Reviews (1)

Doris Roberts & James Coco unforgettable as "Cora & Arnie"
Actually, this video tape includes two of the first four episodes from the first season of "St. Elsewhere," the award-winning 1980s television medical drama that looked at the lives of the beleaguered staff and their patients at Boston's St. Eligius Hospital. In "Bypass" (Episode #2, November 9, 1982), Dr. Morrison (David Morse) has to treat a terrorist. "Cora and Arnie" (Episode #4, November 23, 1982), tells the heart rending story of a homeless couple played by Doris Roberts and James Coco. Both actors earned Emmy Awards for their Supporting performances. It is no surprise that Roberts is so good, but the performance by Coco is stunning, although we all should have stopped being surprised years ago that comedians turn in such great tragic performances. Cora and Arnie live together on the streets; he is mildly retarded and if Cora does not have her feet amputated, she will die. However, she refuses to leave Arnie alone. The scene where he is huddled in the corner crying for her will stay with you forever. It has for me.

Final Note: It has always been my belief that because of these performances, which deserved Emmys but were for characters who appeared only once on a show (Emmys are based on performances in a SINGLE episode which is submitted for consideration), the awards of best performances by "guest stars" were created. ... Read more

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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

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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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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

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)

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

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"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 creates Minuet. Will Riker jumps into a relationship that can't last.

The Jazz Bar scenes and the abduction of the Enterprise by Bynar hive mind make this an unusual mix of drama and romance. Scenes of the Enterprise entering the star base were lifted from the effects shots from the movie the "Search for Spock."

Meanwhile, back on the holodeck . . . Gee, its Minuet!
If you think about how far computer technology has come in the last decade let alone the last half-century, can we even begin to imagine what the ship's computer on the Enterprise must be like. Most Star Trek episodes take the computer for granted, which makes "11001001" an exception to the rule. The Enterprise is at Starbase 74 for routine maintenance checks and computer upgrades, the latter being performed by the Bynars, a race that has attained an amazing high level of interconnectedness with the main computer on their home world. After enhancing the holodeck, the Bynars suggest Riker give it a try. Conjuring up a New Orleans jazz bar, Riker is confronted with a beautiful woman named Minute. Picard joins his First Officer and the two of them are both amazed and enchanted by the sophistication of her enhanced programming. It turns out this is all a diversionary tactic by the Bynars who have the ship's computer warn of an imminent warp engine explosion. After Data evacuates the ship, the problem suddenly disappears and the Enterprise warps away towards the Bynar's home world. Meanwhile, back in the holodeck, Picard and Riker suddenly realize they have been tricked.

"11001001" is the second Next Generation episode after "The Big Good-Bye" (Episode 13) to explore the nature of reality on the holodeck. The initial idea that it is a giant entertainment center that, in Picard's words, "has given us woodland and ski slopes, figures that fight, and fictional characters with whom we can interact," is gradually giving way to more philosophical concerns. In future episodes the notion of what constitutes a sentient being will be dealt with in terms of holodeck creations (e.g., Professor Moriarity), as well as with Data and various alternative life forms. This is the episode that really starts the series off in that particular direction as the show starts to create its own identity instead of trying to offer constant reminders of the original show.

I liked this Episode beacause it was very exciteing.
I liked the part where data gets a call on his comm//saying the magnettic grid was detiriorateing.Then they had to Evac.Ship with the captain and will in the holodeck. ... Read more

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In his effort to experience what it's like to be human, Data hasinstalled a program to simulate dreams, but the program seems to have gone onthe fritz. He keeps having nightmares and oversleeping. In his dreams,there's a hole in one of the ship's walls that early 20th-century miners aremaliciously opening with their pickaxes, followed by a high-pitched whine.They notice Data and begin to disassemble him. In later dreams he sees Worfeating a piece of cellular peptide cake (with mint frosting), Dr. Crusherdrinking from a straw coming out of Commander Riker's head, and himself beingforced to cut a piece of cake made out of Counselor Troi, who screams whenthe knife enters her frosted shoulder. To solve this dilemma, he goes to theholodeck to talk to Sigmund Freud. Over in "reality," Geordi is havingtrouble bringing the new warp core online, while Captain Picard is secretlythankful that their troubles might make him miss a boring admiral's banquet.In this episode directed by Patrick Stewart, the holodeck Freud is more of acaricature than anything else, and begs the question of whether or not dreamtheory has advanced at all since the 20th century. The story pays off,however, when Data decodes the dream and discovers a deadly menace onboardthat he was only subliminally aware of. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

