Reviews (9)

Susanna Thompson
In my opinion, "Rejoined" represents Star Trek at it's finest. I only wish they continued with this storyline with the later episodes of DS9.

"Rejoined" also highlights the career of Susanna Thompson (Lenara). Many people became instant fans of hers immediately after "Rejoined" aired. I'm one of those fans. :)

This is a classic episode which every Star Trek fan should have in their collection. A big round of applause should go to Avery Brooks for his directing and Rene Echevarria for his writing.

Surprisingly functional for a love story
..."Rejoined" is at first glance just another boring love story.

It deals with a forbidden relationship between our Trill science officer Jazia Dax and Lenara Kahn, another joined Trill scientist.

The thing that makes this relationship forbidden is the fact that the two of them have been married before. Kind of...

A hundred years earlier when the Dax symbiont was joined to a host named Torias, he (Torias Dax) was married to Leilani Kahn, a person who was half the Kahn symbiont, half a long dead woman.

There's nothing more unholy in the Trill society than a joined Trill 'rejoined' to a family member or a beloved from his/her 'past life'. People who have committed this have been exiled from the Trill homeworld. The result has been the eventual death of both the host and the symbiont, as a new host has been unavailable. And according to the first code of trill morale, the symbiont's life is everything.

It all begins when Lenora Kahn comes to DS9 to commit an experiment in wich an artificial wormhole is being created.

Lenara has an older scientist and his brother watching over her shoulder for the experiment and for her ex-husbands 'new form'.

Eventually, Lenara and Jazia redescover the love Leilani and Torias had. This leads into a powerfull and even beautiful story of forbidden love that contains all the clichés that go along with that same old story, but manages to offer thought-provoking and powerfull scenes. A big credit of this goes to the powerfull performances by Terry Farrel and ----- as Jazia Dax and Lenara Kahn.

"Rejoined" is all about a society's and culture's autonomy over individuals and their lives, and it gives a lot to think about.

Then of cource there's the issue with the motives behind the episode.

"Rejoined" is a very Roddenberrian episode that defends the oppressed, this time sexual minorities, and in that respect "Rejoined" isn't all that succesfull.

The story is extremely figurative, and doesn't make a clear statement. It avoids direct opinion by using the Trill, who have lived several lives both as male and female. That way you could state that bisexuality would be unavoidable for a Trill.

Still, the episode has some successes in that field also. The fact that both Jazia and Lenara are women isn't an issue. At all. On the countrary, when Lenara first comes to the station, Jazia's colleagues speculate on a possible relationship. And before this episode, Jazia's had several relationships with men. This would suggest that Star Trek confirms what sosiologist and psychologist have speculated: that sexuality isn't going to be so one-sided in the future as it becomes less of a tabu.

Nevertheless it would have made a better impact to the show if it had made a clear and unnegotiable statement on the issue. After all, Star Trek is being marketed as an open minded and intellectual show. Well, they still have "Enterprise" and movies, and several Star Trek books have made a clear statement on sexual minorities. And the oppinion of the writers is clearly apparent in "Rejoined", and we get to witness a lesbian kiss that doesn't leave (almost :)) anyone cold...

"Rejoined" is mature and surprisingly unsentimental for a virtually plotless love story episode, containing good characterization, quality drama and exellent acting performances.

Good drama.

The Alien Among Us
Rejoined is often mistaken for a "gay" episode, and while the undertones are undeniable, and the acceptence of same sex relationships in the 24th century assumed, this is in fact, not what the episode is about.

In many episodes, the nature of the Trill is assumed, and their society seems not so different as our own. Their looks and the familiar presense of Jadzia Dax make us forget that with few exceptions, the Trill are the most alien society featured in the Star Trek universe.

Rejoined brings the viewer face to face with societal responsability, love, and what it means to be an individual. All and all, an excellent outing, Star Trek at it's best.

THis episode makes you think
I am a huge fan of Deep Space Nine, and this is one of my favorite episodes. This episode makes you think about all of the implications of the joined Trills. I do not think that this episode has anything to do with homosexualtiy. The fact that Dax and Khan are both currently in female hosts is unimportant. If anything, I think the Star Trek people have been very concervative with the sexual preferences of the Trill. TO my knowledge, the issue of the symbiants genders has never been explained. What if the symbiant was male and the host was female or vice versa? I tend to think of the symbiants as hermaphroditic just because it simplies things. Even then, that means half of your personality was dervied from a creature that can mate with any of its own kind. Then, there would be the effects of the past hosts on your personality. At this point in the series, Dax had been male 4 times and female 4 times. This means that Dax remembers being a man and presumably finding women attractive. Also, both times that a trill has shown an attraction to someone of the same gender on Star Trek, the two were first involved as a heterosexual couple before one (or both) of them changed host(s) and gender. For those homphobics out there, ask yourself this: If you woke up one morning and you were in a body of the opposite gender than when you went to sleep would you love your spouse any less? THAT is the situation Jadzia has finds herself in in this episode. When she fell in love with and married Nilani Khan Dax was a man. Jadzia overcomes her obviously heterosexual orientation (every other relationship she had on DS9 was with a man) because she has a shared history with Khan.

Dax rejoins with an old lover, breaking the Trill taboo
A team of Trill scientists comes to DS9 to create an artificial wormhole. The leader of the scientists, Dr. Lenara Kahn, used to be Nilani Kahn, who was the wife of Torias Dax. For those keeping track of all the Daxes (Daxi?), Torias was before Joran who was before Curzon who preceded Jadziah. However Kahn has gone directly from Nilani to Lenara. Now, to make things really interesting, we learn that the Trills have a taboo against continuing a love relationship begun by another host. Violation of this taboo is punished by exile from the Trill home world, which means the symbiont will never have an opportunity to join with another host. Of course, Dax and Kahn discover that their feelings for each other are still strong.

