Reviews (1)

The mysterious sister of Tasha Yar
Next Generation fans got to resolve the death of Tasha Yar in the classic episode "Yesterday's Enterprise," but in the Star Trek universe the crew still has issues to resolve. When an escape pod from a Federation freighter lands on Turkana Four, the brutal colony world from which Tasha escaped, the Enterprise shows up for the rescue armed to the teeth. The leader of the Coalition claims that their opponents, the Alliance, hold the men from the pod hostage. As proof of their good word, the Coalition provides the services of Ishara Yar, who they say is Tasha's sister. Although there are initial doubts about her, the crew warms to Ishara. She is willing to help them with their rescue mission but there is this one little problem: Ishara has a proximity detector implanted in her body, which will set off the alarms. Of course Dr. Crusher removes the device, which is exactly what Ishara and the Coalition wanted her to do.

Certainly the viewers are more suspicious of Ishara Yar than the Enterprise crew, mainly because "Legacy" is a little heavy handed in how it develops the mystery, which is to say that it just begs you to be suspicious every step of the way. It is something of a shame that the good memories of their fallen comrade are so abused. This is one of the few Next Generation episodes that truly leaves you with a bad feeling. Fortunately all future episodes dealing with the fate of Tasha Yar are a lot better than this one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The growth and maturation of Lwaxana Troi
Up until this point in the history of STNG the arrival of Lwaxana Troi invariably signaled a comic relief episode, "Menage a Troi" (episode 72) being far and away the best of the bunch. But in "Half a Life" things take a serious turn, to the betterment of the character and of actress Majel Barrett, who finally gets to do something more dramatic than be the voice of the Enterprise computer. Aboard the Enterprise is a scientist named Timicin who falls for Lwaxana's fabled charms. For forty years Timicin, played pitch perfectly by David Ogden Stiers, has been trying to find a way to revive the dying sun of his planet. However, his grand attempt to restore the sun through the use of carefully programmed photon torpedoes fails horribly. Lwaxana offers the appropriate encouragement, that a future attempt will certainly succeed. But then Timicin drops a little bombshell. On his planet when a person reaches the age of 60 they celebrate "The Resolution," a sacred ceremony where they say farewell to their friends and family before committing suicide. Lwaxana argues that Timicin should reject this horrific custom, and when the scientist suddenly sees how his failed experiment might work those two forces compel him to seek asylum on the Enterprise. However, then when Timicin hears from his heartbroken family, he has second thoughts about his decision.

I usually have trouble with alien cultures that have achieved scientific miracles but still retain some barbaric aberration as a defining cultural element, but Barrett and Stiers give "Half A Life" such gravity and depth you cannot help but be impressed. It is an excellent episode, even if both of the main characters are guest stars. Besides, this episode does not sink into predictability. But the most important thing remains the maturity of Lwaxana's character. There are still the comic overtones (she keeps talking about "Mr. Woof") but certainly she is now a much more rounded character. About time--and there is much better to come.

great
This is a particularly good episode in that it deals with the question of aging and usefulness--and for the series. Previously, Troi's mother was seen as flighty and a little on the ditzy side at times. Now, we get to see the serious side of her. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The very poignant story of Data becoming a Daddy
Data returns from a Cybernetics Conferences, disappears into a lab and emerges a few days later having created an android named Lal (which means "Beloved" in the Hindi language). Data has transferred his programming into Lal's positronic brain (always a nice allusion to Isaac Asimov's robot stories). While Data debates Lal's gender, Picard expresses his concerns that Data is not ready to be a father; apparently there is more to being a parent than having every major work on the subject being downloaded into your brain or accessible on the ship's computer. But that is not the real problem. Admiral Hartel has arrived from Starfleet, concerned that Data will do something wrong and Lal will be "damaged." Hartel will interview Lal, and if he is not pleased, he has the authority to take her back to his cybernetics lab and do his own variation on the Dr. Frankenstein theme.

The issue here is set up as being whether you want your child raised by a man or a machine. I would not think this issue is even debatable, but if we cannot decide which is better to count votes, I guess there are two sides to the argument. But in "The Measure of a Man" (Episode 35) it was clearly established that Data was a sentient being and not property. Certainly the same thing applies to Lal, but then we would not have a story. Hallie Todd's performance as Lal is the centerpiece of "The Offspring," with shadings as subtle and as meaningful as Brent Spiner's honed performance as Data. Their is a poignancy here is stunning its is simplicity. This is one of the very best Data episodes.

Very meaningful plot and interesting idea
Very nice and very heartwarming story of Data 'reproducing' a child by building one. Gives some vaguely interesting philosophical details. Some of Star Trek's best episodes have little to do with outer space.

The subplot of the Admiral wanting to 'rip the child out of the father's arms' was quite effective. I particularly enjoyed the scene where Picard refuses to allow the release of Data's child to the Admiral. I thought this was very well planned and well executed. "To order a man to turn his child over to the state"... the character had never stood up to his superiors so effectively before.

A masterful allegory
I should begin by saying that I am not a die-hard Star Trek fan. I enjoyed the exploits of Shatner & Co. and watched the first few episodes of TNG but never really got into it.

I picked it up again around season 3 and found that the characters had matured significantly. The scripts were strong and the show now looked as though it had some mileage. This episode in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Brent Spiner had achieved something with the character of Commander Data that is actually quite difficult to pull off without overdoing things: Having a character that is devoid of any emotion evoke sympathy and pathos from the audience.

The Offspring sees Data become a Father, when he creates a child android (named Lal) based on his own neural network. As Lal 'grows' Data is reminded of his own developmental processes and finds that being a father is not easy.

Lal's existence also attracts the attention of Star Fleet and the notions of who knows best for the child, the State (Star Fleet) or the parent, are allegorically explored.

The final 15 minutes are heart wrenching and have bought a tear to my eye on more than one occasion. Definitely a classic and worthy of anyone's collection even if, like me, you're just a casual viewer.

Even non-Trekkers will like this one.
Data secretly builds a daughter named Lal, and then begins the job of raising his daughter, until he is asked to turn Lal over to Starfleet for study and training. The questions of parent/child rights, governmental intervention into family concerns, and the wonder of seeing the world through a child's eyes makes this a thought-provoking emotional episode that many of my non-Trekker friends have enjoyed viewing.

