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The Prime Directive is put to the test in this interplanetaryexamination of the war on drugs. While studying an irregular star, theEnterprise answers a distress signal from a ship that is being pulledinto a planet's gravity. When contacted, the captain of the ship comes across as fatalistic and possibly drunk. When told to put his crew in the transporter, he ships over his cargo instead, forcing the Enterprise to scramble to try andsave the crew. The cargo is Felicium, a hyper-refined drug needed by the Ornarans to fight a plague on their planet. Unfortunately, the payment for the drug goes down with the ship. The emissaries from the other planet, the one that produces the drug, don't want to let go of the cargo without payment because production of Felicium is their planet's only industry. When Dr. Crusher discovers that the drug is a narcotic and not a cure, Picard has a moral decision to make that will affect both planets. Meanwhile, Wesley has a lot to learn about the history of drug addiction in various cultures. Though a little preachy, the restrictions of the Prime Directive ultimately make this episode interesting. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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An entire planet held in chemical slavery
Throughout the history of Earth, when advanced cultures encounter others with a lower level of technology, there is rarely a merging of the cultures to create a new one. The advanced culture generally annihilates the lower one, or at the very least renders it a fraction of what it was. Even today, localized Amazonian cultures are being destroyed as their land is taken over by developers. Therefore, one of the greatest ideas put forward in the original Star Trek series was the principle of the Prime Directive, where Star Fleet personnel are sworn to avoid interference in any culture they may encounter. However, after it was initially put forward, many of the subsequent episodes in the original series tended to ignore it. Therefore, one of the most positive features of the next generation was the change where the Prime Directive was once again taken seriously.
In this episode, the Enterprise is on a routine scientific mission when they receive a distress signal from an ancient freighter. After rushing to their aid, the Enterprise crew finds the freighter crew behaving strangely, more worried about rescuing their cargo than themselves. It turns out that the system contains two planets, Ornara and Brekke, where there is a centuries long plague on Ornara, held in check by a product produced by Brekke. The only industry on Brekke is the production of the "cure" and Ornara is their only customer. After observing the reaction when the victims are treated, Dr. Crusher realizes that the cure is in fact a drug, and the plague was cured centuries ago, something that the Brekkians have understood for centuries, but they have never informed the Ornarians of that fact.
Dr. Crusher vehemently argues with Captain Picard that he must do something to alter this situation, but he refuses, citing the Prime Directive as the justification for his inaction. In order to maintain their market, the Brekkians finally agree to let the Ornarians have the drug on credit, but Picard manages to find a way to alter the situation without violating the principles of the Prime Directive.
It was pleasing to see that, despite strong pressures to the contrary, Picard sticks to the principles of the Prime Directive. He clearly understands that what may appear to be the proper action in the short term can often be a long-term disaster. The short conversation that he has with Dr. Crusher in the turbo lift is one of the classic scenes in the series, where he is speaking as a person rather than as the captain.
The ending is also a classic one, where even though Picard understands that he had no choice, he still dislikes it. I have said many times that Start Trek is at its best when the Enterprise crew is interacting with new cultures. In this case, the interaction is a troubling one, where one planet is held in a state of chemical slavery by another one. Nevertheless, Picard is able to find a solution, although it is not one that leaves a residue of good feeling.

The martians that say, "take me to your dealer"
Symbiosis......or ....How much for that shipment of Felicium?

In this episode of Next Generation; Picard deals with a dependent culture on drugs. The Ornarans and the Bekkians. The Ornarans are the dependents and the Bekkians produce the "cure" for a disease that has left the Ornaran planet long ago. The only dramatic sequence was when Merritt Butrick's character, "T'Jon" threatens to zap Riker with the electrical powers he possesses. If he doesn't get his dose of the Felicium it's over for our favorite first officer. Other than that there is a struggle between both worlds who depend on the other for survival.

It's one of those episodes that you can live without unless you want to see Merrrit Butrick in a role other than Kirk's son. Judson Scott, from the Wrath of Khan makes and appearance here as the Bekkian leader.

One of the better Prime Directive episodes of Star Trek
In the Star Trek comic book there were a couple of issues devoted to Jim Kirk being on trial for violating the Prime Directive with characters from various episodes getting their chance to point accusing fingers, sort of like the last episode of "Seinfeld." The moral high ground of the Prime Directive is certainly idealistic in its conception, but it results in a host of Star Trek episodes dealing with how hard it is to obey the letter of the law when confronted with the inequities of the universe. As a drama based on the imperative of obeying the Prime Directive no matter what the situation, "Symbiosis" is one of the best of these episodes.

In "Symbiosis" Picard stumbles upon a con game of interplanetary proportions. Responding to a distress call from an Onaran freighter, the first attempt to transport the crewmembers to saftey results in the arrival of the ship's cargo instead. Yar rescues four of the crew, two Onarans and two Brekkians, all of whom care more for the rescued cargo then their dead mates. The cargo in question is Felicium, a medicine that is the only product produced by the Brekkians for their only customers, the Onarans. It appears the Onarans suffer from a deadly plague and that Felicium, while not curing the disease, is the only thing that relieves the symptoms. However, Dr. Crusher runs her tests and discovers Felicium is not a medicine, but a drug. The Onarans are not ill, they are addicted, and the Brekkians have been exploiting this situation for generations. Even though the payment for this shipment was destroyed with the freighter, the Brekkians give the Felicium to the Onarans, because otherwise the addiction will wear off and the Onarans will finally figure out they have been tricked. Of course, despite Crusher's vehement insistence that they must expose the Brekkians' charade, Captain Picard can not violate the Prime Directive.

It occurs to me that Gene Roddenberry and his heirs needed to learn a lesson from Isaac Asimov when it comes to this Prime Directive nonsense. Asimov, who's work is echoed in the idea that Data has a positronic brain, developed not one but three initial Laws of Robotics, because he knew that one black and white rule was not going to be good enough in a universe of shifting grays. The Laws of Robotics, like the Prime Directive and the Golden Rule, are all based on the same dictum, expressed in the Hippocratic Oath as "first, do no harm." To do nothing in regards to the situation on Onara is to do harm. Silence assumes assent, and Starfleet has assented to too many evils in the name of the Prime Directive. There has to be a better way, but too much water has gone over the dam at this point to really fix the problem. Besides, it is not like Starfleet ever courtmartials Kirk, Picard or Sisko (So why does Janeway keep obeying the Prime Directive while Voyager is stuck on the far side of the universe?). I still think that having a series of rules similar to Asimov's laws, that would require Picard and crew to work out what is or is not acceptable in a given situation, would have been a good idea.

