Identity Crisis (TNG S4E18) | Star Trek Journey 199

[@zooac2010]

The holodeck scene terrified me as a kid.

[@JamesDatWork]

One of the horrordeck episodes for sure

[@tripghl0]

Yo, I couldn’t sleep for weeks after that reveal

[@penoyer79]

this episode and Schism freaked me out as a kid.

[@lewisyoung6901]

The older I get the more TNG episodes I realize were terrifying a single digits kid

[@philly83]

Me too. I was afraid of the dark for a while after seeing it

[@wisconsinfirenerd]

I've always loved the part where Geordi uses the holodeck to recreate the scene. TNG did some good spooky stuff every now and then, but that mystery shape is one of the spookiest.

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

I agree- but I think they really blew it in the final act - the "actors in pajamas" at the end was silly and their casually writing off the other transformed people was crass.

[@headrockbeats]

You have 47 likes and I ain't gonna ruin it.

[@atrus3823]

I agree. I can see why this isn’t often considered one of the best, but it really stuck in my mind. It was definitely one of the most unique in terms of storytelling. The recreation on the holodeck, but also the atmosphere and lighting in that video/recreation was very cool.

[@JonosonofEndar]

I was not scared. And neither was Endar.

[@TheElderBlotch]

That holodeck scene is spooky as hell. Even though Geordi's on the Enterprise and it's a simulation, you're just so on edge that the shadow or _something_ is about to leap out. Best scene of the episode by far.

[@jsharp3165]

The actress who played Suzanna, Maryann Plunkett, was primarily a musical theater performer at the time. Fantastic singer. She had won a Tony award a few years prior to this episode. This was only her second TV appearance.

[@qam2024]

Her acting was terrible in this episode, not "I'm Scared Geordie" bad or Tasha's drug speech bad, but still bad none the less. Now granted theatrical and TV acting are two different things, but it's still interesting she would excel at one and not be able to do the other well.

[@hippusmaximus9319]

@@qam2024 Some actors don't crossover well into other types of acting. She was probably better at repeating the same performance and marks on a stage. Whereas TV requires change of marks, variance in performance, the long waits and irregular late hours between camera staging. Heck, Shatner was a stage actor and somehow his style worked on TV.

[@JonosonofEndar]

I didn't believe her acting. No woman should outrank Geordi.

[@The_Butt_Cracker]

​@@qam2024I thought her acting was pretty good in this. Not sure what about it struck you as being terrible.

[@jsharp3165]

@@hippusmaximus9319 It took Shatner a few decades to learn that if there's a camera 6 feet in front of you, your expressions and movements don't have to play to the balcony.

[@marklsimonson]

Leijten’s makeup took six hours to apply and was nominated for a “best makeup" Emmy.

[@jimlight5137]

Guilty pleasure episode for me. I know not many other people like this one, and it’s slower and more quiet than other episodes… but this one really got me as a kid. Especially the holodeck scene. Using the holodeck to figure out the shadow placement was really creative and I wish they’d do that more often.

[@MartyMcTube]

That invisible effect was amazing back in the day.

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

Shutting down the holodeck wouldn't have effected Geordi. It would just have destroyed Holographic images. There are some scenarios where shutting down holodecks could kill the occupants, but that's usually when something catastrophic has happened to the holodeck itself. It is actually a good question; shutting it down would have probably made him much easier to find. I guess they built that set and they wanted their money's worth from it. I think this is a perfectly adequate, middle of the road episode. I really like the holodeck scene where Geordie is investigating. But everything else is just kinda...."yeah, it's okay."

[@Eidlones]

Yeah, it would have been like turning off the TV. The holographic projections are constantly being generated, it's not creating them, then vaporizing all non-crew member things when it's shut off.

[@seanrichardson7295]

I think they're joking because in "The Big Goodbye", Wesley says that all the people in the Holodeck could disappear if it's shut down wrong. I've seen a few times where they laugh about various inconsistencies like that relating to the Holodeck rules.

