The Host
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 13 May 1991
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- 44821.3
- DIRECTED BY
- Marvin V. Rush
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 197
WRITTEN BYWritten by Michel Horvat
Dr Crusher falls deeply in love with Odan, a charming mediator brought aboard to end a bitter conflict between two moons, but Odan is not quite what he seems.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise carries Ambassador Odan, a Trill mediator, to settle a long dispute between the two moons of Peliar Zel, and Dr Crusher and Odan fall in love. When his shuttle is attacked and Odan is gravely injured, Crusher discovers that the ambassador is really a symbiont, a creature living inside a humanoid host whose body is now dying. Until a new host can arrive, Riker volunteers to carry the symbiont so the negotiations can go on. Odan, now in Riker's body, guides the talks to a peaceful settlement and asks Beverly to accept him as he is. Torn, she continues the relationship. Then the new Trill host arrives, and she is a woman. Once Odan is transferred, Crusher admits that she cannot keep pace with such changes, and they part with love but without a future together.
- 01The first appearance of the Trill. Deep Space Nine later changed their appearance and much of their background.
- 02Gates McFadden was seven months pregnant, so camera angles, furniture and a closed lab coat were used to hide it.
- 03The directing debut of Marvin V. Rush, the show's director of photography since season three.