceful coexistence ".

The mother parasite is exposed

Picard and Riker open fire with their phasers, knocking Remmick back into the chair. Riker aims higher and destroys Remmick's head, the outer layer of skin vaporizing and the rest exploding. Remmick's chest cavity begins to dissolve, and a large creature breaks through with several blood soaked parasites trickling behind, screaming at the two Starfleet officers. With a disgusted look on his face, Picard opens fire again with Riker following suit, both phasers continuing until the creature is vaporized, leaving several blood -soaked parasites around the chair and floor, and the decapitated smoldering remains of what was once Lieutenant Commander Remmick.

Back aboard the Enterprise , Picard notes in his log on how strange it is to be taught to respect all life and then having no choice but to destroy it. Picard further elaborates that Admiral Quinn will make a full recovery, and with the death of the "mother creature" inside of Remmick, the remaining parasites died while Riker reveals that Dr. Crusher had simulated the gill on the back of his neck in order to fool everyone, including Picard. As the Enterprise moves on into space, Data theorizes that the message Remmick was transmitting at the time he died was a homing beacon .

As the Enterprise moves on through space, the sound of electronic beeping is heard, focused on an unexplored sector of the galaxy, leaving the ominous possibility that some or all of Remmick's message might still reach its intended recipients, letting the parasites know where to find Earth.

Log entries [ ]

• First officer's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
• Captain's personal log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2364

Memorable quotes [ ]

" It's about Starfleet. About something we've always considered to be impossible. "

" You owe me, and you owe it to yourself to hear what I have to say. Something is beginning. Don't trust anyone. Remember that, Jean-Luc. Don't take anything for granted. "

" It won't like your science officer. It DOES LIKE YOU! Vitamins … they do wonders for the body. "

" Friendship must dare to risk, Counselor, or it isn't friendship. "

" Apologies, Captain. We had to be sure you were really you. "

" I'm glad, Jean-Luc. I'm glad you're still one of us. Tell Beverly I… I said "hello".

" Thank you sir, I comprehend. "

" Captain, you must set your phaser on kill. Stun has little effect. " " Doctor, one does not beam down to Starfleet Headquarters armed. "

" If I could see, I'd be seeing stars. "

" You don't really think we were in the dark about your intentions, do you? " " Patience is one of our virtues, Captain. We didn't go after you; we allowed you to come after us. " " More dramatic that way, don't you think? " " Yes. The one thing both races share is a love of theater, and you've put on a fine show. "

" You don't understand. We mean you no harm. We seek peaceful co-existence! "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

• Eight-page outline memo from Tracy Tormé ( titled "Assassins"): 3 February 1988
• First draft story outline in ten-page memo from Tracy Tormé: 10 February 1998
• One-page memo of story notes from Robert H. Justman : 14 February 1988
• First draft script: 26 February 1988
• Three-page memo of script notes from Robert Justman: 28 February 1988
• Second revised final draft script: 8 March 1988 [1]
• Score recorded, at Universal Studios Scoring Stage : 29 April 1988 [2]
• Premiere airdate: 9 May 1988

Script and story [ ]

An Andrew Probert concept art for the ending scene

Dan Curry with the model

• Writer Tracy Tormé , adapting a story by Robert Sabaroff to The Next Generation , had hoped to make "Conspiracy" a commentary on the Iran/Contra Affair, but this potentially controversial notion was nixed. A plot by Starfleet officers out to undermine the Prime Directive (already introduced six episodes before, in " Coming of Age "), turned out to be the result of an infestation of alien insects, not part of Tormé's original approach. ( citation needed • edit )
• The episode was critiqued by Maurice "Maury" Hurley . " I wrote this thing called 'Conspiracy' and I was intentionally trying to shake things up and do a different kind of story [....] Maury came back to me and said it's not Star Trek , " Tormé remembered. " It's too dark, it's got a dark ending, it's unhappy, it's this and that, and he turned it down. Somebody overruled him, maybe it was Rick Berman, but somebody loved the script and thought it's exactly what we should be doing, but Maury and I had a very bad relationship from that point on. " ( William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge )
• The original version of the script did not feature alien parasites; the conspiracy in question was simply a military coup within Starfleet . Gene Roddenberry vehemently opposed such an idea, since he believed that Starfleet would never stoop to such methods; there was just no way Tormé could get away with suggesting that the Federation was anything less than a perfect government. Thus, the alien angle was introduced at his insistence. ( citation needed • edit ) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine later featured a similar plot, however, in the two-part episodes " Homefront " and " Paradise Lost ".
• Indeed, the whole idea of the episode, its violence, and its unresolved ending caused quite a stir, but Robert H. Justman , Rick Berman , and Rob Lewin backed Tormé against the objections of Maurice Hurley, and the show stood pretty much as he had intended it, with the topical references subtly shoved under the carpet. Things did not go so well for writer Tormé in the future; he was left with the feeling that, as far as creative freedom for writers, the second half of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's second season was the best part of the series as a whole. ( citation needed • edit )
• The ending in Tormé's original script had threat of the parasites definitively ended. Justman felt this was too anticlimactic and suggested ending the episode with the implication that the parasites were the vanguard of a much more powerful threat. [3]
• Although the ending pointed toward a possible follow-up to the parasite storyline, none was ever produced, though some works of Star Trek fiction did carry on the arc (see "Apocrypha" section).
• Michael and Denise Okuda elaborated in their Star Trek Chronology (rev. 1996, p. 290): " At the time the episode was written, this was apparently intended to lead to the introduction of the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's second season. The Borg connection was dropped before ' Q Who [!] ?' (TNG) was written, and the truth about the parasites remains a mystery. "
• This episode originally had the working title "The Assassins". ( Creating the Next Generation , p. 61)

Production [ ]

• The opening credits to this episode include Denise Crosby 's character, Natasha Yar . Yar was killed off and didn't appear regularly after " Skin Of Evil ".
• Jonathan Frakes states that during the dinner scene, grub worms did "cross" his lips. [4] (X)

Cast and characters [ ]

• Wil Wheaton ( Wesley Crusher ) does not appear in this episode.
• Ward Costello and Robert Schenkkan reprise their roles from the episode " Coming of Age ".
• Henry Darrow later appeared as Kolopak in VOY : " Tattoo " and VOY : " Basics, Part I ", Ray Reinhardt as Tolen Ren in VOY : " Ex Post Facto ", and Gary Wayton as stuntman in Star Trek: Insurrection and as stunt double for Scott Bakula in ENT : " United ".
• Michael Berryman previously appeared as the alien Starfleet officer in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home .

Sets and props [ ]

The "mother" parasite prop

• The chair in which Remmick is seated is a redress of the wheelchair used by Admiral Mark Jameson in TNG : " Too Short A Season ".
• The parasitic beings were fabricated by Makeup & Effects Laboratories , headed by Allan A. Apone following a design from Rick Sternbach . ( Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 , p. 111)
• The desk in Admiral Quinn's guest quarters aboard the Enterprise -D was later seen again as the desk of Benjamin Sisko at Starfleet Headquarters in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fourth season episodes " Homefront " and " Paradise Lost ".
• This is the first episode in which the crystal Picard has on his desk is seen in his ready room.
• The episode's score, composed by Dennis McCarthy , was recorded on 29 April 1988 at the Universal Studios Scoring Stage , [5] as The Next Generation 's usual recording location, Paramount Stage M , was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. [6] Cues M51, M52, M53, M54, M55, and M56 from the score (covering the entirety of Act Five), totaling 7 minutes and 44 seconds, appear on Disc One of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Collection, Volume One .

Continuity [ ]

• This episode marks the first appearance of a Bolian .

Tellarite dignitaries

• The exterior footage of Starfleet Headquarters was recycled from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; as such, this episode is the only time Tellarites appear on TNG. They are wearing robes originally worn by Kazarites in Star Trek: The Motion Picture .
• When Data is commenting on the orders he has just read, the computer interrupts him by saying " Thank you, sir. I comprehend. " This is an unusual instance of a Federation computer speaking in the first-person narrative ("I"). The non- canon reference work Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual explains this by stating that the Enterprise -D computer was one of the most advanced ever constructed and was in fact self-aware. It is also one of the only times the computer has expressed "frustration" with its user, more often the frustration is the other way around.
• Among the logs reviewed by Data, the " great bird of the galaxy " can briefly be seen.
• This episode marks the last appearance of the Starfleet admiral's uniform which was seen through the first season of The Next Generation , not including flashback scenes as shown in " Shades of Gray ". The uniform, notable for its "triangle pip" insignia, was replaced in season two by an interim uniform which used the more familiar "boxed pip" insignia. By Season 3 , the admiral's uniform was changed again to become the standard which was used for the rest of the series.

Alpha and Beta Quadrant star chart seen behind Remmick

• A star chart featured in this episode, on the wall behind Remmick's chair, was created by the art department and shows several dozen planets and star systems mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Animated Series . The star chart was re-used in many more TNG episodes and later appeared in the pilot episode of the Doctor Who spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures in the eponymous main character's attic. This graphic also appeared in DC Comics Supergirl , Volume 7 Issue 1 (November 2016) as a display on a wall on the planet Krypton.
• This is the first episode of the series to feature Earth and Luna .
• The Vulcan nerve pinch is used in this episode, however unlike TOS, a person doesn't fall unconscious after the pinch but grimaces in pain. It's possible, however, that the parasite controlling Savar may not have been performing the neck pinch properly.
• " The Drumhead " would later establish that Admiral Norah Satie had been instrumental in uncovering the parasite conspiracy.
• During the fight scenes with Admiral Quinn , his stunt double is clearly seen several times.
• During the scene, after Data’s attempt at laughing, Commander Riker clearly states to conn to increase speed to warp 6. Lieutenant La Forge however, replied with: “Aye sir, full impulse”.
• This episode won an Emmy Award in 1988 in the category Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Series, namely Michael Westmore , Werner Keppler , and Gerald Quist .

