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The Federation freighter Odin has been disabled by an asteroid. There are no signs of life on the ship, but three escape pods are missing, so the crew of the Enterprise take a trip to the nearest planet, Angel One, to see if they can locate any survivors. The civilization on Angel One is "similar to mid-20th-century Earth," except the gender roles are switched. Women are the hunters and natural leaders, while the men aretreated as pretty ornaments and playthings. You can imagine how well that playswith Riker. But it's Riker who, in pure Shatner mode, nearly gets lucky with theleader of Angel One, Mistress Beata (Karen Montgomery). Well, it turns out thethree survivors are fugitives from justice because they've been inspiring themen on the planet to campaign for equal rights, and the women just don't likethat. Meanwhile, the Enterprise has been incapacitated by a mysterious virus. The obvious politics of this episode are nicely balanced by the entertainingly "girlish" costumes worn by the men on the planet. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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"Klingons appreciate strong women."
"Angel One" undoubtedly was intended to be an insightful commentary on the nature of gender dynamics and sexual politics when it was originally conceived. Unfortunately, it comes across as something that not even the most generous viewer would describe as "enlightening." Essentially it wound up in its final form as something closer to the television equivalent of bird cage liner.

The Enterprise-D arrives at planet Angel One to search for survivors from a lost Federation freighter. They discover that the male survivors are considered fugitives due to their refusal to embrace the planet's matriarchal ruling structure. Yet, the men refuse to return to the Federation when discovered because they have found spouses on the planet. After the fugitives are captured, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) attempts to transport them to the Enterprise-D but abandons his plan when the danger of shipwide contamination by a virus from the planet arises.

Watching Riker save the day in "Angel One" by relying on his "manliness" will either strike you as offensive or will cause you to guffaw uncontrollably. Either reaction is undesirable and speaks to the multitude of problems inherent in this episode from start to finish. Even if you disregard the sloppily-constructed male-female-battle-of-the-sexes angle of the story, the manner in which the threatening virus and the danger in the Neutral Zone come out of left field makes you wonder if any care or serious creative thought actually went into the writing of "Angel One." Ring up this outing as one of the low points of the first season and an episode to avoid whenever it appears as a re-run on cable television.

Riker does the "When in Rome . . ." thing
One of the plot lines of this episode involves the recurring theme that I consider the greatest weakness of TNG. The chief medical officer of the Enterprise, whether she be Crusher or Polaski, never seems able to handle medical problems quickly. When medical problems arise, in this case a dangerous viral infection spreading throughout the crew, Crusher's lines reduce to variations of "I don't know . . .". Considering that only the very best medical minds could be in Star Fleet and the Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation, it is absurd to believe that the only officer who can overrule the captain would appear to be so lacking in capability. Of course, she eventually stumbles on the solution and the crew is cured.
The second major plot line involves the Enterprise searching for survivors of an accident involving another ship. When the ship was destroyed, the nearest planet is one where women are the dominant sex and the males are smaller and subservient. The Enterprise goes to the planet and establishes contact in an attempt to search for survivors. It turns out that there were survivors and they are the leaders of a mini-rebellion against the matriarchal hierarchy.
While it is sensible that Riker would adopt the appropriate attire for a meeting with the headmistress of the planet, his interaction with her is absurd. At one point in Riker's conversation with her, when he is arguing against the death sentence pronounced against the rebels, the headmistress ends a line with , " . . . that attitude." Commander Riker is the second in command of the Federation flagship and a trained diplomat. The headmistress is of course the leader of a planet and also must be a diplomat. It is very hard to believe that they would engage in a conversation at the level of a lover's quarrel. People in their positions would not speak to each other that way.
The premise of a female dominated society is an interesting one, worthy of being the major plot in an episode. However, the implementation leaves a lot to be desired and I consider this one of the weaker TNG episodes.

Shirtless Riker Ain't No Kirk!
Angel One or......Shirtless Riker ain't no Kirk!

In this episode a repeat of Roddenberry's "Genesis 2" concept is part of the plot. The short version?.....Well folks, Mistress Beata is going to execute a band of rebels on her home world. Riker, Tasha and Troi are part of the away team. It's a place were women rule men! Commander Riker must avert what could be a terrible war. Hey.....this sounds like it could be a good Saturday Night Live routine!

