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

Reviews (2)

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

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

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

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This is a satisfying conclusion to part 1. Riker and Picard are aboard a mercenary vessel, forced to fire at their own beloved Enterprise to keep the sadistic Baran from killing them. The episode is full of twists and ruses as Riker and Picard try to hide their Starfleet loyalties while dealing with the shifting alliances of the mercenary ship's crew. Back on the Enterprise, Data and Worf discover a new tension in their relationship as Worf grows increasingly frustrated with Data's slow and methodical command decisions. Richard Lynch enjoyably hams it up as Baran, but it's Robin Curtis (best known to fans as LieutenantSaavik from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock), playing a badass Vulcan named Tallera, who steals the show. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good conclusion
This conclusion to the two-part story begun in "Gambit Part I" is both fun and satisfying. Plot and counter-plot start mounting up on the mercenary ship as Picard and Riker try to figure out what the mercenaries' plan is and stay alive. But who is really in control of the situation? Meanwhile, Data is doing a very creditable job of commanding the Enterprise in their absence, but finds himself in conflict with Worf over his command decisions.
"Gambit Part II" is as tight and well written as its prequel, and there are some nice comic moments. The resolution to the mercenaries' plans on Vulcan does come as something of a surprise - but you expect the unexpected plot twist in a story like this one. And it's good to see Picard's archaeological knowledge being put to concrete use. Both parts of "Gambit" are enjoyable adventures in the old-fashioned, swashbuckling style.

Picard and Riker have fun as mercentary pirates
In Part I of "Gambit," Picard and Riker end up on a pirate ship full of mercenaries. Picard is posing as Galen, a smuggler of artifacts, while Riker. pretending to be unhappy with Starfleet, has just joined the crew. The two "defeat" the Enterprise when it shows up, mainly because Data, now commanding the ship, quickly figures out what is going on and plays along with Picard's ruse. When Picard learns that Arctus Baran, the mercenary captain, has been hired by a group of isolationist Vulcans to reassemble an ancient weapon capable of killing with a single thought, he "kills" Riker and leads a mutiny to take over command of the mercenary shift. But is it too late?

"Gambit" is a good old-fashioned swashbuckling tale, with Picard and Riker pretending to go along with the mercenaries/pirates until the time is right, and then turning the tables on them. Meanwhile, Data is actually in command of the Enterprise, which encounters a very tall Klingon (played by NBA All-Star James Worthy), who has a component for the ancient weapon. The resolution is a bit of a let down considering all the fun we have getting to that point, but this is still an above-average STNG episode. It is certainly a treat to see Picard be so bloodthirsty.

Shocking Beginning, but overall good Episode
We TNG fans are frightened when Troi makes a suprising revelation at the start. Picard is also undercover as the rogue "Galen." We also see Koral, the tallest Klingon in the history of Star Trek. He is played by James Worthy, former NBA Forward from the Lakers. So all those Sports/Star Trek fans, this is an episode for you. I rather liked this episode because two-parters always have good storylines, and this was no exception. The search for this ancient Vulcan relic ends with a bang. I would recommend this to any ST fans for it's great storyline and true TNG feeling! ... Read more

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You know those aliens who give anal probes to rural farmers andperform cattle mutilations? Well, Earth is not the only focus of theirsurgical investigations, as the Enterprise is loath to discover. Asthe episode opens, Commander Riker has been having trouble sleeping. Rather,he's been falling asleep fine but waking up unrested. Soon others begin tofeel "off" in a similar way. Then Geordi somehow winds up with a foreignbacterial infection that interferes with his visor. The trouble is traced toa subspace rupture in cargo bay four. Expanding on the late-'80s phenomenonof recovered memories, a group therapy session on the holodeck reconstructsthe alien operating room that they all believe they've been taken to, givingthem comfort in knowing the alien violations are really happening. Meanwhile,the subspace rupture is expanding to the point where it may destroy theEnterprise, and they need to figure out a way to stop it. The ultimatemessage of this episode is that there are forces in the universe that we maynever understand, and it's more than likely that these forces are malevolent.Oh, and Data learns that poetry cannot be good or interesting if it's justtechnical formalism without emotional substance. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Schisms
I was searching for this episode for over a year. "Askme.com" gave me the title/episode number, and "Amazon.com" to purchase it. This was one of my favorite "Trek/NG". It was a haunting episode which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I've been around since Kirk. It's worthy of any collection.