You certainly to appreciate the idea that love transcends gender/body type that is at the heart of "Rejoined." I always liked the way Sisko called Dax "old man" because of his relationship with Curzon. At this point in time on the cosmic wheel Dax and Kahn both happen to be women, but that just has to do with their hosts not with the symbionts themselves. The first time I watched this episode I thought the taboo idea was stupid. After all, is symbionts can go on living forever then why can they not go on loving forever? But the more you think about it the more interesting it gets. Are the symbionts the only ones in love? What about the hosts? Do they agree to be in love with someone or is one party more dominant in that regard? Would we not expect Jadziah Dax to have different tastes in the realm of love from Torias Dax or Curzon Dax? Are the Trills prohibited from being in love before they become hosts? There are all sorts of fascinating questions this episode raises, but "Rejoined" is one of those self-contained little episodes with an unsatisfactory ending that does nothing more than remind us that next week there will be a new story with new guest stars on DS9. This is why I prefer the Star Trek stories that add or at least work into the existing mythos. "Rejoined" just scratches the surface on the interesting issues it raises. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Vincent Searches Below for a Kidnapped Catherine
Paracelsus (arch-nemesis to the tunnel dwellers) kidnaps Catherine in order to lure Vincent into a trap. Vincent and friends encounter some (perhaps overly) fanciful settings as they venture deeply below ground in seach of Catherine. We eventually get a WWF-style wrestling match between Vincent and a very large man as a chained damsel-in-distress (Catherine) looks on. What Paracelsus wants to achieve by setting up this whole thing is not entirely clear. Paracelsus' actions are particularly puzzling when one considers his behavior in later episodes (when Vincent seems to be the apple of his eye). "To Reign in Hell" does have some good moments, including some mournful ones.

In 1998 I conducted a poll among Beauty and the Beast fans asking them to rate the 44 episodes of the first two seasons on a 1-to-10 scale. 31 fans participated. "To Reign in Hell" finished 25th out of the 44 episodes.

I placed "To Reign in Hell" 34th in my own personal rank-ordering of the episodes.

To Reign in Hell is boring as hell.
Paracelsus, an old enemy of Vincent's, kidnaps Catherine and Vincent goes in search of her. She is being held deep down in the sewers, a few days travel for Vincent. Most of the show is about Vincent's journey which is mind-numblingly boring. I found myself fast forwarding through much of it. Catherine is hardly in the show at all, and she is the main reason I watch. Please do not buy this video. It is sorely disappointing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

So, you say you want an evolution? Not on this planet.
The Enterprise rescues a seriously injured humanoid from a severely damaged escape pod. Dr. Crusher fears for the worst, but then the patient makes a miraculous recovery, although he remembers neither his name nor his past. Crusher calls him "John Doe" and discovers his cells are mutating, eventually leading to strange energy surges. La Forge and Data figure out that their visitor is from the planet Zalkon, and when the Enterprise arrives there several weeks later they are stunned when a ship meets them and its captain demands they turn over the dangerous criminal they are holding for punishment.

"Transfigurations" starts off as a pretty standard mystery: who is this stranger person and why are his cells mutating? The twist comes when we get our answer, at which point the episode becomes one of the more provocative ones dealing with the good ol' Prime Directive. At issue is how to respect the rights of an individual versus the rights of a society. Episodes like this make you wonder why each ship in Starfleet does not have someone from the Judge Advocate General's Office on the bridge all the time. ... Read more

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According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, "Yesterday's Enterprise" was written by committee and hastily finalized to meet shooting demands. The end result is arguably the best episode of the series. (It often outranks "Best of Both Worlds" in fan top 10 polls.) What easily could have been a typical TNG time-anomaly story turns out to be a powerful and disconcerting teleplay about the cost of war versus the price of peace.

The teaser opens with Guinan (Whoopie Goldberg) introducing Mr. Worf to a new beverage. After no small amount of wheedling, the recalcitrant Klingon dubs prune juice "a warrior's drink." This is a pivotal scene. Why? Because later, when Guinan looks out the window of Ten-Forward, she sees a strange cloud--and when she looks back, nothing is the same. The Enterprise-D is now a battleship, the Federation is entrenched in a 22-year war against the Klingons, and tactical officer Tasha Yar is very much alive. To the astonishment of the bridge crew, the long-lost Enterprise-C hovers badly damaged within a temporal rift. And something deep within Guinan tells her none of this is right...

"Yesterday's Enterprise" has it all: great writing, great acting, and, above all, honor. This episode belongs in every TNG video collection. Note: it contains tons of embedded trivia. Combat date is used instead of stardate and military log for captain's log, and early film uniforms are worn aboard the Enterprise-C. Watch for Geordi's famous "cuff" blooper in the last scene. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The resurrection and redemption of Tasha Yar
"Yesterday's Enterprise" is one of the greatest Next Generation stories, in which the character of Tasha Yar is given more depth and resonance in this single episode than she had during her entire time on the show's first season. The Enterprise encounters a temporal rift through which flies the Enterprise-C, the predecessor to Jean-Luc Picard's own Enterprise-D. In that instant, everything changes. We are now aboard a ship of war, which has been fighting a losing war with the Klingon Empire. Of course Worf is gone and in his place is Tasha Yar. Only Guinan knows that something is wrong and has to convince Picard that this time line is wrong and that the right one must be restored. "This is a ship of war," Picard tells her. "No, its not," she insists, "It a ship of peace." What happened? The Enterprise-C was responding to a distress call from a Klingon ship being attacked by the Romulans. Eventually Picard surmises that the Enterprise-C must have been destroyed in the encounter, a honorable act that the Klingons would have respected. The choice then is between using the Enterprise-C to help fight the war with the Klingons in this time-line or send the ship back to certain death on the chance that will make everythign all right. Meanwhile, Tasha is told by Guinan that in the "true" reality she is dead and that her death was without meaning.

This is a stunning episode, which not only provides dignity to a character who was pretty much dismissed by everyone in the first season, but which also sets up several marvelous plot twists down the road. Denise Crosby does the most with this wonderful second chance to play this character. The moments that Madame Whoops has with both Picard and Tasha are marvelous. I always like the little hints of the true nature of Picard's relationship with Guinan. It is also nice to see Christopher McDonald in something other than the male jerk roles he has been typecasted with ever since "Thelma and Louise." This is an A+ episode and before this third season ends there will be several more just as good ("The Offspring," "Sarek," "Menage a Troi," "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I"). This series really starts cooking at this point.

Ooooh Yes!
Here's an episode that brings out the best of Star Trek. The alternate universe created by the Enterprise C's time slip is utterly eerie. The war-torn Federation is getting trounced by the Klingon Empire (hardly surprising, if it did indeed come down to all out war). Everyone's on edge, Picard is at Riker's throat, and Tasha Yar strolls the gritty bridge, back in the land of the living.

And of course, Star Trek provides us with a moral dilema as Picard must convince the C crew to return to certain death. One is reminded of Wrath of Khan, when does the good of the many outweight the good of the few? It's also inspiring to give Yar a better send-off after the disaster that was Skin of Evil. This episode is a must for any fan of Star Trek.

One of the top 5
I was an original Star Trek fan back in the 60's but didn't catch hardly any of the Next Gen. series until after it was over went into reruns. Then I caught all of them in a year and a half, since they were playing them 5 nights a week. . .