UGH! Did he say cellular peptide cake - with mint frosting?
Besides featuring some of the most effective and creepy images from the TNG series, 'Phantasms' is also one of the very best episodes to focus on Data. The sixth season of ST: TNG had a number of episodes with dark themes and disturbing images and this show seems to have been created in its aftermath. In the sixth season's two-parter 'Birthright' Data experienced a surreal vision that turned out to be part of a dream program he had been unaware was installed. That storyline resurfaces here and is dealt with in much more depth and provides us with a good mystery also.

Since Data's dream program initiated several months ago he has had 111 dreams before experiencing his first nightmare, and a rather unsettling one at that. Both Geordi and then later Troi tell him it is only natural to occasionally experience fantastic and upsetting images during dreams; that evening however he has a similar disturbing dream and then suddenly finds himself being awakened by Troi, Geordi and Worf because he has overslept - a programming impossibility that further perplexes him. Data then begins having waking dreams and in a catatonic state attacks Troi, stabbing her right shoulder several times before Riker and Worf fortunately intervene. Remembering nothing about the incident Data is confined to quarters while a solution is developed; during Troi's recovery in Sick Bay Beverly detects the presence of interphasic creatures feeding on the cellular peptide of humans. Picard and Geordi deduce that there is a connection between the dreams Data is having and the presence of the alien species. Using the holodeck to implement Data's dream as a projected image Picard, Geordi and Data find the solution to the problem - with somewhat of an assist from a holographic Sigmund Freud!

The opening sequence to 'Phantasms' is an immediate attention grabber. The use of the wide-angle lens is a telling tool that informs you instantly of the surreal nature of the episode; the dream sequence that unfolds is quite shocking with Data being literally ripped apart before he bolts wide awake in his quarters. Each of the following dream sequences gets more horrifying and outrageous causing a sense of trauma within Data. Though he is unable to experience fear he is acutely aware of his instability and that is conveyed superbly in the scenes where he attempts to either understand or explain his nightmares. Troi as a cake, Beverly sucking fluid out of Riker's head through a straw, Worf eating cellular peptide cake (with mint frosting), Data having a mid 20th century telephone inside his chest and Sigmund Freud insisting to Picard he should "Kill zem! Kill zem all!" are all truly memorable providing shocks and laughs. The use of Freud in this episode is inspired even though it does seem he would be out-of-sync with 24th century scientific thought. The sideline stories dealing with Picard desiring to avoid attending the dreadfully boring Admiral's Ball and Geordi having to gratuitously accept the admiration of a young female ensign come off very well also. 'Phantasms' was one of four shows to deal primarily with Data during the seventh and final season, the others being 'Inheritance', 'Thine Own Self' and 'Masks'. In an unusually weak season of TNG these episodes provided a much-needed shot of adrenaline for the series' many discriminating and demanding fans.

"A good cat. And a pretty cat."
Data finds himself very worried as he starts experiencing nightmares, but no-one takes his concerns seriously. When a strange discovery threatens the lives of the Enterprise's crew, it seems that Data's dreams may hold the key to saving everyone. But can they figure out what is going on in time?
The director did a good job in bringing a dream-like quality to many of the scenes in this episode, and all the dream imagery played out nicely in the real world. But the scene in the turbolift that was meant to be shocking wasn't half so scary as it should have been, and there were too many unanswered questions. There were some good comic touches in this episode, though, particularly those involving Worf, Data, and Spot.
One final note: Counsellor Troi got it wrong yet again! And I think they all owed Data an apology for not taking him seriously.

Can Sigmund Freud helps Data save the Enterprise crew?
The Enterprise has a new warp core installed and Data has activated a new program that allows him to dream. The only problem is his dreams are basically nightmares: Counselor Troi is some sort of sheet cake and Worf is eating a piece from her left shoulder. When he is awake, Data sees a mouth on Troi's shoulder and stabs her in an attempt to remove it. Dr. Crusher tends to the wound and notices an odd rash surrounding the area. Further tests reveal strange creatures are feeding on Troi's cellular peptides. Crusher discovers the Enterprise is infested with the creatures, which are feeding on the crew. However, because they exist interphasically, they canot be seen except with an interphasic scanner. Meanwhile, Data has been on the holodeck explaining his dreams to Sigmund Freud...