[@Daniel-Strain]

Yes, even though it's not Geordi's DNA, the holodeck would know it's a life form. Now some physical materials ARE replicated on the holodeck (like food or other things likely to be interacted with - the water on Wesley, etc). But they can't replicate actual life forms. And THOSE physical things ARE disintegrated when the holodeck is deactivated. But safeties prevent life forms from being disintegrated. That is, unless there is some kind of unexplained critical malfunction in the holodeck, which is what Geordi was concerned about in "The Big Goodbye" - so this IS all very consistent.

[@Eidlones]

@Daniel-Strain Beverly also wipes holographic lipstick off Picard's lips when they're out of the holodeck, in that episode. It was a dropped line to give the problem more danger/dismiss any "Why don't they just shut it off" talk. The holodeck disintegrating everything inside is never brought up again, and multiple things we learn about it later conflict with it.

[@Daniel-Strain]

@@Eidlones Once again: Anything consumable or that are likely to be interacted with like substances that get on you, are actually replicated by the holodeck - they are not holographic. This is what the technical advisors on the show stated in the "Star Trek Next Generation Technical Manual", which they used as a guide on the show.

[@Reepicheep-1]

'Don't buy that we haven't seen her.' You barely see Guinan, Barclay's been there once. Mot the barber didn't get introduced until season 3. The ship has a thousand people on it, Keiko didn't show up until their wedding day.

[@dupersuper1938]

None of which really applies, as she's not from the Enterprise.

[@jamessatter7418]

Night Terrors and Identity Crisis would make a great Halloween double feature. It is almost like you guys knew going in to time them for right before and after Halloween.

[@peterkoester7358]

I think one of the things I enjoyed the most of this episode was the continuity - remembering LaForge was a command division ensign and assigned to the Victory prior to the start of TNG. These characters had lives prior to the start of this series, and the writers/showrunners remembered to show that past correctly from time to time. Plus the mystery was very interesting.

[@JMUDoc]

Leighton was not from the Enterprise; the insignia they all wear is the Starfleet symbol. TOS had ship-specific badges, but TNG does not.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

I’ve always wondered why given all the Naval connections in TNG, why didn’t the ship have “battle stars” or awards for the ship itself? Take a look at the side of any Iowa class battleship for examples. My only thought is that those exist but aren’t displayed, perhaps it’s viewed as being a bit too arrogant, or “show off-y”, human behaviors we’d hope to have moved on from.

[@shanenokes1170]

It was actually costuming errors in The Omega Glory and The Doomsday Machine during TOS that cause the misconception. There's actually a memo from Bob Justman that was sent out back in the 60s addressing it. The symbol shown in Charlie X was meant to be for a merchant marine ship, and was what caused part of the initial confusion in the costuming department. The delta was meant to be symbol for Starfleet the whole time. Gene was frustrated by that and it's why he made sure the delta was shown as the definitive symbol in all media moving forward.

[@BlameThande]

@@shanenokes1170 That's right, I only learned it recently but it makes it make a lot more sense. You can see in "Court-Martial" that the officers who badmouth Kirk are clearly not meant to be from the Enterprise but do have the same delta.

[@shanenokes1170]

@@BlameThande Exactly ☺️

[@claytonpaddison6721]

Fun fact: the other two fully formed creatures with Gordi are played by radio hosta Mark & Brian. Both were TNG and TOS fans and given the chance to cameo.

[@emilmlodnicki3835]

Weren't they like Los Angeles radio jocks? I sorta remember them having like a skit show on FOX or something. When they were interviewed about their roll for this episode they called themselves "the wuss lizards"

[@claytonpaddison6721]

@emilmlodnicki3835 yes they were. Mark & Brian were LA morning show jocks on KLOS. Their show (a mix of banter, sketches and music) ran from 1987 to 2012 when they both retired after 25 years on air. They were also syndicated in 21 west coast markets for most of their run.

