The Host 

Dr. Crusher falls for someone who's not at all what she expects him to be.

Director:

Marvin V. Rush

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Michel Horvat

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Barbara Tarbuck	...	Governor Leka Trion
Nicole Orth-Pallavicini	...	Kareel Odan
William Newman	...	Kalin Trose
Patti Yasutake	...	Nurse Alyssa Ogawa
Franc Luz	...	Odan

Storyline

Doctor Beverly Crusher is secretly in romantic love since weeks with Federation ambassador Odan, who is on his way to the Alpha moon which is rebelling against the planet they were colonized from and cause potentially fatal environmental damage to its Beta moon. Crusher ignores her humanoid lover's body has an alien symbiont in his entrails, but Counselor Deanna Troi empathetically senses emotional swings which set her on the trail. Then an unrequested escort vessel from the Beta moon approaches and attacks the Enterprise shuttle which Commander Will Riker was piloting to bring the ambassador to his destination. When Riker brings Odan back to the Enterprise badly wounded, Crusher's diagnose reveals the 'parasite' and she learns his true identity. Odan urgently needs another humanoid host to perform his peace mission, for which task Riker is chosen...

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Plot Keywords:

personal log | outer space | enterprise the starship | warp speed | passionate kiss | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 1991 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode shows the Enterprise-D barbershop also has a salon area.

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Goofs

Odan refuses to be transported in this episode, and Dr. Crusher affirms the notion that using a transporter would damage the Trill symbiont. In DS9 Jadzia, Ezri, and other Trill/symbionts use the transporter freely.

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Quotes

Governor Leka Trion: Listening is a skill which seems to have evaporated with the heat of argument.
Riker Odan: Speak softly, Governor. Those who cannot hear an angry shout may strain to hear a whisper.

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: The Next Generation End Credits
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Dr. Crusher considers polygamy.

When Star Trek fans see this episode today, the mystery isn't so mysterious. After all, one of the cast of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9" was supposed to be of the Trill--so the notion of having a body as a host and a sentient separate being inside isn't surprising. Back when "The Host" debuted, however, this was all new and probably surprised more than a few of the fans. That's because Dr. Crusher has fallen in love with Ambassador Odan and doesn't realize that as a Trill he also has one of these beings living inside. Now this isn't a case of "Invasion of the Body Snatcher"--the relationship is voluntary and both sides benefit from this relationship. However, Dr. Crusher isn't prepared for this and only learns about this bonding when Odan is injured and his host body dies! In a pinch, to keep him alive, the thing known as 'Odan' temporarily is hosted by Riker--an awkward situation for the Doctor, to say the least! How does all this play out---well, see the show to find out for yourself.

This was a great introduction to the Trill and made for a very interesting episode. It also offers some interesting bisexual subtext--something which might surprise some viewers. Well done overall.