Evolution

DVD, TNG S3 (Evolution)

You wouldn't get such a plodding season opener nowadays, it would be some big spectacular to pull the audience in, but this was made at a different time, and I suppose shows the maturity of the series that they felt they could start with an assured, if slow, story. Everything about the episode says this is a series that has confidence in itself, has settled down, has, if it's not too derogatory to say, become comfortable. I'm sure that wasn't the case, but after the first two seasons which were such shaky, variable affairs the calmness exuding from the cast and sets is refreshing, if a little dull.

There are a lot fewer changes than the start of Season Two displayed, but the biggest and most obvious is the happy return of Dr. Crusher (albeit with shorter, not as good labcoat and crazy hair). It's really good to see her back and the crew complete (apart from the tragic Tasha Yar), and I'm glad her reappearance is not ignored. There's no great fanfare - the series wasn't focused on her character after all, but she plays a very visual role in this first story. Guinan is also back, but in keeping with the tone of the episode she doesn't have such a great impact as her appearance heralded at the beginnning of Season Two. It was a brave decision to begin with a Wesley-centric episode and for once he's not saving the ship, but putting it in danger. He's clearly grown up a bit and become his own person a bit more after having a year of independence, and he's not the only one to experience change.

The new uniforms complete the look that most people associate with the series, the super-tight, streamlined designs have been toned down, yet look just as professional. And the late, great Michael Piller's fingerprints are obvious with the character of Dr. Stubbs being a big fan of the dead sport of baseball! The Enterprise looks great, everything is well shot, clean, crisp and clear, and you get the feeling that it's all been brushed up ready for an important event... but it hasn't quite happened yet. The nanites are mildly interesting, though reminiscent of the lifeforms of Season One's 'Home Soil', but aside from getting to know the characters again there's little to really enjoy. The unpredictability of the quality last season at least had a a sense of danger to it. You can't judge a season on its first episode, but I'm left with the impression that the series needs to step up a gear before it truly gets moving.

**