The Loss (episode)

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

"The Loss"
TNG, Episode 4x10 Production number: 40274-184 First aired: 31 December 1990
←	83rd of 176 produced in TNG	→
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	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered
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Teleplay By Hilary J. Bader, Alan J. Alder, and Vanessa Greene Story By Hilary J. Bader Directed By Chip Chalmers
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Deanna loses her empathic powers; the Enterprise is slowly pulled off course by an unknown force existing in two-dimensional form.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Memorable Quotes 3 Background Information 3.1 Video and DVD releases 4 Links and references 4.1 Starring 4.2 Also Starring 4.3 Guest Stars 4.4 Special Guest Star 4.5 Uncredited Co-Stars 4.6 References

[edit] Summary

In the course of investigating strange patterns, Deanna Troi loses her empathic abilities. Unable to pinpoint the source of the patterns, the Enterprise tries to reengage warp drive, but cannot move. The Enterprise is being dragged along at one-tenth impulse and no way to break free.

With Dr. Crusher unable to restore her empathic abilities, Troi resigns her position from Starfleet, much to the dismay of Picard and Riker. Meanwhile, Data discovers that the ship is being dragged by unknown two-dimensional beings towards a cosmic string, a one-dimensional version of a black hole, spelling certain destruction.

Worf fires a spread of photon torpedoes first 7 kilometers in front of the field, then directly into it in an attempt to disrupt the field. However, instead of averting their path, they continue at the same speed towards it. Troi realizes that the two-dimensional beings are heading "home", towards the string. Data now constructs a temporary cosmic string behind the Enterprise, disrupting the movement of the two-dimensional beings, and allowing the Enterprise to break free of their control.

Troi's empathic abilities are returned to her, as she is no longer in the vicinity of the two-dimensional beings. She realizes that since there was such a high number of sentient beings with one shared emotion that it had overwhelmed her empathic abilities. She resumes her post as ship's counselor.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"Therapists are always the worst patients. Except for doctors, of course."

- Beverly Crusher

"A resumption of our present course at warp six will place us in the T'lli Beta system in six days, thirteen hours forty-seven minutes."
"What, no seconds?"
"I have discovered, Sir, a certain level of impatience when I calculate a lengthy time interval to the nearest second. However, if you wish..."
"No, no. Minutes is fine."

- Data and William T. Riker

"Is this how you handle all of your personnel problems?"
"Sure. You'd be surprised how far a hug goes with Geordi, or Worf."

- Deanna Troi and William T. Riker

"I look around me and all I see are surfaces without depth; colorless, hollow. Nothing seems real."

- Deanna Troi

"You were right though: there is something to be learned when you are not in control of every situation."
"Welcome to the human race..."

- Deanna and Riker

[edit] Background Information

• This is the first episode of TNG that did not feature Wil Wheaton as a regular, as his character Wesley Crusher had departed for Starfleet Academy in the previous episode. Wil Wheaton reprises Wesley in TNG: "The Game", "The First Duty", "Parallels" and "Journey's End".
• According to Michael Piller, the writing staff considered making Troi's loss of her empathic sense permanent. (ST: TNG Companion)
• The structural integrity field, an important part of a spacecraft's systems, was first referenced in this episode.
• The Breen are also mentioned for the first time in this episode; they are, like the Ferengi, empathically undetectable by Betazoids.
• The counselor's office was slightly modified after its last appearance in "The Price" but its appearance remains pretty much unchanged from this episode on.
• Cosmic strings were later mentioned by Deanna Troi again, in "Disaster", when Miles O'Brien clarified that they are "a completely different phenomenon" from quantum filaments.
• T'lli Beta was named after author Hilary J. Bader's grandmother, Tillie Bader.
  ^{(citation needed • edit)}
• The two-dimensional lifeforms that feature in this episode were created by filming small pieces cut from a plastic carrier bag floating on the surface of a water tank.
  ^{(citation needed • edit)}

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 42, 9 March 1992.
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 4.4, 2 July 2001.
• As part of the TNG Season 4 DVD collection.

[edit] Links and references

[edit] Starring

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

[edit] Also Starring

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

[edit] Guest Stars

• Kim Braden as Janet Brooks
• Mary Kohnert as Tess Allenby

[edit] Special Guest Star

• Whoopi Goldberg as "Guinan"

[edit] Uncredited Co-Stars

• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Carl David Burks as Russell
• Cameron as Kellogg
• Joyce Robinson as Gates
• Guy Vardaman as Darien Wallace

[edit] References

Aristocratic; Bayesian function; black hole; Bracas V; Betazoid; birthday; brain; Breen; Brooks, Marc; cerebellum; cerebral cortex; cosmic string; counselor; counselor's office; deflector; electromagnetic spectrum; empathy; event horizon; Ferengi; frequency scan detector; Gates; ghost; graviton field; headache; Himalayas; holo-programs; horse; Imzadi; internuncial series; Kabul River; kilodyne; language; Martinez; moth; music box; neurophysiology; Newton; nursery; parabolic dish; photon torpedo; probe; proton; psychology; sensor array; sentience; skin diving; star; Starfleet Academy; structural integrity field; subspace; T'lli Beta; T'lli Beta system; T'lli Betans; tea; tractor beam; two-dimensional lifeforms; violin; wheelchair

Previous episode: "Final Mission"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4

Next episode: "Data's Day"