The Neutral Zone 

While assigned to investigate missing outposts in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise revives three cryogenically frozen people found aboard a wayward derelict Earth vessel.

Director:

James L. Conway

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Maurice Hurley (television story)

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lieutenant Geordi La Forge
Denise Crosby	...	Lieutenant Tasha Yar (credit only)
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher (credit only)
Marc Alaimo	...	Commander Tebok
Anthony James	...	Subcommander Thei
Leon Rippy	...	L.Q. 'Sonny' Clemmons
Gracie Harrison	...	Clare Raymond
Peter Mark Richman	...	Ralph Offenhouse

Storyline

Data finds an ancient space module from Earth containing three intact people, frozen for 370 years, all of whom died of incurable diseases and were placed in cryogenic freeze in the hopes that cures might be found in the future. While Dr. Crusher treats and revives them, Starfleet sends the Enterprise to the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone, where Federation outposts and personnel have disappeared after decades without Romulan contact. Upon their first encounter, Captain Picard learns from the Romulans that their outposts and personnel have disappeared, too.

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Plot Keywords:

voice over narration | outer space | u.s.s. enterprise ncc 1701 d | male commander | galaxy class starship | 

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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:

14 May 1988 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 25 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two of the time-displaced humans returned in Star Trek literature, with Ralph Offenhouse appearing in The Next Generation novel Debtor's Planet as the Federation Ambassador to the Ferengi and again in the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy as the Secretary of Commerce for the Federation. Clare Raymond made a further appearance in the Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations novel Watching the Clock as a counsellor for time-displaced people. Offenhouse, Raymond and "Sonny" Clemmons also appeared in the two-part Star Trek: The Eugenic Wars by Greg Cox which was set prior to their appearance in this episode.

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Goofs

If the cryogenic station was a 20th Century orbiter, there is no way it could have gotten into deep space. Also, none of the lights would still be working, considering they had been on for three centuries. In the outside shots of the station, the "solar panels" are shown to be clearly damaged/broken, hence it would unlikely that they would still be operating after three centuries away from suns to provide them energy.

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Quotes

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [to the crew] Stay sharp, no surprises. I would rather out-think them than out-fight them.

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Connections

Featured in Trek Nation (2011)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

The past comes alive

While on a trip to the neutral zone the Enterprise comes across a derelict old ship floating in space. The away team of Worf and Data come across three cryogenically frozen humans in a ship that's falling apart. They beam them to the Enterprise where Dr. Crusher revives them.

All were at the moment of death when they were frozen and all are cured of what ailed them in the 20th century thanks to advantages in medicine. All this while Captain Picard is having the first face to face encounter with the Romulans in a few generations as the Federation and the Romulan Empire stayed behind and respected the neutral zone.

The three people are an interesting cross section of Americana of the period. Peter Mark Richman is a millionaire who thinks he's found a way to take it with him although what he has saved doesn't seem quite as valuable. Gracie Harrison is just your average housewife of the period who doesn't see how she can fit in. Upon awakening her first sight is Worf. What any 20th century mind would make of that after doing a Rip Van Winkle.

My favorite is Leon Rippy who was a second rate country singer but a full time party animal. He develops a unique an interesting relationship with Data. He looks like he will do the best if he tones down the hedonism, he has a nice just take it one day at a time philosophy.

Rippy's scenes with Brent Spiner are the best, this is one good TNG story.