By Chris Snellgrove | Published
What do you think is the most important Star Trek episode? Some fans might say “The Man Trap” because it was the first episode ever to air, creating the longest-running TV sci-fi franchise. Some may be tempted to name episodes like “The Inner Light” and “The Visitor” because they confront us with our behavior. Still other fans may name episodes like “Far Beyond the Stars” for using sci-fi as a vehicle to explore the most problematic aspects and social injustices of American history.
Arguably, however, the most important adventure in the franchise is the most forgotten Star Trek: The Next Generation episode of “The Price.” Now, if you do remember this episode, you probably remember that scene of the trap where dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi were working out in their space spandex. Although that event had an idea that gives new meaning to the term “space seed,” it is not the most important “Price.” You see, this episode sets the stage for both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine again Star Trek: Voyager!
Paying the “Price”
What is “The Price” about? In this episode, the Enterprise team has to negotiate with other aliens to get the rights to use a newly discovered strong wormhole. Ships can fly through a wormhole in the Alpha Quadrant and, ideally, end up as far into the Gamma Quadrant. The team explores the hole and discovers that while the entrance is stable, the exit is not; it moves from time to time, from the Gamma Quadrant to the Delta Quadrant. Unfortunately, the two Ferengi who passed through the wormhole ignore the Enterprise crew’s warning about the unstable exit and become trapped in the Delta Quadrant when the wormhole moves again.
What makes “The Price” so special in Star Trek history? First, this is the first episode to divide the galaxy into four quadrants: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. Before that, it was difficult to understand the universal nature of this franchise. This made it difficult to know where, say, the center of the galaxy should be. That might not sound like a big deal, but you might be surprised at the number of times various shows and movies refer to that mysterious area of space.
Wormhole Shenanigans in Full Action
More importantly, “The Price” laid the groundwork for the next two Star Trek spinoffs The Next Generation. Before the Enterprise crew realizes it’s a puzzle, the wormhole’s main selling point in this episode is that it provides a stable path from the Alpha Quadrant to the Gamma Quadrant. Later, the discovery of a stable wormhole from Bajor to the Gamma Quadrant becomes an encouraging event. Deep Space Nine. When everyone finds out about the wormhole, this broken space station becomes one of the most important places in the entire galaxy.
Ironically, a subplot in “The Price” also lays its foundation Star Trek: Voyager. When the two rogue Ferengi ignore warnings from the Enterprise crew, they end up stranded in the Delta Quadrant, with no easy way back home. In Voyager,certainly so for Captain Janeway and the Maquis she is chasing. They are sent to the Delta Quadrant and must return home without the support of Starfleet. Finally, Voyager paid homage to “The Price” with “False Profits,” which had the crew encountering a similar Ferengi stranded on the other side of the galaxy after a wormhole moves.
“The Price” is a very strong episode Star Trek: The Next Generation for many reasons, including the fact that it gives Marina Sirtis a lot to do while looking good. But for the fans of Deep Space Nine again Voyagerthis is possibly the most important episode in the entire franchise. Without it, those fan-favorite spinoffs may never have been made. Because of this, you could say that the entire Golden Age of Star Trek owes to this humble episode of TNG!