Reception [ ]

• On its first airing in the UK (on 20 March 1991 ), the BBC cut several minutes of footage from this episode (most notably the death of Remmick). In addition, Space , Canada's science fiction network, precedes this episode with a viewer discretion warning, the only The Next Generation episode to receive this.
• Star Trek: Enterprise Consulting Producer David A. Goodman deemed this (as well as the next episode, " The Neutral Zone ") as an installment that was "watchable", aired near the end of TNG's first season, when he began to think the series "started to pick up a bit and I was, like, 'OK, not bad.'" ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 82)
• A mission report for this episode, by Will Murray, was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 5 , pp. 64-66.
• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens opined in The Art of Star Trek (p. 103): "Though tame in comparison to Alien , this story was not typical of what viewers had come to expect of STAR TREK , and was not followed up."

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 13 , catalog number VHR 2466, 7 May 1991
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 1.8, catalog number VHR 4649, 5 October 1998
• As part of the TNG Season 1 DVD collection
• As part of the TNG Season 1 Blu-ray collection

Apocrypha [ ]

• The parasitic beings have thus far never reappeared on-screen but have been shown in a comic book taking control of a spacefaring species called the "Onglaatu" in a DC TNG story entitled " The Broken Moon! ".
• The parasites also returned in Pocket Books ' Deep Space Nine relaunch series novels , first in The Lives of Dax , in which Audrid Dax and Christopher Pike discover that the parasites are closely related to the Trill . The last book in the Mission Gamma series, Lesser Evil , then picks this up, leading into the novel Unity in which it is revealed that the Trill symbionts and the parasitic beings have been fighting a long secret war, with several species' worth of hosts and governments as their weapons against each other. The parasites' latest gambit has been the continued fervor for Bajor to join the Federation ; for unknown reasons this would represent a great victory to their secret plan. (Bajor does become a member of the Federation in 2369 .)
• This story arc is completed in the novella " Trill: Unjoined " by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin , in which the parasites are revealed to actually be genetically modified Trill symbionts, created on the remote Trill colony of Kurl . A deadly plague had been killing symbionts, and the experiments were intended to develop a cure. However, the experiment failed, and the symbionts so affected became violent and xenophobic – the parasites – and swore revenge on Trill society for this disaster.
• In the Star Trek Online bonus episode "What's Left Behind", it is revealed that the parasites were bio-engineered by the Iconians as a way of controlling the Vaadwaur .

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker

Also starring [ ]

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars [ ]

• Henry Darrow as Savar
• Ward Costello as Gregory Quinn
• Robert Schenkkan as Dexter Remmick
• Ray Reinhardt as Aaron
• Jonathan Farwell as Walker Keel
• Michael Berryman as Captain Rixx
• Ursaline Bryant as Captain Tryla Scott

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• James G. Becker as Youngblood
• Majel Barrett as Computer Voice
• Jeffrey Deacon as command division officer
• Steve Casavant as Longo
• Dexter Clay as operations division officer
• Susan Duchow as Starfleet officer
• Nora Leonhardt as science division ensign
• Tim McCormack as Bennett
• Lorine Mendell as Diana Giddings
• Steve Reed as Enterprise -D science officer
• Richard Sarstedt as command division officer
• Gary Wayton as Starfleet Headquarters security officer
• Two Arcadian councilors (archive footage)
• Enterprise -D command division crewmember
• Enterprise -D command division crewmember at ops station
• Enterprise -D command division female officer
• Enterprise -D command division male officer
• Two Enterprise -D operations division crewmembers
• Enterprise -D operations division female officer
• Three Enterprise -D science division crewmembers
• Seven Starfleet Headquarters civilians (archive footage)
• Eleven Starfleet Headquarters officers (archive footage)
• Two Starfleet Headquarters technicians (archive footage)
• Two Tellarite dignitaries (archive footage)

Stunt doubles [ ]

• Geoff Brewer as stunt double for Ward Costello
• Kirk Elam as stunt double for LeVar Burton
• Wayne King, Sr. as stunt double for Michael Dorn
• Tom Morga as stunt double for Jonathan Frakes
• Jim Wilkey as stunt double for Ray Reinhardt

Stand-ins [ ]

• James G. Becker – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
• Darrell Burris – stand-in for LeVar Burton
• Dexter Clay – stand-in for Michael Dorn
• Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Lorine Mendell – stand-in for Gates McFadden

References [ ]

2364 ; accident ; admiral ; adrenal gland ; advice ; " ahead of schedule "; alliance ; " all in good time "; " all right "; Altairian Conference ; alternative ; Ambassador -class ; amusement ; Andonian tea ; anecdote ; answer ; aphorism ; apology ; aquarium ; Arcadian ; " as a result "; assignment ; " at least "; " at risk "; ball ; bar ; bathing ; beach ; bed ; biobed ; blue ; body ; Bolian ; bracelet ; brain ; brain function ; breathing ; bridge ; bridge crew ; brother ; caliber ; cancer ; captain ; career ; cargo ; carpet ; case ; choice ; cloud ; code 47 ; colony ; comnet database ; company ; computer ; computer record ; conclusion ; conspiracy ; conspiracy theory ; Constellation -class ; contact ; coordinates ; corridor ; course ; " cover our tracks "; Crusher, Jack R. ; data ; day ; death ; debris ; degree ; Delaplane ; delusion ; desk ; desktop monitor ; destruction ; dinner ; directive ; distance ; duty roster ; Dytallix B ; Dytallix Mining Company ; Dytallix Mining Company planets ; Earth ; effect ; emergency ; emergency channel ; emergency frequency ; entrance ; environment ; ETA ; evacuation ; " excuse me "; executive officer ; explosion ; evidence ; explanation ; eye ; " face-to-face "; fact ; fascination ; favor ; Federation territory ; Fleet Operations Center ; food ; foot ; forgiveness ; " for God's sake "; flotsam ; French language ; friend ; friendship ; frigate ; fun ; Galaxy class decks ; garden path ; gill ; " go ahead "; Golden Gate Bridge ; governor ; greeting ; guest quarter 17 ; harm ; head ; heading ; heavy cruiser ; " hello "; holodeck ; homing beacon ; Horatio , USS ; Horatio first officer ; Horatio medical officer ; hour ; Human ; hyperspace ; hypospray ; idea ; idiosyncrasy ; impact ; implosion ; impulse ; " in a manner of speaking "; " in fact "; " in force "; information ; " in person "; intention ; internal scan ; invasion ; " I see "; jewel ; Karapleedeez, Onna ; Keel, Anne ; Keel's brother ; Keel, Melissa ; Klingon ; Klingonese ; larva ; life ; lifeform ; log ; loyalty ; Luna ; McKinney ; meal ; medical emergency ; medical examination ; medical tricorder ; meeting ; memory ; message ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mine ; miner ; mining tunnel ; minute ; Mira Antlia ; Mira Antlia system ; Mira Antlia V ; mission ; mister ; model ; month ; moonlight ; mother creature's sector ; mud ; NCC-7100 ; neck ; nest ; neutron star ; night ; " no matter "; number one ; object ; observation lounge ; ocean ; officer ; official ; " on my way "; " on the part of "; opportunity ; orbit ; orbital shuttle ( orbital shuttle ); orbital shuttle 5 ; order ; organization ; outer rim ; outpost ; Pacifica ; PADD ; painting ; paranoia ; parasitic being ; parasitic beings' planet (aka "uncharted planet"); patience ; patient ; pattern ; phaser ; problem ; proof ; proposal ; proximity ; quadrant ; question ; race ; rag doll ; " raise your hand "; ramp ; range ; readout ; ready room ; rear admiral ; reason ; reception area ; record ; red giant ; Relva VII ; Renegade , USS ; replicator ; " rest in peace "; retinal scan ; risk ; rock ; sabotage ; San Francisco ; schedule ; screen ; sculpture ; sector ; Sector 63 ; secret ; sector ; secure channel ; security code ; " see stars "; senility ; sensor ; series ; show ; sickbay ; Sipe, Ryan ; " sit down "; skant ; Sol ; Sol sector ; space vessel ; speed ; SS 433 ; standard orbit ; " stand on ceremony ": starbase ; Starbase 12 ; star chart ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet Headquarters ; Starfleet regulations ; starship ; star system ; stimulation ; strength ; subject ; subversion ; superior ; surface ; survey ; suspicion ; swimming ; table ; talent ; talk ; Tau Ceti III ; Tellarite ; temperature ; tendril ; " thank God "; theater ; Thomas Paine , USS ; thought ; threat ; toast ; tour ; trace ; transmission ; transporter room ; trip ; turbolift ; type 1 phaser ; type 2 phaser ; Type 7 shuttlecraft ; unexplored sector ; United Federation of Planets ; Unnamed Federation space stations ; unnamed medical tools ; utility uniform ; subspace ; victim ; viewscreen ; virtue ; visit ; VISOR ; vitamin ; voice print identification ; Vulcan ; Vulcan nerve pinch ; Vulcan salute ; warp factor ; " watch your back "; water ; " what the hell "; " why the devil "; window ; wreckage ; year ; zero gravity

