Home Soil
- Episode aired Feb 20, 1988
- TV-PG
- 46m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
On Velara III, Geordi and Data discover a microscopic life form responsible for the death of an engineer stationed on the base.On Velara III, Geordi and Data discover a microscopic life form responsible for the death of an engineer stationed on the base.On Velara III, Geordi and Data discover a microscopic life form responsible for the death of an engineer stationed on the base.
Majel Barrett
- Enterprise Computer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
James G. Becker
- Youngblood
- (uncredited)
Dexter Clay
- Operations Division Officer
- (uncredited)
Susan Duchow
- Operations Division Officer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst time there is a reference to a rest room (bathroom) on the Enterprise. As Riker and the engineer are talking, she mentions that one of the colleagues is stuck in the restroom due to the aliens taking over the ship. (It's not a restroom but, in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Kirk does sit on a retractable toilet, with the warning 'Do not use while in spacedock'. This was released in 1989, after this story.)
- GoofsEveryone (including the ship's computer) acts like this is the first non-carbon-based life form the Federation has ever encountered. However, in The Devil in the Dark (1967), the obvious inspiration for this story, a silicon-based life form (the Horta) was discovered on a Federation mining colony and identified by Mr. Spock.
- Quotes
Inorganic Life-form (voice): Ugly. Ugly giant bags of mostly water.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Bags of mostly water?
Lt. Commander Data: An accurate descriptions of humans, sir. You are over 90% water surrounded by a flexible container.
- ConnectionsFeatured in re:View: Star Trek The Next Generation Season One (2021)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
Featured review
Solid episode with some memorable moments
Enterprise visits Velara III and a terraforming colony.
This is an enjoyable episode with some familiar Star Trek themes and strong sci-fi elements.
The story is reminiscent of the original series classic 'The Devil In The Dark' and also the Genesis project from 'The Wrath of Khan' with a mixture of concepts from both. It starts strongly with an intriguing premise and a lot of excellent scientific detail that for once does not come across like technobabble inserted for the convenience of a plot.
There is one sequence involving one of the main characters and a laser drill that is quite cinematic for a 80s small screen production.
I thought the ending was quite hit and miss. It is a classic Star Trek resolution to a problem, but in the same breath it's predictable and not the slightest bit cinematic. The communication element of it is obviously a morally sound message, but fairly naff to witness on screen.
Generally the visuals are good with some creative ideas on display, but the life form in focus has no real tangible presence that is memorable.
All performances are strong, especially Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart. So far this is the best showing from LeVar Burton.
This is an enjoyable episode with some familiar Star Trek themes and strong sci-fi elements.
The story is reminiscent of the original series classic 'The Devil In The Dark' and also the Genesis project from 'The Wrath of Khan' with a mixture of concepts from both. It starts strongly with an intriguing premise and a lot of excellent scientific detail that for once does not come across like technobabble inserted for the convenience of a plot.
There is one sequence involving one of the main characters and a laser drill that is quite cinematic for a 80s small screen production.
I thought the ending was quite hit and miss. It is a classic Star Trek resolution to a problem, but in the same breath it's predictable and not the slightest bit cinematic. The communication element of it is obviously a morally sound message, but fairly naff to witness on screen.
Generally the visuals are good with some creative ideas on display, but the life form in focus has no real tangible presence that is memorable.
All performances are strong, especially Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart. So far this is the best showing from LeVar Burton.
helpful•40
- snoozejonc
- May 21, 2021
Details
- Runtime46 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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