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

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An interesting tack on an old theme.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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First, the good news: Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) isbeing given the opportunity to captain his own ship, the Aries, on adangerous mission into a remote part of space. The bad news is that the person offering him this mission is Kyle Riker (Mitchell Ryan), his father, whom he hasn't spoken with for 15 years. Ever since his mom died, Commander Riker has had bitter feelings toward his dad, believing he was all but abandoned by the man. Elsewhere on the ship, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) has noticed that Worf (Michael Dorn) is in a particularly bad mood. With a little investigation and the help of Data and Geordi, he discovers it is the 10th anniversary of Worf's Age of Ascension, a special day that Klingons celebrate with family and pain. While Wesley figures out a way to celebrate Worf's big day, Commander Riker and his dad spar both mentally and physically, and through battle are able to say what they're feeling about each other. Trés masculine. Oh, and in a further attempt to give Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) more of a backstory, it's revealed that she used to date Kyle Riker. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Emotional pettiness has no place among commanders
Star Trek is never better when non-human cultures are being examined and it is sometimes at its' worst when emotions are involved. Star Fleet officers are subjected to the most rigorous training and psychological screening. They are clearly the best people, selected from billions of creatures in the Federation. The Enterprise is also the best ship in Star Fleet, so only the best of the best could possibly command her. Any person who commands a star ship will have enormous power, both military and economic. They possess enough power to destroy civilizations and at any time could engage in actions that could expand the Federation or plunge it into interstellar war
While human nature will remain human nature, no matter where the species goes, there are some things that just will not follow, and that is emotional pettiness. In this episode, Riker is offered the command of a Starship, where the mission is to go to a very remote place to investigate the possibility of another culture. It will take months at maximum warp to get to the location, so he will be completely autonomous. A civilian consultant to Star Fleet beams aboard to brief Riker about the mission, and it turns out to be Riker's father, from whom he is estranged. This is where the story breaks down. Riker reacts like a hurt child, at first refusing to talk with his father, and when he does, is very curt. Since Riker is being offered the command of a mission with the potential for great consequences for the Federation, an officer would not engage in such pettiness.
A secondary story concerns Worf. He is testy, even for Worf and Wesley discovers that Worf is suffering from cultural isolation. It is the tenth anniversary of his Age of Ascension, and he should engage in a ritual to mark the date. With the aid of the holodeck, Worf's friends engage in the ceremony, which involves him walking a gauntlet of Klingons armed with pain sticks. This story line improves the episode, as it gives us further insight into the Klingon culture.
While the emotional pettiness of Riker and his father drag this episode down, the events describing Klingon culture bring it back up into a good, but not great episode.

A story about Riker's Dad and a Klingon coming of age
Anbo-Jyutsu and Worf's Age of Ascension

Spoiler Alert for those of you who want to see the episode..

In this one we get to see Worf's coming of age ceremony with the Klingon Pain Sticks in the holodeck. While Wes, O'Brien and Dr. Pulaski look on.. also this one has Riker's father. He's been absent pretty much all of the time. He tells Riker he's hurting his career and has to move on. It would have been a variation of the formula if Will Riker did take command temporarily and returned to the Enterprise. I can't understand as to how he did keep turning down promotions and Starfleet still offered him the chair. Oh well, that's going to change with the new film "Nemesis."

There's no place like the Enterprise for Riker and Worf
"The Icarus Factor" is the first Next Generation episode to deal explicitly with the idea that the crew of the Enterprise has become a family. There are two plot lines in the episode, both dealing with how Riker and Worf are alienated from their families and both establishing that the spair has found a home on the Enterprise. The episode begins with a threat to our happy little family. Commander Riker has been offered command of the Aries along with a sensitive mission. Just to make things interesting the person sent to brief Riker is his father, Kyle, and it becomes very clear that these two would have to work really hard just to have a strained relationship (which involves martial arts fought blindfolded with large sticks). Meanwhile, Worf is about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his age of ascension, but as the only Klingon in Starfleet he has no one with whom he can share the moment (which involves a ritual that uses pain sticks).