Having now seen probably all of them, I have to say this is one of the greatest episodes. Denise Crosby gets to reprise her Tasha Yar role in a dramatic episode where she returns with an earlier doomed Enterprise (about 70 years earlier) to its past to try to save the ship, which is losing a battle with the Klingons. She is told by Guinan that her death was "...without meaning," and now she has a second chance. She goes back with the doomed crew to see if she can make a difference.

There are some other nice touches to this episode, such as Guinan's relationship with Captain Picard, who must convince Picard that there is something wrong with their timeline and something has altered their present, and so it must be changed back by returning the earlier Enterprise to its past. But Crosby finally gets to be the star of this one episode. Don't miss it.

Easily the best of the TNG episodes...
Every bit of it just works. Captain Rachel Garrett turns in a GREAT performance as the captain of the Enterprise-C . Patrick Stewart's finest performance as Picard; a harder man who has seen many more battles than his alternate-timeline counterpart; carrying the weight of the knowledge that the war with the Klingons does not go well for the Federation. He doesn't smile once.

The final line in Picard's battle speech to his crew, as he explains that the Enterprise-D MUST protect the Enterprise-C at any cost: 'Let us make sure that history never forgets the name Enterprise.' Best line ever spoken in Star Trek.

The U.S.S. Enterprise-C intercepts the U.S.S. Enterprise-D.
Synopsis:

The course of history is altered by the mysterious appearance of a U.S.S. Enterprise from the past.

While on a routine mission, the U.S.S. Enterprise discovers a bizarre rift in space, which reveals an unidentified vessel. Both ships are now on an alternate universe where the Federation is in the midst of a twenty-year bloody war with the Klingons.

The crew identifies the mysterious vessel as their ships' immediate predecessor, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-C, believed to have been destroyed in battle twenty-two years ago. Their own crew now includes Tasha Yar, the ex-security chief who was killed in the line of duty. Meeting with the captain of that vessel, Captain Rachel Garrett, Picard learns that it was responding to a distress signal on a Klingon outpost when it was attacked by four Romulan Warbirds. But in the middle of the assault, the ship broke through the space rift, thus saving it from the destruction recorded in the history books, and now history has no memory of the U.S.S. Enterprise-C's battle with the Romulans. Although Picard and his crew are baffled by the strange appearance of the U.S.S. Enterprise-C, Guinan's alien instincts lead her to believe that the Federation's current bloody war with the Klingons is the result of the U.S.S. Enterprise-C's presence in their future. Certain that the ship is now existing in the wrong time line, she pleads with Picard to send the U.S.S. Enterprise-C back through the rift in order to change the course of events, which has resulted in the loss of 40 billion lives during the Klingon war.

Picard confers with Data, who asserts that if the U.S.S. Enterprise-C was destroyed while aiding the Klingon outpost, it would have been viewed as an honorable act, which means the current war with the Klingons may have been avoided. Faced with this knowledge, Picard decides to send the U.S.S. Enterprise-C back through the time rift, to face its tragic destiny.

Meanwhile, Tasha learns from Guinan that, in the correct time line, she died a meaningless death. In response, Tasha requests that she be allowed to serve on the doomed U.S.S. Enterprise-C crew so that she may die in the heroic battle with the Romulans, and Picard reluctantly agrees.

As the U.S.S. Enterprise-C makes its way back through the time rift, three Klingon warships try to launch an attack on it. To assure that the U.S.S. Enterprise-C returns to its rightful place in time, Picard positions the U.S.S. Enterprise-D between that vessel and the Klingons, sustaining heavy casualities in the process. Just as the U.S.S. Enterprise-D's engine core seems on the verge of exploding, Data announces that the rift has closed, and, unaware of the preceding events, the U.S.S. Enterprise returns to its original time line, heading for a cultural exchange program with a Klingon delegation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Road pirates.
Really fast service. I would recommend the seller(Aremedy media) to anyone. I will be buying from this seller again! Product arrived in less than three days! Very satified!.Best service i've ever seen.

hijacking madness
I liked this movie becuase there was lots of trucks involved being hijacked also lots of good chases ... Read more

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TNG really hits its stride with this well-written episode. What starts out as Data's letter to the nefarious Bruce Maddox at the Daystrom Institute evolves into a complex and genuinely funny character study of the seemingly "emotionless" android. Oh, and it's the "1,550th day since the Enterprise was commissioned."

Over the course of the series, Data desperately strives to become more "human." This episode illustrates the point that even though he is technically a machine, Data possesses fundamental traits that define humanity. He has a great capacity for forgiveness (Bruce Maddox wanted to deactivate and dissect him in "Measure of a Man"), compassion (we're introduced to Data's cat, Spot), and friendship. And finally, Data is baffled and bemused by interpersonal relationships, which is the very definition of human being. As always, Brent Spiner plays Data baffled with the sophistication of Cary Grant. The B-story about Chief O'Brien's wedding is particularly baffling and amusing. Rosalind Chao makes her first appearance as Keiko, and the ship's arboretum makes its first appearance as itself.

"Data's Day" ranks high on TNG top 10 lists, and is a favorite with trivia buffs for absolute high weirdness. Things to watch for and ponder endlessly: Worf and the crystal swan; the Bolian Barber's unique hair coloring method; Dr. Crusher's secret past as the Dancing Doctor; the Ersatz Vulcan; Spot; the whole Miles and Keiko thing going on; and last but not least, the immortal sneer: "Human bonding rituals often involve a lot of... talking... and dancing... and crying." --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A hilarious episode
This episode is a first for Star Trek, in that it presents the episode in 'a day in the life' format of one of it's characters. The character chosen in the crew's android, Lieutenant Commander Data. Data is an excellent choice, as he provides many witty comments about human behaviour throughout the story.

Anyway, in the episode, Data must sort out a disagreement between an couple who are due to be married, learn how to dance, solve the mysterious death of one of the Federation's top Ambassadors and be father of the bride in a wedding on board the ship. Pretty hard work for a day's work I'd say!!

The episode is a comic gem, with some great interplay between Data and the rest of the crew. I would recommend it to both the casual Star Trek viewer and the die-hard fan, who will find it a trivia fest!

A day in the life of Data the tap dancing super sleuth
The framing device for this episode is that Data is putting together a report on all of his activities for a single day to be forwarded to Bruce Maddox, the clown who wanted to claim Data as Starfleet property back in "The Measure of a Man" (Episode 35). For the sake of argument we will assume that Data does not do a mondo data dump on him. Two main activities occupy Data's time and effort on this particular date. First, he has been asked to stand in as the bride's father at the wedding of Chief O'Brien and Keiko, since he introduced the happy couple. There is a hysterical sequence when Data asks Dr. Crusher to teach him to dance; she teaches him tap dancing before she learns he wants to be able to dance with the bride at the wedding. Second, the Enterprise is taking Vulcan Ambassador T'Pei to the Netural Zone for a meeting with the Romulans who supposedly want to enter into diplomatic conversations with the Federation. However, a transporter malfuction apparently kills the ambassador when they try to beam her over to the Romulans. There is too much mystery here for Captain Picard and Data has to use his positronic brain to find out what really happened.