Library computer references [ ]

• Federation Star Chart ("The Explored Galaxy") : Aldebaran ; Alfa 177 ; Alpha Carinae ; Alpha Centauri ; Alpha Majoris ; Altair VI ; Andor ; Ariannus ; Arret ; Babel ; Benecia ; Berengaria VII ; Beta Aurigae ; Beta Geminorum ; Beta Lyrae ; Beta Niobe ; Beta Portolan ; Camus II ; Canopus III ; Capella ; Daran V ; Delta Vega ; Deneb ; Eminiar ; Fabrina ; First Federation ; Gamma Canaris N ; Gamma Trianguli ; Holberg 917G ; Ingraham B ; Janus VI ; Kling ; Kzin ; Lactra VII ; Makus III ; Marcos XII ; Manark IV ; Memory Alpha ; Mudd ; Omega IV ; Omega Cygni ; Organia ; Orion ; Pallas 14 ; Phylos ; Pollux IV ; Psi 2000 ; Pyris VII ; Regulus ; Remus ; Rigel ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; Romulus ; Sarpeid ; Sirius ; Talos ; Tau Ceti ; Theta III ; Tholian Assembly ; Vulcan
• Star Chart : 61 Cygni ; Alpha Centauri ; Argelius II ; Barnard's Star ; Bayard's Planet ; concussion ring ; Diana ; Epsilon Eridani ; Epsilon Indi ; Galileo ; Greyhound , USS ; Groombridge 34 ; Jewel Stars, The ; Lalande 21185 ; Luyten 789-6 ; Muleskinner , USS ; Phi Puma ; Procyon ; Proxima Centauri ; Ross 154 ; Ross 248 ; Sirius ; Sol ; supernova ; Tau Ceti ; Wolf 359
• Starbase Ops Status Sol Sector : Orion sector ; Orion Sector Tactical Command ; Starbase 0834 ; Starbase 4077
• Mission Orders : Adams, Douglas ; Albert Einstein , USS ; Aleo , USS ; Annon, Jeffery Joal ; Antican ; Arakaki, Jimmy ; Aranda, Miguel ; Arrat, Itzak ; Atlantis , USS ; Baskin, Daryl ; Benko, Tom ; Beta Epsilon system ; Berman, Richard K. ; Blitman, Leslie ; Bowen, Steve ; Bryce, Peter ; Callisto , USS ; Cameron, Roy ; Cara ; Clark, Bev ; commodore ; coordinates ; Constellation , USS ; Copernicus , USS ; Curry, Daniel ; de Graff, Monty ; Dent Arthur Dent ; Discovery , USS ; Dixon, Anna ; Dixon, Don ; Durbrow, Doug ; Elmer Fudd , USS ; Endeavour , USS ; Equicon , USS ; Equicon officers ; Excelsior -class ; Farrell, J.P. ; Felna, Erma ; Ferengi ; Ferranti, Alan ; Fickas, Sharyl ; first contact ; Fleet Ops ; Freedle, Samuel ; Friedman, Layne ; Fries, Sandy ; Fries, Sandy ; FSN ; Furen, Bryan D. ; Gallacci, Steve ; Gamma Argus II ; Gamma Argus system ; Ganymede , USS ; Giddings, Diana ; Goldberg, Seth ; gravity generator ; Gremlin , USS ; Grumby, Jonas ; Hammond, Asenath ; heading ; Hoffmeister, Ed ; Hoy, Bill ; Headroom, Maxwell ; Heart of Gold , USS ; Hunnicutt, B.J. ; Hutzel, Gary ; " in particular "; Jae, Joshua ; James Fennimore Cooper , USS ; John F. Kennedy , USS ; Jumper, Jennifer ; Kandari sector ; Kawaoki, Gerald ; Kobayashi, Alan ; Koslowsky, John ; LaSalandra, John ; Lee, Don ; Lee, Gwynne Jean ; Legato, Rob ; Lin, Michael J. ; Livingston, Monica ; Lotus Flower -class ; Marafe, Bill ; Mann, Maria ; McKenzie Project ; Meldal-Johnsan, Marcia ; mark 25 warp sensor ; Mathews, Carlene ; Mathews, Carol ; Mathews, Marion ; Matte Fringe , USS ; Matte Fringe officers ; Max Plank , USS ; Miles, Tod ; Minnow , USS ; Moore, Ronald ; Moore, Sherri ; Mustang , USS ; NAR ; Nakashima, Lex ; Nash, Eric ; NCC ; Nelson, Kurt ; New Zealand ; Nightwing , USS ; Non Sequitur , USS ; Oja, Darryl ; Omaha Nebraska , USS ; Park, Jana ; Pierce, Benjamin Franklin ; Prime Directive ; Provider -class ; Puget Sound , USS ; Quinteros ; Raimondi, Fred ; Robert Louis Stevenson , USS ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; Rosenfeld, Maury ; Rubenstein, Louis ; sector ; Sector 004 ; Sector 010 ; Sector 45 ; Sector 52 ; Sector 450 ; Sector 500 ; sensor ; sensor drone ; Sherlock Holmes , USS ; Shostak, Seth ; Sigma Antares sector ; Sirius Cybernetics Corporation ; spacedock ; Starbase 245 ; Starbase 55 ; Starbase 74 ; Starbase Trailer Twenty-Nine ; Starfleet Advanced Technologies ; Starfleet Mission Operations ; Starfleet Mission Operations admiral ; Starfleet Operational Support Services ; Starfleet Planetary Geosciences Division ; Starfleet ranks ; Stein, G. Harry ; Sternbach, Rick ; Stevens, Jon ; Stormont, Thomas McCormick III ; subsector ; Subsector 4418 ; Subsector 4432 ; Subsector 4534 ; Subspace Com Net ; subspace relay station ; Tactical Analysis Division ; Takemura, David ; Terrestrial Defense Division ; Testa, John ; Thomas, Cari L. ; Ticonderoga , USS ; Toki ; Tranquillity Base , USS ; Trimble, Bjo ; Trimble, John ; Trimble, Kathryn ; Trimble, Lora ; Tycho , USS ; Unicorn , USS ; Unicorn captain ; Unnamed Federation space stations ; USS ; van de Ven, Mary ; Veneziano, Sandy ; vice admiral ; Wanderer -class ; warp factor ; warp sensor grid ; White Sands , USS ; Woodard, Jody ; Yamada, Carol ; Yamauchi, Bobby ; Zimmerman, Herman

External links [ ]

• " Conspiracy " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Conspiracy " at Wikipedia
• " Conspiracy " at the Internet Movie Database
• " Conspiracy " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• "Conspiracy" script  at Star Trek Minutiae

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WTF Moments: Riker and Picard take on a chestburster in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Credit: CBS

The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation had many of the hallmarks of the classic series, but from time to time audiences got a glimpse of genres far outside its stately sci-fi focus; it was those odd moments that suggested that it was influenced by its era. The first season was especially rife with these fun, uncharacteristic instances, many of which were foisted on Commander Riker.

Early on, Riker gets beat up by a feeble old man, and later he and Picard have to blow the head off another dude who has a parasitic Alien -esque chestburster coming out of his body. Among all the episodes of The Next Generation , the episode "Conspiracy" is easily the most bizarre and decidedly un- Star Trek . And yet this strange moment in Trek history is still highly watchable and utterly entertaining.

On some level, the entirety of the episode "Conspiracy" could classify as a 45-minute WTF Moment . The episode actually opens with Riker and the rest of the bridge crew shooting the breeze about how much they like swimming, even though Worf and Data aren't fans (because apparently Klingons and androids don't dig baths). Then, after getting a super-secret transmission, Riker has to rouse Captain Picard from sleep, which is really weird because it indicates that at some point on The Next Generation  Picard took a nap while the rest of crew were pulling their regular shift. (Which, what? Did the Enterprise 's senior officers mess around and pull all-nighters while Picard slept? Considering how cranky Picard is in Season 1, maybe some kind of weird work schedule was the culprit.)

Anyway, Picard being asleep while everyone else is clearly awake and working is almost as weird as the crazy chest-bursting alien at the end of this episode. Almost.

As its title suggests, "Conspiracy" is an episode in which Captain Picard inadvertently discovers that Starfleet Command has been infiltrated by parasitic aliens that live inside humans and make them act like creeps. What the parasites want isn't entirely clear, but once we find out about these body-snatchers no horror cliché is left unturned — or un-eaten.

A helpless old guy suddenly has super-strength, people eat disgusting worms for no reason, a possessed person's neck bulges out like a bullfrog, and the parasitic aliens enter the human host bodies through the mouth. At the end of the episode, Riker and Picard don't outwit the alien parasites or even beam them out into space. Instead, they phaser the head off of the guy who is harboring the host alien, causing his face to explode and a giant chestburster to emerge from his body.

This was the goriest scene in Star Trek up until that point, and in contrast with the rest of The Next Generation , it feels like an R-rated action scene suddenly inserted in the middle of a Pixar movie. Is this scene kind of awesome? 100 percent. Is it tonally out of place with most other episodes of The Next Generation ? Also 100 percent.

