Unnatural Selection
- Episode aired Jan 28, 1989
- TV-PG
- 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
Enhanced DNA developments trigger an epidemic of rapid aging. Caught among its victims - Dr. Pulaski.Enhanced DNA developments trigger an epidemic of rapid aging. Caught among its victims - Dr. Pulaski.Enhanced DNA developments trigger an epidemic of rapid aging. Caught among its victims - Dr. Pulaski.
Majel Barrett
- Enterprise Computer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
George Baxter-Holder
- Darwin 'Child'
- (uncredited)
James G. Becker
- Youngblood
- (uncredited)
Michael Braveheart
- Crewman Martinez
- (uncredited)
Cibby Danyla
- Medical Staff
- (uncredited)
Larry Guthrie
- Darwin Scientist
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaChief O'Brien was a last-minute addition to the teleplay. Originally, the story featured a young engineering genius named Rina, whose beauty caused male colleagues to repeatedly experience pratfalls, which led to a romantic subplot with La Forge. Showrunner Maurice Hurley found the character obnoxious and deleted her when he rewrote the teleplay, replacing her with Colm Meaney's until-then nameless character, who was finally named and his personality expanded upon.
- GoofsThe Darwin Station crew are experimenting with genetic engineering, which violates Federation laws that were enacted due to the lesson of the Eugenics Wars. This issue is a recurring theme in Trek, yet is never once addressed in this case.
Although the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) episode Ad Astra Per Aspera (2023) might give a possible explanation for this. In the episode, it is said that the law that forbids genetic manipulation within Starfleet is going to be altered to allow genetically altered species to exist within the federation. It is very well possible that the law was further lifted by the 24th century to allow for genetic manipulation when certain conditions are met.
- Quotes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: And, Doctor, God knows I'm not one to discourage input, but I would appreciate it if you'd let me finish my sentences once in a while.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shades of Gray (1989)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
Featured review
Pulaski's First Big Role
This is the episode in which serious fans learned to despise Dr. Pulaski.
The plot's lesson makes it clear that playing god is always a mistake--good lesson. In the process, Pulaski displays her arrogance is as bad as the genetic scientists, and we hate her for it. After this, except maybe for the episode "The Icarus Factor", when she is revealed to have been Riker's father's former old lady (which in itself is kinda gross), she never gets a featured role again. She was obviously hated by most fans, so much so that the a-hole writer who didn't like Gates McFadden had to beg her to come back and resume playing Dr. Crusher. Whew, that was close.
The plot's lesson makes it clear that playing god is always a mistake--good lesson. In the process, Pulaski displays her arrogance is as bad as the genetic scientists, and we hate her for it. After this, except maybe for the episode "The Icarus Factor", when she is revealed to have been Riker's father's former old lady (which in itself is kinda gross), she never gets a featured role again. She was obviously hated by most fans, so much so that the a-hole writer who didn't like Gates McFadden had to beg her to come back and resume playing Dr. Crusher. Whew, that was close.
helpful•12
- emmetlang-42622
- Dec 13, 2023
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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