Reviews (4)

One of the entertaining, nonpreachy episodes
It had more humor in it than normally found in a TNG episode: for example, the Ferengis that are brought aboard make total fools out of themselves with lines like "Peace is good for trade!...unless you're an arms merchant." But the best part of the ep is how Kamala keeps shifting her personality for every man she runs into: when she enters Ten-Forward, she turns blue-collar when she meets some miners the Enterprise is transporting, then starts purring/growling seductively at Worf on her way out. An interesting piece of trivia regarding this ep is that Famke Janssen was the original consideree for the role of Jadzia Dax on DS9, and her character makeup of freckles down the sides of her head would later be used for the Trill species.

Jean-Luc Picard caught between love and duty
"The Perfect Mate" is the first of the two classic "Picard in Love" episodes from STNG, with an unforgettable conclusion that drives home once and for all the idea that Picard's choice of a career, as fulfilling as it might be, still speaks to some significant voids in the man's life. The Enterprise is serving as the host to a peace conference between the planets of Krios and Valt Minor. The ship rescues a pair of Ferengi from an exploding struggle and the next thing we now the two are in a cargo bay checking out a large object brought on board by the Kriosian Ambassador. A security team arrives and startles the Ferengi, who accidentally open the object from which emerges a beautiful woman named Kamala (Famke Janssen). She is a empathic metamorph, who will bond with a man and become his perfect mate, and she is a gift for the leader of Valt Minor, Chancellor Alrik. Of course the Ferengi she an opportunity for big profit and try to bribe the Ambassador, who is wounded during the, uh, negotiations. This forces Picard to take over the Ambassador's duties of instruction Kamala on her new home. Unfortunately, the reason Kamala was encased in the giant egg is that once she emerges she is ready to bond.

"The Perfect Mate" has its fair share of contrivances to create this unique situation, but that does not lessen the impact of the final scenes. Of course it is inevitable that Kamala will bond with Picard; after all, he is the only man she has any contact with after emerging from the giant egg. The ultimate irony is that in becoming Picard's perfect mate she is imprinted with his sense of duty, which is so strong that he will stand by and watch the woman he has come to love be married to a total stranger. This is a scene that reaffirms my belief that the really great actors can do as much with the look on their faces as they can with dialogue. Compare it to the similar scene in the other "Picard in Love" episode, "Lessons" (Episode 145). No wonder TV Guide picked Patrick Stewart as the television actor of the 1990s.

Great character development for Picard
This story lets viewers see an emotional side of the captain that hadn't previously been explored. The relationship between Picard and the metamorph was well-developed, and this episode contains some fine acting. We see the kind of woman Captain Picard likes, and how much he really needs her. Their parting is heart-wrenching for both, and I really felt for them. The main flaw I have with the episode is the ferengi, who should not have been trusted to roam the ship unescorted. The metamorph should have been accidentally released in some other way than by the meddling ferengi, whom the crew should not have allowed to be there in the first place.

Command is Sacrafice
Not a lot of action, but it shows a side of Picard's character that makes him the Captain he is. A metamorph, a being with the ability to become whatever she needs to be to please her mate, has found Picard of interest to her. He resist, but since she reflects his interest and desire so perfectly, finds her irresistable. But she is to wed the leader of another planet to end decades of war.

Her final words to him before becoming another man's wife, the stoney expression on Picard's face as he gives her to that man as part of his duty....You have to watch this one for yourself. ... Read more

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When Picard receives a secret transmission from an old friend, StarfleetCaptain Walker Keel (Jonathan Farwell), he agrees to attend a secret meeting onan uninhabited planet, even though it means breaking several Starfleet regulations and jeopardizing his career. Keel and a couple of other highly respected captains have gathered because Keel has begun to notice some bizarre orders emanating from Starfleet and suspects a growing conspiracy. Back on the Enterprise, Picard is skeptical, but Data helps confirm some of the strange orders. Picard sets up a meeting with Admiral Quinn (Ward Costello) to check it out. Admiral Quinn had previously boarded the Enterprise in episode 19 ("Coming of Age") in order to investigate the competency of Picard in the face of an unstated conspiracy, but now he seems like a differentman. Though the writing is a bit forced, it's nice to see the show working onlong-form, continuing story lines. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Invasion of the mind snatching beetle-like monster bugs
Previously on Star Trek: The Next Generation (Episode 19, "Coming of Age" to be exact), Admiral Quinn confided to Captain Picard that there was some sort of internal threat to the Federation. Needing officers he can trust in position of authority, Quinn wanted to promote Picard to Admiral and make him head of Starfleet Academy. Picard turned down the extraordinary offer, but in "Conspiracy" we find out what Quinn's bizarre ramblings were all about.

Well, boys and girls, this was not worth waiting for. An old friend warns Picard about an insidious plot to overthrow Starfleet, which the captain dismisses until his friend's ship blows up. Picard then has Data analyze recent command decisions by Starfleet, which show a covert attempt to control key sectors of the Federation. A concerned Picard heads for earth and a meeting with several admirals at Starfleet headquarters while Admiral Quinn visits the Enterprise and beats up Riker, Worf and La Forge before Dr. Crusher takes him out. It seems these beetle-like creatures have attached themselves to the base of Quinn's brain and are controlling him. Who knows how many more of these evil creatures are out there! They must be stopped, I tell you, stopped! Or else the entire Federation is doomed!

Yeah, right.

The original Star Trek had to deal with its share of bug-eyed monsters and in "Conspiracy" we get monster bugs. For me this is a pretty laughable episode and certainly the low point of the first season. Having set up this idea several weeks earlier (which was a nice touch) it is someone disheartening to see the true situation revealed and then this massive conspiracy dealt with so neatly by the end of this episode. I guess it was not that much of a conspiracy after all and I am sure there are plenty more admirals to replace all those lost in this episode's culminating blood bath. Fortunately, the producers will get the dire alien threat to the entire Federation right when they bring in the Borg. But this dry run for what will be the Next Generation's most powerful story line is pretty lame.

They blew up the wrong head...
Ah, 'Conspiracy', AKA the episode with the exploding head. I'm sure some were shocked by this moment, and others downright disgusted. Me, I was disappointed-- I wanted the head that exploded to be Wesley Crusher's! Man, do ya know how funny that would've been? I'd've literally died laughing, just like those poor people in that Monty Python 'Funniest Joke in the World' sketch (oh great-as if a review of a Star Trek eppie wasn't geeky enough, now I'm dragging a reference to Monty Python into the mix! Sheesh, talk about bein' a total loser...)! Heck, I'm chucklin' just thinkin' 'bout it REALLY should've unfolded:

PICARD: "Wesley? YOU'RE the host of the Mother Parasite?!"

WESLEY: "Well, gee, Captain Picard, I didn't want to be... but all they want is to coexist--" KABLOOEY!!!

RIKER: "Great shot, sir!"

PICARD: "Serves him right for making my highly-experienced and extensively-trained engineering officers look like a bunch of idiots every time he'd single-handedly save the ship!"

RIKER: "Well, it sure doesn't look like he has the brains for that NOW, does he, sir?"

PICARD: "Good one... Number One!"

PICARD & RIKER (in unison): "AHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA!!!"

