Amazon.com

A rousing tribute to the original Star Trek's most popular episode, "Trials and Tribble-ations" is a triumph of clever plotting, technical achievement, and pure, unadulterated fun. Like "The Trouble with Tribbles" from 29 years earlier, this fifth-season episode is an instant classic, beginning when a surgically altered Klingon (Charlie Brill, reprising his role from "Tribbles") uses a Bajoran Orb of Time to travel back over 100 years to prevent his past-tense capture by Capt. James T. Kirk. Undercover time travelers Sisko, Dax, Odo, Worf, O'Brien, and Bashir track the Klingon's scheme on the Enterprise-A and the Tribble-infested space station K-7, turning this two-series hybrid into a nostalgic valentine, with DS9 characters digitally inserted into original "Tribbles" footage. With re-created sets, ships, and costumes, "T & T" mines hilarious gold from its Trek-savvy premise, including the mysteries of Klingon physiognomy, Starfleet snoops whose names are anagrams of "Mulder and Scully," and enough in-jokes to delight vigilant Trekkers everywhere. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (29)

The Best of DS9 ...
Episode 103 Trials and Tribble-ations is the best DS9 episode ever made....and more! The episode transcends DS9 blending arguably one of the best Star Trek "Original Series" episodes -- Trouble with Tribbles -- with charachters from DS9 and Next Generation.

The cinematography is superb as clips from the original episode are seamlessly integrated into this episode. And by "seamlessly integrated" I mean 2 things: technically speaking, and from a plot perspective.

This episode is at once nostalgic, original, filled with drama and humor (mostly Dax's comments, but comments by Sisko and others as well.) The fight scene is particularly well-done and stands as probably the best scene of the episode.

Oh, it's so good to see Kirk and Spock again, but it is all fresh and new and exciting in the context of this extremely well-done DS9 episode. This is a must-buy for not only DS9 fans, but also Next Generation and Original Series fans. Outstanding, and as entertaining as even the full-length movies.

One Of The Finest Hours Of Star Trek, Ever
Oh my, what a hoot! I commend the producers of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" for this witty, wonderful homage to the original series that also shines in its own right as one of the finest "Star Trek" episodes ever made. This is an exquisite blend of new footage around scenes from the "Star Trek" episode "The Trouble With Tribbles". Charlie Brill is terrific as the disguised disgraced Klingon from "The Trouble With Tribbles". Here he tries to change history by sending the "Deep Space Nine" crew back in time, hoping to kill Captain Kirk. Michael Dorn ("Worf") is hilarious as he tries to explain to his befuddled comrades why the Klingons from Captain Koloth's battlecruiser more closely resemble humans than Klingons of Worf's time. And now I know who was responsible for the barroom brawl - and it wasn't really anyone from from the old USS Enterprise! Admittedly "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was my favorite "Star Trek" series, yet I'm sure this hilarious episode will appeal to "Star Trek" fans of all stripes as well as others, like myself, who enjoy hilarious science fiction television.

A Nice Tribute To The Original Series
Over 30 years ago, the Original Star Trek series produced an episode that continues to be a favorite among fans even today. "The Trouble With Tribbles" was a silly episode with lots of humor.

30 years later, the producers of Star Trek : Deep Space Nine (the best series of the modern Trek era) created this wonderful episode..."Trials And Tribble-ations". Using footage from the original episode, the crew of the Defiant go back in time to save Kirk from a vengeful Klingon.

This episode has many fun moments. The best one is when Bashir, O'Brien and Odo don't recognize the human looking aliens as Klingons. "Those are Klingons?"

A great episode and a fiting tribute to the original. Definitely better than Voyager's tribute episode with Captain Sulu.

This time everybody knows the Tribbles I've seen...
Sooner of later what was happening in the movies with "Zelig" and "Forrest Gump" was going to make a move to the small screen, which is as good an explanation for the fun of Episode 103 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Trials and Tribble-ations" (Story by Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler & Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore & Rene Echevarria, "The Trouble With Tribbles" written by David Gerrold, Aired November 4, 1996). The "Defiant" return from Cardassian space with the Bajoran Orb of Time along with Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill), a Klingon who has been surgically altered to pass as human (gee, doesn't that sound familiar?). Darvin uses the Orb to send the "Defiant" and its crew back over a hundred years to Deep Space Station K-7 where the U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk, commanding, is in orbit and suddenly we find ourselves in the classic original "Star Trek" episode, "The Trouble With Tribbles."

Darvin turns out to be the same spy that was caught by Kirk poisoning the grain shipment. Darvin wants to change history by killing Kirk, so Sikso, Dax, Bashir, and O'Brien dress up in period uniforms and search the Enterprise for Darvin. Meanwhile Odo and Worf, check out the space station. Granted, the interaction between the two casts consists more of cuts than using computers to insert the DS9 gang into the original "Star Trek" episode, but that does not take away from the fun, and there is a lot of fun to be had in this episode. The best moment is when O'Brien and Bashir join Odo and Worf at the station bar when the Klingons show up and start baiting Scotty and the Enterprise men. The other three all stare at the Klingons, then at Worf with his all those ridges on the top of his head, and then back at the Klingons with their smooth brows. But to their questions about what happened, all Worf will say is that Klingons do not talk about it with outsiders. This may well be the funniest moment in "Star Trek" history (my second choice would be Captain Picard's Shakespearean monologue when he is trying to win Lwaxana Troi back from an amorous Ferengi). Dax mooning over Kirk is not half bad either.

Clearly "Trials and Tribble-ations" is a unique crossover episode for the "Star Trek" universe, and fortunately there was no attempt to duplicate it with a similar project. Actually, since you can make the argument that not since "The Trouble With Tribbles" has there been a "Star Trek" episode that was so totally in the spirit of fun, that "Trials and Tribble-ations" is just the big cosmic wheel coming full circle.

Tribble Trouble
This was the first DS9 I ever saw, and it was wonderful. Sisko and his crew blended in wonderfully, althougth Odo's make-up probally wouldn't have been possible in 1967. This episode was funny, and the special effects(the effects where DS9 mixed with TOS) were great. I even found out how to annoy Worf("Is that lilac I smell"). I only have two complaints. George Takei(Sulu) wasn't in this episode. Then again, I'm not even sure he was in the original, and he was the star in the Voyager episode "Flashback". And second of all, Worf didn't tell us(actually Odo, O'Brein, and Bashir) how the Klingon change from brown humans to boney forehead aliens. Other than that, I love this episode. It's the only one from Deep Space 9 I saw, but already I think this the best DS9 episode I ever saw. I also recommend the orginal episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles. That is just as good as this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Children of Tama are a mysterious, rarely encountered race whose language is indecipherable even by the Universal Translator. This is because Tamarians speak in metaphor, which is strange and poetic, but, without a frame of reference, also gibberish. After yet another failed attempt at communication, the Tamarians take drastic measures: they kidnap Picard and beam him to the surface of a hostile planet along with their own captain. What follows is an interesting, well-acted story of the struggle to understand.