"Conspiracy," written by Tracy Tormé and Robert Sabaroff, was the 25th episode of Season 1 of The Next Generation and aired on May 9, 1988. It was also the penultimate episode of that season, and the ending of the episode strongly suggests that the dastardly parasites will return in future episodes. Though this never happened, it's interesting to note that the original intention of then-showrunner Maurice Hurley was to use the parasites as a way of setting up the Borg in Season 2. (At the time, the specifics of who and what the Borg were had yet to be decided.)

In non-canon Star Trek novels, published much later, the parasites' origin was retconned: It turns out they were genetically mutated versions of Trill symbionts that were at war with the Trill. And, in case you've forgotten, the Trill are those friendly little worms that live inside of people, most famously Jadzia and Ezri Dax on Deep Space Nine .

At the time it aired, "Conspiracy" was a big deal because it was the conclusion of a mini-story arc that began earlier in Season 1 with the episode "Coming of Age." (Back then, story arcs on TV shows like Star Trek were very uncommon.) In "Coming of Age," several visiting characters — including Admiral Quinn and Remmick — made a huge deal about a conspiracy in Starfleet, and then in "Conspiracy" both of those guys return and are possessed by the parasites.

Remmick, for those unacquainted, is the guy who gets his head blown off at the end of the episode, and Admiral Quinn is the old guy who suddenly gets superpowers and throws Riker around like a WWE contender.

Credit: CBS (Riker, is that you?)

A note on that scene. It's hilarious and almost better than the ending scene in which Picard and Riker blow up Remmick's head. After old Admiral Quinn grabs Riker's hand, he then throws him across the room. This leads to Riker fighting back with these hilarious flip-kicks in Quinn's face. Then a really great, 1988, made-for-TV brawl really gets going and it's very, very clear that both actors are using stunt doubles.

At this point, you're probably considering a real-life conspiracy theory. I know. I know. Could it be possible that Jonathan Frakes grew a beard for Season 2 of The Next Generation just to disguise a stunt double's face in future episodes? If the alien parasites ever return to Trek canon, we'll be sure to ask them why Riker looks like a totally different person when he gets into fights, and more importantly, why he never used those flip kicks ever again.

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Conspiracy (episode)

• View history

"Conspiracy" was the 25th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , in the show's first season , first aired during the week of 9 May 1988 . The episode was written by Robert Sabaroff MA and Tracy Torme MA and directed by Cliff Bole MA .

• 1 Description
• 2.1 Characters
• 2.2 Starships and vehicles
• 2.3 Locations
• 2.4 Races and cultures
• 2.5 States and organizations
• 2.6.1 Communications and language
• 2.6.2 Technology and weapons
• 2.7 Ranks and titles
• 2.8 Other references
• 3 Chronology
• 4.1 Related media
• 4.3.1 Timeline
• 4.4 External links

Description [ ]

References [ ], characters [ ], starships and vehicles [ ], locations [ ], races and cultures [ ], states and organizations [ ], science and classification [ ], communications and language [ ], technology and weapons [ ], ranks and titles [ ], other references [ ], chronology [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

• DS9 relaunch :
• Sins of the Mother ( The Lives of Dax short story )
• Mission Gamma ( miniseries )
• Unity ( novel )
• The Broken Moon ( TNG comic )

Connections [ ]

Timeline [ ], external links [ ].

• Conspiracy (episode) article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Conspiracy (Star Trek: The Next Generation) article at Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia.
• 1 Cetacean Probe
• 2 Resurgence
• 3 Eclipse class

Conspiracy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

" Conspiracy " is the twenty-fifth and penultimate episode of the first season of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , originally aired on May 9, 1988, in the United States. The premise was conceived by the show's creator Gene Roddenberry in a single sentence overview titled "The Assassins", being expanded into a thirty-page story by Robert Sabaroff. From this, the teleplay was produced by Tracy Tormé and the episode directed by Cliff Bole .

Cultural references

Home media release, external links.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D . Following a meeting with a fellow captain, the strange behavior of high-ranking officers leads Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) and the crew of the Enterprise to uncover a conspiracy of senior Starfleet officers possessed by parasitic aliens who are preparing to invade the United Federation of Planets .

Numerous make-up effects were created by make-up supervisor Michael Westmore , including an exploding head using raw meat. There were concerns by producers that some of the effects were too graphic, but after a viewing by a staff member's son, they decided to broadcast it uncut. The episode has subsequently been included in some best episode lists of the series, and won one of three Primetime Emmy Awards for The Next Generation ' s first season. Controversial when originally broadcast, the more graphic elements were cut from broadcast in the United Kingdom, and required a warning before airing in Canada.

Captain Picard receives a highly confidential message from Captain Walker Keel of the USS Horatio . Keel refuses to discuss his concerns and insists on a face-to-face meeting. At the meeting, Keel reports strange orders from Starfleet headquarters and what he implies are suspicious deaths of Starfleet officers and expresses concern of a conspiracy. After their meeting, the Enterprise finds that the Starship Horatio has been destroyed. Picard has Lt. Commander Data review all orders issued by Starfleet Command in the past six months. Data finds several strange orders from the senior levels of Starfleet and Picard orders the Enterprise to Earth. As it approaches Earth, a transmission is received from a trio of Starfleet admirals, Savar, Aaron and Quinn. The admirals are surprised by the Enterprise ' s presence but invite Captain Picard and Commander Riker to dinner.

After witnessing the admirals' bizarre behavior and discussion of a "superior life form" Dr. Crusher discovers that a bug-like parasite has wrapped its tendrils around the stem of Quinn's brain and is controlling him. At dinner, it is revealed that the parasites are seeking to take over Starfleet, using humanoids as hosts. Riker and Picard subdue the infected men, causing parasites to leave the hosts and flee. One of the parasites scurries under a closed door, where Picard and Riker find Quinn's assistant Remmick eating the parasite. Remmick begins transmitting a signal. Picard and Riker fire upon Remmick, destroying his body but freeing a giant parasite; the two continue to fire until it is destroyed. Dr. Crusher reports that the other parasites have shriveled up and died, as they were unable to survive without the mother-creature that had been inhabiting Remmick. Data theorizes that Remmick's signal was a homing beacon to more creatures like himself.

Gene Roddenberry originated the idea for the episode in a single-sentence proposal entitled "The Assassins". Robert Sabaroff expanded this idea to thirty pages but his version was seen as too expensive. Tracy Tormé was then given the job of rewriting it but some producers thought the new version was too dark until Roddenberry saw it and endorsed the new version. [1] In one of the original versions, it was a faction within Starfleet who were conspirators rather than alien parasites but Roddenberry did not like showing Starfleet itself in such a dark manner. [1] Wired suggested that the premise was based on the Iran–Contra affair . [2] The episode's cliffhanger ending was meant to lead to the introduction of The Borg   – initially conceptualized as an insectoid species   – in the second season, a plot element foreshadowed in the following episode, The Neutral Zone. Once the Borg were reimagined as a cybernetic race, this element was dropped, and the story element of the parasites' signal never resolved. [3]

The director of the episode, Cliff Bole , was a school friend of makeup supervisor Michael Westmore . [4] The scene with Remmick at the end of the episode was added in post-production , as it was originally scripted to have Riker and Picard come face to face with a full-sized mother creature. [1] The part where the parasite enters Remmick's throat reportedly took many takes because the bulging effect was made by Westmore blowing into bladder under a false neck and Bole kept trying to make Westmore hyperventilate from the exertion. [4] The parasites were created by Makeup & Effects Laboratories from a design by Rick Sternbach . [5] A mold of Paul Newman 's face was filled with raw meat and then blown up to create the effect used when Picard and Riker fire on Remmick but Rick Berman and Peter Lauritson were concerned that it was too graphic. Dan Curry invited his six-year-old son to watch the episode in order to test how children would react to it; the boy reportedly liked it so much that he suggested the creation of a Remmick action figure whose head would blow up by pressing a button. This resulted in Berman deciding to air the episode uncut with the full sequence included. [4]

Several props and effects seen in the episode were reproduced from the Star Trek movies , including the shots of Earth and Spacedock One and the painting used of Starfleet Command . The doors to the room where dinner is served were reused from season 2 on the set for Ten-Forward . [6] The episode also features two first appearances; the Ambassador class starship was mentioned for the first time (the Horatio was a member of this class, as was the Enterprise -C ) and it also marks the first time that a Bolian had been seen on Star Trek, [6] the species having been named after the episode's director. [7] Although the parasites never re-appeared in a Star Trek series, they are found in the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels, where they are revealed to be mutated Trill symbionts. [7] They also reappear in several episodes of the game Star Trek Online . The parasites, known as Bluegill, are bio-engineered by the Solanae on behalf of the Iconians. They are not capable of infecting a joined Trill.

