7.25 All Good Things... (Parts 1 and 2)

Rating: 4

Troi and Worf’s hallway kiss is interrupted by a frenetic Picard, still in his sleeping garments and convinced that he is slipping back and forth in time. In all time jumps, he is being heckled by a rag-tag group of humanoids that no one else can see. As he becomes more aware, he suspects that an anomaly in the Devron system may be the key. In the future, he seeks help from Geordi, Data, and Dr Crusher. The jumps are being caused by Q, who put Picard and humanity on trial in the first episode of the series (Encounter at Farpoint), and has been judging humanity and the Enterprise ever since. Judged as having failed the test of ‘usefulness’ by the Continuum, humanity has now been sentenced to death. But it is not the Q that will pass sentence; Picard’s creation of the anomaly will cause disruption to the beginning of human life on earth.

Comments

This episode was co-written by Ronald D Moore and Brannon Braga.

It’s a Braga script, so it has to have alternate realities or time travel, but Moore helps to ground it.

This is an ambitious and marvelous episode, filled with great lines and wonderful drama and action, marred only by the fuzzy logic of time travel.

Nits

Riker states that Starfleet tried to decommision the Enterprise, but that one of the perks of being an admiral is that you can choose your own ship, inferring that he singlehandedly was able to avert the decommission. In a military system, it seems unlikely that any one admiral could wield this much power.

Memorable Moments

•    The bridge design of the Pasteur (Beverly’s ship)

•    Picard’s wonderful delivery when he gets Worf to allow them into the Neutral Zone. Patrick Stewart jumps seamlessly from yelling to whispering, and it’s all note-perfect

•    Riker’s from-below attack on the Klingon battle cruiser

Quotable Quotes

Worf: I have always found the Black Sea at night to be a most…stimuating experience.
Troi: Worf! We were walking barefoot on the beach, with balalak music in the air, ocean breeze washing over us, stars in the sky, a full moon rising, and the most you can say is ‘stimulating’?
Worf: It was…very stimulating.

"Within a matter of minutes you have accumulated over two days worth of memories."
- Dr Crusher to Picard

"It’s time to put an end to your trek through the stars – make room for more worthy species."
- prophetic words from Q to Picard

"Q’s interest in you has always been very similar to that of a…master and his beloved pet."
- Data to Picard

Worf: You have always used your knowledge of Klingon honor and tradition to get what you want from me.
Picard: Because it always works, Worf! Your problem is, that you really do have a sense of honor, and you really do care about trust and loyalty! Don’t blame me for knowing you so well.
Worf: Very well! You may cross the border. But – only if I come with you. I am familiar with the Neutral Zone.
Picard: Terms accepted.

Picard: Q? What is going on here? Where is the anomaly?
Q: Where’s your mommy? I don’t know!

"Mr Data, you are a clever man…in any time period."
- Picard

Picard: What about my crew?
Q: The anomaly, my ship, my crew, I suppose you’re worried about your fish, too. Well, if it puts your mind at ease, you’ve saved humanity – once again.
Picard: Thank you.
Q: For what?
Picard: You had a hand in helping me get out of this.
Q: I was the one that got you into it – a directive from the Continuum. The part about the helping hand, though – was my idea.

 

7.24 Preemptive Strike

Rating: 3.5

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Cardassian ship under attack from Federation ships piloted by the Maquis. Ro Laren, having just recently rejoined the Enterprise, is chosen to infiltrate the Maquis because of her Bajoran heritage and her previous problems with Starfleet. But Ro may be torn between her allegiance to Starfleet and her growing sympathies for the anti-Cardassian cause of the Maquis. The cell leader of the Maquis becomes a father-figure to Ro and a strong bond forms; when he is killed by a Cardassian sniper, his deathbed wish is for Ro to take his place.

Comments

Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) guest stars, returning to the Enterprise after a stint in tactical training. Picard mentions to her that she is in good shape, and there appears to be some chemistry between them. Ro is certainly outwardly grateful for Picard’s support.

Nits

It makes for a great scene, but just why does Ro choose to be a pretend prostitute to talk to Picard in the bar? Couldn’t they have come up with some other way of getting close enough to have a quiet conversation?

Because Picard does not trust Ro, he insists that Riker accompany her on the mission by saying that he is a relative. When next we see Riker, he has been surgically altered to look like a Bajoran. We saw earlier that Ro was not immediately accepted into the Maquis until her story was checked out. Is it plausible that the Maquis would not run some kind of security check on Riker to ascertain if he truly is a relative of Ro, or can we assume that because Ro has been accepted (merely a few days ago) that the Maquis will believe anything she says without question?

Memorable Moments

•    Picard and Ro’s scene of love and confrontation: Ro, posing as a prostitute, debates whether she can fulfill the mission, and Picard threatens with a court martial, all related in whispered caresses

•    Picard’s steely look of anger and disappointment at the conclusion

Quotable Quotes

Admiral Nechayev: No Balarian canape this time, Captain?
Picard: I thought twice was pushing it a little.

"But I’ve known since I’ve first met you, that in your heart, you’re one of us."
- Macias

7.23 Emergence

Rating: 1.5

Data’s Shakespearean holodeck program is interrupted when a steam locomotive suddenly appears and almost kills the android and Captain Picard. Soon, other events point to someone or something controlling the ship.

Comments

This teleplay was written by Joe Menosky, from a story by Brannon Braga.

The episode has a great concept (that the ship itself could spawn intelligent life), but the pacing made it feel as if they were trying to stretch out a 15 minute idea into 42 minutes. There are way too many ‘cute’ holodeck scenes.

Nits

Everyone is an expert on ancient history in this episode. Picard knows much about Shakespeare, and Picard and Crusher share trivia about the Orient Express.

Memorable Moments

•    Data holding off the taxi with one hand

Quotable Quotes

"The intelligence that was formed on the Enterprise didn’t just come out of the ship’s systems. It came from us; from our mission records, personal logs, holodeck programs – our fantasies. Now, if our experiences with the Exterprise have been honorable, can’t we trust that the sum of those experiences will be the same?"
- Picard to Data

7.22 Bloodlines

Rating: 4

Damon Bok, a vengeful Ferengi who blames Picard for the murder of his son and tried to kill Picard in the episode The Battle, returns in a holographic projection. He threatens to exact revenge by murdering Picard’s son, a son Picard did not know he had.

Comments

This episode shines because Patrick Stewart is given numerous lengthy lines and scenes, and he has never been better. His subtle intonations and glances can paint a thousand words.

Ken Olandt is excellent as Picard’s son, Jason. Olandt has continued to guest star in minor roles on television (through to 2004) and to executive produce many (minor) television shows.

This is a top-notch episode from beginning to end, with crisp acting by every single cast member. It’s got drama, mystery, twists, suspense…this is the closest they have come to perfection since The Best Of Both Worlds.

Nits

In the previous episode, Firstborn, the Enterprise found the time and resources to pursue revenge for Worf alone. Here, faced with the threat of murder of a boy who might be his son, Picard immediately heads for the boy’s home planet. Does Starfleet grant Captains this much leeway – to choose their missions at their whim based on personal need?

Memorable Moments

•    The long, slow, talky, and completely brilliant scene, dialogue, and acting with Patrick Steward and Ken Olandt in the holodeck cave.

Quotable Quotes

Jason: If I’m not your son, is this person still going to want to kill me?
Picard: I doubt it.
Jason: In that case, you won’t mind my saying that I hope you’re not my father.

Picard: I found out that…Jason has a criminal record. It..it’s nothing very serious; it’s only…petty theft and so forth. But I can’t help feeling that if I had been part of his life then he wouldn’t be so troubled now.
Beverly: Maybe. But why waste time blaming yourself for not being there? Just be here for him now.

Picard: It looks as though we may have found out how to locate Bok’s ship. This could all soon be over.
Jason: You came all the way up here to tell me that?

Picard: Jason, isn’t there some way that I can be a father to you? My own father and I were estranged. He wanted me to stay at home and tend the vineyards, and I wanted to join Starfleet. And he died before we could come to terms with that. I regretted that all of my life. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you and me.
Jason: You don’t understand. I’m not anybody you’d want for a son. Trust me, if you knew, you knew anything about me, you wouldn’t be trying so hard.
Picard: You’re so wrong.
Jason: Oh, really?
(Picard nods)
Jason: Let me spell it out for you! I’ve been in trouble since I was a teenager. I lie, I steal, I use people. Eh-tha...I’m a criminal! That’s what your son is.
Picard: I know.
Jason: You do.
Picard: Oh yes. I know…all about your troubles with the Kerrin authorities.
Jason: You do.
Picard: It doesn’t make any difference, Jason. You’re still my son. And like it or not, I’m your father. I don’t know what that means…it means something. There’s some…connection.
Jason: Yeah.
Picard: But one thing is clear: you’ll never look at your hairline again in the same way.

7.21 Firstborn

Rating: 3

Worf is disappointed when his 13 year old son Alexander refuses to begin the process of becoming a true Klingon warrior. Captain Picard suggests exposing Alexander to more of the Klingon culture by attending a festival on a nearby colony. There, they meet a Klingon called K’Mtar, who was sent by Worf’s brother Kurn to check on Alexander’s progress. K’Mtar attempts to become a mentor to Alexander, to encourage him to take the path of a warrior. But K’Mtar also hides a secret.

Comments

James Sloyan gives an excellent performance as the Klingon K'Mtar. He would later guest-star on a number of DS9 and VOY episodes.

Unfortunately, someone decided that K’Mtar would telegraph his treachery by the way he reacts when it becomes evident that the Enterprise is going to find the Duras sisters.

Although the structure of the episode is poor, there is still a bit of emotional depth achieved when we realize we are looking at a future version of Alexander. I just think they took too long to arrive at this point.

Nits

The Klingon colony is a small village with a square, and no animals, motorized vehicles, etc. (you know the drill by now). Although I must mention that some of the outdoor sets and structures are quite different than the normal village sets.

After Worf is attacked by other Klingons, why does the Enterprise become involved in tracking down his attackers? Worf states that he must retaliate, but isn’t this really a Klingon family or ‘house’ matter? Is it really suitable for an entire starship to get involved to be commandeered for this purpose?

