TNG - Homeward

[Frustration]

Like you can just take people, plop them down on an alien planet, and expect them to survive?

For all the complaints about the episode's supposed intellectual laziness, I'm seeing a lot of people who aren't thinking things through. And, I remain firm in my conviction that the problem isn't with the episode, but some of its viewers.

[TGLS]

Like you can just take people, plop them down on an alien planet, and expect them to survive?

Given how little they brought with them, I think the answer could be yes. If they had something they needed to survive without, they would have brought it. And given what most alien planets in Trek are like, it certainly seems doable.

[Fianna]

Plus, if they don't survive on their new planet, they're still no worse off.

I'd argue the best thing to do would be to just come clean about the whole "we're aliens, there are other worlds out there" thing, and let them decide if they wanted an emergency evacuation. Sure, it would "contaminate their culture", but since their culture (and the people in it) are about to be wiped out anyway, there's really nothing to lose.

[pilight]

Nikolai has been living with them for months, at least, and introduced human DNA to their gene pool. Their culture is already contaminated.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

For all the complaints about the episode's supposed intellectual laziness, I'm seeing a lot of people who aren't thinking things through.

Or you're just assuming you're right, which empirical science would support.

Like you can just take people, plop them down on an alien planet, and expect them to survive?

Given how little they brought with them, I think the answer could be yes. If they had something they needed to survive without, they would have brought it. And given what most alien planets in Trek are like, it certainly seems doable.

Didn't they survey the planet? I mean, I'd just assume they did, but don't they talk about it?

Nikolai has been living with them for months, at least, and introduced human DNA to their gene pool. Their culture is already contaminated.

If that's not violating the prime directive then I don't know what is.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Season 7 is where there are just a handful of episodes that seem to be written completely on rails. This being one of them.

[remagynona]

Like you can just take people, plop them down on an alien planet, and expect them to survive?

TBF, it seems to be no problem in the ST universe. Go all the way across the galaxy and the planets are so similar to Earth that people living there still keep dogs as pets. Neelix was able to keep the crew alive cooking with whatever local ingredients. Hell, like half of TOS episodes were about planets that were virtually identical to Earth. The Progenitors' quality assurance staff must have been something to behold.

[Al-1701]

Well, the universe is made of the same stuff, no matter where to go. Carbon is carbon, oxygen is oxygen. Even the molecules will be the same for the most part. For all the diversity of life on Earth, it's all based on the same molecules no matter how they're put together. They would need to make sure the new planet has a biochemistry compatible with the transplants, but I would think the Federation would have a database on various uninhabited habitable worlds. And they would need "guides" to assist them in finding out what can be eaten and what should be avoided.

It wouldn't be just plopping them down on the planet. However, it could be done with proper measures taken.

[pilight]

It wouldn't be just plopping them down on the planet. However, it could be done with proper measures taken.

Could they take those measures without further cultural contamination? It would be somewhat ridiculous to go through the whole nonsense with the holodeck just to have to reveal themselves when they reach their destination.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Well, the universe is made of the same stuff, no matter where to go. Carbon is carbon, oxygen is oxygen. Even the molecules will be the same for the most part. For all the diversity of life on Earth, it's all based on the same molecules no matter how they're put together. They would need to make sure the new planet has a biochemistry compatible with the transplants, but I would think the Federation would have a database on various uninhabited habitable worlds. And they would need "guides" to assist them in finding out what can be eaten and what should be avoided.

It wouldn't be just plopping them down on the planet. However, it could be done with proper measures taken.

Right... this does come up... In the episode I'm fairly certain they distinguished it as a class M planet (habitable for the humanoids we see on the show). People always peck at the show for how easy it is for them to always go down to the surface in any episode, but it's not like the crew doesn't know how to make sure they can walk around outside.