I feel the daughter was an elecent idea for the show.
I loved it so much ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Jean-Luc Picard in a variation on the Prisoner Game
Captain Picard is sleeping when a junior variation of the 2001 Monolith appears. After he is scanned, Picard disappears, only to be replaced by a replicant. When he awakes, Picard finds himself in a cell with four beds. The other two occupants, a freshman cadet at the Academy and an overly accommodating bureaucrat are joined by the final prisoner, a hulking Chalnothian. It seems the newcomer cannot eat the food the captives are provided, but the bureaucrat would do quite nicely. Picard tries to keep the peace, find a way of escape, and discover why they are being held captive. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, the replicant Picard has been engaging in odd behavior, such as trying to get his crew to sing songs in Ten-Forward.

"Allegiance" is the Next Generation's variation on the classic prisoner game, where you throw together a small group of strangers, none of whom know why they have been captured. Consequently, the Dixon Hill loving Jean-Luc Picard is once again presented with a mystery. This time the big twist is that he does not have his crew or the ship's computer to help him figure out the puzzle. The joy is seeing Patrick Stewart, not only as the inquisitive and suspicious "real" Picard, but also as the jovial master of the ship "replicant" Picard. These latter scenes are almost as delightful as the ending of "Menage a Troi," but not quite.

Classic Logic Star Trek
This episode, in which Picard finds himself a captor with a group of other humanoids he has never met before, is classic in its slow revelation of what is really going on, and thoroughly enjoyable in its suspense and mounting excitement. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Federation freighter Odin has been disabled by an asteroid. There are no signs of life on the ship, but three escape pods are missing, so the crew of the Enterprise take a trip to the nearest planet, Angel One, to see if they can locate any survivors. The civilization on Angel One is "similar to mid-20th-century Earth," except the gender roles are switched. Women are the hunters and natural leaders, while the men aretreated as pretty ornaments and playthings. You can imagine how well that playswith Riker. But it's Riker who, in pure Shatner mode, nearly gets lucky with theleader of Angel One, Mistress Beata (Karen Montgomery). Well, it turns out thethree survivors are fugitives from justice because they've been inspiring themen on the planet to campaign for equal rights, and the women just don't likethat. Meanwhile, the Enterprise has been incapacitated by a mysterious virus. The obvious politics of this episode are nicely balanced by the entertainingly "girlish" costumes worn by the men on the planet. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"Klingons appreciate strong women."
"Angel One" undoubtedly was intended to be an insightful commentary on the nature of gender dynamics and sexual politics when it was originally conceived. Unfortunately, it comes across as something that not even the most generous viewer would describe as "enlightening." Essentially it wound up in its final form as something closer to the television equivalent of bird cage liner.

The Enterprise-D arrives at planet Angel One to search for survivors from a lost Federation freighter. They discover that the male survivors are considered fugitives due to their refusal to embrace the planet's matriarchal ruling structure. Yet, the men refuse to return to the Federation when discovered because they have found spouses on the planet. After the fugitives are captured, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) attempts to transport them to the Enterprise-D but abandons his plan when the danger of shipwide contamination by a virus from the planet arises.

Watching Riker save the day in "Angel One" by relying on his "manliness" will either strike you as offensive or will cause you to guffaw uncontrollably. Either reaction is undesirable and speaks to the multitude of problems inherent in this episode from start to finish. Even if you disregard the sloppily-constructed male-female-battle-of-the-sexes angle of the story, the manner in which the threatening virus and the danger in the Neutral Zone come out of left field makes you wonder if any care or serious creative thought actually went into the writing of "Angel One." Ring up this outing as one of the low points of the first season and an episode to avoid whenever it appears as a re-run on cable television.

Riker does the "When in Rome . . ." thing
One of the plot lines of this episode involves the recurring theme that I consider the greatest weakness of TNG. The chief medical officer of the Enterprise, whether she be Crusher or Polaski, never seems able to handle medical problems quickly. When medical problems arise, in this case a dangerous viral infection spreading throughout the crew, Crusher's lines reduce to variations of "I don't know . . .". Considering that only the very best medical minds could be in Star Fleet and the Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation, it is absurd to believe that the only officer who can overrule the captain would appear to be so lacking in capability. Of course, she eventually stumbles on the solution and the crew is cured.
The second major plot line involves the Enterprise searching for survivors of an accident involving another ship. When the ship was destroyed, the nearest planet is one where women are the dominant sex and the males are smaller and subservient. The Enterprise goes to the planet and establishes contact in an attempt to search for survivors. It turns out that there were survivors and they are the leaders of a mini-rebellion against the matriarchal hierarchy.
While it is sensible that Riker would adopt the appropriate attire for a meeting with the headmistress of the planet, his interaction with her is absurd. At one point in Riker's conversation with her, when he is arguing against the death sentence pronounced against the rebels, the headmistress ends a line with , " . . . that attitude." Commander Riker is the second in command of the Federation flagship and a trained diplomat. The headmistress is of course the leader of a planet and also must be a diplomat. It is very hard to believe that they would engage in a conversation at the level of a lover's quarrel. People in their positions would not speak to each other that way.
The premise of a female dominated society is an interesting one, worthy of being the major plot in an episode. However, the implementation leaves a lot to be desired and I consider this one of the weaker TNG episodes.

Shirtless Riker Ain't No Kirk!
Angel One or......Shirtless Riker ain't no Kirk!

In this episode a repeat of Roddenberry's "Genesis 2" concept is part of the plot. The short version?.....Well folks, Mistress Beata is going to execute a band of rebels on her home world. Riker, Tasha and Troi are part of the away team. It's a place were women rule men! Commander Riker must avert what could be a terrible war. Hey.....this sounds like it could be a good Saturday Night Live routine!

Riker on the Planet of the Reverse Gender Stereotypes
One look at the original crew of the Next Generation and it is clear that Gene Roddenberry was interested in advancing gender equality in the 23rd century. The original Enterprise just had Uhura at Communications, but now we have a female Chief Medical Office, Security Chief and Counselor (although the first couple of seasons of "Deanna Troi, Babe Counselor" rather counterproductive, only reinforced by the fact that Marina Sirtis looked a lot sexier in a regulation Starfleet uniform). The idea of gender equality was also advanced in several first season episodes, most notably "Angel One." The title is the name of a planet where not only is there a matriarchal society, but we find the female hunters to be bigger and stronger than the males. Consequently, Angel one is the Planet of Reverse Gender Stereotypes, an idea that is played out to the point that Riker gets to wear one of the skimpy little outfits worn by the native men. The conflict is that there is a group of men, who landed on the planet in their escape pods from a Federation freighter, who wanted to be treated equally to the women. Better yet, there are a group of dissident women who want to treat them that way as well.

