The Host

Season 4, Episode 23, Aired
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Episode Summary

Stardate: 44821.3 ''''Dr. Crusher falls in love with a Trill Ambassador. However, her feelings are tested when she learns the true nature of the Trills' symbiotic existence.
6.7
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Fair
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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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  • Dr. Crusher finds more in her lover's pants than she bargained for

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Celedorian, Yesterday Report Abuse
    TNG only scratches the surface with the fascinating race introduced in this Dr. Crusher episode, leaving many issues on the table which would go on to be explored in Deep Space Nine. (Considering that most of the Trill precedents laid down in "The Host" would be disregarded in DS9 anyway, maybe it's better that the scope here is limited.) But the episode uses the regulars well and explores some interesting ideas in a limited way. (And it's nice to see Dr. Crusher has a social life.)moreless

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    0 0

  • The introduction of the Trills, who would become a major character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with Dr. Crusher being unable to continue the relationship she starts with a Trill ambassador when he moves into a female host.moreless

    7.0
    "Good"
    By johndoe70, Oct 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    This is a good episode, overall, and marks the introduction of the Trills. Yet, I cannot but help think that Star Trek, a series that loves to pat itself on the back for being progressive, really dropped the ball on this one. Dr. Crusher falls in love with a visiting Trill diplomat, but breaks off the affair when an accident forces the Trill into a new, female host. It is not too clear if she is uncomfortable with the different species-host or the same-sex aspect of the relationship.

    The episode should have made this clearer and dealt with the silent elephant in the room (starship?); gender identity and homophobia. Later on in Deep Space Nince, "Rejoined" the issue of gender identity/sexuality is dealt with a bit better, but I still feel that the powers-that-be at Star Trek were being too timid.moreless

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    2 2

  • I'm surprised the other reviews are so nice.

    4.5
    "Poor"
    By adarascarlet, Oct 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode is crap. I hate to be like that, but sometimes that's just how it is. The writing is awful, the directing is worse, the acting is bad, (which is probably a result of the directing, since these are actors who normally do a good job) the flow is unnatural... even the music is wrong. This feels about as much like an episode of Star Trek as Odan inside Riker's body feels like Riker. It's as if the episode was written and directed by imposters. Maybe it was? I'm not sure who was responsible for this. Maybe it was someone's directorial debut or something. The only reason this was watchable is because I'm watching all the TNG's in order and I'm not going to skip any. What's a shame is that the plot could have been interesting had every other thing been different. Oh well. Que sera sera.moreless

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  • bad overtones

    3.0
    "Bad"
    By silverfoxy8472, Oct 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    the plot is interesting between crusher and Ambassador Odan it is a love story but in alot of ways it could have been better i mean this is a typical case of the body being taken over by something that is harmful to the body itself not a first on star trek. next there is the thing that it takes over riker and they have the Ambassador Odan romance taken over by riker who oi vey goes for soo many now they have him go for a college "under the influence" of an alien. however the WORST thing is the end and that is what kills it for me it shows Anti LGBT and above all other anti L&T in this show it makes me ashamed to be a fan of the show shame on you the writers and producers shame on you big time.moreless

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  • The Trill Species is introduced. Unfortunately unlike on DS9 they're really ugly and have not been known to the Federation for that long. Oh, Yeah Beverly bonks Riker Odan as wellmoreless

    5.8
    "Mediocre"
    By AegisAtreyu, Jun 06, 2011 Report Abuse
    Earlier this Season the Cardassians were introduced which are a main stay of Deep Space Nine. Here is another species also expanded on in that show as well. Unfortunately unlike the Cardassians the base facts of the Federation's history with them, the rules and regulations and the symbiont itself are not nearly as close to completion yet. Personally I prefer the DS9 trills as they have more depth and don't have generic forehead no.31.

    Anyhoos the story itself is simple here. Over the past few weeks Doctor Beverly Crusher fell in love with the Trill Ambassoder 'Odan' (No host name is given). Not much is known about the Trill so when the host dies Riker elects to have the symbiont transferred to him. Which creates Riker Odan and confusion in Beverly who doesn't know whether to sleep with him or not. There is also something about Odan conducting peace talks between two moons which is really just a device to get him there. Anyway, Riker starts burning up as the symbiont rejects him. Will the replacement Trill host get to The Enterprise in time?

    This episode isn't bad just not that accomplished, its also quite predictable if you know anything about the Trill. Poor Beverly as well getting all confused. Given the end we know she's not confused about her sexuality though.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • (Maybe more nitpick than goof) When Odan enters Picard's ready room, Picard is looking at an image on his monitor. The image is the exact same image that is displayed when the crew were discussing their spatial rupture predicament in the episode "Night Terrors" (s4e17). Edit
    • When Dr. Crusher is in her quarters talking and pacing, you can see the boom pole reflected in the mirror, then the shadow of the boom mike bouncing on the wall behind her, and finally a light set up on her counter reflected in the mirror. A very poorly shot scene overall. Edit
    • Relating to the continuity between TNG and DS9, in this episode, it is said that the Federation knows very little about the Trill, they don't even know they are joined. However, since DS9 is set 2 years after this episode, Jadzia has graduated the academy by now and every officer takes routine medical tests where they would have found the symbiont even if she didn't tell them about it. Also, Jadzia seems to have no problem transporting in DS9, while Odan said it would harm the symbiont. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • LeVar Burton is credited but did not appear in this episode. Edit
    • The Trill species are introduced to the Trek universe in this episode. Dax, from Deep Space Nine, was the key example of this race. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Picard: Beverly, whatever else I may be to you, I'm your friend. I can only imagine what you're going through, and I want you to know I'm here. Edit

  • Allusions

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