star trek next generation survivors

The Survivors (episode)

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The Enterprise investigates two survivors living on the only undamaged patch of land on a devastated planet.

1.2 Act One
1.3 Act Two
1.4 Act Three
1.5 Act Four
1.6 Act Five
1.7 Log entries
2 Memorable quotes
3.1 Production history
3.2 Production
3.3 Cast and characters
3.4 Sets, props, and costumes
3.5 Continuity
3.6 Reception
3.7 Video and DVD releases
4.1 Starring
4.2 Also starring
4.3 Guest stars
4.4 Uncredited co-stars
4.5 Stunt double
4.6 Stand-ins
4.7 References
4.8 External links

Summary [ ]

The USS Enterprise -D is en route to a Federation colony , Rana IV , which sent out a distress signal indicating they were under attack. When the Enterprise crew arrives, they find the entire planet completely devastated, save for a few acres of land and a house with two possibly human life forms. Captain Picard orders Commander Riker to lead an away team to the surface to " see who's at home. "

Act One [ ]

Still aboard the Enterprise , Counselor Troi senses something unusual about the two.

Commander Riker heads the landing party to the surface, consisting of Beverly Crusher , Data , Geordi La Forge , and Worf . After a quick investigation of the house from the outside, revealing two people inside the house and a non-functional weapon, Riker moves to the front door for a knock. La Forge tries to warn Riker about something hidden in his path and concealed beneath the surface but he can't react in time and he gets pulled up in the air by a booby trap . An old man comes out of the house and points a weapon at Riker telling them this is private property . He asks what they are doing here and who they are.

Riker explains to the man that they are a rescue party and mean no harm. An old woman rushes out of the house and convinces the man of their good intentions. The couple introduce themselves as Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge , botanists originally from Earth who moved to Rana IV five years ago . They did not know they were the only ones left on the planet, but they haven't heard from the colonists. They did observe a large ship in orbit, taking the world apart, but did not visit the surface, so they don't know who they are.

" You're not thinking of taking us with you, are you? "

Riker asks if the landing party can investigate the house to see why they have been spared. Nothing suspicious comes up in the search. Data becomes fascinated by a music box on Rishon's shelf. Rishon tells Data to examine it and explains that it has been in her family for generations. At that moment, Troi, still on the Enterprise, begins hearing music in her mind, replayed in an endless loop.

The two survivors refuse to be beamed up to the Enterprise when Riker offers them safety aboard the ship. They insist, saying they cannot leave their home and that they have each other.

Act Two [ ]

" Stop! Please, stop! "

In the Enterprise observation lounge , the senior staff wonder if the two survivors could have provided anything to the assailants of the colony. Troi, however, hears the music during the conversation and can't concentrate, excusing herself. Later, Picard goes to Troi's quarters to check on her, learning of the music she is hearing. At first, Picard thinks it may be an song that is stuck in a person's mind after they've heard it but Troi tells him it is much deeper than that. She explains that the song plays in perfect clarity from beginning to end and she has never heard it before. Picard asks when this started and Troi tells him it began a few hours before, when the away team beamed down to Rana and met Kevin and Rishon.

Despite Worf's thorough search of the system for the invading force with nothing found, the Enterprise soon is attacked by a large warship , apparently the one responsible for the devastation. Data reveals that there is no record of the ship in the vehicle identification index. The ship flees after the Enterprise fires a warning phaser shot. After being unable to catch up with the unidentified ship, Captain Picard orders that the Enterprise cease its pursuit and plot a return course back to the Delta Rana system.

Act Three [ ]

Upon returning, Picard visits the two survivors with Worf, offers them a portable replicator , and stays for tea to talk to them. Rishon relates their history, and also the horrors of the colonists' fate. Picard says he can't leave until he finds out what happened, and describes his encounter with the unknown ship to the two survivors who, again, claim not to know why they were spared. Picard says that there must be something different about them from the other colonists, and insists on taking the survivors back to the ship. They again refuse, and Picard and Worf return to the Enterprise .

Meanwhile, Troi is still haunted by the music, which is becoming louder, soon rendering her hysterical and incapable of doing much of anything beyond tearfully begging Dr. Crusher to make it stop. She suggests moving her to sickbay , which Troi refuses, insisting on staying in her quarters. Dr. Crusher offers to induce delta wave sleep, but Troi is convinced the music is real, and that not even deep sleep will spare her from it.

The Enterprise goes into red alert as the unidentified ship returns with more firepower. Picard attempts to open a hailing frequency before being attacked again. This time, its attacks are much stronger. The Enterprise throws everything they've got at it, but the alien ship's defenses dissipate the Enterprise's attack harmlessly. After taking severe damage and incurring casualties, the Enterprise escapes the ship's firing range. Picard now guesses the survivors are in no danger.

Act Four [ ]

" Please, leave us alone! "

In Troi's quarters, Picard theorizes to Dr. Crusher that Troi's music stems from Rishon and Kevin's unwillingness to leave, preventing her from seeing the truth of the matter. Back in the Delta Rana star system , Picard believes that the unknown ship is no longer in the vicinity, and that it somehow protects Kevin and Rishon, directly or indirectly. He then returns to the planet to talk to the survivors. The survivors appear to be celebrating by dancing together and are startled by Picard and Worf's sudden appearance.

Kevin asks Picard and Worf to leave him and his wife alone. Picard tells him that after he leaves, he will never set foot in their home on Rana again, for any reason. He explains to the survivors his recent encounters with the ship, however Kevin refuses to believe him, calling his stories methods of intimidation. Right before leaving, Picard sternly explains that– so long as the two are alive– the Enterprise will remain in orbit around Rana IV.

" It is preparing to fire at the planet. "

Upon beaming back to the Enterprise , the unidentified ship reappears, much to the evident dismay of Worf. Commander Riker and Worf begin preparations for a fight, but Picard calmly informs them that the Enterprise will take no action. The alien ship veers away from the Enterprise, targeting the house of Kevin and Rishon. The house and plot of land are utterly obliterated. The ship itself is then blown apart by a single photon torpedo from the Enterprise .

Picard orders the Enterprise to stay, and to look out for anything and everything. He leaves the bridge for his ready room , leaving a bewildered Riker and bridge crew.

Act Five [ ]

The crew is astounded by this turn of events, and even more puzzled as to why they remain in orbit over a dead planet. After approximately three hours, La Forge notices a change in sensor readings and informs the captain that the house and land are back. Picard orders Kevin and Rishon to be beamed directly to the bridge. Picard tells a surprised Rishon that he wants to end the suffering of one of his crew members and starts confronting Kevin over what really happened. Picard tells Kevin he realized that the house and the ship are his creations. When Picard last left the house he told them the Enterprise won't leave orbit as long as they would be alive, so Kevin went to satisfy that condition. Speaking to Rishon, Picard notes that all of his senses tell him that she exists, but he has realized that she is not real. Rishon vanishes, leaving only a sad Kevin. Picard tells him he knows he's not Human, he only appears as one. Kevin then teleports to the turbolift ; Picard orders the crew to keep clear and to track him, as he believes Kevin to be a creature of conscience that has some unfinished business before returning to the surface.

" She has suffered because of my pride and selfishness. "

Dr. Crusher visits Troi's quarters, startled to find Kevin at her bedside: he has removed the music from her mind. The music was his creation; her empathic powers were also threatening to reveal the truth. Picard enters and demands the truth about what happened to the planet. Kevin makes a startling confession: he is in fact a Douwd , an immortal being with vast powers. He met his Human wife many years before, and decided to live as a Human with her. The alien raiders were the Husnock , who he knew as being of "hideous intelligence, knowing only aggression and destruction". As a devout pacifist , he was ethically limited to avoid using his vast abilities to harm them. He used his powers to try to trick them instead, which only made them more angry and cruel. Rishon joined the colonists in fighting what Kevin knew to be a hopeless battle against the raiders, and was subsequently killed. Viewing her broken body, he suffered a moment of weakness. Regretting his inaction, in a moment of insane rage at the raiders, and grief at his tragic loss, he instantly annihilated the entire Husnock race – all fifty billion – with a single thought.

Stunned at his "sin", Kevin recreated Rishon and their house, and sentenced himself to exile on the ruined Rana IV. He used the fake warship as a ruse to try and keep the Enterprise from finding out the truth. Picard confesses that the Federation (much less Humanity) is not qualified to judge him, or the issue, and allows him to stay on Rana IV and to make Rishon live again.

With Troi returned to full health, the Enterprise departs for Starbase 133 . Picard notes in his log that the Douwd is a being of both extraordinary power and conscience, and isn't sure if he should be condemned for his crime, or praised for his conscience. What he does know, however, is that "Kevin" should be left alone.

Log entries [ ]

Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2366

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Sir. may I say your attempt to hold the away team at bay, with a non-functioning weapon, was an act of unmitigated gall. " " Didn't fool you, huh? " " I admire gall. "

" An entire planet obliterated… except for a few acres of trees and grass and one building? "

" Number One, I think you had better see who's at home. "

(Worf drinks his tea and makes a face). " Well, what do you think, Mr. Worf? " " Good tea. (looks around) Nice house. "

" If they are the only survivors of a nuclear holocaust, they can't be in very good shape. "

" I can induce delta sleep. Lock out even your deepest dreams. " " It's not a dream. It's real. "

" There's nothing unusual about this house . Except the fact that it's here. "

" Your colony was attacked by a warship– " " Belonging to the Husnock. A species of hideous intelligence. Knew only aggression … destruction. "

" I saw her broken body … I went insane. My hatred exploded. And in an instant of grief … I destroyed the Husnock.'"

