1.13 Angel One

Rating: 2

Enterprise tracks the survivors of the space transport Odin to a planet where women are the dominant race, physically and politically, and where the men are servants and must wear perfume and revealing clothes. The male survivors of the transport, who do not accept the status quo, are considered threats by the women of Angel One and are hidden away. Although the Enterprise wants to take these unwanted survivors away, they feel that Angel One is their home and they refuse to come, even when faced with death as the only alternative.

Comments

This is a ‘Riker’ episode; he leads the away party, has sex with the alien chick, and makes the impassioned speech at the end, while all Picard gets to do is stay on the ship and be sick.

Nits

Earlier on, Troi tells ‘The Elected One’ that if they find the Odin survivors, the Enterprise promises to take them back with them. Data is present when Troi makes this promise. Yet later, when the survivors are found and they refuse to return, Data tells everyone that they are not obliged to return at all. Wouldn’t it have been nice if he had mentioned this before Troi made a promise she couldn’t keep?

Data states that since the members of the Odin freighter were not in Starfleet, they do not have to abide by the Prime Directive. Logical – but what would be the point of having a Prime Directive for Starfleet without having some kind of Prime Law which citizens of the Federation would have to abide by?

Memorable Moments

•    Riker’s impassioned speech about revolution, evolution, and martyrdom is well-delivered and moving. This is Jonathan Frakes’ best acting to date.

•    Picard is excellent at playing ‘sick’. It’s very believable. The last scene, when he croaks "Enga—" and Data doesn’t understand it, is well done.

Quotable Quotes

Worf: I think I may sneeze.
Geordi: A Klingon sneeze?
Worf: Only kind I know.