Someone is doing weird science experiments on the crew
The Enterprise is busy mapping the Amagosa Diaspora when several of the crewmembers report unsettling visions to Counselor Troi. When she gathers Riker, La Forge and Worf on the holodeck, they are able to reconstruct an examination table that looks like something from a torture chamber. Meanwhile, in Cargo Bay 4 an area of subspace instability has suddenly appeared, and, as we all know, there are no coincidences in space...

The mystery part of "Schisms" is certainly an intriguing set-up, but the payoff is less than stellar. The scene when Dr. Crusher informs Riker than his arm is a teeny bit shorter because it had been amputated and reattached is where I start to lose it with this episode. What I do like about this episode, besides Troi getting to do her job with the bridge crew rather than some unknown person brought in just for a particular story, is that the ending is not a clean resolution. "Schisms" is certainly one of the darker STNG stories.

One of my favorites!
I love this episode because it combines your classic UFO abduction stories with Star Trek, to create a unique and exciting episode. Another thing I like about this episode is that it's probably the erriest one, especially (in my opinion, anyway) in the scene where the abductees recreate the alien craft on the holodeck. Star Trek fans will definitly get their money's worth!

one of the dumbest, most pointless STTNG episodes
This episode is a rather pointless exploration of alien abduction theories. All the suspense is contrived, and the episode never really goes anywhere, nor does it do anyhting experimental. It just sets up a situation, never resolves it, and never goes back to it later in the series. For UFO conspiracy buffs only, unless you're a completist. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

'Weird Science'...Wait...Make That 'Really Weird Science'!
This late ST:TNG series entry has been the subject of much debate and the recepient of many negative comments. I cannot side with those who judge this the worst of the TNG episodes. It has many of the familiar series ingredients that makes it an engaging story, beginning with humor. Barclay obsesses needlessly about being infected with a deadly virus - Beverly informs him he simply has the flu, but only after mildly enjoying Barclay's discomfort. Riker reports to Sick Bay as well, having accidentally rolled onto a cactus in the arboretum and getting it's needles stuck in his back. Worf belches - loudly - during a meal with Deanna, ogles the waitress then Troi. Riker suffers a loss of intelligence (trouble concentrating he says) that is undeniably humorous to see develop - especially the conversation with Geordi about whether to run a level 1 diagnostic. When Picard and Data are in Sick Bay attempting to diagnose what happened to the crew they are interrupted by 'something' beating on the doors. Data scans the area with his tricorder and reports, "It is large. It is approximately 240 kilograms. It is heavily armored..." Do you really need to hear anymore to know that you should arm yourself or get out of harm's way?

Besides that the mystery builds quite nicely allowing for both suspense and intrigue. Worf becomes irriatiable on the bridge and is relieved of duties by Riker; later that night he scurry's about madly in his quarters destroying his bed and has fits of growling; Troi develops an overwhelming need to drink and later to be submerged in water; Barclays exhibits very odd behavior - even for him! However, the episode takes an unfortunate turn halfway through from which it never recovers.

But, ultimately this episode has some story elements that are intellectually difficult to accept. After Picard and Data encounter the Neanderthal Riker Data scans him with the tricorder. He then reports to Picard that Riker's cranial bone structure has increased 20% and that his brain has decreased in size. What happened to the discarded matter that once composed his brain? After the crew is 'cured' by Data's toxin how does Riker's brain reconfigure to it's natural state? Also, both Worf and Barclay are depicted as having their skin replaced or discarded in favor of the new life form they are becoming. How is their skin is repaired if it is missing completely? Actually I suppose one could suggest that in the 24th century an advanced type of reconstructive surgery process could this. Beverly did need it because of the facial damaged caused by Worf spraying her with venom.

Above and beyond all of these though is the theory that dormant genes within humans carry genetic sequences that could surface after an inexplicable event and effect such horrific changes. It simply is unbelievable and insufficiently supported. Some viewers were even offended or disturbed by the show's speculation of human's evolutionary development. Keeping in mind that Star Trek is a show that historically takes adventurous risks (indeed, "To boldly go where no one has gone before!") for such an outlandish idea a stronger scientific platform should have been developed before progressing with the production of this story. A more plausible development would have been that all the crewmembers regress to the same or near Neanderthal state that Riker does.