" No, no, no, no, no. You don't understand the scope of my crime. I didn't kill just one Husnock , or a hundred, or a thousand….I killed them all . All Husnock … everywhere. "

" Are eleven thousand people worth fifty billion? Is the love of a woman worth the destruction of an entire species? This is the sin I tried so hard to keep you from learning of – why I wanted to chase you from Rana. "

" We are not qualified to be your judges. We have no law to fit your crime. You're free to return to the planet, and to make Rishon live again. "

" We leave behind a being of extraordinary power … and conscience. I am not certain if he should be praised, or condemned, only, that he should be left alone. "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

First draft script ( titled "The Veiled Planet"): 7 July 1989 [1]
Revised final draft script: 31 July 1989 [2]
Storyboards by Dan Curry : 25 August 1989
More storyboards by Dan Curry: 2 September 1989
Premiere airdate: 9 October 1989
First UK airdate: 23 October 1991

Production [ ]

Jonathan Frakes begins the "snare" stunt

Location shooting, with Dan Koko , Dennis Madalone , and cinematographer Marvin V. Rush

The outdoor scenes in this episode were shot at a beach house in Malibu, California. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 103))
Director Les Landau recalled, " We were on location for a day. It made not only the audience but the crew happy. When you're tied to shooting indoors every day, it gets monotonous. We were lucky enough to go out to Malibu and we had a beautiful summer day. I think it was unique story for Star Trek and one of my best works to date. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 187)
Dan Koko performed the stunt where Riker is caught by the snare set by Kevin Uxbridge . ( Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 , p. 122)

Cast and characters [ ]

John Anderson (Kevin Uxbridge) had lost his own wife only a year before appearing in "The Survivors". Due to this, he almost turned down the role. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 103))

Sets, props, and costumes [ ]

The large round window in the Uxbridges' living room previously appeared on the surface of Ramatis III in " Loud As A Whisper ".
This is the first episode that Deanna Troi wears her new turquoise uniform, which she would continue to wear on a rotating basis with her maroon and dark gray unitard until the season six episode " Chain Of Command, Part I ".

Continuity [ ]

Both guest stars play characters that are much older than they were in real life at the time of shooting. 67-year-old John Anderson played 85-year-old Kevin Uxbridge and 55-year-old Anne Haney played 82-year-old Rishon Uxbridge . This seems to indicate, as with the 137-year-old Admiral Leonard McCoy in " Encounter at Farpoint ", that the average Human lifespan is much longer in the 24th century. (Haney would subsequently play an even older character, the hundred-year old Els Renora in the episode " Dax ".)
Riker says in learning of the only surviving area of the devastation on Rana IV, "a few acres of trees and grass," indicating an anachronistic familiarity with the U.S./Imperial system of measurement, rather than the 24th century standard metric system which would use hectares.

Reception [ ]

A mission report of this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 10 , pp. 44-47.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 26, 21 October 1991
UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 3.1, 28 February 2000
As part of the TNG Season 3 DVD collection
As part of the TNG Season 3 Blu-ray collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes as Commander William Riker

Also starring [ ]

LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

Guest stars [ ]

John Anderson as Kevin Uxbridge
Anne Haney as Rishon Uxbridge (recreation)

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

Michael Braveheart as Martinez
Mitchell Danton as command division officer
Michele Gerren as science division officer
Richard Sarstedt as command division officer
Natalie Wood as Bailey
Female operations ensign
Medical officer (voice)

Stunt double [ ]

Dan Koko as stunt double for Jonathan Frakes

Stand-ins [ ]

James G. Becker – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
Dexter Clay – stand-in for Michael Dorn
Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
Lorine Mendell – stand-in for Gates McFadden
Guy Vardaman – stand-in for Wil Wheaton

References [ ]

2284 ; 2313 ; 2361 ; 2366 ; 2371 ; " a little "; " a lot ": abetted ; acceleration curve ; accusation ; acre ; afternoon tea ; age ; aggression ; " all over again "; " all right "; " alright ": Andorian renegades ; Andorian renegade ship ; Andorians ; answer ; antiprotons ; aquarium ; aquatic city ; area ; armament ; artificial structure ; assailant ; assumption ; " at bay "; " at first "; " at least "; " at sea ": Atlantic Ocean ; attack ; away team ; battle ; bed ; belief ; billion ; body ; body of water ; botanist ; building ; " by all means "; calculation ; call sign ; casualty ; city ; clean water ; clothing ; coincidence ; collaborator ; colonist ; Colony Operations ; colony register ; color ; coma ; composer ; confrontation ; conscience ; creature ; crime ; cup ; damage ; dance ; danger ; day ; death ; degree ; Delta Rana star system (aka Rana system / Ranian system ); Delta Rana warship ; delta sleep ; design ; destruction ; disguise ; distress call ; door ; Douwd ; dream ; dwelling ; Earth ; east ; emission ; emotion ; enemy ; energy ; equatorial orbit ; error ; evasive action ; existence ; expert ; eye ; face ; fact ; " fall in love ": family ; fatality ; fatigue ; fear ; Federation ; feeling ; fire ; firepower ; firing range ; fish ; food ; " for the record "; " for what it's worth "; friend ; front room ; frontal assault ; fusion reactor ; garden ; generation ; gift ; gigawatt ; " go ahead "; " go back "; " good afternoon "; " good luck "; grass ; grief ; ground ; guilt ; hailing frequency ; harm ; hatred ; health ; hearing ; high orbit ; " hold it "; home ; hope ; hostage ; hour ; house ; hull ; Human ; hundred : husband ; Husnock ; Husnock warship ; identification ; identity ; illusion ; imagination ; immortality ; " in the event "; " in the meantime ": individual ; information ; inhabitant ; interstellar spacecraft ; insanity ; intelligence ; intention ; intimidation ; judge ; kilometer ; knocking ; Lagrange point ; land ; law ; lifeform ; longitude ; love ; low orbit ; magnification ; main viewer ; marriage ; mass ; matter ; medical assistance ; medical tricorder ; megawatt ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mind ; mission ; missus ; mister ; moon ; morning ; Much Ado About Nothing ; music ; music box ; " my God "; name ; neocortex ; New Martim Vaz ; north ; nuclear holocaust ; number ; number one ; " on board "; " on schedule "; " on the way "; " over and over again "; order ; pain ; particle energy ; patience ; perfume ; permission ; person ; phaser ; philosophy ; photon torpedo ; " piece by piece "; pitched battle ; place ; plant ; plot (unit) ; positrons ; pride ; private property ; physical examination ; power ; quarters ; raise our voices "; Rana IV ; Rana IV colony ; Rana IV moons ; range ; reason ; red alert ; renegade ; repair crew ; replicator ; reputation ; rescue ; rescue party ; resident ; result ; return course ; right ; Rishon Uxbridge's family ; sanctuary ; search ; second ; selfishness ; sensitivity ; sensor ; shield ; ship ; shoe ; sin ; size ; sky ; sleep ; song ; south ; specialist ; speed ; starbase ; Starbase 133 ; Starfleet admiral ; story ; stress ; student ; suffering ; suit ; surface ; surprise ; surveillance ; survival ; survivor ; survivor guilt ; symbiotic plant life ; symptom ; Tao-classical music ; target ; tea ; telepathy ; theory ; thing ; thinking ; thought ; thousand ; thunder ; " time and time again ": touch ; transmission ; transporter room ; tree ; trespassing ; Triangulum system ; trick ; truth ; turbolift ; Uxbridge, Rishon ; Uxbridge house ; vehicle classification index ; vegetation ; velocity ; " very well ": voice ; waltz ; war ; " warning shot "; water table ; weapon ; weapon system ; weapon systems control ; wife ; year

External links [ ]

" The Survivors " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
" The Survivors " at Wikipedia
The Survivors at StarTrek.com
" The Survivors " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
"The Survivors" script at Star Trek Minutiae
" The Survivors " at the Internet Movie Database
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Recap / Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E3 "The Survivors"

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Original air date: October 9, 1989

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Federation colony in the Delta Rana system. Upon their arrival, however, they find the planet Rana IV completely leveled except for one house on a small, green parcel of land. Troi has a hard time detecting any inhabitants on the planet, but eventually identifies two survivors.

Commander Riker leads an away team to investigate. The home is just as it appears from space, a small parcel of green among barren wasteland. The two survivors are Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge. Kevin is standoffish and tries to threaten the team with a nonfunctioning phaser, while the kindly Rishon is welcomes everyone inside for tea. The couple relate how an alien ship attacked the colony, but they did not go to fight. They both claim to have no idea why they were left alone, but both are adamant about remaining on the empty planet. Before the away team leaves, Rishon shows an old music box to Data.

Back on the ship, Counselor Troi has been trying to learn more about the survivors. Suddenly she starts hearing the music box's music in her head, which quickly begins to disturb her. As Riker gives his report on the Uxbridges, she retreats her to her quarters. Soon after, the ship is attacked by a mysterious, giant vessel, fitting the description of the ship Kevin described as attacking the colony. Its weapons are unable to penetrate the Enterprise 's shields, and it retreats from the system. The Enterprise gives chase, only to find that any increase in speed is simultaneously matched by the escaping intruder. Believing he's being played with, Picard orders the ship back to Rana IV.