• The website Women at Warp noted the similarities to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode " Bad Eggs "   – "In both, insect-like creatures invade human hosts in service to a 'mother' parasite. Not only do each show's creatures look alike (six legs, pincers up front, tail in the back), they even attach to their victims in similar fashion, burrowing into their necks." [8]

"Conspiracy" aired in broadcast syndication within the United States during the week commencing May 13, 1988. It received Nielsen ratings of 9.4, reflecting the percentage of all households watching the episode during its timeslot. This was a decrease of 0.3 ratings points from the previous episode, " We'll Always Have Paris " and was less than the 10.2 rating received by the following episode, " The Neutral Zone ". [9] Due to the nature of the content, a warning was aired before "Conspiracy" was screened in Canada. [2] It was initially banned by the BBC in the United Kingdom, [4] but was later aired on BBC Two in a bowdlerised form. [2] [10] The episode was nominated with " Coming of Age " for Best Makeup at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards , winning the award, one of three Emmys won by the show that year. [11]

Several reviewers re-watched Star Trek: The Next Generation after the end of the series. Keith DeCandido for Tor.com described the episode as "a nasty episode that doesn't quite cohere into the level of nasty it could" but that the series "doesn't do horror/action all that often, and it serves as a good change of pace if nothing else". [7] He gave "Conspiracy" a score of four out of ten. [7] Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club , thought that while "Conspiracy" was a "hard episode to forget", it was not quite as good as he remembered and did not quite "fit" with the rest of the season. He thought that certain parts of the plot were "idiotic" and the admirals reminded him of a " Bond villain convention". [12] He gave the episode an overall grade of B, writing, "fingers crossed that next time we encounter a danger this sinister, the writers know how to handle it". [12]

"Conspiracy" was included as an honorable mention in a list of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation by Mike Antonucci of the San Jose Mercury News . [13] It was also included in a list of the best and worst episodes by Scott Thill at Wired magazine as one of the best, describing the reactions to the episode as "polarizing" and suggesting that "Conspiracy" might be worthy of becoming a plot in a future film by J. J. Abrams . [2] Total Film also suggested the episode as a potential plot for the film that would become Star Trek Into Darkness , and described it as "easily one of the greatest episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation ". [14] In 2012, David Brown of Radio Times called "Conspiracy" "a definite high point" in the first season and included it on a list of The Next Generation ' s greatest moments. [10]

Wired ranked "Conspiracy" as one of the best of The Next Generation in a 2012 review of the series' "sci-fi optimism", and they noted the creative plot involving a threat to the Federation. [2]

In 2016, Radio Times rated the explosion of Remmick as the 50th greatest scene in Star Trek . [15] In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter rated the episode as the 99th best episode of all Star Trek episodes up to that time. [16] In 2019, Ars Technica noted that the episode made them feel like the Enterprise -D was operating in a larger universe, the stop-motion special effects sequence and the legacy of a secret conspiracy in Starfleet. [17] In 2017, the episode was noted as featuring scary or eerie Star Trek content. [18]

In 2017, Den of Geek ranked "Conspiracy" as one of top 25 "must watch" episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation . They also note that this episode's plot is foreshadowed by the prior episode " Coming of Age ". [19]

In 2018, TheGamer ranked this one of the top 25 creepiest episodes of all Star Trek series. [20]

In 2019, Ars Technica was favourable to the episode, saying "There are plenty of reasons to love the episode" with a reason being "because it feels like part of a larger story   – and a larger universe." They are happy with an ending that leaves the mystery open, and gave viewers a break from story-of-the-week formula. [21]

In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter listed this episode among the twenty five best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , noting that it was the favorite episode of the series' property master, Alan Sims. [22]

In 2020, GameSpot noted this episode as one of the most bizarre moments of the series, the startlingly graphic explosion and melting of a parasitic alien and host. [23]

The episode was released on VHS cassette in the U.S. on May 26, 1993. [24] The episode was later included on the Star Trek: The Next Generation season one DVD box set, released in March 2002. [25] "Conspiracy" was released as part of the season one Blu-ray set on July 24, 2012. [26]

• 1 2 3 Nemecek (1995) : p. 68
• ↑ Okuda, Denise and Okuda, Michael. Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future . Pocket books, second edition, pub. 1996. P. 290
• 1 2 3 4 Reeves-Stevens (1998) : p. 69
• ↑ Block, Erdmann (2012) : p. 111
• 1 2 Nemecek (1995) : p. 69
• 1 2 3 4 DeCandido, Keith (August 1, 2011). " Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "Conspiracy" " . Tor.com . Archived from the original on November 16, 2012 . Retrieved January 27, 2022 .
• ↑ Eley, Candice Renee (March 16, 2020). "10 Times Buffy the Vampire Slayer Mirrored Star Trek: The Next Generation" . Women at Warp . Retrieved December 22, 2023 .
• ↑ "Star Trek: The Next Generation Nielsen Ratings – Seasons 1–2" . TrekNation . UGO Networks. Archived from the original on October 5, 2000 . Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
• 1 2 Brown, David (September 28, 2012). "Happy Birthday Star Trek: the Next Generation" . Radio Times . Archived from the original on November 28, 2012 . Retrieved November 6, 2012 .
• ↑ "Star Trek: The Next Generation" . Emmys.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018 . Retrieved September 6, 2012 .
• 1 2 Handlen, Zack (May 28, 2010). " "We'll Always Have Paris"/"Conspiracy"/"The Neutral Zone" " . The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on October 31, 2012 . Retrieved January 27, 2022 .
• ↑ "Critic picks five favorite 'The Next Generation' episodes" . Knight Ridder/Tribune . May 19, 1994. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018 . Retrieved November 3, 2012 .
• ↑ White, James (June 16, 2009). "9 Possible Plots For Star Trek 2" . Total Film . GamesRadar. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009 . Retrieved January 27, 2022 .
• ↑ David Brown (September 8, 2016). "The 50 Greatest Star Trek moments of all time" . Radio Times . Archived from the original on March 27, 2019 . Retrieved February 26, 2019 .
• ↑ " 'Star Trek': 100 Greatest Episodes" . The Hollywood Reporter . September 8, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2019 . Retrieved March 20, 2019 .
• ↑ Gitlin, Jonathan M. (May 9, 2019). "One of our favorite ST: The Next Generation episodes aired 31 years ago" . Ars Technica . Archived from the original on May 13, 2019 . Retrieved May 27, 2019 .
• ↑ "18 eerie, disturbing and downright scary Star Trek episodes" . H&I . Archived from the original on June 5, 2019 . Retrieved June 5, 2019 .
• ↑ Sven Harvey (October 18, 2017). "Star Trek: The Next Generation's 25 must-watch episodes" . Den of Geek . Archived from the original on October 2, 2021 . Retrieved July 8, 2019 .
• ↑ Guy Desmarais (April 16, 2018). "25 Creepy Star Trek Scenes That Set Phasers To Stun" . TheGamer . Archived from the original on August 5, 2019 . Retrieved August 5, 2019 .
• ↑ Gitlin, Jonathan M. (May 9, 2019). "One of our favorite ST: The Next Generation episodes aired 31 years ago" . Ars Technica . Archived from the original on May 13, 2019 . Retrieved May 4, 2021 .
• ↑ Bloom, Mike (May 23, 2019). " 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' – The 25 Best Episodes" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on May 23, 2019 . Retrieved January 27, 2021 .
• ↑ Kevin Wong (April 17, 2020). "The 11 Most Bizarre Moments Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation" . GameSpot . Archived from the original on January 27, 2020 . Retrieved January 27, 2021 .
• ↑ "Star Trek: The Next Generation – Episode 25 (VHS)" . Tower Video. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013 . Retrieved November 3, 2012 .
• ↑ Periguard, Mark A (March 24, 2002). " 'Life as a House' rests on shaky foundation" . The Boston Herald . Archived from the original on June 10, 2014 . Retrieved October 13, 2012 .
• ↑ Shaffer, RL (April 30, 2012). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Beams to Blu-ray" . IGN . Archived from the original on October 30, 2021 . Retrieved January 27, 2022 .

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" The Best of Both Worlds " is the 26th episode of the third season and the first episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . It comprises the 74th and 75th episodes of the series overall. The first part was originally aired on June 18, 1990, and the second on September 24, 1990 in broadcast syndication television.

" Coming of Age " is the nineteenth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . It first aired in broadcast syndication on March 14, 1988. Sandy Fries originally wrote the episode, but Hannah Louise Shearer performed an uncredited re-write. It is the only episode of the series directed by Mike Vejar, who went on to direct episodes of Deep Space Nine , Voyager and Enterprise .

" The Neutral Zone " is the season finale of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , originally aired within the United States on May 16, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The episode originated as a story submission purchased by Paramount written by Deborah McIntyre and Mona Clee, and was turned into a teleplay by Maurice Hurley. Because of the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, Hurley created the script in a day and a half, and the timescale forced the abandonment of both the idea of a two-part episode and of the first appearance of the Borg, which was delayed until the following season episode "Q Who".

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) , or Enterprise -D , to distinguish it from other vessels with the same name, is a starship in the Star Trek media franchise. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, it is the main setting of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) and the film Star Trek Generations (1994). It has also been depicted in various spinoffs, films, books, and licensed products.

" 11001001 " is the fifteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . It was first broadcast on February 1, 1988, in the United States in broadcast syndication. It was written by Maurice Hurley and Robert Lewin, and directed by Paul Lynch.

