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Answering a distress call consisting of an Earth code that hasn't beenused in centuries, the Enterprise stumbles upon a utopian colony thatlaunched from Earth during the European hegemony (sometime between 2123 and2190). The utopians are a tribe of bawdy Irish hedonists (many of whom aredrunks, of course) who have turned their backs on technology in favor of simple farm living. They are so committed to their animals that they refuse to travel without 'em. Oh, how primitive! Oh, the comedy! The Irish tribe mentions "the other colony," which the Enterprise tracks down. This other colony is technologically advanced, but its members have depleted both their sexdrive and their genes through generations of cloning. In order to save both colonies, Captain Picard and the crew must play matchmaker between the intellectual ascetics and the hedonistic technophobes. Along the way, Riker gets a little action with one of the farm girls. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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The Joy of Intergalatic Problem Solving: Send in the Clones!
A Federation diplomat once said the secret of his success was turning disadvantages into advantages, a philosophy that serves Picard well in this particular episode, which deals with two colonies established, by the Mariposa in the 22nd century. On the one hand we have the Bringloidi, colonists who need to be evacuated because their sun has started shooting off solar flares. The Bringloidi, who must have all come from Ireland since we are talking accents the like of which have not been heard on a starship Enterprise since Scotty was in his prime, insist on bringing their animals, along with their kit and caboodle. It makes for a lovely time in the cargo bay, don't you know now. On the other hand the Enterprise discovers there is a sister colony to the first, founded when the Marioposa crash-landed. Only five colonists survived, all scientists, who turned to cloning to populate the planet. However, there are now DNA problems and further cloning will soon be impossible. Now Picard has TWO problems to solve . . . or DOES he?

This is something of a fun episode. With all their animals the Bringloidi have turned the cargo bay into a pretty interesting place and they have no qualms about taking advantage of their hosts. It is rather refreshing to see folk who are so unrepentedly people of the land in the age of warp drive, even though these odd folks have both primitive tools and advanced computers. However, the emphasis is more on the group as a band of gypsies who have just happened to park on the Enterprise. But unlike holodeck creations, these people just do not want to go away. "Up the Long Ladder" makes up for the fact that for the most part Picard forgets he has all those annoying civilians and children running around on his ship. The main thing is I just love those Irish accents in the 24th century. ... Read more

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When an assignment brings the Enterprise to the star system where Data was discovered and activated 26 years earlier, the crew takes theopportunity to investigate the enigma of the android's origin. Returning to thebarren planet where Data was found, the away team finds an undergroundlaboratory containing the disconnected segments of another cyborg, identical toData. Reassembled and brought to life, this second android grins, twitches his cheek, and introduces himself as Lore. Lore explains that he was created to replace Data when the latter disturbed the humans with whom he interacted (a lie, Data realizes--it turns out to have been exactly the opposite); and that the colonists' fate was the work of a giant "crystalline entity." He offers to guide the crew to it so that it may be destroyed, yet immediately after he's left alone Lore sends secret messages to the giant snowflake in spacepromising to bring it quite a feast. Yes, it took only 14 episodes for Next Generation to dredge up that hoariest of clichés, the eviltwin (right down to Lore's distinguishing facial tic and fondness for penny-dreadful dialogue). Brent Spiner has what fun he can with the dual roles--he was starting to find the humor and humanity in Data by this point, and the more risibly histrionic that Lore's lines become the more Spiner engages in some tasty scenery-chewing, but not even his mercifully campy turn can salvage some of the silliest scenes ever written for the series. And the rest of the crew is as smug as they ever were the first few seasons, despite being so obtuse that they can't even see through Lore's ludicrous sham when he switches places with an unconscious Data. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

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Data Meets Lore!
Star Trek - The Next Generation is one of my favorite television shows and the android Data is one of my favorite characters and Brent Spiner who plays him truly shines in his duel role in this episode as Data and his evil android brother Lore who is not only evil but seems to be a patholgogical liar as well. In the episode star fleet discovers an android that looks like Data and we learn that before Data's creator Dr. Soong built Data he had built an android he called Lore who turned out to be unstable so he dismantled him. This is a good episode and I recommend it to fans of Data and Brent Spiner.

Would Captain Picard really say, "Shut up Wesley"?
The premise of this episode is one of the oldest in human literature, that of the evil twin. Proving once again that Star Trek often attempts to look ahead by looking back. In this case, it is Data that has an evil twin, found in pieces when the Enterprise travels back to the planet where Data was found. There are also hints of the crystalline entity, a creature that appears to subsist by devouring life.
When the Enterprise arrives at the planet, it is completely devoid of life, although a research lab is still intact. Lore is found, taken back to the ship and reconstructed. Once he is together, Lore "awakens" and immediately begins plotting to allow the crystalline entity to penetrate the Enterprise and consume the life on board. He is foiled by the efforts of Wesley Crusher, who seems to be the only one who recognizes that Lore is impersonating Data.
There are so many logical holes and inconsistencies in this episode that it becomes a strain to watch. The most amazing is the way that Captain Picard treats Wesley. In the previous episode, "The Big Goodbye", Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher are trapped inside the holodeck due to a computer error. Wesley is allowed to participate in the rescue attempt; in fact he is the sole person examining the circuitry, searching for the flaw. Yet, in this episode, when Wesley voices his concern that the android is in fact Lore impersonating Data, Picard's solution is to yell, "Shut up Wesley!" Riker's behavior is almost as bad, paying no attention to what Wesley is trying to say. At the end, when it is clear that Wesley has in fact saved the ship and the lives of everyone on board, the only thing Picard can say to Wesley is, "Are you ready to return to duty?" This is completely inconsistent with the established patterns of behavior, as Wesley has established himself as one of the most capable members of the crew.
The only thing that saves the episode is the excellent performance of Brent Spiner as both Data and Lore. As a consequence of his giving Lore a facial tic and slightly different mannerisms, we always know which one is on the screen. Unfortunately, if we can see it, it should have been obvious to the crew of the Enterprise as well. Fortunately, Lore is defeated in a way that allowed for a logically consistent return in future episodes. Despite this bad start, his appearance in future episodes yields much better stories.

"It's Data, mom. I heard you know how to turn him on."
In "Datalore," Star Trek: The Next Generation tried its hand at the time-tested evil-twin story by introducing viewers to version 1.0 of the series' beloved positronic-brained android. This episode provided the same opportunity to explore the dual nature of the psyche like "The Enemy Within" did during the run of the original series. Sadly though, the doppelganger didn't demand to be given brandy this time around - more proof that the 23rd century was a much more fun time period than the 24th.

While trying to solve the mystery behind the mysterious disappearance of a colony in the Omicron Theta star system, the crew of the Enterprise-D discover a disassembled android in a laboratory. When assembled the android proves to be an exact duplicate of Data (Brent Spiner). It turns out the android named Lore (Spiner in a dual role) was created before Data but was shut down when he encountered difficulties co-existing with the colonists. It soon comes to light that there is a sinister connection between the reactivated android and the disappearance of the colonists.