'Late

The time Star Trek got an idea from "Alien".
This was one of the best first season TNG episodes. It was something quite unique and different in the Star cannon: a gory, terrifying descent into madness by way of bug eating, back stabbing (figuratively and literally), and true conspiracy theories. The video cover picture on Conspiracy of Riker pretty much sums the episode up. Well, of course, so does the infamous exploding head scene. Is there any other Star Trek episode that you can say that about?

Exceptional television storytelling...
This is a controversial episode among Trekkies, but I absolutely love every minute of it. The conspiracy hinted at in the episode "Coming of Age" finally comes full circle and Picard must now go back to Earth to confront the heads of Starfleet. What ensues is a TNG episode like none other! Lots of action, creepy stuff, and some pretty ooky special effects. This is a very dark episode, however, and the ending isn't quite the cheery resolution Trekkies are generally used to. But that's why I like it. It takes new risks and does new things with Star Trek that hadn't really been done before. It's one of my favorite episodes.

A Disappointment
This episode starts out promising with the story of a conspiracy that reaches up into the highest eschelons of the Federation, and Captain Picard's mission to investigate.

As the plot unfolds, we find that the Federation is being usurped by wormlike parasites that take over high ranking officials, and it is here that the disappointment sets in. As usual the Federation is still portrayed as a utopian organization, and the first episode to hint at a dystopian future fizzles because the humans are essentially blameless, so once again the Federation is uncompromised by human fear or greed.

Contrast this episode with "Ensign Ro" where Picard will match wits with a rogue Admiral who is acting against Federation policy. That was a much better episode that explored similiar themes. ... Read more

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The Enterprise is summoned to San Francisco, where excavations deep beneath the former Presidio seem to indicate an alien presence in Earth's past. Captain Picard and Data are shown artifacts dating back to the late 1800s: a pair of spectacles, a Colt 45, a watch--and Data's disembodied head! They take the artifacts back to the Enterprise for further study, and Data comes to the conclusion that sometime in the future, he will travel back to the 19th century and die. His friends among the crew are deeply shaken, especially Will Riker. However, Data is comforted by the idea of his mortality. He tells Geordi that he had always believed that as an android, he would outlive friendship after friendship, but knowing that he will die brings him one step closer to humanity.

"Time's Arrow, Part I" is imaginative and very well written. Brent Spiner and Whoopie Goldberg absolutely shine. In true IDIC fashion, old San Francisco is blind to their obvious "otherness." Historical characters Samuel Clemens and Jack London weave seamlessly into the plot; and Cardassian Marc Alaimo appears as a human for once. Borg aside, this episode introduces the most effective and frightening alien race of the series. Cool things to watch for: old Los Angeles, "Mr. Pickerd," and the ophidian, a totable species. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Time travel rocks!
The Enterprise is called back to Earth and Picard and Data are summoned to the planet's surface in San Francisco. During an archeological dig, 24th century scientists uncover some interesting artifacts - eye glasses, a spyglass (old telescope), a gold pocket watch with the initials S.L.C. enscribed and most sensational of all, Data's head. You read right - a 500-year-old head - Data's head is there. At some point in the future, Data will be sent back to the past where he will be killed and his head will slowly decay, awaiting discovery for 500 years. Data determines that it is indeed his own head, not the head of his brother, Lore, due to the type-L phase discriminator. (A birthmark for androids?)

Before the dig, scientists were trying to scan the old mining shaft, only to have their readings bounce back due to triolic energy - a type of energy source used by few species due to it's deleterious effects on organic matter (you'll melt your eye out, kid) over long exposure. This indicates that there was an alien presence on earth in the 19th Century. But who? And why?

Geordi finds something odd in his scans of the cave - a microscopic fossil that probably hitched a ride on the aliens just like dust or dandruff. The fossil is only known to exist on one planet, Davidia II. Why on earth so many planets have numeric designations in Star Trek land is beyond me. Davidia was so cool of a planet name, they had to have 2 or more. Geesh!

Anyway, they go to Davidia II and with a phase compensator they are able to phase into the alien's domain and lo and behold, Data ends up going back to the 19th Century. This cliffhanger in this 2-part episode is awesome and Part 2 does not disappoint. This is right on up there with my favorite episodes. Highly recommended.

Data catches Guinan with Mark Twain in the 19th-Century
"Time's Arrow" is the cliffhanger from STNG's Fifth Season. The Enterprise has returned to Earth where Captain Picard is shown an archeological dig in San Francisco that has uncovered many late 19th-Century artifacts, including Data's head. The scientists have also found evidence of an unknown energy source. Fortunately there is a fossil from Devidia Two, which leads the Enterprise to that planet where Data discovers a small temporal distortion. The away team can see nothing because of the phase differential. When Data attempts to compensate for the difference, he is caught in a temporal rift and sent back to 19th-Century Earth. Data survives by winning enough money at poker to get a room at a fancy hotel, where he discovers a literary reception being held in honor of Guinan. Data explains his situation to her; the good news is that she believes him--the bad news is that Data's story is overheard by Samuel Clemens. Meanwhile, back in the future, Guinan tells Picard it is very important that he go on this away mission. The away team discovers that there are strange beings who are capturing the life forces of humans for food. When a couple of the beings are transported to the past, Picard and most of the bridge crew follow them. To be continued...

If Jim Kirk can deal with an alien recreation of Abraham Lincoln, then I guess Jean-Luc Picard can meet up with the real Mark Twain. It is hard to be impressed by time travel episodes in the Star Trek universe, since "The City on the Edge of Forever" is the standard by which all such efforts are ultimately judged. The scenes with Data adapting to live in the past are a hoot and the strange beings are ominous enough to counter the cynical witticism of Mark Twain, marvelously played by Jerry Hardin. "Time's Arrow" is probably the least enthralling of the cliffhangers STNG ever had, but it is still an above average episode.

Episode 126, Warning!
This episode was excellent as are so many Next Generation episodes. The only problem with it is that there is no indication on the cover that this is a 2 part episode. I ordered it, watched it and was dismayed to realize I have to go back and order 127 now.

I loved seeing Guinan as she was 500 years before. Jerry Hardin did an excellent job as Mark Twain. I can't wait to see the rest of it!

Times Arrow Part 1.
The episode Times Arrow was a very interesting story. It is yet another of those Star Trek time paradoxes. The story is quite interesting and somewhat believable, however Commander Data does not seem to take any of the Star Fleet precautions to prevent polluting of the time line. Whoopi Goldberg has an interesting role as an intellectual woman of stature in 19th century Earth.

I was disappointed that this episode was a two parter and it was not indicated on the jacket or in the description. You will need episode 127 which is the second part to complete the story. ... Read more

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Holodeck madness! After passing through a magnetoscopic storm, the Enterprise starts exhibiting bizarre malfunctions, largely centered on the holodeck. When Data and La Forge investigate, they discover that the ship seems to be developing the first nodes of its own neural pathways--and protecting them. The crew becomes nervous as the Enterprise's systems begin not only working together, but working independently of human commands. This is an excellent, richly plotted episode, perfectly blending suspense, whimsy, and good old-fashioned Starfleet problem solving. The holodeck's incarnations of the ship's systems are interesting in concept and appropriately menacing, and the crew gets to mull over an interesting tacit question: If the Enterprise develops intelligence, does that make them parasites? As an added touch of class, Brent Spiner gets to show off his classical chops when Data performs Prospero's big monologue from The Tempest--managing, of course, to both foreshadow and comment on the episode's themes as he does. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great effects do not a great Trek make!
Yeah, the visuals are stunning, the costuming is, forgive the pun, "fitting", but this has to be the dumbest ST: NG episode, next to "The Royale" and "Devil's Due".