" The Last Outpost " is the fifth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , originally aired within the United States on October 19, 1987. The episode was written by Herbert Wright, based on a story by Richard Krzemien, and directed by Richard Colla. The guest cast included Armin Shimerman, Jake Dengel and Tracey Walter. Although this was Shimerman's first appearance as a Ferengi, he had previously filmed his first appearance in an uncredited role in "Haven", but that was broadcast after "The Last Outpost". He would later gain the role of the Ferengi Quark in the main cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

" Where No One Has Gone Before " is the sixth episode of the American science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , which originally aired October 26, 1987, in broadcast syndication in the United States. A high-definition, remastered version of the episode received a limited theatrical release for one day to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series on July 23, 2012. The story was originally developed with the title "Where None Have Gone Before" and was based on Diane Duane's book, The Wounded Sky . Duane and Michael Reaves pitched the idea to David Gerrold and Gene Roddenberry, and then submitted a script. Their script was subsequently rewritten by Maurice Hurley, whose first effort was poorly received; however, he subsequently rewrote it and that version was filmed. The episode was the first of the series directed by Rob Bowman, who went on to direct 12 more episodes. It was the only Star Trek: The Next Generation assignment for writers Duane and Reaves.

" Hide and Q " is the tenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , and originally aired on November 23, 1987, in broadcast syndication. The story was originally written by Maurice Hurley but went under numerous re-writes by the show's creator Gene Roddenberry. The episode was directed by Cliff Bole, and saw the return of John de Lancie as Q.

" Samaritan Snare " is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , and the 43rd episode overall. It was first released on May 15, 1989, in broadcast syndication.

" Skin of Evil " is the 23rd episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation ; it first aired on April 25, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The story premise was written by Joseph Stefano, whose teleplay was re-written by Hannah Louise Shearer. The episode was directed by Joseph L. Scanlan.

" Q Who " is the 16th episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . The episode first aired in broadcast syndication on May 5, 1989. It was written by executive producer Maurice Hurley and directed by Rob Bowman. "Q Who" marked the first appearance of the Borg, who were designed by Hurley and originally intended to appear in the first season episode "The Neutral Zone".

The first season of the American television science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 28, 1987, and concluded on May 16, 1988, after 26 episodes were broadcast. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise -D . It was the first live-action television series in the franchise to be broadcast since Star Trek: The Original Series was cancelled in 1969, and the first to feature all new characters. Paramount Television eventually sought the advice of the creator of Star Trek , Gene Roddenberry, who set about creating the new show with mostly former The Original Series staff members. An entirely new cast were sought, which concerned some members of The Original Series crew, as Roddenberry did not want to re-tread the same steps as he had in the first series to the extent that well-known Star Trek aliens such as Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans were banned at first.

• Block, Paula; Erdmann, Terry (2012). Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 . New York: Abrams. ISBN   978-1-4197-0429-1 .
• Nemecek, Larry (2003). Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (3rd   ed.). New York: Pocket Books. ISBN   0-7434-5798-6 .
• Reeves-Stevens, Judith; Reeves-Stevens, Garfield (1998). Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Continuing Mission (2nd   ed.). New York: Pocket Books. ISBN   978-0-671-02559-5 .
• "Conspiracy" at Memory Alpha

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Cast & Crew

Ward Costello

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Henry Darrow

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Capt. Walker Keel

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Spurred by reports of misdeeds in Starfleet's top echelon, Captain Picard heads for Earth to uncover the truth.

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Ursaline Bryant

Cast appearances.

Patrick Stewart

Jonathan Frakes

LeVar Burton

Michael Dorn

Gates McFadden

Marina Sirtis

Brent Spiner

Episode discussion.

Ewewewewewew

Conspiracy Stardate: 41775.5 Original Airdate: 9 May, 1988

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2 Ending, Explained

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Star Trek: 5 Important Moments In The Borg's History

Star trek: data's best quotes, star trek: who was dr. pulaski, and why did fans hate her, quick links, how does star trek: the next generation season 2 end, star trek: the next generation season 2's biggest story arcs, what do fans think of star trek: the next generation season 2's ending.

• Despite having a shortened run of episodes, Star Trek: The Next Generation 's second season ended with Star Trek 's first clip show.
• 'Shades of Gray' features Commander Riker battling an alien infection with his memories, and is regarded as one of the worst episodes in Star Trek history.
• It's a strange way to end a year that introduced storylines that would last for decades and revealed the series' major alien threat, the Borg.

Fans are used to Star Trek seasons ending on a high, but it took a while for the franchise to set the template. The Original Series didn’t end any of its three years on a particularly strong note, which carried through to Star Trek: The Next Generation . TNG ’s second year was hit by the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, an exodus of writers, and despite being reduced to 22 episodes, it was short of budget at the year’s end. While it would only be a year until TNG set the bar for Star Trek season cliffhangers with The Best of Both Worlds , the second year ended with a bottle episode.

Even today, beyond the syndication model that shipped TNG out to networks and effectively blocked story arcs, the bottle episode format is famous. The budget-saving format that used reduced cast, sets, and footage from previous episodes has been parodied in shows like Community and Teen Titans Go! Still, it’s pretty uncommon at the end of a series. TNG ’s second-year finale, which sees Commander Riker contract an alien infection, has the odd distinction of not just ending the year weakly but with what’s regarded as one of the worst episodes of all time.

6 Coolest Weapons From Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ranked

Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced plenty of sci-fi weapons that kept audiences fascinated and kept the action high.

Season Two ended with Star Trek ’s first clip show. In ‘Shades of Gray,’ fans catch up with the USS Enterprise as it carries out the first geological survey of a jungle planet, and Riker has already picked up an injured. As the transporter's useful biofilters can’t screen out the unidentified microbes in Riker’s signal, Dr. Pulaski beams down before clearing him for sickbay. As Riker says in the episode:

I’m surprised they don’t happen more often — after all, we are exploring the unknown.

As Riker’s leg goes numb, Pulaski confirms that a microorganism with elements of bacteria and virus is spreading through the commander’s body. She warns that it's fused to his nervous system at a molecular level and could kill him if it reaches his brain. Geordi La Forge and Data head to the planet to find the culprit, a predatory vine that strikes at animal life with giant thorns. An ever-entertaining patient, Riker has one-to-ones with Picard and then Troi, proclaiming, “I haven’t given up” before he falls into a coma.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best Riker Episodes

Riker has appeared in multiple Star Trek projects, but his episodes on Star Trek: The Next Generation are the most definitive.

Pulaski keeps Riker’s brain stimulated with electrical impulses, triggering memories (clips) from previous stories until she discovers that different memories can stop the infection. After a clip from ‘The Last Outpost’ shows Riker lost on an ominous alien planet, ‘Encounter at Farpoint’ has him meeting Data for the first time, and ‘The Dauphin,’ oddly recounts his coaching of Wesley Crusher as he roleplays some comedy roleplaying with Guinan. Inspired, Pulaski stimulates Riker’s romantic memories, much to the discomfort of Troi, who’s reading her Imzadi’s emotions.

A clip from ‘The Icarus Factor" recalls Riker saying goodbye to Troi before being led away for some pleasure in the paradise of ‘Justice" and practices his Humphrey Bogart patter with self-aware hologram Minuet in ‘11001001’. As Troi bristles at the “erotic memories,” he seduces Beata, the leader of an alien world in ‘Angel One’ and is then seduced by Brenna Odell aboard the Enterprise in ‘Up the Long Ladder.’ When Pulaski deduces that passionate memories are doubling the organism’s growth rate, she stimulates Riker’s brain endorphins to induce darker memories, much to Troi and the audience’s relief.

Star Trek: What Happened to Thomas Riker?

William Riker was Captain Picard's well-known Number One, but he wasn't the only William Riker in Star Trek.

The first memory is Tasha Yar’s pointless death in ‘Skin of Evil,' followed by the demise of Troi’s child in the bizarre Season Two opener ‘The Child.’ Riker stands up to the second officer aboard the Klingon Bird of Prey Pagh in ‘A Matter of Honor,’ before parasite-infected Admiral Quinn soundly beats him in ‘Conspiracy.’ When Riker only has half an hour to live, Pulaski is forced to stimulate even darker memories.

Quick-fire clips show Riker being tortured in ‘Symbiosis,’ attacked by Ferengi in ‘The Last Outpost,’ and dragged into the malevolent oil slick Armus ‘Skin of Evil.’ After setting the Enterprise self-destruct in ‘11001001’ and narrowly helping Klingons escape the exploding vessel Batris in ‘Heart of Glory,’ the iconic phasering of Commander Remmick’s head in ‘Conspiracy’ eradicates the infection. The episode quickly wraps up with the awake Riker demonstrating his marvelous sense of humor as the Enterprise soars away from the planet that almost killed him.

Star Trek: William Riker's Best Quotes

William Riker has delivered several memorable lines throughout the Star Trek franchise's history. These are some of the best.

The finale of season one left fan expectations high. It signaled the Romulans' in-universe return with a new look and powerful addition to their fleet in the D'deridex warbird. However, creator Gene Roddenberry opposed too many appearances by the alien race, and they only appeared once in the second year.

There were no massive storylines in the second year of TNG , which is typical of its syndicated release, but there were notable first appearances. Big introductions included Professor James Moriarty in 'Elementary, Dear Data,' most recently seen again in Star Trek: Picard . Lwaxana Troi, played by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, provided her first comic relief before subsequent appearances in TNG and Deep Space Nine .

The Borg is a frightening alien race from Star Trek, and these are just a few of the most important moments in their history

Most notable was the first onscreen appearance of the Borg. The eerie episode ‘Q Who’ saw the mischievous Q propel the Enterprise thousands of light years into the Delta Quadrant for Starfleet's first engagement with the Collective . This paved the way for the Borg to become the definitive TNG threat on the small and big screen and play a significant role in Star Trek: Voyager .

