Reviews (10)

Er, not good
I was 12 when this series orignally came out. Now, twenty years later, the episode that used to be my favorite, "The Living Legend," is obviously, well, underwhelming. The editing of the Fire in Space footage was horrible, just an excuse to extend this "movie" by another 20 or 30 minutes. There was really no speculative element to this movie at all, which was the problem with most of the BG episodes. It was just another simple-minded shoot-em-up, an excuse to replay their fx another dozen or so times each. Now that I'm not a kid anymore, I realize the episodes I used to like the least are in fact the best -- episodes like War of the Gods and The Long Patrol where the cylons were not really involved and there were some provocative, speculative ideas. It figures now that I'd really like to see War of the Gods, it's unavailable on video. Oh well. Also: why in the world were the sound effects for the cylon ships moving through space changed?

The Living legend on VHS...sort of
I must agree with most the other reviews that this was a somewhat poorly reedited version of Living Legend and Fire In Space, and, if you noticed, a few minutes of footage from the pilot ( Baltar's mine field sequence was originally from the Carillon mine field from the pilot and the movie) However, when this was released in Europe, about the same time the movie version of the pilot was released here, European TV viewers hadn't seen The Living Legend or the Fire In Space episodes yet. The storyline followed Living Legend more than Fire In Space and the two stories were pretty well edited together, in fact some of the earlier scenes were appeard more logically then those in the episode version of Living Legend. The ending scene was however, poorly done, Originally, Sheba was on a gurney talking to the others(injured in The Living Legend, but not in this movie), instead it was Adama( from Fire In Space) , and the dialogue was cut from both episodes and then a hasty voice over by the late Lorne Greene. Would still like to have this on DVD as with the other episodes with trailers and whatever else. For right now, this is the only way to get most of Living Legend on video but hopefully soon Universal and.or Columbia House will release ALL of them on DVD.

By your command!
This was a great movie. It brought back all the great times when me and my cousins would all gather around the tv and watch battlestar galactica..It a must for the fan!

What an atrocity!
This is the WORST Battlestar Galactica video out there! They took two of the best episodes of the series and mashing them together to try to make a movie out of it but instead succeeded in creating a confusing mishmosh of the episodes. Oh, and to a previous reviewer that noted that Adama wasn't injured in "The Living Legend", you are right. But he WAS injured in "Fire in Space" - guess Universal thought the scene was good enough to throw in just for some angst.
DON'T BUY THIS VIDEO! IT'S AN INSULT TO "GALACTICA" FANS!

Not bad -- but ...
...the television version of the "Living Legend" was much better. I admit to buying this video strictly for that aspect of this haphazardly spliced-together film. ("Fire In Space" episode by itself is okay too). Okay, to the plot (for the non-BSG familiar). Lorne Greene leads an aircraft-carrier sized spacecraft (the Battlestar Galactica), with 200-some odd civilian craft in tow, in search of the mythical planet Earth after their colonies were destroyed by a relentless cybernetic race called the Cylons. During a recon mission, two of his patrol craft accidentally run into a patrol from another battlestar whose legendary commander (Lloyd Bridges) they thought perished years ago. The two commanders reunite, but quickly realize they have differences on how to proceed. Commander Adama (Greene) wants only fuel to get his fleet underway while Commander Cain (Bridges) wants to put the smackdown on the Cylons by any means necessary. Interesting plot and outstanding special effects (although some are blatantly rehashed AND stolen from the movie "The Towering Inferno". Good supporting cast too, including Richard Hatch (Capt. Apollo), Dirk Benedict (Lt. Starbuck), Terry Carter (Col. Tigh), Anne Lockhart (Lt. Sheba) and the late (but enjoyably oily) John Colicos as the traitor Baltar. Bottom line -- good escapist entertainment. I've loved the BSG series since I was a kid and the "Living Legend" was the best of the lot. I've heard rumors of resurrecting the series as a movie, miniseries and even an IMAX movie. (Whatever it takes, folks, just do it!) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (4)

Officer Exchange Program
Riker's Honor

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

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

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

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

Great episode, maybe the best of season two.

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

Reviews (1)

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

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

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Late!