Is Alexander truly so concerned about avoiding the death of his father that he will kill an earlier version of himself? Surely this would be considered a most dishonorable thing to do in Klingon culture.

Memorable Moments

•    The moment when it is revealed that K'Mtar is actually a time-travelling Alexander

Quotable Quotes

"Someday, if you work hard, you will become a warrior, a Klingon warrior, and you will always feel safe, because you will know how to defend yourself. And I’ll tell you something else: if anyone ever tries to hurt your father again, you will be able to fight at his side and make sure nothing happens to him. What do you think of that?"
- K'Mtar to Alexander

"Yes. Lursa and Betor: big talk, small tips."
- Quark to Riker

"If this was real, he’d be dead by now."
- K'Mtar to Worf regarding Alexander (and, since they are on the holodeck, he could have said, "If he was photonic, he’d be home by now." J)

K’Mtar/Alexander: It is a futile struggle [for peace]; I cannot change things.
Worf: You have already changed things more than you realize.
K’Mtar/Alexander: The boy I was has not changed.
Worf: But I have. You have given me a glimpse into my son’s future. And I know now that he had his own destiny. And I believe it will be a great one.

7.20 Journey's End

Rating: 2

Wesley Crusher comes aboard the Enterprise on a vacation from Starfleet Academy, and he is bored, arrogant, and even less likable than before. Meanwhile, Picard is ordered to use force, if necessary, to move a group of native american indians from a colony on a planet that is now claimed by the Cardassians. To Wesley’s surprise, one of the native americans claims to have foretold Wesley’s coming two years ago.

Comments

This episode was written by Ronald D Moore.

Moore does a good job of researching native american culture. It’s a typical Moore script, filled with war and the threat of war

Unfortunately Will Wheaton’s efforts to appear pensive and thoughtful always come off as ‘catatonic’. His acting has not improved and perhaps even deteriorated with time; he was marginally better when he was younger. He also improves here once he needs to show (restrained) passion for the colonists.

Nits

Need I mention that the native american village on Darvon has the familiar earth tones, open square, no motorized or wheeled vehicles, no animals, etc.?

Quotable Quotes

"What you’re doing down there is wrong. These people are not some random group of colonists. They’re a unique culture with a history that pre-dates the Federation and Starfleet."
- Wesley Crusher

7.19 Genesis

Rating: 2.5

A wayward torpedo is pursued by Picard and Data in a shuttlecraft, while back on the Enterprise, Nurse Ogawa and Data’s cat, Spot, are both expectant mothers. Stranger still, Worf’s temper flares, Troi is freezing, Riker is groggy, Geordi is weak. When Worf attacks and bites Troi, it becomes obvious that some kind of viral infection may be loose on the ship.

Comments

This episode was written by Brannon Braga and directed by Gates McFadden.

Later, Braga would pen the VOY episodethreshold, using a similar concept.

The episode is aided considerably by having Data and Picard nominated to make us believe that this could really happen.

When Picard is examining the warp core, and a disfigured Barclay jumps up from below, it was the first time ever I jumped out of my skin in fear while watching NextGen.

Nits

Only on Star Trek would a humanoid (Troi) change into a lizard but keep their entire uniform on! Makes it a lot easier for the censors, anyway.

Data claims that the crew is de-evolving by using old DNA stored on introns. While it is true that introns are contained within cells, they are actually sections of RNA, and there is no evidence (at least in 2006) that they contain any residual genetic information from an earlier point in our evolution.

Data and Picard have a small disagreement about what to call the fluid in the womb of mammals. Data calls it ‘amnionic’ fluid, but Picard calls it ‘amniotic’, as do most dictionaries.

Memorable Moments

•    Worf bites Troi and blinds Crusher with a venomous spray from his mouth, but that is topped by Troi as an amphibian

•    Picard’s raised eyebrows when Data identifies the specific hominid into which Riker has evolved

•    Most of Picard and Data’s scenes of discovery when they re-board the ship after the catastrophe

Quotable Quotes

"Captain, I believe the crew is de-evolving."
- Data

Data: I feel I must inform you, sir…you have also been infected by the Intron virus.
Picard: How long before I begin to change?
Data: According to my calculations, within the next twelve hours, you will begin to exhibit the first signs of your eventual transformation.
Picard: And what will that be?
Data: I believe you will also de-evolve into an earlier form of primate, possibly similar to a lemur or pygmy marmoset.

7.18 Eye of the Beholder

Rating: 2

Lt Kwan commits suicide by jumping into the plasma flow of the warp core. Why did this officer, who up to this point had been successful and positive, take his own life? When Counselor Troi investigates, she also begins to be overwhelmed by suicide-inducing feelings of anger, rage, and depression.

Comments

The teleplay was written by Rene Echevarria, from a story by Brannon Braga. Most of what transpires in the episode is, unbeknownst to us, happening solely within Troi’s mind.

I have mentioned this before, most recently after viewing Parallels: Braga always seems to write about alternative reality. He doesn’t seem to think anything of interest happens in the real world. The problem is, I think, that for Braga, all of Trek is non-real, but for fans who live and breathe it, we see a difference between Troi’s imaginings and what ‘actually’ happens to her.

Nits

Ensign Nara doesn’t seem upset enough for someone who just recently found out that their lover has commited suicide.

After the first incident where Troi feels strong emotions while near Kwan’s workstation, Riker asks if it’s possible that some kind of empathic echo remains. Troi says, "I don’t see how." Not much later, after the second incident, Crusher suggests that perhaps Troi is seeing events through Kwan’s eyes. Troi says, "It’s possible, but I don’t see how it could have happened." For an empath, her mind seems to be very closed to possibilities in this episode.

Memorable Moments

•    Troi and Worf’s unexpected romantic moments, and Troi giggling when Worf almost yells in frustration in reply to Crusher’s interrupting hail (I should have known this was going to be all in Troi’s mind and too good to be true)

Quotable Quotes

"Something must have happened to him, Counselor…something terrible, because it’s not like Dan to take his own life."
- Ensign Nara
(Yeah, because he’s never taken his own life before)

Worf: I mean, I would never want to come between you and someone you are involved with…or, had ever been involved with.
Riker: Is there someone in particular that you’re talking about?
Worf: No. Is there someone in particular you would rather I not be involved with?

7.17 Masks

Rating: 1.5

While investigating a rogue comet, a sensor distortion briefly engulfs the Enterprise. Afterward, a strange sculpture appears in Troi’s quarters, and the computer system and minds of the crew are infused with a series of mysterious symbols. Further investigation of the comet reveals a hidden structure that begins to morph the ship and its system into the artifacts of an ancient culture. The structure communicates through Data in the form of multiple personalities. When Data dons a mask and takes the form of the evil Queen Masaka, Picard sees no alternative but to don the mask of the Queen’s nemesis, Korgano, and attempt to convince Masaka to let them go.

Comments

This episode was written by Joe Menosky and directed by Robert Wiemer.

Menosky is usually one of my favorite writers, and this ambitious fantasy gets points only for effort and imagination, because it does not work on any level.

Nits

Picard says, "I would like to know Masaka, speak with her" – yet all Data has said so far is "Masaka is waking". He has not stated that Masaka is female.

Even for Star Trek, it’s an unusually massive stretch to believe that Geordi could figure out how to communicate the exact crytpogram to an alien computer that will create a temple.

Memorable Moments

•    Robert Wiemer always manages to mix in a few atypical camera shots, such as when the camera pulls back from above to reveal Data at the fire, looking up in fear.

Quotable Quotes

"I am yours. Every part of me is yours."
- Data to Troi/Masaka

"Well, Data, you never may become fully, human, but you’ve had an experience that trancends the human condition. You’ve been – an entire civilization!"
- Picard

7.16 Thine Own Self

Rating: 2.5

While Beverly is commanding the Enterprise on the ‘night shift’, Data’s mission to recover contaminated materials from Barkon 4 goes awry when his presence becomes known to the pre-warp Barkonians.

Comments

There’s not enough of a story about Data to fill up the entire episode, so we also get the story of Troi studying to become a bridge officer.

Any dramatic impact of this episode is lessened because, first, Data is an android, so he could have gained limited emotional impact from his experiences, and second, he has forgotten everything that happened anyway! I thought that Data was a strange choice for the writers to send down to the planet, and that the decision to have him forget everything was not needed.

Nits

I don’t follow this whole ‘night watch’ concept. Why is this considered dead time? Do attacking aliens also sleep in this supposed night time? And do all the other tribulations that the Enterprise crews encounter (like holodeck malfunctions, etc.) take a break at this time?

Barkon 4 provides yet another example of a generic pre-warp culture with a town square, and no motorized vehicles of any kind. (Obviously, there is only one reusable ‘pre-warp town’ set).

Troi decides she wants to test to be a commander, and a few hours later, she is taking the test. Wouldn’t the study period for moving up in rank take a few days or weeks at a minimum?

Why does Data move ever so slowly when he is going to dump the antidote in the town well? Of course, he is caught in the act.

Memorable Moments

•    Troi sacrificing Geordi’s life to save the ship (in a holodeck simulation, but it’s still a dramatic moment)

•    Data’s skin getting ripped off

Quotable Quotes

Data; Where is your mother?
Gia: She died about a year ago. Father said she…she went to a beautiful place…where everything is peaceful, and everyone loves each other. And no one ever gets sick. Do you think there’s really a place like that?
Data: (looking up at the night sky) Yes. I do.

7.15 Lower Decks

Rating: 3

As a number of ensigns compete for promotions on board the Enterprise, one of them – a Bajoran female named Sito Jaxa – is asked to volunteer for a dangerous mission to escort a Cardassian spy.

Comments

This episode was written by Rene Echevarria.

This is a moving, well-written story focused around Ensign Seto (Shannon Fill), a Bajoran who, along with Wesley Crusher, originally featured in the episode The First Duty as one of the cadets who covered up the death of a colleague while performing a daredevil stunt.

