Unnatural Selection by: John Mason and Mike Gray and directed by: Paul Lynch

 

“Unnatural Selection” is written by: John Mason and Mike Gray and is directed by: Paul Lynch.  It was produced under production code 133, was the 7^th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, the 33^rd episode overall, and was broadcast on January 30, 1989.

 

How many times is Star Trek going to do this plot?  Okay, this is technically only the second time Star Trek has done rapid aging, the first time being in the original series episode “The Deadly Years”, which was a weak episode that treated aging as horrific.  Star Trek: The Next Generation in the first season had “Too Short a Season”, which was that plot in reverse, which while different essentially covers the same dramatic and thematic ground.  Not even a full season later, Star Trek: The Next Generation produces “Unnatural Selection”, the only episode written by producers John Mason and Mike Gray.  Mason and Gray were producers only on half of the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as writing this episode, which covers the same ground as “The Deadly Years” though without actually saying anything concrete on ageing.  The virus that makes you age to death rapidly doesn’t make any commentary on aging outside of the very vague aging is a source of horror.  The virus in the episode could really have been any virus, it barely integrates into the episode, it just has to be coming from the genetically modified children spreading this to a different ship that is already dead.  It begs the further question as to why aging is part of the episode? Is it because it’s an episode focusing on Dr. Pulaski, seeing as Diana Muldaur was 53 during her time on Star Trek: The Next Generation? If so then it doesn’t actually examine the fact that Pulaski is an older character.  Is it supposed to add to the genetic engineering questions it poses?  Perhaps, but again those are questions that are essentially flavor text to the episode.

 

The episode isn’t helped by being directed by Paul Lynch who seems to think framing shots in a weird manner is a replacement for any real style.  Lynch had previously directed “The Naked Now” and “11001001”, both episodes that lack style in terms of how they are shot.  “Unnatural Selection” focusing on Pulaski actually has a lot of potential: she is the show’s newest character and while a replacement for Crusher, she has already had a character arc put through the early episodes of this season.  Pulaski as a character in every previous appearance has essentially been a foil for Data and “Unnatural Selection” wants to do more with her as a character, focusing on her stubborn determination to complete her duties and ensure everyone gets out alive.  It’s actually a great extension of what has been previously established with the character and gives her some character growth.  There are also plenty of little character moments in the episode that are interesting enough to watch.

 

Muldaur is clearly acting the hell out of the part despite an underwhelming script and the odd blocking of Lynch’s direction.  There is this tiny moment in the episode between Picard and Data that shows how far the crew have really come to acknowledge Data as a person, same with Pulaski and Data.  Muldaur, Patrick Stewart, and Brent Spiner all have some great scenes.  Marina Sirtis has some great little positive moments early on, clearly allowing Sirtis to feel at ease in her role as Troi despite not getting many episodes to really focus on herself.  There’s also a background player, the transporter chief played by Colm Meaney who is actually given the name O’Brien and actual dialogue and plot.  It’s an incredibly odd thing to happen in this episode, the rare thing being a background player with basically no dialogue being elevated to the status of a character with motivation, and a plot.  Now, I am aware that this also isn’t a one-off thing, O’Brien is apparently throughout the rest of Star Trek: The Next Generation and is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  The episode also ends on a fairly somber note as the infected, dead ship is destroyed with reverence which is one of the few scenes of the episode that is truly emotionally effective.

 

Overall, there is so much of “Unnatural Selection” that is flavor text to add depth to the characters, coming in the form often of little acting choices from actors who know that this script isn’t actually doing much.  As an episode, it’s a rehash of an episode from the original series but instead of examining the regressive messaging of “The Deadly Years”, it just kind of takes them out without replacing it with anything.  It’s certainly not the worst episode of the show, or even the worst episode of the season so far, but it also isn’t a good episode.  It’s this below average episode that you’ll probably forget soon after the credits roll.  4/10.