Don't be put off by the premise. "Darmok" is one of the best episodes of TNG. It's action-packed and holds its own next to "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I," "Time's Arrow," and "Descent." Thanks to Joe Menosky's brilliant teleplay and Paul Winfield's solid acting, this uphill battle in futility shows what probably would happen when two truly alien races attempt to communicate. There is genuine desperation in Dathon's (Winfield) eyes when he attempts to explain "Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra" for what seems like the millionth time. Watching Picard struggle to understand is downright painful, as is the inevitable confrontation that follows. The viewer comes to care what happens to the Tamarians. We want to know this alien race; but at the same time, we also know we'll probably never comprehend them.

In series television, it's almost unheard of for a show to depart from canon. TNG takes a huge chance with "Darmok" and the end result is worth watching again and again. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of the best TNG episodes
Next to "Best of Both Worlds" or "Yesterday's Enterprise," "Darmok" is one of the most intelligent and vibrant episodes of the entire Next Generation catalog. Picard's attempts, and eventual success, to communicate with the Tamarian captain, wonderfully portrayed by Paul Winfield, is splendid. Obviously, most Star Trek stories, whether they be the original series or TNG, offer socio-political commentary on our own society, this episode is no different. It basically teaches that communication with peoples or entities that are different than us can be accomplished if one is willing to try. "Darmok" is Patrick Stewart's finest hour in TNG.

In order to read, you must have read.
Have you ever read The Canterbury Tales? Allusions to classical literature abound. These references were a sort of shorthand or jargon of the time, a way of saying much by saying little. To refer to Zephirus, for instance, is to mention the warm, sweet breezes of Spring and to conjure up that time of year, with all of its freshness and new life.

Episode 102 presents a culture in which this sort of idiom is carried to the extreme. The words are getting through, but the meaning is not. The struggle of the two captains, the alien and Picard, to bridge the gap is brilliant and fascinating.

This is my favorite Star Trek episode of all time, of all generations.

Magnificent.

The best episode from the 7 years of ST:TNG
"Darmok" remains the best of the best of the seven years ST:TNG was on the air. In a short 55 minutes, one has learned a new language. Think of it: at the time Picard speaks with the Tamarian First Officer, the language exchange (if you paid attention to the whole episode) is completely understandable. There is no need for a translation scroll at the bottom of the screen...and was wisely done that way.

Highly recommended.

A testament to the excellence of season 5...
"Darmok" captures what is the heart and soul of Star Trek: discovering new races and learning to coexist with them. In this episode, that is no easy feat for Picard, who is trapped on a planet with an alien captain who talks different from everyone else. The two cannot understand each other, but as a monster hunts them down, it becomes apparent that the two must learn how to communicate. This is a phenominal episode, downplaying the action and instead building on the characters of the alien captain and Picard. It's not just good Star Trek, it's great science-fiction. While the monster effects are very subpar (they always are for Star Trek), the being itself is of little importance to the story. What is important is how Picard and the other captain learn how to communicate. Truly a wonderful episode.

An example of how Star Trek can be a good base for new ideas
One of the things I like about Star Trek was the ability for it to be a platform of new ideas. This episode certainly shows that strength- it's not loaded with special effects and technobabble but it shows good acting and an outstanding idea in having a race which talks solely by example. Though I've not watched much TREK recently this is one of the episodes I remember. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This two-hour finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation is a very satisfying piece that leads the seven-year-old television series back to its beginnings in the original TNG pilot. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), whipping through time uncontrollably, simultaneously finds himself back at the start of his tenure on board the Enterprise while also on the ship's deck in the present--at the same time he tried somewhat feebly to forestall a disaster in the distant future. As fans might expect, a certain imp named Q seems to be behind the mystery...but not necessarily for bad reasons. A wonderful wrap-up to seven years of TV legend, All Good Things deserves to be a TV classic. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (31)

'All Good Things' Run Forever In Syndication
Most television series exit the boob tube on only one leg, but STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION sailed off into the small screen sunset with this incredible thought-provoking opus, "All Good Things."

With a stellar performance by Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, the adventure travels the gamut of three separate periods in time ... the future, the present, and the past ... juggle a series of events that might, in fact, forecast the end of all mankind (not just the series, that's how much was at stake here).

While I never REALLY liked Q (played by John de Lancie), his role came full circle in this science fiction twist with shades of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. In this two-hour episode, Q rose above being a mere plot device and showed that, as a character, he had worth that the viewers couldn't have possibly imagined.

So ... where's the Q movie?

Spectacular end to a great series...
This TV movie is the last episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and it isn't to be missed. Captain Picard is moving back and forth through time, where an anomaly is destroying life in the universe. It doesn't take long for him to find out that the mischievious Q is behind it all. Very exciting conclusion to the long-running series. It's especially good if watched right after the episode "Encounter at Farpoint," the first show. John DeLancie is always excellent as Q and Patrick Stewart is the only man who could ever play Picard correctly. The biggest reason to see this is if you're a fan of Star Trek. If not, don't bother.

Better than any of the movies.
While the original crew had it better with the movies, The Next Generation was the only Star Trek TV series that I watched consistently. The show had a cast that at least equalled that of the original, boasted better production values, and plots that were intriguing and touched on varieties of concepts that Kirk, Spock, and Bones never got the chance to explore. Deep Space Nine was too mired into the whole "war of the quadrants" to explore any ideas with real satisfaction, and while Voyager had the best effects and the best premise, the cast was middling at best. As for Enterprise, hell, I tried to watch one episode and got too damn bored.

All Good Things..., the swan song episode for TNG, is possibly the best of Star Trek, period, focusing on mind-boggling concepts while retaining the character development and human interest that made the show so appealing. It's the seventh year that the crew of the Starhip Enterprise have been together, but Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is experiencing odd timeshifts. He's constantly switching between three different time periods; to the past, right before the Farpoint mission, the present, and the future, where the crew has long since split up, Picard is retired and is diagnosed with a debilitating mental illness. Naturally, the rest of the crew is skeptical (be it in any time period), but when Picard discovers the true nature of his constant shifting, he realizes it is both the means and cause with which the existence of mankind could be erased.

I hesitate to give too much away, though I doubt anyone with a passing interest in Star Trek hasn't already seen this episode. But it plays as an interesting comparison and contrast to the series' first episode, Encounter at Farpoint, which it directly ties in to with Picard's timeshifting to the past. There's been a notable improvement in the quality of the sets and the visual effects, and also the acting, the pacing, and the plot development.

All Good Things... has all the solid acting one expects from the cast, and a human touch that was missing from the latest film, Nemesis. It's interesting to note that this episode (meaning the whole series, as well) ends with the door open for all sorts of possibilites; at this time, this clearly implied the much-hyped transition to the big screen.

Unfortunately, some of the more open-ended questions this episode focused on were never even touched on. Sure, the Worf/Troi/Riker triangle was resolved, but one of my favorite ongoing side stories, the burgeoning romance between Picard and Dr. Crusher, was completely ignored in the movies. And the final scenes lead one to believe that the movies would take us to "places" never explored, even though the most recent film was merely a plotless action movie that didn't even have enough action to warrant the movie's existence.

