Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
"Descent" | |
---|---|
Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes | |
Episode nos. | Season 6 and 7 Episodes 26 and 1 |
Directed by | Alexander Singer |
Written by | René Echevarria (Part II) |
Story by | Jeri Taylor (Part I) |
Teleplay by | Ronald D. Moore (Part I) |
Featured music | Jay Chattaway |
Production codes | 252 and 253 |
Original air dates | June 21, 1993 September 20, 1993 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Descent" is the 26th episode of the
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode they once again encounter the Borg.
The episode, which was aired on television in 1993, features a guest appearance by
Plot
Part I
On the holodeck, Lt. Commander Data plays a game of poker with holographic representations of Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. Data explains to Newton that the game is an experiment for understanding "how three of history's greatest minds would interact" in such a setting. He suspends the program when a red alert is issued from the bridge.[2]
The
Meanwhile, in orbit, an unidentified ship fires on the Enterprise, which returns fire. The alien ship beams up the remaining Borg from the outpost and flees, with the Enterprise in pursuit. The Borg ship suddenly enters a vortex and disappears. On the planet surface, Riker asks Data what happened, but Data can only explain that he felt anger. The away team is beamed back on board and Admiral Nechayev arrives to take command of the situation. She reprimands Picard for not destroying the Borg when he had the chance ("I, Borg") and orders him to do so if another opportunity presents itself. Data continues to try to understand what caused his behavior on the outpost. He tries to experience emotion again through simulations of the event, but does not succeed.[2]
The Borg ship reappears and attacks another outpost. The Enterprise is once again the nearest ship, which makes Picard suspicious, since there are now several Starfleet vessels patrolling the area. The Borg ship reenters the vortex and disappears when the Enterprise intercepts; the Enterprise is caught in its wake and follows. When the ships have exited the vortex the Borg attack the Enterprise, beaming drones on to the bridge. After a brief fire fight, one drone is killed and another wounded, but the distraction allows the Borg ship to escape. This, too, is unusual Borg behavior, since they had always reclaimed their drones, whether alive or dead.[2]
The crew discover that the vortex takes them from one star system to another almost instantaneously. They do not know how it is activated, though, so they are unable to return to Federation space. Data is sent to speak with the captured Borg in an attempt to gather intelligence, but the drone manipulates Data into releasing him and they escape together in a shuttlecraft. Before the Enterprise can catch the shuttle it disappears into a conduit. The crew have learned how the conduits are activated and the Enterprise gives chase, tracking the shuttlecraft to a planet. An away team finds no trace of Data or the Borg, and something in the planet's atmosphere is blocking their sensors, so Picard decides to conduct a ground search utilising nearly the whole crew of the Enterprise. Only a skeleton crew now remain on board under the command of Dr. Crusher.[2]
Searching the planet, Picard,
Part II
Lore has discovered a way to give Data emotions and has turned him against
On the planet, Lore orders Data to perform an experiment on La Forge's brain – an irreversible procedure with a "60% chance" of being lethal. La Forge pleads with Data, who ignores him and continues setting up the process. In their prison cell, the away team constructs a device which they believe will reactivate Data's morality
The away team manages to reactivate Data's ethical programming just as he is about to start the irreversible part of the experiment. La Forge pleads with Data, asking him to check his conscience. Data falters, claims that there are anomalies in the experiment and postpones it.[2]
Lore begins to doubt Data's devotion and attempts to strengthen control by threatening to remove the emotions he has provided. Data appears to be subservient, but Lore remains suspicious, and orders Data to prove his loyalty by killing Picard. Data refuses, as the rebooting of his morality subroutines is complete. Two Borg seize Data and Lore is about to execute him, when Riker and Worf arrive, accompanied by Hugh and some of the rebel Borg. A battle commences and Lore flees, pursued by Data. In their ensuing confrontation, Lore attempts to talk Data into escaping with him. When Data is unswayed, Lore attacks Data, but Data shoots him with a
In the aftermath, Hugh becomes leader of the Borg group and the Enterprise returns to Federation space. Data reports that Lore is to be disassembled permanently and that he intends to destroy the emotion chip, as it is "too dangerous", citing the harm he has inflicted under its influence. La Forge intervenes and advises him to keep the chip until he is ready.[2]
Production
At a screening for the 1991 documentary film A Brief History of Time, which was based on the book of the same name by British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Hawking was introduced to the audience by veteran Trek actor Leonard Nimoy. A Brief History executive producer Gordon Freedman told Nimoy that Hawking was an avid Star Trek fan. It was subsequently arranged for Hawking to visit the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which included an opportunity for him to sit in the captain's chair. Freedman told the show's executive producer, Rick Berman, that Hawking would appear on the show if asked. Hawking accepted the ensuing offer, marking the first time a guest star played himself on an episode of any Star Trek series. After he was sent the script, he made some modifications to it, including improving a humorous line of dialogue to make it funnier, which Berman called "delightful".[3]
Later, when actor
This episode is the only episode to have the episode title and opening credits listed during the cold open, before the title sequence. Normally, the episode title and all guest stars, producers/director are listed after the opening title sequence.
