Genesis (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

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"Genesis"
Star Trek: The Next Generation episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 19
Directed byGates McFadden
Written byBrannon Braga
Featured musicDennis McCarthy
Production code271
Original air dateMarch 19, 1994 (1994-03-19)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Journey's End"
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7
List of episodes

"Genesis" is the 171st episode of the American

television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 19th episode of the seventh season. It was directed by series cast member Gates McFadden
, her only directing credit to date.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the

cave men.[1]

This episode was broadcast on March 21, 1994.[2]

Plot

Picard and Data leave the Enterprise in a

Nurse Ogawa warns the senior staff that everyone on the ship is in danger.[5]

Picard and Data return after three days, having retrieved the wayward torpedo, but find the ship adrift, its main power offline and hearing eerie animal-like sounds throughout the ship. One of the bridge officers; Ensign Dern is dead, torn open in his seat,

introns at random, causing them to devolve. Picard is soon overcome by irrational emotions of fear and anxiety, indicating that he has been infected, and Data suggests he might soon become a primate similar to a lemur or marmoset. Picard and Data return to Data's quarters and find Spot and her kittens. Spot herself has changed into an iguana; however, the kittens are normal.[7] Data recommends that they locate Ogawa, who is also pregnant, on the theory that antibodies in amniotic fluid
can prevent the infection from spreading.

The two find Ogawa partially transformed into an ape, and bring her, Riker and Troi to sickbay so Data can begin working on a cure. They are interrupted by something attempting to break through the door; they realise Worf has reverted into an aggressive predator attempting to mate with Troi. As Worf attempts to break through the doors in search of Troi, Data formulates a

Jefferies tube
, but Picard rips out a power cable and uses it to shock Worf into unconsciousness. Data formulates an effective retrovirus and releases it into the ship's ventilation system, causing everyone to return to normal.

Crusher discovers that due to an anomaly in Barclay's genes, the T-cells in the injection she gave him mutated, activating all of his dormant genes and becoming transmissible from one person to another. She decides to name the condition "Barclay's protomorphosis syndrome" after its first confirmed patient.[4][5][8]

Awards

"Genesis" won an

Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.[9]

Reception

"Genesis" employs heavy make-up use, and 1994 saw 10

Emmy nominations for The Next Generation for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. This includes one for Michael Westmore,[10] who served as the make-up supervisor for Genesis.[11]

In 2017, Io9 noted "Genesis" for being one of the more bizarre science-fiction stories of the franchise, noting how different characters devolved into frightening creatures, such as Worf turning into a giant super-klingon that hunted other crew members.[12]

In 2018, TheGamer ranked this one of the top 25 creepiest episodes of all Star Trek series.[13]

In 2020, GameSpot noted this episode for having some of the most bizarre moments of series, such as spider-Barclay, Worf's venom spray, and ape-Riker.[14]

In 2020, the senior curator at the

Star Trek franchise episodes they suggested watching during the Pandemic.[15]

In 2020, ScreenRant said this was "fun to watch" but also one of the scariest Star Trek:The Next Generation episodes.[16] In 2021, they said this was one of the "Classic" and "Memorable" episodes of the television series, and also the only directing credit for Gates McFadden.[17]

Video releases

This was released in Japan on LaserDisc on October 9, 1998, as part of the half-season collection Log.14: Seventh Season Part.2.[18] This set included episodes from "Lower Decks" to Part II of "All Good Things", with English and Japanese audio tracks.[18]

References

  1. ^ Okuda, p. 170-171.
  2. ^ DeCandido, Keith R. A. (March 12, 2013). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "Genesis"". Tor.com. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Genesis (1994)". IMDB. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Okuda, p. 33-34.
  5. ^ a b c "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Genesis (1994)". StarTrek.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  6. ^ Okuda, p. 113.
  7. ^ Okuda, p. 460.
  8. Star Trek The Next Generation DVD
    set, volume 7, disc 5, selection 3
  9. ^ Montgomery, Tony Ruiz,Daniel; Ruiz, Tony; Montgomery, Daniel (May 4, 2020). "All 28 classic 'Star Trek' episodes that won Emmys: From 'The Next Generation' to 'Discovery'". GoldDerby. Retrieved April 21, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Awards for Star Trek: The Next Generation". IMDB. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  11. ^ "Full cast and credits for Star Trek: The Next Generation: Genesis (1994)". IMDB. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  12. ^ Whitbrook, James (September 26, 2017). "The 15 Weirdest Missions Star Trek: The Next Generation Boldly Went On". io9. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "25 Creepy Star Trek Scenes That Set Phasers To Stun". TheGamer. April 16, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "The 11 Most Bizarre Moments Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation". GameSpot. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  15. ^ "Four 'Star Trek' Episodes to Watch During a Pandemic". Museum of Pop Culture. April 20, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "Star Trek TNG: The 10 Most Frightening Episodes Of The Entire Show". ScreenRant. December 23, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "Star Trek: Every Actor Who Also Directed Episodes Or Movies". ScreenRant. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "LaserDisc Database - Star Trek Next Generation: Log.14: Seventh Season Part.2 [PILF-2438]". www.lddb.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
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