Amazon.com

There's trouble in the Neutral Zone. Following a distress signal, the Enterprise finds the USS Yamato stranded due to a systems failure, with the Romulans nearby. Even before the opening credits roll thestarship explodes, killing everybody on board. Turns out the captain of the Yamato had been searching for Iconia, a planet legendary for itstechnological advances, and whose technology would be incredibly dangerous if itwere to fall into the wrong (read: Romulan) hands. Then the computer virus thatdestroyed the Yamato starts to infect the Enterprise, and the Romulans show up and start threatening them. To make matters worse, Data himselfbecomes infected. A good yarn--and as the Internet continues to expand, storieslike this one about computer viruses will become increasingly relevant.--Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Iconians
The Gateway

Steve Gerber (creator of Howard the Duck) and writer Beth Woods wrote this terrific entry in the second season. It's about the Captain of the starship Yamato and his startling discovery in the Neutral Zone. He found a civilization that was long ago conquered but it's probes were still intact. The probe tragically infected all the computer systems with a virus destroying the Yamato. The same virus contaminated logs that were downloaded to the Enterprise! The episode has some dramatic moments where Data is almost destroyed by the probe.

When Picard, Worf and Data beam to a site where the signal is located; we discover the conquered Iconians left a legacy of destruction and deadly weapons. We see the gateway where perhaps the civilization escaped to preserve itself.

I was very surprised that Steve Gerber and Beth Woods, the authors of this story, were never called back for a sequel. Not even a book in the new Gateways series. I would have liked to have seen their version of what happened to this great civilization.

Picard races the Romulans for Ionian Technology
After the Yamato self-destructs in the Neutral Zone while searching for the fabled lost planet of the Iconians with their incredible technology, the Enterprise continues the quest. However, by the time the ship gets to the dead planet, it is beginning to experience massive system failures, just like the doomed Yamato. In transferring the Yamato's logs to their own computer, the Enterprise has introduced a computer virus. Picard, Worf and Data beam down to the planet, where Data is similarly infected. To further complicate things, a Romulan ship shows up to lay claim to the Ionian technology. Fortunately, they are facing the same problems as the Enteprise, but the race is definitely on.

"Contagion" is a concise, controlled episode and it is nice to see that Picard and his crew cannot handle everything that comes their way. I especially like the way things keep piling up. Every time La Forge thinks they have a handle on things, a new headache pops up. I also appreciate the irony that as they encounter the Iconian technology, the systems on the Enterprise are failing left and right. For Picard to solve this particular problem, he is going to have to rely on something other than Starfleet technology.

Best Season 2 Episode!
The Romulans make a guest appearence with Carolyn Seymour who would later play several other roles on Star Trek.

This is a welly written episode about the Enterprise stopping the Romulans from getting their hands on a new peice of Technology. About 7 years later the Dominion on Star Trek Deep Space Nine would also try to win control of this Iconian Gateway. GREAT EPISODE!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Investigating the disappearance of the USS Drake, the Enterprise receives a message from a seemingly uninhabited world. Itturns out to be nothing more than an ancient, prerecorded sales pitch (delivered with sleepy enthusiasm by long-faced character actor Vincent Schiavelli) welcoming visitors to Minos, the arms market of the universe. Beaming down to the planet, Riker, Tasha, and Data wander about a lush forest before encountering a series of flying sentinels (vaguely resembling outboard motors minus their propellers), the first easily destroyed by phaser fire, but subsequent incarnations adapting themselves to the crewmembers' attacks. Meanwhile, Picard and Dr. Crusher also go exploring, finding themselves trapped in an underground cave where the captain must tend to the doctor's broken leg. With both Picard and Riker on the planet, La Forge finds himself in command for the first time; he's not the only one questioning whether he's ready for the job. Though the situation is old hat and unfolds with a certain tattered predictability, this is one of the better outings of The Next Generation's first season. The characters are fleshed out without resorting to too much overdrawn dialogue (even the usually aggravating almost-romance between Picard and Crusher is subtly drawn); in particular it's Geordi's day to shine, and LeVar Burton brings a nice self-confidence to the heretofore submissive engineer. Overlooking the studio-bound landscapes typical of early Star Trek, the episode also features some impressive effects in the brief scenes of the Enterprise's saucer separation, a clever device that fortunately wasnever overused on the show. Nothing groundbreaking, though no major missteps either. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Remember, the early bird that hesitates gets worms."
"The Arsenal of Freedom" is clearly one of the low points of Star Trek: The Next Generation's first season. The only positive this episode contains is Commander William Riker's (Jonathan Frakes) joke about his new ship - the "good ship Lollipop." The rest of the episode is nowhere as amusing.

The Enterprise-D arrives at the planet Minos in search of the U.S.S. Drake. Upon beaming down to the planet, the away team is attacked by floating energy weapons and Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) is seriously injured upon falling into a sinkhole. Meanwhile, the Enterprise itself is under siege from an undetectable enemy in space. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) eventually learns that the disappearance of the Drake and the attacks on his away team and his ship are all tied to the missing Minos people themselves.

Watching the crew be put in peril and learning that all the dangers they faced were part of a sales pitch gives an awkward feel to this episode. It's like watching a used-car salesman terrorize a prospective buyer by taking him as a passenger on a reckless jaunt down the freeway in order to demonstrate the merits of a particular car. Well, at least we got a peek at the battle bridge in action again which is always a cool sight. Too bad it was only used to destroy a floor model of a sales product. You would think the writers would have thought of a better situation in which to showcase the battle bridge, but then again you would think that episodes like this one would not have moved beyond the drawing board stage.

when salesmen go in for the kill
The Enterprise tries to find the Drake, a ship Riker was once offered a command on, but passed up to be on the Enterprise. They believe the ship may have crashed on Minos, a now uninhabited planet other that the remnants of war-torn buildings, tropical plants and some wildlife.

An automated sales pitch message comes on the main viewer - a salesman tells about "The Arsenal of Freedom" on Minos, where the best deterrent to war is a strong armament. The away team beams down to locate any sign of the Drake. They find melted tritanium (a material used in the hulls of Federation ships) and know the ship's fate was not a good one.

Suddenly, Riker sees his old Academy friend, Paul, on the surface... Paul was the captain of the ill-fated Drake. It sure looks like Paul, but he doesn't know answers to simple questions and he gives off no bio readings. It turns out to be a clever surveillance device meant to gather information to defeat the enemy. The attack orbs continue to improve after each attack and soon become unstoppable as the automated salesman continues to show off his weaponry for sale.

The other plot is Geordi's growth as an officer. He is left in charge, even though he is not the highest ranking officer and he and the chief engineer get into a machismo contest of words that is way over the top in the cheese meter... and yet another lame excuse to do a saucer separation.

More character growth for Crusher and Picard and a decent episode.

Arsenal of Freedom or....Separation Anxiety!
Geordi commands the Enterprise!

While on a mission to find the missing U. S. S. Drake; the big E encounters a world that sells weapons of war. The away team: Data, Tasha and Riker, find a holographic captain from the Drake. After discovering the fake; a flying robot weapon attempts to eliminate them.

