Symbiosis

Episode Summary & Review

Summary

When the Enterprise rescues a freighter with engine problems and is being drawn into a planets gravitational field, Picard gets more than he bargained for when it is discovered that the one planets inhabitants may be carrying a disease. The disease causes Picard to consider the Federation’s Prime Directive and why it is necessary.

Our Take

A decent Prime Directive workout that lets Picard flex his diplomatic muscles, though the drug-dealer allegory is pretty thin stuff and everyone states the theme out loud more than once. The opening rescue is genuinely tense, and the guest cast holds up better than most season one filler. Worth a watch, just don’t expect subtlety.