"Data's Day" would be an interesting episode even without the framing device of Data's report. I almost get the feeling that they had this interesting plot line involving a mysterious Vulcan ambassador and a fun one with Data being father of the bride at Keiko's wedding and figured why not toss the two together? Except for Data there is really nothing that puts these two halves together. The surprising thing is that the whole is more than the sum of the parts. This is not one of the best Data episodes, but it certainly does provide more insights in everyone's favorite android than most.

A Day in the Life
I love this episode! "Data's Day" is TNG writing at its best. Behind the simple premise lies a very complex character study of the seemingly "emotionless" android, Data. Make no mistake, even though "Data's Day" is charming and very, very funny, it's also quite revealing.

Over the course of the series, Data as a character desparately strives to become more "human." This episode illustrates the point that even though he is an android, Data posesses fundemental traits that define "humanity." He has a great capacity for forgiveness ("Data's Day" is a letter to Bruce Maddox, the man who wanted to deactivate and disect him), compassion (we're introduced to Data's cat, Spot) and friendship. We should all be so human.

"Data's Day" shows up on a lot of TNG Top 10 Best Episode lists. Definitely makes my personal Top 10. All-around great episode. Excellent writing. Spiner's acting is solid as always. Tons of fodder for trivia buffs.

Things to watch for: Spot; The Dancing Doctor; Worf & the crystal swan; Keiko and Miles; and last but not least, The Ersatz Vulcan ... Read more

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As Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) heads to Starfleet Academy to take theirgrueling entrance exam, a brash Starfleet commander (Robert Schenkkan) boards the Enterprise in order to conduct a top-secret investigation. Just as Wesley doesn't always know what is and isn't part of the test (he's one of four finalists for a single Academy slot), the crew of the Enterprise doesn't know who or what is being investigated. All they are told is that "something is wrong with the ship." Soon they figure out that Captain Picard is under investigation, as captain's logs are nitpicked for inconsistencies and past actions are questioned. This puts everybody on edge, as they can't understand what could be wrong with a captain as competent as Picard, but the commander is under strict orders not to blab about it until the investigation is over. Both story lines are eventually resolved, of course, but it's fun to see the members of the Enterprise get all uppity in defense of Picard. --AndySpletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"Did you hear what she said, Mordock? She said I was cute."
You would not think an episode primarily concerned with people taking an exam would be engaging, but "Coming of Age" is exactly that. Remember that if you ever come across an exam question asking about the proper ratio of matter to antimatter, the answer is 1 to 1. Don't know the answer to the Dynamic Relationships question though.

The Enterprise-D arrives at Relva VII. As Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) beams down to take his Starfleet Academy entrance exam, Admiral Gregory Quinn (Ward Costello) and Lt. Commander Dexter Remmick (Robert Schenkkan) beam aboard the ship to conduct an investigation. As Wesley starts to stress over the psychological evaluation portion of the exam, the Enterprise's senior officers start to become impatient with the increasingly hostile nature of Remmick's line of questioning. As if Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) doesn't have enough to worry about, he is also forced to deal with a suicidal Jake Kurland (Stephen Gregory) who has become despondent over not qualifying for the Starfleet Academy entrance exam

Talk about a full plate. "Coming of Age" has a little bit of everything. We get to see what Starfleet Academy's entrance exam is like, we get a glimpse of a Benzite for the first time, we get to witness the tightening up of Star Trek: The Next Generation's continuity in the course of Remmick's investigation, we get to see Picard be offered the head job at Starfleet academy, and we get a wonderful guest starring turn by Robert Ito. Oh, and I almost forget to mention that we also learn that courtesy is a no-no when speaking to a Zoldan. With so much material to fill up this single episode, it is no wonder that it moves along at a crisp pace and manages to keep the proceedings interesting from beginning to end. You know an episode is good when Wesley Crusher is holding your attention. Wow.

We learn much about the culture of Star Fleet
Most of the best episodes of the original series and TNG deal with learning about new cultures. In this episode, we learn much about the culture of Star Fleet and it is done in two ways. The first is when Wesley leaves the Enterprise to take the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. While many elements of the exam are familiar, there are many that are unexpected. The candidates are of course grilled by computer, all in the same room, and there seems to be few, if any, restrictions on their communicating during the exam. Clearly, these exams are very difficult, as even the boy genius Wesley struggles and does not "pass."
The second element of the culture is when Lt. Commander Remmick boards the Enterprise to conduct a very demanding investigation of Captain Picard. His probe is nasty, with very testy questions, leading to a great deal of hard feelings among the crew. Nevertheless, we see how strong the discipline of Star Fleet is, as only someone with enormous self control would be able to tolerate it. Remmick is very impressed, even asking if he could serve on the Enterprise when his current tour is over.
This is an episode that should have appeared earlier in the series. Since so much of what the characters are was molded by their Star Fleet training, it is good for us to be able to see some of what it involves. While it is not a great episode, it certainly ranks in the top twenty percent.

Starfleet Exam
Coming of Age or......The Horrendous Psyche Test at the Academy

Another Wesley Crusher episode. In this one we get to see him as a finalist at Starfleet Academy. He meets other students his age and discovers he's not the only one who couldn't fit in. He meets a Benzite called Mordock; who proves to help him with insider info on the test. Wes and his other classmates take the infamous psyche test. It means facing your greatest fear in the holodeck simulation. He follows his instincts and meets the test with unexpected bravery. I wish that the Crusher character was given more episodes like this. It would have been better if the writers took him through the academy instead of turning him into another time traveler entity.

The writing staff never followed up on this concept. What happened to Wes other than him becoming one of those hocus-pocus magical Q-like entities? The more I think of this episode; the more I say the right direction for his character would be for him to become a commander like his mentor Picard or a research doctor or scientist like his Mom.

The B story in this one is when Remmick starts poking his nose aboard the ship; he discovers Picard is a much better captain than expected. He convinces another friend of Wes's not to run away from his problems. We also discover that Picard was not successful after the first attempt on his Starfleet entrance exams.

The B story with Remmick jump-started what could have been an otherwise slow moving episode. It's too bad they killed him off in the "Conspiracy" episode. He played a good devils advocate and would have been a good foil for Picard when starship inspections came up.