[@peterkoester7358]

16:34 Worf was holding LaForge's visor as well as the tattered uniform in the scene inside the holodeck.

[@TheRealVolk]

This was the first episode of TNG I stumbled across as a kid. It creeped me out so much that it took me another few years before I was willing to give the show another try.

[@RoseBunneh]

Why some of them returned was that they were compelled to return to the planet, Susanna wanted to beam back down badly. Geordi wanted to go down. So they Did what they needed to do, including stealing a shuttle.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

The Holodeck scene is easily my favourite part of the episode.

[@miguelvelez7221]

It's a highlight as it shows how TNG tech helps our heroes do things that then at least was impossible.

[@DeltaElites]

Cool story. I used to work the switchboard at KLOS radio in LA when Mark and Brian were the morning DJs. They used to try and get themselves into TV shows as extras and the two guys running around in the glowing suits were actually Mark and Brian.

[@KeoTower]

This was the first episode I ever saw of TNG. I had never heard of Androids or aliens at that time, I was pretty young. I'm fell in love with the show. I'm 41 now and I couldn't even be getting to tell you how many times I've seen that every episode. Oh and the scene with the shadow in the holodeck blew my mind. IMO this is one of the greatest shows ever made. So is Quantum Leap.

[@harrysarai3947]

this episode scared me when it first aired. i hope y'all enjoy.

[@chrisbullard5901]

Join the club! This was also Brannon Braga’s first episode that he took from a concept submission to the end product. When you watch it in that lens, and you see how the guys scored it, you know EXACTLY what’s going to happen to Berman-era Trek, especially as Ron Moore and Ira Behr type writers are pushed out. “It’s been a long road…”

[@jerome1lm]

the make-up fluorescent effect is so cool

[@greenbrown7776]

Yes!

[@Jukrates]

Had a rough weekend, thanks for cheering me up

[@c1ph3rpunk]

They transformed him into another organic being and back, if it were me, after coming back I’d be “and you couldn’t at least fix my eyes while you were at it”.

[@heather9857]

This one is an A for me. I love the creep factor, Geordi actually changing and his struggle to find himself is portrayed so well. Holodeck is and S tier scene.

[@shanepye7078]

I loved the pov stuff and using the holodeck to recreate the logs and how anything past the field of vision couldn’t be accounted for.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

There is an episode of Stargate Universe episode that goes like this with playing back a recording for half the episode... Trying to solve the mystery, But they double up on it by pulling back to them watching the recording of them watching the recording to solve another mystery.

[@alphawindman]

This is a standout episode from my childhood. Seeing Geordi in that makeup was terrifying as a kid.

[@ThisisDD]

This was one of the most memorable episodes for me when I was a kid.

[@togroglog2457]

My grandmother randomly had this one at her apartment on VHS, so I've watched it dozens and dozens of times.

[@coecludd]

Stardate 40164.7 is almost exacty a year before Encounter At Farpoint 🙂

[@JoeMama410]

The original away team was 5 years ago. Remember that Encounter at Farpoint was 4 years ago and was the Enterprise-D's maiden voyage, so this was from Geordi's previous assessment

[@coecludd]

All Starfleet has the Enterprise Delta signia at this point which was different in every Starfleet ship seen in TOS

[@bazerger6258]

16:33: WRONG, Worf had his visor in his other hand: 14:28

[@shanenokes1170]

It's a misconception that the delta is the Enterprise symbol. It's mostly caused by a couple costuming errors made during TOS.

[@MoogieSRO]

Pleasantly surprised to see this uploaded today, rather than waiting for next week like you usually would. I tend to think back of this episode as one I dislike, but then whenever I see it again, it ends up not being half as bad as I remember it.

[@FireDragons42]

That happens to me a lot with the episodes I list as disliked. Going back they’re usually not that bad, just not as good as the ones around it. Except for Shades of Grey. That one is always as horrible as I remember it.