Alexander Enberg (the Vulcan Ensign Taurik) later returned in a number of VOY episodes as Ensign Vorik.

Nits

When Taurik informs Geordi that he has discovered a possible way to increase warp drive efficiency, and that he has other ideas for improvements, why is Geordi so dismissive and slightly annoyed? Shouldn’t this kind of research and enthusiasm be treasured and nurtured?

During the ensigns card game, Ben has a King, Jack, Ten, Eight, and one card face down. Lavelle has two pairs showing, and one card face down. Even the most beginning poker player knows that there is no possible way that Ben can beat Lavelle, no matter what their respective hole cards are. Yet Ben makes a big point of anteing up, claiming that he knows Lavelle is bluffing, and Ben wins the hand! Meanwhile, the supposedly uber-intelligent Vulcan Taurik pulls out of the hand, stating some astronomically low odds chance that he can win. Taurik has Five, Four, Two, and One showing, and he knows what his hole card is, so either he has no chance of winning (he doesn’t have the straight) or he does have it, and he’s got a very good chance of winning.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard’s almost mean-spirited verbal ‘dressing down’ of Ensign Seto (this is not only a fantastic scene, but is atypical of normal NextGen scripting)

•    Simultaneous poker games (nice editing, and, again, atypical of NextGen)

Quotable Quotes

"If you are unhappy sharing quarters with me, then you should put in for a new room assignment…just in case you’re not promoted."
- Taurik to Lavelle

Taurik: He’s convinced Commander Riker doesn’t like him.
Ben: Why? Did you crash the ship into something?

Seto: One thing I don’t understand: doesn’t Geek-Tal mean ‘to the death’?
Worf: You speak Klingon.
Seto: Sir, is there really such a thing as a Geek-Tal challenge?
Worf: No. There is not. But perhaps next time you are judged unfairly, it will not take so many bruises for you to protest.

7.14 Sub Rosa

Rating: 2

The Enterprise visits Caldos, a world terraformed in the likeness of the Scottish highlands, to attend the memorial service of Beverly Crusher’s grandmother. A mysterious man leaves a red camilla on her grave, and it is later revealed that he was her lover. He is a ‘ghost’, a lover to a long succession of women in Crusher’s family, able to take corporeal form from time to time, and dependent on the flame from a special heirloom candle, passed down from generation to generation.

Comments

This episode was written by Brannan Braga, from a story by Jeri Taylor, and is directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Unfortunately, after the dismal failures of every other Trek episode featuring Irish or Scottish charicatures (for example, the NextGen episode Up the Long Ladder, or the VOY episode spirit folk, I got the creeps early on when a character started spouting off in a supposed Scottish accent.

One of the gravestones in the cemetary bears the name ‘McFly’, which could be a tribute to the Back to the Future movie trilogy.

Nits

Beverly asks Troi to accompany her to the house, and Troi agrees. Together, they walk out of scene. In the next scene, as Picard talks to the governor, Troi appears in the background, talking to a villager. Did she change her mind?

Early on in the piece, a man who knew Crusher’s grandmother and appeared to have some knowledge of what befell her bursts into the house without knocking and, when confronted by Crusher, proceeds to aggressively yell at her that she should douse the candle. Of course, faced with this assault, Crusher kicks him out. If he really wanted to share some knowledge, why would he take such an adversarial approach? Why not attempt to make friends first, then sit down and in calmer tones, impart his knowledge? I know why: because he is following the goofy script, and it would be a short show if he didn’t!

Memorable Moments

•    Crusher’s weird solo sex scenes

Quotable Quotes

"I’m not seeing anybody. I met someone, that’s all."
- Crusher to Troi

7.13 Homeward

Rating: 2.5

A distress call from Worf’s half-brother, Nikolai Rozhenko, leads the Enterprise to Boral, a planet devastated by atmospheric dissipation. Rozhenko, who was observing the planet’s native inhabitants from a hidden observation post, could not bear to watch them die, so he transported them beneath the surface and set up a deflector shield to protect them. Picard, interested only in following the Prime Directive and not interfering with any pre-warp civilizations, orders Roshenko to abandon the planet and doom its inhabitants, but Rozhenko figures out a way to clandestinely beam the inhabitants into a holodeck recreation of the caves.

Comments

It’s nice to see Michael Dorn without his Klingon makeup.

Paul Sorvino guest-stars as Worf’s half-brother, Nikolai Rozhenko. And Dobara is played by Penny Johnson, who would later appear in numerous DS9 episodes as Cassidy Yates.

Nits

If you check my review of the episodesCode of Honor,Justice,Angel One,Symbiosis, and Pen Pals, you’ll see I am of the opinion that the Prime Directive is an extremely flawed concept that causes any number of problems when used as a plot device (and, unfortunately, it has been used and re-used many times). In short, the Prime Directive states that there should be no interference with pre-warp civilizations. So let me get this straight as it applies to this episode. Because the Boralans are a pre-warp civilization, Starfleet should simply watch them die as their planet self-destructs. But, if the Boralans had developed warp drive (but, for some reason their fleet of ships were disabled or otherwise unavailable), Starfleet would rescue them without a second thought. Does it seem fair to maintain such a strong prejudice toward pre-warp civilizations? Who benefits from this?

If you have ever seen the interior dimensions of the holodeck when it is portrayed as the ‘grid’, you’ll know it is not that big. So is it believable that a group of people could be led around the holodeck on a journey through caves and not be aware that they were in a confined space? For another discussion of this nit, see the review for the episode Ship in a Bottle.

Why doesn’t Worf volunteer to go back and search for the missing chronicle scroll? This would have ensured that Vorin did not have a chance to see any holodeck technology.

At the end, why does Worf take the Chronicles? Don’t they hold extreme significance to the Boralans?

Memorable Moments

•    Vorin’s death by suicide: I was so sure they were going to tie up this loose plot point with a neat thread.

Quotable Quotes

Troi: I know things must look very strange to you, but everything’s going to be alright. No one’s going to hurt you. We’re friends of Nikolai and Worf. Don’t be afraid.
Vorin: Nikolai?
Troi: Yes. He’s my friend. That means you are too. I promise, I won’t hurt you.
Vorin: Please! Help me! [pause] Where am I?

7.12 The Pegasus

Rating: 3

Picard’s reluctant attendance to spend a day with children as part of ‘Captain Picard Day’ is alleviated by an urgent change in mission from Starfleet. They join with Admiral Eric Pressman, Riker’s former commanding officer, to locate a long-missing ship, the Pegasus, before the Romulans find it. But Pressman, and Riker along with him, hide a dangerous secret about the nature of their mission.

Comments

This episode was written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Levar Burton.

This is a solid drama based on chain of command and allegiances, typical of the scripts of Ron Moore.

Smart NextGen writers can always produce an above-par episode by writing some strong dialogue for Patrick Stewart.

A sidenote: It’s nice that they paid some tribute to the great Native American Crazy Horse by naming a ship after him.

Nits

It has been 12 long years since the Pegasus was lost. Rather than mourn the loss of the ship, why didn’t Pressman simply recreate the device? Surely the same notes and specs used to create the first device could be used again.

Memorable Moments

•    Riker imitating Picard

•    Picard grilling Riker on the events of the Pegasus mutiny. It’s amazing to see how Picard uses intonation, dramatic pauses, and variances in tempo and tone to make his questions more dramatic.

•    Picard yanking Riker out of the brig

Quotable Quotes

Picard: The judge-advocate also believes that the surviving officers are deliberately withholding vital information from this inquiry. Further investigation is recommended. Will, there was no further investigation! This report was classified and then it was quietly buried! Why?
Riker: I suggest you take this up with Admiral Pressm-
Picard: (yelling) I’m taking this up with you, Will! The judge-advocate thought that you were participating in a conspiracy to cover up the truth! Now what the hell is going on here, Will? Why did that mutiny happen? Why is Pressman so determined to find your ship 12 years later?
Riker: I’ve said all I can. I’m under direct orders from Admiral Pressman not to discuss this…sir.
Picard: Very well…He’s an admiral, I’m a captain, I cannot force you to disobey his orders, therefore…I will have to remain in the dark on this mission. And I will just have to trust that you will not let Pressman put this ship at unnecessary risk. And if I find that that trust has been misplaced then I will have to re-evaluate the command structure of this ship…Dismissed.

Pressman: I have a lot of friends at Starfleet Command, Captain.
Picard: You’re going to need them.

7.11 Parallels

Rating: 2.5

Worf returns alone via shuttlecraft after winning a batleth tournament, and, after an unexpected birthday party, begins to experience unusual changes in his environment. People appear and disappear, memories fade, and his first place tournament trophy suddenly becomes a ninth place one.

Comments

Once again, writer Brannon Braga seems unable to come up with any script ideas that are not based on some type of alternative dream, timeline, or reality. Doesn’t anything interesting ever happen in real time on his version of the Enterprise? Still, there are enough nice touches here and more of an emphasis on character development than usual.

Nits

It seemed lenient of Dr Crusher to allow Worf to remain on duty, even after he has admitted to being conflicted about his recent memories. Sure enough, soon after that, he ends up endangering the ship by zoning out as the Cardassian ship attacks.

When Worf hails the Enterprise, his is pleased to hear Picard answer. This confirms that he is back in his own reality. But why is Picard answering hails?

Memorable Moments

•    Troi kneeling on the bed, giving husband Worf a neck massage

•    Worf looking good in red

Quotable Quotes

"Because it is my birthday, I assumed that you or one of the others would try to mount an unexpected social gathering."
- Worf

Troi: That would make my mother your stepmother.
Worf: I had not considered that…it is a risk I am willing to take.

Data: I am not privy to the exact details of when, where or how your first coupling took place. I could investigate it.
Worf: No, that is alright.

7.10 Inheritance

Rating: 2.5

When the planet Atrea 4 is in danger of destruction due to solidification of the molten core, two Etrian scientists board the Enterprise to discuss strategies for averting a planet-wide disaster. One, a human female named Dr. Juliana Tainer, appears to know Data, although he has no memory of her. Surpringly, she claims to be Dr Noonian Soong’s wife and Data’s ‘mother’. Their reaquaintance and friendship proceeds well until Tainer reveals that she purposely abandoned Data on Omicron Theta, fearing that he would turn evil like his brother Lore.

