1.25 – Conspiracy
Conspiracy is on of the best episodes of the first season. It is a plot-driven episode that benefits from groundwork that was established in Coming of Age. Conspiracy expands on that groundwork with dark, sinister scenes that create a palpable growing sense of danger. The episode builds to creepy, unsettling climax that leaves the door open for the possibility of an even more sinister encounter in the future.
Returning for the episode are the characters of Remmick and Quinn, first introduced in Coming of Age. Quinn’s warning of danger comes to fruition as we learn that Starfleet’s entire Chain of Command has been compromised and that whoever is behind the subterfuge has slowly, inexorably, been solidifying control over key sectors and commands within the Federation.
The severity, and mystery, of the situation is highlighted early on by the death of Picard’s close friend, Walker Keel, in the suspicious destruction of the U.S.S. Horatio. This event, along with Data’s analysis of Starfleet commands compel Picard to bring the Enterprise to Starfleet Headquarters — on Earth.
It is on Earth that we are reacquainted with Remmick and Quinn. And it is here, too, that we learn the true nature of the conspiracy. The ending plays out much like a monster horror movie, complete with a dinner comprised of maggot-like creatures — which are nothing compared to the parasitic creatures at the heart of the conspiracy.
The one real drawback to the episode is something that happens, or rather doesn’t happen after the ending. The final scenes tell us that the parasites had sent a homing beacon into the far reaches of the galaxy — a brilliantly written plot point that opens the door to more conspiracies later in the series, and subsequent movies. Sadly, not one Star Trek writer has since walked through that door. The possibility is left as just that: possibility. Not only is this, perhaps, the biggest missed opportunity for the series, but this also has the incidental, and unfortunate, effect of diminishing the importance of this particular episode.
Conspiracy is a well-written, well-executed story that, on sheer tension, drama, action, and suspense makes it one of the best of the season.
Filed under: TNG Reviews
I think the reason the writers never went with this thread again was because the alien crab-like parasites were just too hokey. Not to mention cartoonishly evil. DS9 would take the concept of an alien infiltration of Starfleet/Earth with the Changelings/Founders of the Dominion. Particularly in the episodes, “The Adversary,” “Homefront,” and “Paradise Lost.”