Picard pays a personal visit to the Uxbridges on the pretense of giving them a matter replicator. As usual, Kevin is unhappy to be bothered, but Rishon is friendly and accommodating. Picard grills them for more information about their circumstances. Kevin reveals that he is a man of a particular conscience: he refuses to fight for absolutely any reason, and his wife stayed with him as the other colonists fought the invaders. Kevin points out that the invaders had no way of knowing that, though, leaving Picard as confused as before. He again urges the Uxbridges to join him on the Enterprise , but Kevin refuses, and Richon opts to stay with him.

Back on the ship, Troi's condition worsens, eventually reducing her to panicked, screaming insanity and Dr. Crusher is forced to place her in a deep, medically-induced coma. Just as Picard returns, the alien ship attacks again, this time disabling their shields while resisting their phaser and photon torpedo attacks, forcing the Enterprise to retreat.

When the ship returns to Rana IV again, there is no sign of the attacker. Picard decides to beam down again, walking in as Kevin and Rishon are dancing, as if to celebrate the Enterprise 's departure. Picard makes one last plea to Rishon, who refuses to leave, and then declares that the Enterprise will not leave orbit so long as the Uxbridges remain on the planet. This time, when Picard returns to the bridge, the attacker again appears out of nowhere, but he orders the crew not to interfere. The enemy ship moves to low orbit, where it proceeds to destroy the Uxbridge house. Picard orders a single photon torpedo fired, which destroys the ship. With no reason remaining to stay, Picard nevertheless orders the ship to a higher orbit, and to continue to monitor the planet.

The crew is pretty astounded by Picard's odd actions, but his hunch pays off a few hours later as the house reappears. No longer willing to entertain the charade, Picard orders the Uxbridges beamed directly to the bridge, where he reveals what he's figured out: Rishon had, in fact, died in the attack, and that Kevin had somehow not only recreated her, but the attacking ship as well. Rishon disappears, and Kevin becomes a being of light before disappearing to another part of the ship—Troi's quarters, where he reappears in human form and removes the music from her mind. He'd put it there out of fear of Troi discovering his true identity, but now that it's out, he opens up to Picard.

Kevin identifies himself as a Douwd, an immortal of extraordinary power who has worn numerous forms over the millennia. When he became human, though, he fell in love with Rishon, and put aside his powers to grow old with her. Rishon had gone to fight with the colonists against the Husnock, "a species of hideous intelligence," and died never knowing Kevin wasn't even human. Despite having the power to repel the Husnock, Kevin refused to kill , only to watch his wife die. In his ensuing grief, he snapped, and used his power to wipe out the Husnock, everywhere. In shame for his genocide, he has remained on the dead planet in self-imposed exile with an imitation of the wife he lost.

Tropes in this episode include:

Actual Pacifist : Kevin Uxbridge, who refuses to use his almost limitless power to kill, even in self-defense. Of course, being immortal, he has no need to. He comes to regret it when his attempts to trick the Husnock invaders (he attempted to fool them with trickery and illusions the same way he tried to fool the Enterprise crew) didn't work and his mortal wife Rishon is killed in the attack.
Always Chaotic Evil : Kevin characterizes the Husnock as "a species of hideous intelligence, who knew only aggression and destruction". But as the Husnock are now extinct thanks to Kevin, we only have his word for it . And they'll never have the chance to evolve into something better.
Asshole Victim : As a race, the Husnock probably won't be missed by too many people. Still, there were a lot of them, and it's unlikely that every single one of them deserved to die.
The Atoner : Kevin has chosen to live in self-imposed isolation from the outside world as punishment for killing an entire race in a moment of anger. Since he is immortal and omnipotent, it's the only way he can be punished.
Batman Gambit : Suspicious of Kevin, Picard tells him the exact conditions that would make the Enterprise leave Rana, both the Uxbridges dead and the Husnock ship neutralized, and is not surprised when only a short time later both requirements are fulfilled. The unaware crew is left horrified and confused before The Reveal .
Beware the Nice Ones : However genial Kevin is, there is far more to him than meets the eye, and he is not somebody to be bullied, as the Husnock learn as an entire species in the worst possible way.
Big Word Shout : Picard's meeting with Kevin and Rishon is going rather pleasantly... and then a big ol' Mood Whiplash cut to Troi in Sick Bay yelling "Stop!"
Blatant Lies : Worf awkwardly sips Rishon's tea and grimaces at the taste. He then comments, "Good tea! Nice house!"
Contrasting Sequel Antagonist : While Kevin may not an antagonist per se seeing as how he is not actually hostile to the Enterprise, he still serves as a contrast to Q, both are immortal Reality Warpers but while Q is playful, jovial and usually indifferent to the death or destruction that he causes. Kevin is a far more somber and serious character but is also a moral being with a conscience who is clearly tormented not only by the death of his human wife but the fact that he wiped out the entire Husnock race in his grief-induced rage. Perhaps the reason for this difference in attitude is because of one final difference between the two; Q may be indifferent because he can just bring back what was destroyed with just a snap of his fingers (in most cases, and if he wants to), while Kevin can't bring back the dead, except as a hollow recreation, which leaves him with regret.
Converging-Stream Weapon : The enemy warship uses this against the Enterprise .
Cosy Catastrophe : The Enterprise crew discover that Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge are the only survivors on the entire planet after an unknown enemy ship has left the rest of the planet a wasteland, their land and house is the only place left untouched and they seem no worse for wear. Any concerns about food and water are mitigated when Picard provides them with a matter replicater. Ultimately this is subverted when the undamaged home and even Rishon herself turn out to be an illusion by Kevin, who is in fact a Douwd, an immortal life form who seems to have nearly Q-level powers.
Crime of Passion : Kevin Uxbridge is a Reality Warper that was sworn to pacifism right until constant attacks from aliens called the Husnock led to the death of the colonists - in particular, the death of his mortal wife. Seeing her broken body on the floor as a result of Husnock attacks drove him utterly mad with rage and grief, and with just a single thought, he wiped the Husnock out. All of them. Everywhere . For a being so powerful, it took the same amount of effort and the exact same lapse in judgement as pulling the trigger on a gun already in his hands. When he came back to his senses moments later, he was so horrified he punished himself with self-imposed exile in the dead colony with a simulacrum of his wife as his only companion.
Cruel Mercy : Kevin invoked this on himself. Rishon was the center of his life. Her hollow replica, as his only company on the now dead world, will serve as a constant reminder of his crime.
Downer Ending : Picard did an incredible bit of sleuthing here and solved a nigh-impossible mystery, only to discover that his efforts are All for Nothing when Kevin reveals the horrifying truth of why he keeps up this façade. All the Enterprise crew can do is leave Kevin alone with his mourning.
Drama-Preserving Handicap : Invoked by Kevin; Troi hears a music box song over and over in her head, drowning out her empathic abilities so that she won't learn the secret.
Ear Worm : The Psychic Static that Troi experiences comes in the form of an eternally repeating song. When she describes the sensation, Picard at first thinks she's talking about an Ear Worm , but it's much worse than that.
Final Solution : Kevin killed every member of the Husnock race, fifty billion total, in a moment of anger and grief.
The Ghost : We never see the Husnock. The closest we get is an imitation of a Husnock ship. They become the subject of the Star Trek: Titan novel "Fortune of War" which described them as 7-tentacled Cephalothorax-like creatures and went into detail on their feudalistic culture.
Incessant Music Madness : Kevin plants a harmless tune in Troi's head but forces it to play over and over, driving her mad. It even plays when she's reduced to unconsciousness through drugs. Crusher prepares to put her into a coma in a last-ditch effort to give her peace.
It Works Better with Bullets : Kevin threatens the away team with a phaser that Worf has already scanned and declared inoperative. That's not to say that Worf didn't respect his gutsy bluff. Worf: Sir, may I say your attempt to hold the away team at bay with a non-functioning weapon was an act of unmitigated gall. Kevin: Didn't fool you, huh? Worf: I admire gall.
Killed Off for Real : Enforced. While we've seen Sufficiently Advanced Aliens with the ability to bring people back from the dead in the Trek universe, it's made very clear that Kevin Uxbridge is not one of them. His wife is dead, the colonists are dead, the Husnock are dead, and there's absolutely nothing he can do about it.
Late to the Tragedy : By the time the Enterprise reaches Rana IV, the colony has been completely destroyed.
Manly Tears : Oh, Kevin. Picard: And then what you most feared happened. Rishon went to fight with the colonists... and died with them. Kevin: (bursts into tears) ... how I wish I could have died with her.
Mayfly–December Romance : The immortal Kevin disguised himself as a human being and fell in love with Rishon, deciding to stay with her until her inevitable death. It's implied that he had already somewhat accepted this reality, but the actual circumstances of her death (killed in a futile battle against a cruel invader) were so horrifying that Kevin retaliated in the worst way possible.
A Million Is a Statistic : Played with. In this case, it's eleven thousand, plus fifty billion. Picard and Crusher, rightfully so, look like they can't even begin to process what Kevin just told them.
Moment of Weakness : Kevin's crime took place in the wake of his beloved wife's death.
Mood Dissonance : The uncanny feel of much of the episode stems from the contrast between the devastation of the planet, the terrifying battleships, and Troi's screaming agony, and on the other hand, the adorable Happily Married old couple in their comfortable house dancing away.
The Mourning After : The Reveal shows that Kevin was this trope all along. The replica of his dead wife Rishon is just one of Kevin's inventions, meant to remind him of the crime he committed in her name.
Mugging the Monster : The Husnock had no idea whom they were dealing with when they chose to indirectly antagonise Kevin by destroying his home and killing his wife, and they paid for it with the lives of their entire species.
My God, What Have I Done? : Kevin is revealed to be perpetually in this state at the end of the episode having in a moment of grief, used his powers to annihilate an entire species over a single colony destroyed by only a few of them.
My Significance Sense Is Tingling : Even before the Enterprise enters orbit around Rana IV, Troi notes that she should be able to sense the minds of the colonists and isn't. Then, after the crew discovers Kevin and Rishon, she observes that their minds are "elusive". She begins to pick up on something "different" about them, right before she begins hearing the music box tune in her head.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero : During the original attack, Kevin tried to trick the Husnock into leaving the colony with his illusions. But all it did was piss them off even more.
No Adequate Punishment : In the end, Picard realizes that there's just no way for the Federation to punish, or even adequately judge , an immortal , benevolent , near-omnipotent alien for instantaneously exterminating an entire sentient species in a moment of rage and grief. They've never even conceived of a crime on that scale, and have no laws for it. All he can do is leave the alien behind in its own self-imposed punishment.
No-Sell : Even an all-out phaser and torpedo barrage from the Enterprise can't harm the enemy warship in the second battle.
Not Hyperbole : As Kevin claims, after Rishon was killed in the attack, he "destroyed the Husnock". After noticing Crusher's unfazed reaction he clarifies: he didn't kill just the attacking Husnock, he killed every Husnock in the galaxy, all 50 billion of them .
Ominous Music Box Tune : Kevin and Rishon's music box serves double duty: as the Nostalgic Music Box to which they dance, and as the music Kevin projects into Troi's mind to distract her, tormenting her so badly that Dr. Crusher has to put her in a coma just to block it out .
Psychic Static : Kevin fills Troi's head with music to stop her from using her empathic powers to realize what he is.
Put Them All Out of My Misery : Kevin did this to the Husnock race in his fury and grief over his wife's death.
The Punishment Is the Crime : Since the Federation has No Adequate Punishment for Kevin's crime, Picard decides the only thing they can do is to leave the immortal energy being alone with his remorse.
Reality Warper : Kevin's species, the Douwd, are pretty impressive examples, possessing the power to destroy on an apparently infinite scale across unlimited distances with a mere thought. Kevin is also able to create constructs of considerable power out of nothingness, such as the replica Husnock ship that smacks the Enterprise about with ease once it stops messing around, or a recreation of Rishon who appears to have an exact replica of her original personality. However, his power has limits that put him below, say, the Q as he cannot revive the dead (either bringing back the real Rishon and the other colonists who died, or undoing his genocide of the Husnock) and he is clearly not omniscient, unable to even notice that the Enterprise has remained in system rather than leaving simply by Picard moving to high orbit above Rana IV (presumably he could have easily detected them there had he thought to look, but he assumed his trick to fake his and Rishon's deaths had worked and they were simply leaving, not realising that Picard was onto him). Presumably the Douwd have almost limitless power over the physical plane, as well as limited psychic powers (since he was able to plant the music in Troi's head but only because he couldn't outright deceive her empathic abilities, nor could he mentally compel the Enterprise crew to leave) but no temporal or extradimensional powers such as the Q have.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge : Kevin's reaction to Rishon's death is to wipe out every last member of a sentient species.
Self-Imposed Exile : Kevin committed genocide in the blink of an eye due to a moment of rage, and is now isolating himself from the rest of the universe as punishment for his crime.
Survivor's Guilt : Rishon says she can't figure out why she and Kevin survived when everyone else was killed. That's nothing; she should hear Kevin's guilt.
Thou Shalt Not Kill : Kevin holds himself to the standard that he will not use his nearly unlimited powers to kill. He initially tries to fool both the Enterprise and the Husnock rather than just kill them outright.
Took a Level in Badass : The enemy warship is much more powerful the second time it attacks the Enterprise , dishing out a Curb-Stomp Battle and forcing Picard to withdraw.
Unwanted Rescue : At first, Kevin and Rishon seem like they're being stubborn old folks when they refuse to leave their home. The truth of why this particular rescue is unwanted turns out to be far more grisly than anyone could have possibly imagined.
Useless Superpowers : Despite being a Reality Warper , Kevin was unable to come up with anything to stop the Husnock without hurting them, something he steadfastly refused to do until it was too late. This may be a case of Creative Sterility , as Picard notes that everything Kevin has made is a recreation of something that already existed: the house, Rishon, the Husnock warship and even the music he projects into Deanna's mind.
Wham Line : It's only when Kevin drops this bomb that Picard realizes he and his crew are in way over their heads. Kevin: No no no no... you don't understand the scope of my crime: I didn't kill just one Husnock, or a hundred or a thousand, I killed them all. All Husnock . Everywhere . Are eleven thousand people worth... fifty billion?
Who Wants to Live Forever? : Kevin's greatest wish is that he died with his wife. Sadly, he didn't and never will.
Women Are Wiser : Subverted. During each away team visit, Rishon is friendlier and more practical, while Kevin seems irrationally stand-offish. However, Kevin has a very specific reason to want to be left alone.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds : Kevin Uxbridge. Let's look at the full story. He was a powerful godlike being called a Douwd. He took human form and married a woman named Rishon and put aside his powers. Kevin also became a pacifist and took an oath to never kill another being. Moving to a Federation colony on Rana IV, the colony was attacked by aliens called the Husnock. Kevin tried to use illusions to drive the Husnock away, but after they killed his wife, Kevin destroyed all the Husnock, 50 billion of them, in a moment of rage and grief. Horrified at his actions, Kevin went into self-imposed exile on Rana IV, recreating his house and his wife on the ruined planet. When the Enterprise comes to investigate a distress call sent by the colony, Kevin tries to use illusions to drive them away. When Picard confronts Kevin for all this, Kevin breaks down and admits his crime, his actions still tormenting him.
Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E2 "The Ensigns of Command"
Recap/Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E4 "Who Watches the Watchers"