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (1)

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

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

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

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

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (6)

Good Episode
The Enterprise NCC-1701-D is waiting for its next mission. While the crew take a few days to rest the Enterprise is hit by a quantum filament. This has some of the best lines in this season (i.e. Worf to Keiko "You may now give birth." and then Keiko shoots back "That's what I've been doing!"). Also in the this show Troi is in command which is somthing Ro doesn't approve of. Riker atuck with just Dats's head (Good lines come from Riker while he is fooling around with Data's head)after Data's body is damaged. Picard stuck in a turbolift with three children and then has to climb up a turboshaft with them. La Forge and Crusher stuck in a cargo by full of explosives that explode when it come in conact with radiation and there is a plasma fire in the bay to with is releasing radiation. Great episode for a star trek fan

Truly one of the best Star Trek episodes ever written
"Disaster" is definitley one of the best episodes in all of Star Trek history. It was a surprising episode, with all the sparks and damage. Usually Voyager takes that beating, but I kind of liked it when they showed the Enterprise taking that damage.

Well, the story starts out with a party in the mess hall, all because of Keiko's baby, and then while Picard is tallking to some children, one of the kids looks up at him without talking, puts his head down and then they're struck by a quantum filament. Then, with most of the ship's power gone, the crew tries to survive. Do they survive? If you want to find the answer, you'll have to watch this exciting episode that is perhaps as good as Voyager. But I warn you, this is a scary episode in a way!

Where was Captain Picard when the lights went out
This is a rather simple episode that turns into a fairly fascinating character study of the Enterprise crew. As the episode beings nothing is going on so most of the crew is relaxing in Ten-Forward, where Riker, Worf and Data are helping O'Brien and Keiko pick a name for the baby that is due sometime soon (this alone should set off warning bells for you). In one of the cargo bays Dr. Crusher is trying to talk La Forge into being part of her next musical. O'Brien arrives on the bridge just as Troi introduces Picard to the three young winners of the school science fair. The Captain will give the children a tour of the ship. But as soon as they take off in the turbolift a pair of quantum filaments hit the Enterprise, knocking out most of the ship's systems including the main computer and starting a series of crises for each of the aforementioned groups. Even though Troi is the least competent officer on the bridge she is the senior office, a fact that has O'Brien and Ro exchanging meaningful looks for the rest of the episode. The containment field in the cargo bay with Crusher and La Forge is about to break down. Riker and Data try to get to Engineering to help restore systems (because if they go to the bridge Troi would have nothing more to do). Of course, this leaves Worf to help Keiko deliver her baby, since he is the last member of the Enterprise crew you would want acting as a mid-wife. Meanwhile, back in the turbolift, Picard has a broken ankle and three frightened children (and we all remember how much Picard enjoys being around children). Just to make things really interesting and put a sense of danger into this recipe for "Disaster," Ro discovers that the warp engine's containment field has some serious problems and the whole thing is going to explode if somebody does not do something. Too bad the power is out and the computer is down.

"Disaster" is the marvelous execution of a simple idea. The power goes out and everybody is pretty much in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even O'Brien, the most useful person actually on the bridge, should be with his wife while she delivers their baby. While Worf provides the episode's comic relief (until Riker starts toting around Data's head), it is Counselor Troi dealing with her inadequate abilities to command a cripple Starship and Captain Picard having to deal with a trio of frightened children that are the most interesting to watch during the episode. What I especially appreciate is that Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis and Patrick Stewart all have their characters act differently as they each deal with their rather unique crises. We do, in fact, get to see new shadings on these old characters. Ironically, in not seeing these characters at their best we actually end up seeing them at their best. As I said above, "Disaster" is simply an excellent character study.

This is a great episode
The Enterprise runs into a quantum filament and is disabled doing so. With the main computer down. the crew must work together to save the ship.

There is a good scene where Captain Picard starts a sing-along with some children in the turboshaft.

Disaster, The Enterprise is a Disaster
This is my all time favorite epsode. In this epsode, the enterprise hits something in space which severly damages the Enterprise. No one alive in enginering and a warp core breach very close is only one of the problems for the enterprise, the others include data losing his body, Troi commanding the bridge, Picard stuck in a turbo shaft with a broken ankle and 3 kids, and Geordi and Beverly stuck in a cargo bay with some highly explosive stuff. I don't want to give it all away but I would defently have this one for your collection ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Data's turn to function as a father-figure for a young boy
The Enterprise is investigating the disappearance of the research vessel Vico during its survey of a Black Cluster, which is a nice little area of space packed with collapsed protostars and therefore subject to intense gravitational forces. The Vico is located outside the cluster with everybody on board ripped to shreds except for a young boy named Timothy, who tells how they were attacked by an alien ship. Traumatized by the death of his parents, Timothy forms an attachment to Data and when Counselor Troi suggests the android can help the boy get through this horrible experience, the two spend time together. Meanwhile, Picard takes the Enterprise into the Black Cluster and quickly discovers that Timothy is not telling the truth. Of course, if he does not find out what really happened, the Enterprise crew will suffer the same fate as that of the Vico.