Stewart is the true highlight of this episode, displaying the great acting chops he's been known for. The fact that we care for him and the rest of the crew as well, adds a sense of urgency and involvement in the proceedings that the otherwise quite frantic pace alone might not have been able to develop. The plot twists are pure Trek, each mysterious element giving away to some big revelation that only leads to more questions. The story is engrossing, the dialogue is strong, and the performances and characterizations are spot-on.

There are a few problems with All Good Things. The timeshifting obviously means we're going to see past and future versions of the cast, but everyone's aged to the extent where they can't quite pass for their more youthful selves, and the old-age makeup is never entirely convincing (Old Riker's first appearance gave me a good laugh). That said, I would like to make mention of what full-blown hotties Marina Sirtis and especially Gates McFadden became (McFadden is easily the most attractive post 50-year old actress I've ever seen).

The continuing movie series actually began quite well; Generations and First Contact were enjoyable adventures, but everything seemed to fall apart with Insurrection. Funny, All Good Things... is a title that turned out more prophetic than anyone would have guessed.
**** 1/2 out of *****

Brilliant - what else can you possibly say?
If you were tempted in the beginning season of TNG as many were, to compare the personalities of Kirk and Picard, I think that by the time you got to this production, actually the final one of all, you would have long given up. As a character in a fiction, Picard in no way is even an analogue of Kirk. This virtual tour de force is confirmation of this, if it were needed at all.

My sons and I actually saw Patrick Stuart in the flesh in Leeds on my sisters birthday (I should really have gone there instead, but there you go), watching his signposted one man performance about Shylock - Shakespeares alien. It was quite famous over here, and very well attended. I wish I could relate this to you, but I would go WAY over the 1000 word limit and not even begin to scratch the surface. Sufficient to say, that Stuart's vocabulary as an actor is enormous, and he brought so much intelligence to bear on this very rich and complex play (the merchant of Venice) and interwove it most perspicaciously with recent events - terrorism, racism, and his own fascinating recollections of performances, character interpretations, and so many other things. It was like being on board a ship in a gale, exhilarating and wonderful, and no-one wanted it to end.

It's a fact that when we had the opportunity to ask questions, and also at other times during the show, Patrick mentioned his relationship with Paramount in several ways. I don't want to quote these comments, but sufficient to say that all the cast members felt that things were not always on an even keel. In fact, there was evidence of a really complicated and not always simple state of play at many times. Fortunately, during the last season, there was relatively little in the way of compromise, largely due to the continuous diplomacy of Spiner and Stewart. The result of this diplomacy in the case of this episode pair is just about as good as it gets, and is a truly magnificent way to conclude the series.

Picard, in this episode, has to deal with the final and inevitable onset of the final enemy - age, and mortality. In this he plays beautifuly an far older man than the younger commander seen at Farpoint, though the story is ingeniously composed in such a way that this ending episode is wrapped in an inescable embrace with this very first episode. I doubt whether this could ever have been pulled off by anyone else so well. But what is so well done is to (within the confines of the show format) to produce a strange sense of the timeless and the memorable. This is an astonishing effect. The whole thing seems... haunted by a strange atmosphere which would have been impossible to script in if you were aiming for it intentionally.

I think there is a remote chance that this may just happened anyway, by accident. Perhaps, this is may have been due to the time paradoxes and folding in of the plot. But this atmosphere is surely due in greater part to the unconscious realisation by all participants that this was, in fact, the last time that all the cast would be gathered together in precisely that time and place and circumstance, a sort of breaking of the fellowship.

After the gymnastics of a complicated plot, which gradually reaches a rather dramatic climax, the final stroke of genius is that the ending is positioned somewhere and sometime, but where exactly... Who knows? I suspect in a future which is that strange ambiguity that we know as happily ever after - no irony intended - in fact, you can truly imagine that the ending never actually happens at all,at least not one witnessed, but trails off into memory forever, into the furthest of distance. And it is there that we bid good bye.

Of course, it's not really over, but here the story TELLING naturally ends, and most satisfyingly so. My gosh, what a way to go...

The End
This final episode of TNG stands alone as an all-time classic science fiction episode. "All Good Things", (co-directed by David Carson, from Star Trek: Generations) moves back and forth across time in an eye-appealing way. It's very fulfilling to see Picard deal with both his past, present, future, and Q to top it all off! A great way to end the series. ... Read more

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Nominated for the prestigious Hugo Award and voted the best Star Trek ever by readers of TV Guide, "The Visitor" transcends the limitations of series canon and exists in a continuum of its own making. There is something indefinable, something both solid and intangible about the love that exists between a parent and a child. If strong enough, it probably could forge a connection through time and space--and beyond life itself. This episode feels very real.

The plot is deceptively simple: a young writer appears on Jake Sisko's doorstep in the middle of a very dark and rainy night. She wants to hear his story; and Jake is an old man. He needs to tell it. Distinguished kudos all around for great writing and great acting. Tony Todd is superb as the adult Jake Sisko. Not only does the man age from twentysomething to 80, he also nails Cirroc Lofton's mannerisms and body language. Lofton's expressive performance as the young Jake is a standout as well. Avery Brooks is a profoundly gentle Sisko here--a father who obviously loves his son. And Rachel Robinson is absolutely luminescent as Melanie, the young writer. (She's also Andrew "Garak" Robinson's daughter.) Kudos to the design team for using color and lighting to express Jake's mounting depression. Honorable mention to Aron Eisenberg as Captain Nog. Watch for the "future" uniforms that seem to come from TNG's "All Good Things." "The Visitor" is an amazing episode and it belongs in every Trek fan's collection. --Kayla Rigney ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Probably THE BEST episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine
If I could, I would rate this episode as 6 stars out of 5, because it's so good.
The episode "The Visitor" deals with the relationship between Jake Sisko and his father, Captain Benjamin Sisko. What happens is Jake, who is an old man who's about 80, tells the story of his father's death to a young, aspiring, and attractive woman named Melanie (played by Andrew J. "Garak" Robinson's lovely daughter Rachel). In the end, when the musical suite plays, we see Ben Sisko, sitting in front of his elderly, napping son, who shows him a draft of a book he dedicated "To my father, whose coming home", which he won't be able to publish, but he reveals to his father what he realized, and why he has taken the path he has. If you're interested, and haven't seen this episode, I won't ruin it for you. But if you either have it, or have seen it, you understand why I would rate this a 6 out of 5.

Perhaps the finest hour of 'Trek' ever.
This episode from the early fourth season was the most moving and heart-rending episode perhaps ever done for any Star Trek series. Outstanding performances all around by Avery Brooks, Cirroc Lofton and Tony Todd as the elder Jake Sisko. There are very few trek episodes I will buy for posterity through the years but this will be one of them, when they finally release it on video.