Meanwhile, Picard and Doctor Crusher also beam on the surface. The good doctor falls into a cavern taking the captain with her. Geordi separates the saucer section and goes looking for Picard and crew. This one is the most fx heavy of the season. It shows Geordi taking his first steps as a captain. Fighting off the chief engineer who wants to bump him from the center seat!

Picard, does Minos have the weapons system for you!
Remember when the original Star Trek crew beamed down to a planet for rest and recreation only to be confronted with White Rabbits, knights on horseback and people from their past because the planet was really a galactic version of an amusement park? In "The Arsenal of Freedom" the Enterprise finds that the point of the supposedly uninhabited planet Minos is to sell cutting edge weapons technology. Investigating the disappearance of another Starfleet ship, the crew ignores the holographic sales pitch they received when they dropped into orbit and beam down to the surface where a series of increasingly sophisticated pods attack the away team. Eventually Picard catches on that it is all part of the planet's attempt to impress customers and quickly agrees to buy a weapons system so his crew can survive the demonstration.

Actually, I rather like this episode. Every time one of the pods gets destroyed the crew has to deal with an even more dangerous one, which certainly gives them pause while solving problems on the run. "The Arsenal of Freedom" is also one of the few episodes where the saucer section detaches with Geordi La Forge in charge, giving him a chance to make some command decisions. I always thought this episode set the stage for La Forge to be Chief Engineer, i..e, more than the guy with the visor driving the ship. In turn, would allow Wesley to attain the exalted rank of "Acting Ensign" and sit alongside Data on the bridge.

Fun Episode! First Season Highlight!
The first sesaon of Star Trek: The Next Generation was hard to watch at times. TNG had yet to "find" itself and the writing was...uneven, at best. But toward the end of the first season, the writers and producers finally gave TNG life with such excellent episodes as "Coming of Age", "Heart of Glory" and "The Arsenal of Freedom".

"The Arsenal of Freedom" tells the story of a super-weapon that takes on a life of it's own. The Enterprise encounters this device on a planet that is one giant weapons factory. But something went terribly wrong. These weaponeers created a weapon so smart that it became something more powerful and dangerous than what they intended: It wiped out every intelligent life-form on the entire planet. And when Picard and crew investigate, this weapon attempts to wipe out the Enterprise as well. What sets this episode apart is that we get to see Lt. Geordi La Forge shine as commander of the Enterprise. Picard and most of his command staff are stranded on the planet and La Forge has to not only rescue them from one of the super-weapons but he has to protect the Enterprise from one of these weapons as well. It's fun to see La Forge, a junior lieutenant, face all the problems of command. He contends with threats inside and outside the ship as a ranking officer tries to take over the ship and La Forge stands he ground saying only Captain Picard or First Officer Riker can relieve him of duty. La Forge, along with Worf (acting as both first officer and tactical officer) and two young ensigns save the entire senior staff and the Enterprise from destruction.

Solid episode and one of a very few TNG stories that spotlights La Forge. This is THE La Forge episode to own. And one of only a few first season highlights. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On the lifeless desert planet of Velara III, a small group of scientists are hard at work terraforming the planet. When a routine check-in by the Enterprise leads to a testy dismissal from the head engineer, as well as bad vibes for Counselor Troi, the away team goes to investigate.Apologies are quickly made by the newly conciliatory terraformers, who explainthat their manners tend to fade over the decades of isolation required to bringlife to a dead world. (So what exactly happened to Star Trek II's Genesis Project?) But during the brief tour, one scientist is killed by an apparently malfunctioning laser, and suspicions are raised again. Data and Geordi investigate, and discover beyond question that an intelligent force in fact controlled the deadly beam. The three remaining scientists are brought up to the ship for questioning; also beamed aboard is a small crystal whose arrhythmic, "musical" light pulsations have intrigued Data. Despite some insistence from the ship's computer that, lacking organic structure, the crystal simply can't be life (why exactly aren't Starfleet medical programs informed of the silicon-based Horta encountered by the old Enterprise crew?), alive is exactly the right word. Alive, growing, and angry at the attempted extermination of its species by the terraformers. Not to mention able to control the Enterprise's computers, thus puttingthe entire crew at risk. Though the rapidly multiplying creature, eventually dubbed the microbrain, is one of the show's all-time cheapest aliens--basically some glowing penlights placed under a bell jar--the story is a fairly interesting rehash of some classic Trek themes. Plus, any episode that introduces the catchy phrase "ugly bags of mostly water," the microbrain's description of humans, is an instant classic. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (3)

"Bag who drill in sand of home had to die."
Star Trek has always produced its fair share of cautionary tales. "Home Soil" is its attempt to point out the unintended dire consequences terraforming can cause. It also is the episode that forces you to wonder if the crystals in your personal collection regard you as "an ugly bag of mostly water" when you're not around.

The Enterprise-D arrives at Velara III to check up on a terraforming group charged with the mission of turning the inhospitable planet into one that will eventually support life. However, after an engineer is killed and Data (Brent Spiner) is attacked, the crew realizes that something is seriously amiss on the surface. A startling discovery is soon made - there are microscopic life forms that are falling victim to the drilling on the planet. The previous attacks were initiated by them as a means to defend themselves.

This variation on the original series' superior "Devil in the Dark" (1967) is filled with problems that it cannot overcome. Guest star Elizabeth Lindsey is strangely stiff in her supporting role, Walter Gotell is over-the-top in his supporting role, the production values for the microscopic life forms must have set a new record for production money saved on creating an alien race, and the line "ugly bag of mostly water" is so unintentionally goofy that it undermines the seriousness of the episode's message because you can't get it out of your head and can't stop giggling once it's spoken on-screen. Well, at least "Home Soil" did teach us that the only way to defeat evil crystals is to shut the lights off. That valuable piece of information is what prevents the episode from being a total lost cause.

Home Soil ....Or Ugly Bags of Water Go Home!
"Ugly Bags of Water"

A terraforming station on Velara III discovers a microscopic life form within the sand of the planet. It kills one of the colonists to save it from destruction. The Enterprise utilizes it's universal translator to communicate. It refers to humans as "ugly bags of water." In this average entry from the first season; actor Walter Gotell, portrays the station supervisor. He's known for his role as General Gogol in the 60's James Bond series.

This episode has a few good highlights. Data disarming the laser cannon in the terraforming chamber. The microscopic entity taking control of the Enterprise. If you've got to purchase all the episodes for your collection; this one's got a few dramatic moments. It's worth a look.

It didn't take Troi's powers to tell us the supervisor was hiding something about the planet.

Picard hears a tiny crystal that flashes beautiful light
Perhaps the most significant liberal principle on Next Generation was the inherent right of sentient beings, whether they are androids, unexpectedly different species, or even holodeck creations. "Home Soil" adds to this progressive argument when the Enterprise arrives at the terraforming project on Velara III. In keeping with the Prime Directive the planet has been officially declared devoid of life, but when the terraformers start pumping subsurface water the laser drill malfunctions and then attacks Data. The source of the malfunction turns out to be tiny crystal that emits light. When the crystal divides, Picard concludes it is alive. This is confirmed when the crystal keeps dividing and uses the Universal Translator to declare war on the Enterprise. After all, the crystal lives in the subsurface water and its civilization was being destroyed by the terraformers.