Great TNG Episode
This was one of my favourite Star Trek episodes, from the teaser scene before the opening credits to the strange world created by the holodeck. I always liked the TNG episodes that were mysterious and dream-like. Since "Emergence" calls for the crew to interpret images in the episode it also calls to mind the first part of "Birthright" when Data started dreaming. Overall, this is a great episode, and one of last TNG episodes to air.

Scattered nodes on the Orient Express
"Emergence" begins with a wonderful scene on the holodeck where Data is doing a scene from Shakespeare's "The Tempest" for Picard. Then the "Orient Express" almost runs over them right before the Enterprise suddenly jumps to warp speed. A quick investigation discovers strange nodes scattered all over the ship, apparently the result of a recent magnascopic storm (you know how tricky those things can be). The nodes continue to spread over the Enterprise, taking over vital operations. Meanwhile, the crew keeps visiting the "Orient Express" on the holodeck, trying to unravel the puzzling clues.

"Emergence" is one of the last in a long line of mysteries that has to be solved by the Enterprise crew before the ship is destroyed/absorbed/changed with yet another dangerous holodeck malfunction thrown in for fun. In retrospect I get the feeling they were so busy putting all their energy into the final episode of STNG that they let a few episodes slip through the cracks. This is a below average episode with nothing special to recommend it after the opening scene, to be owned only by those driven for a need to have a complete collection.

Good Visuals...
I recieved this video as a Christmas present, and I thought it was one of the better ones I had seen. It involves a lot of mind twisting tricks. I suggest you buy it. ... Read more

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This underrated, early episode of The Next Generation presents one of the most interesting ethical problems ever faced by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart). A plague on Styris IV sends the Enterprise in search of an organic vaccine on Ligon II. Delicate diplomacy with Ligon's skeptical chief, Lutan (Jessie Lawrence Ferguson), breaks down when Lutan kidnaps Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) in keeping with his cultural traditions regarding the selection of wives. Picard is confronted with following the Prime Directive, which means accepting Ligon's subjective notion of civilized behavior and putting Tasha in real danger. The Next Generation often concerned itself with highly original moral quandaries where other species are concerned. But there is a uniquely human face to the situation in "Code of Honor," perhaps owing somewhat to the fact that Ligon's feudal society is entirely black. Ironically, it's that last point that embarrasses some of TNG's creative types, as if the episode serves up stereotypes. But in the best Star Trek tradition, the opposite is true: the show works because it resonates with real-world issues about resisting exploitation, about the occasional difficulties of respecting the integrity of other places, other people.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

great for trivia buffs
Star Trek - The Next Generation came a long way after its first season and episode 4 wasn't one of their shining stars, either.

The main plot - the Enterprise is en route to what Picard cites as a Federation planet, Ligon II. Are there that many planets with life on them that people had to start using the same names over and over again? Hmmph. Anyway, they are on a diplomatic mission to retrieve a medicinal compound that cures a deadly virus that is plaguing Styris IV... another planet starved for its own proper name.

Even though Ligon II is a member of the Federation, the Enterprise crew is unaware that part of their strict code of honor, the planet chieftan, Lutan, must take a suitable mate by kidnapping her. He finds Tasha Yar to be appealing and believes she will make an excellent replacement for his current wife.

Picard and Dr. Crusher duel it out in a war of words over the need for the medicine ("Millions are suffering and dying, Captain!") versus the Prime Directive which will not allow them to take both Tasha AND the medicine by force, so they succomb to the chief's will by allowing Tasha and his current wife to partake in a wet t-shirt contest to the death.

In the ultimate futuristic cat fight, Tasha and her opponent swing around like monkeys in a glowing jungle gym, armed with a needle-embedded claw with poison tips. A single nick means instant death.

During one scene, Troi refers to Riker as Bill, not Will and in another scene, Data uses the contraction "you're" instead of "you are." The closed captioning on the episode says "you are" but Data clearly uses the contraction when saying "you're welcome, sir."

Supposedly, one of the many human traits that Data aspires to, including being able to properly whistle is to figure out why he can't use contractions. In a later episode, "Datalore," the crew is able to tell the difference between Data and Lore because Lore slips and uses a contraction.

There are many little nuggets for the pointy-eared Trek trivia buff, but as entertaining episodes go, this one could have been a lot better.

One of the best early episodes
This was the second episode of TNG that I saw and it restored my faith in the quality of the Star Trek phenomena. An ancient culture consisting entirely of black people heavily bound by a proud tradition possess a vaccine that can check the spread of an extremely deadly epidemic. The Enterprise is sent to retrieve the vaccine and in an action of honor, the leader of the culture kidnaps Lieutenant Yar and expects Captain Picard to perform the appropriate ceremonies in order to have her returned. The events do not go as planned and Yar ends up in a duel to the death with the wife of the leader. Since the black culture is technically inferior, Picard could easily take whatever he wanted without serious opposition.
The ethical bounds imposed by the prime directive severely restrict Picard's actions, although their solution is not original. They borrow a solution from the "Amok Time" episode of the original series, portions of which you can see throughout this episode. However, it is not a remake of "Amok Time", as the storyline is focused on the clash of cultures, neither of which has a monopoly on ethics and civilization. Some of my favorite episodes in all of the Star Trek series involve Star Fleet personnel encountering new cultures, as they require an adaptability that few other situations require.
This episode is an example of Star Trek at its' best, breaking new ground in that the new culture is one composed of blacks, and there are references to Earth cultures that were similar. Only Star Trek ever seemed to treat all types of people as equals, and the allusions to what Europeans did to technically inferior African cultures is obvious.

"Your skill impresses me. I like you."
Episode three of Star Trek: The Next Generation's first season is first-hand evidence that the new series still was a long way away from developing complex and involving storylines. "Code of Honor" is nothing more that a spruced-up cat-fight episode that adds little to the Star Trek mythos.

The Enterprise-D travels to Ligon II to secure a vaccine needed by the inhabitants of Styris IV. Upon seeing Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), the Ligonian leader becomes infatuated with the security officer and kidnaps her. In order to free her, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) must let Yar battle her kidnapper's wife. Using a little trickery, Picard and Yar succeed in maintaining the strict Ligonian code of honor while also obtaining the valuable vaccine.

"Code of Honor" deserves some credit for showcasing the feisty Yar. Never had such an empowered female character been seen as a regular Star Trek cast member. However, growing pains were still in evidence. Characterizations are still shallow as the Ligonians are developed in only the most rudimentary manner. They exist merely to drive the events of the story. The Enterprise's crew fares little better as the primary characters still find themselves overanalyzing whatever predicament they find themselves in. Meaningful action sequences that both excite the viewer and compliment the honorable ideals of the series are still absent. "Code of Honor" ultimately winds up as just another pedestrian episode on the series' scorecard.

Just "OK"
The Enterprise is on a routine mission to the planet of Ligon II. The people of Styris IV are desperate for the rare vaccine that the people of Ligon possess. Despite initially appearing to be friendly, it is not long before the delegation member Lutan kidnaps Tasha Yar during a diplomatic meeting and demands her as his "First One". Not surprising, the woman who currently occupies that position is not best pleased and immediately challenges Tasha to a fight to the death. What ensues is a battle around a space-age climbing frame where the weapons are spiked gloves with poisoned barbs and Tasha must win to secure both her own life and the vaccine...