Wesley takes the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy
The Enterprise orbits Relva VII while Wesley Crusher takes the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. In the grand traditions of Social Darwinism, there are four candidates contending for a single admissions slot: Wesley, a human female, a Vulcan female, and a Benzite male. Apparently this is either the only Vulcan to apply or for some reason she logically thought that she would have a better chance taking the test out in the boondocks. However, it turns out that even if these happen to be the four best candidates in the universe, it will not matter because one and only one of them will get to help make the galaxy safe. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Admiral Quinn has beamed aboard with Lt. Commander Remmick from the Inspector General's office to conduct an investigation. Remmick ticks everybody off big time (especially Worf) with his pointed questions about Captain Picard's recent decisions in what proves to be a rather provocative critique of earlier episodes. Quinn confides to Picard that there is some sort of internal threat to the Federation. We will find out exactly what is rotten in the Federation down the road in "Conspiracy" (Episode 25), but we will not be impressed.

The problem with the character of Wesley Crusher was always two fold. First, even though we were proven wrong in the last episode in which he appeared, we always knew that even though he was a scientific prodigy, Wesley was going to grow up to be a great Starfleet Captain. Consequently, there was this whole inevitable destiny thing that was rather constraining to the character. Second, and more importantly, if you accept at face value the idea that Wesley is such a wunderkind, then how do you justify him remaining on board the Enterprise and not going directly to Starfleet Academy, do not pass go, do not collect 2 bars of gold pressed latinum? I always thought the best Wesley Crusher episodes were after he finally did head off to the Academy, and not just because it meant his appearances were less frequent. Ultimately, "Coming of Age" is the first season contrivance to keep Wesley in his place aboard the Enterprise. ... Read more

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This is the first of a two-part episode that opened DS9's third season, coming after a second-season-ending cliffhanger involving a villain potentially as devastating as the Borg. The Dominion controls Gamma Quadrant on the other end of the wormhole and is threatening to attack DS9 and the Federation, using the war-happy Jem'Hadar as its conquering force. Sisko, Odo, and the rest head off in a warship of their own to make contact with the Founders, the secretive leaders of the Dominion, to explain the Federation's peaceful intent. But when they are ambushed by the Jem'Hadar, Odo and Kira escape to follow Odo's sudden instinct that draws him to the Omarion Nebula--and his home planet. It's a well-written blend of action and sci-fi fantasy, mixing a complex set of plot lines and finding a way to bring them full circle in the second episode. Particularly solid is the use of the character of Odo, who is played touchingly by Rene Auberjonois. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Sisko gets the Defiant to play with and Odo finds his people
As the third season of Deep Space Nine begins Commander Sisko has a new toy to play with: a prototype warship named the Defiant. Instead of waiting for the Dominion to attack DS9, Sisko intends to take the ship into the Gamma Quadrant and try to locate the Founders, the supposed leaders of the Dominion and its Jem'Haddar soldiers. Although equipped with a Romulan cloaking device, the Defiant still ends up being boarded by the Jem'Haddar. Odo and Kira escape in a shuttle where the Constable reacts to a sudden urge and takes the ship to the Omarion Nebula where he discovers a colony of Changelings.

When last we left our merry little band of heroes at the end of Season Two, Sisko was intending to prepare DS9 for a Dominion invasion fleet coming through the worm hole. Yet here we are, taking the battle to the Gamma Quadrant, thereby saving the anticipated invasion for Part Two of this episode. Of course, the surprise appearance of the Changelings at the end turns out not to be totally unrelated to the threat of the Dominion. There is a sense in which "The Search" constitutes a new beginning for the series, since the threat of the Dominion will be an omni-present element from now until the final episode.

If the Dominion comes through the wormhole, we'll be ready..
The shocking season finale left Sisko stating that DS9 was the first line of defence from any attack force from the Gamma Quadrant and he intends to be ready for them!

A huge sub-space disturbance is picked-up well within weapons range, DS9 is placed on red alert with a possible Dominion invasion on hand... the strange disturbane turns out to be a cloaked ship, a cloaked FEDERATION ship, The Defiant - a new battleship that will lead the Starship presence in the Bajoran system.

In an attempt to find a pieceful solution to the Dominion threat Sisko takes the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant with the intention of finding out more information on this new threat - a more deadly cunning plot is revealed as Odo is attracted to a mysterious Nebula in the middle of Dominion space...

U.S.S. Defiant kicks!
I thought the Defiants first showing on DS9 was cool! It had wounderful action shots and was an edge of your seat ride from entering the unknown Gamma Quadrant on the other side of the GALAXY to find the Founders of the Dominion to woundering if the crew of DS9 would servive! ... Read more

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This episode concluded what amounted to a three-part story arc that began with episode 46, "The Jem'Hadar," a cliffhanger episode that ended DS9's second season and continued in episode 47, "The Search, Part I," the first installment of year three. Back on DS9 after a harrowing encounter with the Jem'Hadar, vicious warriors of the Dominion, Sisko and Dax find themselves blind-sided by the Federation's willingness to cave in to the Dominion and the Jem'Hadar on a treaty. Meanwhile, Kira tries to contact Sisko from Odo's home planet, while Odo receives his first exposure to his own people and their concept of the "great link" that connects all shapeshifters. This story provides a solid conclusion to the tale and sets up much of what comes in the next season, as the entire region becomes destabilized. It also offers real insight into Odo's life story, which is told for the first time. The DS9 part of the plot is particularly tricky, and the ending plays mind games with the viewer in ways that the average show would never dare. Still, the Dominion turns out to be a lot less forbidding than the Borg, the scariest Star Trek villain of all time. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Something of a false start to the big War with the Dominion
Odo discovers a whole lot about his mysterious past from the colony of Changelings he and Kira have discovered in the Gamma Quadrant. The Constable is also tantalized by references to the "Great Link," a merging ceremony unique to the Changelings. Meanwhile, Sisko and Bashir limp back to DS9 on a shuttle only to discover the Federation is negotiating a treaty with the Dominion. Sisko and company know this would be a fatal mistake and decide to take matters into their own hands. There is a fatal flaw with Part 2 of "The Search," which is simply that the conclusion basically undoes the entire episode. Consequently, this episode loses a star although the surprising revelation that the Changelings are the Founders and Sisko's decision to collapse the entrance to the wormhole are pretty good. Besides, DS9 had been building towards this big confrontation between the Federation and the Dominion that is suddenly pushed back to some time in the future. This is necessary because it would be hard to explore the various characters on the show while a war was being fought on the Promenade, but it does come across as something of a cheat.