It is always interesting to me how enlightened Starfleet is by giving Riker a choice to accept a new command or not. You have to admire any sort of military structure that allows such freedom of choice, unless, of course, the episode is written so that Starfleet actually issues orders or something like that. The relationship between Riker and his father is a bit overblown: Apparently they have not seen each other for fifteen years and they can not have a civil conversation unless they are beating each other up on the holodeck. The situation with Worf offers a nice counterpoint, because his situation is more understated. Certainly the resolution to that plotline is more in keeping with the idea of family. ... Read more

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

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frame up
Frame of mind is altered by aliens

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

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

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

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

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

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Continuing their rendition of The Search for Spock, part 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Unification" finds Spock among the Romulans as a "cowboy diplomat," in Captain Picard's words. Spock is on a personal mission to effect reunification between the Romulans and the Vulcans, their races being distant cousins. He receives assurances of the feasibility of this from the Romulans' own "young and idealistic" Proconsul, despite many signs the Romulans have an ulterior motive in encouraging him. Riker's investigation into the theft of a decommissioned Vulcan ship reveals the culprit is Romulan in origin. And we find the Romulans' own yearning for reunification is indeed warlike, since they have appropriated a number of Vulcan ships, such as the missing one Riker is investigating, to launch a surprise invasion of Vulcan.

Although Spock is now quite an august figure, lacking in the energy we may all remember from the days of the original series, his dignified bearing still elicits awe in the viewer, making this two-part episode more than an act of nostalgia. There are numerous occasions for Spock and Data to engage in compare-and-contrast dialogues, as two logical beings yearning after seemingly opposite goals, one to be more human and the other to be pure logic. And the resolution of Spock's long-standing differences with his father are wonderfully resolved in the person of Picard, whose mind meld with Sarek he can now pass on to the son. A very touching and ennobling addition to the Star Trek canon. Also, don't miss Worf singing a Klingon opera. --Jim Gay ... Read more

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Commander Sela springs her trap of Ambassador Spock
"Unification I" ended with Picard and Data on Romulus, where they have just found Ambassador Spock, who is not at all happy to see them. When Picard demands an explanation, Spock explains he is on Romulus to meet with Pardek, a leader in the reunification movement that wants to see the Romulans turn away from the ways of war and joins with the pacifist Vulcans. After all, the two races have a common ancestor. Pardek claims that the political leadership of the Empire is changing and that the new proconsul supports these efforts. Spock believes the time has come to make the initial overtures towards peace. However, when Spock and Picard realize that Pardek has some hidden agenda, they are arrested by Sela, the half-Romulan daughter of Tasha Yar ("Redemption" and "Redemption II", Episodes 100-101). In the great tradition of villains everywhere, Sela explains her entire plan to her captives: The Romulans have stolen three Vulcan ships which are now on their way to Vulcan with troops. Sela will use a holographic Spock to tell his people that the ships carry a joint peace delegation. It seems the blonde Vulcan has her own plans for "reunification" of the Romulans and Vulcans. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Riker is still investigating the disappearance of the Vulcan ship T'Pau from the Qualor Two interstellar junkyard and finds evidence that strongly suggests the Romulans are involved. Will our heroes find a way to stop the Romulan invasion force or will Spock's home world be enslaved? (Take a guess.)

If the character of Spock only gets to interact with two members of the Enterprise crew, then Picard and Data are certainly your top two choices. My only complaint would be that the episode does not milk the meeting of Spock and Data for all it is worth since you know it must be nice for them to have an intelligent conversation for once without having to waiting for the others to catch up. However, there is a marvelous scene in which Spock and Data take the wind out of Sela's sails with their understated, logical approach to the situation and her dreams of grandeur. Ultimately, it is the scenes between Spock and Picard that provide "Unification II" with its emotional depth. Picard has the grim duty of informing Spock of the death of Sarek, and the final scene between the two is one of the most moving in the series. It is amazing how emotional you can get with those Vulcans. It is the characters that make this episode more than the action; after all, the Romulans and Vulcans achieving peaceful reunification would be like China and Taiwan deciding to merge and the idea that three Romulan ships could conquer all those peaceful Vulcans without the Federation objecting suggests the United States would just look the other way if China made a major military move across the Formosa Straits. However, this is the Star Trek universe and not the real world. The two parts of "Unification" are a splendid showcase for Leonard Nimoy and Spock, well worthy of the actor/character.

