1.04 The Last Outpost

Rating: 1.5

The Enterprise chases a Ferengi ship that has stolen Starfleet equipment. Their first contact with the Ferengi doesn’t go well, when the Ferengi are able to drain all power from the Enterprise and threaten the lives of everyone on the ship.

Comments

It’s a good twist when the Ferengi, who seem like a powerful enemy, are also revealed to be in the grip of the planet.

Once again, the Federation is being judged by aliens, much like when Q put them on trial a couple of episodes ago inEncounter at Farpoint.

Riker yells a lot in this episode, even before things get tense, sort of like someone told him he was coming across too soft in earlier episodes.

The Ferengi are played here much more like ‘evil space monkeys’, constantly hopping around and squatting. Riker makes a reference to the Ferengi reminding him of what humans were like hundreds of years ago.

The Ferengi ‘phaser whip’ weapons are pretty cool.

While on the planet, when Geordi suddenly has a revelation about the goings on because of what he can see through his visor, he exclaims, "Patterns of Force", which just happens to be the title of a TOS episode (homage?).

There are at least two meetings in this episode, where, in spite of being in the middle of a threatening situation, the crew finds time to shift into a conference room and give their opinions to Picard. (They don’t also order donuts and coffee and take part in the weekly football pool, but they might as well). It kind of puts a damper on making the show flow and have urgency to it, but it does portray the Enterprise as a desirable collaborative working environment. J

Armin Shimerman plays the ‘lead’ Ferengi in the landing party. Later, he played the Ferengi ‘Quark’ on DS9. He’s almost unrecognizable here, as his makeup, manner, and voice are completely different.

Nits

Like a lot of alien races on Trek, the Ferengi’s upper teeth are weirdly shaped and stained, while their lower teeth are perfectly shaped, very white, and very humanoid. J

Troi refers to the aliens as ‘The Ferengis’ at one point. In future Trek episodes, I believe the plural of ‘Ferengi’ will be ‘Ferengi’.

Twice, with everyone at their stations on the bridge, Picard says (to no one in particular), "Open hailing frequencies." The first time, Yar responds, "Hailing frequencies open, sir." The second time, Data responds, ‘Hailing frequencies open, sir." Whose job is it to open hailing frequencies, or is it like a game show, where the first crewmember to press the ‘Hailing Frequencies’ button wins a prize?

Memorable Moments

•    In the final scene, Picard gives Geordi the order to set course, and the camera zooms in to show Geordi’s fingers caught in a Chinese finger puzzle. Data reaches over and presses the proper console button

Quotable Quotes

"Merde!"
– Picard