AI/LLM Reviews of STNG - Unnatural Selection

Google Gemini

"Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unnatural
Selection" explores the ethical complexities
of genetic engineering, the dangers of unintended
consequences, and the lengths to which Starfleet
will go to save its own. It's a medical mystery
with a poignant human element.

Plot Overview:The USS Enterprise-D responds to
a chilling distress signal from the USS Lantree,
a Federation supply ship. Upon investigation,
they discover the entire crew dead, victims
of an unprecedented and rapid aging process.
The Lantree's last known stop was the Darwin
Genetic Research Station, where the Enterprise
finds the station's crew exhibiting
the same horrifying symptoms. Dr. Sara Kingsley,
a scientist at Darwin Station, urgently requests
the Enterprise to evacuate a group of genetically
engineered children, who appear to be immune
to the mysterious disease.

Captain Picard, prioritising the safety of his
ship and crew, imposes a strict quarantine.
However, Dr. Pulaski, ever the maverick,
believes the children pose no threat and,
against Picard's direct orders, transports
one of them to the Enterprise for examination.
This bold move proves to be a critical error:
it's revealed that the children, while immune
themselves, are asymptomatic carriers
of the disease, and Dr. Pulaski quickly
becomes infected, rapidly aging.
The Enterprise crew races against time
to understand the pathogen. They discover
that the children's hyper-efficient immune
systems, designed to make them superior,
overreacted to a common, mild flu virus
carried by a Lantree crew member,
turning it into the rapid aging disease.
In a desperate attempt to save Dr. Pulaski,
the Enterprise utilises a sample of her
original DNA to filter out the genetic
damage caused by the disease during
transport, successfully bringing her
back to the ship and reversing the
effects of the rapid aging.

Strengths:

Ethical Dilemma of Genetic Engineering: The
episode directly tackles the moral and ethical
implications of genetic engineering, showcasing
both its potential benefits (the children's
immunity) and its unforeseen, catastrophic
drawbacks (their carrier status).

Dr. Pulaski's Role: Dr. Pulaski
is central to this episode, showcasing her
medical expertise, her willingness to take risks,
and her eventual vulnerability. It's a strong
episode for her character.

High Stakes Medical Mystery: The rapid aging
disease creates a compelling and urgent
medical mystery, with the Enterprise crew
racing against the clock to find a solution.

Unintended Consequences: The core plot
highlights how even well-intentioned
scientific advancements can have devastating
and unexpected consequences.

Poignant Human Element: The fate of the children
and the Darwin Station staff adds a strong
emotional weight to the scientific crisis.

Weaknesses:

Pulaski's Disobedience: While intended to show
her maverick nature, Dr. Pulaski's direct
disobedience of a direct order from Picard,
especially regarding quarantine, can feel
overly contrived for plot purposes
and somewhat undermines Starfleet protocol.

Convenient Cure: The method of curing Pulaski
by filtering her DNA during transport,
while technically explained, feels a bit
too convenient as a solution to such
a complex and rapidly progressing disease.

Dated Visuals: As an early TNG episode,
the visual effects for the rapid aging
makeup and the Lantree interior show their age.

Limited Character Development for Children: While
central to the plot, the genetically engineered
children are largely plot devices rather than
deeply developed characters.

Overall Impression:"Unnatural Selection" is
a strong and thought-provoking early episode
of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It effectively
combines a compelling medical mystery with
a relevant ethical dilemma surrounding genetic
engineering. While it has some plot conveniences
and dated visuals, its high stakes, strong focus
on Dr. Pulaski, and exploration of unintended
consequences make it a memorable and significant
entry in the series.

Rating: 7.5/10

ChatGPT

Absolutely — let’s break down **“Star Trek:
The Next Generation” — *Unnatural Selection***
using the transcript from [chakoteya.net] (http://www.chakoteya.net/NextGen/133.htm).

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**Episode:** *Unnatural Selection*
**Season:** 2, Episode 7
**Original Air Date:** January 30, 1989

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### **Summary (based on the transcript)**

The Enterprise responds to a distress call
from the USS *Lantree*, only to find its
entire crew dead of rapid aging. Tracing
the source to the Darwin Genetic Research
Station, they discover a colony of genetically
engineered “perfect” children. These children,
designed to be free from disease, have developed
an immune system so aggressive that it attacks
any perceived imperfection — even in healthy adults.
Dr. Pulaski contracts the aging disease while
investigating and must find a way to reverse
her rapid aging before it kills her. In the end,
Pulaski uses the transporter to restore her
uninfected DNA pattern and return to her normal age.

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### **Strengths:**

✅ **Classic sci-fi premise:** Genetic engineering
gone wrong is a classic Trek theme that fits
the show’s moral explorations about playing god
and unintended consequences.

✅ **Pulaski spotlight:** Dr. Pulaski (a controversial
character for fans) gets one of her best showcases here.
Her compassion, courage, and stubbornness shine through
as she risks herself to save the colony.

✅ **Good ethical questions:** Should humanity tamper
with genetics to “perfect” itself? What happens when
the “perfect” becomes a threat? The episode
asks these questions, if a bit simplistically.

✅ **Nice Picard moments:** Picard’s cautious,
by-the-book leadership is a good foil to Pulaski’s
maverick instincts. Their philosophical clash
gives the episode some tension.

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### **Weaknesses:**

❌ **Weak pacing:** The episode feels slow,
with lots of technobabble and lab scenes
that drag rather than build suspense.

❌ **The science is wobbly:** The
“immune system at a distance” idea — the
kids’ antibodies aging people through
the air — is silly, even by Trek standards.
It pushes believability for a show that usually
grounds its technobabble a bit more.

❌ **Side characters are thin:** The Darwin
Station scientists are mostly exposition machines
with no real depth. The “superchildren” come
off more creepy than compelling.

❌ **Easy reset button:** The transporter as
a magical cure for Pulaski’s rapid aging feels
like a cheap resolution, even if it’s a neat
nod to how transporters work.

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### **Standout line:**

* **Pulaski:** *“What we leave behind is not
as important as how we’ve lived.”*

* A very Trek sentiment — the idea that
life’s meaning comes from the living,
not from seeking genetic perfection.

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### **Rating: 5.5/10**

*Unnatural Selection* is watchable
but forgettable. It has classic Trek
DNA: a moral dilemma, a medical mystery,
and some character conflict — but it’s
undermined by clunky science, a thin
supporting cast, and an underwhelming
resolution. Pulaski fans will appreciate
it most, but it’s not essential viewing
unless you’re doing a full rewatch.

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