Best Episode Ever!
This Part 2 of "Unification" . Most Star Trek fans tend to like part 1 better but I honestly like this one much better because the Romulans are so much more interisting than the writters of the show give them credit for. They should have already been in one of the movies before the Borg and especially the easily fooled Klingons.

Anyway, this episode shifts from revolving around finding Spock to the politics of two nations: The Romulans and the Vulcans. Commander Sela makes a special guest appearance which was long over due .

Hopefully we will see her as this charactor again because this one has substance unlike the dull Tasha Yar charactor.

Overall a fabulous episode because you actually get to see a small peice of Romulus rather than the Klingon homeworld oe Earth. BUY THIS! ... Read more

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In 1991, Star Trek: The Next Generation did its own version of The Search for Spock in this two-part episode featuring Leonard Nimoy as the legendary Vulcan. When an intelligence scan spots Ambassador Spock on the planet Romulus, home of the Federation's enemy the Romulans, Picard is ordered to track down the wayward Vulcan and investigate his apparent defection. Picard visits Spock's ailing father, Sarek (Mark Lenard), who is now senile, and finds out that Spock has maintained a long-standing relationship with a Romulan senator, Pardek (Malachi Throne), hoping to keep alive a dialogue between the two antagonistic sides. To search for Spock, Picard and Data beam down to Romulus disguised as Romulans, after approaching by stealth using a cloaked ship acquired from the Klingons. Back on the Enterprise, Riker investigates a decommissioned Vulcan ship, apparently stolen from a surplus depot whose quartermaster is Klim Dokachin, played wryly by Graham Jarvis (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) in one of the episode's funny highlights. Does the theft of the Vulcan vessel have anything to do with the disappearance of Spock? Well, as you might expect in a two-part episode, that story line is to be continued. These multiple tracks just whet the appetite for part 2, and build expectation ably toward the appearance of Spock and the mysteries surrounding his disappearance, something thrilling for any fan--as thrilling as the sorry state of Sarek's mental condition is poignant. --Jim Gay ... Read more

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What is Ambassador Spock doing on Romulus?
A Starfleet Admiral informs Captain Picard that long-range scanners have detected Ambassador Spock on Romulus, the home world of the Romulan Empire. The question on the table is whether or not Spock has done the unthinkable by defecting. The Enterprise travels to Vulcan where Picard meets with a dying Sarek, who explains that Spock has been cultivating a friendship with Pardek, a Romulan Senator. Sarek believes his son went to Romulus to meet with Pardek to discuss the possibility of the "unification" of their two peoples (An aside: seeing as how the Romulans have an empire and the Vulcans have just their planet, this reminds me of China wanting "unification" with Taiwan; these are not exactly equal parties in these negotiations--but the parallel sure works). After Sarek's death, Picard and Data are transported to a cloaked Klingon warship, which will take them to Romulus where they will beam down and attempt to locate Spock. Meanwhile, the Enterprise tries to solve a seemingly unrelated mystery: wreckage from a Ferengi transport ship marked "medical supplies" contains a navigational array from the Vulcan Ship T'Pau, which is supposedly docked in the interstellar junkyard around Qualor Two. Riker discovers not only that the T'Pau is missing but that a mysterious ship is stealing more equipment from the junkyard. Back on Romulus, Picard and Data continue their search for Spock.

"Unification I" sets up almost all of the pieces for the mystery of Spock's disappearance (there is one more important character in the tale who does not make their appearance until part two). The final appearance of Mark Lenard as Sarek is especially moving and quite unexpected. Picard finds himself caught in the gulf between father and son that is now solidified by Sarek's death. But Star Trek has always known how to make the most out of the death of their characters and this part of the story is far from over. Although he has only a few seconds of screen time in this episode, the character of Spock dominates the story. Of course Sarek is right about what his son is up to. so the challenge is to find Spock more than anything else.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was not going to lure Leonard Nimoy into making a guest appearance as Spock without giving the actor/character a real solid story line and the two-part "Unification" episode really delivers. Unlike the appearance of Scotty in "Relics," the return of Spock is integrated into on-going STNG story lines. The Romulans have become increasingly less subtle about their expansionist intentions (most recently in the two-parter "Redemption," Episodes 100-101) so that they are certainly a growing concern for the Federation. The idea that the Romulans and Vulcans have common ancestry dates back to the first appearance of the Romulans on the original Star Trek ("Balance of Terror," Episode 9). On a more personal level, there is the fact that Picard has mind-melded with Spock's father Sarek, an intimacy that has been denied the son ("Sarek," Episode 71). Consequently, the appearance of Spock on STNG is eminently logical.