Prime Directive
This often overlooked and underrated gem is one of my favorite episodes from Season 1 of the Next Generation. In most episodes the Prime Directive is used as a stumbling block. Here we see how important the Prime Directive really is. Look for guest spots by Star Trek II's Merritt Butrick (Kirk's son David) and Judson Scott (One of Khan's followers). Also this is the last episode filmed with Denise Crosby (Skin of Evil was actually filmed before this episode). Look for her wave at the end as Picard and Crusher exit the Cargo Bay. A really interesting and cleverly written episode. ... Read more

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Why should randy William Riker get all the ladies? When 16-year-oldSalia (Jaime Hubbard) boards the Enterprise in order to be escorted to Daled IV, the planet she is destined to rule, Wesley Crusher gets an immediate crush on her. She seems to like him, too, much to the displeasure of her overprotective guardian Anya (Paddi Edwards). Wesley roams the ship asking for dating advice while Anya tries to lock Salia in her room. Of course,Wesley is following that unwritten Enterprise rule that encourages flings with people and aliens from outside of the ship, which guarantees theywill be short-term affairs. It's a pattern established by Picard (see episode 24, "We'll Always Have Paris"), where duty and ambition always take precedenceover personal relationships. Back to Wesley, though. When Wesley discovers thetrue nature of this alien life form, he must come to terms with the fact thatlooks aren't everything. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Teenage glandular activity leads to interspecies crush
As humans move out into the stars and encounter other species, we will take our basic functions with us. Even though we may move around in giant ships faster than the speed of light, our bodies will still require that we eat, sleep, perspire, excrete waste and teenagers will still experience hormonal overload. In this episode, Wesley meets what appears to be a teenage girl (Salia) who smiles sweetly at him, immediately setting the glands working.
However, the girl is being ferried to a planet where she is to assume the throne and rule the planet. Two groups have been engaged in an ongoing war and it is hoped that the new monarch will be able to unite the planet in peace. Of course, the smitten Wesley has no idea how to approach her and he seeks advice from Worf, which is hilarious. His description of the Klingon mating ritual is wonderful to behold and of no use to Wesley. After experiencing that dead end, Wesley seeks out Commander Riker, who enlists the aid of Guinan. Their dialog over the table is some of the best in all of the Star Trek episodes. Clearly not to be taken seriously, the frustration on Wesley's face is superb.
Wesley finally manages to meet Salia, when she seeks help in using the food synthesizers. Unfortunately, her guardian (Anya) strongly objects and this is when Wesley learns that Salia is not human. This is devastating to his young heart, and he spends some time moping around licking his emotional wounds. To his credit, he manages to overcome his sorrow and sees Salia off in the transporter room. Worf and Anya also have a clash, and yet in the end, they clearly reach a level of mutual understanding and respect.
One aspect of TNG that I consider to be a dramatic improvement over the original series is the emotional activity between humans and other species. If we ever encounter other intelligent species, there is no doubt that passionate emotions will be involved and that will eventually lead to sex. In many ways, the first interspecies sexual activity with extraterrestrials may be even more traumatic to the collective human psyche than the existence of the other species. It may take some time before sex between species is not considered bestiality, as it is a near certainty that the extraterrestrials will have far less biology in common with humans than humans do with dogs, sheep and goats.
I rank this as one of the better episodes, because it deals with the emotional trauma of a human able to maintain an emotional attachment to a member of another species after learning that she is not human. Hopefully, this is a harbinger of the future and will not always be nothing more than a theme in science fiction entertainment,

Wesley in love? I think I'm gonna be sick...
Aw gee-- it's Wesley's first teenage romance! Isn't that just precious? Isn't that beautiful? Isn't that... absolutely DISGUSTING! And he's fallen for some teenaged future-leader-of-a-wartorn-world who can morph into a giant Chewbacca-lookin' thingy when she gets angry! Heh, who knew Wes had a Wookiee fetish, hmm? And people call ME a sicko...

Speakin' of "Star Wars" ripoffs, our teenaged alien chick is accompanied by a very strict and overprotective guardian who kinda reminds me of Nurse Ratchett from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and Balbricker from the "Porky's" flicks, and morphs into a Wookiee-thingy AND an Ewok-thingy! The former of which she uses to try and scare Wes away from her charge during the climax. Bet'cha his uniform pants were brimmin' over after this confrontation, heh. Sadly, she stopped just short of killing the little twerp. Some freakin' guardian SHE is...

Oh yeah, this eppie also features a precious moment in Ten-Forward with Guinan and Riker showing Wuss-ley how to sweet-talk his newfound love. Some of Riker's comments about Guinan's (heh) beauty are really reaching for it in this scene! I mean, have ya ever taken a good look at Whoopi Goldberg? No offense, but she ain't exactly what one would consider a paragon of glamour. Just ask Ted Danson...

'Late

Wil Wheaton acts!
I'm not a big fan of Wil Wheaton as Ensign Crusher and I've always thought the show would do better without him (and did do better after he left). However, I have to offer praise for his performance in this episode. He actually acts like a teenager with overactive hormones with a need to explore, for the first time, what love is. It reminded me a lot of when I was his age.

The highlight of this episode is the humor. Worf explaining Klingon flirting rituals is humorous!! Then there is a scene where Jonathan Frakes (Riker) and Whoopie Goldberg (Guinan) are flirting with each other for a moment. I actually had to laugh out loud at this.

There was nothing really memorable about this episode and it doesn't stand out as a favorite, but I would recommend it regardless.

THE DAUPHIN (Wesley in Love)
This is one of my all-time favorite episodes of TNG. Wesley falls in love with Salia, a beautiful girl on her way home to rule over a planet. Ignore the silly monster costumes and enjoy the genuine heart and emotion of this episode dealing with first love!

Wesley Crusher tries to survive the pains of first love
The Enterprise is transporting Salia and Anya to the war torn planet of Daled IV. Salia, the Dauphin, is the daughter of parents from the two sides of the conflict and for sixteen years has been preparing to assume her role as leader, thereby bringing peace. As soon as Salia and Wesley see each other, you know there are going to be problems. Especially since Anya turns (literally) into a ferocious beast in order to defend her charge. Anya tells Salia to stay away from Wesley and Captain Picard orders Wesley to stay away from Salia. But do those lovesick kids listen? Actually this is one of the few romantic episodes during the first couple of seasons on the Next Generation, unless you count Riker and Picard being intrigued by a holodeck fantasy. The best part of the episode is when Wesley seeks advice on romance from the crewmembers, including Worf. Jaime Hubbard is a nice match for the gangly Wesley, but the best performance is Paddi Edwards as Anya, kicking Worf around. The basic plot line is predictable, since love never lasts long on this or any other Enterprise, but there are a few twists and you have to like any girl who's primary form is a shimmering pillar of light. ... Read more

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The uneasy treaty between the Federation and the Cardassians is broken when a Cardassian warship fires on the Enterprise. When Picard hails the attacking ship, its captain, Gul Macet (Marc Alaimo), explains that they are retaliating for the destruction of one of their space stations, which was accomplished by the Federation starship U.S.S. Phoenix, helmed by captain Benjamin Maxwell (Bob Gunton). To better gauge the mental condition of the apparently amok Captain Maxwell, Picard consults with Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) who once served under Maxwell during war with the Cardassians, and discovers that Maxwell's family had been cruelly slaughtered by the enemy. Maxwell claims the space station contained not the scientific equipment the Cardassians say it did, but arms for a coming war against the Federation. Now Picard must decide whether Maxwell acted out of hate and vengeance, or if indeed there is some grain of truth in his accusations.