[@dankoba1]

40:34 Brannon Braga became one of the most prolific writers in this era of Star Trek. He often paired up w/ Ron Moore and when they worked together their stuff was usually good. When separated, it’s clear who the greater talent is. Braga tends to go for “high concept” ideas like this, while we’ve already seen many examples of Moore’s character driven approach.

[@hemmojito]

I gotta agree with Alex here. The reconstruction on the Holodeck is the best here. Taking us along in the mistery and the slow trembling revelation. You know what I'm saying? It's like "Whoa that would mean that...."!!!! insert creepy revelation... Love those kinds of scenes.

[@fakecubed]

This is an S tier for me. I thought the guest actress was perfect, and it was a really intriguing scifi concept that was unnerving and directly affecting a main cast member in a way that felt very serious. Of course we weren't actually going to lose Geordi, but we nearly did. The holodeck sequence where Geordi discovers the missing shadow came from some kind of creature is something that I'll never forget. Good spooky episode with a mystery that unravels at just the right pace. Nice that Geordi actually has friends from his past on other starship crews (not unique, but that's something I wish Star Trek played with more often). Better than Night Terrors for sure. The stuff they did on the planet and holodeck version of the planet is 10/10 for me. It feels dangerous in a way that's quite rare. Great sound design. Cool use of UV light for the practical special effects. This is one of a handful of episodes I go back to watch outside of marathoning the entire series.

[@mjbull5156]

"This happens to me every season." The Fireball long term effects.

[@artboymoy]

I liked it enough. Good solid episode with Geordi being the focus of the mystery and giving a little more backstory. I could tell Alex was checking out. Technobabble is something you learn to appreciate because we are looking to show how much we've progressed in this future. The "old" footage with the first couple season's uniforms was cool and the recreation of the form on the holodeck was creepy when it just appeared.

[@peterkoester7358]

30:00 Leighton came aboard the Enterprise specifically for this mission, to find out why former USS Victory shipmates were stealing shuttlecraft and disappearing and they were all part of the away mission to investigate the mission colony. She would have normally been assigned to another ship or Starfleet base if not for this special mission. It was all explained in the opening Captain's Log.

[@tnolddawg]

The best effect was in the holodeck when Geordie "pressed rewind" on the program Choreography on that scene must have taken days As for the insignia on her uniform In ToS, each ship/Starbase post had unique insignia But by NexGen the Enterprise insignia was fleet wide, in honor of the 1701 crew completing it's 5 year mission intact, something described as very rare in the more dangerous and less explored space of ToS Era In fact, some stories say that Enterprise was the only ship of the original 12 Constitution class vessels to accomplish this

[@clarkkent1356]

You really weren't paying attention to the exposition were you? Lighton was not a member of the Enterprise crew, she was there to investigate the disappearances. After the original series all of Starfleet adopted the delta shield as their symbol.

[@targetaudience]

Us? Not paying attention to exposition? Crazy talk

[@shanenokes1170]

The delta was always the Starfleet symbol. The Omega Glory and The Doomsday Machine had costuming errors. The ship in Charlie X was a merchant marine ship. There's a memo from Bob Justman about this from 1967. I think the Roddenberry Archive has it on their site.

[@DamonCzanik]

After 4 seasons, with all those other Starfleet people wearing the same insignia. They never noticed it is all the same now? How is it these guys notice directors, new camera shots, reflections, etc. but they never figured out that? I realized it back in early season 1, as a child! 😆

[@FireDragons42]

She was from a different ship, had come to the Enterprise solely because of this mission where all the members of this away team were disappearing. They stopped having different insignia for different ships the moment they hit the TOS movies. You’ll notice that delta gets used by any Starfleet crew or starbase personnel in TNG (and going forward that will remain true even if we do see some variations on the logo. At any given time in universe they will use the same one.)

[@carlosrvra]

The Holodeck would NOT have deleted Space Geordi. It only turns off the “hard” light it produces. Honestly, Worf should’ve turned off the program. Then, when Geordi appears to not be there cause he’s cloaked, someone should suggest turning it back on to sss what he was looking at. They just skipped all of that to save time.