"Phantasms" is one of the most bizarre STNG episodes, mainly because of Data's strange dreams and the weird little creatures munching on the crew. Aside from that, this is an average strange mystery for the crew to solve by putting together all the clues type episode. What stands out is Data's session with Dr. Freud (and their discussion of the symbolic meaning of cigars) and Data's instructions to Worf on how to feed Spot the cat. Oh, and of course, Troi as a cake (an homage to Tom Petty's classic music video?).

Psycho without the shower scene . . .
Man! Data can be downright frightening when he wants to be! In his dreams, everyone's favorite android cuts a slice out of a cake that looks like Deanna Troi. Mere hours later, he begins cutting into the REAL Deanna Troi with a knife--a detached, blank look in his eyes the ENTIRE time! We are now entering . . . the Twilight Zone.

As an aside, this episode gives some indication that Deanna's not a big fan of Sigmund Freud. ... Read more

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Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) gets what seems to him an unpleasant surprise when the Klingon emissary beamed aboard the Enterprise on an urgent mission turns out to be his old girlfriend, K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson), who is half-Klingon, half-human. She's there to help the Enterprise intercept a Klingon warship, which has been in a cryogenic sleep for almost a century. They've been gone long enough that crew members don't know that Klingons are at peace with the Federation--sort of the equivalent of Japanese soldiers on remote Pacific Islands who never heard that World War II was over. K'Ehleyr's job is to convince these warriors that they are no longer at war. While she's waiting for them to show up, she has enough time to ruffle Worf's feathers by trying to rekindle their old feelings.

Plakson has a delightfully tart way with her lines, which work well at needling the usually implacable Worf. Interestingly, K'Ehleyr is the one pushing for the couple to get down--but then bridles at the notion that, by mating for the sheer fun of it, they are bound for life. Traditionalist Worf, by contrast, can't imagine having sex without commitment--which just goes to show the difference between humans and Klingons. Plakson--as K'Ehleyr--would show up in a later episode, with the child produced by this encounter. Unfortunately, the interpersonal moments consume so much time that, when the Klingon ship finally appears, the tension in that encounter winds up feeling perfunctory. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

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Worf gets his first command, the chair is comfortable
The Enterprise is diverted to intercept a small vehicle that contains a Klingon emissary (K'Ehleyr). She is half-human and half-Klingon and is a former lover of Worf's. The Enterprise is being sent to intercept a Klingon warship that was in cryogenic sleep for over a century. When the crew was placed in stasis, the Federation and the Klingon Empire were at war, so their standing orders are to fire on any Federation outpost. The emissary and Worf both tell Captain Picard that he must destroy the Klingon ship, as they will never surrender. Picard does not accept this, asking his command crew to find an alternative other than destroying the ship.
Meanwhile, Worf and K'Ehleyr renew their relationship, albeit after some initial hostility based on problems with their parting. However, Worf wants to make their union permanent, something that K'Ehleyr rejects. Worf is of course upset at this, but it has a positive result, in that it causes him to come up with an alternative that will spare both ships. By donning the full regalia of a Klingon commander Worf assumes command of the Enterprise and orders the Klingon captain to surrender or be destroyed. After some hesitation, the Klingon captain surrenders and further violence is avoided.
This is one of the better episodes in the series, although quite frankly, the reappearance of old lovers is a plot line that is growing stale. The Federation and the Klingon empire cover thousands of cubic light years, millions of creatures are no doubt in their respective fleets and yet everyone is always encountering old lovers. I am restricted to only one tiny segment of one planet, some old flames live within twenty miles of where I do and yet I encounter them by accident once every ten years. For those with similar interests, it rises to about once every five years. With so much diversity in the universe and the enormous amount of territory to explore, the stories would be better if the old flame-returning theme was dropped in favor of something a bit more original.

klignons do have a sense of humor!
I really do love the character of worf's girlfriend, she added an interesting twist to the episode. I believe that the show would've been a bit slow in the plot without her. Love her outfits and the way she bounces back at worf. its worth seeing!

