The Neutral Zone (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
"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".
This episode marked the first appearance of the Romulans in Star Trek: The Next Generation
Marc Alaimo made his second appearance in The Next Generation in "The Neutral Zone"
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1
The first season of the American television science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 28, 1987, and concluded on May 16, 1988, after 26 episodes were broadcast. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D. It was the first live-action television series in the franchise to be broadcast since Star Trek: The Original Series was cancelled in 1969, and the first to feature all new characters. Paramount Television eventually sought the advice of the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, who set about creating the new show with mostly former The Original Series staff members. An entirely new cast were sought, which concerned some members of The Original Series crew, as Roddenberry did not want to re-tread the same steps as he had in the first series to the extent that well-known Star Trek aliens such as Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans were banned at first.
Blu-ray cover
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry (pictured in 1976) was hired by Paramount to create a new television series set in the same universe
Marc Alaimo, Armin Shimerman and Colm Meaney (pictured left to right) each made appearances in the first season of The Next Generation, and appeared throughout Deep Space Nine.
Wil Wheaton was the only individual actor during season one to be nominated for an award.