Contagion a very good episode. Combining elements of science fiction, drama, action, humor and a little bit of archaeology, this episode is a harbinger of what this series will become: good solid adventure episodes that somehow always seem to teach us something.

The concept of the ancient, ultra-technological civilization was first explored in The Last Outpost, in season one. Like that episode, the technology left behind is a danger for the Enterprise and its adversary, this time the Romulans, rather than the Ferengi. But unlike the Ferengi, the Romulans come across as a very real, very dangerous threat.

There is something compelling about exploring the remains of an ancient civilization, and this episode exploits that adventure and mystery quite well — from the alien computer program threatening the ship, to the portals the Iconians used to transport to other worlds as easily as walking through a door.

There are a few plausibility criticisms in terms of how cavalier Picard is with violating the neutral zone. But the criticisms are easily overlooked in favor of the adventure and action.

Contagion is a classic TNG episode. It doesn’t give us anything particularly ground breaking or profound, but it is a fun episode that represents the best of TNG.

Topics: Romulans
Filed under: TNG Reviews