encounter encounter episode series premiere american science fiction television series star trek generation premiered syndication september written directed creator star trek writer original series series follows adventures crew starfleet starship enterprise episode crew newly built enterprise examine mysterious people offering federation gaze powerful alien entity calls episode pilot new star trek series double length episode insistence initially announced october production team included staff members original series utilized existing sets props star trek films star trek original series star trek phase new actors hired pilot cases required character concepts redeveloped better fit actor hired roles respectively later switched new role renamed agreed appear cameo role pilot gesture refused paid minimum possible salary debut syndication mixed critical response assessment upheld critics episode following end entire series plot newest flagship starfleet uss enterprise assigned travel maiden voyage collect remaining members crew open relations simple people able tap immense energy reserves construct surprise federation route enterprise met identifies member declares humanity trial posing appearance deciding actions upcoming mission judge determine fate race letting ship resume course warns captain destined fail enterprise arrives awaiting crew members explore offerings establish relations host crew suspicious items desire appear moments later unable identify power source feeds station senses powerful emotions nearby crew discover strange labyrinth beneath station offer explanation enterprise crew continues large unknown alien craft enters orbit begins fire older settlement near orders ship fired craft appears remind humanity trial prompts send away team alien craft away team discovers craft passages similar able free actions cause alien craft transform like space creature able mystery confirms found similar injured planet attempting care exploited ability matter create creature orbit trying help free mate attacking hold captive refuses instead ordering enterprise fire energy beam station evacuated beam allows land bound creature transform like form flies orbit join fellow crew watches reunion alien creatures reluctantly tells succeeded test hints meet production conception development history new star trek series announced october head announced creator star trek executive producer lead creation new series second attempt creating new live action television series based star trek paramount previous attempt called star trek phase failed television series led star trek motion picture paramount pitched ideas earlier year twentieth anniversary original series turned initially didn want new series later said paramount people agreed said sequel probably impossible interest major networks turned new star trek series willing commit hour season guaranteed time slot promotional campaign team proceeded project backing paramount began putting production crew included colleagues worked original series including proposed ideas october including families board ship concept later android character idea discussed production team breasts writer objected previously worked number episodes original series tasked writing script pilot production team met time february having received draft script days earlier original premise involved enterprise uss approaching alien captured race called turned weapon told starfleet ships surrender opened fire destroyed contacted alien convinced crash nearby planet enterprise help free rescuing prisoners slaves surface despite numerous changes taking place plot final version introductions characters final version plot involving added subsequently episode order longer aiming hour long pilot paramount wanted hour eventually won items added order episode including separation sequence appearance admiral casting realized early series original crew star trek unlikely practical want recast roles crew series different characters similar roles original series explained hate think imagination slender aren possibilities think casting sent december characters remain recognizable descriptions initial casting clear differences lapse french accent emotional data non latino security chief based role aliens appear foreign specifically scandinavian nature listed year old girl photographic memory quickly changed male teenager called argued female teenager thought greater number storylines available character male cast role saw perform insisted wanted french actor role arranged meeting stewart production team introduce actor later supported casting thought american actor better role wanted stewart capacity opposing suggested good fit instead data couldn find actor preferred relented changed concept fit stewart better stewart willing american accent portray role producers asked use natural accent instead tested thought looked awful pleased received role saying children impressed new praised saying great strength star trek epic classic feel actor background depth expect television favorite went seven auditions claiming role despite second choice actor casting team hired choice auditions worked pilot series called emergency room suggested apply forge role audiences known actor cast role roots gained parts data respectively normal audition processes considered data later cast recurring character traveller subsequent episodes later said production team preferred role marina auditioned role auditioned gained parts approval switched roles actresses thought better suited role ship counselor written better suit role required black actor order easier apply expected recurring character following casting work encounter role expanded cast despite perceived awful appearance kept secret character referred scripts admiral wanted appear thought actor turn lunch suggested appearance agreeing appear wouldn screen actor guild base salary later said wanted scale let way saying thank gene good things deliberately missed audition appearing lead play time second audition arranged attend later said auditioned big guy walked hands shoulder said words sound better said writer said absolutely idea cast ensign ship battle bridge appearance episode lonely character given miles brien season cast announced certain degree uncertainty job security pilot main cast didn hear production wrapped picked thirteen episodes filming seen low budget pilot series general existing sets equipment star trek movies new given task reviewing standing sets movies paramount lot order use duo later recall stage completely covered cat volume cats living lot pair couldn walk set certain sets including dress enterprise bridge star trek iii search act enterprise battle bridge new series main engineering set star trek iii new main engineering set albeit command console star trek added walls star trek iii rest set observation lounge season sets contained components star trek motion picture star trek phase running tests company computer generated special effects decided sake reliability produce new models enterprise cost feet feet version integral development jump warp special effect resulted company remaining end credits entire run filming encounter began paramount lot wrapped june noted filming encounter cast didn believe series year reception broadcast independent stations network locations including dallas los_angeles seattle miami stations broadcasting encounter gained higher ratings major networks prime time overall aired audience million immediately called highest rated syndicated hour drama series television watched episode prior series premiere thought resurrection legend believed episode reminiscent classic star trek episodes arena perfect vehicle introduce crew perfect start writing guide said worthy successor original reviewed encounter thought potential episode problems spots dialogue pedestrian interactions washington_post viewed cameo touching thought grim bald better villain felt actress marina later recalled reviews debut interviewed promote generation fourth film star trek nemesis saying bloody hated reviewers episode time series aired reviewed episode found episode disappointing reference character captain female crew members lack sense fun actor reviewing episode years later squad gave episode grade suggesting time hoping star trek disappointed zack_handlen criticized elements episode long pointless sequence enterprise undergoes separation overall described episode functional inspiring praised performance captain describing damn fine actor enjoyed gave episode overall score den geek reviewed following release season stated wasn episode worth watching despite coming arguably called worst season star trek thought pace episode slow stood rest cast good reasons enjoyed references original series especially appearance gave overall score episode handful star trek programs recommended viewing introduce new viewers book deep space star trek home media release star trek generation debut vhs september encounter feature length episode single tape subsequently released dvd region march sound remastered surround standards series interviews cast crew included sixth disc encounter episodes series released blu ray disc episode remastered high definition video involved original production team special effects episode featured single disc series launched prior season box sets early entitled star trek generation level episodes encounter subsequently included blu ray disc release season box set
Encounter at Farpoint