Television Review: Contagion (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S2X11, 1989)

Contagion (S02E11)

Airdate: March 20th 1989

Written by: Steve Gerber & Beth Woods
Directed by: Joseph L. Scanlan

Running Time: 46 minutes

Star Trek, often heralded as humanity’s most optimistic and popular vision of a future Earth, paradoxically maintains a rather dubious reputation for accurate prediction. Notorious failures, such as the 1990s Eugenics Wars or the violent unification of Ireland supposedly occurring in 2024, stand as prominent examples of its temporal myopia. Yet, amidst these misfires, the franchise occasionally stumbles upon startling prescience, exploring concepts considered fringe during production that later permeate everyday reality. Star Trek: The Next Generation’s second-season episode, whilst not ranking among series' most memorable instalments, exemplifies this phenomenon. Despite its relatively unremarkable status within the series canon, the episode grapples with a technological threat that would become terrifyingly commonplace decades later: the computer virus capable of catastrophic, systemic collapse. This conceptual foresight, however, is embedded within a narrative framework burdened by underdeveloped subplots and structural weaknesses, rendering Contagion a fascinating yet flawed relic of its time.

The plot commences with the USS Enterprise-D racing towards the Romulan Neutral Zone following a distress call from its sister ship, the USS Yamato, commanded by Captain Donald Varley (Thalmus Rasulala), an old friend of Captain Picard. Initial communication proves difficult; when contact is finally established, Varley reports escalating, seemingly random system malfunctions across his vessel. Before any meaningful assistance can be rendered, the Yamato’s antimatter containment field catastrophically fails, resulting in a devastating explosion witnessed in horror by the Enterprise crew, claiming Varley and over a thousand lives. This shocking opening sequence immediately establishes high stakes and a palpable sense of dread. The investigation into the Yamato’s destruction is swiftly complicated by the arrival of the Romulan warbird Haakon, commanded by Sub-commander Taris (Carolyne Seymour). Taris demands the Enterprise vacate the Neutral Zone and denies any Romulan involvement in the tragedy. Picard, initially inclined to believe her denials, nevertheless refuses to withdraw until he uncovers the cause of the Yamato’s demise and, crucially, prevents the incident from triggering a wider conflict between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire.

The key to unraveling the mystery lies within the salvaged logs from the Yamato. These reveal Captain Varley had been secretly exploring the Neutral Zone in pursuit of Iconia, the near-mythical homeworld of the ancient Iconians – a technologically superior precursor race. Varley succeeded in locating the planet, but upon approach, automated Iconian systems launched probes towards both the Yamato and the Haakon. The Enterprise subsequently begins experiencing minor malfunctions eerily mirroring those that afflicted the Yamato, rapidly escalating towards critical failure. Recognising the parallel path to destruction, Picard leads an away team to Iconia’s surface. There, they discover the remnants of Iconian technology, including multi-dimensional gateways. Picard, aided by Data (whose memory is later wiped by the same alien system), identifies the root cause: the logs detailing their expedition contain a sophisticated Iconian computer virus. The solution, remarkably straightforward yet devastatingly effective, is simply to erase all records of their findings – thereby purging the virus. Upon the Enterprise’s successful return, Picard transmits this solution to the Haakon, averting a similar catastrophe for the Romulans and defusing the immediate political crisis.

This core concept – a computer virus infiltrating and catastrophically disabling critical infrastructure – is what elevates Contagion beyond its era. In the late 1980s, when home computing was nascent and networked systems largely confined to military or academic use, the idea of a self-replicating digital pathogen capable of bringing down complex technological networks with real-world, physical consequences was largely speculative fiction. The episode’s genesis is particularly noteworthy; the initial idea reportedly came from Beth Woods, Paramount’s chief computer technician, who explained the concept of system corruption to Gene Roddenberry. Even more striking is the prescribed solution: the simple act of erasing infected logs, effectively a system reboot to purge malicious code. This mirrors the rudimentary yet often effective "turn it off and on again" approach familiar to modern IT professionals combating malware. In an age where ransomware cripples hospitals, state-sponsored cyberattacks threaten national grids, and supply chains are disrupted by digital intrusions, Contagion’s central premise feels less like science fiction and more like a prophetic warning, its simplicity underscoring a fundamental vulnerability in our increasingly interconnected world.

However, the script, co-written by Woods and comic book luminary Steve Gerber (creator of Howard the Duck), seemingly deemed the virus concept insufficiently dramatic on its own. It compounds the narrative by situating the Iconian homeworld conveniently within the fiercely contested Neutral Zone. This contrivance serves primarily as a plot device to reintroduce the Romulans and inject Cold War-style tension over the race for ancient super-technology. Regrettably, this subplot proves underdeveloped and ultimately detrimental. Sub-commander Taris, portrayed by Caroline Seymour, lacks the depth, menace, or political acumen of memorable Romulan adversaries. She functions largely as a one-dimensional obstacle, her presence failing to generate genuine suspense or ideological conflict. This weakness invites inevitable, unfavourable comparisons to the iconic The Original Series episode The Enterprise Incident, where Joanne Linville’s Commander in Chief delivered a masterclass in Romulan intrigue and sexual politics. Seymour’s later return as a different Romulan character in TNG only reinforces the forgettable nature of her role in Contagion.

Furthermore, the episode suffers structurally from the sheer impact of the Yamato’s destruction occurring so early. This spectacular and shocking event sets an almost impossibly high bar for the remainder of the narrative; the subsequent investigation, while logically driven, inevitably feels less consequential in comparison. The tragedy also creates an awkward character moment where Wesley Crusher, in a display of characteristic self-absorption, interrupts Captain Picard during the critical crisis to unburden his own emotional distress over witnessing the explosion. Picard, already burdened with averting interstellar war, is forced into the role of impromptu counsellor – a task far better suited to Counselor Troi. This scene, rather than adding depth, merely highlights Wesley’s persistent narrative intrusion and undermines the gravity of Picard’s command responsibilities.

Despite these narrative shortcomings, Contagion is not without merit. Director Joseph L. Scanlan maintains a brisk pace, effectively utilising the available budget for solid special effects, particularly the Yamato’s destruction The visual execution helps propel the story forward, allowing the audience to overlook some of the plot’s logical gaps through sheer momentum. Moreover, the episode contributes significantly to Star Trek’s enduring worldbuilding. It marks the canonical debut of Picard’s iconic fondness for Earl Grey tea, a small character detail that would become a defining trait. More substantially, the introduction of the Iconians and their instantaneous gateway technology laid crucial groundwork for future storytelling, most notably serving as a pivotal plot element in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s acclaimed episode To the Death.

At the end, Contagion stands as a compelling case study in Star Trek’s intermittent prophetic power, overshadowed by its own narrative limitations. Its foresight regarding the existential threat posed by malicious computer code, conceived at the dawn of the personal computing era, is genuinely remarkable and resonates profoundly in our contemporary digital landscape. The prescribed solution, born of practical IT thinking, further cements its unexpected relevance. Yet, this strength is undermined by a reliance on a contrived geopolitical subplot that fails to capitalise on the Romulan potential, a structural imbalance caused by the early, unmatched spectacle of the Yamato’s destruction, and some regrettable character moments. Nevertheless, bolstered by competent direction, effective pacing, and its invaluable contributions to the franchise’s lore, Contagion ultimately warrants recommendation. It may not be TNG’s finest hour, but as a snapshot of nascent cyber-fears rendered with surprising acuity, and as a foundational piece of Star Trek mythology, its significance, both within the fictional universe and as a curious piece of real-world technological prophecy, endures far beyond its initial, somewhat unremarkable reception.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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