Still, I don't dislike "Genesis" for all it's flaws. Instead I like it because of the strong first half and also because it does dare take such a risk with storytelling. I don't necessarily agree with the theories it presents but it does make for a lively discussion.

actually not phenomenally stupid
"Genesis" is nowhere near as phenomenally stupid as the synopsis makes it sound. The basic premise is, yes, pretty darned stupid, but if one suspends one's disbelief (and if one cannot do that, why is one watching Star Trek?), there are some fun chills here.

Gates McFadden didn't have much to work with, but she created a fine eerie atmosphere. This one ends up being fun to watch (Troi scarfing down a big plate of caviar, Worf calvinistically suggesting it's too rich) -- and at least it's not preachy.

Excellent Episode That Sends Chills
....It's a television show designed to entertain. I loved this epsiode due to its suspense. The crew of the Enterprise slowly turns into different creatures due to a drug administered into Lt. Barclay. The thing that makes it exciting is that you don't know whats going to happen next and you don't know what everyone is going to turn into. Wipe the science of things out of your head and watch a classic such as this. .... 5 stars all the way.

Will Picard be a lemur or pygmy marmoset?
This is also my choice for the worst STNG episode ever. Dr. Crusher is examining Spot, Data's pregnant cat, and Reg Barclay (Dwight Schultz) in Sick Bay. She gives Barclay a synthetic T-cell that will allow his body to fight off this rare disease to which he is particularly susceptible. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is testing a new targeting program for photon torpedoes. One of them gets lost, which for some reason requires Picard and Data to get on a shuttle and go after it. They return three days later and find the Enterprise crew has de-evolved into hideous creatures. Every time some monstrosity shows up you get to guess who they really are.

I do not know a lot about genetic science, but this sounds pretty far-fetched to even me. A synthetic T-cell becomes an airborne virus and every one starts mutating like crazy? I don't think so. Nor do I think that undoing such genetic mischief is equally easy to accomplish. Certainly the make-up department does a nice job of turning the crew into various creatures. Also, the romance between Worf and Troi continues: he bites her, but this also turns out not to be a good thing. But this is a poor use of Barclay's character and when all is said and done I am left with the conclusion "Genesis" is just a lame episode.

very disapppointed
I'm afraid this is one of my least favorite episodes. The direction and filming were indeed good, but the science behind the episode was completely bogus. (I know a lot of medical people, including geneticists...they hate this ep.) Worse, and perhaps because she directed it, Gates' character,the doctor responsible for the trouble, showed absolutely NO sign of any remorse or regret for her actions...actions which caused a number of murder deaths among the crew. The only redeeming quality was the as usual high quality work of Dwight Schultz, as the neurotic and entertaining Barclay.

ST:TNG has often had trouble with its main characters being wooden or unemotional, or with weak science, but this one I just couldn't forgive. Sorry. ... Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Dr. Crusher and the Mystery of the Metaphysic Shield
At a scientific conference, Dr. Crusher meets Reyga, a Ferengi scientist who claims to have invented a metaphysic shield that would protect a ship as it flies through the corona of a star. Crusher invites Reyga and a group of scientists back to the Enterprise to test the Ferengi's theory. The new shielding is installed on an Enterprise shuttle, which will be flown by one of the other scientists, a T'Karian named Jobril. At first the experiment is successful as Jobril flies the shuttle into the corona safely, but then he reports having difficulty breathing. Jobril returns to the Enterprise but then dies. Shortly after that, Reyga also dies, an apparent suicide. However, Dr. Crusher is very suspicious. She thinks someone sabotaged the metaphysic-shielding device and killed Reyga. Now, all she has to do is prove it.

"Suspicion" is another one of those "I Love a Mystery" episode in the series, the twist being that it is Crusher who gets to play the detective this time around (and if she has to perform an autopsy on Reyga despite the fact his family forbids it and Captain Picard gives her a direct order not to, then Beverley will do it because, well, that's the way the episode was written!). What it interesting is how much she is alone on this one. I love the idea that there is a brilliant Ferengi scientist, a far cry from their first appearance on STNG as almost feral beings. The vistiing scientists constitute the group of usual suspects and there are plenty of red herrings to discount. This is an average episode of the series, which stands out only in regards to giving Dr. Crusher something to do that does not involve Wesley.