Comments

Strangely, this is the second show in a row where an alien planet is in an environmental-type danger, and a male and female from that planet board the Enterprise to explain the situation.

There’s a nice reference to Data’s daughter Lal, seen in the entertaining third season episode The Offspring.

When debating whether or not to tell Dr Tainer that she is an android, would there be any advantage to creating a hologram of her, and then tell the hologram to see what her reaction might be? A variation on this technique seemed to work pretty well with Leah Brahms in the episode Booby Trap.

Nits

When Data and Dr Tainer beam down to the cave for the final time, Tainer steps onto the transporter wearing shoes with heels. When she materalizes in the cave, her heels have disappeared and her shoes are flat.

When the rocks under Dr. Tainer collapse in the cave, Data looks around, then squints in a distinctively non-android way. I think it was a little slip-up on his part that the director didn’t notice.

Bladerunner aside, surely an android would know it was an android. I mean, wouldn’t your forehead get itchy one day, and you scratch it, and a panel opens with blinking lights, and you say, "Hey! What’s that?"

I’m surprised that the decision on whether or not to tell Dr Tainer that she is an android rests solely with Data. Wouldn’t this be a decision that should be made by her doctor? And are there any laws regarding disclosure to a patient that must be followed here?

Memorable Moments

•    Brent Spiner does a great job of adding tiny subtle comic movements to his character (like when his mother assumes that Troi is Data’s lover), without appearing to move outside the boundaries of being an android. Spiner also does a fantastic job of playing his own father, Noonian Soong, all fitted out with some very nice ageing makeup. He presents the character with a different voice and look. There is little similarly between Soong and Data. It certainly gives you more appreciation for how restrained Spiner has to be in the Data role.

Quotable Quotes

"Well, the one thing that we couldn’t anticipate was that you didn’t seem to mind about being, um…naked. Some of the colonists objected to having an anatomically correct android running around without any clothes on. Oh, we asked you to dress. But you didn’t feel it was necessary because you didn’t suffer from the elements! We actually had to write a modesty subroutine to get you to keep your clothes on!"
- Dr. Tainer

"I do not know for certain, but I believe it is during my creative endeavors that I come closest to experiencing what it must be like to be human."
- Data

7.09 Force of Nature

Rating: 2.5

The disappeance of a medical transport ship in an area of space known as the Hekaras corridor leads the Enterprise to an alien civilization that believes warp drive has the potential to destabilize vast regions of space.

Comments

In Phastasms, Data tells Worf that Spot prefers Feline Supplement 25. In this episode, Data orders Feline Supplement 221 from the replicator and Spots digs in greedily. It’s not really a nit, just an observation; Spot may very well have changed her mind since then.

Nits

I’m not going to try to work out the numbers here, but suffice it to say that there are ‘issues’ with the Enterprise being able to transport the crew of the Flemming while maintaining warp speed. There just isn’t time.

Picard asks Worf, "Is everyone off the Flemming?" Worf replies, "The last of the crew has beamed aboard, sir." Why the long-winded answer from the usually succinct Worf? Wouldn’t a simple, "Yes, sir" have conveyed the same information?

Memorable Moments

•    Sarova’s beautiful subspace rift

Quotable Quotes

Geordi: I’ve got an idea. How ‘bout a phaser; a low stun setting at just the right moment might do the trick.
Data: Geordi! I cannot stun my cat!

Riker: Data, what if we forced an EPS discharge through the impulse reactor. Would that be enough to get us out of here?
Data: I do not believe so, sir. And the resulting explosion would likely destroy the saucer section in the process.
(Got any other great ideas, Riker?)

7.08 Attached

Rating: 3

When Crusher and Picard beam down to negotiate entry into the Federation with the Kes people, they are hijacked and captured by the Kes’ xenophobic rivals on the same planet, the Prit.

Comments

Out of nowhere, NextGen pushes Picard and Crusher’s character arc to deal with the simmering feelings they have had for years. Although nothing is resolved, the direction, tension, and dialogue is mature and effective.

This episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Nits

When Picard enters the cave and finds the temperature hot, he removes his jacket and casually tosses it away. This is a huge mistake when on an away mission, especially since later he and Crusher will end up having to sleep overnight in the open air.

Ahhh…it’s so great to see Picard and Crusher join the select ranks of Those Who Can Outrun Fireballs!

Picard says, "The transceivers…Loren said they would align themselves to our psi-wave patterns." How does he know the Prit security minister’s name? He met her, but she never said it.

When Picard and Crusher emerge from the cave, they carry on a jaunty and very loud banter, while walking upright and making lots of eye contact with each other. Wouldn’t it be more prudent to keep low and quiet, and constantly look around? After all, they are fugitives on an alien world!

After measuring that the border is 2 kilometers away, a unknown amount of time passes while Picard and Crusher move toward the border. In the next scene, they have stopped for the night to make a campfire. Exactly how long is it taking them to walk 2 kilometers? Even if the terrain was extremely rough, they should have been able to do it in a couple of hours. Then Beverly says she is going to go to sleep because they have a lot of ground to cover!

Virtually every campire that ever burns anywhere in a movie or television scene will have a few sticks over the top, but is obviously being fed by a concentrated gas or other combustible from underneath…and Picard and Beverly’s campfire is no exception.

When Beverly walks away from Picard to go to sleep by the fire, it appears that she gets far enough away to make them both nauseus…yet they have no side effects this time.

When Beverly lays down to sleep, she puts her head just a few inches from the wood fire. Generally,wood fires throw a steady stream of sparks out and these could easily ignite her hair or clothes (of course, this fire seems to be burning completely spark – and smoke – free). Picard then lies down and puts his head even closer. Based on the size of the fire, his head should be almost burning at this point.

Memorable Moments

•    The beginnings of desire as expressed by Picard to Beverly after he spends some time reading her thoughts

•    The entire Picard/Crusher campfire dialogue scene is a beautiful thing, as is their final scene together

Quotable Quotes

Crusher: Well…think about Earth. What if one of the old nation-states – say Australia – had decided not to join the world government in 2150. (Crusher, sounding an ominous warning about Australia’s future?)

Riker: This is ridiculous. You’re beginning to see conspiracies everywhere. We were invited here by the Kes. Why would we align ourselves with the Prit?
Ambassador Morek: Indeed! Why?
Riker: Ahh. You can believe what you’d like. We’re going to find our people with or without your help!
Ambassador Morek: Then I believe it is time for us to be leaving the Enterprise.
Riker: Fine. Make sure you take all this junk with you.

Crusher (to Picard): Why didn’t you ever tell me you were in love with me?

Picard: So now that we’ve had this unique experience what do we do?
Crusher: What do you mean?
Picard: You know exactly what I mean.
Crusher: No, I don’t. The implants have been removed, remember?
Picard: Now that we know how each of us feels, perhaps we should not be afraid to explore those feelings.
Crusher: Or perhaps we should be afraid.

7.07 Dark Page

Rating: 2

Deanna Troi’s mother, Lwaxana, boards the Enterprise to facilitate communication with the Cairn, a race of telepaths. But her telepathic work appears at first to be causing problems with specialized areas of her brain.

Comments

Majel Barrett guest-stars in her recurring role as Lwaxana Troi.

One of the ongoing highlight of watching NextGen is the periodic appearance of famous female actresses when they were still children. This time, it’s Kirsten Dunst.

Norman Large (Maques) has appeared in a number of NextGen and DS9 episodes. In this role, he looks a bit like Gary Busey.

Marina Sirtis’s acting has improved throughout the series. Here, with her mother’s health threatened, she is understated, concerned, and effective. Director Les Landau also adds a large number of extreme closeups of Deanna’s face. Unfortunately, Majel Barrett’s role is a difficult one and she’s way outside her range, coming off as no better than a second-rate soap opera star, which takes away from the success of the episode. She’s much better suited to lighter themes, but I give her credit for trying.

The final of season of NextGen has often turned to exploration of the inner workings of the mind. Geordi channels the thoughts of a probe in Interface. Picard and Geordi walk through Data’s dream in Phastasms. And now, Deanna explores Lwaxana’s mind in an effort to reveal the cause of her mother’s trauma.

Nits

How is Maques just able to walk into sickbay? Do these telepaths have the ability to break locks? And that brings up a security issue: how do you stop a telepath from accessing someone’s mind? Doors don’t stop brain waves.

Wolves don’t really attack humans…but I suppose this is happening inside a mind, so anything is possible.

Memorable Moments

•    All of Deanna Troi’s dramatic moments are well-played and tear-evoking.

Quotable Quotes

Maques: Your mother told me of your need.
Troi: Need?
Maques: Husband. You need a husband. I need a wife.

7.06 Phantasms

Rating: 3

Data’s exploration of his dream program causes concern when he becomes obsessed with the imagery, and when he misses appointments due to oversleeping. Amid ongoing problems with installing a new warp core, Data’s dream begins to haunt him, invading his waking states and causing hallucinations. Does the recurring dream appearance of three men wearing 1840s gold prospecting clothes have some basis in reality?

Comments

This episode was written by Brannan Braga and directed by Patrick Stewart.

This basic premise was recycled in the VOY episode scientific method.

Braga’s approaches too often rely on alternative realities, time travel, and dreams. For some reason he seems unable to write a story based in the real world, and yet that is where the truly exciting and real events happen. This story is better than his norm, intertwining dream and reality and building a nice character arc into Troi and Data’s characters.

After Data stabs Troi, Picard confines Data to his quarters. It was nice to see that he is escorted there by not one, not two, but three security guards, one of whom is Worf. This is a logical precaution for dealing with Data’s physical strength.

Nits

When Data was settling in for his nap, I found myself wondering, why have bed pillows gotten so small in the future? Data (and others) have these single tiny pillows that look almost useless. Is this the awful terror that awaits us? J

Riker says, "Data also saw a straw coming out of my head, and then Beverly found an organism in the same place." True, the straw was coming out of Riker’s head at the exact place where Crusher found the organism. We the viewer know that because we were there when Data had the dream. However, there’s one little problem. Data told Riker he saw a straw coming out of Riker’s head. He never said or indicated exactly where the straw was coming out. So how does Riker know it’s the same place?

