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* This marks [[Denise Crosby]]'s last appearance as a full cast member. Although [[Natasha Yar]] appears in the following episode, {{e|Skin of Evil}}, this episode was filmed following that. In the scene with Crusher and Picard leaving the [[cargo bay]] at the end of the episode, Crosby can be seen waving goodbye in the extreme background. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', p. 56)
 
* This marks [[Denise Crosby]]'s last appearance as a full cast member. Although [[Natasha Yar]] appears in the following episode, {{e|Skin of Evil}}, this episode was filmed following that. In the scene with Crusher and Picard leaving the [[cargo bay]] at the end of the episode, Crosby can be seen waving goodbye in the extreme background. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', p. 56)
 
* [[Merritt Butrick]] and [[Judson Scott]], who had appeared in {{film|2}} (as [[David Marcus]] and [[Joachim]] respectively), are in this episode as well. However, this is Butrick's final ''[[Star Trek]]'' role before his death from AIDS in 1989. Judson Scott later appeared in {{VOY|Message in a Bottle}} as the Romulan Commander [[Rekar]].
 
* [[Merritt Butrick]] and [[Judson Scott]], who had appeared in {{film|2}} (as [[David Marcus]] and [[Joachim]] respectively), are in this episode as well. However, this is Butrick's final ''[[Star Trek]]'' role before his death from AIDS in 1989. Judson Scott later appeared in {{VOY|Message in a Bottle}} as the Romulan Commander [[Rekar]].
  +
* [[Richard Lineback]] ([[Romas]]) later appeared as [[Selin Peers]] in {{DS9|Dax}} and as [[Kessick]] in {{ENT|The Xindi}}.
  +
* [[Margan]] actor [[Kenneth Tigar]] later played [[Dammar]] in {{VOY|Displaced}}.
   
 
=== Special and visual effects ===
 
=== Special and visual effects ===
  +
[[File:Symbiosis camera report.jpg|thumb|A camera report for "Symbiosis"]]
 
* The visual effect of the fluctuating force field around the ''Enterprise''-D while near the star [[Delos]] was created by using a bowling ball which was trickled with salt. The salt bumping off the bowling ball was used and squeezed during the digital compostion and turned upside down to give this effect. ("The Making of a Legend", [[TNG Season 1 DVD]] special feature)
 
* The visual effect of the fluctuating force field around the ''Enterprise''-D while near the star [[Delos]] was created by using a bowling ball which was trickled with salt. The salt bumping off the bowling ball was used and squeezed during the digital compostion and turned upside down to give this effect. ("The Making of a Legend", [[TNG Season 1 DVD]] special feature)
   
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=== Video and DVD releases ===
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
* Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, [[CIC Video]]): [[TNG Season 1 UK VHS|Volume 11]], catalogue number VHR 2440, {{d|8|April|1991}}.
+
* Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, [[CIC Video]]): [[TNG Season 1 UK VHS|Volume 11]], catalog number VHR 2440, {{d|8|April|1991}}
* UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 1.7, catalogue number VHR 4648, {{d|7|September|1998}}.
+
* UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 1.7, catalog number VHR 4648, {{d|7|September|1998}}
* As part of the [[TNG Season 1 DVD]] collection.
+
* As part of the [[TNG Season 1 DVD]] collection
* As part of the [[TNG Season 1 Blu-ray]] collection.
+
* As part of the [[TNG Season 1 Blu-ray]] collection
   
 
== Links and references ==
 
== Links and references ==
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* [[Susan Duchow]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female operations officer (2364)|operations division officer]]
 
* [[Susan Duchow]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female operations officer (2364)|operations division officer]]
 
* [[David Eum]] as {{dis|Wright|Ensign}}
 
* [[David Eum]] as {{dis|Wright|Ensign}}
  +
* [[Shana Ann Golden]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Female command division officer (2364-2365)|command division officer]]
  +
* [[Dan Kelpine]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Male operations division bridge officer (2364)|operations division officer]]
 
* [[Tim McCormack]] as {{dis|Bennett|Ensign}}
 
* [[Tim McCormack]] as {{dis|Bennett|Ensign}}
 
* [[Lorine Mendell]] as [[Diana Giddings]]
 
* [[Lorine Mendell]] as [[Diana Giddings]]
 
* [[Kenneth Tigar]] as [[Margan]]
 
* [[Kenneth Tigar]] as [[Margan]]
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Male bridge officer (2364)|Command division officer]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Female command division officer in corridor (2364)|Female command division officer]]
 