Dr. Crusher Does Something Interesting!
The Next Generation's women are weak. I don't know if this is because the actresses, Gates McFadden as Dr. Crusher, Marina Sirtis as Counslor Troi and (ugh) Denise Crosby as Lt. Yar, were incompetent or the writers/creators of TNG just did not know how to write women (I suspect the latter though Crosby is a poor actress regardless) but they just did not do much on TNG (especially early on) and have, in my opinion, been fairly weak characters (though both Troi and Crusher grew stronger as characters later in TNG's run). I'm not anti-woman here, just anti-bad characters/bad writers. I sometimes wonder if our TNG trio of women was hired for their appearance rather than their acting ability.

"Suspicions" is not a great episode but at least Dr. Crusher is interesting here as she attempts to solve the murder of a Ferengi scientist. The mystery is secondary to me because I'm more interested with Dr. Crusher's rebellion in this episode. She defies Starfleet regulations, Federation protocol, Captain Picard's orders and Ferengi tradition all in the name of justice. Go Doctor go! I don't mean to put down the mystery (it's actually fairly clever) but I appreciated a strong and well-rounded Dr. Crusher more than the particulars of a "whodunnit".

Good episode, I could've given it four stars instead of three but what the heck. ... Read more

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

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

Having pretty much exhausted the possibilities of Worf's Klingon heritage, the series brings back his human family for another one of those episodes that reminds us that Starfleet believes the universe is served by letting planets of people die because they have not achieved warp drive and are therefore unworthy of belonging to the Federation. You would think at some point somebody in the history of Starfleet would have raised some objections, ethical or otherwise. Of course, the situation is contrived so Picard cannot simply beam the Boralans back to their lifeless planet. The relationship between Worf and his brother seems forced, while the subplot regarding Picard and the man who keeps the chronicle scrolls for the village (who manages to wander off the Holodeck) carries the emotional weight of "Homeward." This is an average STNG episode, burdened by the unnecessary stepbrother relationship of the Rozhenkoes, which adds nothing to the larger questions "Homeward" tries to raise. ... Read more

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a weird crazy trip up the Howard family tree
Dr. Crusher travels to Caldos IV (all planets in Star Trek have Roman numerals - don't forget it! Caldos was such a popular name, they had at least 4 planets! We have trillions of stars, but each star gets its own name! Why not planets?!) to attend the funeral of her maternal grandmother, Felisa Howard. We learn that Beverly's mother died when she was only a little girl and she was raised by her grandmother, so they were very close.

The colony on Caldos IV started out as a terraforming project with the sole intent of mimicing the Scottish Highlands, so bagpipes are played at the funeral and Mrs. Howard's house is a modest & traditional stone and hay country home. As the mourners leave the gravesite, Beveryly notices a dashing young man (Duncan Regehr) who tosses a camellia (Felisia's favorite flower) onto her casket and as he walks away, he looks over his shoulder and gives a heartbroken, yet seductive look to Beverly.

Beverly enters the house to gather sentimental belongings of her grandmother and she tries to tie up the loose ends in her grandmother's affairs. She catches the caretaker, Ned Quint (Shay Duffin), attempting to throw out an old brass candle holder that has been in Beverly's family for generations, and perhaps one of her most treasured family possessions. Quint claims the candle is a source of bad luck, but Beverly kicks him out of the house and is quite brusque with him.

The Enterprise stays in orbit longer than planned, to fix an unidentified power fluctuation in the weather control net on the planet, which affords Beverly more time to stay on the planet and sleep in her grandmother's house. Beverly finds her grandmother's journals and discovers that she had a young lover named Ronin for years. She falls asleep after reading the journal, having what appears to be an erotic dream, only to be awakened by a man's sultry voice. When she wakens suddenly, no one is there.

The next day, she visits the grave of her grandmother to find it covered with camellias. Continued problems w/ the weather net cause storms to break out, so she runs back to the house, to find the house filled with camellias... and once again she hears the voice of the man who woke her from her special dream. He reveals that his name is Ronin, a ghost of sorts that has loved the Howard women for 8 centuries. He begins to touch her, but she tells him to stop and he retreats.