Brent Spiner is assigned double-duty with this episode and he admirably pulls off the difficult task of playing the twin androids. Although similar in appearance, Spiner infuses both Data and Lore with personas so distinct that you never confuse the two of them. While Lore's facial twitch and use of contractions seem to be contrived and convenient story devices, the novelty of watching a dark version of Data is so amusing that it helps to temper the weaknesses in the story. Wisely, Lore is dispatched in a manner that leaves the door open for further appearances. His return in future seasons would contribute immensely to the continued development of Data.

Wesley Shuts Up, And Worf Is A Wuss
Wesley shuts up, and Worf is a wuss

Although it's not too much different from most "evil twin" plots, I do enjoy watching this particular first-season NextGen eppie. Spiner really puts some... um, feeling... into his performance as both 'twins'. Oh, all right-- if you wanna get technical, Lore is a bit older since he was built first (man, you uber-Trekkies are SO touchy!). And the NextGen bean-counters didn't have to shell out the extra shekels to have another actor play the role. So not only is "Datalore" a not-too-bad spin one of Hollywood's most cliched plot gimmicks, it's also a budget-saver eppie!

However, the battle of brothers isn't why I'm attracted to this particular show. The real reason I love this outing is that Wussley- whoops, Wesley Crusher is told to "shut up" by both Captain Picard and his mom! E-Yesss! Too bad they started taking his words more seriously after this little adventure...

Oh yeah, Lore smackin' Worf around in the turbolift like he was a pathetic girly-man was pretty entertaining, too. Yeah, who's wearin' the pants NOW, Mister Toughest-Security-Officer-In-Starfleet? Heh...

'Late!

For the fun, not the quality
I LIKE first season TNG episodes. Yes, they're often rough in their acting and production quality; but their storylines are often more interesting than in later series, where there was a slick, by-the-numbers feel to everything. And yes, "Datalore" has some terrible dialogue and plot holes big enough to fly the Enterprise through, but I still give it four stars - that's for the importance this episode has in the TNG universe, and for the sheer fun of it.
Since they are in the area, Picard sends an away team to visit Omicron Theta, the planet that Data was found on. Once down, the away team discover that the whole planet is dead and deserted - but they also discover a secret, underground facility. Inside, Data finds himself remembering that this is the place where he was constructed, and even the name of his creator. A search of a laboratory reveals the pieces of another android that is physically identical to Data. Data insists on returning the other android to the Enterprise and assembling him, with Picard's support. And so Lore is brought to life.
Lore soons shows himself to be very different to Data, dangerously so. He has emotions and, despite his naivete, an understanding of humans that Data lacks. He claims that he was contructed to replace Data, being an advancement on his emotionless brother; but he later admits to Data that Data was made to replace HIM because everyone found his humanity and perfection uncomfortable. Or is that, too, a lie? Lore reaches out to Data, in his own twisted way, and is rejected. So Lore decides that he wants what Data has - at least for a little while, until he can organise his revenge. By the end of the episode, the mystery of what happened on Omicron Theta is explained (if you don't think about it too hard, that is) and Lore is gone - until next time, anyway.
I wish it had been someone other than Wesley who had been so pivotal in this episode, but you can't have everything, I suppose. Troi is absent altogether, for obvious reasons. And everyone else seems very, very dim. Production values are pretty clunky, and the music can be annoying. But it's the fun of the storyline and acting that carry this episode along.
Brent Spiner is great as Data, Lore, and Lore-masquerading-as-Data. He brings Lore to life in all his vicious insanity, but still manages to make him more than the stereotypical evil twin. There are some great moments in this episode: the look on Data's face as Lore tells him not to be jealous of him; the look on Lore's face when he realises that Data has more loyalty to the Enterprise crew than to him; the moment when everyone tells Wesley to shut up; and Worf finding out just how inadequate he is against an android.
It's a pity that this episode took the easy way out in the end. Lore does the stereotypical mad criminal thing and overreaches himself because of his desire to hurt and terrorise, rather than being defeated by superior skill. The consequences to Data of his appearance and disappearance are not dealt with at all, and the jokey ending grates. As Brent Spiner's portrayal of him shows, Lore deserved more than being just another cardboard cutout villain, and it's unfortunate that the writers of the series did not have the courage to make his character more than that.
If you're willing to suspend some disbelief and not think about it too deeply, this is a fun, as well as important, episode. ... Read more

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Data gets to carry an episode in this third-season offering that focuses on the rationality of the android pitted against the irrationality of humanity. The Enterprise receives an unexpected message from a race known as the Sheliak, who've been out of touch for more than a century. The Sheliak, aliens who consider themselves far superior to humans, claim a small planet under guidelines set down by their treaty with the Federation and announce that they intend to colonize this planet four days hence. The problem is that humans have already colonized the planet. Tough luck, says the Sheliak--evacuate or die. But when Data is sent to the planet to organize the evacuation, he runs into two problems: first, there are 15,000 colonists, more than can be shipped out in the four days given by the Sheliak; and second, the colonists have no desire to leave. Worse yet, their leader refuses to deal with an android.

Even as Data tries to reason with the colonists, Picard goes head-to-head with the top Sheliak, debating the finer legal points of the treaty in an effort to buy time. Brent Spiner makes the most of the kiss Data receives from a human woman who falls for him--though the android still doesn't understand what sex is all about. There's some nice chess-move-style plotting, with strong performances by the Enterprise crew and some stilted performances by the planet colonists. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

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Picard confronts a mondo diplomatic headache
This episode is one of the better examples of diplomatic problem solving in the 24th century. The Sheliak Corporate are a nonhumanoid race that has not contacted the Federation for over a century, but suddenly they are informing Picard that there are humans on one of the planets deeded to them in their treaty with the Federation. Under the stipulation of this treaty, the Federation has to remove the colonists before the Sheliak arrive in three days. However, when the Enterprise arrives at the planet in question the headaches increase exponentially. Not only is the planet is in an area of radiation deadly to humans, the Enterprise's sensors and transporters will not work. Data is sent to the surface in a shuttlecraft where he discovers there are over 15,000 colonists who refuse to evacuate the planet, insisting they will fight instead. Meanwhile, Picard learns the nearest Starfleet ship that can evacuate the colonists is three weeks away and the Sheliak refuse to be dissuaded from their intention to kill all the humans on the planet when they show up in three days.

Off the top of my head I cannot think of another Star Trek episode where the diplomatic situation where everything goes as wrong as it does on this one. Jean-Luc Picard is as reasonable a person as you can find in the Star Trek Universe, but this is a real mess. The nice thing is that it is an accumulation of plausible problems as opposed to one far-fetched impediment. I usually have a preference for diplomatic resolutions rather than battles in space, so I consider "The Ensigns of Command" to be an above-average Next Generation episode. The resolution is in keeping with the haggling between Picard and the Sheliak over the terms of the treaty. Fortunately it is the wordiest document in the history of the Federation, with apparently something for everybody if they look long and hard enough. For a similar situation on STNG see "Journey's End" (Episode #172), where Picard has to resolve a dispute between the Cardassians and a planet of Native American colonists (a.k.a. Wesley's last episode). Finally, I should note that one of the sub-plots has a female colonist taking a liking to a fairly oblivious Data, an echo of "This Side of Paradise" from the original Trek's first season (the "Spock is happy" episode).