** Female {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[computer voice]]
 
** Female {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[computer voice]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female engineer (2364)|Female engineer (voice)]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female engineer (2364)|Female engineer (voice)]]
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** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Vulcan engineer|Female Vulcan engineer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Vulcan engineer|Female Vulcan engineer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Father (2364)|Male operations division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Father (2364)|Male operations division officer]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Technician/operations division officer|Operations division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Transporter operator/security officer (2364)|Operations division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Transporter operator/security officer (2364)|Operations division officer]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Dilithium crystal technicians|Operations division technician]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Operations division crewmembers (2364)|Seven operations division crewmembers]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Command division crewmembers (2364)|Three command division crewmembers]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Cargo transporter ensign|Transporter ensign]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Cargo transporter ensign|Transporter ensign]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Civilians (2364)|Two civilians]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Science division crewmembers (2364)|Two science division crewmembers]]
   
 
=== Stand-ins ===
 
=== Stand-ins ===
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=== References ===
 
=== References ===
[[2164]]; [[2357]]; [[biobed]]; [[biofilter]]; [[board game]]; [[Brekka]]; [[Brekkian]]; [[bridge]]; [[cargo]]; [[cargo bay|Cargo Bay 11]]; [[conference lounge]]; [[corona]]; [[deflector shield]]; [[Deimos]]; [[Delos]]; [[Delos system]]; [[desktop monitor]]; [[drug]]; [[Earth]]; [[electricity]]; [[electrocution]]; [[electromagnetic coil]]; [[Emergency Manual Override station]]; [[Enterprise history|''Enterprise'' history]]; [[Unnamed Federation starships#Early Scout Mission|Federation scout]]; [[felicium]]; [[freighter]]; {{class|Galaxy}}; [[Galaxy class decks]]; [[homeostasis]]; [[hostage]]; [[long range shuttle]]; [[magnetism]]; [[main engineering]]; [[Mars]]; [[med alert]]; [[medical tricorder]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[model]]; [[Unnamed moons#Delos system moon|moon]]; [[murder]]; [[narcotic]]; [[neural scan]]; [[number one]]; [[observation lounge]]; [[Opperline system]]; [[Ornara]]; [[Ornaran]]; [[Ornaran freighter]]; [[Ornaran plague]]; [[PADD]]; [[painting]]; [[photosphere]]; [[plague]]; [[Prime Directive]]; [[ready room]]; ''{{dis|Sanction|starship}}''; [[science station]]; [[ship's store]]; [[sickbay]]; [[skant]]; [[solar flare]]; [[standard orbit]]; [[star]]; [[system interlock]]; [[three-dimensional chess]]; [[tractor beam]]; [[transporter room]]; [[turbolift]]; [[Turkana IV]]; [[type 1 phaser]]; [[United Federation of Planets]]; [[unnamed plants]]; [[Starfleet uniform (2350s-2370s)#Utility uniform|utility uniform]]; [[viewscreen]]; [[VISOR]]; [[Vulcan]]; [[warp core]]; [[x-ray]]
+
[[2164]]; [[2357]]; [[biobed]]; [[biofilter]]; [[board game]]; [[Brekka]]; [[Brekkian]]; [[bridge]]; [[cargo]]; [[cargo bay|Cargo Bay 11]]; [[conference lounge]]; [[corona]]; [[deflector shield]]; [[Deimos]]; [[Delos]]; [[Delos system]]; [[desktop monitor]]; [[drug]]; [[Earth]]; [[electricity]]; [[electrocution]]; [[electromagnetic coil]]; [[Emergency Manual Override station]]; [[Enterprise history|''Enterprise'' history]]; [[Unnamed Federation starships#Early Scout Mission|Federation scout]]; [[felicium]]; [[freighter]]; {{class|Galaxy}}; [[Galaxy class decks]]; [[homeostasis]]; [[hostage]]; [[lie]]; [[long range shuttle]]; [[magnetism]]; [[main engineering]]; [[Mars]]; [[med alert]]; [[medical tricorder]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[model]]; [[Unnamed moons#Delos system moon|moon]]; [[murder]]; [[narcotic]]; [[neural scan]]; [[number one]]; [[observation lounge]]; [[Opperline system]]; [[Ornara]]; [[Ornaran]]; [[Ornaran freighter]]; [[Ornaran plague]]; [[PADD]]; [[painting]]; [[photosphere]]; [[plague]]; [[Prime Directive]]; [[ready room]]; ''{{dis|Sanction|starship}}''; [[science station]]; [[ship's store]]; [[sickbay]]; [[skant]]; [[solar flare]]; [[standard orbit]]; [[star]]; [[status report]]; [[system interlock]]; [[three-dimensional chess]]; [[tractor beam]]; [[transporter room]]; [[turbolift]]; [[Turkana IV]]; [[type 1 phaser]]; [[United Federation of Planets]]; [[unnamed plants]]; [[Starfleet uniform (2350s-2370s)#Utility uniform|utility uniform]]; [[viewscreen]]; [[VISOR]]; [[Vulcan]]; [[warp core]]; [[x-ray]]
   
 
=== External links ===
 
=== External links ===

Revision as of 18:40, 29 December 2015

Template:Realworld

For the relationship between organisms, please see symbiosis.