The ways in which war and hatred can twist one's psyche are ably explored in the persons of Maxwell and O'Brien, the latter coming to terms with his demons in keeping with the show's plan to give its regular crew members heightened sensibilities. But Maxwell's motivations are not fully developed; Gunton portrays the apparently mad captain with rather a muted countenance for someone supposedly eaten up with hatred. There is also a subplot involving O'Brien and his wife sharing their native dishes that is almost wholly unnecessary, and a strange lack of personnel on Maxwell's ship that speaks to budget constraints. But the ending allows Picard to mete out a solution that adds a satisfying complexity. --Jim Gay ... Read more

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The Wounded
I am an ex-Trekker who dumped the Star Trek franchise as my favorite program after sixteen years, but I must say that The Wounded is one of the few TNG episodes I am still pleased to watch. This is the story of the fall from grace of Benjamin Maxwell, a starship captain and old soldier whose family was murdered years ago in the Federation-Cardassian border wars. Presently, Captain Maxwell sees indications that the Cardassians
may be arming for war again and, his judgment clouded by years of pain and bitterness, defies Starfleet orders to launch his own assault on them. I think I will never forget the scene with Captain Maxwell and the Enterprise's Chief O'Brien--who served with Maxwell during the warssinging the Irish folk song 'The Minstrel Boy' to bring Maxwell back to a sane but broken state of mind. Watch this episode, and enjoy.

Songs of war & glory..
An excellent episode containing many different angles: the bitterness harbored by Captain Maxwell towards the Cardassians for killing his wife & children, the comradarie shared by Chief O'Brien & Captain Maxwell (clearly demonstrated by the moving singing of "The Minstrel Boy" song at the end), the demonstration of strength shown by Captain Picard towards the Cardassians as he informs them that "we'll be watching". What really moves me with this episode is the scene with Chief O'Brien and the Cardassian officer in 10-Forward. Miles explains to the Cardassian about how he inadvertantly killed a Cardassian solder during the war (he used someone else's phaser which was set to kill rather than stun) and that he doesn't hate the Cardassian for who he is - rather he hates them for what he became - a killer.

Picard tries to avert war with the Cardassians
Near the Neutral Zone a Cardassian scout ship fires upon the Enterprise, which easily disables the attacking vessel. When Picard demands an explanation for the attack he is stunned to hear Gul Macet, the Cardassian captain, claim there is now war between his people and the Federation after an attack by Starfleet on a Cardassian research station. When Picard contacts Starfleet they confirm Macet's story: the USS Phoenix commanded by Ben Maxwell attacked the research station and has refused to respond to any attempts at communication. Starfleet orders Picard to do whatever is necessary to maintain the treaty and keep the peace. Accordingly, Picard has Macet and his aides come aboard the Enterprise as they search for Maxwell's ship. They find the Phoenix just as it destroys a Cardassian warship and freighter. In yet another surprise, Maxwell comes aboard the Enterprise to tell Picard that the Cardassians are getting ready for a war with the Federation: the research stations are really just military camps. Picard orders Maxwell to return to Federation space, but the Phoenix heads off after another Cardassian supply ship, which Maxwell insists will prove his wild claims.

"The Wounded" is a Next Generation variation on the classic tale that goes back at least to the Trojan War and Cassandra of the character who knows the truth but who is not believed, thereby bringing imminent wreck and ruin. There is something of a twist in that "Cassandra" this time around is not Picard or one of his staff but rather the Maxwell character, although this does put Picard in the position of making the hard decision: he has his orders but what if Maxwell is right? Of course, nobody in the Star Trek universe walks the diplomatic fine line any better than Jean-Luc (of all the possible futures hinted at in the series, Picard as an ambassador always made the most sense to me). This ends up being an average episode of the series, with few implications for events down the road and a title that is ultimately meaningless. There are several episodes where members of the main cast cannot convince the others of the truth only they can see that are quite better.

Favorite Episode
This is my favorite episode of the series of the series because it seems the least dependent on sci-fi conventions. It'n not about space adventures; it's about war. It shows the side of the Federation we never see. We see people scarred by war--battles and events too dark to be shown in the positive world of Star Trek. It even ends on one of the most sad notes in the series' history. Its tone set the stage for DS9.

Picard must stop a Federation starship from starting a war!
In this episode we see the Cardassians for the first time. Worf describes them as having no honor, but when Picard learns that a renegade Federation ship is attacking Cardassians, he must prevent the ship's captain from starting a war, but will he succeed? ... Read more

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This episode is devoted to giving background information and context forthe acerbic new chief medical officer, Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur).When the Enterprise answers a distress call from the Lantree, a supply ship, they discover the crew has died ofa mysterious virus that caused them to age rapidly. They trace the ship back to the Darwin Research Station, where the disease is ravaging most of the population. The only ones it's not affecting are the children, who have been bred to resist all disease. Dr. Pulaski makes a leap of faith, believing the children are free of the disease, but Picard doesn't want to put his ship at risk, so Pulaski ends up examining the child on a shuttle. Well, she contracts the disease, and it has the effect of making her look more and more like former first lady Barbara Bush. It's up to the crew of the Enterprise to find a cure for this dreaded Barbara Bushdisease. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Genetic experimentation on children, I think not!
The Enterprise receives a distress signal from another Federation ship and when the Enterprise arrives, all the crew members are dead from old age. Given that many of the crew members were in their thirties, it is clear that an unusual disease broke out on the ship. The other Federation ship is placed in quarantine and the Enterprise proceeds to its last port of call, which is the Darwin Genetic Research Station.
Upon arrival, the Enterprise crew learns that the adults at the station are also infected, but the children are uninfected. The children were the experimental subjects of the station, being created with hyperactive immune systems that render them invulnerable to the disease. However, they could be carriers, so one is beamed up encased in plastic so that Dr. Pulaski can examine him. Unfortunately, she cannot solve the problem without removing the plastic, which she is finally allowed to do aboard a shuttle. She catches the aging disease, but does find out that it is the immune system of the genetically altered children that causes the disease. Dr. Pulaski is ultimately saved by being taken through the transporter and regenerated by using her old transporter pattern records.
This is a very weak episode, starting with the fact that genetic experimentation is being done on children. It seems impossible to believe that such experiments would be done on anyone, much less children. The "solution", restoring aged people back to their youth by taking them through the transporter is ridiculous and would render medicine obsolete. It also raises a logical impossibility. Since Dr. Pulaski is regenerated using an old pattern then her memories of the recent events would have been erased, as they could not have been in her personal transporter pattern. Of course they were not.

playing God has some bad consequences
The Enterprise receives a distress call from the U.S.S. Lantree, a limited armament cargo ship with a compliment of 26 men and women aboard. Suddenly communication stops, but the comlink is still open. The Enterprise cannot get the Lantree to re-transmit, so they race to the coordinates at Warp 7 only to find no life signs on the Lantree. Not knowing what is over there, they use the computer to gain access to the Lantree's main viewer to look at the bridge - as they zoom in to the faces of the dead crew, they see that they all appear to be in their late 80s and 90s, perhaps even older.

Dr. Polaski scans the bodies remotely to see that they have died of natural causes - old age. According to Starfleet records, the crew had just left a star base 3 weeks earlier, all in perfect health. One crew member was treated for a mild case of Thelusian flu, but otherwise, all were healthy.

According to the ship's log, their last stop was Darwin Station, a space station where the scientists play God by manipulating the DNA of their "children" so that 12 year olds look like normal adults in their 20s, fully developed, and they have telepathic and telekenetic powers as well. As the Enterprise approaches, the doctor at Darwin Station asks for help, as everyone (except the "children") has been infected with some disease that ages them rapidly. They believe they were infected by the people on the cargo ship, but Polaski & Picard tend to think the opposite is true.

