generation neutral zone 26th episode season american science fiction television series star trek generation originally aired united_states broadcast syndication episode originated piece fan fiction turned writers guild america strike created script day half forced abandonment idea episode appearance delayed following season episode set 24th century series follows adventures crew federation starship uss enterprise neutral zone enterprise sent investigate destruction federation outposts near space controlled star empire discovering derelict earth satellite frozen humans aboard episode saw introduction redesigned prosthetic forehead pieces designed makeup supervisor appearance designer final work star trek franchise episode mildly received critics viewed end season criticised plot nature episode general lack excitement plot captain away emergency federation conference enterprise crew discovers ancient space capsule earth inside find humans chambers data asks chambers enterprise commander agrees returns orders enterprise federation outposts nearby responded communications explains conference potential threat seen decades data chief medical officer work preserved humans data bringing aboard crucial time puts charge looking survivors housewife musician late 20th century died illnesses placed suspension deaths hope found future reviving successfully illnesses deal culture shock awakening distant future searches living descendants claire fare best adapting life future befriends data distraught thought losing knew particularly children irritated loss wealth lack access news information assures questions answered current situation requires attention enterprise reaches neutral zone confirms outposts destroyed soon met commander questions enterprise approached zone tries explain actions arrives bridge threatens disrupt tense situation correctly seeking answers agree pool resources discover culprit later comments encounter went favorably significant threat future engagements arranges transport 20th century humans earth descendants lives expresses enthusiasm future sets challenge improving production writing casting impending writers guild america strike writer executive producer developed day half fan fiction written strike certain story ideas removed plot including planned appearance subsequently delayed second season episode neutral zone originally intended episode strike wasn time write second story shortened second episode seen enterprise team script shot draft writer strike place amendments subsequently director later explained hadn strike think better script second episode generation directed conway justice earlier season didn direct episode frame mind season writers directors guide series written creator prior season covered main writing rules stated stories warfare stories determined copy believe interesting aliens galaxy filled stars planets following perceived failure main villains production staff main villains early years series addition originally developed race episode race time appeared appearance episode previously mentioned angel heart glory episode final season completed production wrapping months began encounter episode featured appearance production assistant starfleet science officer appearance result winning bet weight loss write episodes generation alongside game appeared appeared guest star capacity roles television appeared having previously appeared alongside second star trek appearance episode having appeared lonely leader appear season wounded cast recurring role star trek deep space time displaced humans returned star trek literature appearing generation novel planet federation ambassador star trek destiny trilogy secretary commerce federation appearance star trek department temporal investigations novel watching clock time displaced people appeared star trek wars set prior appearance episode design developed new appearance episode required account concepts introduced original series episodes balance terror enterprise incident desire ensure appeared different default appearance look aggressive developed prosthetic forehead pieces taking careful steps ensure don look like create individual designs forehead number standard designs created appearance episode final design star trek franchise having previously designed enterprise star trek motion picture enterprise generation double nature starship originated early designs wings originally vertical horizontal size ship deliberately larger enterprise reception home media release neutral zone aired broadcast syndication week commencing received nielsen ratings reflecting percentage households watching episode timeslot highest ratings received series episodes earlier reviewers watched star trek generation end series felt episode work saying regard 20th century refugees laid bit thick appearance tried hard reminiscent appearance balance terror overall said season ends bang zack_handlen felt previous episode conspiracy served better end season neutral zone wasn worst far possibly frustrating storylines felt plot sufficient described storyline featuring survivors extremely painful comic relief gave episode grade home media release neutral zone vhs cassette united_states canada episode later included star trek generation season dvd box set released march released season blu ray set july
The Neutral Zone (Star Trek: The Next Generation)