Here’s a wide-ranging nit caused by creative technobabbling writers: When Troi’s shoulder exhibits a bruise or rash, Crusher pulls out something called an interphasic scanner and then discovers the organisms living on everyone. But here’s the catch: if you were aware that there were other planes of existence only visible with specialized technology like an interphasic scanner, wouldn’t you try to incorporate that technology into everyday life? Would you just go on, day to day, viewing things with human eyesight, while still fully aware that you could be seeing a wider range of pheomena with that interphasic scanner that you never use? Or would you use it on a regular basis to perform more systematic and wide-ranging scans?

Memorable Moments

•    The close-up of Data’s face, and his subsequent android-like subtle movements, when he wakes up

•    Worf’s ‘plate of the future’, on which he eats a piece of cellular peptide cake in Data’s dream, is pie-shaped (a logical idea, actually)

•    Troi as a cake is an image I will not soon forget, especially after Data slices into her

•    Data, repeatedly stabbing a knife into Troi’s shoulder as she screams

Quotable Quotes

Data: May I ask a personal favor?
Worf: Yes.
Data: Would you take care of Spot for me?
Worf: Your animal.
Data: I am afraid if I have another waking dream, I may injure him.
Worf: Or course. (yelling) Spot! Come here!
Data: Unlike a canine, Spot does not respond to verbal commands. Goodbye, Spot! (pause) He will need to be fed once a day. He prefers Feline Supplement number 25.
Worf: I understand.
Data: And he will require water. And you must provide him with a sandbox. And you must talk to him, tell him he is a pretty cat, and a good cat.
Worf: I will feed him.
Data: Perhaps that will be enough.
Worf: Achoo!
Spot: Meow!

Picard: Mr Data, what kind of cake is this?
Data: It is a cellular peptide cake.
Worf: With mint frosting!

Data: I wonder…what would Dr Freud say about the symbolism of devouring oneself?
Troi: Data! Sometimes a cake is just a cake!

7.05 Gambit (Part 2)

Rating: 4

Picard as Galen uses every opportunity to plan a possible mutiny against Baran, aided by Tallera, who has revealed her true identity as the Vulcan security officer T’Paal. Picard uses an encouter with the Enterprise to to relay their flight plan in an encoded message. When a raiding party of mercenaries, joined by Picard and Riker, board the Enterprise , Picard ‘kills’ Riker in front of the others, who leave him behind. Riker, only stunned, then brings the Enterprise to Vulcan, where a confrontation with Tallera ensues.

Comments

Part two follows along with part one and keeps to the same high standard. The mythology angle adds more depth to the Vulcan culture.

The extremely tall Klingon from the shuttlecraft is played by USA basketball star James Worthy.

Nits

When Riker punches Picard in the face, Picard hits the ground, and, from behind, we can see he is holding his hand on his face and feeling his nose or cheeks. When the shot cuts back to the front view, both of Picard’s hands are at his side.

It appears that Baran can target any single member of the crew with his pain device, simply by pressing the same button. In part one, I thought he was actually aiming the device at crewmembers to pain them. But in part two, he threatens to use the device on Riker while he is aboard the Enterprise. So how does that thing work so specifically with that one button?

This plot revolves around the fact that Baran needs Picard’s expertise to examine the artifacts. Yet whenever we see Picard examining the articfacts, all he does is stick it on a scanning platform and tell the computer to begin scan. Even when the articfact they are looking for is found, the computer announces the match. True, Picard might have been necessary originally to program the computer to scan accurately, but why is he needed now?

Memorable Moments

•    Picard using his knowledge of archaeology to defeat the villain

Quotable Quotes

"You will tell me who you really are, and what you’re doing on this ship, or I will kill you right here."
Tallera to Galen/Picard

Troi: (regarding Riker) He’s alright. He’s only stunned.
Data: I must admit, I am experiencing a similar sensation.

7.04 Gambit (Part 1)

Rating: 3.5

Investigating the disappearance of Captain Picard, all the evidence and eyewitness accounts point to his death at the hands of mystery aliens. But further investigation leads the Enterprise to the mercenary aliens, where Riker is captured and finds that Picard is very much alive and is masquerading as a mercenary named Galen.

Comments

Robin Curtis, the Romulan mercenary, previously starred as the Vulcan crewmember Saavik in the third and fourth Trek films. She’s plays the Romulan effectively, with a slight edge, and very unlike her more measured performance as a Vulcan.

Sabrina Le Beauf (Ensign Giusti) played Sondra Huxtable on the comedy TV series The Cosby Show.

That’s a decent cliffhanger ending, with Riker succeeding in getting the Enterprise to drop her shields, and then Picard firing phasers and hitting the nacelle.

Nits

Early on, Riker states that because Crusher has positively identified Picard’s DNA, that "…there is no doubt he is dead." So because there is some DNA and an unconfirmed account of a weapon discharge from an alien, Picard is definitely dead?

Arctus Baran has a New York accent. Is that regional accent so pervasive that people will still have them in the 24^th century? J

Memorable Moments

•    In the opening bar scene, Crusher looks cool wielding a phaser and wearing an unusual leather beret

•    Riker looks like he has either lost some weight or tightened his girdle

•    After Riker is captured by the mercenaries, Picard (as Galen) argues vehemently that Riker has no value and should be killed now. He even offers to do it and begins to move toward Riker (without a weapon). This makes no sense, until we see that Picard has also rigged the ship to fail and for set up Riker to save it. Now Riker is seen as having little value as a Starfleet officer hostage but great value as a mercenary member of the crew. That’s a clever little twist, and what’s nice is that it’s subtle (it isn’t explained at all, you just have to decide that’s what’s going on)

•    Data looks and acts very cool and confident while commanding the Enterprise

Quotable Quotes

"I explained to him that I am looking for a man that impregnated your sister."
- Worf to Riker

Alien: You’ll like this. The man [Picard] got what was coming to him. When they knocked him down, one of them took out a weapon. He was vaporized!
Troi: He’s telling the truth!

"You still wish you’d killed me?"
- Riker to Picard/Galen (after Riker saves the mercenary ship)

Picard/Galen: Baran wouldn’t last five minutes as captain if he didn’t have that control device.
Tallera: That almost sounds like a prelude to mutiny.

7.03 Interface

Rating: 2.5

Despite a report that the ship commanded by his mother is missing and presumed lost, Geordi continues with his current challenging assignment: as the living eyes and ears interface to an exploratory probe. While investigating a ship that was caught in the turbolent atmosphere of a gas giant, he finds the crew of the Ramaan dead. On a return visit, he finds one living crewmember – his missing mother.

Comments

This episode was written by Joe Menosky and directed by Robert Wiemer.

As the ‘probed’ Geordi, Levar Burton finally gets to have his big expressive eyes on camera. It makes one pause to give him even more credit at how good an emotive actor he is: for seven seasons, he has hidden his eyes and still managed to be incredibly expressive without showing them.

It seems like every senior staff member on the Enterprise has a shot at convincing Geordi that his mother is dead. I half thought that as he was walking down the hall, a couple of ensigns would yell out, "Hey, Geordi, your mom’s dead, okay? Give it up man!" J

Nits

Once again, as in the episode Second Chances, I am surprised that the information in the Ramaan’s computer cannot be extracted by some external means. Surely, by the 24^th century, remote computer access will be incredibly advanced (but then, perhaps the sophistication of security controls will also increase).

Geordi’s dad is talking about having a memorial service for Geordi’s missing mother, but Geordi tries to convince him that he is being premature. Well, he is being premature! Her ship (the Hera) has only been out of contact for 4 days! No debris has been found. Surely, her status would be ‘missing’, not ‘dead’. (This is partially explained away later, when Data states that ships in the circumstances of the Hera are statistically unlikely to ever be found).

Picard says, "Geordi. The Hera’s last reported position was 300 light years away. How could it end up here?" How about….a worm hole?

Memorable Moments

•    Geordi stopping to look at his ‘probe’ reflection in a com panel

Quotable Quotes

Riker: I just don’t like the idea of one of my best officers putting himself in unnecessary danger.
Geordi: I guess I feel like I should be the one to decide if it is unnecessary or not.

Data: I could have you confined to quarters for the duration of the mission.
Geordi: If that’s what you need to do, Data, then do it, because nothing short of that is going to stop me from trying to save my mother!

"You disobeyed my direct order. You put yourself in grave danger. I am not happy."
- Picard to Geordi

7.02 Liaisons

Rating: 3.5

As part of a cultural exchange with the Iyaaran people, Picard embarks with Voval to visit their homeworld, but their ship is forced to crash land on an M-class planet, injuring Voval in the process. Meanwhile, Wolf is assigned to attend to the rude and demanding Ambassador Byleth.

Comments

This episode has the feel of TOS – the simplistic approach to first contact.

As the episode progresses, Voval sounds more and more like Robert Stack narrating Unsolved Mysteries.

Nits

Riker complains to Worf that he will have to spend the next three days escorting the Iyaaran ambassador around the ship. In the next scene, however, Byleth says, "Yes, the next seven days should prove most illuminating." (Maybe that’s Iyarran days?)

Picard and Voval are thrown from their seats in the shuttlecraft, which once again begs the question: why are their no safety harnesses in these craft?

Picard, ready to go for help, tells Voval, "Try to stay conscious", then takes off. Is there no first aid kit on this ship with some medicine that could be administered to Voval to help him?

I truly dislike the contrivances that writers and directors will conspire to place into scripts – situations that just never happen in real life – like Troi speaking to the Ambassador while walking down the hall by herself, unaware that he has turned off into a corridor to investigate his first child-sighting. Would Troi really continue talking to him if he had been walking behind her? Would he even have been able to hear her if this had been their positions? No…and no.

Voval says, "Captain, this ride extends for a kilometer in either direction." ‘Captain?’ It seems unusual that Voval would address Picard in that manner – he sounds almost like a crewmember.