"Angel One" represents Star Trek's enduring commitment to providing allegorical critiques of contemporary concerns. However, the fact that once again it is the presence of the enlightened Terrans that bring understanding to the alien culture is getting a bit repetitive, but then the captains of the Enterprise always like to skirt the Prime Directive whenever possible. Speaking of being repetitive, I notice that this is the fifth time in the first fifteen episodes that the Enterprise has responded to some sort of medical emergency. Life sure is rough in that quadrant during the 23rd century. You would think Starfleet would just station a medical vessel out there and let the Enterprise get back to its mission of exploration. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Geordi in the Next Generation version of a classic war tale
The Enterprise responds to an unknown distress call from Galorndon Core, an uninhabited planet wracked by constant storms. Riker, Worf and La Forge beam down and discover a Romulan craft that has crashed. Searching for survivors, Riker and Worf find a wounded Romulan and are forced to beam back before they can find La Forge. While the Enterprise figures out a way to locate their Chief Engineer, La Forge is attacked by another Romulan. Because of the struggle and the violent storms of the planet, La Forge loses his vision and the Romulan can no longer walk. Meanwhile, a Romulan ship has arrived upon the scene ready and willing to fight.

One of the standard war stories has a pair of enemy soldiers having to work with together in order to survive. The most notable example of this would be the 1968 film "Hell in the Pacific" with Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune marooned together on an island. Of course the story does not have to take place in a war, as Tony Curtis and Sidney Portier proved in "The Defiant Ones." In the Next Generation episode "The Enemy," the Federation is not a war with the Romulan Empire, but there is certainly a level of mutual distrust. Consequently, this is a rather standard version of the tale, quite predictable. The idea that the Romulans show up at a crash site and immediately start threatening to start a war is a bit over the top and loses the episode a star. After all, the planet is causing enough problems without falling back on the Romulan "Evil Empire" stereotype. Besides, the story is predicatable enough that neither LaVar Burton or anybody else has any really worthwhile dramatic moments. Certainly a missed opportunity. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Should have been so much better
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. When a story is as reliant on plot holes and the stupidity of the characters as this one is, you know you're in trouble.
This story should have been epic. Instead, it was perfunctory and rushed. There was no real sense of the crisis the reappearance of the Borg caused; everything was focused narrowly on the Enterprise, with no recognition that anything else counted. The direction was very flat, and the writing so bad as to be laughable in places. The special effects, make-up, and art design needed to be a lot better, too.
Worst of all, there was no emotional depth to this episode. Moments that should have been shocking, or moving, or chilling, just weren't. Nor was there any sense of how very much all this should have mattered to Data.
"Descent Part I" needed a comprehensive re-write, a better director, and about twenty more minutes to really highlight what mattered. It was throughly flat, when it needed to be the exact opposite.

This One Kicked Buns!!!
This episode had alot of excitment and the Enterprise travels over warp 180!Yes,180!I love this episode because it has advanced borg men.This is the most coolest episode I have seen with the borg.As you know,people that are not importent without hearing their last names die.I liked the storyline to it.I enjoyed part 2 aswell.

I don't know about the other reviewers, but this rocks!
I watched this video, and thought: there couldn't be a better episode. But that's just me. I mean, I've only watched 1/8 of Star Trek The Next Generation. So don't blame me if I'm wrong, but I just plainly like this show, and you'll probably like this cool pool of entertainment.

Lore Returns with the Borg!
In this one Lore aquires a following that includes Hugh the Borg. Remember him? Hugh was the Borg Picard attempted to revive to it's human origins. The Borg have the capapbility to think on their own. That's what made them so dangerous.

It begins with Data, Riker and Worf with an away team beam to a station that was finished by the Borg. The big problem here was Data enjoyed destroying the Borg that eventually attacked the team.

What Data doesn't know is he was being controlled by Lore the whole time. That is why he was "feeling" hatred toward them.

This one is a keeper. It stands up to what I call the repeated viewing test. You can watch this one along with part two a few times and still find it entertaining.

We get to see Data question his way of life aboard the Enterprise.

The only fault I find is the music. If Paramount ever releases these with a new DVD set; the music should be more dramatic. The producer Rick Berman doesn't believe in overpowering music. I disagree. The music in this one would have set the sinister tone and threat the Borg presented. And it just wasn't there because the music was so dull.

Data gets emotional over killing a Borg
The Enterprise responds to a distress call from an outpost and arrives to find only dead bodies and a group of Borg. During the fight, Data strangles one of the Borg to death in a fit of anger. When the Enterprise chases after the Borg ship, it disappears. La Forge tries to figure out how the Borg managed to escape while Data spends time on the holodeck trying to recreate his emotional experience. When the Borg attack a second colony the Enterprise pursues the Borg ship and follows it into an energy vortex at which point A couple of Borg beam onto the Enterprise bridge. Worf kills one and they capture the other while the Borg ship escapes. When Data visits the Borg in the bridge they have an interesting discussion about the android's emotional experience. The Borg fiddles with a device on this arm and suddenly Data is willing to do anything to feel emotions again. The Borg promises Data that their leader can give Data what he needs, whereupon the android helps the Borg escape in a shuttlecraft. The Enterprise follows them to a planet where Picard, La Forge and Troi discover a large building. Inside they Data, a whole bunch of Borg, and...Lore! It turns out Lore is the leader of these Borg and that Data has joined his brother. Together, the sons of Soong promise to destroy the Federation. (To be continued)

Once again we get the Borg for a season finale as Data's desire to be more human takes a bizarre turn. Data suddenly declares he would be willing to kill La Forge, his best friend, just to experience the anger and pleasure he felt when he killed the Borg. The appearance of Lore at the end is certainly a nice twist, since it means there is a logical explanation for Data's radical personality change. What is not clear is why the Borg, or to be more specific this particular group of Borg, following Lore? For answers, see Part 2 of "Descent." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

funny, sexy and different
This story has everything: Action, Comedy, private revelations of few crew members, and not to forget sensual romance starring Counselor Troi!
Story: VIP's of the Planet Barzan II have located a wormhole close to the planet. It seems to be stable and to lead to the Gamma-Quadrant. Because insuffisant money and exploration funds, they sell the travel rights to a third-party member. Different Delegations meets aboard the Enterprise, and the sellers will sell to the people, that gives that what the Barzan-people needs. (Whatever it is). Ferengis are present too, and during the whole episode, they're trying to come to their goal with insane methods. (poisoning, destroying,...) They make a big part of the fun of this episode.
Another delegate is Devinoni Ral, a human working for another planet. Already at his second meeting with Deanna Troi, he's showing extremely direct to her, that he is very interested to eat lunch with her. Very fast, both stays together during night in the Counselors room...
At the same time, Geordi and Data runs a wormhole-race with the ferengis. Of course, the Ferengis are not thinking about cooperation, and they'll see that this is a big foult...
Deanna has now figure it out that Devinoni is a little bit Betazoid, and that he knows what the other delegates thinks. This gives him many opportunities, what angries Troi...