This was a fairly average, unspectacular episode. The fight scene alone was quite humorous and any episode that features Tasha Yar is a great as far as I'm concerned (I still haven't come to terms with the fact that they killed off my favourite character so early. Yesterday's Enterprise was no consolation!), but I still feel as if the writers went far out of their way in trying to present TNG as being set in a politically correct era where women and men were equals. Overall, Code of Honor is like most of the first two Next Generation seasons: OK, average and more for collectors than fans looking for the best of Star Trek.

~Jenna Ryan~

This one should be called, "No Tasha Yar. No Vaccine!"
"No Tasha Yar. No Vaccine!"

Spoiler Alert!:

In this episode a retro 1940s type of tribal leader falls for Tasha Yar. He also holds a vaccine that will cure millions of sick and dying. He kidnaps Tasha to claim her as her wife. His former "First One",or wife is set to fight Yar to the death to get back her husband. In this culture women rule the men. Just like Gene Roddenberry's failed 70's pilot "Genesis 2." Although the concept is a little dated; it proved to be an exciting episode. The fight between Yar and the "First One" was worth buying the video. There are lots of parallels between the fight scenes in this Next Generation episode and the "Amok Time" one in the original. Both have primative rituals for choosing a mate. ... Read more

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"The Survivors" is a third-season episode that truly echoes the kind of sci-fi mystery that made the original series so memorable. When the Enterprise responds to a distress call on the planet Rana IV, the crew finds that the entire planet has been devastated, with the only remaining structure being a single house on a lovely, landscaped yard. The occupants are an elderly couple, Kevin and Rishon (John Anderson and Anne Haney), who cannot explain why they were unharmed. Picard is suspicious, more so because empath Deanna Troi is unable to read the couple's emotions--and, in fact, finds herself driven nearly mad by music in her head that keeps getting louder. Before Picard can do anything, however, the same alien vessel that attacked the planet suddenly appears and focuses its wrath on the Enterprise. In the ensuing cat-and-mouse game, the secrets of the seemingly innocent and aged couple gradually come unraveled, as Picard searches for an answer to the question. Cannily written by Michael Wagner and directed by Les Landau, this is the kind of story that suddenly veers in the direction you least expect, powered by a subtle performance by Patrick Stewart and a stalwart one by veteran character actor John Anderson, one of those actors whose name may not be familiar but whose face is instantly recognizable. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not likely to Make the Top Ten List....
But "The Survivors" is a beautifully acted tale with a dignified and compassionate performance from veteran character actor John Anderson. His "revelation" to Captain Picard at the installment's ending moments is stunning, bringing to the surface all the years of toiling as a "heavy" in so many films and television shows. It is this rare occasion when the actor showed that he could portray a sympathetic character whose actions are based solely on love and loneliness.

Picard has to solve the Case of the Elderly Uxbridges
Responding to a distress call from a colony on Rana Four, the Enterprise discovers that everyone on the planet is dead except for an elderly couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge. The Uxbridges have no explanation for the attack, but in the grand tradition of colonists everywhere they refuse to leave their home. But this is not the only mystery. An alien warship suddenly appears, fires on the Enterprise and then runs away. The warship then returns with better weaponry, this time forcing the Enterprise to retreat. Figuring out that the two mysteries are somehow related, Picard tells the Uxbridges that the Enterprise will remain in orbit to protect them. Again the alien warship appears, but this time it destroys the Uxbridges and their home. However, when Picard monitors the site from orbit, the house and the old couple reappear. Picard is coming closer and closer to the truth.

A simple episode with a rather interesting mystery, "The Survivors" is a different sort of love story. It is also one of the better mysteries to confront Picard outside of a holodeck Dixon Hill adventure. This is not one of those mysteries you are going to figure out from the clues, but when all the pieces are put together you will admire the completed puzzle. "The Survivors" is also about responsibility and justice on a more than human scale. One thing I have always appreciated about Star Trek: The Next Generation is that the show was not afraid to confront things bigger than ourselves. Ultimately, the progress of humanity in the Star Trek universe is judged not only by how Picard et al. deal with the "lesser" lifeforms but how they respond to the "greater" powers as well.

Survivors
In this episode, the Enterprise responds to a distress signal to discover a colony that's been wiped out. A closer scan reveals a small patch of land that has not been destroyed with two survivors. Attempts to evacuate the survivors meets with another attack from the aliens.

For it's time, the battle between the alien vessel and the Enterprise was pretty darn cool. In addition learning about this retired couple who survived the attack kept me interested through out the episode. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Worf has a REALLY nasty bad day
Parallels is arguably the most enjoyable "alternate reality" episode of all time. From its inception, one of the underlying messages of TNG is "anything and everything is possible." Parallels takes this to the extreme. I really enjoyed the way the normally unflappable Worf becomes increasingly baffled when confronted by weird gifts, ever-changing realities and the truly awesome (frightening?) discovery that he's suddenly married to Deanna Troi -- a fact he doesn't remember and probably never even consciously considered. The storyline shifts very quickly between realities and is downright surreal. I loved every minute of it. Non-TNG viewers might find Parallels confusing, but fans will definitely appreciate it. A lot.

A great "what if?" episode!
Two things make "Parallels" great:

1. It's a Worf episode. You can't go wrong there.

2. It features parallel (or alternate) realities. Trek has almost always been successful with this type of episode. Remember classic Trek's "Mirror, Mirror"? Or TNG's "Yesterday's Enterprise"? You get the idea.

It's fun to see our favorite characters in new roles. As Worf bounces around from reality to reality (he hit one of those time warp/quantum flux space anomalies that seem so common in Trek), we see an Enterprise where Captain Picard was lost to the Borg, Riker is now the Captain and Worf is Riker's first officer. We see a reality where Wesley Crusher is the chief security/tactical officer. Another reality has a Cardassian flight control officer and the Federation is at war with the Bajorans! And in yet another reality, Worf is married to Troi! Fun all around!

Usually, this type of episode would feature Riker or Picard or Data as the central character bouncing through parallel universe to parallel universe. But this time it is Worf. It isn't that Worf doesn't get his own stories (only Picard and Data had more in TNG's seven year run), it's just that Worf stories are generally tied into Klingon politics or raising his son Alexander. It's nice that we get to see Worf as the central character in an episode dealing with time and space rather than the interworkings of Klingon politics.

Strong episode and one of TNG's best. It is a darn, fun episode, too. Worf as first officer...what could have been...

interesting
the fact its changing from one alternate realty to another is an interesting plot in itself. It's an episode you can watch over and over.

Great episode!
The ... Voyager equivalent to this episode is "Non Sequitor". This episode, unlike "Non Sequitor", is excellent. Through this episode we get to see how life could have been different for Worf, with many different possibilities. Looking back now, I don't know why the Worf-Troi romance ever went on -- I think Troi and Riker are meant for each other, but that doesn't wreck this excellent episode at all!

