Shades of Gray (episode)

Commander Riker fights for his life in sickbay after he is infected by an alien parasite while on an away-mission. Dr. Pulaski soon discovers that the only way to save Riker's life is to force his mind to relive painful memories. (Season finale)

Summary
The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) orbits an unexplored planet named Surata IV. An away team of Lieutenant Geordi La Forge and Commander Will Riker are on the surface in an alien swamp, teeming with strange lifeforms. La Forge finds Riker sitting on a log, injured. Something has bitten his leg. La Forge, not taking any chances with alien biology, calls for the transporter.

Transporter Chief O'Brien gets an alert signal from the biofilter in the transporter, as Riker's body has been infected with some type of unidentified microbes. Doctor Pulaski is summoned, as the chief medical officer must authorize any transportation of unfiltered biomaterial.

Pulaski reluctantly uses the transporter – a rare occasion for her – to beam down and verify if it is safe to bring Riker aboard. She materializes and inspects Riker's wound. He complains of no pain, but of a numbness near the bite. La Forge hasn't had any luck finding what might have infected the wound. Pulaski beams them directly to sickbay. Two medical orderlies help Riker to the bed. He tries to shrug off their help, but when he takes a step his leg gives out.

Captain Picard records a log entry detailing Riker's predicament. He chides Riker for putting his foot where it didn't belong, but Riker maintains he is just trying to keep the doctors busy. Pulaski informs them that Riker's nervous system is being invaded by a microbe which combines elements of both a virus and a bacteria. She uses a medical scanner to illustrate the microbes bonding themselves to Riker's sciatic nerve and multiplying. They are not damaging his nerves, just preventing them from functioning - and they are progressing towards his brain.

Meanwhile, Picard decides to send La Forge and Lt. Commander Data to the surface to locate the source of the infection. Data protests at risking La Forge for the mission, but, using his android reflexes, prevents his Human friend from being hurt. They find a thorned vine in the swamp using parasites to paralyze animal life. Data records significant fossil remains around the area of the vines, which, judging by their fast motion attacking La Forge, are predatory in nature. When La Forge cuts off the thorn, the vine writhes in (futile) resistance. The officers call for a beamout and the thorn sample is delivered to sickbay while Data reports on the predatory nature of the vines to the captain.

Pulaski is hard at work analyzing the samples and Riker's condition, but is unable to find what characteristic in Human nerves causes the microbes to thrive. Riker is continuing to grow more numb, but acts stoic when Picard expresses regret at Riker's condition. As Counselor Deanna Troi watches unseen, Riker even tries to cheer up the medical technicians with stories. Troi attempts to reach out to her imzadi, but Riker soon falls unconscious. Pulaski attempts to stabilize him, but estimates he will die within an hour.

As a last ditch attempt to save Riker's life, Pulaski puts him into a neural stimulator, hopefully keeping them active and resisting the virus. This causes Riker to dream of his past adventures aboard the Enterprise.

At first, Riker's dreams are of reasonably neutral occasions, such as his first meeting with Data. Soon, his dreams become more pleasurable, perhaps even erotic, including meeting the cheerful young Edo women on Rubicun III, the matriarch Beata on Angel I , and the computer-generated holodeck woman Minuet.

However, while pleasing to Riker's mind, the passionate dreams actually worsen Riker's condition, as the virus feeds on the positive endorphins his brain is creating. Pulaski and Troi therefore agree to try to make the machine evoke negative dreams instead. Riker then experiences such dreams as the death of Lieutenant Natasha Yar and the apparent death of Troi's child.

This has the desired effect, as the negative endorphins drive the bacterio-virus away, but these endorphins are not strong enough. As a last resort, Pulaski uses the machine to evoke dreams of raw, primitive feelings of fear and survival. Riker then begins dreaming of fighting the tar creature Armus, the parasite infested Admiral Gregory Quinn , and the Klingon officer Klag on board the Bird of Prey Pagh.

