STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Season 2, Episode 22
Season 2, Episode 22
Shades Of Gray
Series: The Next Generation - (1987-1994)Season: 2
Episode #: 2.22
Production #: 40272-148
Original Airdate: 07/17/1989
Writer(s): Maurice Hurley and Richard Manning & Hans Beimler
Director(s): Robert Bowman
Guest Stars
Colm Meaney as Chief Miles O'Brien
Uncredited Guest Stars (Flashback Appearances)
Vaughn Armstrong as Korris ("Heart of Glory")
Brenda Bakke as Rivan ("Justice")
Robert Bauer as Kunivas ("Heart of Glory")
James G. Becker as Ensign Youngblood ("Heart of Glory")
Ron Brown as the Drummer ("11001001")
Merritt Butrick as T'Jon ("Symbiosis")
Steve Casavant as an Edo ("Justice")
Christopher Collins as Kargan ("A Matter Of Honor")
Ward Costello as Admiral Gregory Quinn ("Conspiracy")
Steven Craig as an Edo ("Justice")
Denise Crosby as Lt. Natasha Yar ("Justice")
Jeffrey Deacon as a Command Division Officer ("Heart of Glory")
Jake Dengel as Mordoc ("The Last Outpost")
Abdul Salaam El Razzac as the Bass Player ("11001001")
Ron Gans as the Voice of Armus ("Skin of Evil")
John Garrett as the Solari Lieutenant ("Loud As A Whisper")
Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan ("The Dauphin")
Charles H. Hyman as Konmel ("Heart of Glory")
Rosalyn Landor as Brenna Odell ("Up The Long Ladder")
Iva Lane as Zero Zero ("11001001")
Richard Lavin as Warrior #1 ("Loud As A Whisper")
Richard Lineback as Romas ("Symbiosis")
Jay Louden as Liator ("Justice")
Mart McChesney as Armus ("Skin of Evil")
Tim McCormack as Ensign Bennett ("Skin of Evil")
Carolyn McCormick as Minuet ("11001001")
Kelli Ann McNally as One One ("11001001")
Karen Montgomery as Beata ("Angel One")
Randy Pflug as a Ten Forward Waiter ("The Dauphin")
Ray Reinhardt as Vice Admiral Aaron ("Conspiracy")
Robert Schenkkan as Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick ("Conspiracy")
Tricia Sheldon as an Edo ("Justice")
Armin Shimerman as Letek ("The Last Outpost")
Brian Sterling as an Edo ("Justice")
Brian Thompson as Klag ("A Matter Of Honor")
Tracey Walter as Kayron ("The Last Outpost")
R.J. Williams as Ian Andrew Troi ("The Child")
Stardate: 42976.1
Synopsis
ADuring a routine geological survey on Surata IV, Commander Riker's thigh is pierced by a small thorn, which causes him to lose the feeling in his leg. After beaming Riker back aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, Dr. Pulaski determines that the thorn contains an unknown organism which is rapidly spreading throughout his nervous system. If left unchecked, the microbe will soon reach Riker's brain and kill him. Ironically, Pulaski has no way of decimating the organism without destroying the nerves of the being it's inhabiting.
At first, Riker's affliction seems more of a nuisance than a threat. But during a visit with Counselor Troi, his vital signs suddenly plummet and Riker loses consciousness. Although Dr. Pulaski is able to stabilize his condition, she discovers that the organism has spread to Riker's brain. In a desperate attempt to keep his brain functioning, Pulaski begins electronically stimulating his memory.![]()
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Soon, Riker's mind is filled with remembrances of his experiences aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. When a memory involving romance increases the growth rate of the organism, Pulaski surmises that if positive emotions feed the invader, negative emotions could kill it.
In an attempt to recall painful moments in Riker's past, Pulaski induces memories of Tasha Yar's death, which successfully slows the organism's growth, but only temporarily. Moments later, his vital signs plunge again.
Sensing that further stimulation of negative emotions will either kill Riker or cure him, Pulaski induces the commander's most primitive memories of survival. As his recollections grow more violent, Riker's body is wracked by a massive convulsion. Just when it appears that Pulaski will lose him, Riker's vital signs stabilize and the organism vanishes, just as quickly and mysteriously as it appeared.
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