‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Identity Crisis’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Something that is truly incredible about the human condition, is the amount of control that most of us have over well… just about everything. Because the vast majority of us, are able to decide when we want to eat or sleep, or what kind of career we want to take part in and what kind of life we want to lead. Plus, that same majority, is able to control their body and mind with minimal fuss and that kind of freedom is quite empowering for certain, since it really does make us masters and commanders of our bodies and lives. But you likely noted that the word ‘majority’ was used in regard to those kinds of freedoms and there is good reason for that.

Because some folks don’t have full control of those elements unfortunately, for a bevy of reasons, which gives those individuals a unique and powerful perspective on life. Plus, the harsh reality of being a human, is that those kinds of freedoms don’t always last. For a poor decision can end our freedom and genetics can end the control we have over our bodies and well, losing all that control is something we definitely fear since we become so accustomed to having it. In fact, we fear it so much, that our imagination sometimes ponders upon what it would be like to see those kinds of changes come to fruition and how we might respond to them. But thankfully, stories and testimonials can give us safe perspective and advice on these matters and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes the time to examine how to handle this fear in a fascinating manner. 

For ‘Identity Crisis’ sees Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge receive some unsettling news. In that, the vast majority of his shipmates from the U.S.S. Victory, his last assignment prior to the Enterprise, have gone missing on a ghost world known as Tarchannen III. Which is a place that Geordi and those very shipmates once visited to investigate why an outpost there went silent and empty seemingly overnight, and well, with the help of the only other surviving away team member from what appears to be a doomed expedition, the horrifying truth is uncovered. In that, Geordi and everyone that beamed down on that fateful day, was infected with some kind of parasite that is slowly rewriting everyone’s DNA and calling them back home to Tarchannen III. Which gives Geordi precious little time to figure out a cure for this infection.

But rather than cower in fear or panic, as he watches his former shipmate begin to transform into something quite inhuman, Geordi opts to do whatever he can to fix his condition, even going so far to use the holodeck to expose what infected him in an effort to narrow down the cure. But alas, his desire to find answers comes to a quick end, when the parasite goes into overdrive and begins to make rapid changes to his body. And if it wasn’t for Beverly’s skilled hands as a surgeon, and the help of his old friend, there was a chance that Geordi could have been lost forever and living a new life as a new species and well, that little twist really did make for some fascinating and poignant moments for certain. Since Geordi and his buddy were able to remember every feeling and emotion from their brief time as the true natives of Tarchannen III.
 
If anything, it is safe to say that the commentary present in this story is incredibly mature. Because living in the now and taking each day as they come is sometimes all we can do, especially if some of the control we exert, fades away from our lives. But while that was intelligent and wise, we would be remiss to not talk about the fact that the story in and of itself is also quite compelling. Because this episode does a wonderful job of building up the mystery surrounding this strange condition and this strange world, and it even creeps the viewer out… courtesy of the strange physical changes that Geordi and his friend go through and really in the end, this was one quality tale. One that featured some solid science and a compelling story, that really does give the viewer pause in regard to one of our greatest fears. Until next time.

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