Picard and Polaski get into a verbal war on regulations and policies as Polaski seeks to study one of the children and Picard maintains a deathgrip as the guardian of security for his ship. In a famous retort to Polaski, Picard states, "...and doctor, I never discourage input, but it would be nice if once in a while, you'd let me finish my sentences."

Picard caves in and let's Polaski beam one of the "children" onto a space shuttle with Data as pilot. Things go well for about 20 minutes, then suddenly Polaski experiences accute arthritic pain - the initial symptom of the debilitating disease. The Enterprise is in a pickle - it looks like even though the children are not infected, they are carriers - but their caretakers (or "parents") will be dead of old age in a matter of 2 or 3 days, and his chief medical officer is now infected as well.

With Data's help, Polaski finds the source of the illness, but is a cure in sight? Picard, Geordi and Data put their heads together with Chief O'Brien to come up with a scheme that just might save the day. O'Brien is now a more prominent character and Polaski gets less opinionated about Data's personhood. There are holes-a-plenty in the plot, but it is still enjoyable.

Deadly Years Part 2
In this one a virus spreads among a colony that ages everyone. Pulaski was the only one who caught this virus that's a variation of the original series episode "The Deadly Years." While not the same plot; the result is the same. Everyone gets to age fifty years overnight.

Picard's magic transporter brings back the old Dr. Pulaski
The Enterprise responds to a distress call from the Lantree and finds everyone in the crew dead, apparently from old age. Retracing the ship's route, the Enterprise discovers that the mysterious disease has already infected the staff at the Darwin Genetic Research Station. The head of the station wants Captain Picard to evacuate the children, who are the products of the station's genetic research but who do not appear to have been infected. Picard allows Dr. Pulaski to examine one of the children on a shuttlecraft, but within moments of contact the doctor has contracted the disease. Pulaski, an expert on viral propagation, goes aboard Darwin Station, although she has little hope of finding a cure before the disease claims her life. Meanwhile, Picard and his crew seek a way of saving her and all the others. In retrospect, this is the one episode from the second season-and therefore the entire series-that specifically focuses on Diana Muldaur's Kate Pulaski. I want to make some cute comments, but I can not top Andy's "Barbara Bush disease" idea (see above), but the title of this review is certainly tongue-in-cheek.

This particular episode has always fascinated me because of the tremendous implications of the solution for the Star Trek universe. Picard uses the transporter to filter out the genetic changes in Pulaski because of her coming into contact with the disease. Of course, there is a slight problem in that Dr. Pulaski usually shuns transporters and they are forced to track down her pattern. Finding an example of her "clean" genetic material is more easily solved. What immediately struck me is where do you logically stop once you have opened up this particular Pandora's box? What diseases can you not eliminate by this method? Can you restore amputated limbs or reverse the aging process? The transporter is now the most important medical tool in the entire galaxy. My one failed attempt at a Next Generation novel tried to follow up on all these interesting questions, with the sick and dying of the entire quadrant seeking a cure from Picard. It would seem to be that this approach has significant implications that would need to be studied, and which would ultimately providing a rationale for why Pulaski left the Enterprise. What can I say? I hate loose ends (and even WESLEY got a TWO official sendoffs). ... Read more

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"Gambit" opens with a shocker: the crew searches for a missing Captain Picard in a seedy bar, only to be told by a Yridian eyewitness that he's been vaporized in a fight. Riker vows to track down Picard's killers, and we're off! Soon Riker is also whisked away, captured by the same band of mercenaries that offed the captain. As the crew of the Enterprise scramble to track down their leader, Riker discovers that Picard is also aboard the raiding ship, calling himself Galen and looking distinctly mean. This is a fun episode of shifting loyalties and some deliberate macho posing from both Picard and Riker, as the two feign an adversarial relationship to confuse their captors. The story line also poses interesting dilemmas as Picard and Riker try to warn the Enterprise without blowing their respective covers. Keep an eye out for The Cosby Show's Sabrina Le Beauf as the bizarrely calm Ensign Giusti. --Ali Davis ... Read more

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Good fun as Star Trek goes swashbuckling
Two part TNG episodes are usually "significant" in some way. This one isn't, and perhaps it's all the better for that. It's an adventure that just happens to need more than the standard 44 minutes.
The story opens with the crew investigating Captain Picard's disappearance. They are horrified to learn that he was killed in a bar fight by a group of mercenaries. A grief-stricken and revenge-seeking Riker is permitted by Starfleet to investigate what happened. While examining a looted archaeological site the mercenaries were known to have visited, the away team is attacked. Riker is abducted by the mercenaries - and finds Picard on board their ship! Picard is posing as Galen, an archaeological smuggler, in an effort to find out what the mercenaries are searching for. Meanwhile, Data is left is command of the Enterprise, and has to decide what to do next.
"Gambit Part 1" is a lot of fun. There's action and excitment, and the plot is very well constructed. There's a lot to fit in, but it never feels rushed. It's also enjoyable watching Picard and Riker acting out of character as they establish themselves amongst the scheming mercenaries.
Good old-fashioned fun.

Picard moonlights as a mercenary artifact smuggler
Receiving a report that Captain Picard was killed in a bar fight with a group of mercenaries, Riker takes the Enterprise to Baratas Three, where the mercenaries were supposedly headed. The Away Team is attacked on the planet and the mercenaries capture Riker, beam up to their ship, and disappear. The captain of the mercenary ship, Arctus Baran, wants to keep Riker as a prisoner and a potential bargaining chip with Starfleet. Riker is surprised to discover that Picard is on the ship, pretending to be Galen, a smuggler of artifacts. Meanwhile, Data, now in charge of the Enterprise, deduces that the mercenaries are dealing in stolen Romulan artifacts, figures out their next destination and heads off in pursuit.

In its later seasons STNG was enamored of two part episodes, using involving dramatic cliff hangers ("Best of Both Worlds") or monumental events (Spock in "Unification"). In that regard, the two-parter "Gambit" is the least significant of the bunch. All we really have here is a good old-fashioned swashbuckling yarn. Picard and Riker are basically pretending to be intergalactic pirates, and it is certainly fun to watch Picard be a tough guy. This is an above average episode of the series, but more importantly, it is just plain fun. ... Read more

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Kivas Fajo is a man with "no moral difficulties. At all." Saul Rubinek plays him with the ruthlessness and charm of Dr. Mengele. (By all accounts, Mengele could be very charming.) And like Mengele, Fajo collects things that please him, such as the Rejac Crystal and Data.

"The Most Toys" is eerie and creepy and exudes a strange fascination. It's like a car wreck: one is compelled by the force of human nature to look.There's just something strangely attractive about evil. Make no mistake, Kivas Fajo is evil. Sure he prances about like a demented gnome, but he also kidnaps, steals, and kills without compunction. He uses Data's programmed value of all life against him. When degradation and threats don't work, the collector produces an illegal disrupter and aims it at his assistant Varria (Jane Daly), who is herself a prisoner in his stable. Fajo will stop at nothing to get Data to sit in the chair. When Data finally does sit in the chair, the viewer understands that everybody has his price--even Data. Especially Data. That price is another being's life.

