The Neutral Zone

Episode aired May 14, 1988
TV-PG
46m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, Gracie Harrison, Peter Mark Richman, and Leon Rippy in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Star Trek The Next Generation: Conspiracy

Play trailer2:07

2 Videos

9 Photos

Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
In the writers and directors' guide for the series, written by Gene Roddenberry prior to the first season, Romulans were covered by one of the main writing rules which stated "No stories about warfare with Klingons and Romulans and no stories with Vulcans. We are determined not to copy ourselves and believe there must be other interesting aliens in a galaxy filled with billions of stars and planets." Following the perceived failure of the Ferengi as the main villains of TNG by the production staff, the Romulans became the main villains during the early years of the series. This was in addition to the Borg, who were originally developed as an insectoid race for this episode but became a race of cyborgs by the time they first appeared in Q Who (1989).

Goofs
Riker shows little interest in the ancient Earth ship they encounter, which is a somewhat peculiar attitude considering he and the rest of the Enterprise crew are usually fascinated by all manner of things from Earth's past.

Quotes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is the 24th century. Material needs no longer exist.
Ralph Offenhouse: Then what's the challenge?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The challenge, Mr. Offenhouse, is to improve yourself. To enrich yourself. Enjoy it.

Connections
Featured in Mr. Plinkett's Star Trek 2009 Review (2010)

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

User reviews26

Review

Featured review

6/10

Futuramatrek

Three people are woken up 370 years after they died. I don't think any of them acts like a normal human would. "Aliens are real?! We're in space?! That machine can make anything i want?!" Nope, none of that. Instead, one guy just wants his money, another wants booze and the lady is just weeping constantly.

The Romulans are extremely goofy looking with their monk-hair, but their ship looks amazing and they're at least more interesting than Klingons. The big mystery ends up not getting resolved, which is probably the main problem with this episode. It's somewhat entertaining but ultimately falls flat.