- Directed by Cliff Bole
- Story by Robert Sabaroff
- Teleplay by Tracy Tormé
- May 9, 1988
- Based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry
- First Run Syndication
Episode Cast
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard-Patrick Stewart
- Commander William Thomas ‘Will’ Riker-Jonathan Frakes
- Lt. Geordi La Forge-LeVar Burton
- Lt. Worf-Michael Dorn
- Dr. Beverly Crusher-Gates McFadden
- Counselor Deanna Troi-Marina Sirtis
- Lieutenant Commander Data-Brent Spiner
- Adm. Savar-Henry Darrow
- Adm. Gregory Quinn-Ward Costello
- Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick-Robert Schenkkan
- Adm. Aaron-Ray Reinhardt
- Capt. Walker Keel-Jonathan Farwell
- Capt. Rixx-Michael Berryman
- Capt. Tryla Scott-Ursaline Bryant
- Enterprise Computer (voice)-Majel Barrett
Picard brings the Enterprise-D to Earth seeking answers about a possible conspiracy throughout Starfleet.
I am a little conflicted on this. Conspiracy has always been one of my favorite early TNG episodes as well as one with ideas I am glad they never continued exploring. This is Star Trek not only dipping its toes into multi-episode storytelling since it is a sequel to a previous episode but also Star Trek dipping its toes into body horror. Both work here but are an ill fit for the Star Trek world. In hindsight, if they had continued with the concepts, much like they did with the Borg they would’ve watered down the creatures into something far less frightening than they first were.
For me, this hinted that things could get quite dangerous for the crew and perhaps even weirder yet in a very possible way. Having watched the series Stargate SG1 I can’t help but notice certain aspects of the aliens that appeared here were used there though these aliens unlike the Goa’uld don’t seem to have much access if any access at all to the memories of the people whom they control which would seem to indicate discovery of them would be really easy. The do not have the recon abilities of the Founders so faking it from the outset would be tough.
A big giveaway for the aliens that gets totally missed until Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) happens to notice it is a pointy gill sticking out the back of the victim’s neck like a concerning growth. Huh? You would think that it would have been noticed in all the moments of this episode when somebody stood behind Adm. Quinn (Ward Costello).
This is still pretty early in TNG’s history obviously and Data (Brent Spiner) can be a little more dense and Worf (Michael Dorn) can be less civilized. Both moved away from those respective extremes as the series went on which I felt for Worf was a bad idea though for Data it better served his quest for humanity.
The episode begins with light banter amongst the bridge crew (presumably the evening shift since Picard is in his room in his jammies) when a message from Picard’s old friend Capt. Walker Keel (Jonathan Farwell) on the sinister sounding channel 47 beckoning him to the abandoned mining planet Dytallix B for a face-to-face. This is a very Picard (Patrick Stewart) centric episode with an able assist from Riker (Jonathan Frakes). Picard is uncertain and maybe even nervous throughout. Stewart’s skill at selling even the most ridiculous elements makes much of this go down smoothly.
After the convenient and possibly unnecessary destruction of Keel’s ship, Picard orders Data to analyze things and Data picks up that something hinky is going on. Why wipe out an entire ship and its crew? That would draw a lot of attention. They all have family and friends that are not on that ship. For an alien race that has been quietly inserting itself into Starfleet for an undetermined amount of time that’s a serious blunder. But that’s not the only one in this episode.
Another is connected to the compromised Quinn. When Picard gets to Earth, Quinn is unable to attend dinner at Starfleet HQ which makes it sound like he has some stuff to do but he can make a side trip to the Enterprise and say “Hi” to everybody which would imply he has plenty lot of free time. You almost expect a rendition of “Hello, I Must Be Going.”
Quinn’s visit to the Enterprise is to stick one of the creatures in Dr. Crusher. That makes sense because if you can hide the true medical condition of somebody infected then you can easily insert the creatures in anybody which would imply that command is next. The problem is the Admiral reveals the whole plan to Riker when he could’ve easily told a lie to cover things up and buy enough time to make it to Beverly.
Though he was unaware of Picard’s order to make an excuse to examine him, Quinn had no reason to react the way he did. He spilled the beans to Riker, tossed Geordi around and just wasted precious time when he had the authority to do what he wanted without question. Even after he tossed Riker into the coffee table he could have ordered Geordi and Worf to stay because they had no idea what was going on, but he kept on going full WWE on them. It was a bigger mistake than blowing up an entire ship to kill one guy. Why did Beverly have a phaser? It was certainly fortuitous for Geordi and Worf but not standard medical equipment.
The climax of the episode is Riker tricking the infected Starfleet admirals that he was one of them in a ruse to help Picard. One skitters off to the ever-present Lt. Cmdr. Remmick (Robert Schenkkan) who turns out to be the mother creature. It is sinister and hints at more to come while also including one of the goriest bits of practical effects to grace TV screens at the time.
It wasn’t uncommon for shows of the era to have the status quo reestablished by the end and that happens here. Once the mother creature is defeated all the other creatures that they know of die off because somehow they’re connected? Never understood that. But it is a convenient weakness to not have things get messy from this episode though it does end with a homing beacon being sent to parts unknown.
Despite some episode issues Conspiracy is entertaining. A different take and something much more overtly body horror than Star Trek had ever done by that time or did for many years to come. It effectively generates some paranoia and a little uncertainty of who’s who with the enemy possibly being everywhere. I think if anything it needed to be at the minimum two or three episodes rather ended in under an hour.
Conspiracy is not perfect, but it is entertaining and a different type of Star Trek for the time. There is a clear indication that TNG was still trying to find its footing, but overall an early highlight.
Warren Watched A Movie 