The only TNG episode worth buying.
I'm not a THG fan, but this episode is as good as best from any of the shows. Worf keeps shifting from parallel universe to universe. The differences are at first subtle, then more and more pronounced. The only way it could have been better is if Worf had stayed in a universe where Riker was captain. ... Read more

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When the Enterprise detects a foreign object floating in space, a relatively primitive probe of some sort, the crew members are surprised when abeam of energy is able to penetrate their shields. Before they know it (andbefore the credits), Captain Picard is knocked down and psychically linked tothe probe through the beam. In Picard's head, he is on a desert planet where everybody thinks he is Kamin, a man recovering from a fever, even his wife. He quickly ascertains that he is not in a holodeck program, that he's not a prisoner, that there is no way to find--much less contact--the Enterprise, and that everybody thinks he is nuts for believing he is astarship captain. On the bridge, Dr. Crusher and company are trying tounderstand the beam's effect on Picard, while on the desert planet entire yearsare passing. Kamin gives up on ever finding the Enterprise. Over theyears he falls in love with his wife and starts a family. Though previousepisodes have explored the fact that Picard has foregone personal relationshipsin favor of his career, here he is forced to live a stable family life and, inso doing, finds out that not only is he good at it, but he likes it. When thebeam turns itself off 20 minutes later, Picard emerges changed, having been given the chance to live the life he never thought he wanted. Excellent acting supports a strong and thoughtful script. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (18)

One of the most amazing hours of television ever....
"The Inner Light" is one of the most amazing hours of television that I've ever seen, and quite possibly the greatest Star Trek (original, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager) episode of all. And the thing is, it's not even really science fiction per se..."just" a great story filled with excellent acting, directing, ideas, and emotion! Not much!! :)

Where do I even begin to praise "The Inner Light?" Well, for one thing, Patrick Stewart is amazing as Kamin, a married man (to a beautiful woman named Eline) living in the community of Ressic on the planet Kataan, which is in the midst of what people think is just a very bad, extended drought. What really is happening is that the planet is dying, and there's nothing the inhabitants can do except to save a piece of their world in the form of a probe whose purpose is to find "someone who could be a teacher, someone who could tell the others about us." A thousand years later the probe finds that "someone" - Picard - who it locks onto in order to allow him to live most of a lifetime in only 20 or 25 minutes!! What this does is allow Picard to experience everything he never could as a Starship captain - a wife, children, rootedness in a community, and much more. This episode is worth watching for that alone, but there's so much more!

Besides Patrick Stewart as Kamin, let me just list a few other great things about this episode (in no particular order): 1) Patrick Stewart's real-life son Daniel does a fine job as Kamin's son Batai (named after Kamin's late best friend); 2) Kamin's passionate -- and classic -- advice (knowing that the planet is dying) to his daughter, Meribor on whether she should marry her boyfriend Danek "sooner rather than later" is powerful: "Seize the day, Meribor. Live now! Make NOW always the most precious time! Now will never come again" (Meribor's response: "I love you father"); 3) the oily 'Administrator,' who condescendingly assures Kamin that his idea for atmospheric condensers will be considered (Kamin, of course, knows that "there will be no condensers"); 4) the beautiful, haunting music, especially of the flute that Kamin plays; 5) the end of the show, when Riker hands Picard the same flute and leaves Picard to hug the flute to his body as he tries to hold on to what he has just experienced, the woman he loved, the children and grandchild he had, etc.; 6) the friendship between Picard and Council Member Batai; 7) the love that grows between Kamin and his wife, Eline, and in particular the scene where Kamin says he wants to build something but needs her permission first, and the look on Eline's face when he says "a nursery," and much more.

What's amazing about "The Inner Light" is that, although not a phaser is fired, and although 95% of the show takes place off the Enterprise, this is still a great Star Trek episode - maybe the best ever (ranking up there with "City on the Edge of Forever" and "Yesterday's Enterprise"). Poignant, thought-provoking, dramatic, mind-boggling - these are just some of the adjectives that come to mind with "The Inner Light." In sum, this is one of the most amazing hours of television ever. Buy it now; watch it now!

Bittersweet
Anyone who says television is a barren wasteland has never sat and watched "Star Trek:TNG". "The Inner Light" has to be one of, if not the best, moments in TV history! This episode will make you smile, bring a tear to your eye, and perhaps win you over to the "world" of Star Trek(if you are not already there!). Watch as Picard "lives" an entire lifespan, a brief moment in "real-time", as a mysterious probe imparts the final chapter of a long-dead civilization into his mind, and leaves a parting gift, a simple flute(seen again in later episodes), as a "Thank You" and tender reminder of his "experience". It don't get no better than this!

A life-changing episode (for me as well as for Picard)
Twelve years ago (it's now May 2004), my husband and I, who were/are big Star Trek-TNG fans, saw this episode when it first aired in spring 1992. We had been trying to decide whether to have children--a scary decision since we knew it would change our lives drastically, and the world isn't always a safe place. Captain Picard's words (in his other life) halfway through the episode, when he was watching his children, hit us like a ton of bricks: "I never used to think I needed children to complete my life; but now, I can't imagine my life without them." (That's probably a pretty close quote considering I haven't watched this episode in years!) The story, the change in Picard, and the music that accompanied it worked together to change us. Four months later, I was pregnant; that baby, Brian Geordi (guess where his middle name "Geordi" came from?) just turned 11 years old last month. He celebrated his birthday with us and his 7-year-old brother, Daniel. Funny--our Brian Geordi seems destined to be a talented engineer just like his namesake; he can do advanced math (high school level) in his head in seconds and has an amazing understanding of physics and astronomy--he can keep up with many of the theories Stephen Hawking explains in his books and can manipulate abstract ideas in "3-D" in his mind. The kid builds with anything he can get his hands on, and he draws (in great detail) what he doesn't have the materials to build. He's enthusiastically trying to come up with a design for the first warp engine; the kid just might get us there someday. His little brother makes just about every moment a delight--finds fun, humor, and joy in almost everything and uses this talent to great advantage with us and his teachers when he's in trouble.

We've been watching our "Star Trek-TNG" first season DVD set with the boys during the past year, so they're now familiar with the story and the characters. They love just about all the Star Trek movies (Kirk's and Picard's crews), and they're starting to be able to pick up on our allusions to characters and quotes--"You will be assimilated"; Worf's "Assimilate THIS!"; getting caught in a temporal loop (believe me, this happens with kids!); Data's comment on the pronunciation of his name: "One is my name; the other is not"; etc. Now, it's time for these two boys to see the Star Trek episode that helped get them here.

Picard was right; I can't imagine my life without my boys; how empty it would have been compared to my "other" life . . . and how lucky I am that I didn't miss it. It's changed me and taught me more than I can imagine, and I discovered that love is so much more than I ever knew (both harder and better). Now, I can say that I have truly LIVED. Sorry for the mushy review--but as you read the comments of the other reviewers, you'll see that this episode touched many, many people. (God sends His messages and wisdom in many forms . . . and it's come to me through Star Trek more than once. I am eternally grateful to both.)