After the Enterprise-D rescues a freighter crew and the ship's important cargo, Captain Picard faces a difficult dilemma: uphold the Prime Directive, or save an entire civilization from exploitation?

Summary

Sanction tractored by Enterprise-D, remastered

The Enterprise-D attempts to tractor the Sanction

The USS Enterprise-D is investigating unusual solar flares and magnetic activity in the Delos system when they receive a distress signal from the Ornaran freighter Sanction orbiting the fourth planet of the system. The bridge crew, Captain Picard and Commander Riker in particular, are perplexed by the apparent incompetence of the freighter's crew.

When they try to rescue the freighter and beam the occupants over, the cargo of the freighter is beamed over instead. Yar and Riker are able to beam four onto the Enterprise-D in the nick of time.

Naturally electric

Fighting with electricity

When the crewmembers, two Ornarans and two Brekkians, arrive, they are very anxious to see the cargo. Even though two of those aboard the freighter have been lost, the primary concern of all four is the cargo. The Ornarans, named T'Jon and Romas, claim that they have paid for the cargo, therefore it belongs to them. The Brekkians, Sobi and Langor, argue that since the payment was lost on the destroyed freighter, the cargo still belongs to them. Sobi and T'Jon begin to fight, using their natural electric charges, until Yar breaks it up by shooting at them with a phaser set on stun.

Later, in the observation lounge, T'Jon and Romas reveal that the cargo is felicium, medicine that their planet needs. Captain Picard realizes that the "plague" they have may infect the entire ship. He puts the ship on med alert.

As the Ornarans suffer from their lack of medicine, the Brekkians continue to refuse them the cargo. Doctor Crusher reveals that she cannot find a cause of the signs of infection. The Ornarans entreat Picard to give them the felicium, and Picard offers to talk to the Brekkians, asking them to give enough for the Ornarans' needs. The Brekkians agree to "two doses for immediate use."

Felicium

Drugs, but not medicine

It is revealed that Brekkian society is entirely dependent on the trade of felicium with the Ornarans. When they use the free medicine, the Ornarans act as if they are experiencing a drug high. Crusher deduces that the "medicine" is really an addictive drug. Data and Riker research the history of the drug. Though it had cured a plague on Ornara two hundred years before, it is now just being sold as an addictive narcotic.

When Wesley Crusher wonders about how people become addicted to drugs, Yar explains the draw of drugs for people in desperate circumstances. She alludes to her possible use of drugs on her home planet. She says that, though drugs may seem to solve problems, they do not in reality make anything better. Wesley fails to understand, however.

Paralyzed by electrocution

Riker held hostage

The Enterprise-D receives a signal from Ornara. Margan desperately demands that the Ornarans on the Enterprise-D must get the felicium to Ornara. T'Jon then attacks Riker and demands that the Enterprise-D send the felicium to the planet.

Sobi and Langor then decide to "give" the drug to the Onarans, rather than risk the Onarans losing their addiction. Picard realizes that they have been purposely exploiting the Ornarans. Picard cannot tell the Ornarans without violating the Prime Directive. To correct the situation, while letting the Onarans have the shipment of felicium the Brekkians had already promised to give, Picard refuses to repair the Ornarans' freighters, citing the Prime Directive of non-interference for both decisions. Without a method of transport, the Ornarans will begin to painfully withdraw from the drug. After beaming Sobi, Langor, T'Jon and Romas down to Ornara with their cargo, Picard orders helmsman La Forge to put some distance from the Ornaran system and the Enterprise-D heads for the Opperline system, a place never before explored.

Memorable quotes

"Are we losing our professional detachment, Doctor?"

- Captain Picard to Doctor Crusher


"... Beverly, the Prime Directive is not just a set of rules; it is a philosophy... and a very correct one. History has proved again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous."
"It's hard to be philosophical when faced with suffering."
"Believe me Beverly, there was only one decision."
"I just hope it was the right one."
"And we may never know."

- Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher


"Freighter, we're going to lock on the tractor beam and pull you out of orbit."
"Hey, that... that's great."

- Picard and T'Jon, as the Sanction begins to burn up in the atmosphere


"Captain, my console seems to be overloading."

- Wesley Crusher


"Drugs... make you feel good."

- Tasha Yar, to Wesley Crusher


"Behave yourselves, gentlemen."

- Tasha Yar, to T'Jon and Sobi after they attack each other


"You're feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you. I'm fine now."

- Crusher, when T'Jon and Romas inject themselves with felicium after which their "symptoms" disappear


"I guess I don't understand."
"Wesley, I hope you never do."

- Tasha Yar and Wesley Crusher, discussing drug dependency


"Destination, sir?"
"I don't care. Let's just get some distance between us and this system."
"Course 970, Mark 318, Speed: Warp Three."
"Where will that take us, Mr. La Forge?"
"The Opperline system."
"An interesting choice. Why?"
"Curiosity. We've never been there."

- La Forge, Picard, and Riker


"Wesley, on my home world, there was so much poverty and violence that for some people, the only escape was through drugs."
"How can a chemical substance provide an escape?"
"It doesn't. But it makes you think it does."

- Tasha Yar and Wesley Crusher, discussing drug addiction


"Captain, we are beaming over a replacement coil."
"Great... and that'll fix us up?"
"Yes, once it's installed."
"Right." (pause) "And how do we do that?"

- Picard and T'Jon


"What is the matter with these people?"

- Picard


"Captain, how long have you been in command of this freighter?"
"Seven years, with 26 trips to Brekka."
"And you don't know how to align a controller coil?"
"It's never come up."

- Picard, to T'Jon

Background information

Cast and characters

Denise Crosby waves goodbye

Crosby seen waving "goodbye"

Special and visual effects

Symbiosis camera report

A camera report for "Symbiosis"

  • The visual effect of the fluctuating force field around the Enterprise-D while near the star Delos was created by using a bowling ball which was trickled with salt. The salt bumping off the bowling ball was used and squeezed during the digital compostion and turned upside down to give this effect. ("The Making of a Legend", TNG Season 1 DVD special feature)

Continuity

  • This is the first time that we see a system interlock used with an alien transporter system showing that it is possible to interlock two different types of transporter beams. The only previous time that we see a Federation transporter working in conjunction with an alien beam is when the Enterprise intercepted an alien transporter beam and redirected it to their transporter pad in "Assignment: Earth".
  • This is one of only five TNG episodes (and the only season one episode) that doesn't have a stardate. The others are TNG: "First Contact", "Tapestry", "Liaisons", "Sub Rosa".

Reception

  • Behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers from this episode appeared on a 1988 episode of the LeVar Burton-hosted show Reading Rainbow.
  • A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 6, pp. 58-60.
  • Director Win Phelps remembers, "There were many continuity problems. Down on the set, we began to notice discrepancies. Some sequences just didn't really work. The actors would say "My motivation is totally wrong here", because a previous scene would be contradictory. They were trying to act scenes that they had never read before, or where substantially different from what they had read. That didn't happen every scene, but it did happen." About Denise Crosby's final scene he recalls, "As Patrick and Gates leave the hold where the drugs were kept, we had Denise wave goodbye to the camera. She was about 40 yards in the background, where nobody would notice. It was Denise's last scene on her last day." (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 19, pp. 28-29)

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-star

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

2164; 2357; biobed; biofilter; board game; Brekka; Brekkian; bridge; cargo; Cargo Bay 11; conference lounge; corona; deflector shield; Deimos; Delos; Delos system; desktop monitor; drug; Earth; electricity; electrocution; electromagnetic coil; Emergency Manual Override station; Enterprise history; Federation scout; felicium; freighter; Galaxy-class; Galaxy class decks; homeostasis; hostage; lie; long range shuttle; magnetism; main engineering; Mars; med alert; medical tricorder; Milky Way Galaxy; model; moon; murder; narcotic; neural scan; number one; observation lounge; Opperline system; Ornara; Ornaran; Ornaran freighter; Ornaran plague; PADD; painting; photosphere; plague; Prime Directive; ready room; Sanction; science station; ship's store; sickbay; skant; solar flare; standard orbit; star; status report; system interlock; three-dimensional chess; tractor beam; transporter room; turbolift; Turkana IV; type 1 phaser; United Federation of Planets; unnamed plants; utility uniform; viewscreen; VISOR; Vulcan; warp core; x-ray

External links

Previous episode:
"The Arsenal of Freedom"
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 1
Next episode:
"Skin of Evil"