[@AldenRogers]

this was one of my very favorite episodes. Fun interesting concept.

[@NonLinearExistence]

Haven’t even watched the reaction yet but, this is one I blocked out of my mind. When I saw the thumbnail it all came rushing back. Such a weird one.

[@targetaudience]

Bro had an IT (1990) flashback

[@coyran]

@@targetaudience Georgie LaForge?

[@matthewcollins4773]

I always liked this one; as a child I found it genuinely creepy. I don't know why TNG decided to go horror for two episodes in a row, but I tend to like these episodes...

[@chrisbullard5901]

This is the one that I saw in first run syndication the night it came out at 8 years old. Where I lived in the Bay Area, we had two affiliate stations running new TNG episodes back to back on Friday nights, which made it convenient for my folks to record the episodes on VHS. This episode scared the hell out of mr and a lot of kids catching TNG, because of the psychological horror that was implied, and originally intended in the script, but never filmed. The idea of 50 of these things running around in the dark was cut out because of the production costs.

[@Daviddaze]

This one is memorable for Geordi actor for being in that costume for hours all week.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Meanwhile Dorn has done it, all week, every week, for the most appearances in Trek ever. Dude is a beast.

[@marydodsonmt]

I was 10 years old when this episode premiered. I wasn't a TNG fan yet, but my older brothers were, and sometimes I would hang out with them while they were watching. This episode terrified me back then, and ever since, I've remembered this episode as one of the worst. Looking at it objectively, however, I find that it's an effectively creepy, high-concept sci-fi/horror hybrid, well written and competently executed. It still isn't one of my favorites (I rate it as a B), but I have a better understanding and respect for it now. It successfully accomplished what it was trying to do.

[@frakking]

My understanding is that real life armed services constantly changes and updates their uniforms - sometimes big changes, usually minor, gradual changes (like the difference between Season 1, 2, and 3 TNG uniforms). It's not something that has to be "acknowledged," it's just a routine, uninteresting part of work.

[@davewilliams1157]

This would’ve been better as a two parter. The opening could’ve been a flashback to LaForge and Layton’s time onboard the Victory, including the fateful away mission. Then jump to the “present” and include more of the transformation of both of them.

[@dirtyburd71]

Mark and Brian!!! Radio morning show hosts, KLOS, Los Angeles. Star Trek fans that got bit parts as aliens with Geordie at the end of the show. Pretty cool! I listened to them on the radio in the 80s!

[@texanjoecoffeehouse8141]

Next episode is one of my favorites of not just TNG but Star Trek all together. Really hope you guys enjoy it

[@karlsmith2570]

35:56 In answer to that question, Josh and Alex: The TOS cast went from the uniforms they'd wore in TMP to the uniforms in Star Trek II-VI because they were designed in such a way that in order for anyone in the cast to answer the call of mother nature, someone from the costume department had to accompany them because they were so difficult to get in and out of

[@BlameThande]

I've always liked this one, especially the bit where Geordi uses the holodeck to recreate the scene. I remember thinking as a kid that when he said "Remove La Forge" (meaning on the recording) the computer might get literal again like in the Moriarty episode and remove him instead - now that'd be a Twilight Zone plot...

[@silikon2]

I like the ep a lot but Geordi seriously needed both a staff and a couple bodyguards. Night Terrors looked great because of multiple randos with real roles… this did the opposite. A budget issue? Never but I can’t see why Data couldn’t be on Geordi like glue. He’s even ideal.

[@ucfsab]

Alex: Brannon Braga -- Josh: "never heard of him"

[@donaldcordner1936]

Also, remember, Susanna could pull Geordi back for two reasons. First, because of their former close relationship. But secondly, because she is the only other one to actually KNOW what Geordi is going through during the transformation to the point where they even share the same alien DNA still. That is a level of closeness that brings together the past and the present in a unique combination that was able to save them both.