A conclusion?
After the shocking end to the first episode Odo comes face to face with his own people. In the meantime the crippled Defiant makes its way back to DS9 once there the remaining crew find a Dominion negotiation party that are planning on brining a close to the Federation-Dominion problem. But Starfleet are terrified of this new threat and begin giving-in to the outrageous Dominion demands, Sisko can't stand by and allow the Dominion to make a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant so he decides to destroy the entrace to the wormhole, keeping the Jem'hadar on the other side of the galaxy. But before he can Starfleet threaten to prevent any attempt by Sisko... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Starfleet's attempt
An exellent episode! Combining action with a good plot. You also get lots of good scenes of Starfleet headquaters and Earth in the 24th century. You even get to see Admiral Leyton in charge of starfleet and the president of the Federation.

Sisko uncovers yet another conspiracy in Starfleet
In "Homefront," the first part of this two-part storyline, Sisko learned the Changelings had infiltrated Earth and went with Odo to Earth to head up security. However, at the end of the episode the Federation President declared a state of emergency. Now Earth is under martial law, with security troops apparently on every street corner. However, Sisko is now suspicious about the series of events that led to the decision and "Paradise Lost" details how our hero ferrets out the truth. The mystery is rather average and I must admit to a prejudice against episodes where Starfleet goes fascist, especially when it is so darn easy to have a successful (in the short run) conspiracy. I guess I just have idealistic hopes for the future. Anyway, idea that oppression reigns on earth is pretty week and this ends up being an average DS9 episode.

A good conclusion to Homefront
This episode is a good and surprising conclusion to the previous, episode, Homefront. Sisko finds out that one of his friends has engineered the incident so the military will take control of Earth. Sisko must betray his friend, or betray what he knows is right. Meanwhile, the starship Defiant is heading towards Earth to reveal the conspiracy, when the Admiral informs another ship that the Defiant has been taken over by changelings. Will the Defiant be lost in the power strugle? This episode was superb and will remain a classic in the series ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Defiant helps the Jem'Haddar turn on some renegades
A Jem'Haddar raiding party steals equipment from DS9 and escapes into the wormhole with Sisko giving chase in the Defiant. When they locate a damaged Jem'Haddar warship, Sisko beams abaord six soldiers and their Vorta leader, Weyoun. From Weyoun they learn that the Dominion has discovered an Iconian gateway device (you might remember this from the "Contagion" episode of STNG), but that the scientists sent to investigate the gateway have rebelled. Weyoun wants Sisko's assistance in destroying the gateway and the renegade Jem'Haddar. Of course, the Federation cannot afford to have any Jem'Haddar in control of a intergalactic gateway, so Sisko agrees. "To the Death" is an average DS9 episode, where the action is halfway decent, but I have to admit that I do not understand what the Dominion is up to. We have been waiting about TWO YEARS for the Dominion to attack the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole, and now all they send is a raiding party? Also, it seems too early in the game to turn the fierce Jem'Haddar soldiers, the killing machines who never sleep or eat, into drug addicted malcontents. I never understood the need to undo the blind obedience to the Founders idea; after all, it works for the Vortas. In the final analysis, this one gets four stars because of Weyoun, who is certainly the greatest sycophant in Star Trek history.

To the death... well 'til I'm tired!
Deep Space Nine is attacked by a group of Jem'hadar would steal some equipment and supplies. Sisko is outraged and takes the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant to stop them, determined to send a message to the Founders that Starfleet will not stand-by and let Dominion ships go unpunished. Once in the Gamma Quadrant the Defiant finds a crippled Jem'hadar warship with a Vorta onboard, Weyoun.

Weyoun informs Sisko that the Jem'hadar that attacked DS9 are renegades and that they stole the equipment to make a powerful portal, utilizing ancient technology that allows them to transport to anywhere in the galaxy instantly. Thinking of Earth and how vulnerable it would be, Sisko teams up with the Jem'hadar in an attempt to take out these renegades before they fix the transporter.

Apparently these renegades are ruthless and want to rule the Dominion on there own, that is why Weyoun is after them, when they pick up sensor information that this portal is nearly fixed an attack is launched. Fighting side-by-side Sisko and Weyoun must destroy the portal... a bloody action-packed episode that sheds new light on the Jem'hadar society! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Price of War
Built for War

Jeff McCarthy portrays a prisoner of a war long gone on planet Angosia. While Prime Minister Nayrok portrayed by James Cromwell; applies for Federation Membership, this guy is wreaking havoc aboard the Enterprise. The best scences were in the transporter room. When the prisoner disarms all the security with deadly precision.

It's a matter that Picard can't handle. He eventually escapes and causes a revolution on his home world.

How many wrongs does it take to make a right?
Exactly when does the Prime Directive kick in? The Enterprise is visiting Angosia, a planet that wants to join the Federation. While Picard meets with the Prime Minister, played by James Cromwell, there is a report a violent prisoner has escaped from the planet's penal colony. Although Angosia is only in the application process, Picard uses the Enterprise to capture the escapee and beam him aboard the ship. Counselor Troi is attracted to the prisoner, Roga Danar, who tells her how her was programmed by his government to be a super soldier, his body modified by drugs and his mind altered by psychological training. When the war was over Danar and his brethren could not be allowed back into polite society, they were carted off to a penal colony. When Picard demands an explanation from the Prime Minister, he is told quite pointedly that this is an internal matter and demands the return of the prisoner. Maybe Angosia is not ready to join the Federation.

Of course, if the Federation did a better job of investigating planets applying for membership they would probably discover all these deep dark secrets, but then we would not have all these fun Prime Directive episodes such as "The Hunted" where Picard flips a coin to see if he follows it or not. But once you get past the slightly flawed premise, this is an above average Next Generation episode. As I write this review we are recounting the recounted votes in Florida and I have to admit the idea of ethics in politics being a question of efficacy that we see there is very much present in this episode. The highpoint of "The Hunted" is when Danar attempts to escape from the Enterprise, proving exactly how good of a job the Angosians did in creating their race of super soldiers. Will the Captain of the Enterprise continue to play fast and loose with the Prime Directive or will the Prime Minister of Angosia be hoisted on our own Picard? ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Defiant in a showdown with two Jem-Haddar ships
The Karemma Commerce Ministry of the Gamma Quadrant is secretly negotiating with the Federation to conclude a trade agreement, but unfortunately Quark has been helping by making sure he makes a profit off of both sides. Then two Jem'Haddar warships show up to punish the Karemmans and end up crippling the Defiant which finds Kira on the bridge dealing with Sisko, who has a concussion, Dax and Bashir caught in a turbolift, and Worf in the engine room. So, basically what you have is the Defiant taking on the Jem'Haddar with one hand tied behind its back, metaphorically speaking. All this takes place in the atmosphere of a gas giant, so this episode is one of those Star Trek versions of an old World War II submarine movie, like "Balance of Power" from the original Trek with a bit of Next Generation's "Disaster" thrown in to make it even more interesting. But while "Starship Down" is not completely original, it is still an above average DS9 episode, since it does get into some of the tactical aspects of starship battle.