Some calisthenics programs are better than others....
That was Kehlyr's response to Worf's coldness after their holodeck rondevous. That one-liner is typical of the chemistry & dynamics of the episode. While the sci-fi side of the plot may have been a little thin, the personal side & character developement was hot. As a long time trekkie, this is one of my all time favorite episodes from all the series. And guys, the romantic twist makes it a great one to watch with your sweetie. :^)

Worf has a romantic past--and quite a romantic future
"The Emissary" in question is K'Ehleyr, a half-Klingon and half-Human warrior who once upon a time was involved with Worf. Apparently at some point in the past when Worf was being raised by his human foster parents he managed to get to Klingon where he hooked up with K'Ehleyr because they were probably both scorned by the "real" Klingons (In other words, this episode is filling in more chunks of Worf's back story). K'Ehleyr briefs the Enterprise crew on their new mission: A Klingon ship is returning from a secret mission with a crew that has been in suspended animation, meaning they still think their Empire is at war with the Federation. Once they wake up, they will start attacking Federation outposts. While K'Ehleyr could make it there on a probe with all the details of the mission, the nearest Klingon ship is somehow days away. K'Ehleyr's recommendation after traveling so fast and so far (in a probe, no less) is to destroy the Klingon ship. Of course, Captain Picard has other ideas.

It is ironic that of all the characters in the Star Trek universe, Worf ends up being the romantic one. I mean, think about it: he ends up having a long-term relationship with Deanna Troi and ends up marrying Jadzia Dax. Romance on Star Trek usually consists of one-episode stands (Kirk and Edith Keeler, Picard and Kamala, Data and Tasha) or unrequited love (Spock and Nurse Chapel, Kira and Odo, Seven of Nine and the Doctor). There have been a few long term pairings (Tom Paris and B'Elanna), but Worf had two and ended up getting married (which puts him up on Sisko who did get married but only because his wife died in the DS9 pilot). So here is our first look at Worf as a lover as well as a fighter, although apparently Klingons manage to combine the two. This is not an important episode for Worf's character, but it certainly sets up one (Episode 81, "Reunion"). Certainly Michael Dorn gets a chance to show Worf's softer side (remember, he's a Klingon, so this is a relative issue) and Suzie Plakson as K'Ehleyr seems eminently capable of going toe-to-toe with the big fellow. They certainly have Klingon chemistry.

Give Worf a Girlfriend
In this episode a Federation ambassador is being sent to the Enterprise inside of a probe case for speed. A Klingon sleeper-ship from the 23rd century is about to awaken it's crew who will still believe the Federation and the Klingons are at war.

While the premise for this episode is weak, Suzie Plakson plays K'Ehleyr very well. She is the perfect foil to Worf and it is easy to see why they fell for each other. However the idea that the Klingons would have a ship full of sleeping Klingons ready to fight the Federation at some future point seemed a stretch to me. ... Read more

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While investigating a glitch in Data's "Sherlock Holmes" holodeck program, engineer Reg Barclay (the awkward recurring engineer played by Dwight Schultz) inadvertently releases Professor Moriarty (Daniel Davis) from the ship's memory. Moriarty, the sentient holodeck character created in episode 29, "Elementary, Dear Data," is alive, bored, and singularly frustrated by Picard's lack of action: he wants off the holodeck so bad he steps over the threshold and into the real world by sheer will. His problem is bringing out his digital lover (Stephanie Beacham) with him, and he hijacks the Enterprise (perched on the event horizon of a forming star that threatens to engulf the vessel) to pressure the crew into finding a solution. The ingenious Chinese box of a story is like a series of interlocking mind games and makes for a delicious battle of wits: things are not always as they seem. Davis's Moriarty is not exactly the criminal mastermind of Doyle's books ("He was only written that way," pooh-poohs his elegant love interest), but he is a genius and a charismatic opponent, and writer Rene Echevarria pens a plot and a character worthy of such a creation. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

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Professor Moriarty turns the tables on Captain Picard
It has been four years since Captain Picard promised Professor Moriarty that one day he would be able to leave the holodeck ("Elementary, My Dear Data," Episode 29). When Reg Barclay is fooling around with an error in a Sherlock Holmes holodeck adventure Data and Geordi have been enjoying, the good doctor reappears and demands to know why the Captain has not kept his promise. When Picard, Data and Barclay meet with Moriarty and try to explain that Federation scientists have indeed been working on the problem they have yet to reach a workable solution. Unimpressed, Moriarty stuns them by walking out of the holodeck, which, of course is impossible. Moriarty has reprogrammed the computer, trapping the trio of Enterprise officers in HIS program and demanding Riker find a way to bring him and his beloved female friend out of there or he will blow up the ship. Having tricked Picard into giving him the ship's command codes, Moriarty can do just that.

