The Creators of the Best Season of Star Trek Thought It Was Mediocre

By Chris Snellgrove | Published 26 seconds ago

As a huge Star Trek fan, I have always loved “Evolution,” the first episode of the third season The Next Generation. The third season was really where TNG finally came to fruition, complete with new costumes and a new, character-driven approach to storytelling that changed the franchise for the better. Additionally, “Evolution” has everything that made the golden era of Trek so special, which is why I was shocked to find out that the creators of this killer episode thought it was mediocre.

The Plot of “Evolution”

If you're a Star Trek fan who needs a quick “Evolution” primer, here you go: this is the episode where the Enterprise accompanies an eccentric scientist who hopes to see and record data from a cosmic event that only happens once every 196 years. Meanwhile, Beverly Crusher is back and trying to bond with her son Wesley, but she's too focused on her studies. He's so focused, in fact, that he accidentally releases some nanites and infects the core of the ship. As the critters evolve, they threaten this time-sensitive research, and in good TNG fashion, diplomacy with this new lifeform ends up saving the day.

Speaking for myself, I thought this was big An episode of Star Trek. It's not the best of the franchise or anything, but “Evolution” is arguably the strongest season premiere, which looks even stronger compared to “Shades of Grey,” the crapfest show that ended Season 2. That's why I'm so surprised the creators behind the episode they got us down to nothing, starting with runner and regular TNG savior Michael Piller.

Mid Season Start

Except for the Star Trek show actually to write “Evolution,” Piller concludes, “was the B episode.” Declaring that it “worked well,” he still laments that “I didn't like it.” Although he insisted that he was “still proud of the episode,” Piller summed up his thoughts by saying that the episode “didn't come out.

Veteran Star Trek director Winrich Kolbe is in charge of bringing the episode to life, and he shares Piller's assessment that the episode is subpar. He first praised the plot about a scientist who “discovered that there were problems he hadn't considered” and said he “loved” that there was “a certain amount of immaturity, cockiness, whatever.” However, he felt that “everyone saw it as a children's show, even the writers,” which led to a “serious problem” (these nanites could have easily destroyed the Enterprise and threatened the Federation) that was “not handled properly” on screen. .

Kolbe is one of Star Trek's most reliable directors, and Piller is more or less preserved. The Next Generation from the execution of its first two seasons, but I cannot leave it in their criticism of “Evolution.” It gave us the perfect The Original Series setting with a weird scientist and a quirkier space scene, but it adds the right amount The Next Generation twist with Picard saving the day using diplomacy and not violence. We even witnessed the birth of a new way of life, and if “seeking a new life” isn't Trek enough, I clearly don't know what is.

Star Trek: The Next Generation had better episodes than “Evolution,” but arguably no better season opener. It's a stand-alone story that's brilliantly rewatchable, even if its writer and director consider it a B-episode. And when you consider that the NuTrek era of the franchise was surprisingly uneven, this “B” episode now seems like nothing. brilliant.