Star Trek Episode of the Week: The Naked Now

Image: Star Trek: The Next Generation. Copyright CBS Paramount Studios.

This week’s Star Trek Episode is another first season TNG classic, The Naked Now, in which we learn that, yes, Data is fully functional.

Plot: The episode begins with the Enterprise encountering a mysterious ship full of frozen people, with signs that a “wild party” had taken place aboard. After they return from investigating this ship, the away team begins exhibiting strange behaviour, and soon spread a dangerous intoxication throughout the crew. Soon, everyone is acting crazy, in a fashion not dissimilar to drunkenness. Tash Yar decides to bang Data, who is somehow also infected, Crusher and Picard start flirting, and Wesley Crusher decides to take over the ship from engineering. Eventually, Doctor Crusher figures out that the intoxication affected the old Enterprise crew as well, and uses the same antidote they used to fix everybody up. Somehow, his mother is robbed of any recognition, and Wesley Crusher is named the hero of the episode.

Character Development: In this episode, we see the beginning of Yar’s startling sexual appetite.

Forehead of the Week: There aren’t really any new aliens in this episode, so I’m going to name the strange intoxicant which spread throughout the crew. What the hell is it? How is so little of it able to affect so many? Since Crusher only created an antidote, shouldn’t every new visitor to the ship be affected by the minimal amount of residue kicking around?

Memorable Quote: “And, henceforth, a dessert course shall precede and follow every meal, including breakfast.” – Wesley Crusher, in his role as acting captain.