Geordi & Data discover that Quint is behind the problems with the weather net - as he's caught, he screams a warning, "he'll kill us all!" and is suddenly killed by a plasma discharge. Beverly's tricorder scans reveal that the plasma is not what killed him.

Normally one to investigate further, she is instead drawn back to Ronin and his wiles. He tells her that lighting the family candle will keep him in corporeal (touchable) form. On the Enterprise, she lights the candle and Ronin appears to her. She resigns her post on the Enterprise and decides to become a healer on Caldos IV like her grandmother. Apparently, loving a ghost that got jiggy with her grandmother isn't creeping her out like it should be.

Data discovers energy from the cemetery similar to what killed the caretaker, Quint. Picard goes down to investigate and Ronin blasts him with his green plasma kung fu grip.

Torn between her unquenchable desire for Ronin and her loyalty to Picard, she has an epiphany as to what Ronin really is.

An interesting story, but far from the best that The Next Generation has to offer. We do see some sides of Beverly we don't normally get to see - and for character development, it's a good episode - but easily forgettable.

The Worst Episode of the Series!
Out of every episode of the long run of Star Trek: The Next Generation I have only disliked a few episodes and I have to say that Sub Rosa is the episode that I dislike the most, my #1 least favorite episode followed by Samaritan Snare at #2 and Justice at #3. Bevery Crusher is one of my favorite characters but there are much better episodes that focus on her. I think this is the worst episode of the series but of course that is just a matter of personal opinion!

Sub Rosa,...Non! Sub Standard,...Oui!
While many episodes of the series rarely focused on ship's physician, Dr. Beverly Crusher, this one does and, unfortunately, it's rather tame with little that is commendable. At the end of my initial viewing, I couldn't help but wonder the mindset behind this installment. Repeat viewings have not altered this puzzlement.

Painful
Crusher is prepared to throw in her career for the sake of her new lover, Ronin - the family ghost who has loved the women of her family since the seventeenth century. But why isn't she telling her friends what's going on? And what is the connection with the problems with Caldos II's weather control system?
Gothic romance meets Star Trek? This might have been a good idea in theory, but it didn't come off. The writing is bad and the acting is over the top. The reasons for Crusher's strange behaviour are never really made clear. The faux Scottish setting is twee. And so what if Ronin made Crusher's female ancestors very, very happy? He was a lying creep who fed on them for centuries!
I would go so far as to call this episode unwatchable.

Bizarre!
This episode where Beverly Crusher gets it on with some kind of ghostly being is the strangest episode I have ever watched, not just of a Star Trek the Next Generation episode but of any TV show period! ... Read more

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Continuing the story line begun in episode 65, "Sins of the Father," "Reunion" treats us to more of the machinations of Klingon politics. Klingon ambassador K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) boards the Enterprise to meet with Captain Picard and inform him that he is to meet with the Klingon high council leader K'Mpec. K'Mpec is dying, having been poisoned by one of the two rivals for his place, Duras and Gowron, and appoints Picard to oversee the succession once K'Mpec has died. Picard's main task is to discover K'Mpec's murderer and make sure that the murderer doesn't assume power. Meanwhile, K'Ehleyr turns out to be Worf's mate and has brought along their young son, which invokes Worf's dishonor from the earlier episode in which he is basically shunned by the High Council for his father's supposed collaboration with the Romulans. As we know (if we've been following along), it is Duras whose father was the traitor. And Duras is one of the contenders for leadership. Hmmm, which one is the murderer of K'Mpec, Duras or Gowron?

If this is any real mystery to anyone, there are numerous clues thrown in your way to implicate the real culprit, and no expectation goes thwarted. While this is a major flaw for admirers of suspense, there is plenty of the Klingons' native ferocity in evidence to supply excitement, especially in the splendidly fierce visage of Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) and the sultry voice of Suzie Plakson as K'Ehleyr. We also move one step closer to Worf's vindication, continued in the future two-part episode "Redemption." --Jim Gay ... Read more

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guess who's coming to dinner?
Half-human, half-Klingon ambassador, K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) is back as her ship rendevous unexpectedly with the Enterprise. Leader of the Klingon High Council, K'Mpec is dying - a slow death by murder - someone has poisoned him. The two men up for succession as Leader are Gowron and Duras, and K'Mpec suspects that one of them is behind this cowardly act. K'Mpec pleads with Picard to find out who his murderer is so that a coward does not become the ruler of the Klingon Empire.