The Only Episode of This I've Ever Voluntarily Watched..
I can't help it, as ridiculous as this feels I'm not mearly inclined, but propelled to review this; the only episode of any Star Trek thing I've ever taken upon myself to watch. I have to fall to my knees and praise Margot, almost like an unrepented love of this reclusive, secondary veteran actress that I grew up with. Margot; age, biography and possibly real name which were never known to anyone but the casting directors who have chosen her, gives her most shining and thankful performance of her now 20 year career as Captain Picard's wife in what people say was the most wonderful episode of this show. In a plausibly poetic tale, Picard is struck unconscious on board by an invisible force, and lives a lifetime as another man in his dream. As his crew struggles to wake him, we see him lost in a small, futuristic-ancient community where everyone knows who he is but him. He soon adapts to his life, and begins to accept it as normalcy being the husband of a sweet, motherly woman (Margot Rose) and educated scientist who works feverishly to save this dying civilization. He fathers two children who he fears will live only to see the end of this world, and painfully loses a close friend (Richard Reihl) who stood at Picard's side as confidant and teacher. All while Picard leaves shards of memory of the Enterprise further and further in the past, and conforms to this dying community that we learn had searched for a teacher in the future to tell of itself. I loved Margot in '48 HRS.' as prostitute Casey, the short-lived sitcom 'Report To Murphy' as Baker along side Michael Keaton and all of the short, sometimes mearly seconds-long roles she has had in dozens of movies and television shows..And that was a treat for me to see her in a strong and important role like this one...I wish there was more to read about this mysterious 'part-time' actress...

The most poignant thing I have ever seen on television...
There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said by the other reviewers but I had to add to the tribute - this is, by far, the most amazing episode of any television show I have ever seen. Never have I been so moved by a tv show. I have been a lifelong Trekkie, but never has Star Trek shined this brightly.

I have seen it at many times, but I never fail to be moved by its delicacy, emotion and absolutely in-depth exploration of Jean-Luc Picard, as opposed to Captain Picard. Later episodes that feature the flute always left me with a lump in my throat as I relived the emotion of this episode. Superbly done, no praise is enough. If you never buy any other episode - at least buy this one. You won't be sorry. ... Read more

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This ingenious and highly entertaining episode finds Worf (Michael Dorn) joining his son, Alexander (Brian Bonsall), and Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) in a 19th-century, Wild West playground on the Enterprise's holodeck suite. The simple computer program, featuring six-shooters, saloons, and heroes and villains, however, gets far more complicated when an experiment conducted by Geordi (LeVar Burton) and Data (Brent Spiner) inadvertently turns the entertainment into a dangerous trap.

Suddenly, every bad guy is an evil version of Data, whose advanced android abilities quickly escalate the gun-totin' mayhem. While this story sounds similar to the science fiction film Westworld, the episode is largely played for laughs and whimsy. Spiner, a consummate character actor, gets a rare opportunity to play a variety of personalities, and Sirtis throws herself into good-natured, Western genre clichés. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Worf takes on Data in a Spaghetti Western on the holodeck
La Forge is trying to hook Data up to the main computer at the same time that Worf, Alexander and Troi are on the holodeck for an adventure in the Wild Wild West. When there is a sudden surge in Data's positronic brain during the process there is a bizarre tradeoff between these two events: Data begins speaking like he is from the Old West and the villain in the hologram program not only looks like Data now, he also has the androids abilities. Oh, and just to make things really interesting, the holodeck's safeguards are now off. What started out as a pleasant outing for Worf, filled with violence and confrontations of honor, quickly turns into an exercise in keeping the trio alive long enough for somebody to figure out what is going on and save them.

As the previous reviewer so aptly indicated, this is yet ANOTHER episode of STNG where something goes wrong with the holodeck (starting with Episode 13 "The Big Good-Bye" and reaching its heights with the Professor Moriarity episodes #29 "Elementary, My Dear Data" and #138 "Ship in a Bottle"). Even by that standard "A Fistful of Datas" is a below average episode of the series, although admittedly they probably had a blast filming this one, Brent Spiner in particular. Note: One of the nicest touches in this episode is that Captain Picard is still practicing on his Kitaan flute from "The Inner Light" (Episode 125), which will be important in the upcoming episode "Lessons" (Episode 145). I appreciate this attention to detail and character development much more than the holodeck nonsense in this episode.

The holodeck malfunctions...once again
Alexander drags Worf to the holodeck to the Wild West and Troi shows up as the "mysterious stranger" (I'm really not into the whole Worf/Troi thing). At the same time, Geordi is running a scan on Data and the two merge- resulting in Wild Westerisms in Data and too many Datas in the holodeck. Several cute and funny lines and good sets, but overall not one of my favorites. ... Read more

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The return of Scotty! When the Enterprise spots a Federation transport ship that had disappeared 75 years earlier, they encounter a massive gravitation field where no star is apparent. The ship had crashed on a Dyson Sphere, a massive structure the size of a planetary orbit built around a star, which allows the people living within it to harness unlimited energy. Investigating the wreckage of the ship, Chief Engineer Geordi discovers the transporter is locked in a weird mode, and when he unlocks it out pops Captain Montgomery Scott, a.k.a. Scotty (James Doohan), from the original Star Trek series. Though the plot involves Geordi and Scotty teaming up to save the Enterprise after it gets trapped inside the sphere, the heart of the episode revolves around dealing with the elderly. Throughout, Scotty tells stories of the good old days to a younger generation that doesn't really care, specifically Geordi. Picard recognizes the importance of generations who came before, so he forces past and present chief engineers to work together and learn from each other--which they do. In that sense, "Relics" is a sweet tribute to the original show, and what it has to teach. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Most Overrated TNG Episode of All
Every time this appears on "all-time best" Star Trek lists, I cringe. Trekkers (myself among them) tend to suffer from over-sentimentality about their beloved heroes, and I believe this sentimentality excuses the obvious tone of this episode. If the old Enterprise bridge was not a setpiece in this particular trek, I don't think fans would have thought much of it. The Dyson Sphere plotline is as lame as the cotnrived manner in which Scotty survives the crash of the Jenolin is convenient. Not to mention Scotty's musing that Jim Kirk must've dragged the Enterprise out of mothballs to rescue him, despite the fact that Scotty watched him "die" at the beginning of Generations. [Don't remind me; I know the movie came after this episode. But it remains a continuity problem.]

However, for its strong character development, this episode merits three stars. But it surely isn't "Unification."

Star Trek Crossovers do not work.
That's the feeling one gets when we see Scotty revived by being suspented in transporter matrix for 75 years and then we have a large continunity error when Scotty remarks "I knew Jim Kirk would bring the Enterprise out of moth balls and come look for me." Despite the events that we saw in Star Trek; Generations. Bottom line, don't see this episode or that movie, It's an insult to all the fans of the original Star Trek series.

The return of the original Star Trek Miracle Worker
The Enterprise follows as very old distress call and discovers the USS Jenolan, crashed on the surface of a Dyson's sphere, a two-hundred million kilometers in diameter surrounding a sun (and one of the great theoretical scientific pipe dreams around). The away team discovers a jury-rigged transporter still working and even after 75 years there is a pattern still caught in the machine. La Forge pushes the magic button and Captain Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) of the original Star Trek. This surprising development results in two major problems: the first is that Scotty is now half-a-century behind the engineering of the day instead of a quarter-of-a-century ahead. You know he wants to mess around in the Engine room, which certainly drives La Forge crazy. The second problem is that the Dyson's sphere threatens to trap the Enterprise the same way it did the Jenolan. What Picard needs to save the day is some sort of engineering miracle worker...

I certainly enjoyed "Relics" a lot more than I thought I would have, mainly because the episode treats the character of Scotty with such respect. There is a marvelous scene where Scott grabs a bottle and calls up the bridge of the old Enterprise-A, bemoaning the sad fate that has brought him far into the future (where they insist on having synthetic alcohol and other horrors). Having Scotty around causes problems for Picard and his crew for most of the episode, which also rings true to me. Certainly Doohan is given a lot more to do in this episode than any two you can name from the original series. A very rewarding episode for fans of both series.