Other episodes provided threads for major stories that would be picked up and explored in later series. A notable example is ‘The Measure of a Man,’ which explored Data’s rights of self-determination and would form a significant part of Star Trek: Picard decades later. The finale, ‘Shades of Gray,’ wouldn’t prove so influential.

Data is one of the best characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and his quotes showcase that despite being an android, he's extremely human.

The clip show that ends TNG’s shortest season has struggled to conjure up much love. In fact, ‘Shades of Gray’ fails on almost every level. Fans and critics have cited multiple genre shows that have handled clip shows far better, including many examples in Stargate SG1 . Other episodes of Star Trek are considered to have handled the threat of alien infection far better. They include Star Trek: Voyager ‘Resolutions’ and ‘Operation -- Annihilate! Which closed the first season of the Original Series .

The writer of ‘Shades of Gray,’ and Season Two showrunner Maurice Hurley didn’t have kind words for the story in Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages . He called it “Terrible, just terrible, and a way to save some money,” and a few other choice words. It was Hurley’s final episode of Star Trek , just as it was for Diana Muldaur as Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Both departures went relatively unnoticed.

Exploring the backlash to this character from The Next Generation, and whether or not it was justified.

On Reddit, ‘Shades of Gray’ is central to a lively and colorful debate about the worst episodes of Star Trek . While there are several contenders in Star Trek ’s hundreds of episodes, the TNG Season Two finale is undoubtedly up there and will likely remain. As Riker says in the episode:

This bug is persistent, I’ll admit that.

At the very least, the Season Two finale is considered boring . While the episode insists that facing death is an ultimate test of character, ‘Shades of Gray’ falls foul of many pitfalls that come with clip shows. For one, the meta potential of clips from episodes showing events from an audience’s point of view doesn’t work as a character’s memory, even when they are stimulated to fight infection.

It remains incredible that the second year of TNG ended with a clip show and a clear indication of the tumultuous couple of years the series overcame to become a legendary TV show. As the cliche goes, it’s always darkest before dawn. Apparently, that's even true in space. The vast improvement seen in TNG Season Three and the cliffhangers the show would pioneer a year later owe a lot to ‘Shades of Gray.’

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1 star trek: tng episode was so dark, it got banned.

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I can't think of a better series finale than star trek: tng, even 30 years later, spencer reid's return is more unattainable after criminal minds: evolution season 2 update.

• "Conspiracy" episode of TNG was banned by the BBC for being too violent, with a head-exploding scene deemed too gory.
• Producers were concerned about the episode's dark tone, but a child's positive reaction led to its airing as is.
• Several Star Trek episodes, including TOS's "The Empath" and "Miri," were also banned in the UK due to their disturbing themes.

Star Trek is often family-friendly, but one early episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was banned by BBC for being too violent. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D , TNG is not known for being particularly dark or gory . Captain Picard usually attacks problems with words and diplomacy rather than phaser fire, but he takes a different approach in TNG season 1, episode 25, "Conspiracy. "Conspiracy" almost didn't air at all because even some of the producers worried it was too much.

"Conspiracy" picks up on a plot thread first mentioned in TNG season 1, episode 19, "Coming of Age," which revealed a possible conspiracy within the highest levels of Starfleet . With the help of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Captain Picard discovers that several high-level Starfleet officers are being controlled by parasitic aliens . When Picard and Riker confront the leader of the parasites, Lt. Commander Dexter Remmick (Robert Schenkkan), they fire their phasers at him at point-blank range. Remmick's head explodes in a surprisingly gory display, and then a large parasite creature pops out of Remmick's stomach, before being similarly dispatched. It's all much more violent than a typical episode of TNG , and the BBC banned the episode outright when it first aired.

Star Trek: The Next Generation has one of the most beloved cast of characters in all of science fiction. Here are the major characters of the classic.

TNG's "Conspiracy" Was Deemed Too Violent For The BBC

The scene where remmick's head explodes was deemed too gory..

According to Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Continuing Mission, A Tenth Anniversary Tribute, producers Rick Berman and Peter Lauritson were concerned about "Conspiracy" being too dark. To see how children would react to the episode, Berman and Lauritson showed "Conspiracy" to the six-year-old son of the special effects supervisor, Dan Curry. The child apparently responded: "I really liked the part where the guy's head blew up! You know, you could make a Remmick action figure where if you pressed the button, his head blows up!" So the episode aired as it was, and while this may have delighted many six-year-old Trek fans, the BBC felt differently about the head-exploding scene .

"Conspiracy" first aired in the United States in May of 1988, but the episode was banned in the United Kingdom at the time. The BBC did eventually air "Conspiracy" in 1991, but several minutes of footage were cut from the episode, including most of Remmick's death scene. In Canada, a viewer discretion warning aired before the episode. Although the gore in "Conspiracy" may seem tame by today's standards, it was very atypical for Star Trek at the time . While the episode is certainly an entertaining one, it feels somewhat out of place among the other episodes of TNG season 1 .

Despite ending with a hint that the parasites would return, they are never mentioned again in any Star Trek television show or movie. However, a series of tie-in novels did pick up the storyline, connecting the parasites to Trill symbiotes.

Several Other Star Trek Episodes Have Been Banned In The UK

Tos episodes "the empath," "whom gods destroy," "plato's stepchildren," and "miri" were all banned..

Although TNG's "Conspiracy" may be the most well-known episode to have been banned, this kind of censoring wasn't new to Star Trek . Several episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series were banned in the United Kingdom, much to the consternation of many Star Trek fans. The BBC network apparently received so many letters from Trek fans urging them to air the episodes, that they sent out their own letter in 1976 . The letter stated: "After very careful consideration a top-level decision was made not to screen the episodes entitled 'Empath,' 'Whom Gods Destroy,' 'Plato's Stepchildren,' and 'Miri,' because they all dealt most unpleasantly with the already unpleasant subjects of madness, torture, sadism, and disease."

Dedicated Star Trek fans eventually found other ways to watch the banned episodes, and they were shown at several conventions in the UK over the years. The four banned episodes of TOS did not air on the BBC until the early 1990s. Another Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, season 3's "The High Ground," was also banned in the UK because of one line delivered by Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner). When discussing examples of terrorism that brought about political change, Data references "the Irish Unification of 2024." Because of the conflict in Northern Ireland known as The Troubles, the BBC did not air an unedited version of "The High Ground" until 2007.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
• Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)

7 Streaming Sci-Fi Series To Watch In Between Star Trek Shows

• Star Trek fans can explore other sci-fi shows like The X-Files, Fringe, and Farscape while awaiting new Star Trek content.
• Series like The X-Files offer similar episodic storytelling structures and intriguing mysteries for fans of Star Trek to enjoy.
• Shows like Battlestar Galactica provide a different, gritty take on sci-fi compared to the more optimistic Star Trek universe.

With Star Trek: Discovery coming to an end, it will be a long wait before another live-action Star Trek series is available to stream, but there are several great science fiction shows available to watch in the meantime. As one of the longest-running science fiction franchises, Star Trek currently includes 11 television series and 13 movies, with multiple new projects in the works. Not only did Star Trek: The Original Series spawn a mega-franchise, but it also inspired countless other films and television shows that came after.

While the wait for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 or the premiere of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy may seem long, there are plenty of other compelling sci-fi shows out there. While space operas like The Expanse capture the space exploration aspects of Star Trek , procedural dramas like The X-Files have a case-of-the-week structure similar to a lot of early Trek . For viewers who have already watched every available Star Trek story, here are seven other science fiction shows worth checking out.

Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.

The X-Files

All 11 seasons streaming on hulu & disney+.

Cast Gillian Flynn, Robert Patrick, Mitch Pileggi, David Duchovny, Annabeth Gish

Release Date September 10, 1993

Streaming Service(s) Hulu, Disney+

Showrunner Chris Carter

Following FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), The X-Files takes place in a version of our world where aliens and other paranormal creatures exist. Throughout the series, Mulder and Scully travel across the country investigating strange cases, while also working to uncover a massive government conspiracy. One of television's best will-they-won't-they couples, Mulder and Scully's relationship alone makes The X-Files worth watching .

12 Star Trek Actors Who Appeared On The X-Files

From exploring strange new worlds to fighting to uncover the truth, many actors have appeared on both Star Trek and The X-Files.

Considering The X-Files aired throughout the 1990s alongside multiple Star Trek shows, it's no surprise that the shows are similarly structured. Like the Star Trek: The Next Generation- era shows, The X-Files is mostly comprised of episodic, standalone stories, with the occasional two-parter and a loose overarching storyline. With its numerous close encounters, alien coverups, and bizarre creatures, The X-Files has plenty for Star Trek fans to love.

With two feature-length films and a limited two-season return in 2018, The X-Files remains incredibly popular. Another reboot is currently in the works with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler at the helm.

All 5 seasons streaming on Max

Cast Mark Valley, Lance Reddick, John Noble, Leonard Nimoy, Joshua Jackson, Seth Gabel, Jasika Nicole, Blair Brown, Anna Torv

Release Date September 9, 2008

Showrunner Jeff Pinkner

A spiritual successor to The X-Files, Fringe follows FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and her task force as they investigate cases relating to fringe science. Brilliant and eccentric scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson) work alongside Olivia after she recruits them to her team. Although Fringe begins with case-of-the-week stories involving strange phenomena, the show later explores a more serialized story involving parallel universes.