This is only a few of the many things, that happen in this episode. I recommand it to every fan of Star Trek, Counselor Troi, and comedy!

What am I bid for this apparently stable worm hole?
What I like most about "The Price" is both Picard and the audience are one step behind for almost the entire story. Things are not always crystal clear in the Star Trek universe. The Enterprise is holding the negotiations for a worm hole near Barzan Two. Apparently, both ends of the worm hole are fixed (as we find with the Bajoran worm hole in Deep Space Nine) and since the Barzan do not have the technological expertise to take advantage of their natural wonder, they are taking bids for managing their lucrative galatic shortcut. The main competition is between the Federation, the wily Ferengi and the Chrysallians, represented by Devinoni Ral. A devious negotiator who is also part-Betazed, Ral explores a mutual attraction with Counselor Troi when he is not busy figuring out how to dupe both Picard and the Ferengi. Of course, Deanna is not all that thrilled with Ral's ethics, giving the episode's title a double-meaning. Meanwhile, Data and La Forge are checking out the worm hole in a shuttlecraft. The joy of this episode is Matt McCoy as Ral, a charming rogue in a Star Trek universe usually made up of particularly uncharming villains, which makes it much more than the Next Generation version of "Journey to Babel." Besides, it is always nice to see Troi getting over that Imzadi thing with Riker. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Hatfields & McCoys of outer space
After a Federation oupost is raided, the Enterprise heads to Acamar Three (it would seem that most planets in Star Trek need to have numbers connected to them) where they meet Marouk (Nancy Parsons), leader of the planet. Marouk explains that a group called "the Gatherers" is to blame for the raid on the outpost. After centuries of blood feuds, the renegade group of Acamarians who call themselves "gatherers" live as space-faring nomads, "gathering" the belongings of others.

Marouk has a sincere desire to reintegrate Acamar Three's lost sons. Marouk's servant, Yuta (Lisa Wilcox), is always at her side. She is almost like a Labrador retriever, being Marouk's "gofer" for everything and treated sometimes like a robot instead of a young woman. Riker finds her to be quite fetching and the two take a liking to each other.

Picard volunteers to help Marouk locate the clan leader of the Gatherers, Chorgan (Stephen Lee), so that they can make peace with them, give them amnesty for their "gathering" crimes and give them a piece of land so they can start to reintegrate into their society.

Unseen to everyone else, Yuta runs across an elderly Gatherer, a member of the Lornack clan, who recognizes her from years before. With a touch of her hand, the old man drops dead. Crusher finds that the man, despite his age, was relatively healthy, but died of a rare virus that was almost designed to attack him specifically. This is the second such death and a connection is made - members of the Lornack clan are dying and the only one left is Chorgan. But who could be killing off the Lornacks? Their sworn enemies were wiped out 50 years earlier?

Some sleuthing by Data and Crusher reveal the secret and Riker must beam into the middle of talks with Chorgan, Marouk & Picard to stop Yuta in her tracks.

An interesting tack on an old theme.

There's no feud like an old blood feud
Picard determines that a Federation research center was raided by the nomadic Gatherers. A century before the Gatherers had left Acamar Three during the height of the clan blood feuds that killed thousands. Marouk, the ruler of Acamar Three wants to have peace talks with the Gatherers and comes aboard the Enterprise with a small group which includes her cook, Yuta, who catches Riker's eye. During the negotiations at one of the Gatherer's camps, Yuta is talking with one of the old men. When she finds out he is a member of the Lornack clan, she touches him and he dies. While Picard tries to keep the negotiations going, Dr. Crusher works on determining how the old man died, and Riker keeps on being Riker.

Star Trek has always been against the Old Testament version of vengeance that demands an eye for an eye until everyone is blind. In that regard "The Vengeance Factor" is another variation on a standard theme, but the story of how Yuta became a living weapon deadly only to the enemy clan that all but obliterated her own, is rather fascinating. You always have to appreciate it when the writers are really able to pull off something reasonably "futuristic." Of course, when it comes to Riker, if it wasn't for bad love . . .

pretty good
This one is pretty good. As someone who has seen and is collecting them all, this is one of the first 40 that I have purchased. Out of 176 or so episodes, that should tell you something. The caracters are very believable and there isn't too much over acting. The story will hold you in for the entire episode. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An effective riff on the old "what's real and what's not" shell game, "Frame of Mind" is probably as close as Star Trek, in any incarnation, ever got to the paranoid mind-bending reality shifts of a Philip K. Dick novel. The opening seems to show Riker trapped in a mental hospital, but the melodramatic lines and Jonathan Frakes's hammy overacting (intentional, it turns out, and quite amusing) cue us that something is not right. Sure enough, he's only rehearsing the role of an incarcerated madman, his part in a play being directed by Beverly. But walking the decks, he has the distinct feeling he's being watched, and he keeps running into an alien lieutenant he's never seen before. There's no time to worry about it, however, since he must prepare for his new mission, an undercover mission to the warring planet Tilonus IV.

Though he's somewhat jumpy and fatigued (probably too much immersion in his role, Troi suggests), Riker goes on with Beverly's show; but rising from his bow, Riker finds he's no longer on a set of a mental asylum, but in the Tilonus IV Institute for Mental Disorders. From then on Riker shifts back and forth between the Enterprise and the hospital, gradually losing his grip on which, if either, is merely delusion. This cleverly constructed story appears initially to be an easy one to suss out, but odd little details and unexpected twists keep you on your toes. And the production design is quite striking, from the subtly Caligari-esque hallways of the Institute to the lovely and inspired special effect near the end when the various visions tormenting Riker one by one shatter and fly apart. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (8)

over the edge...
Will Riker is portraying a criminal in a mental hospital... for a play on the Enterprise. Data portrays one of the psychologists in this one-room drama. Riker finds the imagery disturbing and wrought with conflict ... rightfully so.

