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

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (2)

One of the WORST EVER!
I'm not even going to try and put this gently; ...I don't know who wrote this episode up, but they must have had a severe head injury. ... Oh yeah, the subplot: the Enterprise destroys an asteroid, leading to the ship getting invaded with glitter. If you have ever see this episode before, I feel your pain. If you haven't, stay away and consider yourself extremly lucky.

Quite Simply the Worst Lwaxana Troi Episode
Basically there are three things happening in this episode: (1) Troi is mediating a domestic dispute between Worf and his son Alexander by having the pair negotiate a contract on who does what around their little Klingon household: (2) Lwaxana shows up and declares she is going to get married aboard the Enterprise to some guy named Campio she has never met; and (3) the Enterprise destroys a wandering asteroid before it can crash into a planet, thereby releasing the little metal parasites that inhabited the asteroid to float over to the ship where they begin eating all the nitrium. The only two people who get along in the entire episode are Lwaxana and Alexander, who are apparently kindred spirits. There are also a couple of interesting scenes involving a holodeck recreation of the mud baths of the Parralex Colony. However, "Cost of Living" does have the dubious distinction of being the absolute WORST Lwaxana Troi episode--it is not even close, people. After giving the character some dramatic weight in her last appearance ("Half a Life," Episode 96), she suddenly regresses to a comic character who wants to marry some clown she has never met. That whole plot line is ludicrous and takes away from the interesting interactions between Lwaxana and "Mr. Woof's" son. Despite some nice moments (Picard's joy at the thought of Lwaxana getting married), on balance this is certainly a below average episode. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not a classic
Only memorable for its ordinariness. Yet again our hero has been accused of a crime he didn't committ. Fine for a one-hour drama set on Earth, but out in space anything can happen. Anything. Wish the writers had explored their imaginations a little more for this one.

Oh boy...
The less said about this one, the better. How many times have we seen one of the main characters accused of a crime he didn't commit? They're out in space, they can meet anything, anyone, that the writers can come up with....and they do a story like this.

Murder Mystery With A Good Twist
Murder On The Rising Star is a standard murder msytery - Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) is seen in near-constant fights with a bullying rival, Ortega (Frank Ashmore), who is later found shot to death with Starbuck's gun; Starbuck is thus arrested and put on trial.

The basic plot is pretty standard, but the episode adds a good twist; the actual killer is a man who turns out to have played a major role in the Final Destruction, and who is hiding in the Fleet under an alias. Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Boomer (Herb Jefferson Jr.) must enlist the aid of Baltar (John Colicos) to help flush out the true killer.

The entire cast gets put through the emotional wringer thanks to Rod Holcomb's excellent direction. Starbuck all but falls apart in the arms of Cassiopeia (Laurette Spang), and later threatens to shoot Apollo in a mad attempt to flee into space in a viper.

Such excellence in acting and direction infuse a standard plot with good new energy, and make for an entertaining episode.

"Murder She Wrote" In Outer Space
That's probably the best way to sum this one up. It's very well done for a murder mystery, but Battlestar Galactica had much more potential story premises than this. There's nothing bad about it, but nothing great either. ... Read more

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Unlike Ashley Judd, Olivia d'Abo never quite made the transition fromtelevision to indie films to becoming a glamorous Hollywood actress, but bothof them served on the Enterprise early in their careers. Here, d'Aboguest stars as Amanda Rogers, a bright young intern working for Dr. Crusher.She is an honor student who hasn't quite figured out what she wants to dowith her life. What she has come to realize is that she can do things likesummon puppies at will and help people with a thought. This attracts theattention of Q (John de Lancie), who informs her she's the daughter of twomembers of the Q continuum who decided to become human. Along with trainingher in her abilities, Q has been assigned to convince her to renounce herhuman upbringing and join the continuum. Having taken an immediate dislike toQ and his lack of a moral center, she's not sure if she wants to. Her choiceis between accepting her powers or being human and renouncing her powersforever. Once again, Q is given all the best lines ("Crusher gets more shrillwith each passing year," he tells Picard with relish), once again provingthat amoral villains have the most fun. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Only humans are worthy?
This is an interesting little tale, somewhat let down by a few flaws.
Eighteen year-old Amanda has won an internship to study on the Enterprise, so that she has some idea which field she wants to specialise in when she joins Starfleet. But her life is turned upside down when she learns that she is one of the omnipotent Q. Now she has the choice of renouncing her powers and remaing human, or joining the Q continuum - and her assessor and advisor in this vital choice is the Q who has visited the Enterprise in the past.
Olivia D'Abo was a good choice for the role of Amanda. She is appealing, and conveys Amanda's adolescent confusion well. John de Lancie puts in his usual strong performance as Q. The ending is no real surprise, but that isn't the point - it's how Amanda comes to make her decision that counts.
I do think the writers chose a less than satisfactory character set-up for "True Q", though. As it stands, Amanda bonded with Crusher and developed a crush on Riker. Yet Riker would have been the perfect choice for her to bond with; after all, he would know exactly what she's going through, because he's been in the same situation himself. The crush on Riker could then have been replaced with a crush on some junior crewman or medical technician, and we would have been spared the unedifying sight of an eighteen year-old trying to seduce a man twice her age.
Amanda's age is a problem in its own right. Would an eighteen year-old who hasn't even been to university have such narrow specialities (and so many of them) and be given such a position? The crew of the Enterprise are busy people after all, and in a dangerous business. It makes about as much sense as eight year-old Harry in "When the Bough Breaks" complaining about having to learn calculus; or someone who's just graduated from high school being posted on an aircraft carrier to make up their mind what they want to do with their lives.
Picard is perhaps the greatest problem in this episode. His instinctive rejection of everything Q says is becoming very tired by this point, and one could truly believe that he is a bigot. He honestly seems to think that humans are superior to every other life-form in existence.
Watch this episode for another perspective on the Q and be moved by Amanda's troubles. Just try to ignore the captain of the Enterprise.