When K'Ehleyr beams on board, Worf is sent (reluctantly) to receive her in the transporter room. He is shocked to see a young (about 3 years old) boy beam aboard with her. Who is the father? Is it Worf? It has been almost 3 years since Worf & K'Ehleyr had their intimate moments on the Holodeck and later parted awkwardly.

It becomes clear that this young boy, Alexander, is indeed Worf's son. He is torn. Not only does he not feel like he is father material, he cannot claim the boy as his own, since Alexander will inherit his dishonor due to Worf's discommendation.

A suicide bomber of sorts, interrupts a meeting between Picard, Gowron & Duras. As it turns out, one of Duras's men had a Romulan-made detonator implanted in his body. As Picard's team continues the murder investigation, K'Ehleyr advises Picard on how to draw out the rite of succession as slowly as possible to avoid having a Romulan collaborator in leadership of the Klingon homeworld.

Duras, who is clearly behind a number of cowardly acts that are shameful to the Empire, is feeling the heat and seeks revenge by killing K'Ehleyr and Worf seeks revenge as is his rite within Klingon law.

Will he kill Duras? Will he raise Alexander? Who will lead the high council? The plot thickens and no one is really sure until the very end.

Worf has a hand in the question of the Klingon succession
"Reunion" brings together virtually every Klingon related plot-line on Star Trek: The Next Generation. A Klingon battle cruiser suddenly shows up with K'Mpec, the leader of the Klingon High Council and Worf's paramour, Ambassador K'Ehleyr. K'Mpec has been poisoned and wants Picard to be arbiter of the Klingon succession between the two aspiring leaders, Duras and Gowron, and find out which one of them killed the Chancellor. Meanwhile, not to be outdone, K'Ehlyer presents Worf with their son, Alexander, a by-product of their passionate encounter during "The Emissary" (Episode 46). K'Ehlyer presses for marriage, but Worf refuses because of his Discommendation ("Sins of the Father," Episode 65), although, of course, he will not tell her why he did what he did. K'Ehleyr undertakes her own investigation and learns the truth: that it was the father of Duras and not Worf's who was the traitor and Duras who poisoned K'Mpec. When an outraged K'Ehleyr confronts Duras, he kills her.

The producers might not have intended to have all these threads come together in this one episode, but "Reunion" certainly does a masterful job of bringing everything to a head. Few episodes in the history of the show have as many shocks as this one, combinging to bring Worf to the most pivotal moment in his life. With this episode the characterization of Worf becomes complete, giving actor Michael Dorn his greatest moments. From this point on you can never consider the Klingons to be the somewhat cartoonish enemies they were on the original series and the ramifications of what happenes in "Reunion" will last until the end of the series. A very impressive and important episode.

The Return of K'Ehlyr and Klingon Politics
In season two's "The Emissary", we are introduced to Ambassador K'Ehlyr, a half-Klingon, half-human Federation diplomat and former friend and lover of Lt. Worf. In season three's "Sins of the Father", we are introduced to Klingon politics and subterfuge and Worf is dishonored because of a crime his father supposedly committed. With season four, both plotlines come together in the intense and wonderfully constucted episode "Reunion".

The leader of the Klingon Empire, Chancellor K'mpec, is dying and decides that Captain Picard, in accordance with Klingon law, will choose the next leader of the Empire. Two Klingons council members are competing for the throne, Gowron and Duras (Duras previously had dishonored Worf by laying the blame of his father on to Worf's father). One problem: K'mpec has been slowly poisoned by either Duras or Gowron and wants Picard to find out which one has, ultimately, murdered him. Picard has Worf investigate. This puts Worf in an awkward position because, not only is he an outcast in Klingon society and Duras is the one who dishonored him, but his lover, K'Ehlyr (who is assisting Picard and the Federation in this diplomatic mess) just dropped a bombshell on Worf: She has a son by Worf and Worf won't acknowledge their son because he doesn't want his dishonor passed on. Whew! Did you get all that?

