Where No One Has Gone Before (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Where No One Has Gone Before" is the 6th episode of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
on a wild trip outside of the galaxy
.
), a Starfleet
propulsion expert who plans to run tests on the warp engines
to improve their efficiency. Along with Kosinski is his assistant, an alien being from Tau Alpha C whose name is unpronounceable by humans, thus called The Traveler (Eric Menyuk
). As Kosinski and his assistant explain the tests to the Engineering crew, Wesley Crusher
, also invited to watch the tests, quickly grasps what the tests are to accomplish, and the alien shows admiration for Wesley's problem-solving abilities. The test is started but quickly goes awry when the Enterprise gains an incredible boost of speed surpassing the known capabilities of warp engines. Captain Picard
orders a halt, and once stopped, the crew finds themselves on the far side of the M33 Galaxy
, more than 2.7 million light years from the Milky Way
. Though Kosinski is initially pleased with the results he believed to be from mistaken parameters, he is reprimanded by Picard, and suggests to simply redo the process to return home. Wesley warns Commander Riker
that during the warp test, the alien appeared to phase out of reality; when Kosinski starts the second test, both Wesley and Riker observe the alien phasing out, appearing even more tired. The Enterprise again bursts into incredible speeds, and when it stops, the crew cannot determine their position, appearing to have gone "where none have gone before". Picard demands Kosinski to get the crew home.
As Kosinski, his assistant, and the Engineering crew determine how to reverse the process, the rest of the crew start to experience lifelike visions of their past, an effect of the strange space around them. After experiencing his own vision of his mother, Picard surmises they have arrived at the theoretical Outer Rim, one of the oldest parts of the universe, and uses the Red Alert
to wake the crew from their visions. Picard learns from Riker that Kosinski had nothing to do with the warp jumps, but instead it was the result of his alien assistant who has taken ill and moved to Sick Bay. Dr. Crusher
cannot determine the alien's biology and is unable to treat him. When Picard arrives, the alien explains he is "a Traveler", able to channel pure thought into reality, and had brought humans to the Outer Rim, which bestows similar effects on anyone within it, to see if humans were ready to experience that, and apologizes for putting the ship in danger. The Traveler, speaking privately to Picard, reveals that he travels looking for prodigies in science such as Wesley, and that Picard should help nurture Wesley. Returning to Engineering, the Traveler asks Wesley to help assist him in returning the Enterprise to known space. As they concentrate and start returning the ship to home, the Traveler completely phases out and disappears. The Enterprise suddenly stops, and the crew is relieved to find themselves at the same location before their first warp jump in Federation space. After the incident, Picard promotes Wesley to an acting ensign on the Enterprise for his performance.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
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...
Overview
An alien visitor takes the EnterpriseUSS 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...
on a wild trip outside of the galaxy
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
.
Plot
The USS Enterprise meets with the USS Fearless to bring aboard Mr. Kosinski (Stanley KamelStanley Kamel
Stanley Kamel was an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Charles Kroger on the American television series Monk.-Biography:...
), a 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...
propulsion expert who plans to run tests on the warp engines
Warp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
to improve their efficiency. Along with Kosinski is his assistant, an alien being from Tau Alpha C whose name is unpronounceable by humans, thus called The Traveler (Eric Menyuk
Eric Menyuk
Eric Menyuk is an actor best known for his brief appearances in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation as the character The Traveler. Menyuk was originally considered for the role of the android Data which was eventually given to Brent Spiner....
). As Kosinski and his assistant explain the tests to the Engineering crew, Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
, also invited to watch the tests, quickly grasps what the tests are to accomplish, and the alien shows admiration for Wesley's problem-solving abilities. The test is started but quickly goes awry when the Enterprise gains an incredible boost of speed surpassing the known capabilities of warp engines. Captain 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...
orders a halt, and once stopped, the crew finds themselves on the far side of the M33 Galaxy
Triangulum Galaxy
The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy approximately 3 million light years from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is catalogued as Messier 33 or NGC 598, and is sometimes informally referred to as the Pinwheel Galaxy, a nickname it shares with Messier 101...
, more than 2.7 million light years from the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
. Though Kosinski is initially pleased with the results he believed to be from mistaken parameters, he is reprimanded by Picard, and suggests to simply redo the process to return home. Wesley warns Commander 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...
that during the warp test, the alien appeared to phase out of reality; when Kosinski starts the second test, both Wesley and Riker observe the alien phasing out, appearing even more tired. The Enterprise again bursts into incredible speeds, and when it stops, the crew cannot determine their position, appearing to have gone "where none have gone before". Picard demands Kosinski to get the crew home.
As Kosinski, his assistant, and the Engineering crew determine how to reverse the process, the rest of the crew start to experience lifelike visions of their past, an effect of the strange space around them. After experiencing his own vision of his mother, Picard surmises they have arrived at the theoretical Outer Rim, one of the oldest parts of the universe, and uses the Red Alert
Red Alert (Star Trek)
Red alert is a Starfleet alert state in the Star Trek fictional universe. It is the highest state of alert for a Starfleet vessel or installation, indicating an extremely dangerous situation such as entering combat....
to wake the crew from their visions. Picard learns from Riker that Kosinski had nothing to do with the warp jumps, but instead it was the result of his alien assistant who has taken ill and moved to Sick Bay. Dr. 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...
cannot determine the alien's biology and is unable to treat him. When Picard arrives, the alien explains he is "a Traveler", able to channel pure thought into reality, and had brought humans to the Outer Rim, which bestows similar effects on anyone within it, to see if humans were ready to experience that, and apologizes for putting the ship in danger. The Traveler, speaking privately to Picard, reveals that he travels looking for prodigies in science such as Wesley, and that Picard should help nurture Wesley. Returning to Engineering, the Traveler asks Wesley to help assist him in returning the Enterprise to known space. As they concentrate and start returning the ship to home, the Traveler completely phases out and disappears. The Enterprise suddenly stops, and the crew is relieved to find themselves at the same location before their first warp jump in Federation space. After the incident, Picard promotes Wesley to an acting ensign on the Enterprise for his performance.
External links
- Where No One Has Gone Before reviewed by Wil WheatonWil WheatonRichard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
(Wesley CrusherWesley CrusherWesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
) - Writer Diane Duane's take on the story's evolution
- First Draft preface (Internet archive)
- Where No One Has Gone Before rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido