Star Trek: The Next Generation

The Enterprise becomes caught in a temporal anomaly, leaving the crew stuck in a loop of repeated events that they cannot escape. As a result, they are compelled to experience the same moments over and over again, endlessly reliving each encounter.

Cause and Effect is a programme presented as a single episode within the science‑fiction genre. It follows the familiar structure of a televised story, focusing on a particular incident involving the starship Enterprise. The episode is self‑contained, delivering its narrative in a concise format that fits within the broader series framework. In this instalment the crew finds themselves caught in a relentless loop, compelled to experience the same events over and over again. The cause of this repetition is a time warp that traps the Enterprise, preventing the ship from moving forward in time and forcing the personnel to relive identical moments endlessly. The premise centres on the frustration and urgency of breaking free from this temporal trap. The episode also features a guest appearance by Kelsey Grammer, adding a recognised face to the cast for this particular story. His involvement is highlighted in the credits, indicating a special role within the unfolding events. Overall, the narrative of Cause and Effect revolves around the Enterprise’s entanglement in a time warp and the consequent endless replay of the crew’s experiences. The episode maintains its focus on this singular dilemma, presenting the situation without deviating into additional sub‑plots or characters.