A great Data episode
To be fair, I should point out my bias which lends itself to this review...I am a huge Data fan. Therefore, any episode starring the android crew member is going to be one of my favorites.

Regardless of my Data obsession, objectively this is a very good episode. It is Data's job to convince a human colony to leave their planet before the Sheliak destroy them. Data has to struggle against the wishes of the colonists who do not want to leave their endangered homes. While Data is confined to lessons of logic and practicality, the colonists share an overwhelming sense of pride and love for their homeland. As Data has no emotion it proves very difficult for him to understand the colony's irrational decision to stay.

A nice script examines the limitations of Data's capabilities and his struggle to overcome them. There is a little romance between Data and one of the colonists as well, proving once again that Data is the sex symbol of STTNG. A fun subplot finds Picard up to his ears in bureaucratic red tape with the single-minded Sheliak, a frustration we 21st century folk can sympathize with. ... Read more

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Sure, technology can make life easier, but when it advances tooquickly it can be fraught with peril, or raise questions people aren't readyto answer. For years, Dr. Farallon (Ellen Bry) has been working on anorbiting particle fountain capable of large-scale planetary mining. Eventhough it isn't quite finished and tested yet, Geordi and theEnterprise have been sent to determine whether or not it is a moreefficient method of mining than the more traditional means. Along with thislarge-scale invention, Dr. Farallon has also invented helper robots, whichshe calls "exocomps." A fan of Data's positronic brain, she has given herexocomps artificial intelligence. Turns out she may have given these exocompsa little too much intelligence, because they start acting in ways that looksuspiciously like sentient self-preservation. When Geordi and Picard gettrapped on the particle fountain as it's about to blow up, Data refuses tosacrifice a potential life form in favor of two proven life forms, eventhough they are the most important members of the Enterprise. Someexcellent ideas are touched on here, but they're not taken to the extremes(particularly the ability to mass-produce a life form), but the action scenesare well executed. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Another "Are little machines sentient beings?" episode
The Enterprise is checking out the space station at Tyrus Seven, where there have come up with a mining experiment that uses a plasma fountain to raise material from the planet's surface. However, La Forge has some problems both the technology and its creator, Dr. Faralon (Ellen Bry). It seems the good doctor uses tiny little robots called "Exocomps," and when one of them avoid destruction because it disobeyed an order, Data declares the Exocomps have displayed self-preservation and are therefore "alive." Having been put on trial for being a walking toaster ("The Measure of a Man," Episode 35), nobody in the Star Trek universe better understands how difficult it is to have human accept machines as sentient beings (Is it not ironic that the scientists are always narrow minded and the military types on the Enterprise are the enlightened ones in the future?).

STNG has dealt repeatedly with the question of what makes a being sentient and therefore capable of enjoying rights. The series has looked at this question using androids, holographic characters, crystals and even little robotic devices called Nanites ("Evolution," Episode 50). However, I must admit there is something of a twist to how the humans deal with the tiny little machines this time around that does take the argument to the next level, as Data himself points out to Picard at the end. On balance this is an average STNG episode.

The Quality of Life
The question of sentience versus property and the right to use it as seen fit by those considered sentient is once again in question as a brilliant scientist comes aboard the Enterprise with two things in her favor: a particle fountain that the Federation might have use for, and her invention of the portable repair crew she uses to do work that would take others hours: the Exo-Comps. Data realizes that the exo-comps are becoming sentient and are therefore alive, but everyone else seems to think he is mistaken, so Data has to make them realize this the only way he can when all other tests and their results fail to convince them; he traps Geordi and Captain Picard on the particle beam station as the beam is about to explode. Only through expressed consent of the exocomps can Picard an Geordi be rescued at the sacrifice of one of the little machines. And as a result, a better understanding of both the machines and Data formulate. It's a great episode in the exploration of both the extent of humanity's understanding of artificial intelligence and how much life should be cherished, whether man-made or nature born. ... Read more

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Words cannot describe how bad this is . . .
. . . But I'll give it a try. "Descent Part II" has all the faults of Part I, and then some. To an utterly stupid storyline, bad directing, and a lack of suspense and the necessary epic feel, Part II adds gratuitous cameos, a nonsensical storyline of Dr Crusher commanding the Enterprise (wasting heaps of time that could have been used to far better purpose), and - YET AGAIN - a "no consequences" conclusion. Many of these problems stem from the fact that Part I and Part II were written by different people, I suspect. The one good point is Brent Spiner - he does a scarily good job as Lore, now driven by a sense of destiny as well as his own superiority. But can anyone explain to me why Data can execute his brother and Dr Crusher can disobey an order, and neither are ever punished?

Maybe not better than part 1, but still teriffic!
"Descent, Part 2" is where the action gets going. The trouble with the Borg chasing the Enterprise, the struggle for survival on the planet, and much, much more! Even though you may like to see Part 2 of some episodes first, see them in order and you'll really like this guaranteed, but the first step is to convince yourself to watch it. Well, it's not going to kill you, so watch it!

Bev Crusher Commands the Enterprise!
The conclusion which I am not going to give away here involves the doctor driving the ship into the sun to avoid the Borg! This was one of the best scenes in the episode.

The next would be when Data rebels against his brother Lore. Originally planned to be a long and protracted battle between brothers ...the cost of the show forced the producers to have a brief fight scene. However the story ended in an unpredictable way. All of this to control Data's emotion chip.

I wish this episode had one more installment. It would show how Lore met the Borg. How did he get away from Data in his last appearence in "Brothers"??

Data's emotion chip becomes the subject in the first Next Generation film ...Generations.

Data and Lore against the Federation (and Hugh the Borg!)
At the end of Part I of "Descent," Data had joined his "brother" Lore and a whole lot of Borg in an effort to overthrow the Federation. The pair had capture Picard, La Forge and Troi. This radical change in Data is explained by the fact his ethical program has been disabled by Lore who is also feeding the Enterprise Second Officer a steady diet of addictive emotions. Meanwhile, Riker and Worf find another group of Borg on the planet, this one led by Hugh, the Borg who was given a individuality in the classic "I Borg" episode. Hugh explains that the individuality program had spread through the collective and the confusion in the Borg was being exploited by Lore. Meanwhile, Data has begun a series of inhuman experiments on his best friend, La Forge.

There is a lot happening in this episode, with the interaction between the Data-Lore and Borg storylines. Ever since Hugh was sent back to the collective, we have wondered what was the effect of his new found self-identity. Whatever we might have expected, Lore leading a group of rogue Borg was not it, so the writers get points for coming up with a fun twist. What makes "Descent" an above-average episode is the whole idea of Data gone bad. Even though you know that in the end he will come to his senses, this perversion of Data's programming is rather unsettling, especially as it plays against the android's relationships with his crewmates. I also appreciate the idea that the show made the decision to provide an ultimate resolution to one of the plotlines.