The best of Trek
Often, episodes that earn the "best of" title are those that take that which is unique to the science fiction universe to the limits. Witness TNG's "The Best of Both Worlds," which is often labelled the best of that series and shows the desperate battle against an implacable enemy. For "The Visitor," however, the science fiction elements are mere window dressing for an examination of human relations. They allow the plot to progress, but except for the specifics of the technology, we're not seeing anything that couldn't happen in this day and age with the most minor of changes.

This is why the episode resonates so strongly with the viewers, who see not the crash and burn of a starship, but of a human life. Everything is immediate and nearly any viewer will be able to find an emotional connection to the events onscreen. It showcases the best father/son relationship I've ever seen on a TV show, and that showcase makes for the best episode of any Trek series.

Best Star Trek episode ever!
This episode clearly marked DS9 as the best,if not equel to TNG by conveying emotions between characters instead of much appreciated action. Never has an episode of Star Trek dealt so realisticly with its characters that it excels as one of the series finest moments. From the stormy beginning to the emotional finale this is Star Trek acting and directing at its best. If you dont like DS9, then this probably wont change your mind about the show due to its character driven plot but for any DS9 fan this is an episode not to miss.

A Standout Episode for a Remarkable Series
"The Visitor", from DS9's fourth season, remains a fan and critical favorite. Like the best of Trek, this particular installment is more dependent on character development than special effects or other technical wizardry.

The acting by all is first-rate. Tony Todd (of "Candyman" fame and an earlier role as Worf's brother) turns in a fine performance as the elder Jake Sisko, enduring a lifelong quest to rescue his father from subspace limbo. Cast member Cirroc Lofton gets one of his few chances to shine as the young Jake. Guest star Rachel Robinson is quite good as a young woman that visits Jake in the winter of his years. Last but not least, star Avery Brooks brings his usual dynamic strength to the role of Benjamin Sisko as he pops in and out at stages of his son's life.

The respective scenes featuring exchanges between Brooks, Todd, and Lofton are endearing and memorable.

Besides being well written and acted, the episode features one of the best scores of any Trek show. It is no wonder that composer Dennis McCarthy's music is featured on a "Best of Trek" compilation album. The music is a combination of subtlety, poetry, and foreboding as it represents the strong bond between father and son.

"The Visitor" is an example of true quality television and deserves a place in the TV Hall of Fame. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

"All hands abandon ship..." BOOM!!!
The above line, and subsequent collision, still chills after repeated viewings as it did when the episode aired over fifteen years ago. Although the destruction of the Enterprise is fiction, the line resonates almost as much as did the real-life "Go with throttle up" spoken to the crew of the ill-fated Challenger.

"Cause and Effect" is one of those time loop episodes that find a welcome home in most science fiction. And it's a remarkably well-paced one, with each "revisitation" as enigmatic as the first one.

This is is first-rate in all aspects!

A truly entertaining episode...
Directing "Cause and Effect" couldn't have been an easy task, but Jonathan Frakes does incredibly well. The Enterprise seems to be trapped in a time loop that starts with the crew playing poker, and ends in the ship colliding with another ship and exploding. How does this happen? How can they prevent it? Watching the episode, you'd think some of the repeated scenes would get old. They don't. In fact, it gets more interesting as the crew begins to realize something's wrong. The ending is terrifically smart and this episode is a TNG classic.

Writer's block episode...
Cause and Effect or the Writer's Block Episode

Kelsey Grammer makes an appearance as a captain of the Starship Bozeman from Kirk's era. He accidently stumbles onto Picards timeline and averts a disaster with the Enterprise. In this one we get to see the Enterprise destroyed at the end of each act before the commercial break. It took them a few tries before they left the endless time loop. It's plot has been repeated before in Voyager and many other Trek episodes. I like to call them the writers block episodes. They have taken the place of what I call the mysterious cloud thing where some ghost like cloud covers the Enterprise and makes the crew act unusual. When the producers get the crunch time of not being able to do location shooting... this is the rusult.. a shipboard story where some special effect wrecks havock with the crew. It doesn't require new sets or any other budget breakers.

The Enterprise blows up (again, and again, and again...)
You will not find a more dramatic teaser to an episode of STNG than this one: The Enterprise is badly damaged with the crew unable to regain control of the ship. Captain Picard issues a frantic order to abandon ship but it is too late and the Enterprise is destroyed by a massive explosion. The next thing we know we are in the middle of just another normal day aboard the Enterprise, except people are experiencing strange feelings of deja vu (as opposed to the unstrange type of that feeling). When the Enterprise encounters a time-space distortion field the main power systems on the ship fail. Suddenly another spaceship emerges from the distortion; Picard tries to use the tractor beams to avoid the other ship but they collide, damaging the Enterprise's starboard warp drive engine. The Enterprise is badly damaged with the crew unable to regain control of the ship. Captain Picard issues a frantic order to abandon ship but it is too late and the Enterprise is destroyed by a massive explosion. We are back to where we started.

This pattern is repeated several times in this episode, with each progression offering slight but significant chances in solving the mystery and avoiding the ship's apparent fate. These changes are most notable in the poker game being played by several members of the bridge crew. "Cause and Effect" is a first rate episode that does a marvelous job of exploring the repetitive and yet still progressive pattern of each time through the time loop. Of course we know that eventually the disaster will be adverted; the fun here is watching them discover the how. This is far and away the best of the STNG time distortion episodes. Final Note: This is the episode where Kelsey Grammer has a nice cameo appearance.

Great episode
The eterprise is in a temporal causality loop. That is the same period of time is repeated again and again with the crew having no memory of the previous loop. If they don't get out of the loop they will be stuck that way possibly forever...

This episode has a cameo appearence by Kelsey Grammer ... Read more

Amazon.com

The two-hour pilot of The Next Generation holds up well after all these years and many, many subsequent episodes and four feature films. Gene Roddenberry's second go-round with Star Trek on television boldly goes where no other soul had gone, overcoming Trekker skepticism at the time about new characters and a new cast. After introducing Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the rest of the crew, the script by Roddenberry and former Star Trek story editor Dorothy Fontana plunges them into a familiar Trek confrontation with a superior power, Q (John De Lancie), in a weirdly archaic setting drawn from Earth history (in this case, the bloody kangaroo courts of Robespierre's day). Declaring mankind barbarous and unworthy of existence, Q gives Picard 24 hours to prove humans are not just a "grievously savage race." The story is punctuated with various delights, particularly first meetings between the characters (watch for Riker's houndish introduction to Dr. Crusher) and a surprise cameo from a Trek icon. There are bumps: originally shot as a 90-minute special, "Encounter" had to be padded a bit (ergo the ship separation scene) to make it two hours. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

"This is a new ship, but she's got the right name."
Star Trek made its return to the television airwaves with the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. It was apparent from the beginning of "Encounter at Farpoint" that this new series would be more cerebral and less dependent on green-skinned slave girls and bare-chested captains. This was going to be a series that emphasized that humankind could co-exist in harmony with the technology of its creation and would only resort to violence to solve problems as a last resort.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) sets a course for Farpoint Station on his newly commissioned Enterprise-D to pick up new crew members Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Wesley Crusher (Wil Weaton). However, with Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), and Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) already on board, the Enterprise is intercepted by the mysterious Q (John de Lancie) who chastises Picard for humanity's inability to leave behind its more savage impulses. Picard objects to the accusation and argues that humankind, while still far from perfect, has abandoned its more destructive habits. Q decides to test this claim by subjecting the Enterprise-D to a test at Farpoint Station which will determine just how far humanity as a whole has evolved.