This series has dealt several times with children aboard the Enterprise turning to one of the crew members to help get through the death of a parent. "Hero Worship" is a fairly routine example of such a story line, which was covered better in "The Bonding" (Episode 53) where a young boy turns to Worf after the death of his mother. The two episodes are certainly comparable in that both have the boy trying to be more like the adult, in this case the unemotional Data rather than the stoic Worf. In both episodes Troi supports these efforts, which might be dramatically interesting since Data and Worf are not exactly paragons of emotional support, but which makes no sense from a Counseling standpoint. Troi should know better. Based on his performance as a "father" in "Future Imperfect" (Episode 82), she should have asked Riker. Come to think of it, La Forge might be the only member of the bridge crew who does not get a chance to function as a parental figure for some traumatized kid. But since Data had already tried to have a girlfriend ("In Theory," Episode 99), he might as well try being a father figure. It is a common theme in the Star Trek universe, the best example of which is long-term bonding between Seven of Nine and Naomi Wildmon on Voyager. ... Read more

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Star Trek: The Next Generation presents its take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by introducing the dispute between Cardassians and the displaced Bajoran people, a dispute that would later become the basis of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Ever since the Cardassians annexed the Bajoran home world four decades prior, there has been trouble with terrorism, but now the terrorism is starting to affect Federation ships. Captain Picard has been ordered to find the Arafat-like rebel leader Orta (Jeffrey Hayenga), the man who's been blamed for the latest terrorist attack. Assigned to assist him on this mission is Ensign Ro (the surly and talented Michelle Forbes), a Bajoran ex-Starfleet officer who is hated by everyone because of an incident that happened when she was serving on the Wellington, where she disregarded orders and got several crew members killed. Of course, she's just as reluctant to serve on the Enterprise, but does so because it's better than prison--barely.

She ends up helping them find Orta, but they discover a larger conspiracy surrounding the terrorist attack. Along the way, the Federation (United States) is taken to task for its conveniently passive policy of noninterference back when the Cardassians (Israelis) were displacing the Bajorans (Palestinians), and are even blamed for a little behind-the-scenes dirty dealing. Admittedly, the politics don't always work here, but Forbes is terrific. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Shaking up the Enterprise Crew by introducing Ro Laren
Obviously this episode helps in no small part to set up Deep Space Nine since it introduces the idea of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor (We first met the Cardassians in "The Wounded," Episode 86). A Federation colony is attacked and the Bajorans claim responsibility. At this point in the history of the Star Trek universe the Bajorans are seen as interplanetary refugees, with the Cardassians having kicked them off their home world. The Enterprise rescues the survivors of the attack and Picard takes a conference call with Admiral Kennelly, who believes the attack was led by a Bajoran named Orta. Kennelly orders Picard to find Orta and persuade him to return with his terrorist band to one of the refugee camps. Just to complicate things, the admiral assigns Ensign Ro Laren to help Picard with this rather delicate mission. Ro (remember, with Bajorans the family name comes first) is a rather infamous figure in Starfleet, having been court-martialed for doing horrible things on the USS Wellington. The admiral has her released from prison for this special mission, but the entire crew of the Enterprise, usually a most understanding and sympathetic bunch as they have proven in episode after episode, are horrified to have her on board. The only person to treat Ro nice is Guinan, who always did function as the ship's unofficial Devil's Advocate. When Ro helps Picard contact Orta, the terrorist leader insists he had nothing to do with the attack on the outpost. A confused Ro, prodded by Guinan, then confesses her real mission to Picard. It seems that there are feints within ploys of multiple plots and Picard needs to figure out what is going on and what to do about it before the episode ends.

"Ensign Ro" essentially combines the late 20th Century's recurring problem of international refugees with the classic western tale of the calvary trying to get the great Indian chief to return with his warriors to the reservation. Throwing the character of Ro Laren into the mix was also a way of shaking up the interpersonal dynamics on the Enterprise. Here was an "outsider" who was going to be around for an extended stay (originally the Ro character was going to be the second in command on the DS9 spin-off, but actress Michelle Forbes wanted to pursue other opportunities, i.e., "Homicide: Life on the Street"). Certainly it was always fun to see someone get under Picard's skin the way Ro does while she was on the show. Consequently, this is an average episode of STNG that is more significant because it introduces a new character and sets up DS9 than for the little mystery it presents to Picard and his happy little crew.

