History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E25Transfigurations

* {{Teleportation}}: As an EnergyBeing, "John" has the power to teleport Sunad back onto his ship.

* RunningGag: This episode starts the gag about Chief O'Brien often injuring his shoulder, especially while kayaking in the holodeck, which would carry over into ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Between Dr. Crusher's characterization of her relationship with John Doe as "almost spiritual," and Sunad's accusations against Doe of being a "disruptive influence" on Zalkonian society, Doe and his fellows are strongly suggestive of a persecuted religion. After becoming an EnergyBeing, John Doe even announces his intention to return to Zalkon to spread the Good News, now that Sunad and the other authorities can no longer kill him for speaking out.

Crusher calls her new patient John Doe and works to stabilize him. Despite being on the verge of death, his body's amazing regenerative powers allow him to quickly recover and wake up, but he's got amnesia and cannot provide any details about his identity, species or homeworld. As Crusher nurses him back to health, he and the doctor form quite a close connection.

Picard and Data make a guess at John's homeworld and head toward it. Soon, they identity that an unfamiliar ship is heading toward them on an intercept course at speeds even the ''Enterprise'' can't match. When John hears this, he freaks out and tries to escape on a shuttlecraft. Worf tries to intervene, but John unintentionally fires a burst of energy that knocks Worf over a rail, breaking his neck. However, John heals Worf back to perfect health. Picard demands to know why John doesn't want to return to his homeworld, but John still doesn't know.

John teleports Sunad aboard the ''Enterprise'''s bridge and accuses him of trying to stop the next phase in their species' evolution. John and his fellow fugitives are transforming into {{Energy Being}}s, but Sunad and his ilk have been killing everyone before they can transform to maintain their power. John completes the transformation and becomes a being a pure golden light. He lets Sunad go, but promises to return to Zalkon to help everyone who wishes to follow in his footsteps. Before leaving, he shares a tender moment of farewell with Crusher and then flies away.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: What everyone of John Doe's species is destined to do. He's just the first to do so successfully--because his species' authorities have been killing others showing signs of the metamorphosis, out of fear.

* CallBack: Geordi is still courting [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E6BoobyTrap Christy Henshaw]]. Or, at least, trying to. Curiously, this time his problem is being too shy, while in the previous episode he came on too strong. She also now seems to be practically begging for his attention, whereas in the previous episode she turned him down.

* {{Teleportation}}: As an EnergyBeing "John" has the power to teleport Sunad back onto his ship.

* ThatCameOutWrong: While giving Geordi romantic advice, Worf tells him, "You must let her see the fire in your eyes." [[BlindWithoutEm Um, forgetting something?]]

* PsychicStrangle: Sunad pulls the classic "[[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Force-choke-someone-on-a-different-spaceship-from-your-spaceship]]" on the entire Enterprise.