Being the first episode in a new series, "Encounter at Farpoint" has the usual problems typical of television pilots. The dialogue and performances are a little stiff and the nuances between characters had not yet had time to develop. Yet, "Encounter at Farpoint" is notable for expanding the Star Trek mythos considerably in just a single episode. We are introduced to a new class of ship, a new uniform design, new alien beings, the infamous holodeck, and given a history lesson on important developments that preceded the advent of Starfleet. A cameo by Admiral Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) also provides a nostalgic link to the fondly-remembered original series. It would take some time before Star Trek: The Next Generation found its stride but "Encounter at Farpoint" did its job by establishing a solid foundation on which to build upon.

The ST:TNG pilot episode...
The U.S.S Enterprise, captained by Jean-Luc Picard, is on a routine investigative mission to Farpoint Station when they encounter an enigmatic, god-like individual known simply as Q. The omnipotent being appears to have no other intention other than to cause trouble and immediately places Picard and his senior officers on trial for the crimes of humanity...

Encounter of Farpoint is not among the best of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes - it merely serves as a necessary starting point for a TV programme that took until its third series to display the type of quality we associate it with. Characters are introduced; past relationships are established (although it does take 178 episodes, seven series, three movies and eleven years for anything to come of it in the case of Riker and Troi). This is a must-have for any fan of the series - watching "Encounter at Farpoint" and comparing it to later episodes will allow you to see just how far the characters - Picard, Riker, Troi, Dr Crusher, Data, Worf, La Forge and Yar - have evolved and how the show as a whole changed over time.

~*Jenna*~

It introduced us to so many characters and yet told a story
Had I written a review of this episode shortly after it came out, it would not have been nearly as positive as this one. In viewing it again, I am struck at how well the two "unusual" characters of Q and Data are introduced. While to outward appearances he is human, Data is an android and we are immediately made aware of that as well as some of his "failings." Simple things such as whistling and humor are beyond his capacity at this time.
The outstanding feature is the introduction of one of the best characters to ever appear in a television series, Q, the impish God. Without question, he is a god, possessing mighty powers and yet he is using them to determine the worthiness of humanity to explore the stars. After the dark, foreboding and sometimes bloody descriptions of God in much of our religious literature, it is a pleasure to see one who puns and tests us with puzzles rather than in how well we slaughter our enemies. Of secondary interest is the mention of the Ferengi, although they are described as a people who eat those who displease them.
Dr. McCoy of the original series makes an appearance as an admiral, inspecting the medical facilities of the Enterprise. He is as irascible as ever, yet he also praises the Vulcans as an honorable race, worthy of respect. Data escorts him while he is on the Enterprise, and their conversation is one of the classics in the entire Star Trek genre.
The Enterprise crew gets together and their mission is to investigate Farpoint Station, a structure constructed with unusual rapidity by a people who wish to have the Federation use it as a star base. On the way to Farpoint, they encounter Q and we are introduced to the plot device where the saucer and weapons sections can be separated. This was not extensively used in subsequent episodes, which was unfortunate. Given that families are now on starships, it is my belief that such separations would be standard practice when there is the reasonable expectation of hostilities.
Q creates a courtroom whose spectators are survivors of an atomic holocaust. Humanity is put on trial through the crew of the Enterprise and then they are let free to continue their mission. When the Enterprise arrives at Farpoint, things are not what they appear to be. When the leader of the people who built Farpoint is questioned, he professes ignorance, yet it is clear he knows what is happening. Another "ship" arrives and begins bombarding the city near Farpoint. Rather than immediately firing on the new arrival, Picard seeks information and learns that the "ship" is in fact an intelligent entity that is trying to free its' mate, which has been transformed into Farpoint. By firing energy of the proper form into Farpoint, the Enterprise heals the creature and it frees itself. Q is impressed by this and announces that humanity has passed the test.
Given that there was very little to build on, this episode effectively introduces much of what is arguably the greatest television series ever. Therefore, it can also be considered the best episode of the series.

Just what you'd expect from the first episode of a series
While 'Encounter At Farpoint' is only average at best it's important to take into consideration that it is the series opener. In many such shows most of the production staff and especially the actors tend to be concerned whether or not the show will succeed; additionally the actor's character portrayals naturally become sharper and better defined. Considering the daunting task of attempting to revive the series with an all-new cast it is completely understandable that there should be some hesitation or reservations present. The debut of this Trek serialization was penned equally by the seasoned and distinguished series veterans D.C. Fontana and the show's creator Gene Roddenberry. Reportedly the story went through several changes but basically retained the same original plot of the new Enterprise crew at the edge of known Federation explored space, find the peculiar conundrum and expose the culprits. The Farpoint scenario isn't really fleshed out well; what really works best in this episode is the inspired invention of Q, brought to vivid life by the underrated and underused John De Lancie. He became more of a scamp and a thorn in the side of Picard in later episodes, but here he is genuinely nefarious and quite ominous. His performance in his relatively few scenes is more than memorable and adds punch to the proceedings when it is lagging. There is also a natural lead-in to the future episode 'Hide And Q' that comes near the end when Q first meets Riker face-to-face.

Though the show falls flat where it is concerned with the Farpoint station, the concept of Q is well developed; an omnipotent, all-powerful being appears and tells the humans they can come this far and no farther. Incapable of battling against such a potent foe the humans strike the only bargain they can: test us. See if we've advanced beyond our primitive and savage desires; watch us and make certain we don't corrupt and defile everything and everyone we come into contact with. The challenge comes at an opportune and delicate time too as the Enterprise is beginning their new mission. Sure it's a convenient plot element but it gives the writers something to work with right out of the gate and besides future Q appearances give the viewer something to look forward to in later episodes.

Initially the main characters themselves don't really come off too successfully; with the exceptions of Jonathan Frakes as Riker and Brent Spiner as Data everyone would appear to be only a distant reflection of what they were here in the episodes immediately following. At times Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard comes off as more of a classroom instructor grading the crewmembers in some sort of a starship mockup exercise; Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar seems mousy here in comparison to the rest of the series; Michael Dorn as Worf speaks lines only so that Picard can chastise him; Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi wavers uncomfortably between strong and meek characterizations, unable to discern which quality she should be projecting; other cast members get too little screen time for us to get any real impression of them. By the show's end though we get a good feel of what to expect of them in future episodes; the addition of past histories and relationships between some of the key bridge officers is a great twist. Later the writers would make the most of these opportunities drawing us into the problems of being both a superior officer and a friend, defining the lines that can and can't be crossed.