Ro, We Hardly Knew Ya.
It was funny about 'Star Trek -- The Next Generation,' I was against the idea of the show from the beginning. The very idea of a sequel to the original show with a different cast...God, No! For the first several seasons, STNG was...Okay, I guess. It never did anything to change my initial opinion, however. The first season seemed to be a collection of rewrites of older episodes, but, very gradually, STNG seemed to get its space legs. Then, something (or, more accurately someone) very extraordinary happened.

Ro Laren happened.

Bajor happened.

(And from that a whole other series happened, but I shouldn't digress.)

Episode 103, "Ro Laren" was the beginning and an introduction to that Bajoran world, spearheaded by a (then) fairly unknown actress named Michelle Forbes. (Funny, but even now I don't know why she isn't better known.) There is a sincerity, and an honesty to the way she created Ro. The way Forbes and Patrick Stewart play off one another is a true delight. Near the end of the episode they do a scene that, no matter how many times I see it, I simply can not turn away from. For an instant we see through Ro's eyes, we can see some of the gears that make this most complicated Star Trek character tick. I bought that scene utterly. I totally bought Ensign Ro Laren and, I suppose, fell in love with her.

Forbes played Ro as a somewhat conflicted, mysterious character who didn't seem to be comfortable in her own skin. A female with a past, she became a breath of fresh air in what had become a too-perfect Star Trek world. But, more than that, she added a note of believability to this universe and began to make it live beyond the edges of the screen.

During a way too short run of six episodes, Michelle Forbes as Ro created a "believability factor" for the whole series which lasted far beyond her tenure (even though she had evaporated for all but one, very well-acted but thematically ill-conceived "wrap-up" episode in STNG's last season). I would like to save this episode (and Ms. Forbes performance) in a bottle. There's magic in here, along with the seeds of something that the producers of the show never quite realized. I'm going to buy all the "Ro Laren" episodes, then hoard them like gold coins I found by accident. My wife is a little jealous of Ro Laren, even though she won't admit it.

Michelle Forbes made Ro Laren live. I can't think of a better complement to any actor. Good for you, Michelle. Good for you. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Riker evolves
The Enterprise works with the J'naii, a genderless humanoid species, to help them locate a missing J'naii shuttle. The shuttle is stuck in what was previously a theoretical hypothesis, "null space."

Commander Riker ends up working closely with Soren (Melinda Culea), a skilled J'naii pilot. Soren is very curious about species with gender, and asks Riker and others about the differences between their genders.

Geordi has to retrofit the exterior of one of the Enterprise's shuttles so that it will not lose power in null space while on their rescue mission. Riker and Soren work on adjustments on the inside of the shuttle when Soren drops a bombshell. She finds Riker attractive. Riker has felt there was something but had dismissed it. Soren shares that once in a while, a member of her species is born as a "throw-back" to when they once had gender - she is one of them, in this case, female.

Soren explains that in her culture, those with gender are perceived as less evolved and the concept of gender is even reviled. When one of them is "found out," they are forced to go through psycho-tectic "treatments" to remove all remnants of gender and to change their minds about their feelings

Riker falls for her - which reveals a new aspect to Riker's character. Everyone that Riker has had relationships with has been buxom and attractive. Soren is plain, flat-chested and has a chili-bowl haircut. Riker falls for her mind and her heart.

Soren, who has kept her secret hidden her entire life, makes an incredibly stupid error -she shares an intimate kiss with him on her own planet and is discovered by a suspicious J'naii who has been watching the two of them.

The story tries to get a little preachy during Soren's speech to the court that is deciding her fate, so it briefly loses its way as it tries to hard to push the point, as though the even most casual observer could not detect the underlying story.

In the end, however, this is a very memorable episode. We see Riker truly fall in love (not in lust) with someone who doesn't look like a jazz lounge singer or a cocktail bunny, and we see his heart get crushed and broken in two.

The Issue of Gender Indentity in the Star Trek Universe
The Enterprise is helping an androgynous race called the J'naii to search for a missing shuttle that apparently has disappeared into a region of null space. Commander Riker spends time aboard a shuttle with a J'naii named Soren, mapping the edges of the region. Soren finds Riker attractive, however there is a big time cultural taboo involved here. Soren explains that the J'naii sometimes have tendencies towards maleness or femaleness, but that their culture views this as deviance and subjects those individuals to psychotectic treatments to "cure" them. Because Soren is manifesting gender, she is arrested. Riker, of course, cannot tolerate the idea of Soren being cured.