Unification
A very good and refreshing storey(nice to get a break away from Klingons) where Spock is on Romulus (and is spotted by Starfleet inteligence) urging a re-unification between Vulcans and Romulans. Picard goes to see Sarek, Spocks father, to find out where Spock could've gone. It is a very moving scene with Mark Lenard (Sarek), where he portrays a deteriorating Vulcan who has lost almost all his mind control capabilities (worth watching if only for this scence, it is very moving and is a truely great loss with the death of Mark Lenard). Spock finds that many people on Romulus want follow a Vulcan way of life. Then he finds that the Procouncil wants to meet with him to urge the re-unification. It is a trap. With Spock is Picard to check-up on him. They get themselves out of the trap with a little technical help from Data. Picard offers Spock to mind meld to find out more about his father and the fact that he loved Spock. Picard and Data leave while Spock stays behind to continue to teach the Vulcan way of life to those that wish it.

Old and New Trek worlds collide
Spock has defected to Romulus in order to help them reunite with Vulcan. The gem and best scene of the show was Mark Lenard's death bed scene as Sarek with Picard. It truly breaks your heart to see Sarek on the edge of death. ... Read more

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First Contact is not always a good thing
Commander Riker has beamed down to Malcoria Three to visit a group of observers from the Federation. The planet is about to develop warp drive capacity, which is the point at which the Federation makes "first contact." After all, what happens when you first go out into space and discover the UFP, Klingon Empire, Cardassians, Romulans, Tholians, etc. Unfortunately, Riker is seriously injured during a riot by citizens protesting the development of this new technology and when a routine physical exam reveals he is an alien, he is immediately confined by the Minister of Security. To resolve the situation, Captain Picard and Counselor Troi beam down and meet with the Malcorian scientist who runs their warp drive program. Although thrilled to meet strange visitors from another planet (okay, two other planets), the scientist warns that if this news is made public, the citizens will think this is an invasion force. Picard meets with Chancellor Durken (always nice to see George Coe with a good part to play) and takes the Malcorian leader on a tour of the Enterprise. Everything is progressing nicely until they learn that Riker has been captured and that the Chancellor's political opponents and the planet's isolationist citizenry are about to find out everything that is going on.

"First Contact" is a good title because this is certainly the best STNG episode dealing with that particular facet of tooling around the universe. Ultimately, what makes this an above-average episode is that the resolution is not the proverbial happy ending. When it provides such twists, STNG is at its best. "First Contact" is not a great episode, but it is a very, very good one indeed. It also has one of the best cameo appearances in the history of the series as Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith on "Cheers"/"Fraiser") plays a Malcorian who has the hots for Riker (there is simply no other way to put it). ... Read more

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Ventax II goes to hell in a handbasket...
...almost. A thousand years earlier, leaders of Ventax II supposedly made a deal with the Devil... a.k.a. "Ardra." The deal: 1,000 years of peace and prosperity. The catch: after 1,000 years, the people become slaves of Ardra.

The Enterprise gets an emergency summons from a group of Federation anthropologists doing study on Ventax II. The public has gone crazy, looting, rioting and engaging in all sorts of mayhem, taking some of the scientists hostage.

Picard races to the planet and saves one scientist who tells them what is going on. The citizens are panicky because Ardra is due to return in just one day. As prophecy dictates, her coming was preceded by earthquakes and visions of her throughout the planet.

Picard does his best to not laugh out loud, when suddenly Ardra (Mara Dubois) appears before them. To prove she is who she claims to be, she causes the earth to shake at a blink of her eye. She changes herself into the Klingon version of the Devil to scare Worf and teleports people here and there just by glancing at them.

Picard is incensed. He knows there is technology, not mojo, behind Ardra's "magic." He sets Geordi LaForge on the task of finding out how Ardra is pulling off this hoax. Meanwhile, he has Data research Ventaxian law to see if there are any loopholes in th