The Most Successful of the Crossover Shows
James Doohan reprises his "Scotty" role in this truly satisfying entry in the later Trek series. He provides a "bridge" between the old and the new as an "Old World" man transported to a time where he surely does not belong. The scene on the holodeck-simulated Enterprise is touching and beautifully acted by Doohan.

Special effects are found throughout, but they do not overshadow the on-screen actors. Of the cast, Levar Burton shines as Geordi who is in awe of "the engineer above all engineers."

A history meeting and an enjoyable hour.

Star Trek: The Next Generation "Relics"
Touching story of a Starfleet Officer who is rescued from his ship's transporter beam after being trapped there for 75 years. I like this episode because it features Scotty, from the original Star Trek, and when he notices all the advancements that have been made in 75 years aboard the Enterprise-D, he starts to feel antiquated and useless. But when the Enterprise-D faces danger, Scotty and Chief Engineer LaForge are called upon to use Scotty's old ship to save the Enterprise, making Scott feel useful again. ... Read more

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"Shades of Gray" was one of the weakest episodes of TNG's first two seasons and proved a particularly flat finale for season 2. It's hard to believe that, in only two seasons, the writers had come up so dry that they cobbled together a kind of greatest-hits show, in which much of the episode consisted of filler from earlier programs. The nominal plot involves Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), who is scratched by a thorn on an unfamiliar planet while doing a geological survey. The thorn injects him with microbes that begin to infiltrate his nervous system, and it's up to Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) to figure out how to stop the organism from killing Riker. She discovers that stimulating Riker's memory with electricity has an effect, but happy memories strengthen the invading organism--so she must find a way to provoke Riker's worst memories to negate the organism's hold.

Frakes spends much of the episode flat on his back, simulating sleep, while director Rob Bowman cuts to a collection of clips from earlier episodes. The positive memories all have to do with his prowess with women, as he cuts a swath through the known universe. The negative vibes come from clips of the death of Tasha Yar and the few episodes in which Riker was the crew member in the most jeopardy. Mostly the clips serve as a survey of the various facial-hair fashions Frakes sported in the first two seasons. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The writers are more comatose than Riker is
One thing about the next generation series that has always annoyed me is the character of the chief medical officer of the Enterprise. Whether it is Dr. Crusher or Pulaski, the most common line seems to be, "I don't know . . . " Even twenty-first century doctors don't talk like that, and they don't have the advantages of another couple of centuries of medical knowledge and intelligent diagnostic computers. In this episode, the line is repeated by Dr. Pulaski until the point of boredom is reached. Dr. McCoy of the original series sometimes said it, but not as often and always with a tone of irritability rather than bafflement.
What saves the episode is the courage shown by Commander Riker as he faces death. While on a simple survey mission, he is pricked by a thorn that injects microorganisms into his leg. They infiltrate his nervous system and rapidly migrate towards his brain. His humor and good grace as the organism invades his brain shows us all how we should face a death that we can see as it approaches. Of course, Dr. Pulaski finally wises up and determines that negative emotions will kill the bugs. By stimulating those emotions electronically, Riker is cured and awakes with a quip on his lips.
In the original series, the lines given to Dr. McCoy occasionally got predictable and routine, including the classic, "He's dead Jim." However, it never reached the point that it does in the next generation. This episode is one of the worst offenders and while watching it, I did something I rarely do when watching any Star Trek episode, entered into a bored state.

Riker's Greatest Hits!
Are you sick and tired of NextGen episodes that actually make efforts to be original, and not rely on stock footage? Are you a big fan of Commander Will Riker? If you said, "yes" to both of these questions, then "Shades of Grey: Riker's Greatest Hits" is just the thing you've been looking for! Be amazed by the desperate measures a TV/movie production studio will take to pad out the episode total of a writers'-strike-shortened season! Be relieved by the fact that this show marks Dr. Pulaski's final NextGen appearance!

A few of Number One's more memorable (so to speak) recycled moments in this eppie include:

- The exploding-head scene from 'Conspiracy'!
- The death of Tasha Yar ('Skin of Evil')!
- Getting dragged into and submerged in a nasty pool of black sludge ('Skin of Evil')!
- his first encounter with Data on the Holodeck ('Encounter at Farpoint')!
- Disciplining a Klingon subordinate ('A Matter of Honor')!
- Ordering the activation of the Enterprise's self-destruct function ('11001001')!
- Helping in the rescue of a couple of Klingon renegades ('Heart of Glory')!
- Reconciliation with his dad ('The Icarus Factor')!
- The bevy of babes he's seduced ('Angel One', 'Up The Long Ladder', etc.)!
- ...and many more amazing Riker scenes!

SPECIAL BONUS: Less than 2 minutes of Wesley Crusher footage overall! That's right- you need endure only a minute-and-a-half of NextGen's most reviled teen prodigy in this Greatest Hits collection! Or you can just fast-forward right through it to save you the pain and annoyance!

But wait, there's more! Act now, and Amazon™ will include a handsome illustrated single-ply cardboard slipcase and soft temporary lamination absolutely free of charge! What a deal!

So don't delay-- get "Shades of Grey: Riker's Greatest Hits" today! (Hey-- that last sentence kinda rhymed and stuff!)

'Late!

"Data, Something's got me!"
"Shades Of Grey" ended Star Trek: The Next Generation's troubled second season, a gift to Paramount for footing the bill on "Q Who". At least Riker's memories are interesting; "Data! Something's got me!"

Necessity is the Mother of a whole bunch of flashbacks
It is pretty ironic that the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation ends with the classic "Best of Both Worlds" cliffhanger, because the second season ends with this particular tribute to the art of montage. The show might have been a success in syndication but it was still expensive, and "Shades of Gray" is what they came up with the money for special effects ran out. The justification for the flashbacks is that Riker gets stabbed by a plant while on a survey of this week's unexplored planet. The plant infects him with microbes that will kill him once they reach his brain. Apparently the microbes are not traveling via his circulatory system, otherwise the episode would be over at this point. Dr. Pulaski, in her last episode, has fun putting long rods into Riker's head so she can stimulate Riker to have various memories of all the fun times he has had aboard the Enterprise (e.g., the death of Tasha, fighting his father, etc.). This is because "bad" memories hurt the invading microbes. Consequently, this is an atypical "flashback" episode because usually a television series celebrates the good times on the series, not the bad ones. So, if you do not like Riker, "Shades of Gray" has to be your top choice of an episode that puts him through the wringer. Fortunately, the Next Generation never comes close to ending a season on so low a note ever again.