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Survivors (Review)

This January and February, we’ll be finishing up our look at the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation and moving on to the third year of the show, both recently and lovingly remastered for high definition. Check back daily for the latest review.

Michael Wagner remains something of a forgotten figure among Star Trek fans. While anybody familiar with the behind-the-scenes workings on Star Trek: The Next Generation is aware of the contributions made by the wonderful Michael Piller, and quite a few would be familiar with the work of Maurice Hurley during the first two seasons, Wagner’s four-episode tenure as executive producer and head writer is something of a mystery.

Situated right in the middle of that four-episode run, and the only Star Trek script on which Wagner does not share a credit, The Survivors seems like the most obvious indicator of what Wagner’s version of The Next Generation might have looked like. Of course, it’s impossible to extrapolate from a single episode of television, let alone a single episode of an era that was over before it already began, but it is interesting to look at how Wagner’s work here differs from the style that would be imposed by Piller.

The Survivors is a decidedly high-concept science-fiction mystery, feeling almost like an episode of an anthology featuring the regular cast. Built around a guest star, The Survivors is very much radically opposed to Piller’s vision of character-driven Star Trek .

“Nice house. Can’t see much about the neighbourhood, though.”

It is worth noting that Michael Wagner’s tenure was over by the time that The Survivors went into production. His successor, Michael Piller, notes in Fade In that Wagner had departed before Piller had finished writing Evolution , the second episode produced (and first episode to air) in the third season:

We first met at a lunch with Gene Roddenberry and Maurice Hurley, the head writer of The Next Generation during its first two seasons. Hurley was leaving the show and thought I might be a candidate to replace him. I wasn’t hired at that lunch (Rick and Gene had already hired another friend of mine, Michael Wagner), but I did agree to write a script for the coming season. … As I was writing that first episode, Wagner and Roddenberry were not getting along and by the time my script was turned in, Michael had decided to resign.

So Wagner’s vision of The Next Generation was dead on arrival. It was moot. It was something that simply never happened, and would never get to happen.

“Remind me to talk to Mister LaForge about all those exploding circuits…”

Wagner is credited as a writer on three episodes of the third season. He helped draft the story for the premiere, Evolution , with Michael Piller providing the final script. Wagner’s final credit of the season was on Booby Trap , where he developed the story with Ron Roman. Roman wrote the first draft of the script, which was then polished by both Michael Piller and Richard Danus. So The Survivors is interesting as it is the only script on which Wagner does not share a credit, and the only teleplay he is credited for writing.

Still, it’s worth noting that all three episodes come with high-concepts built into their storylines. Evolution involves the development of self-aware nanites, while Booby Trap involves the eponymous trap. Both stories are more character-driven than The Survivors , but Michael Piller takes a lot of the credit for the character work in Evolution . In Fade In , he joked that the baseball conversation between Wesley and Stubbs won him his job. In Captain’s Logs: The Unauthorised Complete Trek Voyages , he suggested that he drew from his own concerns about kids in drafting Wesley’s plot line.

Looks like they nuked the site from orbit. It was the only way to be sure…

It’s undoubtedly a bit much to conjecture about Wagner’s vision for The Next Generation based on one single teleplay and two story ideas. However, it’s interesting that The Survivors is the first episode of the third season without a clear focus on our lead characters. Sure, Worf gets some good lines; Picard gets to lead; Troi suffers. However, The Survivors is an episode very clearly built around a mystery, and built around a guest character.

