140. Unnatural SelectionFORMULA: The Deadly Years + Space Seed + Lonely Among Us
WHY WE LIKE IT: Makes you warm up to Pulaski. The character of Miles O'Brien really begins here.
WHY WE DON'T: Now goes against canon. The feeling of déjà vu. The reset button ending.
REVIEW: Well, I must admit Unnatural Selection was better than I expected. After all, what you remember from it is the rubber ageing make-up that reminds one entirely too much of The Deadly Years, but with less quality (if you can believe it!). It has other problems, of course, but some redeeming elements as well. For example, after making us dislike Pulaski intently in the last few episodes (and the damage was irreversible for many), she's entirely too brave and competent here not to redeem her somewhat. Yes, she's still fighting with Picard, but we learn that she quite admires the man, and both of them address the clash of personalities that neither had intended. She also collaborates with Data, to whom she's been pretty harsh in the past.
Another character of note in this episode is Chief O'Brien. He's been on the show on and off since Encounter at Farpoint, and regularly in the transporter room since the start of the second season, but in Unnatural Selection, he becomes the character we will later watch every week on Deep Space 9. He's as smart and inventive as the bridge crew regulars here, and a brillant engineer that can patch anything together. This is the first time he's been so competent and active. It will be interesting to see him grow further.
But while the characters are fine, the plot is not. For one thing, it makes problematic use of experiments on human DNA, which are illegal according to future shows. The genetically engineered children are creepy supermen that are adults at 12 years old and have antibodies that attack our own fragile immune systems. There's a reason this stuff is illegal, people! I do like the scientific investigation elements, and the final answer is interesting as well, so it's not all a wash. But while I think O'Brien comes into his own, the reset button he provides is uninspired and gratuitous. Just another magical cure thanks to the transporter, despite the almost contrived obstacle of finding Pulaski's DNA on file. Weak climax.
LESSON: The fountain of youth may be found in Transporter Room 3.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: Watch it for the characters and the true introduction of Chief O'Brien. The plot is best forgotten however.
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