"Ship in a Bottle" is built on the fundamental fairness of Jean-Luc Picard, who treats a holographic creation with the same respect for sentience he has displayed towards crystals, nanites, and other unlikely thinking entities. This episode is enhanced by the superb performance of Daniel Davis as the Napoleon of Crime who is now motivated by self-preservation and love for the divine Stephanie Beacham. The situation is quite complex, but the resolution is in total keeping with the philosophical foundation of the episode. This is not a great episode in terms of offering a pivotal moment in the history of the series, but it is a completely solid episode from start to finish.

Very intriguing storyline
This is one of my favorite episodes, and I think this sequel to "Elementary, Dear Data" was even better than the original. The solution at the end was thought-provoking and creative. After seeing this episode, one must wonder what how we really know that anything is real. Perhaps we are just a hologram????

The most intriguing use of the Holodeck
with Daniel Davis playing Dr. Moriarty, Lt. Data's "Shirlock Holmes'" arch enemy. One of the best story lines written by the staff of TNG. Episode 138 is a sequel to Episode 29, "Elementary, Dear Data" from the 1st season. The ending to this episode will have you wishing there were another season of TNG to make yet another sequel.

Professor Moriarty reappears on the Holodeck
While Data and Geordi are role-playing in the Holodeck as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, the Holodeck malfunctions. Geordi and Data quit the program and ask Barclay to inspect the program when Holmes' arch-enemy appears right in front of Barclay, requesting to speak to Captain Picard about leaving the Holodeck. Moriarty successfully leaves the Holodeck later on, but is this for real? This story is a sort of sequel to the 2nd season episode "Elementary, Dear Data," but I like the 2nd season episode better because it has humor and just a little more suspense, I think, than "Ship in a Bottle." ... Read more

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Philosophy takes center stage in this exploration of what constitutes a life form. Everybody knows that Data is an amazing machine, but is he more than that? Is he a sentient being? These questions, perfect for idle speculation, are put on trial on a brand-new starbase when Commander Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) decides he wants to disassemble Data in order to learn "its" secrets, so that he can build many more Datas in the future. Data, however, doesn't think his science ability is up to snuff. Maddox forces atransfer so that Data must undergo the experiments, which in turn leads to Data's resignation from Starfleet. But canhe resign, or is he the property of Starfleet? Is he a person, or more like a toaster? A trial is set up in front of Judge Advocate General Philipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom); Riker is called on to argue that Data is the property of Starfleet, while Picard must defend Data as a new form of life. Excellent arguments are given for both sides. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A thoughtful exploration of "android rights"
This episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" takes on a classic science fiction theme: the rights and dignity of sentient artificial beings. "The Measure of a Man" ranks right up there with the best of such explorations. The combination of an intelligent script and superb acting makes this one that bears repeat watching.

Lieutenant Commander Data, the android bridge officer on the starship "Enterprise," is faced with the unpleasant prospect of being disassembled against his will by an obsessed Starfleet cybernetics expert. Scriptwriter Melinda Snodgrass effectively uses the dramatic device of a legal hearing as the vehicle by which to present a philosophical inquiry into the crucial questions: Is Data "alive"? Does he have inalienable rights? Would forcing him into actions against his will amount to slavery?

The performances are uniformly good. Special mention should be made of Brent Spiner's portrayal of Data: it is a masterfully nuanced performance which engages the viewers' sympathy. And Patrick Stewart, as Data's captain and courtroom defender, delivers his key pieces of oratory with passionate integrity.

As I noted above, this television episode can be read as part of a greater science fiction tradition. But in its exploration of the enduring conflict between individual rights and the forces of exploitation, "The Measure of a Man" is also a worthy successor to the literature of the anti-slavery activists of the 19th century. Watch "The Measure of a Man" and then read an abolitionist classic like "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," or "David Walker's Appeal." With "The Measure of a Man," the "Star Trek" creative team has produced an episode that is full of moral relevance.