One of the better DS9 shows
this episode has some of the best acting in the series as Captain Ben Sisko (Avery Brooks) must save his starship after it is damaged in batttle with the Jem Hadar warbirds. Featureing some good acting also by series regulars; Nana Vistor, Terry Farrell, Alexander Sidag, and Michael Dorn.

Treks just don't get any better than this ...
STARSHIP DOWN is an outstanding tale, reminescent of all those great Cold War films from Earth's 1960s ... the enemy is out there, but we just don't know where it is. Heavy on subplots involving red shirts that, sadly, we never see again, Worf, Quark, Dax, Bashir, and Kira all have lessons to learn in the midst of a conflict to save their lives while the Defiant is falling apart around them as they're trapped in the atmosphere of a huge gaseous planet ... all this with 2 Jem'Hadar ships in close pursuit! Some terrific character moments from what was arguably their best season of DS9.

Ratings down!
Starfleet is trying to get some information out of the Karemma, the same race that helped direct the Defiant to the Dominion communications relay in The Search (Part 1). The Jem'hadar get wind of this and are not impressed, attempting to destroy both the Karemma vessel and the Defiant. With the ship crippled, Sisko calls for them to head into the unstable atmosphere of a gas giant. Once in there they need to come up with a way to get home, all the while three meanacing Jem'hadar fighters are searching the gaseous atmosphere. The major characters get divided in the most hilarious circumstances that should've been serious but looked slapstick and totally scientifically inaccurate. Thinking that they're all going to die 'secrets' are revealed in the heat of the moment, nothing shocking, nothing exciting, add to that one of those "the Captain's going to die unless we get back in 40 minutes" stories and you have a melodramatic predictable episode.

Deep Space Nine
On a mission in the Gamma Quadrant, the Defiant is attacked by the Jem Hadar who are out to punish the Karemma. When the Defiant pursues the Karemma and Jen Hadar vessels into the gaseous atmosphere of a giant planet, the ship is attacked and severely damaged. Struggling to repair the crippled ship, Dax and Bashir become trapped in a turolift, Sisko and Kira wounded on the bridge, Quark trapped in the Mess Hall, and Worf and O'Brien in the Engine Room tring to save the ship. A great episode. The effects were good. Just a great episode. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Torres comes down with pon faar and goes after Paris
It is "pon farr" time in the "Star Trek" universe once again with "Blood Fever" (Written by Lisa Klink, Aired February 5, 1997), Episode 57 of "Star Trek: Voyager." However, the afflicted Vulcan is not Tuvok, but an ensign named Vorik who's warped logical mind decides that he should asked Torres (Roxann Dawson) to be his mate. She rejects his overture, not only with a polite refusal but also by dislocating his jaw when he grabs her face. For those few souls who missed "Amok Time" on the original "Star Trek," the Doctor (Robert Picardo) explains that Vorik can die is he does not mate. While Vorik endeavors to get through this trying time through intense meditation, Torres joins an Away Team searching for gallicite on the planet below. The only problem is that her Klingon side seems to be making its presence known as she become more and more aggressive, even biting Paris at one point.

Of course when Vorik touched Torres' face that was enough to initiate a telepathic mating bond between them, which means now she is experiencing "pon farr" as well. Meanwhile, back on "Voyager" the Doctor has programmed a holographic Vulcan female for Vorik (which pretty much confirms what you suspected about Quark's holosuites on DS9). However, it is down on the planet where Torres is making the moves on Paris that things are getting interesting, especially for those who know where that relationship is going to end and what happens in the final episode of the series. Consequently, "Blood Fever" is a important story in terms of the entire series since it is in many ways the first significant Torres-Paris episode.

There are also some aliens on the planet who have had some major problems in what will also become a major subplot down the road, but this episode is primarily about this pon farr a trois. Just like in the original "Star Trek" show, this one comes down to a fight. Consequently, "Blood Fever" manages to do something of a homage to the original episode but ground it entirely in the context of this series and its characters. This is not a classic "Voyager" episode per se, but it is an important one in terms of what is to come.

Just a few words
Klingon vs Vulcan a can't miss episode

Star Trek - Voyager, Episode 57: Blood Fever
If you are a true Voyager fan, this is an episode you should not miss, I own it. It shows us all how the real relationship between Torres and Paris begin...but does so with humor and in true Klingon form...a ritual of sorts. Paris is not sure what hits him, but knows he wants more, thus the relationship truly begins. A great video. Paris and TOrres are perfect together. Don't miss this one!

My Favorite Episode
I am a true Voyager Trekkie, and a big fan of the Tom/B'Elanna storyline. If you are wondering how the whole intrest got started, this episode is for you! I highly recommend it--wonderfully written, beautifully directed, and the acting is above par. I'm ordering you to buy it!!!

The Power of Sexuality
This episode tackles the complex web of issues regarding the power, seduction, and responsibility underlying sexual attraction. Afflicted by the Vulcan Pon Farr, B'Elanna dramatically embodies the deep and sometimes unconscious human struggle between normal consciousness and the hormone-aroused, instictually-driven self. In contrast, Tom Paris, who has not been afflicted as such, embodies moral clarity and maturity regarding his pre-existing attraction to B'Elanna, which includes his selflessness both in withholding and offering sexual contact. This is by far the most positive and exemplary depiction of sexual ethics I have yet seen. The characters and story are attractive and though within the genre of science fiction, the essence is certainly true to life. Engaging and uplifting, this episode makes a great departure point for sparking self-inquiry or a discussion between interested teens and parents on the topic of responsible, caring, self-aware sexual decison-making and behavior. It is also the beginning of the Tom and B'Elanna story arc in the series. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

star trek fan
this is my favorite episode, It keeps me on the edge of my seat, I had to order it to complete my season. Highly recommended!

Captain Picard and Mark Twain change places in Time
In "Time's Arrow, Part I," the fifth season's finale, Picard led an Away Team that followed a pair of alien predators into the past: 19th-Century San Francisco to be precise. There they join Data and Guinan (the Guinan of the past not the present Guinan who is still in the future). Together they discover the cave that would contain all of the artifacts, including Data's head, which were found in the 24th-Century at the start of this story. Unfortunately, at the key moment Samuel Clemens (Jerry Hardin) intervenes and the time portal opens. The resulting blast sends Data's body, but not his head, back to the future. Picard stays behind to take care of a wounded Guinan, while the rest of the team follows Data's body, quickly followed by Clemens.

