1.17 Home Soil

Rating: 2

The head of a terraforming team on a totally lifeless planet is covering up his discovery of an inorganic but life-like substance he found during the project. When the Enterprise investigates and beams backs some of the material, it interfaces with the computer and takes over the ship.

Comments

Trek often has a problem when casting actors to play scientists. In this episode, the head designer, Lisa, leads the tour of the facility. She is bubbly, outgoing, and well spoken, and speaks like a TV presenter. In my experience, most scientists are reticent to speak in public in this manner, and tend to use more jargon. Her performance reminded me of Catherine Hicks’ mis-casting as a marine biologist in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Despite the underacting and overacting by the guest stars here, the moment when Picard reaches an understanding with the life-form is very moving. This is what Trek is all about – discovering new life and respecting all life.

The crew dubs the new life form ‘microbrain’. Funny, I thought this was already Q’s pet name for Worf! J

Memorable Moments

•    When Picard reaches understanding and agreement with the life-form.

Quotable Quotes

Data: Please show me spectral analysis, magnification 12k.
Computer: Silicon; germanium.
Data: Transistor material.
Computer: Gallium; arsenide.
Geordi: Emits light when charged.
Computer: Cadmium; silidide; sulfide.
Data: Emits charge when lit.
Computer: Water; impurities; sodium salts.
Worf: Conductor.
(pause)
Worf: But is it alive?
Computer: Probability: positive.
Worf: I wasn’t asking you.
(This scene is also blocked nicely, with the three characters staggered from foreground to background).

"Ugly bags of mostly water."
– The life-form’s description of humans

"You are beautiful to us. All life is beautiful."
– Troi to the microbrain life-form