Any image of a somewhat sane person in an insane asylum is enough to make the viewer quiver.

Before you know it, it seems that Riker is taking his role of actor too personally... he begins to find himself literally within the play that never ends. A spooky officer he sees in the turbolift is suddenly his captor in this hospital of horrors.

It is clear that Riker is truly losing his mind as he shifts from reality to pseudo reality and back and begins to be unsure of himself and what is real and what is fantasy.

Is he under some alien influence? Has he just had too many friends assimilated and now he's totally snapped? I don 't want to give away the spoiler, but suffice to say, this is one heck of a thriller. This could have easily been a 2-part episode. The special effects are new and the imagery is stark, complex, surreal and definitely from the dark side of psyche.

Even the clothing and lighting seems to be in shades of grey and everyone in the cast acts a little more serious than normal.

This was the season when the characters are fully developed and come into their own... and this is one of the best episodes in the lot.

You may not want to watch this one alone!
At one point in 'Frame Of Mind' Troi tells Riker not to be afraid to explore the dark side of his psyche. Accordingly, the sixth season of TNG saw the series take a much darker tone to some episodes. "Man Of The People", "Schisms", the two-part "Chain Of Command" and "The Face Of The Enemy" each featured dark and disturbing themes. By comparison 'Frame Of Mind' is pitch-dark, terrifying and unsettling. The sets designed for this show summon up the most frightening memories we have stored inside ourselves from our exposure to horror films. If you are familiar with silent films of the German Expressionism era you will recognize that influence here.

Riker is preparing to perform in a play on the Enterprise titled 'Frame Of Mind'. The play details the recovery of a patient at an asylum who may or may not be receiving questionable treatment from his doctor. Very soon the scenes that Riker is performing in the play gradually begin to happen to him in reality. Before long he comes to believe that he really is a patient committed to a doctors care at a mental institution; that the Enterprise and crew are actually a delusion of his maddened state. But soon even that scenario begins to fall apart and Riker no longer knows what is real and what isn't.

This is an episode that demands repeat viewings as it's shifting realities are difficult to keep track of - let alone for Riker! The creative staff behind 'Frame Of Mind' does a great job of keeping us off balance, maintaining a surrealistic feel to the entire proceedings. The final sequence of realities shattering away like broken glass is an excellent effect. And Jonathan Frakes is exceptional in what is probably his most demanding performance of the series; he's literally in every shot. One scene that is played out several times in Riker's "realities" is a portion of the play he and Data are performing. As the doctor, Data says to Riker, "I see you're becoming agitated again." Riker immediately responds, "You bet I'm agitated!" Each time this scene is played out Riker says his line more emphatically, responding with uneasy confusion or righteous anger fitting to each separate occasion this happens.

Overall, 'Frame Of Mind' has the feel of an early 20th century gothic horror film with its emphasis on set design and the nefarious appearance of the institute's doctors. It is also derivative of the best stories of Philip K. Dick who continually had his characters dealing with ever changing realities induced by drug usage. If you've seen this episode then you probably already own it; if you haven't seen it yet, buy it. You won't regret it. Like me you will find yourself going back to it again and again.

Frame up
Frame of mind is altered by aliens

Jonathan Frakes puts in a terrific performance in this episode. While performing in a play aboard the Enterprise he is transported to another reality. In this other dimension the play is reality for our unsuspecting first officer. Out of all of the episodes I've never seen the Riker character so frightened and unsure. It's a testament to the under rated acting ability of Frakes. I think that he could also carry the show as ship's captain and it's unfortunate that the powers that be didn't make Riker captain and kept Next Generation going a few more seasons.

This is another one of those episodes that you can see over again. It has scenes where Riker can't believe the fact that he may be imprisoned forever. It's not one of those galactic battle episodes but worth your time.

Is Will Riker in a play or a mental hospital (or both?)
Riker and Data are rehearsing a play called "Frame of Mind," where they play the patient and doctor in a mental hospital. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is heading for Tilonus Four, where the government has collapsed and the warring factions are using torture to get military information. A Federation research team on the planet is now a prime target, so Picard orders Riker to get them back to the ship when the Enterprise gets to Tilonus Four in five days. Riker's plan is to go alone disguised as a Tilonian merchant. However, that night when the play is over, Riker receives a standing ovation and then finds himself in the Tilonus Institute for Mental Disorders. An attendant claims Riker was admitted after stabbing a man to death. Riker protests that he is sane, but they drug him into submission, at which point Riker awakens from a "dream." The next night the performance of the play is mixed with being in the psycho ward on Tilonus Four, until Riker can no longer tell what is real and what is not.

What makes "Frame of Mind" a great episode is that although you know this cannot "really" be happening, you have no idea what is actually going on until the final minutes of the episode. The sense of disorientation and confusion that afflicts Riker actually carries over to the viewers and when Riker actually shatters the false reality, it is a marvelous special effect. This is one of the few STNG episodes that gives Jonathan Frakes an opportunity to do some serious acting and he gives one of his best performances as Riker.

"There's a lot More Going on Here Than You Realize"
So says the enigmatic alien Riker repeatedly encounters throughout the episode. That's an understatement. Things aren't quite the sane (uh, same) for Riker when, following a dress rehearsal for a play (Frame of Mind) in which he plays a man imprisoned and tortured in a mental institution, he has a brief, unsettling encounter with a strange--apparently new-- crew member. And from that point on things for Riker deteriorate rapidly as his distinction between what is the play and what is real blurs. Who is the sinister crew member and what does he have to do with Riker's conundrum? Atmospheric episode with evocation of the sinister keeps you guessing right up to the surprise denouement. Arguably Frakes's best work in the series. ... Read more

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The second episode from the season of "St. Elsewhere"
"Bypass" is the second episode from the first season of "St. Elsewhere," the critically acclaimed series that changed forever the medical shows on television. "E.R." made it to the top of the Nielsen ratings, but "St. Elsewhere" was the show that opened to door to doctors being seen more realistically than what we were used to with "Marcus Welby, M.D." and "Medical Center." I remember driving this home in a television class when we too the multi-episode plot line on "St. Elsewhere" involving the heart transplant and turned it into a "Medical Center" episode during a class discussion. I was sort of hoping that "Bypass" was the unforgettable episode from that run where the heart transplant was performed, but it is not.

