“The Outcast” is episode seventeen of season five of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise has been contacted by an androgynous race, the J’naii, regarding the disappearance of a shuttlecraft. They arrive at the location the craft disappeared; there’s no debris. Data reports a neutrino emission of no visible source and recommends a probe be launched. It is, and then it stops transmitting.
They may have found the first instance of a theoretical occurrence, null space. Commander Riker is working with the J’naii theorists and one, Soren, is explaining null space. Riker says they think the J’naii’s system contains a pocket of null space. The shuttle’s power will have been absorbed but backups should keep life support running for ten days. Geordi is working on a way of sending a shuttle in able to withstand the power drain for long enough.
After the meeting, Soren says they want to pilot the shuttle. They cannot ask Riker to put himself in danger. Riker can’t allow Soren to pilot a shuttle they’re unfamiliar with and suggests they both pilot it.
The two look over one of Enterprise‘s shuttles and Riker explains how they plan to chart null space. Both enter the shuttle and Soren takes a look over the controls; they’re very familiar and were flying before they could walk. Riker calls Soren’s instructor at flight school ‘he’ and Soren says there are no hes and shes in a species without gender. Riker wants to know what to call them, as ‘it’ is considered rude. The J’naii have a neutral pronoun but Soren doesn’t think it translates.
Next stop is lunch in Ten Forward; Riker offers he split pea soup. A way of keeping warm on Alaskan nights. Soren says the J’naii prefer to sleep with a friend. Not to mate; for warmth. Soren wants to talk about genders, as the J’naii find them as confusing as Riker probably finds the J’naii. And wants to know what Riker finds attractive in a woman. When another J’naii, Krite, comes over, Soren excuses themself but doesn’t tell the truth about what they were talking about with Soren.
In the shuttle, mapping the pocket, Soren wants to talk about mating practices with two sexes. The J’naii’s method is less risky and painful. Less fun, too, according to Riker. Soren says their mating ritual is extremely pleasurable. Soren wonders if human and J’naii are compatible. It would never be permitted, though; the idea of gender is offensive to the J’naii. They used to have two sexes, but evolved into a higher form. They are taught gender is primitive. No offence. One nacelle skims the pocket and Soren ends up being knocked out. They’re beamed to sickbay.
After Dr Crusher treats Soren, Soren wants to talk about females and males. The doctor does, and says that women are no longer seen as weak and inferior, though they used to be. Riker arrives to check that Soren is fit. Later, the doctor is playing poker with Troi, Worf and Data. Worf says the J’naii bother him. They’re all alike. Troi is sure they are just as strange. Dr Crusher thinks one J’naii is overcoming the differences, at least with regards to one of them. Soren and Commander Riker.
For the J’naii, gender is a throwback, something shameful that needs to be ‘cured’ with ‘psychotectic treatment.’ And, as can be guessed by now, Soren is one of those with a gender. They are a she, and she is attracted to Riker. And vice versa. If the whole thing seems to have certain familiarities, there’s a reason for that. Though the effect may have changed somewhat in the 30+ years since the episode was first broadcast.