| "The Neutral Zone" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:ST-TNG_The_Neutral_Zone.jpg) This episode marked the first appearance of the Romulans in Star Trek: The Next Generation | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 26 |
| Directed by | James L. Conway |
| Story by |
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| Teleplay by | Maurice Hurley |
| Featured music | Ron Jones[1] |
| Cinematography by | Edward R. Brown |
| Production code | 126 |
| Original air date | May 16, 1988 |
| Guest appearances | |
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"The Neutral Zone" is the season finale of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, originally aired within the United States on May 16, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The episode originated as a story submission purchased by Paramount written by Deborah McIntyre and Mona Clee, and was turned into a teleplay by Maurice Hurley. Because of the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, Hurley created the script in a day and a half, and the timescale forced the abandonment of both the idea of a two-part episode and of the first appearance of the Borg, which was delayed until the following season episode "Q Who".
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In "The Neutral Zone", the Enterprise is sent to investigate the destruction of Federation outposts near space controlled by the Romulan Star Empire, discovering a derelict Earth satellite with cryonically frozen humans aboard.
This episode introduced the redesigned Romulans, with prosthetic forehead pieces designed by makeup supervisor Michael Westmore, and the first appearance of the Romulan Warbird, which was designer Andrew Probert's final work for the Star Trek franchise. The episode was mildly received by critics who viewed it after the end of the season, who criticized the two-plot nature of the episode and the general lack of excitement.