This makes for a fascinating episode filled with political intrigue and family dysfunction. The ending is a shocker and is quite bold on the part of Trek's creators and I give them kudos for their guts in writing and airing the episode's finale. I won't tell you what happens (you probably already know) but it is both heart-wrenching and, oddly, satisfying.

Great episode with great characters, both villainous and noble. What a story! ... Read more

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Trekking into "Lost in Space" Territory
It must be a sci-fi staple that aliens just love to possess us weak-minded earthlings. No less than five episodes of the 60's "Lost in Space" had a similar theme. Even the original Trek toyed with the idea itself - one of the most memorable episodes being the last, "Turnabout Intruder".

Obviously, it was time for ST: NG to have its shot at it and this one is a doozy. Three crew members (Troi, Data, and O'Brien) have their psyche shared by aliens intending on freeing thousands of their kinsmen (with the assistance of the Enterprise, of course).

While the credibility of the plot is stretched somewhat, the installment does allow Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, and Colm Meaney some time to chew the scenery. Many episode were devoted to "Data"; thus, "Deana" and "Miles" were highlighted, although not as their usual good-as-gold Federation officers.

Another case of possession by minds without bodies
The fifth season of STNG provided the cast with ample opportunities to show off their acting ability. In "Power Play" the Enterprise picks up a weak distress signal coming from a supposedly uninhabited moon. The signal is apparently from the USS Essex, a ship that disappeared over 200 years earlier. When Troi insists she senses life on the moon's surface, Picard has to investigate. However, there are intense magnetic storms on the moon, which force him to send down the away team of Riker, Troi and Data in a shuttlecraft. When the shuttle loses power on the way down, O'Brien risks a transporter trip to the moon's surface to set up pattern enhancers to get the away team back. However, right before the group transporters, little points of light enter the bodies of Data, Troi and O'Brien (Riker has a broken arm). Back aboard the Enterprise, the three try to take over the ship. When they fail to take over the bridge (the best scene in the episode), the trio end up taking hostages in Ten-Forward. Picard trades himself for the hostages who have been injured and in formed by Troi that "she" is Bryce Shumar, the captain of the Essex and demands the Enterprise search the southern pole of the moon for their remains so that their consciousnesses can rest.

"Power Play" is an odd choice of an episode to follow "Conundrum" in the STNG series, since the previous episode had a beam from an alien probe stripping the entire crew of their identities. Apparently Data, Troi and O'Brien have to go through the whole thing again the following week (it is the two times in a row that Data's positronic brain gets hijacked that bothers me the most). I also find it ironic that Marina Sirtis gets better scenes as Troi being possessed than she does when Deanna is in complete control of her mental faculties. With all that her brain gets put through on this series, you have to hope she is getting some counseling of her own. Ultimately, "Power Play" is an average episode for this series; we can trace the "beings without bodies have possessed key members and are not telling the whole truth about who they are and what they want" back to the original Star Trek series. We are also getting close to the point where Captain Picard needs to stop being so understanding and so compassionate. Where is Q when we need him?

Action-Packed Fun
In a season dominated by dull political episodes("Redemption Part II" and the major Spock let down), kiddie stories("Hero Worship", "New Ground" and the god awful "Imaginary Friend"), and sappy episodes like "I,Borg"(which ruined one of the greatest alien villains ever created), it's good to see TNG get back to it's action-packed,cheesy Sci-Fi roots. This episode is merely an action episode with a neat sci-fi twist; Criminal aliens have taken over the bodies of Data, Couseler Troi, and Transporter Chief O'brien, and they hold the ship hostage. They claim to be the "spirits" from the missing U.S.S. Essex but their ruthless antics betray them. The fun is watching the bridge crew try to outmenuever the aliens, and there is some juicy conflict between the criminal who possessed Data and Worf. "Power Play" features a tense and moody score by Jay Chataway(evocative of Ron Jones's fabulous TNG scores),and Director David Livingston imbues the episode with style and excitement. ... 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 this outing, the Enterprise-D answers a distress call from Dr. Ira Graves, brilliant cyberneticist (W. Morgan Sheppard). Grizzled, old Graves lives all alone on some sort of research planet with (of course) his gorgeous blond assistant, Kareen Brianon (Barbara Alyn Woods). An away team is dispatched and it soon becomes obvious that Graves is dying. For reasons that elude rational thought, Data