2.07 Unnatural Selection

Rating: 2.5

The crew of the Lantree has died suddenly of old age. The cause is traced back to a genetics research station, where Dr Pulaski also contracts the disease during her investigation.

Comments

Colm Meaney (Chief O’Brien) has a number of lines in this episode and now seems to have been added as a permanent member of the crew.

This episode goes a long way toward restoring some audience sympathy/empathy toward the heretofore totally annoying Dr Pulaski.

Nits

How does the ‘child’ stay alive while being coated with styrolite? If it is truly a secure covering, then no molecules of air could get in or out.

And since the styrolite came out of the contaminated area, wouldn’t it be contaminated?

The solution (i.e.: a DNA sample can be used to restore a disease-infected body to 100% health) is too all-powerful, and will surely cause a few "Why don’t they use the transporter DNA trick now?" moments in the future. In fact, one occurs later on in the same episode: why didn’t they use similar technology to purify the Lantree, rather than destroying it with photon torpedoes? Answer: blowing things up is way cool.

Memorable Moments

•    The scene with Pulaski and Picard, where he gives approval to her plan, is powerful and well-acted. I especially appreciated the way Pulaski actually interrupted Picard by cutting him off mid-word. Too often, the first actor has to pause on the last word and wait for the second actor to interrupt.

•    Likewise, the scene where Pulaski is restored is quite moving, regardless of whether or not you like her character.

Quotable Quotes

Riker: Looks like they had a battle with time-
Worf: -and lost.

Taggart: (describing Pulaski) Apparently, she’s been an admirer of yours for some time.
Picard: Extraordinary.
(I love the very subtle sarcasm in Picard’s remark).

"Well, I’d have to get into the biofilter bus and patch in a molecular matrix reader. That’s no problem. But the waveform modulator will be overloaded without the regeneration limiter in the first stage circuit."
– O’Brien, techobabbler extraordinaire