Data a traitor?
Part I left off with Picard, Geordi, and Troi surrounded by the Borg, and they find out that Lore is involved, and so is Data. Data is being controled by Data. Data takes Geordi's visor away from him, and later Commander Data does some experiments on him.

we find out that these particular Borgs' are separted from the collective, and we see Hue is there. (Hue was once rescued by the Enterprise crew, and the crew instead of sending him back to the collective with self-destruct computer codes to destroy the Borg, Picard and the crew are sympathetic and send him back, with computer program on indivduality.) This disorients the Borg, and have turned to Lore who will be their leader, and bring order to them. Picard, Troi, and LaForge, escape and break the control Lore and on Data. Once free from Lore's control, Data fights with Lore, and defeats him. Data is forced to destroy Lore. Hue and the rest of the Borg on that planet try and find order with their lives. ... Read more

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This is a Good One!
This is one of the best STTNG episodes! An accident on a planet involving a leftover devise from an ancient war leads to the death of a member of an away team lead by Worf, the victim is Marla Aster who leaves behind 12 year old son Jeremy. Worf who is feeling responsible because he was in charge of the away team mission that resulted in the death of one of his away team members trys to bond with Jeremy as he too was orphaned at an early age. Worf, Picard and Troi try to help Jeremy deal with his mother's death but are hampered by a imposter from the planet who takes the form of his Mother, it is only trying to help Jeremy because feels sorry for what happened but ends up causing much confusion for the poor kid! The interaction between Worf and Jeremy is truly heartwarming and the episode is recommended to any fan of Worf and Michael Dorn the actor who plays him!

Is one of the best episodes of a remarkable Sci-fi show
The Bonding is one of the best Worf episodes, well actually I personally think it is the best Worf episode! Michael Dorn shines in this episode and shows the more tender side of Worf but does so without making him too soft! Marla Aster dies during an away team search of a planet and when Worf learns that her young son is on board the Enterprise and that he is all alone because his father is also deceased he feels a connection to Jeremy because he knows what it's like to be an orphan and wants to do a Klingon bonding ritual with Jeremy to help him deal with the loss of his mother but that is complicated by the sudden arrival of Jeremy's mother Marla claiming it was all a mistake but Worf finds himself with the help of Captain Picard, Deanna Troi and Wesley Crusher trying to convince Jeremy that his mother is gone and that the lookalike is fake and not really her. If I could give this more than 5 stars I would gladly do that!

A custody battle between the Enterprise and Energy Beings
On a routine archeological expedition led by Worf, an exploding land mine kills Dr. Marla Aster. Captain Picard and Counselor Troi have to tell Aster's son Jeremy, whose father had died a few years earlier, that he is now an orphan. However, Jeremy is not alone. An energy being from the planet comes aboard the Enterprise and assumes the appearance of Jeremy's mother. Once upon a time the planet had two races: the energy beings and corporal creatures that became extinct after generations of warfare. The energy beings will make amends for the accident by creating a home for Jeremy on the surface, where they will recreate everything he could ever want: his mother, friends, and a family. Meanwhile, also feeling responsible for what has happened, Worf attempts to bond with young Jeremy as well, teaching him about the Klingon approach to death. The energy beings are insistent that they can better provide for Jeremy than the crew of the Enterprise. Jeremy, of course, wants to be with his "mother." Picard cannot allow this, but can he prevent the powerful energy beings from doing what they want?

"The Bonding" is one of those Next Generation episodes that remembers to deal with the consequences of having families on the new and improved Enterprise. For Worf there is not only the sense of obligation since he was the leader of the away team on the mission where Marla Aster was killed, but there is also his identification with the Jeremy as an orphan. Ironically, the energy beings from the planet parallel both of these feelings as well. Ultimately, the nice touch about this episode is that the energy beings are as benevolent towards the fragile physical beings as Picard and his crew routinely are towards the various suffering creatures they encounter while cruising around the Star Trek universe. Next to Picard, Worf was always the Next Generation character who was least comfortable with small children. "The Bonding" prepares the way for the introduction of Alexander into Worf's life in a few seasons, and continues the exploration of his Klingon heritage, which becomes more and more pronounced with each season as well.

Not one of the best episodes of a remarkable Sci-Fi show.
When the ship's archaeoligist dies on a mission, Worf has the sad duty of informing the woman's son. However, when the 12 year old is mourning the loss of his mother, his mother suddenly reappears and wants to take him down to the planet. But is she what she appears to be? ... Read more

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Worf on "How to Raise a Klingon Child in Space"
"New Ground" is one of those episodes where the title refers to two plot lines that end up colliding in the climax. On the personal side, Helena Rozhenko, Worf's human foster mother, shows up with his son Alexander in tow. Declaring the boy would be better off with his father she quickly departs. When Alexander is caught stealing and lying, Worf understands it is time for him to be a parent. He lectures his son about Klingon honor and figures that will do the trick. When Alexander continues to misbehave in class, Word decides to send the boy to a Klingon school. Meanwhile, on the science side of the episode, the Enterprise is working on a grand experiment to generate a Soliton Wave, which is basically a means of achieving warp speed without a warp engine. The experiment is going well at first; the Soliton Wave is pushing the test ship merrily along with the Enterprise following along. But then the wave destabilizes, destroying the test ship and threatening to destroy the planet at the terminus of the planned journey. The only way for the Enterprise to stop the wave is to fly through it and fire photo torpedoes to dissipate it. However, this will cause damage to parts of the ship and you will never guess where a pouting Klingon boy is when that happens.

I think the idea of having Alexander come live aboard the Enterprise with his father was inspired in part by the episode "Disaster" where Worf serves as the mid-wife when Keiko O'Brian has her baby. Certainly Worf is the last person aboard you want delivering babies or raising a child. The problem is that Worf, the only Klingon in Starfleet, raised by human parents on Earth after the death of his parents in the infamous Khitomer massacre, forced to live with the unjustness of his discommendation, apparently has no understanding of what his son is going through. Worf and Alexander discovered K'Ehleyr's lifeless body and even though there is nobody in the galaxy who better understand what the boy is going through than his father, Worf is conveniently oblivious to all of those factors. Still, it is worthwhile to see one of the show's characters have to deal with being a parent now that Wesley is off to the Academy and Ian (remember him?) is tooling around the universe somewhere as a tiny dot of light. This is certainly a rough start, but there will be some excellent episodes dealing with Worf and Alexander down the line. Final note: Alexander is not exactly a traditional Klingon name, which makes me wonder if K'Ehlyer had a sick sense of humor or was trying to do a Klingon version of "A Boy Named Sue." ... Read more