This episode contains the most chilling line in TNG's history: "I cannotfeel pleasure. I am only an android." It's extraordinary not only for great writing and acting but also for its sad backstory. Actor David Rappaport was originally cast as Fajo, but committed suicide before filming could be completed. The ironic thing is that "The Most Toys" is all about the affirmation of life. --Kayla Rigney ... Read more

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How well do you really know someone?
His crewmates think he has died in a shuttle accident; but Data has been kidnapped. A wandering trader, Kivas Fajo, engineered the shuttle explosion to cover his acquisition of Data for his collection of unique, priceless objects. Data is used to being able to handle any situation. But when he discovers that Fajo seems to have thought of every contingency to block his escape - and worse, that his captor has absolutely no morals whatsoever - he is forced to realise how desperate his situation is. But how far can an emotionless android be pushed?
"The Most Toys" is a very well constructed episode; tight and well-written, even the brief scenes adding something important to the whole. The acting is excellent, from Brent Spiner, Saul Rubinek, and the actress who plays Varria. There are some affecting moments: Geordi's comment on what he thought Data's fate would be; Worf's reflection that his promotions have come after his colleagues' deaths; Varria's explanation of why she keeps working for Fajo; Fajo's realisation that he can still be surprised, by himself as well as others. There is a claustrophobic feel to the scenes on Fajo's ship, and as avenue after avenue is closed to Data, as the tension mounts, you can really understand why the climax develops as it does.
The last few minutes of "The Most Toys" are shocking in more ways than one. That the implications of this story were never explored is a fault of Star Trek: TNG as a whole, not of this episode.

One of the series' truly most despicable villains
When I first started watching this episode, I thought that it was going to be routine with little or no redeeming value. However, as the story developed, I became involved in this story of a creature totally devoid of conscience.

Saul Rubinek, a well-respected actor of stage and screen, is brilliant in the role of Kivas Fajo, a collector of one-of-a-kind items. He considers Data, as well as all that he desires, to be nothing more than acquisitions, deserving only for display in his compound. Fajo will stop at nothing to keep his "possessions".

His most malevolent act made me want a speedy demise for this heinous beast.

"Monsters" don't always have multiple legs or horns

A deranged collector adds Data to his special collection
Data is supposedly on the shuttle Pike that is transferring the unstable substance hytritium from a trader's ship to the Enterprise when the craft explodes. La Forge refuses to believe that his friend is dead without more proof; after all, Data is an android and it is possible his positronic brain survived. The more he investigates, the more suspicious he becomes. Of course, La Forge is right; Data is not dead, he has been kidnapped by Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek), a collector of the first order who just has to have Data the android in his eclectic collection. Fajo is essentially an evil child, who wants what he wants when he wants it without any compunction about any other concern than making himself happy. If Data will not comply with his wishes and willingly become an object in his treasure room, Fajo will simply kill his assistant.

"The Most Toys" is not only about Fajo's obsession with things but underscores once again that even if Data is not "human," his humanity is vastly superior to most beings encountered in the Star Trek universe. Of course there is a nice contrast between Brent Spiner's always understated peformance as Data and Rubinke's scenery chewing as Fajo. This is the episode from the third season that most focuses on Data, so it would be a must have episode for his legion of fans. ... Read more

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In "Heart of Glory," Worf's Klingon heritage is examined and testedagainst his loyalty to the Enterprise. After detecting a disturbance inthe Neutral Zone, the Enterprise discovers the remains of one ship and adamaged cargo vessel whose life-support systems are failing. A rescue team sentin to find the survivors discovers a trio of Klingons and brings them back tothe ship. These Klingon officers don't trust the peace with the Federation and are also wanted by the Klingons for crimes that they have committed. The officers question Worf's dedication to his race, wondering aloud if his instincts have been dulled by living with civilized men, and try to goad him into joining their revolution. "Heart of Glory" does an excellent job at adding depth and personal history to the Worf character by forcing him to make decisions he'd rather not make. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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"The true test of a warrior is not without, it is within."
The Klingons arrive on the scene in "Heart of Glory" to shake things up in the 24th century. Even though there is an alliance in place between the Klingon Empire and the Federation, you can always rely on those classic warriors to stir up trouble anyway.

The Enterprise-D rescues three Klingons from a damaged Talarian vessel. Unknown to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), the Klingons are actually fugitives. One of them dies from his injuries after coming aboard. Soon after, the other two fugitives start to devise a plan to take over the ship. They ask Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) to aid them but he remains loyal to his comrades. Eventually, a final showdown ensues in engineering between Worf and one of the fugitives.

"Heart of Glory" was the first Star Trek: The Next Generation Klingon episode and it did not disappoint. The howling during the Klingon Death Ritual was hokey but seeing the Klingons as Star Trek adversaries once more sure rekindled fond memories of their appearances in the original series. The guest performances were solid with Vaughn Armstrong turning in a strong effort as Korris and Charles H. Hyman complimenting him in his role as Konmel. And wasn't that a great moment when that Klingon battle cruiser appeared on the viewscreen? Talk about stirring up those feelings of nostalgia. The Federation and the Klingon Empire are inextricably connected in Star Trek lore and reinforcing this connection in the Next Generation era was a welcome development indeed.

The Klingon equivalent of romantics
Given that humans of different creed find it so difficult to understand each other, any interaction with a different bipedal species is bound to be a diplomatic and social minefield. As someone who has traveled internationally, I had to undergo crash courses in local manners, and it certainly takes effort to avoid making blunders. Even simple hand gestures are considered obscene in some cultures.
Without question, a major component of Star Fleet training would be an appreciation for social and cultural differences. Therefore, I was surprised at the reaction of Picard and the other human members of the Enterprise crew when they witnessed the Klingon death ritual. Two Klingon renegades bent on restoring the martial qualities of the Klingon empire hijack a ship, defeat a pursuer and then are rescued from the damaged ship by the Enterprise. Their true purpose is discovered and they are jailed, only to escape, leading to the death of one. The other makes it to engineering with a phaser, where one shot could destroy the Enterprise.
Worf then confronts the fugitive and finds himself being confronted as to how much he really is a Klingon. That scene is one of Michael Dorn's finest moments as Worf. He is clearly torn between his Klingon heritage, his time with humans and his Star Fleet training, as the fugitive pleads with Worf to join him and become a true Klingon once again. The Enterprise crew senses Worf's personal dilemma, as they are clearly reluctant to let him confront the renegade.
This episode is only average, although it is good, demonstrating what must be the Klingon equivalent of romantic war. There are holes in the plot. In any military vessel, there is no way that someone in the brig could ever make it to a location where they could destroy the ship. Nevertheless, there are points where you do not know what Worf will do, which gives it an acceptable degree of tension.

a question of Heart
"Heart of Glory" was the eagerly anticipated first-season Klingon story, and it did not disappoint! Worf's mysterious past was finally revealed: how as a child he had been orphaned, to be rescued and raised by a Human Starfleet couple. Many tantalizing facets of Klingon warrior culture were introduced in this episode. Among them, the death-howl, the stashing of covert weapons on one's person, the Bushido-like concept of Honor. And here originated the enduring theme of the Klingon Heart, which would torment Worf through seven seasons of Next Generation and conclude in Deep Space Nine. From the start, Worf's heart is conflicted by Klingon nature and Human nurture; the values of an Imperial warrior against those of a Starfleet Officer. Sometimes Worf would embrace his Klingon heart and sometimes reject it. He would love and avenge a mate, and refuse a dying enemy a transfusion of his blood. He would quit the Federation to join in a Klingon civil war, then show Human compassion for the son of his most hated nemesis. He would impart to culturally-deprived Klingon youths the xenophobic prejudices of their warrior hearts. And ultimately he would renounce it all -- the Chain of Duty, his career, and his Klingon honor and Heart of Glory -- by following his Human heart to save the life of his Trill mate, Jadzia Dax.