Whether you find the episode reminiscent of Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears a Who," Gulliver's travels among the Lilliputians or simply a flip on the standard science fiction analogy that superior races are to humans as we are to the ants beneath our feet, "Home Soil" underscores the constant Star Trek demand for at least tolerance of those who are different, although outright acceptance would be nice. This belief is certainly personified in Captain Picard, not only in this episode but throughout the series (although he has some slight difficulties in being tolerant when it comes to Q). ... Read more

Amazon.com

It seems pretty cute now to think about those first dozen or so episodes of The Next Generation. Laboring to establish its own identity and figure out who its characters were, the young series occasionally stumbled into various retro-cliches from hokey, sci-fi B movies. The hardbody paradise of the planet Rubicun III in "Justice" is one example: the peaceful sensualists (known as the Edo) living there are interested only in, uh, pleasure. But when Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) violates an arcane law and is sentenced to death, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) is faced with a conflict over following the Prime Directive or saving the boy.

The evolution of this story is almost bizarre. Beginning with a script by John D.F. Black set on a colony called Llarof, the drama concerned Enterprise personnel caught up in the colonists' antiquated and unjust infliction of instant punishment. The Prime Directive became Picard's barrier to helping the planet's progressives change things. In any case, Gene Roddenberry and writer Worley Thorne did a radical rewrite, perhaps pulling a convenient element or two out of the classic Trek playbook by inventing the sex-obsessed Edo. Still, Stewart and his co-stars leave their imprint on the episode, and the ethical struggle to balance Federation duties with higher obligations--a struggle that helped define TNG--has its roots here. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Justice For All?
No Justice. This entry in the Next Generation Saga"Justice" shows a society with one rigid law. The penaltyfor any crime is death. Wesley learns this very early when he wasplaying catch me with the colonists. He accidentally falls into agarden area behind some posts. Security guards come out of no whereand want to give him a lethal injection. Fortunately for him; Riker,Worf and Tasha show up to stop them. It can be argued that Wesleysaved the ship every time in the first season. He was an obnoxiouscharacter. I believe he acted the way he did to attempt to fit inwith the "adults." This one shows that laws can get out ofcontrol if there is no common sense applied. I love the scenes aboardthe observation lounge where their "God" appears out oforbit as computerized starship. This is a planet were all thebeautiful people run around and make love all day. However, they'reruled by a machine!

No Justice
No Justice

This entry in the Next Generation Saga "Justice" shows a society with one rigid law. The penalty for any crime is death. Wesley learns this very early when he was playing catch me with the colonists. He accidentally falls into a garden area behind some posts. Security guards come out of no where and want to give him a lethal injection. Fortunately for him Riker, Worf and Tasha show up to stop them.

It can be argued that Wesley saved the ship all the time in the first season. He was an obnoxious character. I believe he acted the way he did to attempt to fit in with the "adults." This one shows that laws can get out of control if there is no common sense applied. I love the scenes aboard the observation lounge where their "God" appears out of orbit as computerized starship. This is a planet were all the beautiful people run around and make love all day. However, they're ruled by a machine!

The Planet of the Bimbos!
Star Trek the Next Generation was and still is one of my favorite TV shows and I'm a fan who actually likes Wesley Crusher though I do admit that they sometimes went a little overboard with the whole boy genius thing but anyway This is not my favorite Wesley Crusher episode, and I agree that this episode is like watching a really bad B movie and I can just see Mystery Science Theater making fun of this episode and the goofy characters from the planet of the bimbos! Out of every episode made of Star Trek: The Next Generation I only disliked a few episodes and this is one of my least favorite ones.

"When has justice been as simple as a rulebook?"
Star Trek: The Next Generation crosses over into camp and B-movie territory with its depiction of the Edo civilization in "Justice." Yet if somehow you are able to look past the scantily-clad surfer boys and beach bunnies, this episode still manages to come across as ridiculous as Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) interprets the Federation's sacred Prime Directive in so liberal a manner as to invite guffaws. How this episode made it past the initial brainstorming stage has to be one of the more puzzling mysteries of modern times.

The Enterprise-D travels to Rubicun Three which is home to the carefree Edo. While playing with the inhabitants, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) accidentally crashes into a greenhouse and harms its plants. Wesley is immediately sentenced to death for his crime. Picard must decide whether to disregard local law and bring Wesley back to the ship. To make matters even more complicated, a strange vessel that seemingly has some connection with the Edo is also in the vicinity.

For everything one can find wrong with "Justice," the episode does serve some constructive purpose despite all its flaws. When comparing this episode to the more finely-polished ones of the later seasons, it is easy to see just how much progress Star Trek: The Next Generation made over the years. Indeed, "Justice" makes an excellent "control" episode to which future episodes can be measured against.

I fell in love with Beverly Crusher in this episode...
I think this was the episode that I realized how loveable Beverly Crusher is. Beverly's heart is being tugged when the ignorant people of Edos are planning to put her dear son Wesley to death for the "crime" of falling into a garden. The Edos people APPEAR happy and peaceful, but appearances are deceiving since underneath, they are suspicious, ignorant, and superstitious and show no remorse for the pain and suffering they cause Wesley and his mother. I saw the wonderful mother-son bond that Beverly and Wesley share vividly here and it's touching how Beverly weeps softly when she is reunited with her son. I also love how fiesty outspoken Tasha blasted the Edos people for the corrupt sense of justice and stood up for Beverly and Wesley. Beverly is my favorite character of all science fiction. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

B'Elanna is given the memories of an Enaran woman
"Star Trek: Voyager," Episode 48, "Remember" (Story by Brannon Braga & Joe Menosky, Teleplay by Lisa Klink, Aired October 9, 1996) finds "Voyager" transporting a group of Enarans to their homeworld. The Enarans are telepathic, which would explain why B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson) is suddenly having these strange dreams. Torres is Korenna, an Enaran woman who is in love with Dathan (Charles Esten), which does not make her father, Jareth (Bruce Davidson) happy. He is a military type who is not disposed to happiness and has larger concerns regarding Regressives like Dathan, who have rejected modern technology and need to be "resettled." The dreams keep progressing, but then Torres has a vision while awake and collapses. The Doctor (Robert Picardo) reports that these are not dreams: Torres is experiencing memories that have been planted in her mind. Why is this happening?

The title sort of gives the answer to that question away, so I really wish they had come up with something different because it takes away some of the poignancy of this episode. "Remember" will remind you of a classic episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," but if I told you which one that would give the game away as well. Not that this is a classic "Voyager" episode, but it has its moments. The choice of Torres as the recipient of these memories is interesting; think about the implications for the episode if Kes had received them instead. But "Remember" is clearly an episode to flesh out the human side of B'Elanna's character.

