Cause and Effect (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Cause and Effect" is the 18th episode in the 5th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
is shown to be stuck in a time loop
, with events culminating in the destruction of the ship as a result of a collision with another Starfleet
vessel that emerges from a space-time distortion. As each loop proceeds, the crew members, though unaware they are in the loop, have the feeling of déjà vu
; Dr. Beverly Crusher
begins to hear numerous conversations before going to bed, and during one cycle, manages to record the voices on a tricorder
. Analysis reveals that the voices are Enterprise crewmembers during the hours before the destruction of the ship. The crew discovers the time loop is caused by dekyon distortions near the space-time anomaly, and program Data
to send a short message to his counterpart in the next iteration to take action on. Data sends the signal moments before the ship is destroyed again.
On the next iteration, the crew still experiences déjà vu, but actions performed by Data often reveal the number three, going against their vague memories. They make the same conclusions from the previous iteration, and Data realizes the number three must have some as-yet-unknown significance to break the loop. The Enterprise again arrives at the anomaly, and as the other ship emerges, both Data and Riker
suggest alternate plans to avoid being hit. Though Captain Jean-Luc Picard
opts for Data's plan, Data realizes that the "three" message was in reference to the number of insignia pips worn by Riker, and initiates his plan instead. The Enterprise is able to avoid being hit and thus, the time loop is broken. The crew discovers they have been stuck in the loop for 17 days, while the ship they narrowly avoided, the USS Bozeman, has been missing for more than 80 years. The Enterprise welcomes the Bozeman to the 24th century at the end of the episode.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Plot summary
The Enterprise-DUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
is shown to be stuck in a time loop
Time loop
A time loop or temporal loop is a common plot device in science fiction in which time runs normally for a set period but then skips back like a broken record. When the time loop "resets", the memories of most characters are reset...
, with events culminating in the destruction of the ship as a result of a collision with another Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
vessel that emerges from a space-time distortion. As each loop proceeds, the crew members, though unaware they are in the loop, have the feeling of déjà vu
Déjà vu
Déjà vu is the experience of feeling sure that one has already witnessed or experienced a current situation, even though the exact circumstances of the prior encounter are uncertain and were perhaps imagined...
; Dr. Beverly Crusher
Beverly Crusher
Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
begins to hear numerous conversations before going to bed, and during one cycle, manages to record the voices on a tricorder
Tricorder
In the fictional Star Trek universe, a tricorder is a multifunction handheld device used for sensor scanning, data analysis, and recording data.Three primary variants of the tricorder are issued in Star Trek's Starfleet...
. Analysis reveals that the voices are Enterprise crewmembers during the hours before the destruction of the ship. The crew discovers the time loop is caused by dekyon distortions near the space-time anomaly, and program Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
to send a short message to his counterpart in the next iteration to take action on. Data sends the signal moments before the ship is destroyed again.
On the next iteration, the crew still experiences déjà vu, but actions performed by Data often reveal the number three, going against their vague memories. They make the same conclusions from the previous iteration, and Data realizes the number three must have some as-yet-unknown significance to break the loop. The Enterprise again arrives at the anomaly, and as the other ship emerges, both Data and Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
suggest alternate plans to avoid being hit. Though Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
opts for Data's plan, Data realizes that the "three" message was in reference to the number of insignia pips worn by Riker, and initiates his plan instead. The Enterprise is able to avoid being hit and thus, the time loop is broken. The crew discovers they have been stuck in the loop for 17 days, while the ship they narrowly avoided, the USS Bozeman, has been missing for more than 80 years. The Enterprise welcomes the Bozeman to the 24th century at the end of the episode.
Production
- The production team had hoped to get Kirstie AlleyKirstie AlleyKirstie Louise Alley is an American actress known for her role in the TV show Cheers, in which she played Rebecca Howe from 1987–1993, winning an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award as the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1991...
in a cameo role behind Kelsey Grammer in the USS Bozeman shots, reprising her role as Lt. SaavikSaavikLieutenant JG Saavik is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. She first appeared in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan played by Kirstie Alley. Robin Curtis took on the role after a salary dispute caused Alley to drop out of the sequel, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock...
from the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanStar Trek II: The Wrath of KhanStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. The film is the second feature based on the Star Trek science fiction franchise. The plot features James T...
, but her asking price was too high for such a small role. Alley's appearance would have also constituted an in-jokeIn-jokeAn in-joke, also known as an inside joke or in joke, is a joke whose humour is clear only to people who are in a particular social group, occupation, or other community of common understanding...
as she was appearing on CheersCheersCheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
with Grammer at the time.
- The USS Bozeman is named after writer Brannon Braga's home town, Bozeman, MontanaBozeman, MontanaBozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
, which is also the location of Earth's first contact with an alien race as depicted in the motion picture Star Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
.
- Although never seen on screen again, the Bozeman was mentioned in dialogue in The Next Generation episode "All Good Things...", and the films Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
, all of them co-written by Brannon BragaBrannon BragaBrannon Braga is an American television producer and screenwriter, currently working as showrunner and executive producer on Terra Nova...
. The Bozeman and her crew feature heavily in the First Contact prequel book Ship of the Line by Diane CareyDiane CareyDiane Carey is primarily a science fiction author best known for her work in the Star Trek franchise. She has been the lead-off writer for two Star Trek spin-off book series: Star Trek The Next Generation with Star Trek: Ghost Ship, and the novelization of the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot, Broken...
.
- The original script apparently called for Dr. CrusherBeverly CrusherCommander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
to sing rather than hum in the first shown iteration. The words can be seen in the closed caption:
-
- ♪ HELLO, MAMA, MY NAME IS JACK ♪
- ♪ HELLO TO THE WORLD, I’M COMING BACK ♪
- ♪ I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AS AN EGYPTIAN CAT ♪
- ♪ SO, HELLO, MAMA, WELCOME ME BACK ♪
- ♪ HELLO, MAMA, MY NAME IS JACK ♪
- ( humming )
- ♪ I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AS AN EGYPTIAN CAT ♪
- ( humming )
- ♪ WELCOME ME BACK. ♪