The Host (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
23rd episode of the 4th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"The Host" is the 23rd episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 97th episode overall. It was originally released on May 11, 1991, in broadcast syndication.
"The Host" | |||
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Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |||
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 23 | ||
Directed by | Marvin V. Rush | ||
Written by | Michel Horvat | ||
Production code | 197 | ||
Original air date | May 11, 1991 (1991-05-11) | ||
Guest appearances | |||
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Episode chronology | |||
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Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4 | |||
List of episodes |
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) falls in love with Odan (Franc Luz), a Trill mediator. But after he is mortally injured, she discovers that "Odan" is actually a symbiotic creature that lives inside a humanoid host body. Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) volunteers to act as a temporary host, complicating the relationship between Crusher and Odan. The mediation proves successful, but after Odan is transferred to a new, female Trill host (Nicole Orth-Pallavicini), Crusher chooses not to continue the relationship.
At the time of filming, McFadden was seven months pregnant, resulting in filming techniques used to conceal her abdomen. A two part makeup appliance was designed for the Trill host, as well as the symbiont itself, which was based on a caterpillar and an octopus. The Trill would subsequently return in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, although the makeup was redesigned. "The Host" received a Nielsen rating of 11.3 percent during the first week of release in syndication. The ending of the episode has received a mixed reception, with Zack Handlen for The A.V. Club saying that the reaction by Crusher made "perfect sense",[1] while others suggested that the statement regarding Crusher's views on homosexuality should have been confined as a character trait rather than a general statement on the opinions of the species.
It was the first episode to be directed by Marvin V. Rush, the director of photography, and was written by Michel Horvat.