A Story That Could Have Been God
Okay, so this wasn't the best. I think it deserves between 3 and 4 stars. 1. While this could have been an oppurtunity to show the devolopment of B'Elanna's character, it didn't work very well. 2. Also, the episode was a bit late.
1. The "memories" B'Elanna recieved from the unknown alien anger her, but she doesn't do anything until the VERY END! And at the end, nothing really happens except she passes on the memories!
2. It ends and what could have been the beginning.
Well I stink at reviews!

telepaths trying to tell you something?
While transporting a group of telepaths to their homeworld, B'elanna begins to have very realistic dreams. As the dreams progress a story begins to unfold about the life of one of the telepaths on the ship. Eventually B'elanna learns the truth about the history of the aliens they are transporting and it's not pleasant. She tries to convince someone to investigate the matter when they return but she can't get anyone to believe her. Will the truth die with the person who gave her the message? ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Tin Man" is that rare TNG episode about failure. Tam Elbrun (Harry Groener) isn't equipped to perform within what Starfleet considers normal parameters, but because of his rare talent, his presence is tolerated--just. Elbrun is a Betazoid of extraordinary telepathic abilities and is a renowned first contact specialist. However, his gift is also his vulnerability, and the stress of hearing so many minds takes its toll.

Elbrun's mission is to make first contact with an alien dubbed "Tin Man," a living spaceship orbiting a dying star. Gomtuu, as the being calls itself, communicates telepathically. It's ancient, the last of its kind, and extremely alone. It's also suicidal. Elbrun wants contact at any cost--even if that cost is the Enterprise. "Tin Man" is an episode of extraordinary subtleties. It's about the way society uses yet resents the gifted. It's about the struggle to belong. And mostly: "Perhaps you're just different. It isn't a sin, you know."

Trivia alert: Gomtuu is an homage to the thermal pods in the cult film Buckaroo Banzai and one of many nods that appear throughout both TNG and DS9. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good study of man and "beast"
The episode is a good one that deals with the mysterious and awe-inspiring encounter with alien life. The battle of wits between Picard and the Romulan commander takes second fiddle to the space-faring creature that just wants to die. This is one that is both touching and dramatic.

(...)

Tam Elbrun is going to give something to the "Tin Man"....
The Enterprise is heading into a section claimed by the Romulans to investigate a living spaceship that is orbiting a dying star. This alien has been named "Tin Man" by Starfleet, which obviously suggests that the legacy of the rock group America will survive several millennia of political correctness. Aboard the Enterprise is Tam Elbrun, a Betazoid telepath with stunning powers beyond anybody from his planet. The idea is that he will be able to contact the creature, which is in danger not only from the dying star but also from the Romulans, who claim this sector of space. But what Picard and Troi do not know is that Tam Elbrun has his own agenda.

The idea of mind reading has always been compelling, and while Deanna Troi and her mother provide examples of what telepaths can do, Tam Elbrun is this "gift" taken to an extreme. This is a fascinating character, who must be constantly shielding his mind against the constant intrusion of every thought by every person with whom he comes in contact. In "Tin Man," he finds a kindred spirit, or at least a being with whom he can find some sense of peace. It is not often that the main characters on Next Generation take a back seat to the guest star, but "Tin Man" is one of those episodes, providing an intriguing looks at the dark side of a person's "gift."

Bonding with the beast
A fellow empath from Troi's home planet takes passage on the Enterprise. Their mission: to meet up with an enormous alien life form and talk it into alliance with the Federation. It is a race against the Romulans for first contact. Troi is torn between her responsibility to the ship and her concern for her Betazoid buddy, who happens to have a problem with authority. Contact is made, with surprising results.

An excellent video, exploring the ups and downs of empathic ability. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The planet Mordan IV has finally settled into peace after 40 years ofcivil war. Everything's going fine until terrorists take several Federation officials hostage. The leader of Mordan IV, Karnas (Michael Pataki), requests the presence of skilled negotiator Admiral Mark Jameson (Clayton Rohner), so it's up to the crew of the Enterprise to bring these two together. Admiral Jameson is in his mid-80s, but was requested because he handled negotiations on the planet before the civil war broke out. You can tell by the annoying old-age makeup on what is obviously a young actor that Jameson will eventually take a drug that will make him young again. The badmakeup is the biggest flaw in an otherwise good episode. Themes include thequest for youth, the uneasy balance between work and family, and owning up forpast political mistakes. The episode is directed by Rob Bowman, a NextGeneration veteran who's worked on tons of other TV shows and directed theX-Files feature film. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Too much story so that nothing is done well
Terrorists take Federation officials hostage on Mordan IV and the Enterprise is ordered to transport the aged and infirm Admiral Mark Jameson to Mordan IV. The Admiral is a legendary negotiator, and among his many accomplishments was the mediation of a conflict on Mordan IV forty-five years earlier. However, as the Enterprise makes its' way to the planet, Jameson begins changing, becoming younger and more vigorous. This is due to his having taken some form of drug that reverses the aging process, although there are dangerous side effects. Furthermore, it is clear that there are complicating circumstances that the Enterprise crew are unaware of. Jameson and Karnas, the leader of Mordan IV, appear to be talking with a great deal of circumspection, saying things that only they understand.
By the time the Enterprise arrives at Mordan IV, Jameson is a man in his twenties, certainly vigorous, but no longer possessing the aura of wisdom that his age granted him. On Jameson's order, an armed Enterprise party beams down in an attempt to free the hostages. They fail in this mission and eventually they go before Karnas. At this point, it is revealed that Karnas himself has taken the hostages in an attempt to have Jameson come back to Mordan IV. It is revealed that Jameson's solution to the previous conflict on the planet was to give both sides weapons, which ignited a decades-long civil war. The purpose of having Jameson come back to the planet was so that he could be executed for what he did. Seeing a young man suffering from severe convulsions, Karnas frees the hostages and allows Jameson to leave.
While the basic idea of the dangers of arming both sides in a regional conflict is a good one for a story, in this case, it is not delivered very well. This story suffers from the same affliction that many of the early episodes of TNG did, an attempt to pack too much story into the episode. The secondary plot of the wonder drug that is a fountain of youth tends to supercede the main plot that deals with non-interference. Given that the igniting of a civil war is so significant, it would not have been difficult to create a complete episode using only it as a plot device. If that had been done, this would have been a much better story.

"Age and wisdom have their graces too."
There are two lessons to be learned by watching "Too Short A Season." Number one - the quest for the fountain of youth is ongoing well into the 24th century. Number two - the practice of aging actors through bad-make-up applications in television productions was still ongoing well into the late 20th century.

The Enterprise-D is ordered to transport Admiral Mark Jameson (Clayton Rohner) to Mordan IV so that he may negotiate for the release of hostages. Karnas (Michael Pataki), the governor of the planet, has a score to settle with the Admiral as their prior dealings decades ago led to catastrophe. As the Enterprise-D gets closer to the planet, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) cannot help but notice that the aged Admiral appears to be physically turning younger. When confronted with this observation, Jameson tells the captain that he has used an alien drug to help him regain his youth so that he would be in a better position to deal with Karnas. However, the Admiral soon discovers that his regained youth is not the blessing he had hoped for.

