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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S6.E20
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  • Cast & crew
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IMDbPro

The Chase

  • Episode aired Apr 24, 1993
  • TV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Patrick Stewart and Norman Lloyd in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

The crew of the Enterprise must race against various rival powers to uncover an archaeological secret that explains the predominance of humanoid life forms in the galaxy.The crew of the Enterprise must race against various rival powers to uncover an archaeological secret that explains the predominance of humanoid life forms in the galaxy.The crew of the Enterprise must race against various rival powers to uncover an archaeological secret that explains the predominance of humanoid life forms in the galaxy.

  • Director
    • Jonathan Frakes
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Joe Menosky
    • Ronald D. Moore
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jonathan Frakes
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Joe Menosky
      • Ronald D. Moore
    • Stars
      • Patrick Stewart
      • Jonathan Frakes
      • LeVar Burton
    • 22User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast30

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    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Captain Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lieutenant Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Doctor Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lieutenant Commander Data
    Salome Jens
    Salome Jens
    • Humanoid Progenitor
    John Cothran
    John Cothran
    • Capt. Nu'Daq
    • (as John Cothran Jr.)
    Maurice Roëves
    Maurice Roëves
    • Romulan Captain
    Linda Thorson
    Linda Thorson
    • Gul Ocett
    Norman Lloyd
    Norman Lloyd
    • Professor Galen
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Enterprise Computer
    • (voice)
    Lena Banks
    • Romulan Officer
    • (uncredited)
    David Paul Christian
    • Ten Forward Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Tracee Cocco
    • Lt. Jae
    • (uncredited)
    Gerard David Jr.
    • Operations Division Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Inez Edwards
    • Science Division Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jonathan Frakes
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Joe Menosky
      • Ronald D. Moore
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    8.03.7K
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    Featured reviews

    6planktonrules

    This reminds me of Raphie and his decoder ring in "A Christmas Story".

    This episode begins with one of Picard's old professors coming to the Enterprise to ask Jean-Luc to quit his job and follow him on some expedition. The Captain isn't about to do this, though he is hesitant to disappoint the man. Well, after telling him about this, the professor leaves--and is soon attacked! It seems that the Klingons and Cardassians are after the same thing the professor wants--the answer to a puzzle buried within our DNA! After a while, the Romulans also join in the hunt and it seems that everyone is hoping the answer would be power to smite their enemies. The real answer, however is a HUGE disappointment to some--especially the Klingons who just want to kill something!

    This is an okay episode...just okay. This is because of all these warlike races coming together, you'd expect much more excitement and mayhem. It lacks both and is only moderately interesting.
    8tjap

    Roddenberry's Vision without Roddenberry's Foibles

    This is a wonderful episode of Star Trek : TNG with a superbly 'Trek plot.

    While most other reviews have focused on the main story element, I feel the need to point out that there is some excellent acting by the cast and guests (and some humorous moments provided by them)

    The Message behind the plot is superbly played out in the final scene - Patrick Stewart's laconic replies are excellently delivered. Making for quite an emotive scene.

    To summarise, It's a fun mystery, a good chase (you'd hope, given the title) and adds lore to the Trek universe.
    6ahlsrobe

    Raiders of the lost fossil

    Indian Jones would have been disappointed since you could put it in a museum.
    9natepilarski

    One of the most slept on episodes.

    One of the most important Trek lore episodes that didn't/doesn't get the attention it deserved. I would love to see more of the "progenitor species". Find out more of what lead them to plant the "Space Seeds" if you will. Pardon the reference.
    8snoozejonc

    An important Star Trek universe origins episode

    Captain Picard is given a proposition by his old archeology professor.

    This is a very interesting episode that answers a lot of big questions about the Star Trek universe, but bizarrely the concept seems to be limited to the this one episode.

    The plot is a fairly well constructed mystery that made me want to find out what Professor Galen was searching for. The journey is good and involves some decent interaction between the Enterprise crew and a number of species. The reveal at the end feels important to the overall narrative of the Star Trek universe and involves a speech that would have fit well in the Original Series.

    For me the best scenes are the early exchanges between Picard and Galen. These are decent moments of character development for Picard and both characters are in somewhat of a dilemma. Both Patrick Stewart and Norman Lloyd are impressive here.

    This is an episode that like many could have done with a follow up to give it continuity, but unfortunately to my knowledge I do not think it has any further references.

    For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.

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    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Norman Lloyd, who plays Professor Galen, was 78 years old at the time of production, making this performance the oldest age by any actor in the series. He has the greatest longevity of any performer on the series. In November 2020, he turned 106 years old. He is famous for being married to the same woman for 75 years, the longest continuous marriage in Hollywood history.
    • Goofs
      When the Enterprise is supposed to be at warp, we can see on the viewscreen on the Bridge that it clearly isn't.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Romulan Captain: It would seem that we are not completely dissimilar after all - in our hopes, or in our fears.

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Yes.

      Romulan Captain: Well, then. Perhaps... one day.

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: One day.

    • Connections
      Edited from Star Trek: The Next Generation: True Q (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Klingon
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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