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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).

---

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

---

### **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.

---

### **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.

---

### **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.

---

### **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.

---

### **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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