Good Beginning To A Remarkable Sci Fi Show!
Star Trek: TNG was and is one of my favorite TV shows, I actually started watching it during it's second season and didn't get to watch the first season episodes til I got some first season videos from Columbia House and when I watched Encounter At Farpoint Parts One and Two I wasn't disapponted because it answered some questions for me such as how they were introduced to Q and who this Tasha Yar was who was mentioned in some of the second season episodes. Yes it may be said that Encounter at Farpoint isn't an excellent movie but it's not awful, not one of the few stinkers of the series long run by any means and I actually found this series pilot quite entertaining especially the scenes with Q played by John De Lancie who I think was fantastic and so was Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-luc Picard and I think all of the the actors were good, yes their acting wasn't as good as in other episodes but since as this was the pilot I think they just hadn't hit their stride yet and when the characters were more fully developed their acting improved a lot and really impressed me and though Encounter At Farpoint is not a 5 star episode I think it's worth 4 stars just for the scenes with John De Lancie and Patrick Stewart and in other first season episodes and later seasons you will get to see great acting from LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, etc. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

One of the best episodes!
This is one of the best Star Trek Next Generation episodes because in the context of Star Trek and encounters with alien species, it explores the complicated and difficult feelings which can arouse in regard to love, physical appearance and the unpredictability of one's partner. If only we had more Star Trek episodes as thought-provoking and emotionally moving as this one!

Who was that Trill I saw you with last night
Who was that Trill I saw you with last night?

In this one Bev Crusher falls for a Trill host. They make their first appearance in this episode. The host's body rejects the worm and Riker offers to serve as host to the worm entity. Other than that it's not the most action filled episode. But it does stretch the bounds of love for poor Bev. She has this thing for Riker, however it's the personality in the Trill that she loves. It's sets the tone for all the future Trills we see like Dax in Deep Space Nine.

Beauty Within
I am not a Crusher fan, nor am I a big Riker fan, and if someone had told me the concept of the episode, I would have rolled my eyes, but this is one of the most profound, beautiful things I have ever seen on TV. Odan, the symbiotic being Crusher is attracted to, is incredible--he gives the notion of "having a beautiful soul" substance. His impulse to love, and the enforced restraint in Riker's body is riveting--Jonathan Frakes displays some of his best acting ever.
One wishes the episode didn't have to end as it does--Crusher's all-too human failing can't rise to the challenge of unconditional love--but it is fitting, and inevitable, given the episodic format.
I recommend this highly to anyone.

Dr. Crusher falls in love with a Trill.
This is one of those Star Trek episodes where one of the crew falls in love with an "alien" and things do not work out. In "The Host," Dr. Crusher falls for Odan, a Federation ambassador who happens to be a Trill, although this apparently means nothing to her. Obviously this episode has great implications for the Star Trek universe down the road with Jadzia Dax being a main character on Deep Space Nine. When Odan is injured during an attack on a shuttle, Crusher discovers the symbiotic relationship between the Trill and its host and is stunned to learn that "Odan" is the parasite in the relationship. Crusher removes the Trill and puts it in stasis. When the host dies they learn it will be forty hours until a new host can arrive for Odan, which will be thirty-eight hours too late for Odan. To save the Trill's life and to allow the delicate negotiations to continue, Commander Riker volunteers to host Odan. This means that Crusher has to get used to the idea of Odan living in Riker's body.

Star Trek often tries to find interesting new ways of dressing up old ideas, and "The Host" deals with the idea that beauty is only skin deep. Enlightened people want to believe that they love the mind, the soul, the personality of someone, not their appearance, and here is a chance for Crusher to put this to the test. Once we gloss over the idea that the Chief Medical Officer of the Federation's flagship did not know what a Trill was before Odan showed up on board, this is a fascinating episode. Certainly it treats both its subject and the focal character seriously. Given Jack Crusher's tragic death, there is a certain pathos that carries over to any of Beverly's attempts to find love in the universe. This is an adult episode that provides some of Gates McFadden's best moments on the series and introduces a species that will be put to much better dramatic use in the future.

Beverly falls in love?
Dr. Crusher falls in love with an alien diplomat, who is involved in peace talks with an alien planet. But the good Doctor is crushed when she learns that her lover is actually a parasitic life form that lives off host bodies and has lived for years. The episode becomes even worse when the symbiont is planted into Riker's body to resume the peace talks, and when a suitable host comes aboard the Enterprise, the symbiont is finally placed in the body of a woman. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Every Borg episode gets better and better!
"The Best Of Both Worlds" is the true inspiration of the Borg. Never-ending and teriffic action, the special effects (which you'll mostly see on part 2) and the plot gets you off your seat! You truly can't miss this one!

Crown Jewel of Next Generation. Film or tv
Unfortunately I only became a Next Generation fan around the time the series was about to go off of the air. So I can't even imagine the suspense that the truly faithful had when this episode aired with a whole summer remaining before the answer would be revealed. I was edgy just to see the next episode even though I only had to wait a day.

What I can say is that this episode is one of the best written and produced television events i've ever seen. The sets, as always, were awesome. The Borg ship is ominous and eerie. The action and surprise is palpable. And the plot is just outstanding. I don't wanna give ANY of it away but just suffice it to say that an almost perfect quandry is presented to the crew of the Enterprise.

The Borg has to be the most ominous concept perhaps ever created for television. Picture this... a big metal cube that flies through space without any apparent leader. And wherever it goes it's sole purpose is to anihilate the planets and vessels it encounters. Or it seeks to assimilate the inhabitants into its' 'collective'. Once assimilated the beings lose all sense of self and become motivated only by the desire to serve the collective. It's kinda like Night of the Living Dead in space. You can't outrun em and if you kill em more just keep comin'. Frightening.

I used to have many discussions about what the Borg was meant to represent. I always believed that the Borg was meant to represent Communism but I was intrigued by the many different interpretations that I was exposed to.

In short, you don't have to be a Next Generation fan to appreciate this single episode. It stands on its' own merit. When you watch Next Generation in general it's hard to imagine how anyone ever even liked the original series with James T. Kirk. This episode is just beyond fantastic.

Next Generation has to be one of my five favorite television series ever and this is the crown jewel of Next Generation.

One of the Great Cliffhangers of All Time
In "Q Who?" (Episode 42), Q sent the Enterprise 7,000 light-years away, where they first encounter the Picard. Ever since the conclusion of that episode, which heralded the coming of age of Star Trek: The Next Generation, we have known that the Borg were coming to destroy the Federation. After a year and a half (as reckoned by television time), the Borg finally arrive in the season finale to year three. Starfleet has been preparing, and Commander Shelby, head of the Borg Tactical Analysis Team, is on the Enterprise to tell everybody how to do things right (No one likes her). The Borg arrive and demand Picard beam over to their ship. Picard refuses and although the Enterprise escapes from the initial battle, hiding in a nebula until they can devise a new high-energy beam weapon, the Borg appear on the bridge during the next encounter and disappear with the Captain. Riker sends an away team to rescue Picard, but to their horror they discover he has been transformed into a Borg named Locutus. This cannot be good.

