Haven (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
"Haven" | |
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Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 11 |
Directed by | Richard Compton |
Story by | Tracy Tormé Lan O'Kun |
Teleplay by | Tracy Tormé |
Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
Production code | 105 |
Original air date | November 30, 1987 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Haven" is the eleventh episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, originally aired on November 30, 1987, in broadcast syndication in the United States. Directed by Richard Compton, the story was originally created by Lan O'Kun, and developed into the final script by Tracy Tormé.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the
The episode marked the first appearance of several guest actors in The Next Generation, including Barrett and Carel Struycken. Tormé disliked the final version of the episode, and the critical response to the episode was mixed, with the performance of Barrett both praised and criticised.
Plot
The
The Enterprise then learns of an unmarked vessel approaching Haven. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) recognizes it as Tarellian, a race thought to have been wiped out by a highly lethal and contagious virus. When they contact the ship, they find a handful of Tarellian refugees who have been traveling at sub-light speeds to Haven in hopes of finding an isolated location to live out the rest of their lives in peace. Picard insists that they cannot go to the planet for fear of spreading the virus, and has the Tarellian vessel placed in a tractor beam. Wyatt recognizes one of the Tarellians, Ariana (Danitza Kingsley), from his dreams, and she too recognizes him. He tells Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) that he will transport some medical supplies to them, but transports himself along with the supplies. When the crew discovers this, Wyatt's parents demand that Picard bring Wyatt back to the Enterprise, but Troi insists that he cannot return, as he would now carry the Tarellian virus. Wyatt tells his parents, Troi, and the rest of the crew that he knew that this would be destiny, and is happy to try to help cure the Tarellian virus. He convinces the Tarellians to leave Haven and search for help elsewhere. Picard orders the tractor beam to be dropped and allows the vessel to depart the system.
Production
The episode's plot originated from one which Lan O'Kun submitted entitled "Love Beyond Time and Space", although at one point, the episode was called "Eye of the Beholder".[2] O'Kun's script was on the verge of being cut from the show when it was handed to Tracy Tormé for re-writes.[3] Tormé later described it as a "no-lose" situation as he felt that O'Kun's script was so bad anything would be an improvement.[4] Tormé changed the script from O'Kun's serious outline to something more comedic, although he felt that a lot of the comedy elements were later removed before filming. He didn't like the overall result, saying "I didn't particularly like the episode when it first aired. It's still one of my least favourite shows that I've been involved with".[4] Because of the work on the episode, Tormé was recruited as executive story editor.[3]
The episode was directed by Richard Compton, who had previously appeared as Lieutenant Washburn in The Original Series episode "The Doomsday Machine". "Haven" began filming twenty years to the day after Compton filmed his scenes in "The Doomsday Machine".[3] Dennis McCarthy composed the music for "Haven", which was so strongly disliked by executive producer Rick Berman that McCarthy thought he might be fired.[5] "Haven" was the fifth episode to be filmed, but was broadcast as the eleventh episode.[1]
"Haven" marked the first appearance of Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi. She had previously appeared as Number One in the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage", and as Christine Chapel in Star Trek: The Original Series and movies.[6] She would go on to re-appear as Lwaxana on average once per season for the rest of the run of The Next Generation.[3] Dutch actor Carel Struycken also made his first appearance as Mr. Homn in "Haven", which also marked the only time during his several appearances alongside Barrett that he had a line of dialogue.[6] Robert Ellenstein appeared as Steven Miller; he had previously appeared as the Federation President in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. "Haven" also marked the first filmed appearance of another actor who would regularly appear in the Star Trek franchise. Armin Shimerman appeared as the face of the Betazoid gift box in this episode. This was his first filmed appearance, but his first broadcast appearance was as the Ferengi Letek in "The Last Outpost".[6] He would later appear as the Ferengi Bractor in the season two episode "Peak Performance" before being cast once more as a Ferengi, but this time in the main cast, as Quark in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.[7]
The Tarellian spacecraft seen in this episode was developed by Andrew Probert, who also designed the
...I was just very pleased with the shape, the concept, it brings me good memories of Gene and me working together. —Probert on the "Haven" alien spaceship[8]
Reception
"Haven" aired in
Several reviewers re-watched the episode after the end of the series. Cast member
Keith DeCandido reviewed the episode for Tor.com in June 2011. He described the episode as "painful to watch" and one that where "all the worst sci-fi TV show clichés are in evidence".[6] He criticised the out of date sexist values of the plot in which Troi would have been forced to leave the ship to be with Wyatt. He did praise the appearance of Majel Barett, describing her as "ever-radiant" and the "saving grace of the episode".[6] He gave it a score of three out of ten.[6] Zack Handlen watched the episode for The A.V. Club in April 2010. He described Majel Barrett as "agonizing" and the episode was "full of lazy shoulder shrugs and half-finished ideas". He gave the episode a grade of D.[12]
In 2019, Den of Geek noted this episode for featuring romantic elements.[13]
Home media release
The first home media release of "Haven" was on
Notes
- ^ a b Nemecek (2003): p. 34
- ^ Tormé, Tracy (July 13, 1987). "Star Trek: The Next Generation "Haven"" (PDF). Paramount Pictures. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Nemecek (2003): p. 36
- ^ a b Gross; Altman (1993): p. 161
- ^ Ron Jones (2010). "Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Ron Jones Project" (Interview). Interviewed by Jeff Bond; Lukas Kendall. Film Score Monthly. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f DeCandido, Keith (June 9, 2011). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "Haven"". Tor.com. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ DeCandido, Keith (October 24, 2011). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "Peak Performance"". Tor.com. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c Salvador Nogueira (July 22, 2001). "Andrew Probert: two Enterprises and a DeLorean in the resume". trekbrasilis.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2001. Retrieved October 22, 2006.
- ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation Nielsen Ratings – Seasons 1–2". TrekNation. UGO Networks. Archived from the original on October 5, 2000. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Wheaton, Wil (May 8, 2007). "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Haven". AOL TV. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Hunt, James (November 30, 2012). "Revisiting Star Trek TNG: Haven". Den of Geek. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Handlen, Zack (April 23, 2010). ""The Battle"/"Hide and Q"/"Haven"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ "10 Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes Awkwardly Romantic Enough For Valentine's Day". Den of Geek. February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode 5 (VHS)". Tower Video. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Periguard, Mark A (March 24, 2002). "'Life as a House' rests on shaky foundation". The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ Shaffer, RL (April 30, 2012). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Beams to Blu-ray". IGN. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
References
- Gross, Edward; Altman, Mark A. (1993). Captain's Logs: The Complete Trek Voyages. London: Boxtree. ISBN 978-1-85283-899-7.
- Nemecek, Larry (2003). Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (3rd ed.). New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-5798-6.
External links
- "Haven" at IMDb
- "Haven" at Memory Alpha