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Obviously, the ideas of repressed memories and regression therapy werein the air when the writers came up with this episode. The Enterprise is transporting to Kaldra IV a delegation of Ullians, an alien race of telepathic historians. The Ullians are "archaeologists of the mind" who have been collecting memories of individuals on many worlds to be included in an ambitious library. There are rules that the Ullians must follow in collecting memories, such as never to enter the mind of a person without permission. It's a rule that one of them breaks when he becomes creepily attracted to Counselor Troi. From a distance, at night, he invades a memory she has of one of her romantic entanglements with Commander Riker. He then takes on the role of Riker in her mind and forces himself on her, essentially raping her. Troi falls into a coma. Riker is immediately suspicious of the guy, and soon enough he's in an action flashback and then a coma. Then Dr. Crusher ends up in a coma, too. Meanwhile, there's no proof that the comas are being caused by the Ullians, who have been a peaceful race for generations. When Troi wakes up, the evil Ullian suggests a mind probe, which he does himself, where he plants a false memory. Everything turns out fine, of course, thanks to some investigative research by Geordi and Data. Though the topic may be dated by current standards, the execution is quite good. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Troi's mind is assault by another telepath
The Ulians are a race of telepathic historians and when the Enterprise transports three of them to their next planet of study you know what that this episode is going to focus on Deanna Troi. At dinner Tarman, the leader of the Ulians, goes out of his way to belittle his son Jev, a member of the team. When Jev flees the uncomfortable dinner Troi follows and tries to make him feel better. Later, as she prepares for bed, Troi is assaulted by a memory that becomes so intense it sends her into a coma. Dr. Crusher's examination reveals nothing wrong and when Riker questions Jev, the last person to see Troi before her collapse, the Commander slips into a coma as well. Then Crusher thinks about subjecting the Ulians to a memory probe at which point she becomes the third member of coma city. Data and La Forge begin tracing back the planets the Ulians have visited looking for clues. When Troi regains consciousness she cannot remember what happens. But then, as Jev probes her memory in what he says is an attempt to prove the Ulian's innocence, Troi declares that Tarman mentally raped her.

The idea of telepathic mind rape was a pivotal moment in the film "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," when Spock got the information he needed from Lieutenant Valeris. Suffice it to say this treatment of the subject is not as dramatic in "Violations." It is certainly fortunate in the 23rd century that apparently all of these telepathic races are so benign because if the Ulians, the Betazoids, or any of the others wanted to wreck havoc you would have to think they could certainly get away with it. This is a below average episode featuring Troi, where once again she is more of a victim than an active agent in saving the day. They certainly have a hard time doing right by her character on this show. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

And you wonder why your brother hates you
This is one of my favourites TNG episodes. There isn't a great deal of action in it, and if you aren't a fan of Data you might not find it so interesting. But it is a good story in its own right, well-written and with some excellent set design. There is also some significant character insight and background explanation, with the seeds of future events being sown. You do need to have seen "Datalore" first.
A near-tragedy has struck the Enterprise. Jake Potts played a practical joke on his brother Willie - and now Willie is in quarantine, infected with a parasite that will kill him if he does not receive medical help beyond the abilities of the crew to provide. But as the Enterprise is en route to a Starbase medical facility, everything goes wrong as Data easily and inexplicably seizes control of the ship. I like to see what an android can really do! Despite all efforts to stop him, he pilots the ship to an unidentified planet. He beams down to the surface, where he is restored to his usual self by his creator, Dr Soong (previously unseen in the series). Soong has summoned Data via his "homing circuitry" to give him a gift - but with the unexpected arrival of Lore, Data's insane older brother, sparks begin to fly.
The framing story with Jake and Willie is somewhat irritating for the lines given to Dr Crusher and the artifical time pressure it exerts on the whole episode. Yet in showing up an alternative brotherly relationship, it does serve its purpose.

The interactions between the two androids and their creator are at the heart of this episode, though. We get more insight into Lore, into Soong, and into Data - who, surprisingly, does not come out of this episode very well, at least in my opinion. Lore is hurt, desperate and full of questions. By contrast, Soong is a megalomaniac, indifferent, at heart, to the suffering he has caused throughout his life, and blind to the implications of his own behaviour; while Data is self-absorbed and equally blind. Yes, as "Datalore" established, Lore is a monster - but he cannot help that, and he did not deserve what his father and brother have inflicted on him. Sadly, the end of the episode makes it clear that it is Data alone we are meant to feel for, with all questions about past dubious behaviour conveniently ignored. More courage from the writers on this point would have made "Brothers" an even stronger episode.
Even if the plot does not grab you, it's worth watching this episode for Brent Spiner's acting alone. He plays Data, Lore, and Soong, but does it so well that you never think of it as one actor playing three roles at the same time - you immediately accept them as three distinct characters.
Give it a try.

Okay, which android gets the emotion chip from Daddy?
The Enterprise is dealing with a medical emergency, taking a dying boy to a Starbase equipped to save his life, when Data goes into a trance. When life support on the bridge fails everyone evacuates except Data, who takes over the ship, flies it to a strange planet and beams down. Data then walks into the workshop of an old man, who turns out to be Data's creator Dr. Noonian Soong. However, that is not the only surprise as Data's "brother" Lore also arrives in a trance. Soong explains to them that he had implanted a homing device in their positronic brains that allowed him to summon them. Soong is dying, but he has a final gift for Data: an emotion chip. However, Lore wants this final gift from Daddy for himself.

Ever since we first learned that Data's creator had disappeared we have been waiting for Dr. Soong to show up and in that regard this episode is a lot less than we would have expected since the old man is dying. However, "Brothers" has less to do with filling in the back-story of Data and the good doctor, not to mention Lore, than it does with setting up a chain of events down the road by introducing the emotion chip. This will have major repercussions both for episodes of the series and the Next Generation theatrical films. Consequently this episode is more expositional than most, serving to set up some really good episodes in the future dealing with the emotion chip and Lore. Of course this episode also allows Brent Spiner some fun since he plays both androids and the creator in whose image they were made, meaning he basically gave the rest of the cast a very light week of work. "Brothers" is a key link in the evolution of Data and this episode will certainly rank higher with fans of that character.

"Brothers" Shows Spiner's Acting Ability
This is one of my favorite Next Generation episodes because it features Brent Spiner in three roles: Data, Lore and Dr. Soong. It's amazing to me, when I watch all three characters in the same scene -- all played by the same actor -- to realize that each character's personality and each performance is so distinctly different from the others. A lesser actor couldn't have pulled this off... This episode (along with ones like "Datalore" and "Masks", which allow Spiner to play multiple characters in the space of a 45-minute episode) is a gem. A must-have for all Spiner and Trek fans. Buy this one.

Brent Spiner is such a great actor and Star Trek rules!
Lore, Data's evil twin, comes back AND Data meets his father, Dr. Soong. Does it get any better? No! Brent Spiner shines as Data, Lore and Soong. This is one of my favorite Star Trek Episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Officer Exchange Program
Riker's Honor

Riker boards a Klingon Bird of Prey as part of an officer exchange program. This is another Next Generation gem with lots of action. Riker has to fight the first officer he bumped from command and has to watch his back. Promotions are gained by assassination! The Klingon captain believes that the Enterprise was responsible for a virus that begins to eat the hull of the Bird of Prey. All these ingredients make for Next Generation Classic!