1 of my 3 favorite episodes!
Of my 3 favorite episodes, this is number three. ("Remember Me" and "The Game" are the other two.)

In this one, a young lady from the academy wins the chance to spend time on board the Enterprise and work in various parts of the ship. This is some sort of program where the best get the feel of hands-on action in several different jobs aboard, to help him/her decide what they most want to train for. This lady seems to be torn between lab/medical and engineering.

However, recently she has found out that she is different. She has the powers of the race known as "The Q." Her real parents had been killed when she was little, so she had no way of understanding what was going on.

Q shows up to teach her. She believes she has the choice of (1)staying as a human or (2) going to join the Q race. But that is not true. Q is under orders to test her powers. If she proves to be a true Q, she is to be brought back to be with her own kind, whether she wants to or not. If she does not prove to be fully Q, she is to be eliminated!

Reminded me a bit of the shows "Bewitched" and "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch". I feel as though age teens through mid-twenties will like this episode most. Hmmm, I'm in my early thirties. Wonder what my excuse is. :)

The story of a girl named Q...
Amanda Rogers (Olivia d'Abo), an orphan, joins the Enterprise as an intern. The young honor student looks like a normal human, but she soon evinces supernatural powers, saving the ship from destruction by containing an explosion in the engine room. When Picard calls a meeting of the senior staff to discuss the amazing young woman, Q pops up and provides the explanation: Amanda is a Q, born of parents who pretended to be human. When they had a child the Continuum destroyed them. Q insists it is time for Amanda to return home to the Continuum, but she refuses. Finally, Q gives her a choice: return to the Continuum or never use her powers again and remain a human. It looks like Q is not the only Q that finds the life of mere human beings to be interesting. Never mind that in "Encounter at Farpoint" (Episodes 1 & 2), Q acted like this was the first encounter between humans and the Continuum. "True Q" is something of a counterpart to "Hide and Q" (Episode 11) where Q tempted Riker with the powers of the Q. This is a below average episode with Q (John de Lancie), mainly because Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are more spectators his endeavors this time around.

The birth of a Q
Unknown to her, a young girl's parents are Q who have denounced the ways of the continuum for lives of mortals. Of course, for the Q, this is a crime against nature. After the arranged death of the girl's parents, Q comes to call to collect their offspring and bring her "home". Will she go? Will she continue onboard the Enterprise, working under Dr. Crusher? Watch and see! ... Read more

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frame up
Frame of mind is altered by aliens

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An interesting tack on an old theme.

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

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

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

Reviews (3)

Not bad, not bad...
A lot of BG fans pan this episode as a bad takeoff on "The Magnificent Seven" (and to be fair, it is), but it has a special place in my heart. Most of the BG episodes portray Adama as an ultraserious-but-kindly monolith of a man. It is nice to bring the character back down to a human level and give him a past that fans can relate to (and speculate about). In this episode, Adama gets to go planetside, mix it up with the locals, and administer a long-overdue hide-chewing...

One of the better episodes
Yes, it starts off with a cylon attack, but after that it gets much more interesting. Starbuck -- as only Starbuck could -- gets tricked into becoming sheriff of a tiny agro community, Adama fends off the unwanted attentions of Siress Bellaby, and there are many nice humorous moments to be had. Really one of the better episodes made.

