Cogenitor 

Enterprise encounters a hyper-giant star. While there, they make first contact with the Vissians, a technologically sophisticated race with three genders. While making quick friends, and ... See full summary »

Director:

LeVar Burton

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (based upon "Star Trek" created by), Rick Berman (created by)

Stars:

Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Scott Bakula	...	Capt. Jonathan Archer
John Billingsley	...	Dr. Phlox
Jolene Blalock	...	Sub-Cmdr. T'Pol
Dominic Keating	...	Lt. Malcolm Reed
Anthony Montgomery	...	Ensign Travis Mayweather
Linda Park	...	Ensign Hoshi Sato
Connor Trinneer	...	Cmdr. Charles 'Trip' Tucker III
Andreas Katsulas	...	Vissian Capt. Drennik
F.J. Rio	...	Vissian Chief Engineer
Becky Wahlstrom	...	Vissian Cogenitor
Laura Interval	...	Veylo, Vissian Tactical Officer
Larissa Laskin	...	Calla, Vissian Engineer's Wife
Stacie Lynn Renna	...	Traistana (as Stacie Renna)

Storyline

Enterprise encounters a hyper-giant star. While there, they make first contact with the Vissians, a technologically sophisticated race with three genders. While making quick friends, and eagerly learning about the advanced technology, Trip gets curious about the Vissians third gender, known as the Cogenitor, who is crucial in the Vissian reproductive process. Against the wishes of the Vissians, Trip befriends the Cogenitor and encourages it to defy its cultural boundaries, which the Vissians are made aware of, and are angered by.

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Plot Keywords:

cogenitor | third gender | first contact | moral dilemma | reference to sophocles | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

F.J. Rio (Vissian chief engineer) previously played Enrique Muniz in a few Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) episodes, and Joleg in Star Trek: Voyager: Repentance (2001).

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Goofs

The Vissian chief engineer tells Commander Tucker that a polymer used on their ship is made of more than 200 naturally occurring elements. Tucker is shocked because the Earth database show only 92 naturally occurring elements. What's wrong here is that at the time of filming there were already 94 naturally occurring elements discovered and not 92 (as of 2017 94 plus 24 synthetics elements for a total of 118 ).

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Quotes

[Tucker has interfered with Vissian customs by exposing the cogenitor to Human culture...]
Captain Jonathan Archer: I might have expected something like this from a first-year recruit. But not you. You did exactly what I'd do? If that's true, then I've done a pretty lousy job setting an example around here. You're a senior officer on this ship. You're privy to the moral challenges I've had to face. You know I've wrestled with the fine line between doing what I think is right and interfering with other species. So don't ...

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Connections

Features The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

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Soundtracks

Where My Heart Will Take Me
Written by Diane Warren
Performed by Russell Watson
Episode: {all episodes}

User Reviews

Original, Dramatic and Tragic- The Best Episode of the Second Season

While preparing the sensors to observe a hyper-giant that will be transformed in a supernova, the Enterprise makes first contact with the amicable and highly developed Vissians. The race of explorers is invited to visit the Enterprise and the crews exchange information about each civilization. Trip is intrigued about the third gender of the Vissians, necessary for their reproductive process, and Dr. Phlox explains that there are many races with more than two genders and T'Pol asks him to not interfere with the Vissian culture. When Trip finds that the Cogenitor, who does not have a name, is illiterate and treated like and object, has the same level of intelligence of the males and females of its race, he decides to secretly encourage it to learn how to read and expand its culture, tragically affecting the relationship between humans and Vissians.

"Cogenitor" is original, dramatic and tragic, and certainly the best episode of the Second Season up to now. The story is important to show that there are different cultures where the concepts of what seems to be right or wrong are different from the standards of others and must be respected, no matter in deep space or on Earth. In Brazil we have a saying that could be translated as follows: "the hell is full of people with good intentions". Trip seems to have learned the lesson through the most difficult way when he sees the consequences of his action. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Cogenitor"

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 2003 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Network Television, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

43 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1