Star Trek: The Next Generation episode with a black snowman

Question

My three-year-old daughter has just been telling me about an episode of The Next Generation which was on earlier.

The man runned on the sand and he fell in the black thing, and he came up a black snowman.

Followed by

The mans had their orange torches, and they threw fire on the black snowman and it melted.

My curiosity is piqued; can anyone help me identify this episode where phaser fire (I presume) melts a black creature in a sandy environment?

Can this be a regular feature of the site? We get small children to watch and describe Star Trek or other sci fi shows, then we have to work out the episode? — maguirenumber6, Feb 26 '16 at 14:59

score 71 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 27 '12 at 20:21

71

black snowman

My best guess is "Skin of Evil" (S01E23), in which Riker gets absorbed by what could be described compactly as a sludge monster and is later spat out covered in Metamucil and printer ink. While the monster isn't destroyed, melted, or even harmed by phaser fire, I'm quite certain that at some point he responds to phaser fire by "melting down" into a less anthropomorphic, more ooze-like form and retreating.

edited Sep 27 '12 at 20:21

Darth Egregious

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answered Sep 27 '12 at 19:35

jwodder

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Wife has confirmed this is indeed the one. Thanks! – Graham Borland Sep 27 '12 at 22:37
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Ah yes, Tar vs. Yar. – Keith Thompson Sep 27 '12 at 22:57
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@GrahamBorland Y'all must have some creepy-looking snowmen where you're at. – Iszi Sep 28 '12 at 00:02
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I'd be more concerned with the kind of snow creatures your child has been exposed to. – Katey HW Oct 04 '12 at 18:00
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Hey, that "sludge monster" has a name. It's "Armus", apparently. I've always admired Armus for not being complicated or misunderstood like all the other aliens on Star Trek: He's pretty much just a slimewad, physically and spiritually. – Doug Warren Feb 17 '16 at 17:27
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@DougWarren He might be called Armus but he's certainly not harmless. – maguirenumber6 Feb 26 '16 at 14:58
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Doug Warren - and Armus was named after Burton Armus, a producer on TNG at that time. I'm not sure he felt flattered by that "honor".. – M. A. Golding Jan 21 '17 at 22:54

Star Trek: The Next Generation episode with a black snowman

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