A Dissappointing Episode
Ugh! I love Battlestar Galactica, but this is easily one of the worst episodes. The best part is the Cylon attack in the beginning where the agro ships are destroyed. Adama's love interest is annoying and the whole story gets bogged down in another "wild west" shanty town similar to the one in the episode "The Lost Warrior". Unquestionably one of the most disliked episodes and perfect proof of how the writing can suffer when a television show like BG is rushed into production too fast. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Wesley Crusher earns his pip
Ensign Crusher will soon be leaving the Enterprise to enroll in Starfleet Academy and Picard asks Wesley to join him on a final mission so they can spend some quality time together before Wesley is gone. Picard has always felt responsible for Wesley, ever since having to tell his mother that Wesley's father was killed during a mission about 15 years earlier.

Despite his longing of connection with Wesley, Picard has always been awkward in expressing affection with children and he is also wary of crossing the delicate threshold of familiarity with someone of considerably lower rank. Now that time is no longer on their side, Picard hopes to have a final bonding experience.

Picard and Crusher board a miner's shuttle to mediate a conflict on a mining colony. After a series of malfunctions, the shuttle crash lands on a small moon that supports life - albeit poorly. The heat is oppressive and due to injuries sustained on their journey to a cave to avoid the sun, Picard needs water to survive. Wesley and the shuttle pilot (Nick Tate) will also need water within a few days or suffer a similar fate.

Their tricorders detect water, only to find that the water fountain in the cave is protected by an electronic sentry that they cannot figure out how to circumvent.

As Picard fades in and out of consiousness, Wesley must have a non-stop duel of words, will and guile with the mining shuttle captain who believes he can strong-arm his way out of any situation. Although he has fewer years of experience in life, Crusher has the advantage of having been aboard the Enterprise for years, being exposed to more space anomolies and varied species and cultures than this rustic ship captain has in his life time and tries to talk reason to a man with a serious machismo complex.

The mining ship captain gets himself killed in a "you know he had it coming" scene, leaving Wesley to figure out a way to save Picard and himself, with life-saving minutes ticking away. Picard and Crusher bond in a touching last few moments and just when Crusher acts less kid-like and geeky, they get ready to shove him off to Starfleet. Oh well.

Felicitous contrivance amidst all the cliches . . .
Pros:
1) It's great to see Wesley finally gone. (ABOUT TIME!)
2) There are some nice moments between him and Picard.
Cons:
1) Cliche after cliche
2) Why is that fountain in a cave and guarded by a forcefield? Don't even ask . . .
If you liked Wesley, I imagine you'll like this episode where the Boy Wonder saves the day yet again. If you didn't like him, I tend to doubt you'll find much to like here, either. But whatever your opinion of Wesley Crusher, surely the writers could have come up with something better than this?

The bitter yet oh-so-sweet departure of Wesley Crusher!
Woo-hoo! Yes! He's finally gone! Wussley- whoops, Wesley- is finally off the show as a regular cast member! No more of that sniveling, goody-two-shoes attitude to nauseate the NextGen trekkies! Well, except for the once-a-season guest shot, but I can handle a small bit of Wesley every once in a blue moon.

Unfortunately, the screenwriters for this show decided to send off sci-fi's most-reviled teen by once again having him single-handedly save the day (and Capt. Morehead- whoops, Picard)! Man, do those guys know how to beat a concept to death or what! I'll take the umpeenth 'Holodcek malfunction' eppie over one of Wes' solo rescue shows any day of the week!

Yep, it sure is great to see the kid finally gone after this show. Now Jean-Luc can hit on Dr. Crusher and not feel so guilty about it! Go get 'er, chrome-dome! Oh yeah!

'Late!

Wesley saves Captain Picard and goes off to the Academy
As Welsey Crusher is about to head off to Starfleet Academy, Captain Picard takes the lad on one "Final Mission." However, on their way to mediate a conflict at a mining colony, the miner's shuttle crashlands on a desert-like moon. The Enterprise cannot look for the missing shuttle because they are too busy towing a barge of radioactive material into a nearby sun. Picard, Wesley and the shuttle pilot finally discover a fountain of water inside a cave, but when they approach it a force field is activated. The shuttle pilot, with a gift for making bad situations worse, fires his phaser at which point an energy entity attacks him. The next thing we know there are falling rocks all over the place and when Picard pushes Wesley out of the way, the captain is severly injured. After the entity kills the shuttle pilot, it is left to Wesley to save the day.

