Star Trek: Force of Nature

Episode: "Force of Nature"

Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 7, Episode 9

Original Air Date: November 15, 1993

via Memory Alpha

Several ships have gone missing in the Hekaras Corridor.  While investigating, the Enterprise encounters two scientists who claim that excessive warp drive use is causing subspace rifts.  Unfortunately, they turn out to be right.

"Force of Nature" is an obvious environmentalist allegory and one with a rather surprising target.  The entire Star Trek concept is dependent on travel at warp speed, usually at several multiples.  Long-term, the warp 5 limitation suggested at episode's end could have hampered the franchise a great deal more than it has.  In truth, the interstellar speed limit is almost never directly addressed - only in two further TNG installments.  However, references to "maximum warp" are intended to mean maxing out this responsible limit rather than a ship's capabilities.  Plus, the variable geometry pylon was invented for Voyager as a work-around for the problem, obviously essential for a ship expected to cover so much distance over the course of its saga.

Per usual, the message show doesn't work so well for NextGen - poignant but clunky.  For the second time in Season 7, Data's relationship with his cat Spot is the highlight of the episode.  That's not good.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Michael Corbett played the role of Rabal, one of the Hekaran scientists.  Corbett was born June 20, 1956 in Philadelphia.  He landed a part on Broadway just two weeks after graduating from the Boston Conservatory of Music.  Broadway credits include Nefertiti, Grease and Come Back Little Sheba.  

While on stage, Corbett was discovered by a casting director for Ryan's Hope.  That gig led to further soap opera work on Search for Tomorrow and The Young and the Restless.  Corbett has since had a second career as a television real estate expert, primarily on NBC's Extra.  He has also written three real estate books: Before You Buy: The Homebuyer’s Handbook for Today’s Market!, Find It, Fix it, Flip It! Make Millions in Real Estate—One House at a Time and Ready, Set, Sold!, The Insider Secrets to Sell Your House Fast—for Top Dollar!.