Much of the episode is built around figuring out what the Uxbridge family are hiding, and why their house and garden survived while the colony around them was reduced to rubble. “Are they collaborators?” Picard ponders. “Did they provide the colony’s assailants with something that abetted the total destruction of Rana Four in order to protect their own lives?” Beverly cuts in, “What could two botanists in their eighties possess that could possibly aid whoever attacked the planet?” Geordi suggests, “Maybe they’re being held hostage in some fashion?”

Music to his ears…

The Survivors is structured like a mystery, with reveals built up and expectations subverted. The mysterious alien ship is a clue, as is the fact that Kevin Uxbridge is unwilling to talk, while Rishon is more than happy to accommodate their guests. Possibilities are alluded to, hinted at, and dismissed – there’s a sense that the Enterprise crew is a team of professionals working to get to the bottom of the case.

The Survivors almost feels like an instalment of an anthology show, some sort of science-fiction mystery theatre into which our leads have wandered by accident. You can imagine an episode of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits built around the same set-up and even the same resolution, making it feel like Picard and the Enterprise are somewhat incidental to the unfolding plot. The original title of the episode, The Veiled Planet , sounds like something from a sixties science-fiction anthology.

Riker enjoys hanging out…

Of course, there is a snag here. Science-fiction mysteries are very hard to pull off, because the possible resolutions are not grounded in the rules of physics or biology as we know them. The resolution to the mystery of what happened at the colony is that Kevin is actually a Douwd. The Douwd are an alien species that have never been mentioned before (and never again) and which were first mentioned by name in the last five minutes of this episode.

It’s hardly a fair play mystery, because there’s no way the audience could have reached that conclusion. After all, it’s very hard to bring an audience up to speed without giving the game away. Having Data provide early exposition about the Douwd in the first act would clue the audience into the resolution – due to the law of conservation of detail, and so it’s impossible for the viewer at home to solve the mystery except in the most general of terms.

Wife as we know it?

“Kevin is up to something” is a valid solution the audience could reach, but that’s obvious from the first act. The audience can’t really extrapolate much further than that until we reach the exposition scene at the end of the episode. That’s the problem with trying to construct a science-fiction mystery. In a universe where absolutely anything is possible, and it’s not grounded in the same world that the audience takes for granted, it’s very easy to cheat.

Wagner’s script manages to avoid feeling too much like a cheat, but only barely. It helps that Wagner changes lanes at the last minute. The Survivors begins as a science-fiction mystery, but it ends as a deeply tragic story about lost love. The reveal of Kevin’s true nature becomes moot in that final scene, as the story is more interested in what Kevin has experience and what he has done. The fact that he is a Douwd is incidental; he’s a man with a broken heart who happens to have the power to reshape the cosmos.

Worf to a “tea.”

For all that Kevin is presented as a god-like being, The Survivors suggests that he is only human. He is flawed and damaged and wounded. For a man who can resurrect his dead wife and commit genocide with a stray thought, Kevin is surprisingly vulnerable. John Anderson’s performance helps sell the moment beautifully, as Kevin Uxbridge talks about the burden of having all of that power and being unable to use it. When Picard points out that he could have saved the colony, Kevin responds, “I refused to for the same reason I refused to stop the Enterprise. I will not kill.”

It’s a powerful moment, one that packs a punch largely missing from The Next Generation ‘s other meditations on power and responsibility. For all that Symbiosis and Justice dwell on the burden of being a hyper-advanced race with the power to meddle in the affairs of others, there’s nothing quite as raw as Kevin’s confession that his pacifism allowed his wife to suffer and die. That’s a harrowing commitment to a philosophical principle, and Kevin’s own impotence is affecting.

As if there were any Douwd…

Anderson’s performance is so good that Kevin’s bitterness and rage is perfectly understandable. Despite his disproportionate response, it’s hard not to pity the lonely god-like being who watched the love of his wife die fighting while he refused to raise a hand to stop the bloodshed. (Of course, the bitter irony is that his own attempts at pacifistic intervention backfired and made things worse. “I tried to fool the Husnock as I tried to fool you. It only made them angrier. More cruel.” )

Picard’s response to all of this is intriguing, fitting his characterisation as a philosophical and thoughtful man. “We’re not qualified to be your judges,” he tells Kevin on reflection. “We have no law to fit your crime. You’re free to return to the planet and to make Rishon live again.” While the first clause presents an interesting expression of the moral relativism that The Next Generation championed quite well, there is one slight problem. The whole “no law to fit your crime” seems a little strange. One would imagine that the Federation would have lots of laws condemning genocide.

Thinking fas— er, at a reasonable speed…

It seems like Picard got a bit caught up in the romance and poetry of the moment. Leaving aside the questionable wording, it’s worth conceding that the Federation certainly has no laws that it could enforce against the Douwd, certainly no more than it could enforce any laws against Q. Of course, this rises all sorts of philosophical questions about how the law works in a universe where beings like Q and the Douwd exist, who simply cannot be governed or controlled or restricted by laws written by mere mortals.

Even overlooking the difficulties of enforcing these laws on people like Kevin, there is a larger philosophical issue here. Is mankind capable of judging the actions of those so powerful and so ancient? Who is mankind to decide to judge the conduct of races with that sort of control over the fabric of the universe? Our norms would describe Kevin’s conduct as genocide and mass murder. However, from Kevin’s perspective, is it any different from hiring an exterminator to deal with a mound of termites?

Crusher’s Troi-ing to make her feel better…

The classic Star Trek wouldn’t hesitate to argue that it was very different, that mankind’s level of awareness was inherently special and that beings on this level of existence are absolutely the most important beings in the cosmos. The Next Generation is a bit more ambivalent and ambiguous on the matter – mankind simply cannot comprehend the universe as it exists to a being on the scale of Kevin Uxbridge. It’s an example of the moral relativism that The Next Generation handled so well. (And it’s to the credit of Wagner that he leaves the audience to form their own opinions on Uxbridge’s conduct.)

That said, Picard’s closing log entry does lay it on a bit heavy. “We leave behind a being of extraordinary power and conscience,” Picard offers. “I am not certain if he should be praised or condemned. Only that he should be left alone.” The last line quite brilliant, but it seems a bit weird for Picard to contemplate praising a being that wiped out an entire species in a moment of mental anguish. It’s easy to understand Picard’s reluctance to judge or condemn Kevin Uxbridge, but it seems almost certain that his conduct does not merit “praise.”

Those which survive…

Despite the anthology feel of the episode, it’s worth noting that there are some nice moments for the ensemble. Picard gets be a shrewd leader, quickly deducing at least the gist of what is going on. Riker gets caught in a snare. Worf actually gets quite a few nice character moments, from his embarrassment when the enemy ship shows up after “staking [his] reputation” on the fact that they were gone through to his complement to Kevin on trying to hold the away team at bay with a broken phaser. “May I say your attempt to hold the away team at bay with a nonfunctioning weapon was an act of unmitigated gall?” he offers. “I admire gall.”

Of course, Worf also provides the best visual gag of the episode, enjoying afternoon tea on the planet surface. “Good tea,” he politely offers. “Nice house.” Like Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn is a performer with wonderful comic timing. Due to the fact that Worf was the last regular cast member added to the show, he got relatively little focus in the first two seasons. That changes in the show’s third year, but Dorn has already proven himself an invaluable part of the ensemble.

Kevin lightens up…

Also of note is the episode’s small nod towards “Andorian pirates” operating in “the Triangulum System.” This seems like a shout-out to the FASA Star Trek roleplaying game that imagined “the Triangle” as an area of interstellar lawlessness that existed along the borders of Romulan, Klingon and Federation space. The FASA role-playing game actually had a surprising amount of influence on these later Star Trek productions, influencing the portrayal of the Andorians in Star Trek: Enterprise and even having elements included in various set decorations and image displays throughout the franchise.

Still, The Survivors feels like a strange instalment at the start of the third season, rather different than the two episodes directly proceeding it, and radically different from a lot that would follow. That said, it’s an intriguing science-fiction story, one thoughtful and well-constructed.

Read our reviews of the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation :

Supplemental: (DC Comics, 1989) #1-2 – Return to Raimon/Murder, Most Foul
Supplemental: The Ensigns of Command by Melinda Snodgrass
The Survivors
Who Watches the Watchers?
Supplemental: Star Trek (DC Comics, 1989) #19 – Once a Hero…
Supplemental: (DC Comics, 1989) #19 – The Lesson
Supplemental: The Romulan Way by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood
The Vengeance Factor
Supplemental: The Sky’s the Limit – Suicide Note by Geoff Trowbridge
The High Ground
Supplemental: (DC Comics) Annual #1 – The Gift
Supplemental: I, Q by John DeLancie and Peter David
A Matter of Perspective
Supplemental: The Lost Era – Well of Souls by Ilsa J. Bick
Supplemental: The Last Generation
Supplemental: Q-Squared by Peter David
The Offspring
Supplemental: Phase II (1978) – Kitumba, Parts I & II
Captain’s Holiday
Hollow Pursuits
The Most Toys
Supplemental: Sarek by A.C. Crispin
Supplemental: Imzadi by Peter David
Supplemental: Star Trek/X-Men: Star TreX
Supplemental: (DC Comics, 1989) #47-50 – The Worst of Both Worlds
Supplemental: Vendetta by Peter David

7 Responses

Good analysis, although I do have a few comments, something of a little critique for your critique: • On the episode being a mystery, and how that is something different/somewhat unique, how mysteries in sci fi and hard to pull off- this surprised/confused me and made me wonder if our definition of “mystery” is the same. I strongly associate TNG with mystery episodes and feel that is something I really like about the series. Granted, there are varying degrees to how much a given episode could primarily be described as a mystery (ie. “Evolution” for about half the episode has as the mystery what is causing the strange malfunctions, but we learn the answer about halfway through and how they respond to that situation is just as important as determining what the situation is), but surely there are plenty that deserve to be called mysteries and the inclination to make them is shared by Pillar as Wagner; quick examples, “Clues” in season 4 (What is up with Data/ what really happened on the missing day?) “The Mind’s Eye” (different in that the audience knows the answer, but still much of the episode involves watching the grew investigate and finally thanks to Data determine who is aiding the rebels and why – Laforge, in the big picture the Romulans), Allegiance in season 3 (Why was the captain kidnaped and placed in the prison with the other aliens, why was he replaced, what do the aliens want, how to escape), “Frame of Mind” (the audience and Ricker’s struggle to figure out what the hell is going on with his apparent shifts in identify/location, what is real and what is not, how and why this came to be), “Schisms” and “Night Terrors”… I could go on but I think my point is clear.