William Riker, First Officer of the Klingon Crusier Pagh
Few things are as much fun as a Starfleet Officer Exchange Program and no one gets the short end of the stick more often than Commander Riker (a subtle suggestion that if you like this episode you should read Peter David's STNG Novel "A Rock and a Hard Place"). The Enterprise gets Ensign Mendon, a Benzite who notices strange creatures attached to the hulls of spaceships but does not want to say anything until he has completed his exhaustive research. Riker? He gets to be First Officer aboard the Klingon crusier Pagh. The comic twist is that Riker has done his homework. He is perfectly willing to eat the stomach churning Klingon food and beat up the ship's Second Officer to gain the respect of his new crewmates. The problem of course is that since Ensign Mendon did not feel it was necessary to report the gigantic interstellar parasite on the side of the Klingon ship, the Klingon captain comes to the conclusion this is some sort of sneak attack by the Enterprise. For him the only possible move is to go back and attack the Enterprise. For Riker the only possible way to head off this problem is to challenge the captain, take command of the Pagh, and order the Enterprise to surrender or else blow it to bits.

This is a fun episode, rather lighthearted given the all the other life and death crises afflicting the Enterprise crew during the second season. It is certainly nice to see Riker fully develop his sense of humor and with that beard Jonathan Frakes certainly looks like he could go toe to toe with a bunch of Klingons. Of course even if they are allies of the Federation, the Klingons remain that wacky bunch of hotheads (not to mention hard heads with those reinforced skulls) we have all come to know and love over the years. Given that at this point the series has only begun to really start exploring the idea of Worf as the only Klingon in Starfleet, Riker's temporary duty is an interesting look at the flip side of the coin. But Starfleet might want to rethink assigning Benzites anywhere near hazardous duty.

A Matter of Klingons!
Cultural education and social exploration aside, this episode rocks! It is fun to see Klingons from an outsider's perspective, true, but it's fun to see Klingons period. "A Matter of Honor" showcases Commander Riker and it is Riker at his very best. The only comparable Riker episodes (in quality) might be "The Pegasus" and "Second Chances". As Riker attempts to fit in with a Klingon crew as their first officer, he first must gain the crew's respect. This is no easy task for a "weakling human" but Riker succeeds is showing the Klingons that he is no weakling and will not be bullied. Riker learns a lot about this pround species and, in the end, the Klingons learn a bit about humans, too. The result is that both Riker and this crew of Klingon ruffians grow and mature. And when Riker returns to the Enterprise, there is a sense of understanding and camraderie between him and the Enterprise's resident Klingon, Lt. Worf.

Great episode, maybe the best of season two.

Excellent to study differences in cultures
Many of the Star Trek episodes from the Next Generation make good educational case studies. Much of the series writing was reviewed by Communication Theorists to insure interpersonal consistency. The result was character development that was believable and observable. Many colleges and universities around the country use this episode to study the impact that moving into a new and unknown culture can have on the individual. Riker must do what he can to fit into the Klingon command structure while preserving his own identity. The story does a good job of pointing out how easy it is to misunderstand events when viewed from only one perspective and how important it is to not carry our cultural predispositions into another culture. To a certain extent, it advocates the idea of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". However, it also shows that the host culture can learn from having an outsider identify options that may not have been considered before. All in all, it is fun to watch and makes the classroom more interactive as students discuss what they see. ... Read more

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The Enterprise answers a distress call to find a wounded young Borg (Jonathan Del Arco) on a desolate planet. After taking the Borg on board at Crusher's insistence, the crew wrestles with their fear and hatred of the most dread enemy the Federation has ever faced, while Picard and Geordi hit upon a devious plan to infect the Borg collective with a computer virus planted on their captive. Dr. Crusher is appalled at the plan, former Borg victim Picard is torn between his military instincts and ambassadorial benevolence, and Guinan has never been more merciless. And then they get to know this lonely little Borg lost, whom they name Hugh, who starts to shake the collective mentality and embrace his individuality. This fascinating chapter in the Borg saga puts a face and a personality to the relentless enemy, and casts the ruthless Federation plans of what is essentially genocide into an uncomfortable light. But their ultimate solution is a benign twist on the Borg campaign of assimilation. Hugh returns in episode 152, "Descent, Part I," and episode 153, "Descent, Part II." --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Viva La Resistance!
The Enterprise investigates an automated distress call on a small moon. Sensors reveal scant, faint signs of life from a crashed ship. When the away team beams down, they find the remains of 4 dead Borg - and one (Jonathan Del Arco) that is barely clinging to life. Dr. Crusher takes her Hippocratic Oath to the extreme when she insists that the Captain allow her to beam aboard not only the Federation's most deadly and feared foe, but the same race of aliens that once abducted and maimed him, forcing him to act as the aggressor against earth.

Picard bends to Crusher's will, then has an epiphany. Once the Borg is healed, they would have to beam him back to the crash site, to await the arrival of his fellow Borg to rescue him. Why not use this opportunity to finally destroy the Borg - all of them, by supplanting this one with a virus that will eventually make their hardware/software components unusable. Crusher objects, but Picard is determined to use this young Borg as the ultimate in assymetrical warfare.

Some of his chips are damaged and must be replaced to save him - and Geordi is given the task of introducing a program into the chips that will cause a systems crash when the Borg is picked up by his compadres. The Borg continues to rant on about "Resistance is Futile," and "You will be assimilated," and Geordi takes it stride with a smirk and a smart retort. In an effort to engage in a more mind-stimulating dialogue with the Borg as he makes repairs to his circuits, he names him Hugh. The name sticks.

Guinan, whose people were scattered throughout the galaxy because of the Borg, hates the species and looks forward to the end of all of them - until she meets Hugh and realizes there is a person under all those implants.

Del Arco has an innocent, sweet face that adds to the allure of this gentle child in Borg clothing. Perhaps assimilated as an infant, he has never known individuality before he was on the Enterprise, and it changes him profoundly. Picard, on the otherhand, has been a strong, hearty individual his entier adult life and yet his individuality did nothing to affect the Borg when he was assimilated. The Borg do not procreate, they assimilate... so everyone in the Borg Collective was once an individual - some were assimilated later in life, and yet none make an impact upon the Collective.

The crew somehow thinks that Hugh will be different, however, making changes in the hive mind. As Spock would say, "highly illogical."

Despite this major hole in the plot, no episode with the Borg will bore the viewer. The mere thought of them sends chills up the spine of any Trekkie or Trekker. They are the epitome of evil - right in the same company as Alien and Predator - except for at least the Predator plays fair.

Eye Borg
Another great entry in ST:TNG's Borg saga, "I, Borg" features our Starfleet stalwarts facing the standard weekly moral dilemma(s) and their own prejudices & preconceptions following the rescue of a single Borg, eventually given the name Hugh, from a crash site. Captain Picard is especially torn between his respect for life in all its forms versus using the Borg captive as a weapon against its own kind (being thrown into the collective and forced against your will to kill and destroy will do that to you). His role playing of his Borg persona Locutus from the "Best of Both Worlds" cliffhanger at the climax makes for one of the episode's more disquieting moments. Through it all, Hugh develops from a part dependent on the whole into a fully realized individual, with repercussions that would be followed up in the subsequent Borg saga two-parter "Descent". If you're a big time Borgophile like myself, this one's unquestionably a must-have!