Are You a True Klingon?
Heart of Glory or .......Are You Truly a Klingon Warrior?

The Enterprise is called to assist a Talarian Freighter that's been commandeered by Klingons. Taken aboard they ask Worf to leave the world of Starfleet and join his fellow Klingons for "glorious battles." When the rebel Klingons are put in the brig they naturally escape and go to the engine room to take over the ship.

In one of the best scenes with Worf to date; he has to convince the Klingon soldier not to fire his weapon on the engines. In classic Worf fashion he resolves this problem. This character didn't believe in political correctness. He tells this disturbed Klingon that one does not have to battle and maim to be a true Klingon. The battles are fought and won in the heart. That is the nature of a true warrior. The fight to do the right thing and obey your conscience.

Our first in-depth look at the only Klingon in Starfleet
A relatively simple episode, "Hearts of Glory" is the first Next Generation episode to take a look at the character of Worf (then in his short hair phase). Investigating a battle in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise finds three Klingons, one of whom has lethal wounds, aboard a damaged freighter. When a Klingon ship arrives on the scene its captain tells Picard the men are fugitives who had attacked and destroyed a Klingon cruiser and demands they be turned over to him. The pair of Klingons are put in a holding cell but then make good their escape. After one is killed the other goes to Engineering where he threatens to blow up the dilithium chamber unless he speaks with Worf.

If Data is the babe in the woods on Next Generation then Worf is the stranger in a strange land. His backstory that he was raised by foster parents on Earth after surviving the Khitomer Massacre has received scant attention at this point in the series, although in future episodes (#65 "Sins of the Father" and #100-101 "Redemption") the idea that Worf's family is in disgrace because his father was accused of being a traitor will focus more on the Klingon honor that becomes the soul of Worf's character. "Hearts of Glory" provides the first real look at Worf as a Klingon and at the Klingon's as something more than the Soviet Union's evil empire dressed up in allegorical form. Finally, Worf receives some dignity as a character and Michael Dorn receives more to do than make deep throated growls and snarls in the background. ... Read more

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This lovely episode, which clarifies and expands upon Commander Data's early existence, stars Fionnula Flanagan as Juliana Tainer, a scientist and former wife of Data's late creator, Dr. Soong. Meeting aboard the Enterprise while working to reheat the cooling core magma of a Federation planet, Juliana tells Data that she regards herself as his mother, a remark that initially does not warm the android. His memories having been erased when she and Soong fled the planet upon which he was created, Data does not directly recollect her, and suspects she wanted to have him dismantled back then anyway. The more Data observes her, however, the more he suspects something that even she doesn't know--a truth that inevitably draws them closer together. The whole fairytale-like journey of Data to become as human as possible takes a large step with this story. Brent Spiner's performance, his mix of android dispassion and vaguely mortal yearning, has never been more subtle or soulful than in this program. The episode, fortunately, gets us off the Enterprise a little while and down on the planet's surface, among earthquakes and instability that gives the show an added measure of adventure. -- Tom Keogh ... Read more

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Just pretend it never happened
I hate this episode. Not only is the premise of both story threads based on very dodgy science, it blows continuity to smithereens.
The Enterprise has arrived at a planet to help reliquefy its core, thus preventing an environmental disaster. Sure, we all believe a planet's molten core can solidify within a matter of months and be reliquefied with the injection of some plasma, don't we? One of the geologists, Juliana Taner, turns out to be Dr Soong's wife - hitherto never before referred to in any way, shape, or form. She introduces herself to Data, and we learn all about Data's childhood, and the relationship between Juliana and Dr Soong and the various androids they created together. But Data's suspicions are aroused, and an accident reveals the truth: Juliana is an android, created by Dr Soong to replace the real Juliana, who died after spending months in a coma after they had fled Omicron Theta. In the end, he decides not to tell her the truth, and he and his "mother" part happily.
The idea that an android could be passed off as human for years on end with no-one ever suspecting what she is just beggars belief. What about her weight? How does she go through the transporter? Why does she never get ill? How do the materials in her body go undetected? There is no good explanation of why Dr Soong and Lore never mentioned Juliana; and Dr Soong's character as established in previous episodes to my mind precludes him having a colleague, or any interest in anything other than his work. There's also a rather nasty set of attitudes displayed in this episode - it is made clear, yet again, that artificial life is considered inferior to biological life, even (or especially) by those who create it and profess to be friends with it.
The actress who plays Juliana, Fionnula Flanagan, does a poor job in an annoying role. The character is portrayed as almost completely self-centred, with an annoyingly proprietal attitude towards Data and very little respect for him or interest in getting to know him as he really is, rather than as she remembers him.
The one saving grace in "Inheritance" is Brent Spiner. He turns in excellent performances as Data and as a holographic Dr Soong. By the seventh season, Spiner is making it subtly clear that Data has evolved over the years. It was a wonderful stroke of luck that the producers found such a fine actor for this vital character.

Data finds his "mother" and they have so much in common...
The Enterprise is helping with a geological emergency on Atrea Four: apparently the planet's core is cooling and in danger of solidifying. La Forge and Data plan to use plasma infusion to heat up the core. Then one of the Atrean scientists happens to mention to Data that she is Dr. Juliana Tainer, the former wife of Dr. Noonian Soong who was present when Data was created. Of course Data wants to spend lots of time with "mom" and eventually he discovers an even stranger fact about Dr. Tainer: She is an android. Even more interesting, she does not know that she is an android.

Having met Data's "brother" Lore and "mother" Juliana, I am beginning to suspect that Data is the least sophisticated of Dr. Soong's creations. Juliana is unique in that she has aging routines and will eventually "die" just like a human. Juliana was fatally injured when Soong escaped from Omicron Theta (remember the Crystal entity?), and so he built an android, transferred her mind, and let her "wake up" believing she was human. The big moment in "Inheritance" is not Data discovering his mother, but his decision whether or not to honor his creator's request and not tell Juliana the truth. This ends up being an average STNG episode because we know full well from the start that there is more to Juliana than meets the eye, and we are not overly surprised by the truth. Still, there are some lovely scenes between Brent Spiner and Fionnula Flanagan. I just think this could have been a more memorable episode. Oh, and one last thought: how many millions of years do they have before the core solidifies? Do you think the Enterprise got there just in time?