Knowing that Wesley had to receive some sort of sendoff as actor Wil Wheaton left the show, "Final Mission" is a much better episode than we would have expected, which I think even those who never liked the character would be forced to admit. Certainly the situation is somewhat contrived, but there is a wonderful moment between Wesley and Picard as the captain talks about how envious he is of the young man and his future. It is a wonderful scene and perhaps the closest the pair ever came to acknowledging their underlying relationship. The other nice thing is that like Tasha Yar, the character of Wesley Crusher was a lot more interesting after they "left" the show. The next episode with Wesley, "The First Duty" (Episode 119) will be the best of the bunch.

A somewhat touching story about survival
Wesley Crusher, Capt. Picard and a captain crash land on a mysterious planet, which is mostly a desert. However, the craft they crashed in is damaged beyond repair, and the team begins a long march to distant mountains in search of shelter and water from the blazing sun. However, when they enter a cave, the water supply in the cave is protected by a force field, but the obsessive member attempts to disable the force field, which causes rocks falling down on the away team, and seriously wounding Picard. Wesley must get to the water soon, or Picard will die. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

In an attempt to track down a lost medical transport, the Enterprise enters the lone safe corridor in an area of space known to be hazardous to warp-driven vessels. They soon encounter two aliens who demand the cessation of all warp travel in the area, claiming it will damage their planet and the space around it. This episode focuses largely on La Forge: ever the technology lover, he's happily engaged in a friendly competition with the chief engineer of another ship to seewho can get the most efficient power conversion levels. The aliens' demands foran immediate halt of all warp transport present a sudden threat to everythingthat La Forge's heart holds dear. The seriousness of the episode is nicelyoffset with a silly subplot about Data's attempts to train his cat, Spot.Geordi's speculation that Spot is a creature that by nature cannot be trained isa subtle comment on La Forge's own refusal to believe the aliens'research. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Keep the universe alive, keep to warp drive five!
The Enterprise is searching the Hekaras Corridor for a Starfleet medical transport, the Flemming, that has been missing for several days. The Hekaras Corridor was created because this sector of space has high concentrations of tetrio particles, which make warp drive dangerous. When the Enterprise encounters a debris field they are hit by a verteron pulse that kills both the warp drive and subspace communication. At that point a small space craft approaches carrying two Hekaran scientists, Roval and Sarova, a brother and sister. They explain to Picard and his crew that they planted the verteron device because all the use of warp drive in the corridor has weakened the fabric of space. The scientists believe this will endanger their planet, so they have been disabling ships trying to force Starfleet to investigate.

Apparently there are not a lot of ecological concerns in space, because while the Star Trek universe has always been a platform for talking about the social problems of the world in which its viewers live, this is one of the few times they get to lecture about the environment. "Force of Nature" ends by establishing a restriction from Starfleet that ships can only go warp five (except in cases of extreme emergency, and you know how often that happens). This is an average STNG episode; I admit I have trouble getting by the idea that warp drive is ripping apart the universe and nobody has noticed before this. The subplot of Data and Spot also rings a bit hollow.

The warp engines prove to be harmful to the universe!
An average story about Warp engines and how they can damage the universe! After investigating a Ferengi ship adrift in space, the ship is soon disabled by two aliens who board the Enterprise in an effort to convince the Federation that warp drive is harmful to the universe. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Alpha and Omega of the Next Generation Series
"All Good Things...," the final STNG episode, finds that Jean-Luc Picard has become unstuck in time. In one of the timelines he finds himself taking command of the Enterprise, ready to head for the new crew's first adventure at Farpoint Station. Eventually he finds himself back in the postatomic war courtroom in which Q first appeared way back in that pilot episode. Apparently the trial of humanity was never officially ended, and the Q have reached their verdict. Consequently, "All Good Things..." finally brings to an end what was begun in "Encounter at Farpoint." With this set of tapes you do not have to try and remember everything that happened the first time around, you can refresh your memory with the pilot and then head on to the series finale. The producers do a nice job of bringing the show full circle in that final episode, letting us see both crew members who had left the show in the past and the possible futures of the rest in the future, while giving Jean-Luc Picard one last engagement with Q. Now, if only they would make a STNG theatrical film as good as this one.

Heidegger on the Enterprise
Obviously influncened by Heidegger's notion of original temportality, and, if not, the writer was simply brilliant!

Q's whisper in Picard's ear at the end tips it - the call of conscience, also the notion of bringing past, present and future to bear in the present.

Quite simply a masterpiece - perhaps the best television show I have ever seen.

excellent
i found it to be the best Q episode ever, i like when he questions if Q is god and human existence.

Very Good
"All Good Things" is the best Next Generation episode ever. I like it more than any of the three movies out. I think it's a nice touch to include the first episode (which is also good).

All Good Things... Was the best episode ever
What else is there to say ... Read more

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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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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