Sadly, I used to enjoy this eppie a LOT more (as well as all the others) before a Trek-viewer friend pointed out that Captain Picard has a bit of a lazy eye! It's not as obvious as Worf's (Michael Dorn) slight lack of proper ocular alignment, but it is perceptible if you look hard enough. The hell of it is, I never noticed it before! But that's not the worst of it... every time I do see Patrick Stewart on the tube now, be he Picard, Gurney Halleck, Leodegranz, or that guy in "Conspiracy Theory", I see it each and every time, to the point of being somewhat distracting.

Yes, I know, you're probably thinking, "what kinda sick weirdo focuses on- and is distracted by- some TV star's physical shortcomings? Get over it!" Hey, I can't explain it... it's just one of those weird things. Shatner had his hairline (before his priceline, heh), Doohan had his missing finger, Nimoy had his substabdard singing ability... and Stewart has his eyeballs staring in slightly different directions. It's just kinda freaky, you know?

Needless to say, I have one less buddy I watch TV with nowadays...

'Late!

Some of my best friends are Borg...
The Enterprise traces a strange transmission signal back and discovers a wrecked Borg scout ship on a moon. Only one of the Borg has survived the crash and Captain Picard allows Dr. Crusher to beam the Borg aboard the ship. Crusher discovers that the Borg's biochips were damaged in the crash, which means he is cut off from the Collective. Picard sees this as a golden opportunity destroy the Borg by creating new biochips that contain a computer virus that will spread through the Collective. However, while La Forge is working on the biochips he engages the Borg in conversation and the two become friends. La Forge even gives the Borg a name, "Hugh." To the surprise of everyone, Hugh becomes an individual who can say, "I am Hugh" instead of "We are Borg." This turn of events creates a fascinating dilemma for Picard: On the one hand the Captain was transformed by the Borg into Locutus, where his knowledge of Starfleet was used to destroy the armada trying to defend Earth. But on the other hand, this is Jean-Luc Picard, who has defended the rights of sentient beings from his android Second Officer to flashing crystals to nanites to holographic characters. Beyond the personal dilemma, there is his obligation as a Starfleet officer to end the threat of the Borg once and for all.

"I Borg" offers another rare opportunity to see Jean-Luc Picard when he is not at his best, although his emotional involvement in this situation is perfectly understandable. However, at the heart of the episode is Jonathan Del Arco's performance as Hugh, who does a nice job of overcoming the inherent limitations of Borg speak to affect his transformation from member of the Collective into autonomous individual (pay attention to the subtle changes in his inflections over the course of the episode). Obviously this episode pre-shadows the addition of Seven of Nine to the Yoyager crew. There are no easy answers to Picard's dilemma, here as we shall find out at the end of the following season in "Descent" (Episode 152), when we learn the consequences of Picard's decision.

Individuality matters
This episode struck a blow to the face of prejudice and racism by showing that it's teaching and conditioning that make a person "good" or "bad," not the color of skin (or planet of origin). It showed that, if we are offered a choice, everyone can choose to be good, even a member of a race as evil as the Borg. Everyone needs to be viewed as an individual and not generalized or categorized based on race or gender.

The Enterprise finds a Borg. Some of the crew try to save it
This episode is very emotional. The crew of the Enterprise find a Borg drone. Geordie and Beverly name him Hugh. Geordie, Beverly, and Guinan try to save him from Jean-Luc Picard. This episode is for anyone who enjoys who has children and wants to teach them ethics, not for the action type. ... Read more

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Believing the Cardassians are preparing for war, the Federation relieves Captain Picard of his command of the Enterprise and sends him, Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, and Worf on a secret mission. Federation Intelligence believes the Cardassians are developing "metagenic" weapons on Celtris III, where Picard and crew must go to investigate and destroy said weapons if they exist. These weapons are genocidal weapons that destroy all life on a planet while leaving structures like buildings and equipment intact. The Cardassians may have found a way of delivering metagenics without endangering themselves, making the prospect of war with them truly horrific.

Captain Jellico (Ronny Cox) takes command of the Enterprise, with qualifications including Cardassian negotiations. Though his harsh demands on the crew irk everybody, it is clear he has no time to be popular, and his tactical skills in negotiating with the enemy are wonderful to watch. Cox turns in a terrific performance, at once severe and sympathetic. Picard's mission on Celtris III turns sour when it becomes clear it's a trap, and a trap specifically for Picard, he learns from his captor, Gul Madred (David Warner). It seems rather convenient that Picard is chosen for this mission, with the flimsy explanation that he studied a particular carrier wave the Cardassians seem to be using in their transmissions. Surely there are better candidates for such a dangerous mission. But with veteran actors like Ronny Cox and David Warner, this two-part episode is a pleasure. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Episode And Sad Showing For The Enterprise Crew
This two-parter was a terrific season-ending ST-TNG episode, featuring a duel with the Cardassians, Captain Picard in jeopardy and a new commander for the Star Ship Enterprise.

And the Enterprise crew really let us down. Rather than exhibiting military professionalism and backing to the hilt their new commander -- Capt. Jellico, magnificently portrayed by Ronny Cox -- they fought him every step of the way. The story had a strong emotional pull on the viewers, thus the obvious course was to sympathize with the crew's irritation at their new boss, whose personality was far different from that of Capt. Picard. However, that crew was placed on that ship to carry out orders issued by their captain, to the letter and spirit of his or her desires. Possibly their long association with Capt. Picard had made them too buddy-buddy with him, somewhat slack in their militarism, and weak in adapting to a personnel/command change.

Here's a new (though experienced) commander placed in charge of a crew whose former commander had been drafted for a special mission. Capt. Jellico too had a special mission, a head-to-head negotiation with hostile Cardassians. Rather than being completely free to concentrate on that mission, Capt. Jellico had to deal with the distractions of crew sensitivity and grudging cooperation, which extended to Executive Officer Riker's outright insubordination (for which he was quite properly relieved!). And Jellico was eminently appropriate in ordering Deanna to dress more professionally, rather than prancing around in her skin-tight slack-suit.

At first glance, combined with the history of being emotionally connected to the Enterprise crew, it could have been perceived that Capt. Jellico was being harsh and/or unfair -- but further thought, coupled with an understanding of how a military chain of command functions, illuminates only the fact that Riker, Deanna and the others truly reflected poorly upon Capt. Picard, who should have nurtured in them the ability to conform professionally to whatever martial situations they encountered. Instead, they acted like a bunch of whiny teenagers.

Capt. Jellico, upon his departure, told the crew it had been a privilege to serve with them. Later, however, I bet he subtly, quietly passed the word in his professional circle that the Enterprise command crew was a gaggle of spoiled brats, and working with any of them on a future assignment should probably be avoided. I believe that is what I would have done.