•I do agree that some uniqueness can be seen in this episode in the darker sci theme of the Whose-Knock (haha I don’t know how to spell it but remember that’s how it was pronounced) showing up to a human colony out of nowhere and eradicating the population and surface of the planet (the Borg did something similar but a big deal was made out of them), the way they are described as an evil species (even the Borg are never simply called evil, they are more like a dark force of nature in how they behave) and of course the whole Dowd scenario. Like you I always admired the mystery of this episode and how curious it made me, but lost just a little respect for it upon reaching the end and learning that the solution was one we never could have thought of/put pieces of a puzzle together to get a good hypothesis for, but as a story I feel it works over all especially since unlike in TOS encounters with these types of beings never became routine. I have to disagree with you on the general idea that good mysteries are hard for sci fi to pull off; I feel TNG does this a lot (see my named episodes above, though some do this better than others, and more), but the key is to a) Keep the solution plausible and b) Keep the greater solution to the mystery (if not all the details) in the realm of what the fans know is possible in the universe of the show, and not just strictly “possible”, but operating according to rules, capabities and possibilities that have already been revealed. In Star Trek this should not be too hard, with its dedicated fans who know so much about the technology and what it can do and general Star Trek lore, and the great many possibilities allowed even while staying true to that. Sure we don’t need to have puzzle pieces that provide for us to guess all details (new species or whatever). And since the answer “Q or a being with similar powers is responsible for this!” could technically be the case for most any scenario, mysteries with that as their answer should be kept to a minimum.

• Finally, on Picard stating that they have no law for his crime and that he does not know whether Kevin deserves praise of condemnation: I agreed with him here, unlike you. I saw it has with a being like a Dowd who can in a moment of extreme rage and grief with one loss of self control a single thought (or willed intent) can not only kill one being but an entire race, they cannot be judged the same as being like us who to kill even one must not only come to the desire to/form the intent but most also put a plan into works and then preform the necessary physical action to do it, it is clear our laws on killing and degrees of intent (Puropesely-Knowingly-Recklessly/Willful disobedience to legal standard of care-Negligently- Accidently/not legally at fault) can not apply. If for a split second or even 10 seconds our rage makes us desire the death of another, even to the degree that we form the momentary intent to kill, that intent cannot be carried out by thoughts/will in the mind alone. Only beings who face a similar existence and possibilities due to having similar powers as Kevin could fairly and justly judge him. On the next issue, granted wiping out an entire race is quite drastic, but he may well have done the rest of the Galaxy a favor if they are evil (I know, I know… “What is evil/how can you impose your belief of its definition to justify this”) as they are beings who slaughter an entire planets population for no provoked reason and in the process obliterated the surface of the planet, destroying its natural resources that were in the surface and possibly making it inhabitable- I will feel comfortable in simply saying that without taking this philosophical issue farther that that IS evil and a being with Kevin’s conscious and ancientness/presumed vast knowledge and telepathic insight into the character of those beings declared them to be evil and vile too. Now perhaps not every member of the race supported their military’s acts but still I think that is why Picard had ambivalence there.

• While you seemed to appreciate how Picard pieced together the fact that Kevin was the only true survivor and his wife was not really alive and was his recreation after her death, the way the episode carried that out bugged me just as much or more as it not playing fair with the audience in the mystery being unsolvable by us. Why? Because Picard was not given enough clues to piece this together like he did and with such great certainty (would have been more believable if he expressed having a hunch something like that was the case, or a less specific realization, but the evidence for his revelation was far too slim. Now, if it had been because he had read about Dowds before and came to see how the whole situation suggested the hypothesis of Kevin being a Dowd (and explained why for the audience) that would be more fair, but no, from the way Picard refers to Kevin “creature of great consciouse) and how Kevin introduces his race to Picard is is clear Picard had 99% chance of never having heard of a Dowd.

Fair points.

I particularly like your point about the nature of Kevin’s crime, actually. It’s something that I think would be stronger if it were explicit (or even more heavily implicit) in the text, but it does raise all sort of big moral questions. I think I’m more comfortable with Picard’s line now. Cheers!

I love this episode, especially the scene of the destroyed planet, looks creepy and ominous.

The Survivors is great and underrated. Very Twilight-Zone-y.

Or Outer Limits. Star Trek, or at least TOS and TNG, actually had quite a few moments where they felt more like Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, but most of these episodes were actually good

I just wanted to address the line about his conduct not suitable for praise. His killing of an entire species wouldn’t be something to praise, but he stuck to his principles during the attack and was so committed to those that he let his wife, the love of his eternal life, die. Would you put your life long principles override your love for someone? Could you turn into a killer to save your love?

As far as not having a law for his crime. Well the federation doesn’t have control over the husnock. This murdering them outside of federation jurisdiction isn’t a crime.

Well, I mean, that is something that the world grappled with a lot in the twentieth century – the challenge of how to deal with atrocities outside of your legal or political framework. I don’t feel like “genocide is a crime” is a particularly provocative statement, ignoring question of how you enforce it or how you respond to it.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation : "The Survivors"/"Who Watches The Watchers"

"The Survivors"

We've been talking over in the X-Files recaps about how great X-Files was as an anthology show once it got a good head of steam going. The show's core concept—two FBI agents investigating strange cases that fell through the bureaucratic cracks—made it possible for episodes to vary wildly in style and intent, from the overtly horrific to the cynically comedic, while still maintaining a consistent world. There were mythology episodes that worked with continuity, but there were also one-offs like "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" or "Home" that played like short stories that our heroes just happened to brush up against. While X-Files could be hit or miss (especially in its later seasons), that freedom to explore the edges resulted in some absolutely stellar television, and it's something that genre shows do better than just about any other kind of TV.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The survivors (1989), anne haney: rishon uxbridge, photos .

John Anderson and Anne Haney in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Quotes

[Picard and Worf are invited to tea in the Uxbridges' house]

Rishon Uxbridge : Well, what do you think, Mr. Worf?

Lieutenant Worf : Good tea. Nice house.

Rishon Uxbridge : Kevin and I first met each other on a ship at sea. He was a starving student with this threadbare suit and mismatched shoes. I was traveling with my parents, who did not like the way that he kept hanging around. Two hours after I met him, I asked him to marry me - and he knew I was serious. I don't think that he has ever recovered from that day.

Doctor Beverly Crusher : Could I have your names, please, just for the record?

Rishon Uxbridge : I'm Rishon Uxbridge, and this is my husband Kevin.

Lt. Commander Data : Botanists. Originally from the aquatic city New Martim Vaz in Earth's Atlantic Ocean. Residents of the Rana IV colony for five years. You, madam, are 82 years of age and a composer of Tao-classical music. You, sir, are 85 years of age and a specialist in symbiotic plant life. You have been married for 53 years. I memorized the colony register on the way to Rana IV, in the event that such information would be needed.

Rishon Uxbridge : Kevin Uxbridge, I have never turned anyone away from this house, and I am not going to start now!

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The Most Powerful Weapons In Star Trek History, Ranked

The official stance of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets is one of peace and universal understanding, but that doesn't mean that they don't also carry some big sticks. Exploring the universe can be dangerous, and the Head of Security or the Armory Officer are often the most important jobs on a starship.

6 Darkest Star Trek Characters, Ranked

Some of the most powerful and devastating weapons in the Star Trek universe were built or developed by the Federation to defend starships and their crew. Others have appeared courtesy of less idealistic races for the intention of conquest and destruction.

Varon-T Disruptor

So brutal the federation made them illegal.

Appeared In: Star Trek: The Next Generation , S3E22, "The Most Toys."

The Varon-T Disruptor is a rare type of phaser weapon possessed by obsessed collector, Kivas Fajo. Kivas threatens innocents with his deadly weapon to coerce Data into helping with a nefarious plan to lure Enterprise to the colony.

Only five of these weapons were ever manufactured, which is why they're valuable collector's items. Even the worst type of hand-held ranged weapon will often, at worst, put a hole in the target or disintegrate it. The Varon-T Disruptor, however, rends the target's body in an agonizing implosion and rips it apart from the inside.

Tricobalt Warhead

A real weapon on a planet of fake ones.

Appeared In: Star Trek: The Original Series , S1E23, "A Taste of Armageddon."