Memorable Moments

•    There’s a subtle shot of an alien silhouette dragging the unconscious Picard’s body away after he is knocked out by a plasma burst.

•    Worf beating the stuffing out of the Iyarran ambassador

Quotable Quotes

"Klingons do not procrastinate! It is a – tactical delay."
- Worf to Riker

Worf: I do not see why it is necessary to wear these – ridiculous uniforms.
Riker: Protocol.
Worf: They look like – dresses.
Riker: That is an incredibly outmoded and sexist attitude. I’m surprised at you. Besides, you look good in a dress.

Data: How is your diplomatic assignment progressing?
Worf: Fine!
Data: I have heard that in moments of diplomatic tension, it is often helpful to find elements of commonality.
Worf: Ambassador Byleth is…demanding, temperamental, and rude!
Data: You share all of those qualities in abundance. Perhaps you should try to build on your similarities.

Byleth: (to Geordi) You! Are you smarter than this one? (referring to Worf)
Geordi: Why do you ask?

"You are an insulting pompous fool! And if you were not an ambassador, I would disembowel you right here!"
- Worf to Byleth

Picard: Ambassador, I have to tell you that in my culture, what you have done would be considered a crime.
Voval: Crime?

7.01 Descent (Part 2)

Rating: 3.5

As Data and Lore prepare to use Geordi as a test subject in perfecting their race of all-conquering androids, Riker and Worf are captured by a clandestine group of Borg, led by Hugh (refer to the season 5 episode, I Borg), hiding from Lore’s control. When Geordi figures out a way to reboot Data’s ethical subroutine, Data is able to break free from Lore’s brainwashing. Faced with another attack by Lore, and realizing he is too evil, Data deactivates him.

Comments

This episode was written by Rene Echevarria. This follows an unusual trend where part two of episodes are not necessarily written by the same person or people as part one.

This is a great concept – that the introduction of individuality into the Borg collective caused wholesale anarchy and a legion of servants looking for someone to serve. It’s very much like the situations in Central Europe and the Middle East, where attempts to dispose of dominant rulers have left a vaccuum of leadership easily filled by the next despot.

In the final scene, Data prepares to destroy the emotion chip used by Lore; when granted with emotions, he almost permanently damaged his best friend Geordi. But Geordi saves the chip.

Nits

According to Lore, the Borg named Hugh, implanted with the idea of individuality, returned to his ship and ‘infected’ the other Borg, causing the crew of that one ship to wander aimlessly with no purpose. Why didn’t this problem also spread to the entire collective? I thought the point of sending Hugh back with the concept of his own individuality was to change the entire Borg hive, which is interconnected.

When trying to escape, Picard yanks a Borg’s facial tube out and the Borg collapses on the ground in pain, unable to move. Too bad they didn’t try this technique a few episodes back, when they would just fire a phaser at appraching Borg with no effect, then run away.

It’s contrived that Picard could rip a little piece of equipment off a Borg, then reconfigure it to send the exact type of pulse they need to reboot Data’s ethical program. I’m surprised Picard can even see the inner workings of this thing, which is only about 1 inch by 2 inches, and manipulate the inner workings using a finger. And why would Data be programmed to boot with a pulse anyway?

Memorable Moments

•    When Lore dies, his pupils disappear slowly, the way the picture used to fade slowly to a dot, and then to nothingness, on televisions.

Quotable Quotes

"The reign of biological life forms is coming to an end. You Picard, and those like you, are obsolete!"
- Lore

Geordi: (to Picard) See if you can locate the phase modulation circuitry.
Troi: I’ll watch the door.
(Troi gets all the hard jobs ;))

"I need to know I can count on you. As proof, I want you to kill Picard."
- Lore to Data

6.26 Descent (Part 1)

Rating: 3.5

The Enterprise encounters a new breed of emotional, bloodthirsty Borg, intent on killing, defending their comrades, and attacking outposts. While killing a Bord in hand-to-hand combat, Data experiences anger, and then pleasure. When a Borg is captured alive, he is able to manipulate Data to help him escape. The Enterprise follows, and Picard, Troi, and Geordi are captured by Data and Lore, who have joined together to lead these new Borg into battle.

Comments

Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore, from a story by Jeri Taylor.

This episode follows the arc started inI, Borg, where the Enterprise implanted the idea of individuality into a captured Borg drone.

This is a part one end-of-season cliffhanger episode.

Nits

When Data is fighting the Borg, the stunt double sequences are easy to see.

Picard says, "Well it may turn out that the moral thing to do, but not the right thing to do." I believe that line should have been, "Well it may turn out that the moral thing to do, was not the right thing to do."

It must be something with this episode, because after that, I could swear I hear Geordi say, "Dato, what exactly is it that you’re doing here?"

I don’t understand why Picard would send down almost everyone to the surface of the planet to conduct a search when he has no idea what danger may be down there.

Memorable Moments

•    The episode opens with Data having a card game on the holodeck with holograms of Sir Issac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. In a nice touch, the real Stephen Hawking guest cameos as a hologram of himself!

•    The matte painting of Ohniaka 3 is not exceptional, but it is augmented by animated clouds effects over the top just to keep you guessing. However, it has been used quite a number of times before in previous episodes to represent other, unrelated places.

•    Captain Crusher being placed in command of the Enterprise.

Quotable Quotes

Riker: It was more like fighting Klingons than Borg…no offense.
Worf: None taken.

Data: If was just after I had killed the Borg. I looked down at his body…I felt something!
Troi: If you had to give this feeling a name, what would you call it?
Data: I believe…it was…pleasure!

"Mr Worf, acknowledge the signal from New Berlin, and transmit another copy of Starfleet’s Ship Recognition Protocols, and tell them to read it this time!"
- Picard

"Klingon! Shatter cranial exoskeleton at the tricipital lobe! Death is immediate…Human! Sever spinal cord at third vertebrae, death is immediate."
- Borg Kronis

Kronis: If it meant that you could feel emotions again, the way you did on Onioca 3, would you kill your friend? Would you kill Geordi?
Data: Yes! I would!

"The sons of Soong have joined together! And together, we will destroy the Federation!"
- Data

6.25 Timescape

Rating: 3

While commanding the Enterprise, Riker receives a Romulan distress call, and heads to that area of space to investigate. Meanwhile, as Picard, Data, Geordi, and Troi are returning to the Enterprise from a conference, Troi notices that her three crewmembers suddenly and briefly become frozen in time. Further incidents and investigation reveals a temporal rift intersecting the ship, with many other rifts within the area. Careful manuevering gets the shuttle back to the rendezvous coordinates, where they find the Enterprise, frozen in battle with a Romulan warbird.

Comments

This episode was written by Brannon Braga and directed by Adam Nimoy (son of Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock on TOS). In this episode, as well as in Cause and Effect, Braga was already starting to show a propensity for using time travel in his scripts. Braga’s scripts also tend to be complex, plot-heavy, and completely plot-driven, rather than character-driven.

That’s a great idea: temporal narcosis, similar to deep-sea narcosis, and Geordi’s suggestions to avoid it – to limit the length of the trip, and to stick together – is similar too.

This episode has similarities to the TOS episode Wink Of An Eye,where five Scalosians move among the Enterprise crew in accellerated time.

Nits

For the most part, the ‘frozen’ crewmembers do a great job of both looking frozen and remaining motionless, but there still are a few slight wobbles.

At one point, Picard reaches for a bowl of fruit that is in a temporal anomaly, and the fingernails on his hand grow. However, if you look carefully just before this happens (when he is using the console and walking toward the fruit), you can see that his fingernails are already long on that hand.

When Data’s tricorder causes time to move forward and then back, Troi remember bits of the conversation between the Romulans, and Geordi is the one who notices a Romulan in a new location. Why doesn’t Data notice anything? Shouldn’t be able to remember all these things easily?

Shouldn’t the being that attacked and almost killed Geordi be placed in the brig, or some kind of cage or force field, even though he is unconscious? It seems risky to have him lieing around in the middle of the runabout.

After Data fails to prevent the initiation of the data transfer beam, a crewman informs him that it cannot be turned off. This seems ridiculous. Why can’t it be turned off? What will happen?

When Data is talking to Riker about watching the kettle boil, he uses at least two contractions. He is not supposed to be capable of doing this.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard does an amusing impression of a lecturer with a monotonous voice

•    The still visual image of Crusher’s stomach disintegrating while being hit by a phaser.

•    Picard drawing a smiley face in the cloud from the warp core breach, then giggling uncontrollably

•    Data’s look at the suddenly boiling kettle after he turns off his internal chronometer

Quotable Quotes

Geordi: He’s notororious, but he really is an expert on interspecies mating practices.
Data: Did you help him with his research, Counselor?
Troi: Absolutely not.
Data: I thought it was a topic you were interested in.

Riker: Captain?
Picard: It’s going to take a little time to explain, Number One.

Data: I’ve been testing the aphorism, ‘A watched pot never boils’. I’ve boiled the same amount of water in this kettle 62 times. In some cases, I have ignored the kettle. In others, I have watched it intently. In every instance, the water reaches its boiling point in precisely 51.7 seconds. It appears I am not capable of perceiving time any differently than my internal chronometer.
Riker: Well, why don’t you turn it off?
Data: Sir?
Riker: Data, people do not have internal chronometers. Why don’t you see what happens if you turn yours off?
Data: Thank you, sir. I will try that.
Riker: Just don’t be late for your shift.

6.24 Second Chances

Rating: 3.5

Eight years ago, Riker barely was able to transport off of the Potemkin and out of a distortion field. Now, when the Enterprise returns to the Potemkin to recover data left behind, the away team discovers a man who looks like – and claims to be – William Riker.

Comments

The episode was written by Rene Echevarria and directed by Levar Burton.

Some of the shots are blocked nicely, and slight camera movements add some flair without being overly distracting.

Jonathan Frakes does a commendable job playing two roles here. He creates subtle differences in the two characters, and we believe they are truly two different people. It’s also a great idea – to have Riker re-appear, with all the feelings about himself and Troi intact from eight years ago! The writers can therefore explore what is essentially a different timeline for the same character.