"Inheritance", We Meet Data's Mom
This episode (Actually #262 on the STTNG lists) is one in which Data meets up with a woman who claims to be his "mother". Juliana O'Donnell-Soong-Trainer was once married to the man who created Data, and was there when he (and his brother Lore) were brought to life. Although Data is gratified to find this link to his past, he cannot help but suspect that there is something not quite "Human" about Juliana. He later learns that she is NOT Human -- she's another Soong android -- but she doesn't know that. Data is then faced the dilemma of whether he should reveal to Juliana that she isn't what she seems to be. This episode features excellent character acting throughout. And fans of Brent Spiner get a sort of "double dose", as he plays both Data and a holographic Dr. Soong. It's a wonderful episode. ... Read more

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Trek Meets "The Manchurian Candidate"
Like the 1960's classic film, "Mind's Eye" has one of the main characters programmed to assassinate a visiting Klingon governor. This is one of the rare occasions where the story line rests squarely on the shoulders of Geordi la Forge (Levar Burton). While it doesn't allow him much of a stretch, Burton does get such much-needed screen time in a show with seven principals. Veteran actor Larry Dobkin provides an air of respectability as a Klingon ambassador that may not be as he appears.

This installment of the series has the distinction of being one where the ominous, shadow-laden Romulan commander appears. Her identity when revealed will prove to be one the show's most memorable and surprising revelations.

Geordi La Forge, brainwashed Romulan assassin?
The Enterprise is taking a Klingon ambassador to investigate charges that the Federation is supporting a rebellion on one of the Klingon colony worlds. Meanwhile, in another part of space, La Forge is tooling around in a shuttle on when a Romulan ship uncloaks and takes him prisoner. The Romulans use La Forge's neural interface to brainwash him, feeding him the images they want and then sending him back to the Enterprise as a secret assassin. At the Klingon colony La Forge and Data discover that the "Federation" phaser rifles used by the rebels have been manufactured by the Romulans, a very impressive display of 23rd century investigative skills. The tension continues to escalate and as a host of Klingon warships surround the Enterprise, the true traitor orders La Forge to kill the commander of the Klingon colony.

"The Mind's Eye" is an average STNG episode, although certainly the idea of the bad guys using La Forge's visor is intriguing, as we see when the Duras sisters take advantage of it after capturing him in the Star Trek "Generations" movie. The character of Geordi La Forge was supposed to show how physical handicaps would not prevent someone from trekking around the Universe (Gene Roddenberry used the name of a real Star Trek fan who was, I believe, confined to a wheelchair) so usually his unique abilities are glossed over. This is one episode that actually takes some pains to deal with the implications of his visor. If they had done this more often they probably could have come up with a better episode along these lines.

Another Romulan story!
En route to the planet Risa, Geordi is kidnapped by Romulans who want to make the Klingons and the Federation bitter enemies. Rigging his visor to send his brain instructions to murder a prominent klingon, LaForge returns to the Enterprise unaware of the incident. Data senses E-band emissions aboard the ship, but will he stop Geordi in time? ... Read more

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In this outing, the Enterprise-D answers a distress call from Dr. Ira Graves, brilliant cyberneticist (W. Morgan Sheppard). Grizzled, old Graves lives all alone on some sort of research planet with (of course) his gorgeous blond assistant, Kareen Brianon (Barbara Alyn Woods). An away team is dispatched and it soon becomes obvious that Graves is dying. For reasons that elude rational thought, Data develops an instant rapport with the scientist, who was his "father" Noonien Soong's mentor. Behind closed doors the android and the scientist bond, but Graves dies anyway. Kareen is beamed aboard the Enterprise-D to continue with her stimulating career as gorgeous blond research assistant.

Data, however, begins acting like a sybaritic idiot, which is, strangely, exactly how Graves behaved. It doesn't take long for the intrepid Captain Picard to ascertain that Dr. Graves downloaded himself into Data's neural net before he died. Graves's obnoxious core being has pushed Data's sweet, easygoing self far down into memory-dump land. We're talking big-time multiple-personality conflict here. Throw in an old-guy-in-young-android-body lust story and there's something for everyone. And it's well-written and well-acted, too. "Schizoid Man" lays the groundwork for the brilliant "Measure of a Man." It's a whole lot of fun, and at the same time quietly asks the viewer important questions about Data's right to exist. This is an all-around standout episode. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

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Data's Past
Data's Grandfather

Dr. Noonien Soong had a mentor; the great Dr. Ira Graves. He must have taught Soong the technical dilemma of creating a sentient machine. For those of you who don't know Soong created our favorite android. In this episode, the doctor who is dying wants to transplant his soul into Data to live forever. The Data/Graves personality attempted impress Kareen; his assistant. He had romantic feelings that he could not act upon because of his age difference. If he used Data's body he felt he had a chance. Overall this episode stands out as one of those human dramas that don't have any phaser battles. However, it was interesting to see Data develop his social skills as a sentient machine.

Android in the spotlight: Data's turn to be possessed
If it not already clear by this point, there is an emphasis on the character of Data in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The android is the main focus of more episodes (e.g., "The Measure of a Man," Episode 35) than any other character, and is almost always involved in the major sub-plot as well (e.g., "The Outrageous Okona," Episode 30). With all this attention it is not surprising that every once in a while things get a little out of hand. In "The Schizoid Man" the Enterprise rushes to the aid of Ira Graves (played by W. Morgan Sheppard), the greatest mind in the universe now that his disciple Noonian Soong, Data's creator, has disappeared and is presumed dead. Very much interested in learning more about the man who is his "father," Data has long conversations with the terminally ill Graves, even going so far as to reveal the location of his "off" button. Somewhere along the way Graves had discovered how to transfer his life's knowledge into a computer and the dying man decides the android would make a much better host than some descendant of Big Blue. Data announces to the rest of the away team that Graves has died, but it soon becomes clear that the second officer is acting quite differently, especially when he starts beating people unconscious. Now that he has Data's body, Graves intends to create an android body for his lover, unless, of course, Captain Picard finds a way of stopping this mad scheme.

Picard's solution in "The Schizoid Man" is rather pedestrian, if not outright predictable, but the episode does provide Brent Spiner with an opportunity to flex his acting muscles a lot more than usual. The idea of putting a human being's consciousness inside a computer is rather intriguing (what if you preserved the greatest minds of the galaxy in such a fashion?), but nothing ever comes of it in future episodes. When you think how much computers have changed in the last ten years, or even since you bought your last one, and you extrapolate that sort of rapid progression several centuries into the future, you would have to think they could come up with better scenarios for all that computer power than running the holodeck. ... Read more

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The oft-hinted romantic spark between Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) flares a bit in this episode written by Nick Sagan, the son of the late scientist Carl Sagan. Taken hostage by a race called the Prytt--who don't want a neighboring species, the Kes, to join the Federation--Picard and Crusher eventually make a break for it but find (because of a Prytt shackling device) they are attached via their brainwaves. Subjected to uncontrollable sharing of their thoughts, the two soon discover much about each other, including an unspoken, mutual attraction. Meanwhile, Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes, who also directed the episode) wrestles with the politics of the Prytt-Kes conflict while trying to rescue his missing friends. The smoldering-love angle is played largely for its added character development rather than for soapy gratification, though it is fun to see the captain and doctor play around with possibilities. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

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The Best P/C Video Out There!
For all the people who wanted Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard to finally come together, this is the video that you've been waiting for. The story starts out as Crusher and Picard beam to the planet Kes-Prytt to negotiate with the even-tempered Kes. However, the Prytt see this act as hostile, and capture both of them. Picard and Crusher navigate out of their cell, on the run to Kes territory. They trek through the planet, and one night, by a campfire, as they are able to read each other's minds because of the devices planet on the base of their necks, Beverly senses that Picard was once in love with her. They discuss this, and Picard admits that he was in love with her, but he was guilty when her former husband, Jack, died. They forget this, and each go to sleep. The next day, Riker negotiates with the Kes and the Prytt, convincing them to let Picard and Crusher beam back without any trouble. Picard and Crusher once again arrive at the Enterprise, and have their often dinner together. Picard asks Crusher if they should move forward from being friends, but Crusher denies, and leaves his quarters.