The Enterprise came to the planet of Eminiar VII on a routine mission to establish diplomatic relations but got mixed up in a unique war when they arrived. The ship had been "hit" by the "virtual" warheads of the opposing planet, Vendikar.

Star Trek: The Original Series 8 Alien Civilizations Based On Earth History

This was the first time that these weapons were mentioned. Even though these were not real and only part of the war "role-play" actual warheads like this do exist and they're powerful enough to vaporize a large starship.

Smaller devices have been used as controlled explosives, like the one from the DS9 episode, "Trials and Tribble-lations" and in the Enterprise episode "In a Mirror, Darkly" the Tholians used a tricobalt warhead to create an explosion so massive it created an interphasic rift.

Multikinetic Neutronic Mines

A lethal weapon of borg design.

Appeared In: Star Trek: Voyager , S4E1, "Scorpion."

Captain Janeway broke protocol a few times while guiding Voyager through the vast and unknown Delta Quadrant, making deals and stealing tech from some hostile and dangerous races. At the end of season three, she even struck a deal with the Borg to fight a mutual enemy, but the plan wasn't as clear-cut as she led her partners to believe.

Part of the plan involved the possible use of multikinetic neutronic mines, which Janeway described as a weapon of mass destruction. These mines had the power to destroy entire star systems and their inhabitants, which goes to show how desperate the Borg was to combat Species 8472.

The Stone Of Gol

An ancient weapon with a twist.

Appeared In: Star Trek: The Next Generation , S7E4, "Gambit."

This would be a weapon that Captain Picard would understand, which is one of the reasons he's the one who figures out its true power and how it works. It was a type of psionic resonator that was so powerful the Vulcans that built it split it into two pieces and hid both in separate places.

8 Coolest Starships From Star Trek: The Next Generation

It resurfaced again in the TNG episode "Gambit" when a mercenary was charged with recovering it for the Vulcan Isolationist Movement. Captain Picard was the one who figured out that it was only useful against people with aggressive or malevolent thoughts. In a time of peace, or with those who could control their emotions, it was useless.

The Genesis Probe

The power to create and destroy.

Appeared In: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

It wasn't built to be a weapon, and when it was first used, it seemed to have benevolent, maybe even miraculous powers to generate life from nothing more than bare rock and dead air. The Genesis Project was the creation of Carol Marcus and her son, David, and it was designed to bring life to dead planets.

It seemed to work at first, with the probe detonating on Khan's ship over a lifeless moon, but the natural cycle of the planet was accelerated, and it started to destroy itself . This was due to David's use of protomatter with Genesis, a dangerous and volatile substance that's banned throughout most of the universe.

The Klingons, who stole some of the secret files that described Genesis, were intent on stealing the probe and using it as a weapon to destroy planets instead of making them lush and inhabitable.

The Doomsday Machine

The final resting place of the uss constellation.

Appeared In: Star Trek: The Original Series , S1E6, "The Doomsday Machine."

Where it came from, who built it, and its exact nature always remained a mystery. The best that Kirk and Spock could determine was that it was some ancient "doomsday" device, and it likely destroyed whoever built it.

The USS Enterprise followed a trail of destroyed ships and galaxies to find it and finally caught up to not only the Doomsday Machine but also Captain Decker and the shattered hull of the USS Constitution. From what Decker could describe, the machine used antiprotons to destroy planets and ships, and the exterior was made of solid neutronium, which is virtually impenetrable.

Captain Decker, who was suffering from survivor's guilt and serious trauma, took it upon himself to fly a shuttlecraft into the weapon and blow it up. This revealed that an attack from the inside might disable or destroy the machine, and the unfortunate Constellation was the obvious choice.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

Creation Year 1966

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

The Most Powerful Weapons In Star Trek History, Ranked

Screen Rant

8 players that should return for survivor season 50.

Jeff Probst announced that Survivor season 50 will be a returning players season. What castaways deserve another chance at winning the game?

Survivor season 50 will feature all-returning players, honoring past stars and creating excitement among fans.
The show has a history of crafting compelling formats for returning castaways, likely bringing a new twist to season 50.
Speculation of potential returning players includes notable contestants like Kellee Kim, Aubry Bracco, and Joe Anglim.

Jeff Probst has confirmed that Survivor season 50 will feature a cast of all-returning players. As one of the earliest reality shows , Survivor has used an all-star format in the past. The show is notorious for bringing back past stars to compete alongside new castaways. Survivor: Winners at War was the last season to feature a cast of past players. It seems the executives at CBS are listening to dedicated fans and decided to create another season of past players for Survivor season 50 . Jeff confirmed the decision at an Emmys FYC event in April 2024.

There have been fan-favorite players who've returned to play Survivor for a second, third, and even fourth time. The show has crafted interesting formats to bring back castaways, including seasons like Heroes vs. Villains and Game Changers . It’s unclear what spin Survivor season 50 will have, but there will likely be a new twist to the Survivor season . It will likely film in 2025, as Survivor season 47 was set to film in the spring of 2024. As one of the best reality shows right now , there’s a large pool of personalities who could return for Survivor season 50.

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8 david wright, millennials vs. gen x & edge of extinction.

David Wright was one of the most entertaining Gen X players on Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X . The season started as a battle between generations. David was ostracized almost immediately by his Gen X tribe members but regained his power after pulling off two blindsides before the merge. He ended up making it to the final four before he was blindsided by his ally, Ken McNickle, who knew he would be a threat to win the game in the top three. He’s returned once to play in Edge of Extinction , one of the weirdest seasons of the show yet.

7 Kellee Kim

Island of the idols.

Kellee Kim is a player who deserves a second chance. She was deemed an early threat on Survivor: Island of the Idols and was voted out first after the merge with two idols in her pocket . Kellee had a rough time on the show after speaking out against Dan Spilo. He was rather touchy with the cast, making Kellee personally feel uncomfortable. She voiced this concern to him on the second day of the game, and production stepped in and gave Dan a warning when he continued to touch other players.

The situation was mishandled by the Survivor players and production team. After Kellee spoke out about her experience with Dan, she was quickly voted out by her fellow cast members. Eventually, he was taken out of the game because of an incident that happened off-camera and not with an Island of the Idols player. Kellee deserves to play Survivor again because she was a great player. Additionally, her feelings were cast aside regarding a matter more serious than the game.

6 Aubry Bracco

Kaôh rōng — brains vs. brawns vs. beauty, game changers, & edge of extinction.

Aubry Bracco would be a fun player to see return for Survivor season 50. She first competed in Survivor: Kaôh Rōng — Brains vs. Brawns vs. Beauty , and finished as the runner-up. Aubry losing the season is still one of the most controversial results in recent Survivor seasons , as she arguably dominated the game. She convinced Tai Trang to keep his immunity idol to blindside former NBA player Scott Pollard. Aubry has returned twice, for Game Changers and Edge of Extinction , though she couldn't make it to the final three for either of those seasons.

Survivor 46 Episode 10 Recap: Most Shocking Moments

Aside from her knowledge, Aubry had a great storyline for the Survivor audience to watch. She had a transformative journey and started the game as an anxious player. It was unclear if she could endure Survivor ’s harsh format. Aubry rose against all odds and played a great game on Kaôh Rōng, but this ended up painting a huge target on her back in her future seasons. With enough time in between her and her last appearance on Edge of Extinction , Aubry’s threat level could have diminished. It may be her time to win Survivor in season 50.

5 Joe Anglim

Worlds apart, cambodia & edge of extinction.

Joe Anglim is one Survivor player who will likely never win because of his threat level. He’s competed in three seasons of the show, including Worlds Apart , Cambodia , and Edge of Extinction . He was regarded as a physical threat in each season that he competed in, and his fellow players took him out when he lost immunity challenges. During his time in Cambodia , he was voted off after he lost immunity after passing out. He’s a fan-favorite player for a reason, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he was invited back for his fourth go-around in Survivor season 50.

4 Spencer Bledsoe

Cagayan & cambodia.

Spencer Bledsoe had two impressive runs on Survivor , having never placed below fourth. During his first season, Cagayan , he struggled to dominate the game and found luck as an underdog. However, during his second season in Cambodia , Spencer was a confident player . He had a close relationship with Cambodia winner Jeremy Collins and failed to win the jury over after being labeled too arrogant. If Spencer could combine assets from both of his previous games, he could excel in Survivor season 50.

3 Domenick Abbate

Ghost island.

Domenick Abbate is another Survivor legend who did not win. His close relationship with Survivor: Ghost Island winner Wendell Holland shielded his target level throughout the game. Domenick and Wendell worked together throughout the game's entirety, which came back to bite him in the end. At the final tribal council, they received an equal number of votes to win the game, forcing second runner-up Laurel Johnson to cast her vote for the winner. She chose Wendell, and Domenick has yet to return for another season of Survivor .

What Happened To Boston Rob After Survivor 40?

As a runner-up and one-time player, Domenick would make the perfect addition to Survivor season 50. He’s proved he has what it takes to make it to the end of the game. Because of how close Ghost Island turned out, it’s shocking he never returned to the show. He hasn’t quit competitive reality TV, though, as he competed on MTV’s The Challenge after his stint on Survivor . His history with the game and the demand from fans to see him back almost guarantees Domenick a spot on Survivor season 50.

2 Natalie Bolton

Micronesia – fans vs. favorites.