[@mjbull5156]

The Enterprise C crew was wearing a variation on the uniforms introduced in Wrath of Khan, but without turtleneck undershirts. The a Wrath of Khan unis apparently had a long run as the standard Starfleet uniform encompassing most of "The Lost Era" between "The Undiscovered Country" and "Encounter at Farpoint

[@karlsmith2570]

And by the time of the Enterprise-C time of service, they'd started using the insignia as the communicator

[@sunkorg]

They missed an opportunity at the end to use Data and Geordi's bond to help speak to Geordi's human side instead of Suzanne, who the audience doesn't really know. They hinted earlier in the episode that such an interaction might happen ("I'm highly motivated...") but it didn't.

[@axwise]

14:16 I don't think that's how holodeck works. Wesley says that in S1, but I don't that was ever said again. The holodeck is just supposed to be photons and forcefields (and magic that runs on suspension of disbelief). So if the power gets cut to the holodeck, the simulated environment, objects and NPCs should all just disappear. It doesn't just dematerialize whatever's in there. At least this is how it works in my head canon.

[@fakecubed]

Pssh, kid couldn't even get into Starfleet Academy on his first try. How smart could he really be?

[@jdb101585]

Food on the holodeck is supposedly replicated, so that you can actually eat it. But we see food dematerialize along with the program...which is funny, because recycling the food should take *more* power. It really should fall to the floor.

[@DamonCzanik]

Not a strong episode, but a memorable one. The holodeck shadow creeped me out. I loved that I figured out (as a kid) the computer wouldn't know where the creature was until it had a given height. The blacklight effects were simple, but effective. Makes for a memorable alien creature. So cool! Felt truly alien despite being humanoid. TNG's aliens rarely felt alien. Great body horror too. Levar Burton acting terrified and scared as the alien without saying anything was also good. I think this could have been better with a few tweaks. Like having a regular on the show like Troi to keep us invested. More buildup of mystery & puzzle solving. But like the "old admiral getting younger" episode it felt more like a "look what our makeup/vfx people can do!" episode. It worked though. They won an emmy for it. But not much action, social issue commentary or philosophical debate. So it is memorable but still "Meh". But season 4 had raised the bar so much it feels like a low point.

[@FadeVM]

Wasn’t the Ares the ship Riker was offered command of?

[@philly83]

Yes

[@karlsmith2570]

It's one of the ships he'd been offered the command of. I think that he was offered command of another Starship prior to the Ares

[@tsugambler]

Susanna Leijten was not assigned to the Enterprise, she was there because they were investigating the disappearances of the other members of their crew from five years before. She and Geordi served together on the Aries for quite some time and became close friends. I thought the portrayal worked very well, I never doubted for a moment that she and Geordi were old friends. The missing crew members were all "impregnated," for lack of a better word, by the invisible aliens on that planet. The incubation period for the implanted virus was more or less five years. Some of the Aries crew members began their transformations sooner, and some later... Plus, the transformation rate was different for different people. That's why Geordi's transformation was so rapid and off-screen.

[@MrDeathpilot]

There was a hilarious Covid-related meme that was going around based on this episode. If TA makes a Facebook post for this episode, I'll post it there.

[@damienkakoschke3099]

Turns out it's 2 spooky episodes in a row. They released a action figure of the creature Geordie turns into. - Uniform change after series 2 in real life was because the lycra pulling on people all the time was giving Patrick Stewart in particular, back problems (Jonathan Frakes already had back problems which is where the weird way he sits on a chair came from). In continuity, I suppose the Starfleet were constantly tweaking the uniforms.

[@clasicradiolover]

No she's not Enterprise crew. I think it's mentioned early in the episode.

[@gunner4bus]

Excited for this one!

[@biffyqueen]

Roanoke is no mystery, the went to live with Croatoan tribe

[@fakecubed]

They even left a message telling people that. But for some reason that very clear message was too baffling for those who saw it.