This was a really good video from the beginning, and in the middle you would think that Crusher and Picard would really get together in view of the discussions they have, but the don't. So, I really can't criticize Paramount, but don't watch this video in high hopes of Crusher and Picard getting together. In spite of all that, "Attached" was a really wonderful video.

If only Crusher could read Picard's mind....wait a minute!
"Attached" begins as an interesting exercise in 23rd Century democracy. The Enterprise is visiting Kesprit Three, where the majority of people, the Kes, want to join the Federation, but the isolationist minority, the Prit, want nothing to do with the strange visitors from the sky. When Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher beam down to meet with the Kes, the Prit redirect the transporter beam and capture the two Federation officers. The pair are fitted with neural transceivers in their cerebral cortexes, which the Prit intend to use to interrogate them. But a Kes operative frees them and as they flee Jean-Luc and Beverly learn tha they can read each other's thoughts because of these devices. And what things they learn.

What makes this an above average episode of STNG is the scene by the campfire where Beverly learns that Picard was in love with her during her marriage to Jack Crusher. When her husband died, Picard felt guilty about having such feelings towards the wife of his best friend and never said anything. This is certainly a fascinating revelation and sets up some interesting elements in the series' finale "All Good Things." It is also a wonderful scene between Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden. "Attached" is one of several episodes during the show's final season that really fleshed out the relationships between the characters. This is certainly a special episode for anybody who has a friend they wish was much more than a friend.

Intimate telepathic contact between Picard and Crusher
When Picard and Crusher are captured on a diplomatic away mission, telepathic enhancing devices are implanted in them, which, given time, will send and receive psi-waves. As they escape together, their telepahic contact grows as time goes by. The episode explores what it would be like to be constantly aware of somebody elses thoughts and dreams, especially if that persons loves you deeply and has done so in a quiet way for 20 years. In this episode Jean-Luc expresses his love for Beverly at long last, because it has no use denying it. There are some very moving scenes, and also some quite hillarious ones, as they slowly learn to live with each others thoughts.

If there ever was a P/C episode, than this is it.

Finally!
I have always been a strong supporter of Picard and Crusher and this episode is the one episode you must own if you love Picard and Crusher. IT was very funny and touching I jsut wish that they had kept going with them instead of putting them on the backburner in the movies. Riker and Troi are now together maybe, finally, they will get to THe Captain and the Doctor :)

Picard and Crusher . . . will they or won't they?
For all of you TNG fans, especially the ones who have felt that Picard and Crusher should be together, you won't be disappointed. This is a poignant story - one that has made it to my "favorite TNG episodes" list. I've always been a softie for a love story. The story line regarding the Kes and the Prytt is just a little bonus. The big story is Picard and Crusher. ... Read more

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In an attempt to track down a lost medical transport, the Enterprise enters the lone safe corridor in an area of space known to be hazardous to warp-driven vessels. They soon encounter two aliens who demand the cessation of all warp travel in the area, claiming it will damage their planet and the space around it. This episode focuses largely on La Forge: ever the technology lover, he's happily engaged in a friendly competition with the chief engineer of another ship to seewho can get the most efficient power conversion levels. The aliens' demands foran immediate halt of all warp transport present a sudden threat to everythingthat La Forge's heart holds dear. The seriousness of the episode is nicelyoffset with a silly subplot about Data's attempts to train his cat, Spot.Geordi's speculation that Spot is a creature that by nature cannot be trained isa subtle comment on La Forge's own refusal to believe the aliens'research. --Ali Davis ... Read more

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Keep the universe alive, keep to warp drive five!
The Enterprise is searching the Hekaras Corridor for a Starfleet medical transport, the Flemming, that has been missing for several days. The Hekaras Corridor was created because this sector of space has high concentrations of tetrio particles, which make warp drive dangerous. When the Enterprise encounters a debris field they are hit by a verteron pulse that kills both the warp drive and subspace communication. At that point a small space craft approaches carrying two Hekaran scientists, Roval and Sarova, a brother and sister. They explain to Picard and his crew that they planted the verteron device because all the use of warp drive in the corridor has weakened the fabric of space. The scientists believe this will endanger their planet, so they have been disabling ships trying to force Starfleet to investigate.

Apparently there are not a lot of ecological concerns in space, because while the Star Trek universe has always been a platform for talking about the social problems of the world in which its viewers live, this is one of the few times they get to lecture about the environment. "Force of Nature" ends by establishing a restriction from Starfleet that ships can only go warp five (except in cases of extreme emergency, and you know how often that happens). This is an average STNG episode; I admit I have trouble getting by the idea that warp drive is ripping apart the universe and nobody has noticed before this. The subplot of Data and Spot also rings a bit hollow.

The warp engines prove to be harmful to the universe!
An average story about Warp engines and how they can damage the universe! After investigating a Ferengi ship adrift in space, the ship is soon disabled by two aliens who board the Enterprise in an effort to convince the Federation that warp drive is harmful to the universe. ... Read more

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Repellent attitudes
As a Star Trek story, this is standard fare, combining environmental disaster, conflict between characters, a holodeck problem, and a Prime Directive dilemma. Yes, it's well made and reasonably well-written. But it lacks emotional depth, and more was needed to explain Nikolai's actions and the difficult relationship between him and Worf. And I just don't believe that anyone could transport all those people into the holodeck with no-one noticing.
I've taken one star off because of the repellent atttitudes the crew of the Enterprise display in this episode. They will not lift a finger to intervene and save the Boraalans, which they could easily do without the Boraalans ever noticing. There seems to be no place for compassion or mercy in their world, as they flatter themselves that they are acting with nobler aims than is Nikolai. Picard's posturing was particularly annoying. Where would he and his crew be if Q had not shown them some mercy in "Q-Who"?

Another Prime Directive Fiasco involving Worf's "Brother"
The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Dr. Nicholai Rozhenko, the human stepbrother of Lt. Worf, who is on Boral Two. The planet's atmosphere will disappear in 30 hours ending all life. The problem is that Rozhenko is a Federation cultural observer who has broken the Prime Directive by setting up a force field over same caves nearby a Boralan village. Disguising himself as a native, Rozhenko led the villagers into the cave. Captain Picard refuses to set up atmospheric shields to provide the villagers with long term projection, so Rozhenko ups the ante: he creates an exact replica of the caves on the Holodeck and beams the Boralans on the Enterprise as their planet's atmosphere disappears. Now Picard needs to find a new home for the Boralans while Rozhenko and Worf lead them on a "journey" to their new home.

Having pretty much exhausted the possibilities of Worf's Klingon heritage, the series brings back his human family for another one of those episodes that reminds us that Starfleet believes the universe is served by letting planets of people die because they have not achieved warp driv