Of course there are multiple plot lines going on in "Bypass," but the main one has Dr. Jack Morrison (David Morse) having to treat the bank bomber, Andrew Reinhardt (a young Tim Robbins). Meanwhile Stephen MacAllister (Jack Bannon), the husband of one of the bomber's victims, shows up at St. Eligus to find his wife in a coma. Unfortunately the rather memorable resolution of this particular plotline is not found on this tape (it comes in episode 4, "Cora and Arnie," and if you go for the "Best of" video series you can get both episodes on one tape). The other plot lines find Dr. Mark Craig (William Daniels) badgering a patient into agreeing to surgery in another effort to get publicity for the hospital, Dr. Ben Samuels (David Birney) trying to teach Dr. Beale (G. W. Bailey) to swim, and Laraine Newman of "Saturday Night Live" as a patient called "Tweety."

This episode, co-written by series creators Joshua Brand and John Falsey, originally aired on November 9, 1982. Hard to believe that it has been over two decades since "St. Elsewhere" went on the air and as "'Hill Street Blues' set in a hospital.'" On the basis of the pilot episode and this second effort Dr. Morrison is clearly the focal character (the Anthony Edwards of his generation) but you also have clear evidence of the quirky humor of the series. For those who reduce this series, one of the best television dramas ever, to being the first place where future Oscar winner Denzel Washington made a name for himself, there is the added bonus on another future Oscar winner with Tim Robbins guest-starring in this one. ... Read more

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Not The Silliest Episode I Ever Saw!
The silliest episode? No, the silliest and worst episode would have to be an episode from season 2 called Samaritan Snare. Galaxy's Child may not be the best TNG episode but I think it's pretty good and I thought it was great to have Dr. Leah Brahms back only I was hoping the character would come back again at least as a recurring character. Maybe it's just me but I thought it was a very touching, moving episode of Geordi and Dr. Brahms working together not only to save the Enterprise but also the baby of the alien lifeform that was accidently killed and the baby was only trying to take energy from the Enterprise because it thought it was it's mother.

The Enterprise becomes a nursing mother to a space baby
As a general rule of thumb, when an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation tries to do some variation on an episode of the original series, such as "The Naked Now" (Episode 3), it is a bad sign; but when the series extends off of its own episodes, as is the case with "Galaxy's Child," it is a good sign, a very good sign indeed. In "Booby Hatch" (Episode 54) La Forge became enamored of Dr. Leah Brahms when he worked with a holographic recreation of her while doing creative problem solving. The Enterprise's Chief Engineer had been having more than his fair share of women problems and he hit it off very well with the computer's version of Brahms. Now the real version is coming aboard the Enterprise and La Forge can hardly contain himself: he just knows that he and Leah will be good friends. However, when Dr. Brahms arrives she immediately accuses him of messing up her engines. No matter what La Forge tries it does not work with this woman, who would need to be beamed outside the ship to even begin warming up to the guy. Just when you think things could not get any worse between these two, Brahms discovers the holodeck version of herself that La Forge created and assumes he has been using her as recreation (remember Barclay's "Goddess of Empathy" from "Hollow Pursuits"?).

Meanwhile, the Enterprise discovers a new form of life, a sort of space whale that lives in space and eats by extracting energy directly from stars. When the creature attacks the Enterprise, Picard orders a low-intensity phaser burst and is horrified when the mild response kills the creature. Data discovers there are new energy readings from the creature. Concluding the creature was pregnant, the crew uses the phasers to do an emergency Caesarian and release the baby, which then attaches itself to the ship and begins nursing on the Enterprise's energy. Now the question becomes how to wean the baby before it destabilizes the ship's power supply. Fortunately the person who designed the warp engines just happens to be on board, where she is about to proceed with the dismantling of the Chief Engineer without even using any tools.

This is a painful episode to watch as Geordi gets shot down by the woman of his holodeck dreams. This pain is somewhat reflected in the other plot line when Picard realizes his actions are responsible for the death of this wondrous space creature. "Galaxy's Child" runs against the traditional romantic impulse that compels us to want the characters to live happily every after, which is certainly a turn for a more realistic depiction of what life is like to be sure. Everyone can relate to getting carried away with your feelings for someone who has virtually no clue that you even exist and who has a life of their own that you have failed to take into account. This is one of the best "romance" episodes on the series.

The sillyest episode I ever saw.
The alien creatures in this show look like Tube worms in space, and as useual, Picard acts like a wimp.

Geordi Has A Girlfriend? Not really!
One of the quieter storlines going through most of the NG seven year run is LaForge's lack of success with women. It seems that the only place he can find a good woman that likes him is on the holodeck.

This is when he met the beautiful Ms. Brahms. He had used an image of her on the holodeck in an earlier episode to help him with a technical problem. He gave her a warm personality which suited his desires.

In this episode he finally meets her. But she is somewhat cold and distant, and he soon learns she is married, which naturally crushes him.

He is humiliated when she discovers the saved program that Geordi created. The storyline that accompanies it is somewhat interesting, and some would say uplifting.

I would give this episode 4 stars, but 3 is a better fit. It just seems to miss something that the series is so rich in. But if you are a Geordi LaForge fan, this is a must-have episode. ... Read more

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Riva (Howie Seago) is one of the best mediators in the universe, and the Enterprise is assigned to transport him to Solais V, a planet that's been undergoing a bitter civil war for years. It turns out that Riva is aNew Age deaf mute whose thoughts and ideas are communicated through athree-person chorus that follows him around wherever he goes, but he's good at his job anyway. On the way to the planet, however, Riva seems more interested in hitting on the empathic Deanna Troi than studying the history of the conflict. His cockiness not only jeopardizes the mission but his own chorus aswell. With the help of Data and Troi, Riva is forced to find new ways to do his old job. Though the episode points to resolution, credit must be given to the writers for not tying up all of the loose ends by the finale. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Finally, A-Not-So-Boring-Second-Season-Episode
"Loud as a Whisper" is one of the greatest second season episodes. The Enterprise has to go to the Romatis star system to pick up 'The Greatest Mediator the Federation Has.' When they get there, they meet him and his chorus (Leo Damian as Andonis, Marnie Mosiman as the Woman, and Thomas Oglesby as the Scholar). We learn two things;1.His name is Riva(Played by Howie Seago;Beyond Silence), and 2.He's a deaf-mute that communicates through his chorus, each speaking in a certain area of experteece(or however you spell it, hey! I'm a kid.). Right off the bat, Riva likes Troi(Marina Sirtis). He meets the crew, and becomes a friend to Geordi(LeVar Burton). He asks if Troi would show him to his quarters, and leaves the Woman and Scholar behind, taking Andonis with them. Then we find out that when not needed, the rest of the Chorus is actually alot nicer than you think. Meanwhile, Troi and Riva make dinner plans for after the briefing that Riva brags his little heart out. The the dinner rolls around and it's interrupted by one of the factions that have been fighting on Solaris 4. They have broken the 'cease-fire' and Riva stops them. Riva, the Chorus, Riker(Jonathan Frakes), and Worf(Michael Dorn), transport down to the surface, only to find a horrible fate. One of the guys on one of the factions goes crazy and shoots the Chorus, leaving Riva alone and confused. Captain Picard(Patrick Stewart) tries to talk to him, but can't. He asks Data(Brent Spiner)to learn sign language* so they could get on with the negotiations and get the heck out of there. Troi asks him what his secret is and he said 'The real secret is turning a disadvantage, into an advantage'. She also wants to know why he couldn't do that. He dismisses Data and they transport down to the surface. There Troi explains that he is going to teach both factions sign language to stop the fighting.