[@jdb101585]

@@fakecubed "For some reason"? You mean, the utterly racist/supremacist worldview that cannot comprehend that "civilized" people might go and live with "savages". Nope, total mystery! Lol

[@benspratling9041]

The moment with the shadow in the holodeck was pretty fantastic. Wish that could have elevated this episode, but there’s a lot that just doesn’t click. The guest female star, whose name I can’t even remember or spell, was brought onto the ship to help solve the disappearances. She’s not normally posted to the Enterprise. Hence all the catch up in 10 Forward . She and Geordi basically haven’t seen each other in person for several years. They talk a lot about how they used to be great friends, but there’s not much to show it. I think that’s part of why it falls flat. We don’t get the moments to feel their friendship. This almost would have worked well with Riker and Geordi, since they were posted together previously. But up to this point, we basically see that only once, in peak performance on the Hathaway, where Riker forms his Geordi/Worf team. So there isn’t a great bond to be used. Data would never have been able to relate to Geordi at the emotional level to talk him back. Now if it went the other way around, and data was being transformed into something, maybe he would confide in Geordi, but I mean, I don’t think a simple viral crèche could accomplish that in data.

[@ChristianAnstes]

Cool looking fireball t-shirt. I'm more of a JD and Coke man myself but to each his own.

[@JAYWALKER1000]

No, the badge has been relegated to all of Star Fleet. Only in TOS did the crews of other ships have different insignia - In fact the change has been in effect since the movies. BTW: I've heard that Roddenberry was against the different emblems - it was the costuming guy who came up with the different emblems. My only problem with that is - the costuming guy trumped the creator and producer. In what convoluted hierarchy does that happen? The reason I believe it might be so is with Roddenberry back in the saddle with the beginning of the movies and TNG the badges are all the same.

[@MikeytheGeek7711]

She was from another ship, and they sent her along with the Enterprise to investigate because she and Geordi were the last two from that landing party not to change yet.

[@Semaj4747]

The holodeck scene always creeps me out. The sounds and editing are great. I guess the Enterprise crew had to get the alien seeds removed as well given they spent time down there.

[@ScooterBond1970]

8:15 🎵 I love it LOUD! I WANNA HEAR IT LOUD! RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYYYYYYES! LOUD, i WANNA HEAR IT LOUD! DON'T WANT NO COMPROMIIIIIIIIISE!!!!! 🎶

[@adriansue8955]

3:44 "Who's that 16yr old kid?" Mona Grudt "Miss Universe" pageant winner.

[@hagbardceline7118]

Another thing that was like the arkham games was when they could finally see the aliens they looked like how people look in those games when detective vision is on

[@dunringill1747]

SPOILER: As soon as Nick cut the camera, Alex and Josh had a pillow fight.

[@richardb6260]

Alex was right. The holodeck only controls what it generates. Geordi was a living being. Not a hologram. If you shut down the holodeck. Whatever wasn't a hologram would still be there. It would just be standing there in the room with the grid pattern.

[@eddiemidnite]

Hey, a Saturday surprise!

[@davewilliams1157]

Those who returned to the planet were compelled to do so by their transformation.

[@danielgillespie7899]

Hmmm? What do you mean the Enterprise insignia? While it's true that in TOS different ships has different insignia, in TNG they all have the same combadge. So my reading of the episode is that Leitjen comes aboard specifically because Geordi is there because she and he are the only two left from the original mission when they were both aboard the USS Victory. Because of Geordi's presence, and perhaps because of the location of the Enterprise at the time the others went missing, the Enterprise is tasked with investigating. Leitjen was not previously assigned to the Enterprise. Which is why they reminisce about old times shortly after she comes on board.

[@empirejeff]

Picard likes to analyze data.

