4.15 First Contact

Rating: 3

On an alien world, two doctors are examining a human patient who has had facial surgery to appear as one of them. It’s Riker; he was seriously injured while coordinating first contact with a world about to obtain warp drive capabilities. Now, amongst a people who believe they are the center of the universe and who unabashedly fear outsiders, Riker’s life is in danger, forcing an accelerated first contact between Picard and a leading scientist.

Comments

George Coe (Durken) is fondly remembered for his work on the innovative sci-fi television series Max Headroom.

This fairly straightforward but thoughtful episode stays within a gray area, rather than painting good and evil characters. It was co-written by five people, including Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore.

Nits

Picard chooses to make first contact by beaming into a scientist’s lab! Wouldn’t this presumptive breach of both security and privacy be considered threatening, like an invasion? Why not make contact with the leaders first? This whole first contact strategy involving observation and subterfuge creates more problems than it could possibly solve, and really gets relationships off to a bad note: "Hi, we’re your trustworthy new friends, the Federation. We have ships ten times as fast as yours, vastly superior and deadly weapons that we promise only to use in defence, and, by the way, we have been spying on you for 20 years." Just because a race is about to go to warp, does that give the Federation the right to violate their privacy and security and not go through normal diplomatic channels?

Picard tells Mirasta that the Federation only uses highly trained observers. Yet Riker is down on the planet, observing. Riker does not fit my idea of a highly trained observer – I was thinking more along the lines of someone who specializes in this area.

Memorable Moments

•    Riker’s interaction with the alien groupie

•    The Malcorian President’s grudging friendship with Picard

Quotable Quotes

"Was there anything else found? I had one piece of jewelry, a metal pin."
- Riker, carefully inquiring as to the whereabouts of his communicator

Riker: Now will you help me?
Lanell: If you make love to me.
Riker: What?
Lanell: I’ve always wanted to make love with an alien.

Lanell: Will I ever see you again?
Riker: I’ll call you the next time I pass through your star system.