"Time's Arrow" was the least exciting cliffhanger in STNG's long run, so it is not surprising that the conclusion is above average but nothing special. We do see the "first" meeting between Guinan and Picard, but, of course, that is only from HER perspective, so it is not like we have uncovered a key moment in their history. Jerry Hardin does a marvelous job as Mark Twain, certainly capable of giving Hal Holbrook a run for his money and the significance of Data's head being buried for 500 years does have an interesting explanation. This is an enjoyable two-parter, but hardly a STNG classic.

Back on Earth
This two-parter was a great set! The plot line was ok, but the episode was totally made by the appearance of Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain, and the explination of Picard's and Guinan's relationship. I love any story when they are back on Earth.

Breathtaking
If you haven't seen Star Trek The Next Generation you're missing all the excitement.

I loved it!
I guess I loved it mainly because it features my three favorite characters: Brent Spiner(Data), Whoopie Goldberg(Ginen), and Patrick Stewart(Jean-Luc Picard). It is a suspensful story that keeps you on your seat. I have it on video already! ... Read more

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The holodeck needs a bit of maintenance, so the Enterprise checksin to Starbase 74 to allow some Bynars (beings who can speak in binary code and who sound like fax machines) to update the programming. While Riker doesn't trust the Bynars, he forgets all of his complaints when he tries out the holodeck. Setting himself up as a trombone player in a 1958 Bourbon Street bar, he meets up with a sultry brunette. "What's a knockout like you doing in a computer-generated gin joint like this?" is his none-too-subtle pickup line. Her reactions turn out to be more complex and more "human" than the program ever exhibited before, and when Picard walks in on the couple he is equally charmed. While they're lost in the holodeck program, theEnterprise starts to self-destruct. This forces an evacuation ofeverybody (except Riker and Picard) and an eventual hijacking of the ship. Thereasons behind the events are very smart, making this a nicely thought-outepisode, despite little things like Data learning to paint and Riker'smasturbatory fantasy. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Believe it or not, Worf is developing a sense of humor."
A year before the Borg made their grand debut, the theme of interdependency between organic beings and technology was explored in "11001001." Even though the pale-skinned assimilators made more of a long-lasting impression, you gotta wonder why they never adopted the Bynars' strategy of duping Starfleet officers with attractive holograms - if this episode was any indication, it seemed like a pretty effective strategy to distract Starfleet officers.

The Enterprise-D arrives at Starbase 74 to have their computer system upgraded by the Bynars. The crew evacuates the ship when it appears that its magnetic containment field is on the verge of collapse. However, the emergency is actually a ruse staged by the Bynars so that they can steal the Enterprise. Yet, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) are still aboard. The two officers eventually regain control of the ship after pulling themselves away from an alluring hologram named Minuet (Carolyn McCormick).

There are some genuinely cool aspects to "11001001." It's great to see the exterior and interiors of Starbase 74 which rekindles memories of Spacedock from "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984) and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (1991) and it's great to see a replay of the auto-destruct moment from "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" (1969). Yet, the whole subplot revolving around Minuet is not totally convincing. You would think the captain and first officer of the Federation's flagship would notice that their ship is traveling at warp speed when it should not be doing so. Guess that Minuet must really have been far more radiant and captivating than it seemed on the small screen. Yet, in the final count, "11001001" is goofy fun and one of the more amusing outings among the first season efforts.

One of the gems of the inaugural season
Among the best shows of the first season was this very succinct and compact story of Riker meeting and falling for the woman of his dreams...with a twist. Although the storyline of Trek characters falling in love only to lose their loved one is an oft used plot device, the unusual background and setting for this episode rises above the mundane and entertains us supremely.

Arriving at a starbase, the crew is introduced to the Binars a computer-independent and androgynous alien race who will initiate some necessary repairs to the Enterprise. Most of the crew is granted shore leave during the interval with Riker somewhat inadvertently ending up on the holodeck immediately following some updates and enhancements implemented by the Binars. He designs a program to reflect a mid-20th century New Orleans jazz club where he meets an incredibly beautiful and sultry "woman" named Minuet. She instantly causes the first officer to fall head over heels in love with her and he all but completely forgets that she is a creation of the holodeck. During this time the crewmembers still present experience a ship wide emergency causing them to evacuate and the starship is then placed on autopilot to clear it's space dock. Only after the starship is gone a great distance does the crew at the starbase realize that someone is attempting to hijack the Enterprise - and that the captain, the first officer and the Binars are most likely still aboard.

'11001001' is a well-conceived episode that balances both ongoing plots expertly. The Binars were one of the most interesting alien races the Enterprise and crew encountered and it's a real shame they weren't brought back for additional appearances. Carolyn McCormick as Minuet is a knockout and it's easy to see why Riker would fall so hard for her; the writers constructed the ending of the show excellently, helping make the point that you fall in love with the illusion and the image not the person. Riker's conversation with Picard in the finale bears this out. Riker also has the best line in the show. When he checks in with Data he finds the second officer getting painting lessons from Geordi. Quickly thinking on his feet he tells them to keep notes on the session. Befuddled, Geordi asks him why. "A blind man teaching an android to paint? That's gotta' be worth a couple of lines in some historian's book," is Riker's smart reply!

I found an oddity in the story when I watched it recently. When Picard and Riker sense a problem they question Minuet about it and she explains she isn't programmed to give that information. Several minutes later they approach her again with the same question - and without hesitation she spills her guts this time! An oversight by the writers? Perhaps.

Some final notes: Gene Dynarski, who played one of the miners in the Star Trek original series episode 'Mudd's Women', becomes the first guest star to make separate appearances in the two different Trek series. The auto destruct sequence changes drastically between this show and the second season show titled 'Where Silence Has Lease'. Here it's observed that it is automatically set for five minutes and cannot be altered; in the latter episode Picard and Riker are allowed to choose a time limit.

Program Enhancement
Minuet and the Gin Joint Program Enhancements

The surprising aspect of this episode is that it wasn't only humans that programed the Enterprise. The Bynars make their first and last appearance in this segment. The Enterprise returns to star base for the Bynars to work on updating the programming. Supposedly each one of them works as part of the greater whole. Shades of the Borg mentality here. Wonder why they didn't help out the Federation? Well, they hijacked the big E to their planet were a supernova was set to destroy their master computer.

The crew is evacuated by a false warning. Riker and Picard are still on board. This is were it gets interesting.......Riker steps into a holodeck Jazz bar in New Orleans in the 20th century. Since the program is influenced by the Bynar everything has more "enhancement."...not the run of the mill shallow programs. When Riker asks for the perfect date it