Evolution

Tiny things take control of the Enterprise and turn out to be a lifeform they have to try to communicate with. You know, like in the season 1 episode 'Homesoil'. And the situation is resolved peacefully after having them talk stiltedly - just like in 'Homesoil'. Sigh.

The whole Wesley story is pretty bad here. A simple science experiment turns out to be the ultimate weapon, easily taking over a gigantic spaceship within a matter of hours despite starting out as only two nanites. If this was at all possible, why aren't they better secured? Why does Wesley only get a slap on the wrist?

The other plot involves Dr. Kelso from Scrubs wanting to do an experiment he has one shot at. It's a bit more interesting but not much.

Enterprise plays host to an important scientific experiment in a binary star system.

I found this to be a fairly mediocre start to the third series with an unoriginal story and arguably quite flat character moments.

The plot involves Wesley working on a project that causes big problems for the Enterprise and it's current mission, but the way it unfolds is a retread of the first series episode 'Home Soil'. Similar to this episode it has decent sci-fi, but I found it's resolution to be equally as naff.

What makes 'Evolution' less enjoyable is the character of Dr Stubbs, who I found pretty whiny and irritating in virtually every scene aside from his interaction with Wesley. That being said his juxtaposition with Wesley works fairly well as a warning that this is how the boy may end up in the future if he focuses all his time and energy into work. For me though you need to actually care about this concept to enjoy the character arc.

Dr Beverly Crusher is back aboard the Enterprise which means there is no Dr Pulaski. I have to admit that based on the first two series I preferred Pulaski's character who is the more entertaining of the doctors, albeit slightly too much like Leonard McCoy than necessary.

On a more positive note I think the visuals are mostly great, particularly the images of the Enterprise reflecting the colours of the binary stars. It feels like the production values have strengthened during the third series.

All the regular cast give good performances but I mostly struggled with Ken Jenkins as Dr Stubbs who succeeds in annoying me but little else.

For me it's a 5.5/10, but I round upwards.

Won't try and re-state the well done reviews here.....

But I was always wondering after this episode, Could we see down the line a time where the struggle with the Borg is not going well, and then in the depth of despair, surprise step in the Nanites (maybe as Federation members or just back from outside) as a force that really have the ability to throw a wrench into the workings of the Borg.....

Yes, this being written 2023, so kind of comp to Avengers Endgame, "Cap, On your left!" or "Avengers assemble!!"

But the way Star Trek always has chances to bring things back in interesting ways, I just thought it worth mentioning...... And give Wesley some storyline, "The Creator", etc.

In this episode, the first show of season three, Wesley class project goes wrong when he accidentally releases some small nanos (bug like) items throughout the Enterprise. What is happening is that the nanos are eating the ships computer and making the Enterprise perform in an awkward manner. Getting rid of the nanos is very simple but Picard believes that this may be a new life form and will not harm the nanos until more is learned. But communicating with the nanos will take some very odd turn when Data is used as a voice for the small bug-like items.

There is also another situation on board when the Federation sends Dr. Paul Stubbs on a mission to a star that is set to explode. Mr Stubbs lifetime work has been on this subject and now the nanos may make his life's work for naught. Stubbs is against protecting the nanos as it will halt something he will never again experience in his lifetime.

Ken Jenkins plays the stiff Doctor Stubbs but it seems that the writers made the character quite irritating. Why in the world Captain Picard let him in all the commander's meeting is beyond comprehension. The character was snobby, bitter and uninteresting. The character sucked most of the entertainment value out of the story making the episode less interesting. Due to its complicated conception this was not the best episode to start the season. Not one of the better episodes.

Over the years there have been many guest appearances on Star Trek, some better than others, but few quite as irritating as Doctor Stubbs, a self proclaimed 'wunderkind' hellbent on completing a Federation approved science experiment. In an episode where an ever evolving micro organism invades the Enterprises' computer, debilitating it in the process, Stubbs serves as little more than an extra annoyance in everybody's ear, including the audience, as the crew scrambles to find an answer. The episodes conclusion isn't particularly clever or interesting, just another data ex machina moment. The only redeeming qualities about the episode is that the visual effects have taken a notable leap from previous seasons, and it is only guilty of being incredibly mediocre, unlike the offensively bad openings of previous seasons.