Symbiosis

Episode aired Apr 16, 1988
TV-PG
45m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

3.8K

YOUR RATING

Jonathan Frakes, Merritt Butrick, Kimberley Farr, Richard Lineback, and Judson Scott in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

The Enterprise encounters two neighboring cultures, one suffering from a plague, the other marketing a cure, and learns that nothing is as simple as it seems.The Enterprise encounters two neighboring cultures, one suffering from a plague, the other marketing a cure, and learns that nothing is as simple as it seems.The Enterprise encounters two neighboring cultures, one suffering from a plague, the other marketing a cure, and learns that nothing is as simple as it seems.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

3.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Merritt Butrick (T'Jon) and Judson Scott (Sobi) both appeared in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) as, respectively, Kirk's son David and Khan's right hand man, Joachim.

Goofs
Worf says that the freighter has entered the "planet's" atmosphere. The Enterprise is orbiting a star, not a planet; however, the distress signal was coming from the fourth planet of the star system, not the star.

Quotes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Beverly, the Prime Directive is not just a set of rules. It is a philosophy, and a very correct one. History has proved again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well-intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous.
Doctor Beverly Crusher: It's hard to be philosophical when faced with suffering.

Connections
Featured in Reading Rainbow: The Bionic Bunny Show (1988)

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

User reviews33

Review

Featured review

9/10

"You're brain on Felicium!" ad saved by two big things.

While it does seem follow some standard anti-drug art expressions from the time period, the episode is saved by it's acting and overall plot line.

Crosby and Frakes have some great execution of scenes dealing with the Ornarans/Brekkians. Especially when it comes to their evolutionary acquired weapon. Stewart's tone throughout sums up a tough interaction for JLP.

It's pretty clear that creating and then exploiting an entire planet of crackheads is up there on the list of reasons you'd break the prime directive, at least when it comes to JLP. A drug-addicted world, suddenly having 100% of the population going through massive withdrawal pains, without any notice whatsoever, doesn't seem to bother Dr. Crusher. However, JLP's plan has some foresight for the Brekkians in a way that shows compassion and good judgement in a no-win type spot. His final order of the episode to the helm sums up the result of the situation perfectly.