The Chase (S06E20)
Airdate: 26 April 1993
Written by: Joe Menosky
Directed by: Jonathan Frakes
Running Time: 46 minutes
Star Trek has always functioned as a sprawling, interconnected fictional universe that has been continuously constructed and expanded over the decades. The era surrounding Star Trek: The Next Generation represents a "Golden Age" for the franchise, a period where the sheer volume of storytelling allowed for the deepening of lore and the establishment of complex histories that spanned centuries. During this prolific run, episodes dedicated to world-building were often as important as those focused on standalone adventure, yet, paradoxically, many of these foundational entries did not receive the same level of pop-cultural recognition as the high-concept pilots or the season finales. This phenomenon is largely a result of the franchise's immense output; with hundreds of episodes across multiple series, the quality is consistently high, making it statistically difficult for any single instalment to truly stand out in the public consciousness. The Chase, the twentieth episode of the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, is a prime example of this phenomenon. It is an episode built on a premise that allows the entire fictional universe to be reinterpreted in a completely new way, yet it remains one of the lesser-discussed gems of the series.
The plot of The Chase opens with a deeply personal connection between Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Richard Galen (Norman Lloyd). Galen, a mentor who instilled in Picard his passion for archaeology and history, reveals that he is on the verge of one of the most significant discoveries in galactic history. However, he refuses to divulge the nature of his findings unless Picard joins him on the expedition. Picard, bound by his Starfleet obligations, declines the invitation. Galen departs alone in his shuttle. When the shuttle is subsequently attacked by Yridians, the Enterprise intervenes, but intervention arrives too late; Galen is killed, and his life's work is left in fragments.
The subsequent investigation reveals a fascinating mystery concealed within the professor's computer. The data initially appears to be a random collection of numbers, but upon closer scrutiny, Dr. Beverly Crusher determines that these figures correspond to DNA sequences found in various alien races across the galaxy. This discovery suggests that these disparate species are not merely evolving in isolation but are part of an elaborate, premeditated code. Driven by a desire to understand the origins of his crew and the universe itself, Picard decides to investigate the source of the code. It turns out that two other major powers, the Cardassians and the Klingons, have also obtained parts of the code and are desperate to decipher it. The key to the mystery lies on an uninhabited planet known as Vilmor II. Consequently, the Enterprise, along with rival vessels from the Cardassians and Klingons, rushes to arrive at the destination simultaneously.
Upon reaching Vilmor II, the situation deteriorates into a tense standoff as the competing factions vie for control of the planet. This military posturing is momentarily joined by the arrival of the Romulans and their own expeditionary force, creating a volatile atmosphere where diplomatic solutions seem increasingly unlikely. Dr. Crusher discovers that the final component of the code is embedded within the lichen growing on the planet's surface. Using this genetic key, she decodes the message, which manifests as a hologram projected by the planet's ancient machinery. The Progenitor (Salome Jens), introduces herself as a member of an ancient humanoid race that lived four billion years ago.
The message from the Progenitor is profound and heartbreaking. Feeling isolated in a vast universe, this ancient civilisation took it upon themselves to spread their seeds across the galaxy. The hope was that these seeds would evolve into humanoids over eons, ensuring that the Progenitors would never be truly lonely. The hologram concludes with a plea: she hopes that the descendants of these seeds will eventually live in harmony as distant cousins. This revelation provides a unifying theory for the disparate cultures of the Star Trek universe, offering a common ancestry that transcends politics and warfare. However, this optimistic message is met with skepticism by the Klingons and Cardassians, who view the concept of a shared ancestry from four billion years ago as irrelevant to their current conflicts. They choose to ignore it, clinging to their own prejudices.
Picard, however, finds the revelation inspiring. The episode concludes with a brief but poignant discussion between Picard and the Romulan captain (Maurice Roëves), who notes that despite their differences, humans and Romulans are not so different after all. This moment serves as a crystallisation of Gene Roddenberry's optimistic vision of the future, a sentiment sometimes sorely lacking in the darker, more grounded storytelling of the later seasons.
The script for The Chase, written by Joe Menosky and originally developed alongside Ronald D. Moore, is notable for providing a very convenient explanation for the prevalence of humanoid species in the Star Trek universe. The idea is logically sound within the context of the show, but it is not exactly original. In fact, the concept of an ancient race seeding the galaxy was previously explored in Star Trek: The Original Series in the episode The Paradise Syndrome. An argument can certainly be made that the Preservers, who are the equivalent of the Progenitors in the TOS episode, are actually the same race. The Paradise Syndrome, often overlooked as a curious experiment, quietly established foundational elements of the lore. The Chase essentially takes that foundation and expands it into a high-stakes mystery thriller, suggesting a lineage that connects the founding mythology of TOS directly to the era of TNG.
Despite the strength of the concept, the execution is fascinating but partially squandered by some questionable directing choices. Jonathan Frakes, who directed the episode, later explained that much of the Paramount budget was being siphoned off to the competing series Deep Space Nine, leading to a lack of resources for The Next Generation. Furthermore, the episode suffers from a very weak quasi-comedic subplot involving Data and a menacing Klingon officer named Nu'daq (played by John Cothran, Jr.). This storyline attempts to inject levity into the proceedings but feels shoehorned in and lacks the wit of the show's best comedic moments. The episode was originally envisioned and much more comedic in nature, inspired by the premise of the 1963 Hollywood classic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. While the ambition was there, the final product struggles to balance the epic philosophical scale of the main plot with these lighter, less successful elements.
The casting choices, however, largely save the episode from its structural flaws. Salome Jens, who plays the Progenitor hologram, would later appear in a much more prominent and complex role as the Female Changeling in Deep Space Nine. Her presence here provides a sense of continuity and gravitas to the ending. Equally impressive is Norman Lloyd, who plays Professor Galen. Lloyd was known as one of the last surviving great character actors of Classic Hollywood, and he delivers a strong, very moving performance as Picard's mentor. His chemistry with Patrick Stewart is palpable, and his departure from the episode marks a distinct decline in its emotional quality. When he leaves, the connection to the past is severed, and the episode becomes more of a standard sci-fi chase.
The optimistic ending, where Picard finds common ground with his Romulan counterpart, is often described as a piece of Roddenberry’s optimistic vision of the future from the TOS era being brought back into the world of TNG. It is a rare moment of pure idealism that contrasts sharply with the political machinations of the later seasons. The episode also holds a special place in Star Trek history as the first and only TNG episode to feature a Cardassian female officer, specifically Gul Ocett, played by Linda Thorson. It is also the first to feature humans, Klingons, Cardassians, and Romulans in the same scene—a milestone that would become something quite common in Deep Space Nine.
Ultimately, The Chase has a premise that, despite not being entirely original, is fascinating. It recontextualises the entire Star Trek universe as a shared family affair. However, it would have worked better as a multi-part episode or even a feature film. The far-reaching consequences of the Progenitor message—how this knowledge could change galactic politics, unite factions, or spark a new era of cooperation—were barely scratched. The episode ends on a note of personal connection rather than galactic revolution, leaving the viewer hungry for more exploration of this history. It stands as a testament to the ambition of Star Trek while serving as a reminder of the logistical limitations that sometimes constrain its storytelling.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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