This episode is just a fantastic payoff to the long wait for the return of the Borg. The two-parts of "The Best of Both Worlds" is clearly the highpoint of the series, the equivalent of the Fantastic Four fighting Galactus or Buffy slaying Angel. The final scene of Part I, indeed the final WORD of this episode is the most memorable moment on the show, seared into your memory because of the long hard summer it created wondering what would happen when we got to Part 2. Truly an epic episode on the top of every Trekkers list. Note: Commander Shelby is "currently" the Executive Officer on the Excalibur in Peter David's Star Trek: New Frontier series, which by definition makes her one of the more successful minor characters in the Star Trek universe.

The 2nd Best TNG episode (because part 2 is the best!)
Now how to explain the greatness of this episode without ruining the suspense for those who haven't seen it. Let's say this much - the borg are in it, which makes it good there. Now if you've seen episodes of Voyager or First Contact, these borg don't seem as rough looking or dangerous, but it's the same guys. This episode is filled with suspense and you'll love the ending. You'll want to see part 2 for sure and I'm not saying that just because it's only natural to watch a part 2. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Worst of Both Episodes
While Best of Both Worlds part 1 was unquestionably one of the best episodes of TNG, I can't say the same for the 2nd part. The amount of suspense that was built nicely through the first part made the summer seem interminably long, waiting for the conclusion. What a disappointment! I believe the writer's essentially painted themselves in a corner and then couldn't come up with a follow up that would both resolve all the issues and maintain the same level of drama.
On another note regarding the same episode, this was just one of a large number of episodes that proved Riker had no business being in command of a ship. Seems like every time Will got to sit in the "big chair" he would screw it up! (Near the end of the episode, after making the very WRONG decision of not making Data his 1st officer, when all else fails, what does he want to do to the Borg? "Gee, let's ram the big square ship with the Enterprise. It probably won't make much of a dent in the cube and they will go on to Borg-ify all the humans, but it will probably make a pretty cool fireball!")

As I said, it truly gets better and better...
Part 2 of this extrordinary episode is 2x more better than Part 1. A rescue mission to free Picard (Locutus) from the hive mind turns out to be a googleplex's amount of money worth of a battle. I especially like how the action and plot are, as that's what I always like, and the way they come out of this scary adventure. Enjoy watching this one!

Resistance is futile? Come over here and say that!
In Part I of "The Best of Both Worlds," the Borg finally arrived at the Federation, kidnapped Jean-Luc Picard and turned him into a Borg named Locutus. At the end, when Locutus made known the demands of the Borg to the crew of the Enterprise, Riker had ended the episode ordering Worf to fire the weapon that would destroy the Borg cube and everyone on it. However, as the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation end the long summer of torment after one of the great cliffhangers of all time, the weapon does not work. Picard has been assimilated, and his knowledge has joined the collective. This cannot be good and indeed it is not. With the help of Locutus, the Borg annihilate the armada sent by Starfleet (one of the casualties being Benjamin Sisko's wife, as we shall find out in the pilot for Deep Space Nine). Riker comes up with a new plan: kidnap Picard and turn the tables by using his knowledge of the Borg to discover THEIR weaknesses.

Part 2 provides an excellent payoff to the fantastic ending of Part 1. We often say that stature of a hero depends on the qualities of the villain, in which case the Borg are one of the great adversaries of all time. From the perspective of humanity, the Borg are clearly everything we are not. The simple twist of fate by which Picard because one of the Borg, leaving Riker and the others to defeat their great enemy without their fearless leader, only serves to up the ante even more. This is another A+ episode and you cannot have one without the other.

The Best!
The follow up from part one does a very nice job. Riker is fantastic in dealing with the ways to rescue Picard from the Borg ship. Too bad you couldn't see the actual "battle" at Wolf 359. But you actually can if you watch the beginning of Star Trek Deep Space Nine's 1st episode. As with the 1st episode, this one's loaded with suspense. You won't want to miss a minute. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"The die is cast", sequal to "Improbable Cause"
'The Die is Cast' is the second in a two part DS9 story ("Improbable Cause" is the first, and basically sets up this episode). It involves a plot by the Tal-Shiar and the Obsidian Order (kind of like the CIA for the Romulans and Cardassians) to eliminate the Dominion as a threat. Having secretly built a large fleet of warships, they embark on a mission to destroy the homeworld of the Founders, the Dominion's masters. In tow are Garak and a very unwilling Odo. Garak's old mentor wants Odo (a member of the Founder's race) interegated. Garak must decide between returning to the old life he was cast out of, and the life of his friend. Our heroes on DS9 must also decide: Do they try and stop this fleet? A successful attack may eliminate the Dominion as a long term threat, but a failed one could plunge the galaxy into bloody war. Nice tension, great scenes between Garak and Odo, a big ending, and a number of plot twists make this an excellent episode. Huge events which turn the whole 'Star Trek' universe on it's ear are what separate DS9 from the other Star Trek series. This episode is a great example of that grand-scale story telling, yet it does not lose site of Star Trek's signature character drama. Lots of fun, especially when paired with it's partner!

Odo is falling apart - again!
The great season three of Deep Space Nine is coming to a close with only a handful of episodes left, this action packed outing is worth every penny. Garak is interrogating Odo by using a Romulan device that prevents him from returning to liquid form, something that soon becomes torture as Odo's body desperately needs regeneration. In the meantime the Federation gets wind of the Romulan-Cardassian plot to enter the Gamma Quadrant and attack the Founder's homeworld, striking a deadly blow to the evil Dominion! Great battle sequences make this one an intelligent story with a classic ending...

Wow
An incredible episode with more twists and turns than you can shake a stick at. Also filled with very good acting from Andrew Robinson and Rene Auberjonois. Odo and Garak are taken aboard a Romulan Warbird and taken (with several other warbirds and Cardassian ships) into the Gamma Quadrant. With one mission: to destroy the Founder's home world. When they get there, all is not as it appears. I would recommend this episode to anyone and everyone who likes Deep Space Nine.

LESS than the first, but MORE than just your average DS9
Second-part episodes have the dubious distinction of holding the momentum set forth in the first installment. "Die" tries but just isn't as good, although the actors make a valiant effort to keep the story strong. Rene Auberjonois, Andrew Robinson, and Paul Dooley are again brilliant in their respective roles. The special effects crew gets a chance to shine when an all-out Dominion attack surprises the Cardassian-Klingon Alliance.

And the reminder that "no changeling has ever harmed another" comes from a surprising source

Intence darkness and drama
Episode title: The Die Is Cast

Written by: Ronald D. Moore

Directed by: David Livingston

"The Die Is Cast" is a direct sequel to the outstanding "Improbable Cause" and to all surprise, it manages to live up to it's prequel's standards, even if they diverse tremendously.

After the subtle and dramatic "Improbable Cause", "The Die Is Cast" offers direct escalation and powerfully and rapidly paced storstructure.

It is, in a way, as dark as it's prequel, but not at all in the way you'd expect. As "Improbable Cause" was dark in an anxiously repressed way, "The Die Is Cast" throws the pain directly onto the viewer's face.

