Disaster (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Disaster" is a season 5 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
. The episode has an average rating of 4.4/5 on the official Star Trek
website (as of November 8, 2009).
Several characters are developed in this episode, but arguably the one given most focus is Troi. Although her command is unchallenged, she faces constant pressure from Ro to cut loose the drive section (whose warp core is becoming dangerously unstable) to save the saucer section. Conversely, O'Brien wants to do anything possible to save those still alive in the drive section. (This heavily parallels a typical Spock
–McCoy
argument.) Troi is clearly handicapped by her lack of technical knowledge, but eventually manages to assert herself in order to give the crew in the drive section a chance. This experience later lends weight to her decision to become a full commander, a goal she achieves in a later episode.
Picard also deals with his discomfort in relating with children. As a child, Picard was consumed by work—both in his family's vineyard and winery, and with his own studies to meet his dream of becoming a starship captain. His own childhood lacked a sense of fun, immaturity, and emotional response, and since most children have these qualities, he has difficulty dealing with them. In previous episodes, we have seen him banning children from the bridge, and expressing extreme discomfort when dealing with the emotions of children—even normal displays of affection. At first, he attempts to be authoritative — his usual response when people around him panic. However, this only makes the children more upset. Eventually, he makes a game of escaping the crippled turbolift, "promoting" the children with honorary Starfleet ranks, giving the oldest, Marissa, the rank of First Officer, and even engages in a children's song to take their minds off of the dangerous climb up the turbolift shaft. At the end of the episode, he is clearly far more comfortable with the children, having spent more time with them and learning how to relate to them.
When Keiko goes into labor, Worf is forced to deliver her child, though he is uncomfortable in the role of midwife and has only basic medical training. He helps her deliver a healthy baby girl whom the O'Briens name Molly.
La Forge and Crusher briefly depressurize the cargo hold to expel the dangerous cargo and rob the fire of oxygen, risking asphyxiation in the process.
Riker and Data suffer a number of difficulties trying to reach engineering. Data's body must be used as an insulator to block an electric current; Riker detaches his still-functional head and carries it the rest of the way. Once they reach engineering, they find only one operable console and discover that it is being fed power from the bridge(thanks to Troi's decision to route power there). They realize the antimatter-containment system is weak, and Data manages to re-establish it just in time.
After having made basic repairs the Enterprise sets course for a nearby starbase for full repairs. The three children who had been trapped in the turbolift with Picard present him with a plaque; the episode ends as Picard promises the children a tour of the battle bridge, which he had earlier told them was off-limits.
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...
. The episode has an average rating of 4.4/5 on the official Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
website (as of November 8, 2009).
Overview
It recounts events following a collision with a quantum filament that disrupts all of the systems on board the ship (including the communications systems), setting up the conditions for a warp core breach that will destroy the ship.Plot
The story follows five major "fish out of water" sub-plots:- The bridge is isolated from the rest of the ship and the watch officer is killed in the collision. This leaves Counselor TroiDeanna TroiCommander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
in command—as a Lieutenant Commander she is the highest ranking officer left alive on the bridge. She is assisted by Miles O'BrienMiles O'Brien (Star Trek)Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
and Ensign RoRo LarenRo Laren is a recurring fictional character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, played by Michelle Forbes.Ro Laren was also planned to be a main character in the two following Star Trek television shows, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager...
.
- Captain PicardJean-Luc PicardCaptain 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...
is in a turbolift with three of the children of the ship's crew, who have won a school contest to meet him for a tour of the ship. When the disaster hits, they are trapped in the damaged turbolift; Picard suffers a brokenBone fractureA bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
ankleAnkleThe ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
.
- Doctor 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...
and Lieutenant Commander La ForgeGeordi La ForgeLieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge is a regular character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its feature films, played by LeVar Burton...
are in a cargo bay discussing La Forge's possible participation in a ship production of The Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
. A minor radiation leak from a plasma fire threatens to destabilize a large quantity of an explosive thruster-fuel compound.
- WorfWorfWorf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
and a pregnant Keiko O'Brien are in Ten Forward (which Riker has organized as a medical center) tending to the injuries of the crew when Keiko goes into labor.
- Commander RikerWilliam RikerWilliam 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...
and DataData (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...
, unable to contact the bridge and assuming no one is in control, attempt to reach engineering to regain control of the ship.
Several characters are developed in this episode, but arguably the one given most focus is Troi. Although her command is unchallenged, she faces constant pressure from Ro to cut loose the drive section (whose warp core is becoming dangerously unstable) to save the saucer section. Conversely, O'Brien wants to do anything possible to save those still alive in the drive section. (This heavily parallels a typical Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
–McCoy
Leonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
argument.) Troi is clearly handicapped by her lack of technical knowledge, but eventually manages to assert herself in order to give the crew in the drive section a chance. This experience later lends weight to her decision to become a full commander, a goal she achieves in a later episode.
Picard also deals with his discomfort in relating with children. As a child, Picard was consumed by work—both in his family's vineyard and winery, and with his own studies to meet his dream of becoming a starship captain. His own childhood lacked a sense of fun, immaturity, and emotional response, and since most children have these qualities, he has difficulty dealing with them. In previous episodes, we have seen him banning children from the bridge, and expressing extreme discomfort when dealing with the emotions of children—even normal displays of affection. At first, he attempts to be authoritative — his usual response when people around him panic. However, this only makes the children more upset. Eventually, he makes a game of escaping the crippled turbolift, "promoting" the children with honorary Starfleet ranks, giving the oldest, Marissa, the rank of First Officer, and even engages in a children's song to take their minds off of the dangerous climb up the turbolift shaft. At the end of the episode, he is clearly far more comfortable with the children, having spent more time with them and learning how to relate to them.
When Keiko goes into labor, Worf is forced to deliver her child, though he is uncomfortable in the role of midwife and has only basic medical training. He helps her deliver a healthy baby girl whom the O'Briens name Molly.
La Forge and Crusher briefly depressurize the cargo hold to expel the dangerous cargo and rob the fire of oxygen, risking asphyxiation in the process.
Riker and Data suffer a number of difficulties trying to reach engineering. Data's body must be used as an insulator to block an electric current; Riker detaches his still-functional head and carries it the rest of the way. Once they reach engineering, they find only one operable console and discover that it is being fed power from the bridge(thanks to Troi's decision to route power there). They realize the antimatter-containment system is weak, and Data manages to re-establish it just in time.
After having made basic repairs the Enterprise sets course for a nearby starbase for full repairs. The three children who had been trapped in the turbolift with Picard present him with a plaque; the episode ends as Picard promises the children a tour of the battle bridge, which he had earlier told them was off-limits.