Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 1, Episode 25
Original Air Date: May 9, 1988
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| via Memory Alpha |
An old friend warns Picard of a conspiracy within Starfleet. When the friend's ship is found destroyed, the Enterprise returns to Earth so the captain can warn the top brass of the impending danger. Alas, the admirals have been possessed by parasitic aliens. Admiral Quinn (Ward Costello) and Lt. Cmdr. Remmick (Robert Schenkkan) return in pivotal roles.
"Conspiracy" often features in Best Episode lists for TNG. While it's definitely on the stronger side for Season 1, it's not one of my favorites. For one thing, it tends more towards horror than usual - heads exploding, people eating squirming worms, aliens bursting out of people's chests - and horror is generally not my scene. The episode also undermines the satisfying resolution of its prequel, "Coming of Age." While it is kind of cool that the threat Quinn warned of in the earlier story is happening right under his own nose, it turns out Remmick truly is a rat. He was redeemed so nicely before. Oh well. There's some production sloppiness, too, especially with the camera work for Costello's body double.
Acting Notes
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| via Memory Alpha |
Henry Darrow played the role of Admiral Savar, one of the top brass who came under control of the aliens. Darrow was born Enrique Tomás Delgado Jiménez in New York City, September 15, 1933. When he was 13, his family moved back to Puerto Rico where he went to high school, then the University of Puerto Rico as a theater major. As a junior, he won a scholarship to study at Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles.
His best known professional role is as Mano in the the 1960s western series The High Chaparral. He also won an Emmy for his performance on the soap opera Santa Barbara. Along with Ricardo Montalbán, Edith Diaz and Carmen Zapata, he co-founded the Screen Actors Guild's Ethnic Minority Committee. He was also a founder of Nosotros, an organization which helps Latino actors find non-stereotyped parts.
Darrow appeared in Santana's video for "Hold On":
The problem here is that this is really the kind of story that needs more than one episode. Maybe more than a whole season. I don't remember it having any real weight to it.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of a couple first season ideas that eventually folded into the Borg thread.
DeleteIf I remember correctly, there was talk of another episode or two where the Enterprise crew stumbles across another group of these parasitic creatures controlling elements of Starfleet.
ReplyDeleteThe horror element in this episode was badly done but the biggest problem I had was the cheesiness of the special effects. It would have been interesting to see Star Trek tackle non-humanoid creatures that didn't share our logic.
It's definitely an interesting story idea. Fortunately, the special effects got better over time. The budget went up for Season 2.
DeleteWill always be a thoroughly satisfying Star Trek horror moment for me.
ReplyDeleteAlso, and not to endorse the actual guy but the title of the Marlon Brando movie (which I have yet to see), Viva Zapata!
I've never seen it either.
DeleteI have been watching lots of Star Trek lately. I am watching Enterprise- but didn't go back and watch older Star Trek episodes since I saw a lot/most of them back in the day. But- I am thinking I should go back and start from the beginning at some point. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
I don't know Enterprise too well, or DS9. Of all the immediate TNG spinoffs, Voyager is the one I know best.
DeleteThis was a gross episode from the worms to Alien coming out of the guy’s mouth and later, seeing it come out of his stomach. It ends where you hear the ugly things communicate to others out there. I thought for sure they were going to revisit but, thankfully, they never did.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't really go in for gross. Like I said, horror's not my scene.
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