It's also as slow to open up to the viewer as yo might expect from the earlier episode, but not because it's so subtle, but because it's so out in the open. At first it seems only to be a political action-adventure, but as you watch it more, from analytical perspective, it's one of the most thought-provoking and profound star trek episodes.

So, in the end, it was probably a good thing this two episode long story was divided into two different parts, with two very different writers, and two very different directors.

I never would have thought the infamous third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could produce such a masterpiece of drama and talent. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Mature, dark and exiting in a subtle way
Episode title: Improbable Cause

Teleplay by: René Echevarria

Story by: Robert Lederman & David R. Long

Just when the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine appeared to be full of potential unused, it shocked by tying the continuing aspects of the season into one neat baggage by the way of a two episode long story.

"Improbable Cause" is the first one of these episodes, and noticably different from "The Die Is Cast", the latter and equally succeeded episode.

It all begins as Garak's shop is mysteriously burned to the ground by a bomb. This leads to a dark and fascinating investigation by Odo, who eventually manages to connect the explosion of Garak's shop to a much more complex scheme within the Cardassian political structure.

The episode progresses with subtle, even modest scenes, but conveys a much more dramatic substance on a deeper level. Garak has finally a meaning, and Odo's developement is been given a new direction.

It's amazing how such a short episode, with minimal dramatical twist can have so much substance and developement in it. It's dark exploration of the characters and their lives is extraordinarily incorporated to the episode, so that it's almost impossible to notice it.

The whole episode, in fact, is so subtle in it's ways of telling what it needs to say, that it takes countless of times to see it before it truly opens up.

A true masterpiece of writing.

Constable Odo investigates an attempt to blow up Garak
Garak's tailor shop is destroyed by an explosion and as Odo investigates the case becomes more and more complicated. It seems give other Cardassians were killed in similar explosions and all of them have ties to Enabran Tain, the former head of the Obsidian Order. It seems, not everybody on this side of the wormhole is waiting for the Dominion to attack. Actually, "Improbable Cause" is the first of two parts, to be continued in "The Die is Cast." As two-part episodes go, this is an above average set-up, but what makes this a great episode is that focuses on Garak and Odo, giving us several scenes featuring the two sparing as they try to figure out what is going on.

Garak and Odo!
Garak's shop is destroyed and it looks like someone is trying to kill him, Odo is called in to investigate, using his contacts on Cardassia it is revealed that a lot of Garak's former 'associates' were eliminated. Odo and Garak take a Runabout and go deep inside Cardassian space where they find evidence of Romulan involvement. It becomes apparent that Garak's death-threat is just a small piece of a bigger puzzle as a fleet of Cardassian ships decloak. It seems the Romulan's and Cardassian's are preparing an attack force but who is the target?

D.S.9. - Dialogue Show Ninefold.
DS9's 3rd season was probably its worst and yet it still managed to produce one of the best double episodes ever made. This first installment was marginally the stonger of the two with a totally faultless hour - don't expect extravagent SFX - DS9 sticks to its now famous character driven shows with unparalelled flair. It also stands the test of time, showcasing the qualities of the character of Elim Garak and revealing some of the master plan the writers had install for him. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Major Kira is Enceinte, or, Any Womb in a Storm...
So, what do you do when two of the stars of your television show decide to get married and have a baby but their characters do not really like each other? Well, the first thing you do is set up a distraction by dragging up the old chesnut about the guy who is told by his doctor he only has a short while to live, the guy sells off his possessions, and then learns the doctor made a mistook. Well in "Body Parts" Quark gets to play this part. Told he has Dorek syndrome and a week to live, Quark sells his body parts on the Ferengi futures market. But then, when he is told he is not going to die (good news), he discovers that Brunt (remember him form "Family Business" and "Bar Association"?) now owns his body (bad news). So while this nonsense is going on, nobody will really notice when Keiko is injured and her baby has to be transplanted into Major Kira. After all, with the imminent (yawn) threat of a Dominion invasion, who would not want DS9's second-in-command carrying Chief O'Brien's baby? Enough sarcasm. There is one redeeming sequence in "Body Parts," when Quark dreams of going to the Divine Treasure of the Ferengi afterlife when he has a spirited discussion regarding the Rules of Acquisition with Gint, the first Grand Nagus. This is really a sub-standard episode and the idea of putting these two plotlines together is rather unsettling, but you have to admit this is an original method of dealing with Nana Visitor's pregnancy.

Funny!
The wonderful thing about DS9 was that it didn't always take itself too seriously. Some of the best episodes were centered around Quark (played by Armin Shimmerman). Armin isn't just an excellent actor but he has an excellent sense of comedic acting. His comedy delivery is exceptional. Even though this episode likely won't make any DS9 fan's Top-10 list it is, nevertheless, funny.

Quark is up for sale!
Quark is diagnosed with a fatal illness, in Ferengi tradition he begins selling off his body parts in advance, to his surprise his entire body is bought... by Brunt.

When Quark realises he doesn't have the disease he is forced into an interesting situation, break the contract with Brunt or die. But if he breaks the contract he will forfeit Ferengi rule and one of the Rules of Acquisition that the Ferengi Empire was founded upon!

A mediocre episode that serves to fill some air-time while the budget is saved on some big budget season finale... or so I thought. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Odo has to rejoin the Great Link and be tried for his crime
In a story that we knew was coming, Odo collapses and begins to lose his ability to remain solid. The only thing to do is for Odo to be returned to the Great Link. Sisko flies the Constable into Dominion territory, transmitting a call for aid. A Jem'Haddar ship arrives with a Changeling who will take Odo back to his people. Merging with the Great Link will save Odo's life, but the Changelings will also judge him for having killed another Changeling (See "The Adversary"). "Broken Link" is a pivotal episode in the massive DS9 story arc of the coming war with the Dominion, not to mention its impact on Constable Odo. I was pretty sure that when this moment came there would be some sort of significant twist that would have a major impact on both storylines, and that was certainly the case here, especially in terms of Odo's punishment. Odo was always the most interesting character on DS9 and the whole bit with the Dominion puts him at the heart of the storm.

To be continued...
In the season 4 finale we see Odo lured into the Gamma Quadrant in an attempt to find a cure for the disease that has infected him, he cannot hold a solid shape. Once he enters Dominion space and transmits an urgent message to the Founders in the hope that they will know of a cure - the Defiant is quickly surrounded by Jem'hadar.

Odo beams down to the surface of the new homeworld of the Founders, with Sisko and Bashir, the Female Changeling leads Odo into the Great Link (which seems to have expanded hugely since the last time we saw it in The Search). Time passes, possibly days, and Odo finally emerges. He is weak, but solid, apparently cured. It is at this point that we learn that Odo IS solid, a punishment for killing another Changeling (season three finale). Once Odo returns to the station he sees an image of Gowron, the leader of the Klingon Empire, he realises he is a Changeling!

A fairly good stand-alone episode that sets up season five with a lot of possibilities, unfortunately the next season doesn't quite flow as smoothly as the last two. All in all a good solid, no pun intended, script but not a very exciting season finale! ... Read more