Product Details

• Actors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden
• Directors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: June 10, 1997
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304458754
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,417 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

While investigating the disappearance of a J'Naii shuttle craft, the Enterprise discovers a pocket of "null space". Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Soren (Melinda Culea), a J'Naii pilot, join forces in an effort to rescue the craft from this strange phenomenon. A friendship begins and though the J'Naii are genderness, the attraction between Riker and Soren is undeniable.

As the mission progresses, Soren reveals that sexual interaction is illegal in her society. She also reveals that she is an outcast among her people because she has female tendencies and desires.

The following day, Riker and Soren locate the missing craft and rescue the survivors. During the celebration, they sneak off and share a passionate kiss which is unfortunately witnessed by one of Soren's colleagues. J'Naii law has been broken and Soren is arrested. Now, overcome by passion, Riker dares to rescue her.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Explores transgender issues well, June 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 117: The Outcast [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Although some people think that this episode was about homosexuality and are offended by it, while others think think it's too subtle or euphemistic, I think it explores transgender issues -- the gender identity of an individual (Soren) -- instead of their preferred partner's sex or gender.

Male to Female transsexuality is probably the closest analogy to what took place in this episode, in which Soren, a person from a gender-neutral planet, discovers that she is female.

And considering how many today are beginning to think that gender is a cultural concept and that traditional male-female roles are too black-and-white, this episode was ahead of its time, by having a gender-neutral race portrayed.

Finally, the issue of involuntary psychiatric committment for one's "lifestyle" is portrayed, when Soren is "treated" for being female and Riker tries to protect her from authorities. There are some on Earth today who still think transgenderism, homosexuality, etc. are mental illnesses.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bigotry Lost, August 18, 2000

By 

Frances (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 117: The Outcast [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This episode not only contained metaphoric references that I am still pondering, but it did much to assist me in my quest to understand relationships other than heterosexual. It has compelled me to be more open-minded and sensitive to all levels of love, regardless of gender. Intensely powerful, moving, and insightful wisdom I have gleaned from "The Outcast." It's a mover and shaker, a real "sleeper" of a movie.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Riker evolves, December 23, 2003

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 117: The Outcast [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Enterprise works with the J'naii, a genderless humanoid species, to help them locate a missing J'naii shuttle. The shuttle is stuck in what was previously a theoretical hypothesis, "null space."

Commander Riker ends up working closely with Soren (Melinda Culea), a skilled J'naii pilot. Soren is very curious about species with gender, and asks Riker and others about the differences between their genders.

Geordi has to retrofit the exterior of one of the Enterprise's shuttles so that it will not lose power in null space while on their rescue mission. Riker and Soren work on adjustments on the inside of the shuttle when Soren drops a bombshell. She finds Riker attractive. Riker has felt there was something but had dismissed it. Soren shares that once in a while, a member of her species is born as a "throw-back" to when they once had gender - she is one of them, in this case, female.

Soren explains that in her culture, those with gender are perceived as less evolved and the concept of gender is even reviled. When one of them is "found out," they are forced to go through psycho-tectic "treatments" to remove all remnants of gender and to change their minds about their feelings

Riker falls for her - which reveals a new aspect to Riker's character. Everyone that Riker has had relationships with has been buxom and attractive. Soren is plain, flat-chested and has a chili-bowl haircut. Riker falls for her mind and her heart.

Soren, who has kept her secret hidden her entire life, makes an incredibly stupid error -she shares an intimate kiss with him on her own planet and is discovered by a suspicious J'naii who has been watching the two of them.

The story tries to get a little preachy during Soren's speech to the court that is deciding her fate, so it briefly loses its way as it tries to hard to push the point, as though the even most casual observer could not detect the underlying story.

In the end, however, this is a very memorable episode. We see Riker truly fall in love (not in lust) with someone who doesn't look like a jazz lounge singer or a cocktail bunny, and we see his heart get crushed and broken in two.