*Watch for this mistake; Data is going to show Picard some of what he learned. He meant to say in dialogue and sign:
Data:This is blue. This is the blue ocean. This is the blue ocean at sunset. This is...
What he really said was:
Data:This is 5. This is the 5 oceans. This is the 5 oceans at...

Loud as a Whisper ends too abruptly
Howie Seago portrays a deaf negotiator in this episode. It has the feeling that somehow the script was cut off at the end. The whole episode was built upon the fact the first negotiators were killed by the opposing side of aliens. Seago's character had to establish a dialogue with them again. What was frustrating was that you see him beam down to the planet and not see the result of his efforts. This would have been better as a two part episode.

Thoughtful episode about a deaf mute Federation Diplomat
One of the constants in the Star Trek universe is that the Federation's diplomatic corps is comprised almost entirely of incompetent buffoons. This episode is the exception that proves the rules. "Loud as a Whisper" is fairly creative both in terms of its main character and its resolution of the crisis situation. Another aspect of the future in Star Trek is that physical disabilities are easily managed. Blind Geordi Le Forge has a visor that allows him to see while Jean-Luc Picard has an artificial heart.

In this episode we meet Riva, played by Howie Seago, a mediator so accomplished they added the word "peacemaker" to the Klingon language because of his efforts. A deaf mute, who communicates through a chorus of three individuals who translate his thoughts and emotions into words, Riva is attracted to Counselor Troi. However, as soon as Riva and his chorus beam down to Solari V, one of the soldiers opens fire and disintegrates the chorus. The away team escapes with a distraught Riva back to the Enterprise. Picard has Data learn Riva's gestural language, but the negotiator refuses to return to the planet. Data might understand the words Riva wants to communicate, but not his emotions.

"Loud as a Whisper" is one of the best episodes of the second season, intelligently constructed and thoughtfully written. I especially like it when Riva explains to Troi that one of the secrets of successful negotiations is to turn disadvantages into advantages as a nice philosophical point with practical consequences. My only real complaint is that the dictates of the story necessitating getting rid of the chorus, which is a shame because it is fascinating to watch the four beings act as a single unit. The solution to the problem is rather primitive by 24th-century standards, but certainly rings true with those of us stuck in the barbaric past of the planet Earth. ... Read more

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On their way to the Morgana Quadrant, which has yet to be visited by a manned Federation ship, the Enterprise runs across an amoeba-like hole of blackness in space. Sensors do not indicate any energy or form, probes shot into it disappear without a trace, and even Counselor Troi can get no sense from it. Worf calls for a yellow alert, relating an old Klingon legend of a giant black space that devours entire ships. When the void engulfs the Enterprise, they find themselves lost within it, unableto find their way out. Then things start to get weird. Other vessels show up. ARomulon battle ship and a Federation star cruiser appear, but they are strangely empty. Turns out the void is one of those giant, uncharted sentient beings that is trying to learn about humans and the concept of death, and is doing so by killing members of the Enterpriseone at a time. Once again, the contradictions of humans are on trial, and it'sup to Captain Jean-Luc Picard to talk the ship and all of humankind out of trouble. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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An intriguing situation gets a so-so lackluster treatment
As scientists traveling the galaxy in search of new civilizations to observe and hopefully interact with, it's been all too rare when those tables are turned on the crew of the Enterprise. Early on in this series the recurring character of Q was introduced who would return from time to time to attempt to confound Picard and crew. Here the Enterprise encounters another being not unlike Q who traps the starship in an experimental laboratory.

While visiting the Morgana Quadrant on an exploratory mission the Enterprise sensors pickup a void in space. Upon investigation the null space initially perplexes the crew as they survive an attack by a Romulan starship and witness an inexplicable appearance of their sister ship, the Yamato. When the Yamato doesn't answer the hails from Enterprise and scans show no life forms present Riker and Worf beam aboard it. They discover the ship completely empty and that it isn't composed of the metals normally used in a starship construction - and it also has the annoying habit of randomly altering the design. The away team returns and the Enterprise attempts to leave the void but finds they are mysteriously trapped. After Dr. Pulaski suggests that they are in a laboratory of sorts an entity appears onscreen, having only eyes and a mouth. He introduces himself as Nagillum, a scientist who wishes to continue his research on the crew so he can gain an understanding of their emotions and limited life spans. To prevent the unacceptable loss of a third or more of his crew Picard initiates the auto-destruct sequence and that presents an interesting riddle for Nagillum.

The main problem with this episode is that there simply isn't enough time to define the plot elements; the ending seems particularly rushed also. The reasons for Nagillum's establishing a vast laboratory in space and the apparent super-powers at his command aren't satisfactorily handled. Data makes many statements such as "Sensors detect nothing," or "I still cannot detect anything", etc., but this isn't adequate enough as a potential explanation. When they first begin experiencing the conundrums no one brings up the possibility of Q's presence; when Nagillum finally makes his presence known explaining his purpose, shouldn't Q naturally come to mind? Maybe not, but I thought so. Some other events happen that don't seem to make sense either: When they first encounter the Yamato why don't they attempt to download the ship's logs to read them before boarding? Nagillum can create replicates of Troi and Data - why doesn't he do the same with Picard and have him abort the auto-destruct sequence with an unsuspecting Riker? When Picard and Riker initially set the auto-destruct sequence they go to the Engineering section - why? If they wanted privacy they could've gone into the captain's Ready Room or his quarters. It seems an odd choice to go to Engineering. And Haskell's presence at the helm is all too convenient, serving only to remove Wesley from harm's way; also Haskell's dialogue is a bit strained as well, he comes off as being too unstable to be considered for a bridge officer's position.