[@pauld6967]

My theory had always been along the lines of what Alex said. The shuttlecraft that blows up was because the transformation of the pilot had progressed too far . The shuttlecraft that landed had been stolen from the USS Aries. The identification of the whole recording identifies that this is when Geordi and her were assigned to the USS Victory, a ship that he has previously mentioned as his prior assignment. She is a new arrival Josh. Unlike TOS, the Enterprise delta has been adopted as the symbol for all of Starfleet.

[@huskerchuck9212]

They haven't seen episode 11 of Star Trek Continues, where they discuss the symbol for all of Starfleet.

[@pauld6967]

@@huskerchuck9212 I don't recall that discussion but it doesn't matter, I have been a Trekker since the beginning. I learned the lore via fan discussion & publications over the decades. 🙂

[@Brian-qn7fn]

The delta was always supposed to be the universal symbol, even in TOS.

[@pauld6967]

@@Brian-qn7fn That does seem to be the more recent claim but it doesn't change the fact that episodes of TOS were made where different starships and starbases had their own insignia with the delta being Enterprise's. Not to mention the material in print from the late 60s and 1970s documenting the various symbology being the norm prior to Kirk finishing his five-year mission.

[@StarkRG]

This and Night Terrors are probably the two scariest episodes of Star Trek I've seen. (there's an episode of DS9 and one of Voyager that come close, though) 8:16 I don't think there's any VFX there, it's just fluorescent contact lenses excited under black lights. Same goes for the glowing veins. It's possible they cranked up the brightness of those specific colors, but it was recorded on film in low light conditions so the glowing phosphor would be pretty bright. They may not have needed to do anything. The bit where they show her skin reacting to light at 10:16 is almost certainly VFX, though.

[@andrewshannon4950]

Yeah, Geordi becomes a Laser-Tag monster, technobabble goes to 11 ... it's fine, but doesn't stick out. I certainly remember the next couple episodes more strongly, and the previous couple.

[@Vulcanerd]

This rides the C+ ish grade for me, as well. If you like the spooky, creepy vibe of the story and the transformation or other plot/story elements, I can easily see it ranking higher.

[@BlueBookGuy]

A great Episode for sure! A true slow burn that makes you feel uncomfortable.. the effects for the time were great!

[@Planetdune]

Sometimes you find weird things just by flipping channels when you are a kid, I remember being a kid and suddenly seeing Mulder thinking it was X Files... heck did I know the episode was not called "red shoe diaries".

[@somebody220100]

4:47 Yep, you’ll never have to see the Gorn again on Star Trek….😏

[@CODY--]

I love Geordie's ... Oh you said glass, I misheard that.

[@Lumibear.]

I liked this one, on later watches I noticed some slight plot issues, but the atmosphere, sets and effects were rather lovely. I loved the use of the holodeck, Beverly got to shine, the ‘monsters’ were great, and I liked the reproduction concept. I feel it could’ve been a two parter though, because it rushed the set-up and the resolution.

[@patsk8872]

Agree with the B rating, and the love for (much of) the special effects. They really did a lot of different creature effects here with not just the prosthetics (which wasn't just one rubber suit but lots of different stages of transformation that had to be designed) but also mimicking the light and invisibility effects. And the holodeck scene is very well done and memorable.

[@Denaxas71]

A Geordi episode, not a bad one

[@fakecubed]

One of his better ones.

[@kojiattwood]

The new Siskel and Ebert for me of KZbin Trek 👍👍

[@badweathergaming4929]

I'm at the start, but I will say I like the "stitch incoming" sometimes I thing the algorithm betrayed me until I notice that.

[@annemck]

I'm already looking forward to TA watching Lower Decks.

[@clasicradiolover]

My first Horror movie was The Bride of Frankenstein. I was three or 4 years old. They girls who lived across the street took me. I doubt my mother knew what movie they took me along to.

[@CrankyGrandma]

She is not on the enterprise. She came aboard because she and Geordi were the last two of that away team from five years ago. She is not a crew member. I really liked the brother sister relationship they had, and because she’s from another ship it makes the world bigger.