Evolution (23 Sep. 1989)

The Enterprise is carrying an eminent scientist, Dr. Paul Stubbs, to the site of a binary star where they are expecting a massive stellar explosion to occur in a few hours. He has been ... See full summary »

Director:

Winrich Kolbe

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Michael Piller (teleplay),

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
Ken Jenkins	...	Dr. Paul Stubbs
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Guinan
Mary McCusker	...	Nurse
Randal Patrick	...	Crewman #1

Storyline

The Enterprise is carrying an eminent scientist, Dr. Paul Stubbs, to the site of a binary star where they are expecting a massive stellar explosion to occur in a few hours. He has been waiting many years for this to occur and has devoted his entire life to its study. The Enterprise however begins to suffer from a series of malfunctions, some minor but others far more serious. Meanwhile, Dr. Beverly Crusher has returned to the Enterprise after a year at Starfleet Medical. She's concerned however if her presence may be limiting son Wesley's development. Can a 17 year-old boy develop normally if his mother is always around him? Wesley may be responsible for all the problems on the ship when his experiment in nanotechnology escapes from the lab. Fearing that the attack on the ship might prevent him from completing his experiments, Stubbs takes matters into his own hands.

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Plot Keywords:

one word title | reference to frankenstein | 24th century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

23 September 1989 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Emergency ventilation procedures are standard drill practices on all naval vessels, yet Riker is the only one who acts during the gas attack.

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Quotes

[the ship's malfunctions have been caused by nanites]
Commander William T. Riker: Why would they attack us?
Dr. Paul Stubbs: Why does a mosquito bite your ear? And who cares? The answer is simple: call an exterminator!

User Reviews

Evolution of a series.

ST:TNG:50 - "Evolution" (Stardate: 43125.8) - this is the 2nd episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, though the 1st episode to air on TV and rightfully so, considering this is the episode that Dr. Beverly Crusher mentions she has come back from Starfleet medical (where she was during season 2). Dr. Crusher even questions her being onboard because she mentions that Wesley is the only Starfleet officer "with his mother onboard".

This episode has great use of music and great visual effects (especially at the beginning of the film when the Enterprise begins failing for some reason) while they try to launch a probe to study the rare explosion of a star in the Kavis Alpha Sector. Also, nice writing with the "egg" motif that runs though this episode.

Watch this "Evolution", it's a great one!

Trivia note: it's noted that a starship hasn't had a systemwide failure of the main computer in 79 years. Whoopi Goldberg also makes a comeback as Guinan (she notes "her husbands" - in Star Trek: Nemesis, she will mention she was married 23 times!). And, it is mentioned again how baseball became an extinct sport.