The Strangest Episodes of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' - 'Genesis'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

We have talked about some odd episodes when it comes to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Yet somehow those particular tales were understandable and forgivable. After all, the show was still finding its legs and stumbles are inevitable when you're first starting out. The show went on to bring us some of Star Trek's finest moments, yet as the end drew near, some of those strange tales appeared once again and in season seven there was one such tale that left me in surprise, 'Genesis'. 

In this particular episode, Picard and Data leave the Enterprise to retrieve a torpedo that was part of a weapons test. Upon their return they find their beloved ship adrift. When they board the ship, they discover that something incredible has happened. The crew has managed to de-evolve into more primal or dangerous lifeforms and now it is a race against time for Data to find a cure and save his comrades before the changes to their DNA become permanent.   

So yeah. I categorize this episode as one of the strangest I've ever seen in Trek lore because well...it really is. It's odd to see Lieutenant Barclay turning into a spider. Or watch Counselor Troi become a fish. Or see Worf become some exoskeleton covered beast simply because, this felt more like a freak of the week episode for a horror show, complete with top notch special effects. I mean, the Barclay-spider was an impressive look to the say the least but what's ironic is that the homage to horror didn't just end with the special effects. 

The episode also put a big focus on creating a creepy atmosphere, with darkened corridors aboard the Enterprise, where things lurked in the shadows and that was only further enhanced by having Data and Picard running through the ship, hiding from place to place from the mysteries and monsters lying in wait behind the sanitized facade of a Galaxy Class Starship. Sure it made for an entertaining ride, but let's be honest, none of these horror elements felt comfortable and what happens to the crew along the way is equally as odd and out of place. 

After all, there are moments when the crew begins to act out their 'animal instincts', particularly when Worf bites Troi to claim her as his mate and that just was so unlike Trek. There was no advancement of anything here, just a gimmicky plot and monsters that were at least based on science and all of those elements populated an episode that seemed to be just thrown into the mix of the show's final season for the sake of fulfilling the episode order. It's worth a look for the quality special effects, but it's one that will certainly leave you going 'huh' when all is said and done.

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