"Too Short A Season" is a misfire. Despite the sweet interplay between Clayton Rohner and Marsha Hunt as the Jamesons, this episode never makes any serious attempt to explore the perceived connection between youth and job performance. Is Jameson correct in asserting that he needs the vigor of youth to do his job adequately? We never find out since the de-aging process and Jameson's accompanying deterioration is just used as a story gimmick. Even more fatal to the episode is the aforementioned make-up application on Rohner. It is so bad that it will constantly keep you distracted. You will not absorb vast amounts of story information because brain cells in your head that should be following the unfolding tale will instead be rendered numb and useless every time the horrific image of the elder Jameson appears on the television screen. If you can actually recall specific aspects of this episode besides the bad make-up job when it is over then you are indeed a master of concentration.

This one is a sin in itself
Again, I've been duped by other reviewers (thanks johnstory). How about NOT giving away the ending?The cast is just going through the motions and even the typical special effects are second rate.
Again, check your brain at the door to enjoy this one! Or better yet, go see a doctor.

The Living Legend?
Too Short A Season

For those of you who remember Oliver North; this episode has a 24th century twist. The legendary Admiral Jameson comes aboard the Enterprise. He rides a mechanical wheelchair that looks like Professor X's from the X-Men. Picard has to take him to a mission to free hostages.

Unbeknownst to our captain; Jameson made a deal with a terrorist leader years ago. A brutal dictator named Karnas. Probably a parody on the word carnage. He gave him weapons for the hostages. The admiral declared, "It wasn't my golden oratory that saved these men," he cut a deal.

Actor Clayton Rohner, gave an incredible performance as a man living a lie as a great negotiator. The rest of the cast took a back seat in this episode. It was well worth it. I wonder why Clayton was never asked to return as another character? It's been tradition with this show that many a guest star has come back as someone else.

X-Files fans take note: Rob Bowman; who directed this episode, went on to direct the first X-Files Movie.

Guest star Clayton Rohner in a story about redemption
An atypical first season episode in that the Next Generation crew are pretty much spectators on this one. The Enterprise is heading to Mordan IV with Admiral Mark Jameson to negotiate a hostage crisis. The 85-year old Jameson, suffering from the incurable and crippling effects of Iverson's disease, had successfully negotiated a similar crisis 45 years earlier. On the trip Picard discovers that Jameson has been taking a dangerous alien drug to reverse the affecting of aging and disease. It turns out that Jameson had resolved the earlier crisis by giving into the demands of the Mordan leader Karnas for weapons to fight his opponents. In a belated attempt to follow the Prime Directive, Jameson then supplied the other side with the same weapons. The Civil War that started as a result is still being waged on Mordan IV and Jameson is pretty sure his presence was requested so that Karnas can take revenge on the man who caused all the trouble.

Another first season episode reminiscent of a couple of original Star Trek episodes, "Too Short a Season" serves as yet another lesson about the importance of that tricky Prime Directive. Clayton Rohner has what is certainly the most substantial guest star role on the series after Q, providing a nice sense of dignity to an old man risking his health and his life to redeem the greatest mistake he ever made. His performance is the centerpiece of the episode and he does a wholly credible job. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Long before she was a glamorous movie star, before even her breakthrough performance in Ruby in Paradise, Ashley Judd was a good lookin' television actress who twice played Ensign Robin Lefler, an engineeringmission specialist, on Star Trek: The Next Generation. In "The Game," she teams up with visiting Starfleet cadet Wesley Crusher to save the Enterprise and flirt a little. The ship's problems start when Commander Riker returns from Risa with a game he was given by some alien prostitute. Immediately addictive, the game hooks into the mind and stimulates the pleasure centers. Everybody who plays it wants to share it with the poor, unfortunate souls who haven't yet tried it. Not only does the spread of the game interfere with their mission to chart the Phoenix cluster, it turns out to be a form of mind control from an alien race. Soon enough, the whole ship is hooked and following alien orders. Everyone, that is, except Wesley and Robin, who were too busy enjoying the endorphin rush of their first date to play it. Soon enough they suspect the worst and need to act. As a tribute to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, this is an entertaining episode (though the game itself is cheesy to look at), with the climax handled in a particularly exciting way. After the excitement, Wesleyand Robin share a closed-mouth kiss and promise to see each other again once he goes back to Starfleet Academy, where he'll likely learn thatlong-distance relationships don't work. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great episode, but HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT
This engrossing episode involved an evil electronic device that lured almost everyone on the Enterprise into a state of addicted, malleable euphoria. ALMOST everyone, that is, except for Wesly Crusher, who was visiting from Starfleet Academy.

Wesley noticed the crew behaving strangely, analyed the device, located the knocked-out Data and determined how to reactivate him, then arranged for same to appear just at the right moment and de-hypnotize the command staff -- which saved not only the Enterprise itself, but (per instructions being executed) several star bases, the Academy and, pretty much, the entire Federation.

Wesley, at this point, having bravely and cleverly prevented enslavement of the whole civilized universe, deserved nothing less than to be promoted to full starship captain... but no, he just kissed Ashley Judd goodbye and went back to school. It was a grave injustice, and I have never been more depressed after watching a Star Trek episode. Captain Crusher -- alas.

Great "suspense" episode!
This ST:TNG episode was full of mystery and fun, and also had a little hint of conspiracy to it. It all starts when Commander Riker is shown a game by a woman he likes, and then he quickly pursuades the crew to try it, and then it eventually leads to the conspiracy, where a chase for Wesley Crusher begins. What happens then is what you'll just want to find out yourself, so I hope you get this show!

My all time favorite episode!
My son's favorite episode is "Remember Me", which I admit is AWESOME. But this one, "The Game", is the one that fascinates me the most.

It seemed to be an innocent game. Riker was introduced to it by one of his female companions while on leave. It was HIGHLY addictive. He brought it back on board ship, had it replicated, and the game caught on like wild fire! EVERYONE was hooked! They played the game even while they worked. Only Wesley Crusher and one other female friend of his were wary. They realized the addictive game was not natural.

Wesley Crusher vs the entire ship. Talk about bad odds! But this nimble and intellegent teenager amazed me. To tell more would spoil it.

Considering only 3 episodes stand out for me ("True Q", "Remember Me", and "The Game"), I cannot help but post this in hopes that someone else will fall in love with these perticular 3.

A futuristic warning on the dangers of video games
There is nothing like a visit to Risa, the legendary pleasure planet of the Star Trek universe and Riker is having big time fun with a pleasure girl who introduces him to an exciting little game you play by putting on a visor like device. When Riker returns he brings with him "The Game" and starts replicating it for all of his friends. The game basically interfaces directly with your brain and the next thing you know everybody on board the Enterprise is hooked. Everyone except for Wesley Crusher, on board for a short vacation from Starfleet Academy. Wesley has hooked up with Mission Specialist Robin Leflar (Ashley Judd), a young engineer, and they become suspicious when people try to pressure them into trying the game. When they check out one of the devices they discover that not only is the game psychologically addictive, it also affects the brain's ability to reason. Wesley takes his findings to the captain, but discovers Picard has already become addicted to the game. The only person on the Enterprise immune from the game's effects is Data, but Wesley's mom has already turned him off and rewired him so Data is in an android coma. Now that we are totally confused as to what is going on, a spaceship approaches with Riker's "pleasure girl" in command of an alien invasion force. The game gives her mind control over everyone who has played. Picard gives orders to force everyone who has not played the game to do so, which quickly leaves Wesley the only one left aboard the Enterprise who has yet to be enthralled by the device.