The Star Trek universe rarely touches on the idea of sex in the future, but when it does try to deal with the issue it certainly does so in a provocative way. In "The Host" (Episode 97), Dr. Crusher fell in love with a Trill, not knowing that the object of her affection was a parasite that could start off in a male body and end up as a female by the end of the episode. In "The Outcast," Riker proves himself admirably more open minded in dealing with Soren, whose race is apparently structurally and functionally both male and female. Underlying their relationship is a standard Star Trek dilemma, that of respecting the cultural integrity of other beings whose views we do not want to accept in the present let along in the future. Given the current political subtext of the acceptance of homosexuals in American society, this is a remarkably even-handed episode that gives both sides their say. This is also one of those episodes that makes me realize how much I like the character of Riker, even though in many ways he is the least interesting character of the show since he is only the second in command, not an android, not telepathic, not Klingon, not a kid and not blind. Even with all these handicaps Will Riker is a fully fleshed out character.

Bigotry Lost
This episode not only contained metaphoric references that I am still pondering, but it did much to assist me in my quest to understand relationships other than heterosexual. It has compelled me to be more open-minded and sensitive to all levels of love, regardless of gender. Intensely powerful, moving, and insightful wisdom I have gleaned from "The Outcast." It's a mover and shaker, a real "sleeper" of a movie.

Explores transgender issues well

Although some people think that this episode was about homosexuality and are offended by it, while others think think it's too subtle or euphemistic, I think it explores transgender issues -- the gender identity of an individual (Soren) -- instead of their preferred partner's sex or gender.

Male to Female transsexuality is probably the closest analogy to what took place in this episode, in which Soren, a person from a gender-neutral planet, discovers that she is female.

And considering how many today are beginning to think that gender is a cultural concept and that traditional male-female roles are too black-and-white, this episode was ahead of its time, by having a gender-neutral race portrayed.

Finally, the issue of involuntary psychiatric committment for one's "lifestyle" is portrayed, when Soren is "treated" for being female and Riker tries to protect her from authorities. There are some on Earth today who still think transgenderism, homosexuality, etc. are mental illnesses. ... Read more

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The first season comes to a close with Captain Picard being called to an emergency conference on Starbase 718. While waiting for him to return to the ship, Data and Worf investigate the wreckage of an old space capsule they find, one that was launched from Earth in the late 20th century. On board the capsule are three humans in suspended animation: a businessman, an artist, and a housewife. Each were frozen at the moment they died from fatal diseases, hoping that sometime in the future they could be thawed out and cured. Meanwhile, Picard brings the Enterprise into the neutral zoneto investigate the destruction of a few remote outposts. Rumor has it, after 50 years of quiet, the Romulans have returned to annoy and fight against the Federation. The gravity of the situation is lost on the unfrozen humans, particularly the blowhard businessman who is itching to find out how his stocks are doing after more than 300 years. The comic aspects are rather broad, but the reintroduction of the Romulans is well played. The question of the destroyed outposts isn't resolved until season 2 (hint: it's one of the series' favorite villains), but the most interesting revelation is that TV on Earth only lasts until 2040. Watch this episode now, before it's too late! --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fairly lame
The Romulans return as colonies disappear on both sides of the Neutral Zone and three humans from the twentieth century are reanimated . . .
Rule One of the ST:TNG universe: Everything about the twentieth century is bad.
Rule Two of the ST:TNG universe: Everyone in the twentieth century was American.
Two very disparate storylines are brought together in this episode, to not very good effect. The Romulan storyline is fairly pointless; all it does is set things up for later seasons. And as for the meet the ancestors storyline . . . There was so much the writers could have done with this, and what did they give us? A housewife, an incomprehensible country-and-western singer looking for a drink, and a hard businessman who doesn't want to believe his lawyers are no longer operating? Please!
It never ceases to amaze me how intolerant the crew of the Enterprise are of anyone who is different, and how sanctimonious they are about everything, particularly their own history. These leftovers from the twentieth century needed help and explanations; instead they are treated as annoyingly demanding lower forms of life. They are the ones who have to adjust; the crew of the Enterprise have nothing to learn. And the hint towards the idea that we all have something to learn from the past (such as it was in this episode) could have been made much more effective. For example, it could have been made clear that the businessman saw what no-one else could see.
Lazy and disappointing.

Fine trek film
This film is one the greatest Star Trek films ever produced in the history of man kind. Jonathan Frakes is my favorite actors. I also like the person who plays the country singer. This film is a fine film. Highly recommended to all Star Trek fanatics out there.

The Romulans are Back!
Spoiler Alert: If you have not seen this episode read no further!

"The Neutral Zone" introduces us to the Next Generation version of the Romulan Empire. In this episode the Enterpr