The Neutral Zone

Season 1, Episode 26, Aired
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Episode Summary

Stardate: 41986.0
''
''A 20th century probe carrying three cryogenically frozen humans is detected by the Enterprise while en route to the Neutral Zone to confront Romulans.
7.6
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Fan Episode Reviews (14)

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  • Not the best episode the series' first season could have ended on but not the worst....

    6.5
    "Fair"
    By uk6strings, May 27, 2011 Report Abuse
    "The Neutral Zone" is a fairly anti-climactic ending to a pretty lackluster first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. After discovering three cryogenically frozen 20th Century humans Picard gives orders for the Enterprise to enter into the Neutral Zone, where it is thought that Romulans are behind the destruction of several Federation outposts. "The Neutral Zone" brings the Romulans into the show for the first time, introduces the TNG-style Romulan Warbird, and foreshadows the Borg but that is about all the good this episode brings.

    Season one is not brought to a stunning conclusion, where you cannot wait for season two to come along, with "The Neutral Zone." Instead, Roddenberry & co. decided to finish off a lackluster season by incorporating one of its most irritating elements: the heavy-handed bashing of its 20th Century audience. The three humans who become unfrozen in this episode are used in a way that allows the crew to wag their self-righteous fingers at 20th Century people who living the way that the current world demands. Gene Roddenberry was indeed a great talent for creating the world and characters of Star Trek (both the original TV series and The Next Generation) but his clear distain for his own audience seen in "The Neutral Zone" and many more season one episodes of The Next Generation is frustrating. Luckily, the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation would improve upon the first and season three would be even better.moreless

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  • The Enterprise discovers three people in suspended animation; meanwhile, the Romulans reappear.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By Celedorian, May 27, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode came about in a bit of a bizarre way. The A story, involving cryogenically frozen people, was supposed to give Roger C. Carmel the opportunity to reprise Harry Mudd, but the actor died shortly beforehand, and the character "Ralph Offenhouse" was added to the script as a substitution. The B story, about the Romulans returning, was originally supposed to be a cliffhanger leading to an episode that would introduce us to the Borg (which were meant to replace the disappointing Ferengi as this show's signature villains) but the 1988 writer's guild strike ended that idea. (References to the Borg remain in the script.) Remarkably, the modified A and B stories are still interesting, and they work well together, with the tension from the superb B story bleeding into the okay A story. This episode won't make any best of lists, but it's one of the better first season offerings.moreless

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  • One of the most significant episodes in the STTNG series.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By outworlder5, May 18, 2011 Report Abuse
    A disturbing but pivotal episode in the STTNG canon. One of the most relentlessly nihilistic scripts, "Skin of Evil" is aptly titled, smartly plotted, and moving in its heartfelt portrayal of grief and lost friendship. Yarr's meaningless death seems somehow sadly logical and the final scene is both redemptive and cathartic. The episode is also significant in several other aspects: 1)The development of Data's character, learnig as he does that death is not only inevitable for humans but is often a means for growth and understanding, and 2) The emotional binding of the STTNG characters as they struggle to make sense of senseless tragedy.moreless

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  • Ultimately fails

    6.7
    "Fair"
    By AvatarBlue, Feb 19, 2011 Report Abuse
    Interesting premise, failed execution.

    If done during the season, perhaps would have just been seen as a filler episode. As it is, the episode doesnt really happen right from the start. The cryo's dynamic is good. A homemaker, a entrepeneur and binging failed old rocker.

    The threat from the Romulan warbird is the only thing that saves this being a bottom of the barrel, though even the sternest hearted of you will feel some emotion at the homemakers heartbreaking predicament. She takes the timedifference the worst!

    Its difficult to see what else they could have done to make this episode work, other than take them back to Earth or get them onto the holodeck to try to aclimatise them to the current timeline. Maybe even do a Matrix style, take the red pill and remain in a holodeck generated world!

    Not really worth watching unless you have nothing to do.moreless

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  • Disappointing season closer.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By fifth_dimension, Feb 19, 2011 Report Abuse
    As the summary says, this episode could have ended the season on a high note (especially considering the great writing and story in the episode before it)but in the end it fails to excite or to leave you hanging for the next season.

    The main aspect of this episode that drags it down is the cryogenics one. It was able to generate some interest when the episode first starts and Data and Worf are examining the derelect earth vessel and the bodies are initially discovered, but once the bodies are returned to the ship and the characters awaken, it quickly becomes drab and seemingly endless. In the end it just comes off as totally irrelevant and acts as a path to nowhere that is quickly forgotten. The main reason for this could be that this episode tries to tackle too much by including this story as well as the encounter with the Romulans at once; as both angles, if properly developed and written, could have been full episodes in themselves. That being said, the path the writers were going with this story and with the three characters would most likely fail to generate interest even if it was given a full 45 minutes to be told in. Overall it is just medicore and needs a whole new re-write.

    As far as the main story and the encounter with the Romulans, it too is extremely underdeveloped and anti-climatic. The possibilities for a tense standoff, a reluctant battle, an away team encounter, were all disregarded and what we were left with was a couple of minutes of dialogue between races with a truce/alliance that leaves the audience with no real sense of direction or what might come next. Suspense and not knowing what comes next can be a good thing, but in this case the not knowing seems to come from the story just ending as the Enterprise warps away.

    Highlight of the episode is that it is the first time we get to see the "iconic" new green Romulan Warbird.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Trivia: This is the first appearance of the Romulans on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Edit
    • Trivia: Data states in this episode that television as a form of entertainment did not last much past the year 2040. Edit
    • As Riker is escorting the 20th century people to their quarters, why doesn't he respond to Picard by using his communicator, instead of walking across the room and using the comm panel? Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The image of the descendant of Clare Raymond, the woman from the past, is that of Peter Lauritson. He was a member of the behind-the-camera crew on all post-original series television and movie projects from the start of Next Generation through the end of Star Trek: Enterprise, as Producer, Director, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, and Miscellaneous Crew. Edit
    • This is Marc Alaimo's second appearance on TNG (his first being the Antican delegate in "Lonely Among Us") and his last appearance until Season 4's "The Wounded." Edit
    • This is the last episode to feature Denise Crosby's name in the opening credits. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Sonny: (referring to the cryogenics process) Well, the whole deal was a long shot, but I figured, "Well, what the hell, might as well give them the dough instead of leaving it to my ex-wives." laughs) Uh, but you know son, I just figured it was all a bunch of hooey. Data: Hooey... ah, as in hogwash, malarkey, jive, an intentional fabrication. Sonny : There you go, now ya got it. Edit
    • Data: (programs replicator for ordering food, then says to Sonny) Talk. Sonny: (to replicator console) I'd like me a, a thick Kansas City steak, and uh, some country fried potatoes, and a mess of greens…aw hell, just forget all that and give me a martini, straight up, with uh, two olives... (looks at Data and winks) ...for the vitamins. Edit
    • Data: (to Sonny) Inquiry --you do not seem to be having as much difficulty adjusting to your current circumstances as the others. Sonny: Uh, you mean being here on this tub, 400 years from where I started? Aw heck, it's the same dance, it's just a different tune. Edit

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