Star Trek has always been known for dressing up contemporary social issues in futuristic trappings and in "The Game" we have a not too subtle indictment of video games (computer games were just starting to take off way back then, but they would also be covered under this indictment). Turn corporate giants like Atari or Nintendo into hostile aliens bent on taking over to the world and the rest of the extended metaphor certainly holds up. If the previous episode ("Disaster") was the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, "The Game" is one of those where the Enterprise lucks out because Wesley happened to have dropped by for a visit. This is really the last episode with the "old" Wesley, since from here on in his character takes a significant turn. Final Note: Robin Leflar is currently one of the characters serving on the Excalibur in Peter David's Star Trek: New Frontier series.

The greatest episode of all
I really love all of the Star Trek Next Generation episodes but this one really tops them all, I think. It's taken me forever to get my hands on it, and through amazon.com I finally did. In my quest for this episode, I even wrote the tv studio asking them to air it again so I could tape it off of the tv, but the show was completely taken off the air recently. Then I was looking in stores for it but no one had it. They said it was a very popular episode. Now I have it and I love it. This episode shows that kids can be just as important as adults and truly make a difference when they are needed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's always enjoyable to see the family members of familiar Star Trek characters, because it gives new dimensions to people usually seen in work mode. In "Manhunt," the familial arrival is Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett), mother of counselor Deanna Troi. Barrett, the widow of series creator Gene Roddenberry and the only actor to appear in every Star Trek series, had made one previous appearance in The Next Generation, and this character would turn up again in later episodes. In this outing, she is beamed aboard the Enterprise, which will transport her to a Federation conference where she is a delegate. The Enterprise is also carrying a pair of delegates from the planet Antede Three--but they have chosen to spend the flight in suspended animation because it's the only way they can endure space travel.

Though they provide the plot's jeopardy at the end of the show, the real focus is on Lwaxana, who is going through what Deanna refers to as "the phase"--a period of heightened sexual hunger. The story is meant to be comic, based on the turnabout notion of this female sexual predator chasing Picard and Riker. Given that the episode aired in 1987, it seems retrograde in its depiction of men trying to put off this forthright vamp. It doesn't help that Barrett, never a great actress, reads all her lines as though they were written by Oscar Wilde, when the script doesn't even rise to the level of Neil Simon. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Picard trying to smoke a cigarette, very funny moment.
In this episode, the Enterprise is assigned to transport delegates to a Federation conference, two of which are from Antede Three. Since they are unaccustomed to space flight, the delegates place themselves in a self-induced trance for most of the voyage. Suddenly, the Enterprise receives a message to transport another Federation delegate, who turns out to be Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna Troi. Furthermore, Lwaxana is in the midst of the phase, a time when Betazoid women experience a very dramatic increase in sex drive. In her usual obnoxious style, she sets her sights on Captain Picard, inviting him to a diplomatic dinner where he is the only guest.
Thinking fast, Captain Picard invites Data to the party to explain the ceremonies of other cultures. After extricating himself from his predicament, Picard decides to make himself scarce by going to the holodeck and taking on the role of a private detective who has made a great deal of enemies. Lwaxana then sets her sights on Commander Riker, unexpectedly announcing their forthcoming wedding. In the end, even though she amuses and befuddles the crew, Lwaxana is unable to snare a husband and must leave to tend to her diplomatic duties. Before leaving, she casually informs the Enterprise crew that the delegates from Antede Three are in fact assassins.
Although the character of Lwaxana Troi is one of the most obnoxious and self-centered in all of television, I enjoyed the episode. What saved it for me was were the scenes where Picard was in the holodeck. Although he fails in several attempts to relax and avoid people trying to kill him, Picard finally manages to get away from it all by taking his receptionist to the local bar. Having his radio play a song about "getting away from it all" was a funny moment. The best scene of all is when Picard is in the bar with his receptionist and the friendly bartender, trying to act the part of a tough private detective. His attempt at smoking a cigarette is one of the funniest moments in the next generation series.

Lwaxana Troi goes through "the phase." Run, Picard, run!
The Enterprise is transporting two delegates in stasis to a conference on Pacifica, when a shuttle arrives bearing Lwaxana Troi who will be representing Betazed. However, it turns out Deanna's mom has another agenda. Apparently Lwaxana is going through "the phase," during which the sex drive of a Betazoid woman big time, and since the widow Troi has her standards she needs to find a husband. Suddenly the meaning of the episode's title becomes crystal clear. You will never guess who she has decided should be Deanna's step-father, but for some strange reason Picard is on the holodeck in another one of his Dixon Hill novels. But Jean-Luc cannot hide form Lwaxana forever.

"Manhunt" is a pleasant diversion that showcases Patrick Stewart's comic timing, a side of Picard that tends to come up only when Lwaxana comes to call. Comedy was never really a forte of the Next Generation, with the funny moments usually coming from the characters rather than the story line, but "Manhunt" would be the exception that proves the rule. In addition to an excuse for Majel Barrett to strut her stuff, the episode does add another interesting wrinkle to life on the holodeck. Besides, the final scene is a hoot. Lwaxana is still a comic contrivance at this point, but some truly memorable episodes are coming down the road for her, both comic and tragic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Deanna Troi's mother Lwaxana (Majel Barrett) returns to theEnterprise bringing more mother-daughter baggage. This time she is thesole translator for the Cairn, a species who developed with no concept ofspoken language, but who need to learn to speak now that they're joining theFederation. Established right away as an annoying blabbermouth, Lwaxanaimmediately tries to marry off her unwed daughter to the eligible Cairnwidower Maques (Norman Large). When Lwaxana falls into a coma after too muchtelepathic contact with the Cairn, it's up to Deanna to probe her mind (withthe help of Maques). Deanna discovers her mom has suppressed a dark secretfor more than 30 years, a secret that must be exposed and dealt with beforethe episode can come to its inevitable conclusion. The most interesting thingabout the episode is the casting of Hedril, the daughter of Maques. Yes,that's Kirsten Dunst when she was about 10 years old! Not a great episode,but an interesting footnote to the career of Dunst. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The reason why Lwaxana calls Deanna "Little One"
Lwaxana Troi is again visiting the Enterprise, having spent time helping the Cairn, a race that is exclusively telepathic, learn how to communicate verbally to prepare for meetings with Federation officials. Lwaxana is trying to set up Deanna with Maques, one of the Cairn delegate, a widower with a young daughter (played by Kirsten Dunst). After a conversation with the young girl, Lwaxana falls into a coma. Maques tells Deanna that her mother had some sort of psychic trauma in the past that has forced her to retreat into her mind. Deanna makes telepathic contact with her mother, but Lwaxana piteously begs to be left along, sending images of a wolf, Picard and Deanna's father to chase her away. Going through her mother's journals for a clue as to what could have happened in the past, Deanna discovers a seven-year gap, covering the period from Lwaxana's marriage until shortly after Deanna was born. Going back into her mother's mind, Deanna uncovers the shocking truth.