Natalie Bolton is one of the few members of the “Black Widow Brigade” from Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites who have not returned to compete in another season of Survivor . Natalie was one of the members of one of the most iconic Survivor alliances, which consisted of herself, Parvati Shallow, Cirie Fields, Amanda Kimmel, and Alexis Jones. They dominated the game and were able to eliminate some of the season's top players, including Jason Siska, Ozzy Lusth, and Erik Reichenbach. The latter elimination, that of Erik, was one of the best strategic moves in Survivor history .

Once her alliance convinced Erik to give up his immunity necklace, Natalie was given immunity, and he was famously blindsided. She went on to place fourth in the season and was the last fan left standing for the entire game. Natalie is embedded in Survivor history but hasn’t returned to play the game. A lot of new school players will likely be invited to play in Survivor season 50. However, Natalie deserves a second chance to prove why she was such a big part of one of the best moves and alliances in Survivor history.

1 Cirie Fields

Panama, micronesia – fans vs. favorites, heroes vs. villains, & game changers.

Cirie Fields is a shoo-in for Survivor season 50. She’s competed in four seasons of the show, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have a fifth shot at playing again. Cirie is often regarded as the best player to have never won a season of Survivor for her iconic gameplay. Arguably, she’s best known for helping convince Erik to give up his immunity necklace during Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites with only five players left. Cirie came up with the plan alongside the “Black Widow Brigade.”

Cirie had a major influence over Erik when he decided to give Natalie the immunity necklace. The moment went down as one of the best moves in Survivor history. It would be criminal if Cirie did not return for Survivor season 50 if they choose to follow through with a cast of previous players. She would bring a lot of press to the season, given she just competed in Big Brother season 25 and was a beloved player in that game. It would be entertaining to see Cirie navigate being deemed such a massive threat again.

There are several players that CBS could choose to bring back for Survivor season 50. A lot of new school players will likely be asked back. However, there are still several classic players from earlier seasons that could also return for the show’s landmark fiftieth season.

Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS, then streams the following day on Paramount+.

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In this long-running reality competition show, sixteen people are split into two tribes and must survive off the land in various rural locales. Each week, they compete in challenges for resources, luxuries, or immunity — and each week, one person is voted out by their teammates, losing their chance at being the sole Survivor.

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Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Paperback – Import, January 1, 1989

Book 4 of 65 Star Trek: The Next Generation
Print length 256 pages
Language English
Publisher Titan Books
Publication date January 1, 1989
ISBN-10 9781852860950
ISBN-13 978-1852860950
See all details

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1852860952
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Titan Books (January 1, 1989)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781852860950
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1852860950
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.2 ounces
#239,957 in Science Fiction (Books)

About the author

Jean lorrah.

WHERE SIME AND GEN MEET, CREATIVITY HAPPENS

The motto of the Sime~Gen universe fits Jean Lorrah's writing career, for her work is always on some sort of borderland. In childhood she lived a life of the imagination far more vivid than the gloomy steel town she grew up in, yet she also succeeded in school, ultimately growing up to become a high school teacher and later a university professor as she continued her life of the mind into creative writing.

More recently, having retired from teaching (but not from writing), Jean took up art, and has become a prize-winning artist. In 2022 she joined the PAPA Gallery (Paducah Area Painters Alliance), where her work is selling nicely.

Jean is the creator of the Savage Empire series and co-author of the Sime~Gen series created by Jacqueline Lichtenberg. Jean specializes in Intimate Adventure, stories in which people with opposing points of view must resolve conflicts by working together, usually with lives at stake. In real life, she frequently collaborates with other authors.

She is also a screenwriter, with an optioned screenplay, Coal for Christmas, written with Lois Wickstrom. Be sure to look for her Nessie's Grotto books with Lois, and folk tale favorite Rooster Under the Table. Besides all that, Jean has a one-off vampire novel, Blood Will Tell, and of course her four professional Star Trek novels.

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COMMENTS

The Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
List of episodes. " The Survivors " is the third episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 51st episode overall, first broadcast on October 9, 1989. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise -D.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Survivors (TV Episode 1989)
The Survivors: Directed by Les Landau. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn. The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Rana IV, a Federation colony that is under attack from an unknown alien ship. When they arrive, they find the entire surface of the planet destroyed, save for a single house and two occupants.
The Survivors (episode)
(Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 122) Cast and characters [] John Anderson (Kevin Uxbridge) had lost his own wife only a year before appearing in "The Survivors". Due to this, he almost turned down the role. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 103)) Sets, props, and costumes []
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Survivors (TV Episode 1989)
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Survivors (TV Episode 1989) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight.
Star Trek the Next Generation
The Enterprise investigates the last two survivors of an annihilated world, as the entire surface has been transformed to dust except their one little garden...
"The Survivors"
In-depth critical reviews of Star Trek and some other sci-fi series. Includes all episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds. Also, Star Wars, the new Battlestar Galactica, and The Orville.
Recap / Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E3 "The Survivors"
Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E3 "The Survivors". Don't be fooled by the cute old couple; this episode is really horrifying. Original air date: October 9, 1989. The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Federation colony in the Delta Rana system. Upon their arrival, however, they find the planet Rana IV completely leveled except for ...
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Survivors (TV Episode 1989)
The Survivors (1989) John Anderson: Kevin Uxbridge. Showing all 9 items Jump to: Photos (4) Quotes (5) Photos . Quotes . Kevin Uxbridge ... Top Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation a list of 27 titles created 05 Jul 2011 Star Trek's Best a list of 41 titles ...
The Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
"The Survivors" is the third episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 51st episode overall, first broadcast on October 9, 1989.
The Survivors
Star Trek: The Next Generation The Survivors Sci-Fi 9 Oct 1989 43 min Paramount+ Available on Prime Video, iTunes, Paramount+ S3 E3: The crew ... Star Trek: The Next Generation The Survivors Sci-Fi 9 Oct 1989 43 min Paramount+ Available on Prime Video, iTunes, Paramount+ ...
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek TV series. Star Trek: The Next Generation ( TNG) is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. It originally aired from September 28, 1987, to May 23, 1994, in syndication, spanning 178 episodes over seven seasons. The third series in the Star Trek franchise, it was inspired by Star Trek: The Original ...
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Only the fourth tie-in novel for Star Trek: The Next Generation, it was released in January 1989, around a quarter of the way through the show's second season. Given the time it would take to edit and publish a paperback, it seems that Lorrah likely had to have the novel ready quite early in the life of The Next Generation.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Survivors is a decidedly high-concept science-fiction mystery, feeling almost like an episode of an anthology featuring the regular cast. Built around a guest star, The Survivors is very much radically opposed to Piller's vision of character-driven Star Trek. "Nice house.
Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Enterprise finds an elderly couple the only survivors of an attack on a planet.
Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3
S3 E3 - The Survivors. October 6, 1989. 45min. TV-PG. The crew travels to Rana IV, a remote colony where just two of Its 11,000 inhabitants have miraculously survived a devastating attack. Store Filled. Free trial of Paramount+ or buy. Watch with Paramount+. Buy HD $2.99.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: "The Survivors"/"Who Watches The Watchers"
Title. "The Survivors"/"Who Watches The Watchers". Score. A. Episode. 4. "The Survivors". We've been talking over in the X-Files recaps about how great X-Files was as an anthology show once it got ...
The Next Generation Transcripts
The Survivors Stardate: 43152.4 Original Airdate: 9 Oct, 1989. Captain's log, stardate 43152.4. We are cautiously entering the Delta Rana star system three days after receiving a distress call from the Federation colony on its fourth planet. The garbled transmission reported the colony under attack from an unidentified spacecraft.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Survivors
Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation (full episodes) by streaming online with Philo. This series is set in the 24th century, featuring a bigger USS Enterprise.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Survivors (TV Episode 1989)
The Survivors (1989) Anne Haney: Rishon Uxbridge. Showing all 7 items Jump to: Photos (3) Quotes (4) Photos . Quotes [Picard and Worf are invited to tea in the Uxbridges' house] ... STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 3 (1989) (7.9/10) a list of 26 titles created 11 Aug 2012 Star Trek's Best a list of 41 titles ...
Birthright (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
List of episodes. " Birthright " is a story spanning the 16th and 17th episodes of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 142nd and 143rd episodes overall. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D.
Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 3: Star Trek: The
The crew travels to Rana IV, a remote colony where just two of Its 11,000 inhabitants have miraculously survived a devastating attack.
Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Paperback - January 2, 1989. by Jean Lorrah (Author) 4.4 102 ratings. Book 4 of 65: Star Trek: The Next Generation. See all formats and editions. Treva is an isolated human colony on the fringes of known space on the verge of becoming a true interstellar community, a full fledged menber of the ...
The Most Powerful Weapons In Star Trek History, Ranked
Appeared In: Star Trek: The Next Generation, S3E22, "The Most Toys." The Varon-T Disruptor is a rare type of phaser weapon possessed by obsessed collector, Kivas Fajo.
8 Players That Should Return For Survivor Season 50
Jeff Probst has confirmed that Survivor season 50 will feature a cast of all-returning players. As one of the earliest reality shows, Survivor has used an all-star format in the past. The show is notorious for bringing back past stars to compete alongside new castaways. Survivor: Winners at War was the last season to feature a cast of past players. It seems the executives at CBS are listening ...
Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Paperback - Import, January 1, 1989. Treva is an isolated human colony on the fringes of known space on the verge of becoming a true interstellar community, a full fledged menber of the Federation. But now the U.S.S. Enterprise has received a distress signal for Treva is in the throes of a violent ...