Seeing that the raw emotions work best, Pulaski intensifies the neural stimulation, causing Riker's primal dreams to come at a more rapid pace. This treatment finally eradicates the infection, and Riker recovers to his well-adjusted, humorous self.

Log Entries

 * Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365
 * Medical log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365

Memorable Quotes
"I hope these are the right coordinates. Just kidding, Doctor. I know how much you love the transporter."

"About as much as I love comical transporter chiefs."
 * - Chief O'Brien and Dr. Pulaski

"Let's try something. Maybe it likes Humans more than androids."

"If you are correct, you are placing yourself in grave danger."

"Well, I'm counting on those great android..."

(A vine suddenly lashes out, but Data catches it.)

"...reflexes of yours."


 * - La Forge and Data

"For Commander Riker's sake, I hope my hypothesis is in error."

"Unfortunately Commander Data, your hypotheses rarely are."
 * - Data and Picard

"They're waiting on me hand and foot. I just... I hope they don't find out that I'm faking it."

"I wish you were faking it."
 * - Riker talking to Picard while he lies on a biobed in sickbay

"If you drop a hammer on your foot, it's hardly useful to get mad at the hammer."
 * - Riker, explaining to Picard his lack of anger on his current situation

"Deanna, facing death is the ultimate test of character. I don't want to die but if I have to do, I'd like to do it with a little pride."
 * - Riker

"My great-grandfather was once bitten by a rattlesnake. After three days of intense pain, the snake died."
 * - Riker

"There may be some residual memory loss. I just want to be certain that you still know who you are."

"Of course I know who I am. I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise."

"I'm delighted that you're feeling better. . . Captain.  The Admiral and I were worried about you."

"Captain, I do not believe you have the authority to promote me to the rank of Admiral."
 * - Dr. Pulaski, Riker, Picard, and Data

Production

 * This episode is Star Trek's first clip show. This does not count and, which were built only out of segments from , which had never actually aired. Clips also briefly feature in Act 8 of the DS9 finale,.
 * This episode was written to save time and money as a result of budget overruns earlier in the season. It was shot in only three days, while most take at least a week. Director Rob Bowman commented, "It was Paramount saying, 'We gave you more money for and the Borg show. Now do us a favor and give us a three-day show.' So that's what you do. It's an accepted part of the medium." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * Production assistant Eric A. Stillwell was given the task of searching through tapes to come up with scenes representing Riker's memories. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
 * As originally scripted, the entire forest was supposed to come to life and attack Geordi and Data when they attempt extract a thorn from one of the vines. This was cut from the finished episode, presumably for budget reasons.
 * First UK airdate: 2nd October 1991

Cast and characters

 * This episode marks the final appearance of Diana Muldaur (Doctor Katherine Pulaski) on the series.
 * Besides clips from previous episodes, Michael Dorn (Worf) and Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) do not appear in this episode.
 * Despite its poor reception, this episode is the only episode of The Next Generation to feature virtually all major characters introduced thus far: Picard, Riker, Data, La Forge, Troi, Dr. Crusher, Worf, Wesley, Tasha Yar, Dr. Pulaski, O'Brien, and Guinan, albeit some in stock footage.
 * This is the only episode to feature both Gates McFadden (albeit in stock footage) and Diana Muldaur.
 * This episode is among the ones across all Trek series with the smallest cast with a total of nine. Other episodes include and.

Sets, props, and costumes

 * Only three sets were used for the episode – the surface of Surata IV, sickbay, and the transporter room.

Continuity

 * The episode features clips from the following episodes in this order:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (audio only). Counting them together it makes the use of 17 episodes of the first two seasons.
 * Right before the last collection of clips [right before a shot of the infested Dexter Remmick], we see a very brief clip of "The Genesis Project" footage from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
 * Several of the scenes from Riker's flashbacks contain cutaways of locations which are not in Riker's point of view. For example, when the away team evacuates the Klingon ship, Riker's "flashback" contains scenes from the bridge and the transporter room of a ship he was not on.
 * This is the last episode to feature the Type A uniforms made for the series in Season 1 and Season 2. For Season 3 onward, the uniforms are revamped.