Low-budget fiasco of necessity
This episode was the result of a very low budget and an uncertainty at the time about the future of the series. Almost half of the episode is scavenged from former episodes. The limited budget that the studio had imposed on the writers and the rather extravagent special effects used during the second series meant that the episode had to be made on a shoestring. This is a ploy used in many different TV series; Star Trek: TNG is certainly not unusual in this. However, for dedicated fans, such episodes end up in their "most disappointing" category. As far as the limitations of flashback episodes go, and considering the questionable quality of the first two seasons, this is not a bad result. However, being what it is, it is certainly one of the lower points of the series. I would, however, rank it somewhat better than such episodes as "The Last Outpost" and "Justice." ... Read more

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Q eating a chocolate sundae: what a concept. Popular with Trek fans, the godlike imp Q (John de Lancie) makes his sixth appearance on The Next Generation, but this time with a difference. Stripped of his amazing powers by the Q Continuum--his immortal overseers--the condescending space-pest becomes a mere humanoid on the Enterprise, adding an extra headache for Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), already busy trying to keep a moon from crashing into a Federation planet. Assigned to crew duty, the humbled Q is escorted everywhere by Data (Brent Spiner), who introduces the skeptical alien to such fleshly pursuits as ordering chocolate treats. When Data makes an extreme sacrifice to protect Q from an old nemesis, the narcissistic fellow is uncharacteristically moved to heroic action of his own. The episode was made strictly for fun (most Q episodes end up rather profound, but this isn't one of them), and de Lancie has great sport with his alter ego's sudden ordinariness. Corbin Bernsen (LA Law) makes a surprise appearance as Q2, Q's annoyed boss. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sudden mortality would be very hard to take
It is easy to understand the popularity of the Q character in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series. The myths of cultures from Africa to Native Americans all contain tales of the trickster. Mythology experts Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz wrote:

"Of all the characters in myths and legends told around the world through the centuries-courageous heroes, scary monsters, rapturous virgins-it's the Trickster who provides the real spark in the action -"

which indicates that most people are more interested and influenced by gods that are obnoxiously omnipotent rather than the detached unemotional overseer. The dialog of the Q episodes also seems to be crisper, both in content and in delivery.
This episode begins with the Enterprise desperately trying to alter the course of a moon that is about to crash into an inhabited planet. Q suddenly arrives and claims to have been stripped of his powers and turned into a human. Of course, the Enterprise crew doesn't believe him, thinking that this is just another of his charades. Although Q is portrayed as being self-centered, his actions are quite human, as suddenly he finds himself subject to pains in the stomach, back and hands. After being omnipotent and capable of moving planets, sudden mortality would be very hard to handle.
Things get worse, as a creature with a grudge against Q arrives and begins to attack him. It is able to penetrate the shields and deflects the Enterprise from their mission. Captain Picard is able to discern that Q chose to be placed on the Enterprise because he knew that they would protect him from his enemies. Since the creature is powerful enough to destroy the Enterprise, Q takes a shuttle and goes out to meet his death. At the last moment, Q recovers his powers and solves the problem.
There is a great deal of philosophy in this episode and it is unfortunate that the Enterprise crew is unable to appreciate it. Only Data seems able to understand what is happening. The conversation between Q and Picard where Q states that he wishes to die for the sole reason that it can now happen to him is a very significant event. When Q walks up to Data in sick bay and tells him that he is a better human than Q will ever be we are witnessing one of the best scenes in all of the Star Trek episodes. I found myself wishing that this had been a two-part episode where the situation was explored in greater detail.
From the first TNG episode we are exposed to the desire of Data to be human. This is a reflection of the human bias of the writers and the producers. I personally consider that to have been a mistake that the producers never had the courage to correct. In this episode, they do make a slight correction. When Q expresses disgust with being human, he is expressing the opinion that most creatures in the galaxy would have. Namely, that being turned into a human would not be considered a positive event in their lives. It is most unlikely that any android as sophisticated as Data would aspire to be human.
This is one of the top ten episodes of TNG. In it, the topic of becoming a human being considered a reason to die is explored. The conclusion and the manner in which Q repays Data for his instruction is wonderful.

He's Baaaack
This is I believe one of the funniest Q epsiodes. Q shows his sense of humor at it most hilarious. Poor q has no powers na dhas to live as a mere mortal human. Data trys to save him, despite q's past antics. Q is whining and complaining, but is too funny. Guinan gets in on the act and gives him a taste of his own medicine ouch!

Definitely can watch this one over and over!

Favorite Episode
I have, as of late, seen countless episodes of STar Trek: TNG thanks to my room-mate unfortunately coming across about 100 episodes at a clearance sale. Most of the episodes are entertatining enough and after spending time with the characters you generally do start to feel for them. However I find most episodes either too timid to celebrate their weirdness or too afraid to truly explore the philisophical undertones they present.

This episode is guilty of none of these things, this episode is merely a really good time. I don't know if the writers were having a good day or Joh de Lancie is just a brilliant improvisationalist, whichever it is, this is the only episode of Star Trek that I actually laughed out at, that is, laughed out loud at things that were supposed to be funny. (Yes the miniature model of the Exxon disaster that kills Tasha Yar is a laugh a minute but I doubt that it was intentionally so.)

I have seen about 50 episodes so far and this is by far my favorite. Yes that is fifty hours of my life riped away in the span of a month. Now that I am an official Trekkie I'll never get a date again, oh wait I never get them anyway, at least now I have an excuse.

THE Episode to see for all Star Trek Newcomers
This is one of the episodes of Star Trek:TNG with one of my favorite characters of the show: Q! This is the episode for everyone who is a newcomer to Star Trek to watch and be in awe and total amazement. After watching this episode, you will become a die-hard Star Trek fan like me and want to watch as many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (and maybe even the other series) as you possibly can. This episode, I truly believe, displays Q's best acting and dialogue performance, EVER, from all of his appearances on all the series. He is incredible here in his ability to rouse the other members of the crew and in his acting and, especially, speaking, abilities. He is, dare I say, hilarious in what he says to Capt. Picard, Data, and Worf....and how he says it! But, don't forget about the storyline of the asteroidal moon falling from the sky to its respective planet, Bre'el Four. Can, or, more precisely, will, Q save the planet and restore the moon to its proper orbit? "There are millions of lives at risk. If you have the power...."

"It¿s difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent."
"Deja Q" is an episode that you knew we would get around to seeing one day, sooner or later. The Enterprise is trying to help Bre'el IV, who's moon is about to break from orbit and destroy their world. Just to complicate matters, Q suddenly materializes. Apparently the Q Continuum has stripped Q of his powers and sent him off into the universe. However, they allowed him to pick what type of life form he would be for the rest of his natural unborn days and Q picked human. Picard, suspicious that Q is responsible for what is happening to Bre'el Four's moon, puts their strange visitor in the brig. Eventually Q is released because even if he no longer has his powers, he still has knowledge that can help them restore the moon's original orbit. Of course this is when the Calamarain, an ionized gas cloud that is just one of the many species that Q has messed around with in the past, arrives upon the scene and attacks the ship in order to get at Q. Finally, Picard knows that Q decided to become human because the one being in the entire universe who would save his sorry behind would always be Jean-Luc Picard.

This is a wonderful episode simply because we get to John De Lancie's best performance as Q. Without his powers we learn that Q would still be Q and you have to love watching De Lancie put subtle shadings on Q's roguish behavior given his new circumstances. Picard and Q would never admit what they really think of each other, mainly because that would spoil all the fun, but this is about as close as they ever get. "Deja Q" makes it clear that the reason these two play off each other so well is that they really understand each other, even with all the smoke screens and other distractions they throw in the way. There is also the additional pleasure of seeing the Enterprise crew trying to treat Q as a "normal" person and the appearance of Corbin Bernsen as Q (not our Q but a different Q, because, after all, not all Q are alike). This off beat Q adventure is one of the best. ... Read more