Easily, One of Trek's Finest Hours
Commander Data is to be 'retrieved' by famed Starfleet scientist Commander Bruce Maddux for ... disassembly?

This exceptional morality play about the nature of existence has wonderful depth for being a mere forty-plus minutes. In record time, it manages to deal with such titillating sci-fi subjects as the man vs. machine controversy, a person's right to choose, and even slavery.

Brent Spiner, as Commander Data, is at top form in this episode, given perhaps the greatest story possible: a story tinkering with a hidden sense of euthanasia and his right, as a manufactured being, to make the choices that determine his fate. Picard Stewart, as his captain and defense attorney in court, gives an incredibly stirring speech about the nature of epistemology.

Another must-see ... but not just for Trek fans.

Social progress? What social progress?
I'm always a little disappointed when I watch this episode. It's sound in concept but uneven in execution.
Riker and Picard go head-to-head before a judge who must rule whether Data is a sentient being or not. Data is an android, so what should happen when he turns out to have wishes that conflict with those of his superior officers at Starfleet Command? Does he have the right to refuse to participate in a risky experiment, or not? Is he person like those around him, or a tool for their use?

It seems hard to believe that the practice of justice, in particular the adversarial process and arbitrary rulings by judges, has not changed at all in four hundred years. More than that, Riker's courtroom arguments really are nothing more than a sideshow display, making Picard's despondency about his own case very difficult to understand. The judge's final verdict draws on almost nothing of the arguments presented before her, which undercuts the point of Riker and Picard making their presentations at all. However, these problems are balanced to some degree by fine performances from all the actors, and some excellent interplay between Picard and Judge Louvois.
On a final note: it would have been good if the writers of Star Trek: The Next Generation had demonstrated some social change/progress from the twentieth century to the twenty-fourth, rather than just having the characters proudly claim that it has occurred. This was an episode crying out for such a context.

I compute, therefore I am
As the Enterprise docks with a newly commissioned Star Base, Commander Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) announces that in his persuit of cybernetics research, he has decided that Lt. Commander Data is a mere machine, not sentient, and he intends to disassemble him so he can one day make many more like him.

Devoid of true emotions, Data is actually intrigued by Maddox's work, yet believes it is flawed and does not wish to risk his life for Maddox's research. When he is given orders by Starfleet to participate in the dangerous experiments, he resigns his commission, only to have his ace trumped by Maddox again, who claims Data is no different than a talking tea kettle, and somehow has become property of Starfleet.

Picard asks the Judge Advocate General, Phillipa Louvoi (Amanda McBroom) to call a hearing to save Data from Maddox's Frankenstein-esque wiles. The understaffed, newly open star base has no qualified prosecuters, so the J.A.G. drafts Commander Riker the dubious "honor" of representing Maddox's cause in the hearing, letting Picard be defense council. When Riker refuses, he is told that if he does not participate in this capacity, the J.A.G. will rule in favor of Maddox, giving Riker no choice but to diligently fight for Maddox's cause in the hope that he will lose.

As a viewer of the show, it's easy to buy into the fact that Data is not merely a machine, but a person... but if this was science fact and not science fiction, would we feel the same way? That a machine built with circuits should be afforded the same rights as a human being? Probably not, but who knows?

Riker and Picard pull out all stops in representing their respective sides, each doing an admirable job. Data must also defend himself, which he does pragmatically - expressing his desire to retain his right to choose and to his very life. This issue comes up again later in episode 64, in which Data constructs a child, his daughter, Lal, who Starfleet eyes greedily.

A great episode.

Does Data have a soul?
I was interested in watching this after watching the classic The Outer Limits episode, "I Robot" (episode 41), staring Leonard Nimoy where the same question was explored... also in a court room.

A lot of philosophy is explored in this episode. But the acting is magnificent with the exception of Judge Advocate General Philipa Louvois who gave some poorly delivered and cheesy lines. Plus for a JAG officer, she sure seems to be shocked by statements made in court more than you would think or believe. But Jonathan Frakes, I believe, gives the best performance as he is given the unbearable task of actually prosecuting Data. You could really feel his pain in performing the task he did not want to do. This also has one of the better poker bits this show ever produced as Data plays poker for the first time.