Reception

 * This episode is thought to be one of the weakest ever made. Maurice Hurley, who co-wrote the episode, commented, "Piece of shit. It was supposed to be a bottle show. Terrible, just terrible, and a way to save some money. I was on the way out the door." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * In, Peter Lauritson recalled the episode, saying "It was just... we learned from that. I think, probably the worst we ever did. It was like "Never again." "Shades"... I don't even want to remember it." Likewise, David Livingston also commented "It's very cheesy and the fans didn't like it. We didn't like doing it, but Paramount said "Hey, you gotta save us some money."" (TNG Season 2 Blu-ray, "Strange New Worlds" special feature)
 * Ronald D. Moore called it "embarrassing".
 * Director Rob Bowman recalls, "'Shades of Gray' was basically a money-saving episode. All we shot was three days of framework and they just stuck in flashbacks. That's all it was." ("Rob Bowman - Director of a Dozen", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 10, p. 20)
 * A mission report for this episode by Robert Greenberger was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 9, pp. 65-66.

Video and DVD releases

 * Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 24, catalogue number VHR 2507,.
 * UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.7, catalogue number VHR 4743,.
 * As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection.
 * As part of the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray collection.

Starring

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

Also starring

 * LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
 * Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
 * Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Special appearance by

 * Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

Guest star

 * Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien

Uncredited co-stars

 * Unknown performers as
 * Medical assistant
 * Medical technician

Stand-ins

 * James G. Becker - stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
 * Darrell Burris - stand-in for LeVar Burton
 * Jeffrey Deacon - stand-in for Patrick Stewart
 * Nora Leonhardt - stand-in for Marina Sirtis
 * Tim McCormack - stand-in for Brent Spiner

Flashback appearances

 * Vaughn Armstrong as Korris
 * Brenda Bakke as Rivan
 * Robert Bauer as Kunivas
 * James G. Becker as Youngblood
 * Ron Brown as drummer
 * LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
 * Merritt Butrick as T'Jon
 * Christopher Collins as Kargan
 * Ward Costello as Gregory Quinn
 * Steven Craig as Edo
 * Denise Crosby as Natasha Yar
 * Jeffrey Deacon as command division officer
 * Jake Dengel as Mordoc
 * Michael Dorn as Worf
 * Abdul Salaam El Razzac as bass player
 * Dana Dru Evenson as stunt double for Denise Crosby
 * Jonathan Frakes as William T. Riker
 * Ron Gans as voice of Armus
 * John Garrett as Solari lieutenant
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan
 * Charles H. Hyman as Konmel
 * Dan Koko as stunt double for Jonathan Frakes
 * Rosalyn Landor as Brenna Odell
 * Iva Lane as Zero Zero
 * Richard Lavin as Solari leader
 * Richard Lineback as Romas
 * Jay Louden as Liator
 * Mart McChesney as Armus
 * Tim McCormack as Bennett
 * Carolyn McCormick as Minuet
 * Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher
 * Kelli Ann McNally as One One
 * Karen Montgomery as Beata
 * Tom Morga as stunt double for Jonathan Frakes
 * Gary Morgan as stunt double for Tracey Walter
 * Diana Muldaur as Katherine Pulaski
 * Randy Pflug as Ten Forward waiter
 * Brad Phillips as Edo
 * Ray Reinhardt as Aaron
 * Robert Schenkkan as Dexter Remmick
 * Tricia Sheldon as Edo
 * Armin Shimerman as Letek
 * Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
 * Brent Spiner as Data
 * Brian Sterling as Edo
 * Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard
 * Brian Thompson as Klag
 * Tracey Walter as Kayron
 * Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher
 * R.J. Williams as Ian Troi
 * Unknown actors as
 * Boliska
 * Male USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) computer voice
 * Unknown stunt performers as
 * Stunt double for Brian Thompson
 * Stunt double for Ward Costello
 * Stunt double for LeVar Burton
 * Stunt double for Brent Spiner
 * Stunt double for Armin Shimerman