Nothing Human

Episode Summary & Review

Summary

A dying alien organism attaches itself to B’Elanna’s nervous system, and the Doctor doesn’t know how to treat her. He enlists the help of a holographic recreation of the Cardassian Dr. Crell Mossett, an exobiology specialist and war criminal, to save her life. B’Elanna refuses all treatment when the Bajoran crew informs her that Crell was responsible for sadistic war crimes during the occupation. The Doctor experiences a moral quandary about using and retaining Crell’s program.

Our Take

A solid medical ethics hour that mostly sticks the landing. The Doctor’s dilemma about using a war criminal’s research is genuinely uncomfortable in a good way, and David Clennon plays Crell with just enough charm to make the whole thing queasy. Roxann Dawson gets some strong material too, though B’Elanna’s refusal feels more like a plot device at times. Worth watching even if the ending wraps things up a bit too tidily.