This is far and away the most memorable of the Lwaxana Troi episodes, showing that Majel Barrett is as adept at doing dramatic scenes as she is at doing comedy. Marina Sirtis also shines, especially in the shattering conclusion and its aftermath. What impressed me the most is how they took Lwaxana's use of the pet name "Little One," and gave it such emotional significance. It is one of the most emotional sequences in the show's history, made all the more powerful because it is so unexpected. For my money, "Dark Page" is the biggest tearjerker in the history of STNG.

------------------------------------------------------------
This is a really great episode, especially so for those who are more fans of Deanna Troi. Marina Sirtis and Majel Barrett have some very emotional scenes in this one, and they do it beautifully. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I Just Don't Get It
As die-hard a Trek enthusiast as they come, I've never understood the appeal of this go nowhere, do nothing story which visits the lives of a bunch of no names serving aboard everyone's favorite incarnation of the Enterprise, the Enterprise-D.

A bunch of ensigns waxing on about having to go to work just had no appeal to me, and, in subsequent viewings, it had even less.

To be perfectly frank, I'm not quite certain how this droll story ever got off the drawing board.

Star Trek from a different perspective...excellent!
This is what Star Trek's SUPPOSED to be all about -- real people courageously risking their lives because they want to know what's out there, and because they BELIEVE in what they do. What's great about this episode is that, for one of the few times in Star Trek, we actually get more than a short peak at the lives of people besides the main characters who make up a starship. FINALLY! This is a great idea in and of itself, and a lot better than just having the non-main character in a red shirt get killed in the first 5-10 minutes of the show! :) Besides that, what focusing on some OTHER, lower-ranking characters for a change does for us is give us a very different perspective (in this case, a bunch of ensigns) on the the series' giants (Picard, Riker, Worf, etc.). Very interesting, and very rewarding! And, to top it all off, this is an exciting story, and an emotionally moving one as well. Great stuff...I just wish Star Trek would do more of these types of episodes!

A dangerous mission for one of the junior officers
"Lower Decks" is one of the most unique STNG episodes, because it focuses on the lives of four junior officers aboard the Enterprise. Two of them are somewhat familiar: Alyssa Ogawa (Patti Yasutake) is one of Dr. Crusher's nurses, while Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill), is a Bajoran who was one of the members of Wesley's Alpha Squadron in "First Duty" (Episode 119). The other members of the quartet are Sam Lavelle (Dan Gauthier) and Taurik (Alexander Enberg). We also meet Ben, a civilian who works in Ten-Forward (and who stands in for Guinan in this episode). As the episode begins, Riker and Troi are doing crew evaluations, and the junior officers are all fretting over their fates. There are some nice moments throughout the show as they try to impress the senior officers and play poker. But then the show takes a decidedly serious turn.

The Enterprise suddenly heads for the Argaya System, on the border of the Cardassian Empire. La Forge is working on extending the range of the transporters. Finally, Picard calls Ensign Sito to his ready room and explains what is going on: Joret Dal, a member of the Cardassian military, has brought vital intelligence data for the Federation. The Enterprise needs to get Dal back safely so he can continue to be a Starfleet operative. Dal wants to pose as a Cardassian bounty hunter returning with a prize: A Bajoran. Once past the border patrols, Dal will send Sito back in the shuttle's escape pod. Sito agrees to "volunteer" for this mission. Picard knows full well she wants the opportunity to restore her reputation. However, when the time comes for the Enterprise to retrieve the escape pod, there is nothing to be found.

"Lower Decks" is a change of pace episode, and one of the most memorable in STNG's last season. What makes this a great episode is that it stands in stark contrast to all those Star Trek episode where some nameless if not faceless Starfleet person was killed on an Away Mission. Like the sudden death of Tasha Yar, the passing of Spock's father Sarek, and the mystery of Deanna's sister, the tragic fate of Ensign Sito is one of the most heart rending moments in the history of the series. Reducing the regular cast to secondary status in this episode was absolutely brilliant, and you will find yourself wishing we could have seen more about the Enterprise's junior officers. This is an outstanding episode.

I cry at the end of this episode every time!
What a great episode! The parallels between the junior officers and the senior officers is what truly makes this episode unique. I can't think of any other TNG episode that places so much focus on other members of the Enterprise's crew. There are funny parts (like when Taurik tries to impress Geordi), cute sequences (like when Ensign Sito & Worf are working out and he gives her some advice the hard way), and tragedy (when Sito is killed). The final scene brings tears to my eyes every time I see it: as Worf sits down with the other junior officers in 10-forward, he looks at them and they all acknowledge one another as new friends who have lost a treasured comrade. This is a must buy!

One of my favorite STTNG episodes!
A wonderful story about junior officers. Shannon Fill (as Ensign Sito) really created a very sympathetic character, and her loss at the end really tugged at the heartstrings. Alexander Enberg (as Ensign Taurik) reminded was we adore Vulcans so much - a very effective performance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Original airdate: 5/1/95. Stardate: 48734.2. After their shuttlecraft is attacked by an unknown force, Tuvok is mildly injured and Chakotay is left brain-dead, his "bio-neural energy" drained away. Captain Janeway orders Voyager to pursue the unknown assailant into a nearby nebula, but a mysterious presence in the ship--sensed by Kes, and able to seize control of any crewmember at will--prevents Voyager from giving chase. This phenomenon echoes the plot of the Denzel Washington thriller Fallen, as the unknown "spirit" moves from body to body to carry out its agenda, and anyone paying attention will quickly realize that Chakotay's disembodied brainwaves are protecting Voyager from further harm (a conclusion that Janeway is much too slow to reach). It's hardly a big revelation, and neither is the episode's quick resolution (involving Chakotay's successful recovery), which follows a number of plot holes that die-hard Trekkers will toss up for debate. Essentially a mystery plot pitting Chakotay's spirit against body-possessing aliens called the Komar, "Cathexis" was scripted by series producer Brannon Braga, and qualifies as one of the weaker episodes of Voyager's first season, of interest primarily for its solid interaction among the regular cast. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (3)