Fringe's most significant Star Trek connection is Leonard Nimoy himself, who portrays Dr. William Bell, the former lab partner of Walter Bishop and the founder of Massive Dynamic. A shady research corporation, Massive Dynamic ends up connected to many of the cases investigated by the Fringe team. While Fringe may not feature space travel, Star Trek is no stranger to parallel universes and weird science.

All 4 seasons streaming on Peacock

Cast David Franklin, Melissa Jaffer, Raelee Hill, Tammy MacIntosh, Lani Tupu, Paul Goddard, Virginia Hey, Rebecca Riggs, Wayne Pygram, Gigi Edgley, Anthony Simcoe, Jonathan Hardy, Ben Browder, Claudia Black

Release Date March 19, 1999

Streaming Service(s) Crackle , Plex, Amazon Freevee, Peacock

Creator(s) Rockne S. O'Bannon

Produced by The Jim Henson Company, Farscape tells the story of astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) , who accidentally flies into a wormhole that sends him to a distant part of the galaxy. Crichton ends up on a sentient ship named Moya, with a ragtag group of escaped prisoners who are running from the brutal and militaristic Peacekeepers. As he searches for a way home, Crichton befriends his fellow crewmembers and makes his fair share of enemies.

Along with runaway Peacekeeper pilot, Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Crichton and his crew do their best to evade the Peacekeepers, often finding themselves in absurd situations. Thanks to animatronic puppets from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, as well as make-up and prosthetics, Farscape's creatures look truly alien. After Farscape's abrupt cancelation at the end of season 4, a three-hour miniseries called Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars wrapped up the series.

All 4 seasons streaming on Hulu

Cast Murray Furrow, Andrew Gillies, Alisen Down, Demore Barnes, Tom Noonan, Todd Stashwick, Noah Bean, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa, Amanda Schull, Aaron Stanford

Created by Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas , 12 Monkeys offers a unique take on time travel and post-apocalyptic stories. When scavenger James Cole (Aaron Stanford) is brought into Project Splinter, he must travel back in time to prevent a devastating plague. Things don't quite go as planned, which results in numerous trips through time and a complicated search for a mysterious group known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys.

5 Reasons Star Trek: Picard Fans Need To Watch Terry Matalas' Other Sci-Fi Show

While fans await news of the proposed Star Trek: Picard spin-off, Star Trek: Legacy, they should check out Terry Matalas' other fantastic sci-fi show.

With its compelling characters (Todd Stashwick's Theodore Deacon and Emily Hampshire's Jennifer Goines are particular standouts) and twisty storylines, 12 Monkeys is an incredibly fun show that comes to a satisfying conclusion at the end of its four seasons . Although the first season of 12 Monkeys received mixed reviews, the show hit its stride in season 2 and didn't let up until the end.

The Expanse

All 6 seasons streaming on amazon prime.

Cast Nadine Nicole, Keon Alexander, Jasai Chase-Owens, Paulo Costanzo, Cara Gee, Thomas Jane, Frankie Adams, Dominique Tipper, Shawn Doyle, Wes Chatham, Steven Strait, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Florence Faivre, Cas Anvar

Release Date November 14, 2015

Streaming Service(s) Prime Video

Showrunner Hawk Ostby, Mark Fergus, Naren Shankar

For those who enjoy Star Trek's intergalactic politics, The Expanse tells a complex, often dark story of ruthless leaders and competing factions. When James Holden (Steven Strait) and his makeshift crew aboard the Rocinante become embroiled in a massive conspiracy , they fight to uncover the truth. Over six seasons, The Expanse grows in scope as war looms between Earth and Mars and alien technology complicates matters.

Based on the series of novels by James S.A. Corey, The Expanse is incredibly intelligent sci-fi with a cast of bold, realistic characters. Although The Expanse was canceled after three seasons on Syfy, it was picked up by Amazon Prime for three more seasons. The Expanse ended with season 6 , without adapting the last three books in the series, leaving several storylines unresolved.

Stargate SG-1 / Stargate: Atlantis

All 10 seasons of sg-1 & 5 seasons of atlantis streaming on amazon prime, stargate sg-1.

Cast Michael Shanks, Richard Dean Anderson, amanda tapping

Release Date July 27, 1997

Showrunner Brad Wright

Stargate Atlantis

Cast Paul McGillion, Torri Higginson, Chuck Campbell, Joe Flanigan, Rachel Luttrell, David Hewlett, Jason Momoa, David Nykl

Release Date July 16, 2004

Streaming Service(s) Apple TV+, Hulu, Prime Video

With three films and three television series, the Stargate franchise has many similarities to Star Trek . Beginning with the 1994 film, the franchise follows an Air Force special operations team as they investigate various planets by traveling through an alien portal known as a Stargate. Stargate SG-1 has the most in common with Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation , as Colonel Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) leads his team to explore strange planets and keep Earth safe.

Although several Star Trek actors guest star on Stargate, Robert Picardo is the only actor to play a main character in both franchises The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager and Richard Woolsey on Stargate: Atlantis.

The first spin-off of SG-1 , Stargate: Atlantis, takes after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager . When Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) discovers the lost alien city of Atlantis in the distant Pegasus Galaxy, Stargate Command sends a team to investigate. Major John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and his military team spend the next five seasons exploring planets in the Pegasus Galaxy and fighting off the dangerous Wraith.

12 Star Trek Actors Who Crossed Over Into Stargate

Many recognizable Star Trek actors made appearances in another iconic science fiction franchise: Stargate.

Battlestar Galactica

All 4 seasons streaming on amazon prime.

Cast Alessandro Juliani, Tahmoh Penikett, Aaron Douglas, Grace Park, Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Michael Hogan, Kandyse McClure, Jamie Bamber, James Callis

Release Date October 18, 2004

Showrunner Ronald D. Moore

Widely regarded as one of the best sci-fi television shows of all time, 2004's Battlestar Galactica follows the last remnants of a human civilization as they search for a new home after a devastating attack. With a fleet of ships led by the Battlestar Galactica, Commander William Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) do their best to hold humanity's survivors together .

As the orchestrators of the attack, the Cylons continue to plague the survivors, as sentient robots indistinguishable from humans infiltrate the fleet. Developed by Ronald D. Moore (who worked on Star Trek: TNG, DS9, and Voyager ), Battlestar Galactica offers a gritty and realistic take on science fiction, without any of the colorful aliens or technobabble Star Trek is known for. Still, both franchises have left their mark on popular culture and established themselves as science fiction classics.

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Simon kinberg in talks to produce ‘star trek’ movie franchise for paramount.

Paramount is looking to the ‘X-Men’ producer to boldly go and relaunch the property on the big screen.

By Etan Vlessing , Borys Kit May 21, 2024 9:28am

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Longtime X-Men producer Simon Kinberg  is beaming up to a new franchise.

The multi-hyphenate is in talks to produce a new Star Trek feature for Paramount Pictures , The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. If all goes well, the door would open to him taking active creative roles on the rest of the storied franchise’s film side. Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman are the main creative producers on Star Trek ‘s television side.

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Abrams remains involved with the new project as a producer. There is no release date for the feature, but the studio has signaled that it would like a 2025 opening. The machinations of the franchise take place against the backdrop of a potential sale of Paramount, which could find itself under the ownership of Sony or Skydance.

There hasn’t been a Star Trek movie since Star Trek Beyond , which was released in 2016. In recent years,  Trek  primarily has lived on the small screen, boldly finding new life thanks to numerous streaming shows on Paramount+, among them  Star Trek Discovery ,  Picard and Strange New Worlds . Efforts to relaunch the film side, including reuniting the Abrams Trek cast that included Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and Simon Pegg, among others, have ended up stranded on rocky alien shores. Paramount is also understood to still be developing a fourth Trek  to feature that cast that is being described as the final chapter for this crew.

Puck was the first to report on Kinberg being in negotiations to reboot the Star Trek movie franchise.

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Simon Kinberg in Talks to Produce ‘Star Trek’ Prequel Film

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

Senior Entertainment Writer

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• Simon Kinberg in Talks to Produce ‘Star Trek’ Prequel Film 1 week ago

Veteran producer Simon Kinberg , who oversaw most of the “X-Men” movies for 20th Century Fox, is in talks to produce an upcoming “ Star Trek ” movie for Paramount Pictures, Variety has confirmed.

The project has already been in development at the studio for some time, with Seth Grahame-Smith (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) handing the screenplay and Toby Haynes (“Andor,” “Black Mirror: USS Callister”) on board to direct. Insiders say the film is intended as an origin story for the main timeline of the “Star Trek” franchise (rather than the alternate, Kelvin timeline started with 2009’s “Star Trek”), set in the aftermath of humanity’s first contact with aliens.

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The “Star Trek” prequel will also be produced by J.J. Abrams, who has overseen all “Star Trek” movies through Bad Robot since 2009’s “Star Trek,” which he directed. Abrams is also producing a separate “Star Trek” film intended to be the final mission of the Kelvin timeline cast, including Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldaña. Steve Yockey (“The Flight Attendant”) is writing the newest draft of that script.

Puck first broke the news about Kinberg.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

Conspiracy (1988), robert schenkkan: lt. cmdr. dexter remmick, photos .

Quotes 

Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick : You don't understand... We mean you no harm.

[stands up, his neck pulsing with alien parasites] 

Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick : We seek peaceful coexistence!

[Riker and Picard open fire, blasting Remmick and the creatures to bits] 

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