On the upside there is a great opening sequence with Riker and Worf defending themselves against some rather formidable looking alien ogres. The scene develops nicely convincing you they are on an away mission that has gone horribly awry before revealing they are on the holodeck - an obvious parallel to the encounter with Nagillum. In addition Worf receives some further interesting character definition here. Dr. Pulaski is eased along here also, having some interaction with Data and contributing the needed insight and sensibility of a skilled scientist. Riker's frustration with his experience aboard the Yamato and his anxiety about terminating the auto-destruct sequence adds some levity as well.

Negilum Strikes
The Nefarious Negilum

The alien name of Negilum is a play on words. Originally Richard Mulligan of Empty Nest and Soap was sought to play this role. Unavailable the producers had to utilize another actor for this one. It's an average entry. However there are some good scenes in the beginning with Worf on the holodeck in his training program. There's another good scene were Worf and Riker beam aboard another galaxy class ship to investigate this ridiculous Negllum nemesis. It turns out the alien wants to investigate the crews reaction to senseless death at the cost of the lives of the Enterprise crew. With the few dramatic sequences I'd have to say that it was worth the price.

The scene where Data asks Picard "What happens when one dies" was very poignant and showed there's an intelligent life form writing the script. For all it's faults it was an enjoyable episode that stands up to repeated viewing.

Better to die free than to die as lab rats
The Enterprise investigates a black area of space only to be sucked into a void where their sensors reveal nothing and communication with the outside is impossible. When a Romulan warbird suddenly decloaks and is destroyed as soon as they fire at it, Picard knows it was too easy. Then the Yamato, a Federation Galaxy Class starship arrives. Riker and Worf beam over to check it out and find everything different, most notably the appearance of a bridge area behind every door. When they return to the Enterprise and the Yamato disappears, Picard suspects they are being tested like rats in a laboratory and refuses to participate in the experiment. This prompts Nagilum, the entity that is the void, to make an appearance. Nagilum is interested in continuing his scientific investigations and is specifically curious about the "limited existence" of the beings on the Enterprise. After killing an ensign to check out its initial hypothesis, Nagilum declares it will have to kill a third of the ship's crew to really understand the phenomenon of death.

I have to mark this episode down one star, although it has one of the better titles, because its resolution employs one of my pet peeves: I hate it when the good guys win because the bad guys are stupid. The premise for the episode is certainly nothing new; after all, the Next Generation series begins with Q doing field research on humanity so Nagilum is doing the same thing, just in a laboratory seeting. Overall, "Where Silence Has Leave" has a compelling mystery with a payoff that is not as satisfying as the set up.

Great episode
In this episode the Enterprise encounters a void.. and becomes trapped in it. Soon a mysterious alien entity speaks to the crew and tells them the he is curious about death and wants to perform experiments on the crew!

This episode has a guest star Earl Boen as the voice of the alien probable best known for Dr. Silberman in the "Terminator" movies ... Read more

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An episode that almost rises to the level of insipidness
"Identity Crisis" is arguably the worst of the STNG episodes focusing on Geordi La Forge. It seems that five years earlier La Forge was part of an away team from the USS Victory that investigated the disappearance of a colony on Tarchannen Three. One of the other members of that team, Susanna Leitjen has joined the Enterprise, and the two old shipmates learn that two of the other members of that original away team have . . . disappeared! So here is the Enterprise, investigating the site of the missing colony on Tarchannen Three and here is poor Susanna spouting blue veins on the back of her neck while the middle fingers on her hands weld together. What is she changing in to? Could La Forge be next? Of course, La Forge is next, because this is a predictable plot with a mumbo jumbo explanation for why bad things are happening to good people. For some reason this episode reminds me of e-mails you get warning you not to open dangerous e-mails that will destroy your computer (no downloading a file, just opening e-mail mind you). This is hokey science fiction foisted upon characters who are forced to act stupidly to advance the plot. If you like this episode you should know that they took the word "gullible" out of the dictionary.

Okay, okay, its not that bad. But its not a good episode.

Not one of the best.
I thought this episode was one of the weirdest. I usually like weird but this went its own way. I not quite sure how to explain what happened to Geordi and many of the people on his pevious ship but they are mighty ugly. If you are getting just a few of the videos in the series skip this one, go for one of the many other fabulous episodes like cause and effect. If however you are going for the complete collection it's a must. ... Read more

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One of the WORST EVER!
I'm not even going to try and put this gently; ...I don't know who wrote this episode up, but they must have had a severe head injury. ... Oh yeah, the subplot: the Enterprise destroys an asteroid, leading to the ship getting invaded with glitter. If you have ever see this episode before, I feel your pain. If you haven't, stay away and consider yourself extremly lucky.

Quite Simply the Worst Lwaxana Troi Episode
Basically there are three things happening in this episode: (1) Troi is mediating a domestic dispute between Worf and his son Alexander by having the pair negotiate a contract on who does what around their little Klingon household: (2) Lwaxana shows up and declares she is going to get married aboard the Enterprise to some guy named Campio she has never met; and (3) the Enterprise destroys a wandering asteroid before it can crash into a planet, thereby releasing the little metal parasites that inhabited the asteroid to float over to the ship where they begin eating all the nitrium. The only two people who get along in the entire episode are Lwaxana and Alexander, who are apparently kindred spirits. There are also a couple of interesting scenes involving a holodeck recreation of the mud baths of the Parralex Colony. However, "Cost of Living" does have the dubious distinction of being the absolute WORST Lwaxana Troi episode--it is not even close, people. After giving the character some dramatic weight in her last appearance ("Half a Life," Episode 96), she suddenly regresses to a comic character who wants to marry some clown she has never met. That whole plot line is ludicrous and takes away from the interesting interactions between Lwaxana and "Mr. Woof's" son. Despite some nice moments (Picard's joy at the thought of Lwaxana getting married), on balance this is certainly a below average episode. ... Read more

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New-school Trek meets old-school comedy in this lighthearted episode. The Enterprise comes to the aid of dashing, lovable rogue Captain Okona. Okona's easy wit charms the ladies of the crew and inspires Data to learn about the peculiar human trait of humor. Okona is soon in hot water as two different factions demand his surrender, while Data is up to his ears in shtick with the help of Guinan and a holodeck comic played by Joe P