"Voyager" plays alien, alien, who's got the alien?
In "Cathexis" (Story by Brannon Braga & Joe Menosky; Teleplay by Braga, Aired May 1, 1995) Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and Tuvok (Tim Russ) are attacked in a shuttlecraft. The Doctor (Robert Picardo) reports that something has drained all of the bio-neural energy from Chakotay's brain, making it seem like he is brain dead. Everyone is worried and B'Elanna (Roxann Biggs-Dawson) puts a medical wheel near Chakotay so it will help him find his way home. Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) orders "Voyager" back to investigate the nebula where the shuttle was attacked, but strange things start happening: Paris changes course and Torres starts a warp core shutdown, but neither remember does it. The Doctor discovers each has a strange brainwave pattern suggesting their minds were controlled by some sort of alien that clearly does not want "Voyager" going back to the nebula. Janeway is worried enough that she transfers the ship's command codes to the Doctor. However, the alien presence proves to be much smarter than that and "Cathexis" becomes a case of trying to figure out who is being possessed by the alien.
The best part of "Cathexis," the 13th episode from Season 1 of "Star Trek: Voyager," is when the crew is confronted with evidence that anyone could be under the influence of the alien presence at any given moment (think the John Carpenter version of "The Thing"). However, the scientific explanations for what is happening becomes a bit much by the end of the episode. This is one of those episodes where the alien should have won pretty quickly, drained the bio-neural energy from all the crew, who would have all died in the Delta Quadrant and the show would have been over. Besides, we are all waiting for Chatkotay's prayer-wheel to become a key part of the solution. However, I think part of the problem is that we have three other "Star Trek" series worth of episodes of alien mind control and "Cathexis" is an attempt to come up with something somehow different, which gets rather complicated by the end of the tale. On the lighter side we do get to see Janeway off playing in a holodeck novel with Lord Burleigh and Mrs. Templeton, which presages some more interesting things to come down the road.

Enjoyable, but not a key season one episode
I enjoyed this episode, but I must admit that it didn't do much to develop the Voyager characters...something that should have been a focus of season one of the series. Perhaps we did get a small glimpse into the spirituality of the character of Chakotay...but even that glimpse was small and could have been a lot more revealing.

In short, the episode is worth seeing, but the writers could have done alot more within the storyline to flesh out the characters...especially the characters of B'Elanna and Chakotay.

I'd say that this episode is enjoyable, but it's certainly not a season one "must see".

Enjoyable Episode
Its always curiosity that kills the cat. This is one of those episodes that they encounter a nebula of mental powered aliens. Just a twist. But enjoyable. I did enjoy it ... Read more

Amazon.com

Original airdate: 5/22/95. Stardate: 48846.5. Voyager's first season closed with this exploration of the internal conflict among Voyager's crew, namely, the eruption of tensions between the ship's Starfleet contingent and the untrained Maquis who came aboard with Chakotay when their mission began. When Voyager's energy grid malfunctions due to an infection in the ship's bio-neural gel-packs, parallel plot lines emerge: while Janeway and the executive staff determine the cause of the gel-pack infection (would you believe an airborne bacterial virus from Neelix's homemade cheese?), Tuvok--with 16 years' experience instructing Starfleet cadets--is assigned to train a small group of rebellious Maquis in the disciplines of Starfleet protocol. A "boot camp" episode that smartly examines the uniqueness of Voyager's homeless crew, "Learning Curve" is a nuts-and-bolts show that combines human dynamics with the kind of techno-babble that's become a Star Trek tradition, only in this case Voyager's crew is faced with malfunctioning equipment that can't be replaced. Despite a pat ending that resolves the Maquis conflict much too easily, the episode drives home the fact that Voyager and its crew are all alone, making the most of a difficult predicament. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Tuvok tries to drill the Maquis on Starfleet protocols
When "Voyager" became trapped in the Delta Quadrant and Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) decided to add the Maquis to the ship's compliment, not all of the new crewmembers had Starfleet training like Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and Torres (Roxann Biggs-Dawson) , which is causing problems when they do repairs without authorization. So, here we are up to Episode 16 of the first season of "Star Trek: Voyager" and the time has come to get the new crewmembers up to speed. In "Learning Cure" (Written by Ronald Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias, Aired: May 22, 1995), Janeway orders Tuvok (Tim Russ) to train a group of recruits. The fact that Tuvok was once undercover with the Maquis is apparently forgotten, because in this episode the trainees hate him because he is doing the Vulcan drill sergeant routine. Meanwhile, the partially biological components of "Voyager" have become infected, and the Doctor (Robert Picardo) says they need to be cured before it spreads to the entire ship (this was one aspect of the set up for "Star Trek: Voyager" that was never really explored fully).

Of course, in the end the main plot and the sub plot will come together as we learn that the title of the episode applies not only to the former Maquis crewmembers but to the Vulcan Security Officer as well. The result is an average episode whose biggest appeal lies in seeing Tuvok perplexed by the failure of logic to solve all problems (those Vulcans can be stubbornly naïve at times) and the opposites attract idea of his developing friendship with Neelix (Ethan Phillips). It also constitutes one of the more significant developments in the Starfleet/Maquis division that was an undercurrent in Season 1 of "Star Trek: Voyager," reinforcing the idea that this crew is on its own out there in the Delta Quadrant.

Tuvok trains the Maquis
I enjoyed this episode for several reasons. First, because it really explored the difficulties experienced by the Maquis crew during their assimilation into the Voyager Starfleet crew. In this way, I felt that the whole premise of the show was made more realistic.

Next, I was happy to see some character development with regard to Tuvok. We had to wait until the last episode of season one to get it, but when we got it, it was some excellent work.

Finally, I felt that this episode settled once and for all the issue of Chakotay's allegiance to Captain Janeway and Starfleet. Indeed, one 3 minute segment of this episode served to speak volumes about Chakotay's commitment to the combined crew under the Starfleet emblem.

In short, I feel that this is "highly recommended" viewing for Voyager season one.

Voyager's Learning Curve
After the explosiveness and power of Star Trek: Voyager's debut, I thought following episodes would build on what "Caretaker" (the first episode) promised. But season one was rocky. Sure, it was a bit more solid than the first season of The Next Generation or season one of Deep Space Nine, but it was still tough to watch sometimes. This changed a bit toward the end of the first season with "Learning Curve".

I've always been fascinated by Voyager's premise of a lost starship which truly expounded on Star Trek's premise of "boldy going where no one has gone before". The Original Series never fulfilled that promise and neither did The Next Generation. While both seriess showed plenty of soldiering and diplomatic missions, their was relatively little REAL space exploration. In fact (I've actually checked the numbers on this), Deep Space Nine did more real space exploration than either of it's two predecessors. Voyager comes along and we get space exploration every episode. It's about time. But I digress.

The other fascinating part of Voyager is that this lost starship has a mixed crew of Starfleet and Maquis (outlaws). But up until "Learning Curve" we never are shown the difficulties the Maquis may encounter while serving on a Starflet vessel. Sure, we've seen Commander Chakotay and Lt. Torres in their struggles but both characters were in Starfleet at one time. The adjustment was easier for them than it was for their Maquis allies that never had served in Starfleet. And in this episode, we meet four Maquis that are having tremendous difficulty fitting in. Voyager's chief security/tactical officer, the Vulcan Tuvok, is assigned to train and help these former outlaws adapt to Starfleet life. It's difficult for him to understand their attitude and anger toward Starfleet and the Federation just as it is difficult for the Maquis to understand that order and discipline MUST be maintained in order for the ship to function effectively. In the end, after a few mistakes and mishaps, the Maquis learn and grow as they become better able to adapt to the new status quo and Tuvok learns and grows as a character. He realizes that there are more ways than one way to deal with any given situation.

"Learning Curve" is good and I enjoy viewing this episode time and time again.

voyager
I love Star Trek very much.Especially The Voyger series ... Read more