Novel
A novelization of this episode was published by Pocket Books. It was one of five novelizations to be made of The Next Generation episodes, along with "Encounter at Farpoint", "Unification", "Relics", and "All Good Things...".[4]
Reception
In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Jonathan Del Arco as one of the top ten guest star roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation.[5] He also appears in the role of Third of Five (i.e. Hugh), in "I, Borg" and "Descent, Part II",[5] and reprised the role in the series Star Trek: Picard.
Medium ranked this the 62nd best episode Star Trek: The Next Generation in 2017.[6]
In 2019, ScreenRant recommended "Descent" as background on the character Data, for the series Star Trek: Picard.[7]
In 2020, Space.com recommended watching this episode as background for Star Trek: Picard.[8]
In 2020, Cnet noted "Descent" for featuring the return of the characters Hugh and Lore, and described it as "fun" but not as good as "Best of Both Worlds".[9]
In 2020, SyFy Wire recommended this episode for binge watching, noting how it explores Hugh, Data, and the Borg.[10]
Watch guides
The
In 2020, GameSpot recommended "Descent" parts I & II for background on the character of Data.[12]
Story arc continuity
As a season cliffhanger, Descent follows up on a number of threads opened in prior episodes:
- "Brothers", fourth season episode where Data's emotion chip is introduced, and Lore is left at large
- "I, Borg", the fifth-season episode where Hugh is first encountered.
- "Suspicions", the sixth-season episode where the metaphasic shields were first introduced.
Additionally, the emotion chip is followed up on in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations.
Home video releases
"Descent, Part I" and "Descent, Part II" was released on LaserDisc in the United Kingdom in January 1996.[13] The PAL format optical disc had a runtime of 88 minutes, including both Parts of episode using both sides of the disc (CLV).[13] The 12 inch optical disc retailed for 19.99 pounds when it came out.[13]
In the United States, the episodes was released in LaserDisc in two separate iterations, with Part I paired with "Timescape" and Part II paired with "Liaisons".
Descent was also released on VHS tape.[16]
"Descent, Part I" was released as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation season six DVD box set in the United States on December 3, 2002.[17] A remastered HD version of "Descent Part I" was released on Blu-ray optical disc, on June 24, 2014.[18][19]
References
- ^ Bradley, Laura (14 March 2018). "Stephen Hawking's Star Trek Cameo Remains Historic—and Delightful". vanityfair.com. Condé Nast. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Descent". Star Trek: The Next Generation. 21 June 1993. CBS.
- ^ a b Spiegel, Danny (June 8, 2015). "Brilliant Mind Games". TV Guide. p. 84.
- ^ Ayers 2006, pp. 317–318.
- ^ a b "Star Trek: The Next Generation — 10 Great Guest Performances". Den of Geek. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- ^ Andrew (2019-09-21). "Ranking All The Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes (Part 5)". Medium. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ "Star Trek: Data's Most Important Episodes For Picard". ScreenRant. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Snowden 2020-01-23T13:39:29Z, Scott (23 January 2020). "A complete guide to what 'Star Trek' to watch before 'Star Trek: Picard'". Space.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Trenholm, Richard. "Star Trek: Picard -- the essential Trek episodes to watch before the new show". CNET. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ Lane, Carly (2020-06-29). "Very Important Binge: The best TNG episodes to watch before Star Trek: Picard". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ^ a b "A Guide to Binge Watching 7 Great STAR TREK Arcs". Nerdist. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- ^ "Star Trek Picard: 10 Next Generation Episodes That Will Catch You Up On Data". GameSpot. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ a b c "LaserDisc Database - Star Trek Next Generation: Descent [PLTEB 35401]". www.lddb.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ a b c "LaserDisc Database - Star Trek Next Generation #153/154: Descent #2/Liaisons [LV 40270-253]". www.lddb.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ a b c "LaserDisc Database - Star Trek Next Generation #151/152: Timescape/Descent #1 [LV 40270-251]". www.lddb.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Descent". www.videocollector.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ Ordway, Holly E. (December 6, 2002). "Star Trek the Next Generation – Season 4". DVD Talk. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ Marnell, Blair (June 20, 2014). "Exclusive Video: Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6 Gag Reel". Crave Online. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ Lipp, Chaz (February 28, 2015). "Blu-ray Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Six". The Morton Report. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
Works cited
- Ayers, Jeff (2006). Voyages of Imagination. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-41650349-1.
External links
- "Descent, Part I" at IMDb
- "Descent, Part II" at IMDb
- Descent, Part I at Memory Alpha
- Descent, Part II at Memory Alpha