Like "I Robot," this makes you think. While I developed my own ideas of who I thought was right and wrong and in between, this episode leaves enough open for you to explore your own ideas. Which, I believe, is one of the strengths of this episode. ... Read more

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Okay, blame it on Geordi La Forge. It's his slip of the tongue that causes all the mayhem in this episode. After Data ruins a perfectly good holographic adventure by jumping to the end of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, the frustrated chief engineer asks the computer to create an adversary worthy of defeating the android. What Geordi meant to say was an adversary worthy of Holmes, but never mind. The computer obliges and Moriarty is born. Literally.He comes equipped with superintelligence approaching consciousness and a direct line to the main computer. Somehow, Dr. Pulaski gets thrown into the mix--as a crumpet-eating hostage, of all things--and Moriarty starts messing with the Star Trek universe as we know it and turns reality on its ear.

TNG is at its best when it doesn't take itself too seriously. "Elementary, Dear Data" is an utterly charming outing into high-tech Victorian wacky land. In fact, this episode proved to be so popular that the story was continued three years later in "Ship in a Bottle." The writing is excellent and Daniel Davis is sublime as Moriarty, the hologram who's sentient and knows it.This makes many best of Trek episode lists, and is simply a must-own for all TNG fans. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A major philosophical point is largely ignored
This episode is more memorable for the extremely significant philosophical point that is largely ignored than it is for the dialog and battle between Data as Sherlock Holmes and a holographic Professor Moriarty. During a lull in duties, Geordi and Data retire to the holodeck where Data is Sherlock Holmes and Geordi is Dr. Watson. However, since Data has memorized all of the stories featuring Holmes, he quickly resolves the mysteries, which frustrates Geordi. In an attempt to spice up the game, Geordi instructs the holodeck computer to create an adversary capable of defeating Data in a battle of wits. The computer complies, creating a conscious, intelligent and self-aware Professor Moriarty, capable of programming the Enterprise computer and gaining control of the Enterprise, all from inside the holodeck.
Eventually, since the program cannot be terminated, Picard is forced to enter the holodeck and meet Moriarty face to face. Picard explains the situation to Moriarty, who returns control of the Enterprise to Picard. In return, Picard has the computer save the Moriarty character, with a promise to revisit the issue in the future.
Since it is the Enterprise computer that creates the sentient Professor Moriarty, the question becomes: Is the Enterprise computer sentient? The answer to this is most certainly no. In the episode "Q Who?" Geordi laughs at Ensign Gomez for being polite to a food dispenser. His statements indicate that he does not consider it to be sentient. Furthermore, the events in all the other episodes support this position. Therefore, the action in this episode is based on the premise that the non-sentient Enterprise computer created a sentient consciousness that is in many ways just as alive as any other creature. The fact that it can exist only in a holodeck is not significant as many organisms can exist only in their specialized environment. This is a very deep philosophical and scientific issue that is largely ignored.
A second problem is the ease with which Geordi misprograms the computer. Given the power of the Enterprise computers, there should be much greater safeguards to make sure that an error in speaking is not misconstrued. The number of safety and security overrides would have to be enormous, and there would have been an immediate directive to fix this obvious and serious software defect.
With these problems aside, this is still a good episode. Moriarty is a character who is devious, ruthless and yet a gentleman. It was a very wise move when he was brought back in a future episode. Dr. Pulaski is adorable in her Victorian outfit as she accompanies Data and Geordi back to the streets of London during the reign of Queen Victoria. There is just too much direct and subtle activity packed into it.

Fun to watch!
Who cares about the technical part of it.
its a fun chase!

It's not elementary.It's not even entertainment!
Based on some prior reviews I bought this. Boy, was I disappointed.
Even though some of the other reviewers give away the plot and surprises, I thought I would enjoy this. All I can say is you have to be brain dead to be entertained by this. Gene Roddenberry would be very disappointed!
Be warned: Data DOES NOT turn out to be Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy, Professor Moriarty.
And yes, Data defeats Professor Moriarty before the professor defeats him.
I think you would have to check your brain at the door to like this one. I really do not understand all the glowing reviews from the other customers.

Cool Epis