Picard the Commando & Captain Jelico of the Enterprise
In anticipation of a Cardassian attempt to take over one of the disputed star systems on the border with the Federation, Starfleet not only removed Jean-Luc Picard from command of the Enterprise, they send him on a commando raid with Dr. Crusher and Worf. These two changes form the dominant threads of this two-part episode. Picard's replacement, Captain Edward Jelico of the USS Cairo, has been selected because he experience dealing with the Cardassians, having negotiated the current armistice (which is about to blow up in his face). Jelico seems aware of the awkward situation created by this sudden transfer, but then he proceeds to rub absolutely everybody on the Enterprise the wrong way by changing the ship's routines, from the number of shifts the crew works to what Troi gets to wear on the bridge. Meanwhile, Picard and his team practice for their mission, which is to confirm that the Cardassians are working with metagenic, a sort of biological neutron bomb that is genetically engineered to destroy all forms of DNA on a planet and then die off themselves, leaving the planet's infrastructure intact for the occupational force. However, when the team travels to Seltrice Three where the Cardassians are testing the theta band subspace carriers wave system necessarily to delivery the metagenics to their chosen target, they learn the lab does not exist. The rumors were just a trap to get the Cardassians what they really wanted: Jean-Luc Picard.

"Chain of Command, Part 1" certainly tosses the Enterprise upside down. Ronny Cox as Jelico not only does a marvelous job of aggravating Riker and the others, he also manages to convince you he knows what he is doing every step of the way despite your inclination to lean towards the status quo. This could be a cartoon character, but not in Cox's hands. The weakness of the episode is the contrivance by which only Jean-Luc Picard in the entire Federation knows enough about theta band emissions that he is sent off to do grunt work on some back planet. However, this is certainly one time where the payoff is worth the problems with the set-up. When the episode ends with Gul Madred looking forward to breaking Picard, you know the conclusion of this episode is going to be something special.

One of the best
This is one of the better two parters. Picard, Worf and Dr Crusher go on a secret mission into Cardassian territory, while the Enterprise comes under the command of Admiral Jellico. Although Chain of Command focuses mainly on Captain Picard, important parts are played by Riker, Troi, Worf, and Dr Crusher.

The best parts of the episode were the interrogation of Picard by the Cardassian, and the interaction between Admiral Jellico and Riker. I think of all the 'bad guys' on Star Trek, the Cardassian's are pretty good, although no where near the standard of the Dominion or the Borg. This episode does mark a turning point in one respect, as it's the first in which we see Troi in uniform.

Overall, this episode turned out very well and is quite dramatic, as well as giving us a nice insight into Federation and Cardassian relations. People who buy this will have to get part 2 as well, which continues the story, as you'll need to know what happens to Picard.

I recommend it to all Star Trek fans, regardless of whether you're a collector or who your favourite character is, though if you like the Cardassians, this is a must have.

One Of The Best Of The Next Generation
Jean Luc Picard is captured by Cardassians and interrogated by a nasty Gul played beautifully by Star Trek V & VI alum, David Warner. On the Enterprise, Captain Jellico (Ronny Cox) has taken command. The highlights - the interrogation scenes between Warner and Stewart are first rate. Jellico making changes that stayed with the show. Deanna switching to a conventional uniform. One change that didn't was "losing the fish" in the Captain's Ready Room. Fun to watch - Riker's run ins with Jellico. A wonderful dramatic piece with outstanding Warner and Stewart with good support from Cox. ... Read more

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When Picard refuses to allow Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) to perform an operation on him, even though she's qualified, she tells him to check into a hospital on Starbase 515. Turns out he needs a cardiac replacement because an earlier replacement was faulty, but he didn't want the operation done on the ship because he didn't want to appear weak. While he's gone, the Enterprise answers a distress call from some alien sad sacks whose shipis broken and who are far from home. Since they are reported as being a benign species of scavengers, searching the universe for things to make their ship go, the Enterprise sends over Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge to make thenecessary repairs. Deanna Troi assesses the situation and immediately sensesthat Geordi is in great danger, as he is something that will make their ship go and they will be loath to give him up. It's up to Riker to formulate a plan to get him back. As the crew of the Enterprise learns not to judge a seemingly idiotic race by their appearance, Picard learns there is strength in facing up to one's weaknesses. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

2nd Worst Episode!
I love Star Trek: The Next Generation and have loved most of the episodes of this magnificent TV show's long run but of the few episdoes that I don't like Samaritan Snare is high on my short list of least favorite episodes and is #2 on the list. The Pakleds are really annoying and this episode is like watching a really bad B movie that could easily be made fun of by Mystery Science Theater! Ok, I have seen some silly episodes of STTNG that I actually liked but I can't say that for Samaritan Snare because it was beyond silly it was just plain dumb!

"We Like Things That Make Us Go!"...Pakled Captain
"We like things that make us go" and Picard's mechanical heart

In this episode we get to see two major events: La Forge's Crimson Force Field ALA the "Corbomite Maneuver" and we learn of Picard's mechanical heart. The A story is about aliens that retro fit technology from other planets. The infamous Pakleds are pretty much as laughable as the Ferengi. The B story was an account of how Picard got an artificial cardiac replacement after a bar room brawl in his youth. Both of these elements make this one worth the price of the videocassette.

One Of The Worst TNG Episodes!
Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of my all time favorite TV shows and I loved the majority of the episodes but of the few that I don't like, Samitarian Snare is one of the worst, the whole plot with those annoying dopes called the Pakleds is the main reason I didn't like it, they are the most boring, uninteresting Star Trek alien race ever created and the whole plot was ridiculous! The other plot with Picard needing an artificial cardiac replacement and traveling on a shuttlecraft with Wesley while he was on his way to his operation and Wesley on his way to take some type of Star Fleet test was better but could not make up for the goofy Pakleds who ruined the episode! I'm sure glad that the Pakleds never became recurring characters and were limited to this one episode!

Picard Has to Have a Heart, or, The Pakleds That Roared
How ironic that after providing the equivalent of a new mission statement and a fresh start with the previous episode, "Q Who?" that the series follows up with this rather tepid entry. There are two plot lines. The first has Captain Picard in need of a cardiac replacement. In seems that as a lad Picard had made some unfortunate remarks concerning the parentage of a Norsican that resulted in a fight during which he was stabbed through the heart. The second plot line has La Forge beaming over to help repair a supposedly disabled Pakled ship only to be held hostage unless Riker beams over the Enterprise's computer records. However, the Pakleds are--and there is no nice way of saying this--not the brightest stars in the universe. Of course while Riker is dealing with this clowns there are complications with Picard's operation. A biomolecular physiologist is needed and wouldn't you know it, the only one close enough to save the day is Dr. Pulaski and she is stuck on the Enterprise during the, uh, crisis.

Consequently this is a trivial little episode. The Pakleds are pests more than serious threats, especially since we found out in the previous episode about the Borg. However, Picard's little aside to Wesley about how he came to need a new heart will result in the wonderful "Tapesty" episode (#141) from Season 6, where Q gives Picard a chance to live that particular moment over. This only goes to show what good writers can do with little details. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good Episode
The Enterprise NCC-1701-D is waiting for its next mission. While the crew take a few days to rest the Enterprise is hit by a quantum filament. This has some of the best lines in this season (i.e. Worf to Keiko "You may now give birth." and then Keiko shoots back "That's what I've been doing!"). Also in the this show Troi is in command which is somthing Ro doesn't approve of. Riker at