It’s good to see that even on Trek, they fall into place with all the major movie/tv cliches. For example, when Troi gets on top of Riker and starts kissing him, you know he will roll her during the kiss so that he is top of her!

There’s a simple solution to this romance problem between, Riker, Riker, and Troi: run Troi through the transporter and create a copy of her! Then everyone is happy!

Nits

This data must be very important – and needed in a timely manner – since they are willing to risk the life of a crewman to get it eight years later. Can’t they use some kind of mobile wireless connection to tap in? They seem to be able to tap into alien’s computers easier than this one! Or how about beaming the entire computer core up to the Enterprise, and then working on it there?

After being isolated and abandoned on a planet, perhaps Lt Riker should receive counseling before being sent back into duty.

Obviously, there are some serious questions about the feasibility of creating two Rikers from one transporter pattern, even within the Trek universe. They try to explain it away with technobabble, but it’s a little unclear.

On the first away mission with both Rikers, the Commander grabs the Lieutenant and spins him around. Only one problem; the red-sleeved arm doesn’t seem to be quite attached to Commander Riker’s body! (This must be related to the way this dual-image shot is composed).

There’s an obvious stunt double for Riker hanging from the dangling bridge.

Memorable Moments

•    In the opening scene, Troi and Crusher look very good, all dressed up and bopping to Riker’s jazz music.

•    Riker and Riker having a meaningful, well-written little discussion about their father.

Quotable Quotes

"I know it’s been a long time since we’ve been together, and I know your feelings have changed. Mine haven’t."
- Lt Riker to Troi

Crusher: Deanna, just because things turned out the way they did between you and Commander Riker, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t let things between you and Lieutenant Riker take their own course.
Troi: I knew you’d encourage me.

Data: Lieutenant, I am curious about something. If you met a double of yourself, would you have difficulty interacting with him?
Worf: I think so.
Data: Why?
Worf: I am not easy to get along with.

"Perhaps it is more a matter of seeing something in your double – something you do not like in yourself."
- Worf, explaining to Data why the Rikers are not getting along

6.23 Rightful Heir

Rating: 4

Obsessed by the question of his own spiritual Klingon beliefs, Worf journeys to Boreth, where Klingon true believers await the return of Kahless, to discover the depth of his own spirit. But his vision quest produces not an image of Kahless, but a real Klingon who claims to be Kahless.

Comments

This episode was written by Ronald D. Moore, from a story by James E. Brooks. Moore once again expands the Klingon culture with this well-written episode. The main concept (cloning) seems blasé nowadays, but in 1992, this would have been an innovative and original idea.

Kevin Conway is excellent as Kahless.

Nits

The Kahless clone tells Worf that he appeared to him in a vision at age 3. It’s true; Kahless did appear – but how does the clone know this?

Memorable Moments

•    All scenes with Worf, Gowron, and Kahless are well-written and well-acted.

Quotable Quotes

"When I saw the power of their beliefs, I began to question the strength of my own, and I found it…wanting."
- Worf

"Do not forget that a leader need not answer questions of those he leads. It is enough that he says to do a thing and they will do it. If he says to run, they run. If he says to fight, they fight. If he says to die, they die."
- Kahless

Worf: A clone! He is a clone!
Kahless: What…is a clone?

Kahless: Join with me, Gowron. Let us usher in this new era together!
Gowron: Vorkah…noooo…hach! Kahless!

6.22 Suspicions

Rating: 2.5

Beverly Crusher faces a court-martial for her role in bringing together a number of scientists to explore a Ferengi scientist’s working model of a metaphasic shield capable of withstanding a sun’s corona. The T’Karian scientist Jo’Bril dies as the result of a shuttle accident while testing the shields. Soon after, the Ferengi scientist Reyga is found dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted wound. But Crusher believes he was murdered. Her unwillingness to drop the investigation causes her to perform an illegal autopsy on Reyga, and she is removed from duty.

Comments

Although Joe Menosky (one of my favorite Trek writers) penned this episode, it is a little too obvious that the killer of Reyga is the supposedly dead T’Karian. However, because I did see this episode once before (albeit 13 years ago), I could possibly have some memory of this twist in my brain. Nonetheless, the possible effectiveness of the Agatha Christie-style murder mystery is stunted by poor pacing and Gates McFadden’s mediocre acting.

This was Whoopi Goldberg’s last appearance in the television series.

Nits

When Reyga and Crusher walk down the hallway together early in the episode, he keeps rubbing his shoulder against hers. This seems like it would be a provocative invasion of her personal space, and a form of (sexual) harassment. Why doesn’t she tell him to maintain some kind of distance? Even stranger, when they get in the turbolift, he gets in first, then she stands, touching his shoulder. Again, this seems odd for two people in a non-intimate relationship. Maybe something is going on between the two of them that we don’t know about!

It’s inexcusable that Jo’Bril dies as a result of the shuttle test. Why would anyone send a manned shuttle to test the shields when an unmanned probe could have been rigged up to do this? Surely in the 24^th century they have remote controlled craft that could do this – they have them in the 21^st century! And where is Geordi in this episode? This seems like something he and Data could have put together in a couple of hours.

Why is Crusher even attempting to treat Jo’Bril if she obviously has no medical and anatomical knowledge of the race? She expresses surprise at the K’Taran’s organ-free internal structure, which infers that she has not even seen a representation of this in a medical textbook or database. Of course, if she had some of this knowledge in advance, the whole mystery might have been solved a lot earlier too.

At one point, Crusher admits to herself that investigating a murder is more difficult than she thought. Very true, and it makes me wonder why she is running the investigation, rather then Worf, the security officer, or Data, who often performs that sort of role

When Crusher is removed from active duty in this episode, she still parades around wearing her Starfleet uniform. Is there some way a crewperson can identify that she should be denied normal clearance, and that any orders she gives should be ignored?

Memorable Moments

•    Crusher blowing a hole straight through Jo’Bril

Quotable Quotes

"Thank you Doctor, this looks like a great racket, but…I don’t play tennis. Never have."
- Guinan, revealing that she was only visiting Crusher to help her through a difficult time

6.21 Frame of Mind

Rating: 2.5

On route to Tilonus 4 to work undercover and free hostages, Riker rehearses the role of an insane man accused of murder for Beverly’s play. He begins to suffer headaches, to feel people are staring at him and to see a new crewmember on board, observing him. When he completes the play and takes his final bow, he finds that he is not on board the Enterprise, but instead is being held captive on Tilonus, where a doctor is attempting to convince him that his life in Starfleet is merely a delusion. But is he on Tilonus? Or he is merely hallucinating the scenes of torture?

Comments

This episode was written by Brannon  Braga.

The story combines elements of the episodes Chain of Command (where Picard is held prisoner and tortured) and Future Imperfect, where an alien being creates a fantasy world for himself and Riker. However, it falls short, lacking the clever twists of Future Imperfect and Picard’s acting in Chain of Command.

Riker gets ‘A’ for effort as he extends himself in the role of a crazy man.

Nits

After Riker performs the play and attacks a lieutenant, Crusher examines him in sick bay. He is still agitated and believes that he was injected with drugs, but Crusher checks him out, simply tells him that he is fine so he should feel fine, and sends him on his way. How about asking that he stay in sick bay for 24 hours of observation?

Riker shoots himself with a phaser to prove it isn’t real. How about aiming it at a wall?

Keep in mind that most of what happens in this episode is in Riker’s head, so it becomes impossible to nitpick it.

Quotable Quotes

"This could be a sign that you’re a real actor!"
-Troi to Riker

6.20 The Chase

Rating: 3

Picard’s former archaeology professor, Galen, makes a surprise visit with a gift of a rare Kurlan artifact, and an invitation to join him on a year-long expedition. Picard regretfully turns him down. Soon after, Galen is killed when his shuttlecraft is attacked by Uridians. Desparate for answers, Picard foregoes his Starfleet obligations and hops from planet to planet, pursuing clues regarding Galen’s death and research.

Comments

This episode was co-written by Joe Menosky and Ronald D Moore, and directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Any episode featuring Picard is going to be a notch better, and this is an ambitious effort, featuring death, Klingons, Romulans, phaser fights, use of Picard’s long-standing archeology arc, and an allegiance to the optimistic outlook on the future. Nonetheless, the structure and flow somehow lets the overall episode down; any dramatic tension is limited.

Norman Lloyd (Professor Galen) is a prolific veteran movie and television character actor whose first listed appearance in the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) is from 1939.

Salome Jens (the humanoid progenitor) would later play a female shapeshifter on a number of DS9 episodes.

Nits

When Data says, "We are approaching the Loren system," his lips say another word, not ‘Loren’. Possibly, he says, ‘Kurlan’, since this star system is referred to as the Kurlan system earlier.

Early on, when Galen invites Picard on his expedition, Picard asks how long it will take. Galen says, "If I had complete diplomatic access, and a starship, perhaps a matter of weeks." Well, Picard managed to do it in one episode! Maybe Picard should have made that career decision to be an archaeologist!

Memorable Moments

•    Data besting the Klingon at B’hat G’oul

Quotable Quotes

"I had a father, but he was like a father who understood me. And he had his own children but they didn’t follow in his footsteps, so I was like the son who understood him."
- Picard, explaining his relationship with Galen

"My upper spinal support is a poly-alloy designed to withstand extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenite and duranium."
- Data, explaining to the Kligon why that head butt was not such a good idea

Romulan: Captain, our ships are leaving orbit for Romulan space. Until our next encounter.
Picard: Until then.
Romulan: It would seem that we are not completely dis-siimilar after all; in our hopes, and in our fears.
Picard: Yes.
Romulan: Well, then, perhaps…one day.
Picard: One day.

6.19 Lessons

Rating: 5

A relationship between Picard and Lt Commander Daren, an intriguing stellar cartography expert, poses a problem when command decisions have to be weighed against a growing love.

Comments

Wendy Hughes (Daren) is refreshingly relaxed in her role. She’s an established dramatic actress with high credentials, and Patrick Stewart must have been happy to get a chance to work with her (and vice versa; their chemistry is excellent). She delivers her dialogue with natural changes in pacing that make it feel unrehearsed and realistic. She’s also well-cast here; it’s believable that Picard would be attracted to an intelligent, confident, somewhat haughty woman, although his overreactions of joy do seem just a tad out of character.

Once again, the arc of Picard’s Ressican flute-playing experience is worked into the script. In fact, he shares his Ktan ‘experience’ with Daren in a very moving scene. These little touches of continuity are highly appreciated by dedicated watchers of the series.

This is the second Picard-heavy episode in a row, and I say, keep ‘em coming, because I could listen to this guy deliver dialogue all day.

Director Robert Wiemer adds a few unusual camera locations and angles, and varied lighting, and we are grateful that he moves the camera occasionally too.

As in Birthright, Part 2, this is another adult relationship handled with mature dialogue. It’s as if a switch has been flicked lately in NextGen, because up until recently most adult relationships were treated very childishly.

Writing, directing, use of classical music, and excellent acting…I wish all episodes were as good as this one.

Nits

In this age of high-tech ways of adjusting components, it seems outrageous that Daren needs complete silence and lights out to manually ‘eyeball’ an adjustment. Why doesn’t she just get Data to do it?

In the scene where Daren and Picard are playing a duet together in his quarters, when Picard is improvising the more tricky part on the flute, his hands look twisted at an odd angle, and the angle of the flute has changed from pointing downward (in scenes where we can see it is definitely him playing) to pointing parallel to the floor. My guess would be that someone else is lieing down in front of him, reaching up to finger the flute correctly for him. Patrick Stewart also seems to be having a little trouble keeping a straight face, which might have something to do with this.

Memorable Moments

•    There’s a nice zoom-out shot of Daren and Picard playing a duet in the Jefferies tube. Cut to Engineering, where Geordi hears the music. The music stops, and we suspect why – but don’t know for some time until we see they are kissing.

•    The golden light and the approaching storm as Daren and the perimeter team work on the ravaged planet.

Quotable Quotes

Daren: I’m trying to construct a mathematical model of an emerging star system. If it works, we’ll be able to predict the configuration of a star system that won’t be formed for another two million years.
Picard: A long time to wait to see if you’re right.
Daren: I have a few things to do between now and then.

Picard: The Enterprise encountered a probe that had been sent from the planet before it was destroyed, and it scanned me, and I lost consciousness…and…in the space of twenty-five minutes, I lived a lifetime on that planet! I had a wife, and…and children, and a grandchild! And it was absolutely real to me! And when I woke, all that I had left of that life was that flute that I’d taught myself to play.
Daren: Why are you telling me this?
Picard: Because I want you to understand what my music means to me. And what it means to me to be able to share it with someone.

"I’ve lost people under my command, people who were…very dear to me, but never…someone I’ve been in love with."
- Picard to Daren

6.18 Starship Mine

Rating: 4

The Enterprise is docked at the Remmlar array, undergoing a routine procedure to remove baryon particles. Picard makes a last minute trip back to the supposedly deserted ship to grab his saddle for horse-riding, but instead finds that those people assigned to install baryon equipment are still there and are planning on sabotaging – or stealing – the ship. Meanwhile, the remainder of the senior staff is held hostage on the array.

Comments

Tim Russ (Devore) is one of the people from the array assigned to install equipment for the baryon sweep. A few years later, he would become regular cast member Tuvok on VOY.

Any episode featuring the great delivery of Patrick Stewart is always a notch above the rest.

Nits

Toward the end of the episode, when Picard enters Ten Forward with two terrorists, he walks across a blue strip on the floor. The strip has nothing on it. After he crosses, the terrorist behind him walks over the strip. The strip now magically has four small globs on it that explode when the terrorist steps near them.

Memorable Moments

•    The prosthetics for the multi-nostriled alien. If you like to pick your nose, this is the race for you!

Quotable Quotes

"Mr LaForge, I cannot excuse my entire senior staff! Mr Worf beat you to it."
- Picard, vetoing LaForge’s attempt to avoid Commander Hutchinson’s small talk

Devore: You’re Starfleet! You won’t kill me.
Picard: You sure?

6.17 Birthright (Part 2)

Rating: 4

Captured and forced to stay within the prison, Worf learns that the Romulan jailer Tokath sacrificed his career to keep these Kligons from being slaughtered by the Romulan government. He even took a Klingon wife. Unimpressed, Worf still attempts to escape; when this fails, he begins to influence the younger Klingons with his tales of Kahless and his demonstrations of Mak’tah (a Klingon form of Tai Chi). As the young Klingons learn more and more about their culture, Worf’s influence causes too much trouble for Tokath, and he sentences Worf to death.

Comments

Part two is written by Rene Echevaria, whereas part one was written by Brannon Braga.

This second part is more interesting. There are numerous gray areas in the tale of captured Klingons, disgraced by their mere capture, deciding to spare their families honor by remaining hidden and feigning death. Into their midst comes Worf, bringer of true Klingon culture. The younger ones thirst for this. Some people have expressed the opinion that Worf was in the wrong. He happened upon a colony where Romulans and Klingons were living in peace and he disrupted it. My opinion is this is not a colony. This is more of a prison or a cult – it is still run by Romulans, and the only reason the young Klingons are there is because they have been lied to.

The love interest between Vayel and Worf is one of the better examples of a relationship written in an adult manner, which is somewhat rare on Star Trek.

There’s something extremely weird about this two-part episode – the thread of Data dreaming is not carried over – or even mentioned – in the second part!

Nits

When I reviewed the VOY episode initiations, I commented that the Kaizon’s practice of allowing the victorious apprentice warrior to kill his young competitor would surely cause half of their potential warriors to be eliminated. Here, I have a similar comment about the Kligon’s practice of condemning anyone who is captured. Surely it is of more value to the Klingons to accept these people back. Captured warriors, properly clothed and fed, present a logistical and financial problem for those who capture them, so these prisoners are not useless.

Memorable Moments

•    There are many, but Worf’s scenes with Tokath are the best.

Quotable Quotes

"You are not allowed to leave the compound? Then I suppose I will not be seeing you at the pond again."
- Vayel, the young Klingon woman, to Worf, sad that he will not be perving at her anymore

"Tonight, as we came home, we sang a song of victory – a song known only to me as a lullaby. But it is a warrior’s song! Bak da tu moh. Fire streaks the heavens! Sho ja tu mo! Battle has begun!"
- Toq

"And what about Toq? I saw what happened to him when he caught the scent of his prey on the wind. For the first time in his life, he felt powerful and that is what he has been denied living here! And that is what you have tried to take away from him! Now you may be content to sit here in the jungle and wither to old age, but Toq and the others have tasted what it is to feel truly alive, and they will not give that up now!"
- Worf to Tokath

6.16 Birthright (Part 1)

Rating: 3

While the Enterprise is stationed at Deep Space 9 to aid the Bajorans in implementing a system of aqueducts, Worf receives news that his father – believed dead for 25 years – may be alive. Working on information sold to him by a Yridian, Worf finds the prison location, but the Klingons there seem unwilling to leave. Instead, they take Worf prisoner, fearing he will bring others if they let him go.

Meanwhile, an accident shuts Data’s positronic brain down completely for a few moments, yet in those moments, he has what seems like a dream of his father, Dr Soong.

Comments

Alexander Siddig appears as Dr Bashir. Bashir later became a regular cast member on DS9. He is billed here as ‘Siddig El Fadil’.

This episode aired about two months after the premiere of DS9. It served as cross-promotion, and made use of the DS9 sets.

Nits

This is so typical of TV shows in general and Trek in particular, but when Worf harasses the Yridian into agreeing to take them to the Romulan prison camp, Worf just walks away. They don’t set a time, and Wolf still doesn’t really have any ‘contact information’ for this guy.

After a commercial break, I was surprised to see Worf and the Yridian walking together on the prison planet’s surface, until I realized this would only have been scripted so they could avoid any landing/beaming special effects.

I found it shocking that Geordi would help Data to recreate the accident that caused him to have a dream. After all, it seemed to almost destroy his brain.

It’s very difficult to catch, but near the end of the episode, when Data and Bashir are walking down the hall together, Bashir’s shoes start off as black boots and change to what look like white sneakers.

Memorable Moments

•    Star Trek has so few moments of cinematic imagination, so I must mention that out-of-character bird perspective as Data, in his dream, flies out into space through an Enterprise window and views the ship from overhead .

Quotable Quotes

"Would you like to talk about what’s bothering you, or would you like to break some more furniture?"
- Troi to Worf

"You’re right that machines can’t have hallucinations. But then, most machines can’t grow hair."
- Bashir to Data

6.15 Tapestry

Rating: 2.5

After an attack by aliens at a conference, Picard life functions cease. He finds himself in an area of great light, where he is greeted by none other than Q, who informs him that he is dead. It was Picard’s artificial heart that caused his death in this circumstance. This articficial heart is in use because during his undisciplined youth, Picard took on three Nausicans and was stabbed. Q offers Picard a chance to correct the choices he made in his youth, but when Picard succeeds, he find that in the present, he is safe, but his rank has been reduced to ensign.

Comments

The storyline of Picard’s encounter with the Nausicans was first introduced in the second season episode Samaritan Snare.

In the TOS episode The Enemy Within, a transporter malfunction splits Kirk into two separate beings, dividing his personality into a gentler half, and an aggressive, ‘evil’ half. He learns that without these two halfs together, he no longer possesses the ability to properly command a ship. He needs the aggressive, selfish side. Picard learns something similar here. His willingness to take chances led to an appreciation for every moment in life. Without that, he would have been happy with a safe existence.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard waking up in bed with Q

•    The unusually high level of acting in the supporting cast of Picard’s youthful friends

Quotable Quotes

"Welcome to the afterlife, Jean Luc. You’re dead!"
- Q’s greeting to Picard

"It’s a beautiful story. It gets you (taps chest) right here, doesn’t it?"
- Q, egging Picard on about his telling of the night when he was stabbed by a Nausican