Riker on the Planet of the Reverse Gender Stereotypes
One look at the original crew of the Next Generation and it is clear that Gene Roddenberry was interested in advancing gender equality in the 23rd century. The original Enterprise just had Uhura at Communications, but now we have a female Chief Medical Office, Security Chief and Counselor (although the first couple of seasons of "Deanna Troi, Babe Counselor" rather counterproductive, only reinforced by the fact that Marina Sirtis looked a lot sexier in a regulation Starfleet uniform). The idea of gender equality was also advanced in several first season episodes, most notably "Angel One." The title is the name of a planet where not only is there a matriarchal society, but we find the female hunters to be bigger and stronger than the males. Consequently, Angel one is the Planet of Reverse Gender Stereotypes, an idea that is played out to the point that Riker gets to wear one of the skimpy little outfits worn by the native men. The conflict is that there is a group of men, who landed on the planet in their escape pods from a Federation freighter, who wanted to be treated equally to the women. Better yet, there are a group of dissident women who want to treat them that way as well.

"Angel One" represents Star Trek's enduring commitment to providing allegorical critiques of contemporary concerns. However, the fact that once again it is the presence of the enlightened Terrans that bring understanding to the alien culture is getting a bit repetitive, but then the captains of the Enterprise always like to skirt the Prime Directive whenever possible. Speaking of being repetitive, I notice that this is the fifth time in the first fifteen episodes that the Enterprise has responded to some sort of medical emergency. Life sure is rough in that quadrant during the 23rd century. You would think Starfleet would just station a medical vessel out there and let the Enterprise get back to its mission of exploration. ... Read more

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The Comic Genius of Alan Spencer
SLEDGE HAMMER was the work of a comic genius named Alan Spencer who should be demanded to give the public yet another offering in the tradition of this masterpiece of inspired madness. SLEDGE HAMMER ranks right up there with the best works of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. It's a brilliantly sustained satire that DEMANDS RELEASE ON DVD with full commentary from Spencer. I want this show now! America needs it!

A Funnier Series Never Existed
"Trust Me, I know what I'm doing."
Sledge Hammer is one of those "renegade, rogue" detectives who's police work is a little unothrodoxed by today's standard's. He talks to his "amigo" -- his ivory handled revolver, gives his cheif -- Captian Trunk -- frequent migraines, and is a handful for his partner, Det. Doree Doro. This series was one of the best of the 1980's, very politically incorrect by today's standards but is a series I'd highly reccommend to anybody with an open mind and a sense of humor.

"All Shook Up" as you can guess, deals with a homicide revolving around Elvis Impersonators. ... Read more

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Dwight Schultz's shaky engineer Reg Barclay has only appeared in a handful of episodes as Lieutenant La Forge's stuttering assistant, but he remains one of the most memorable recurring characters and even earned a scene in the feature-film spinoff Star Trek: First Contact. In this appearance, he lets slip a secret: he's deathly afraid of the transporter. It turns out to be a fairly common malady of the future (who wants to be disassembled?), if understandably rare in Starfleet, so Barclay vows to beat it. Then he starts seeing monsters during his transports. He's convinced that he's going mad until one of the wormlike creatures bites him, leaving him with a microbial infection that may hold the key to a mysteriously abandoned Starfleet vessel nearby. Schultz has nicely transformed Barclay, in a few episodes, from a fumbling social misfit (he was nicknamed "Broccoli" in his first appearance) to a nervous but brainy junior officer with a gift for understatement. He finally gets to play the hero, fighting his fears and facing his demons with a dash of comic flair. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

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Oh oh; Reg Barclay sees giant worms in the transporter beam
The Enterprise discovers the USS Yosemite, deserted and damaged near a high-energy plasma stream. The away team finds the fragments of a smashed container, but as they beam back Lt. Barclay sees a wormlike creature swimming in the transporter's matter stream. The creature appears to bite his arm and when he returns to the Enterprise his arm has a blue glow and hurts. Data and La Forge try to reconstruct what happened aboard the Yosemite, while Barclay worries that he has "transporter psychosis" while Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi try to deal with this fragile body and mind.

It is always nice to see Dwight Schultz as Reg Barclay trying to do his best under the trying circumstances that always afflict the character. However, the wiggly things in the transporter beam are a bit bizarre, especially when the truth about them is revealed. I do not know a lot about science, let alone how it functions in the Star Trek universe, but this is one of those episodes that certainly seem to be a bit of a reach for me. That downside sort of balances out the plus side of having Barclay back again, so this ends up being an average STNG episode.

Realm of Fear
If you ever have any reason to think that there is no way you could get past some of your worst fears, watch this episode, because you never know what you're capable of until you're scared to death badly enough, or if lives are at stake and you hold the only key to saving theirs as well as your own. Barclay's over exaggerated fear of transporters is put to the test when a transporter malfunction is causing a mystery as to the whereabouts of the crew of an abandoned ship. In his investigation, his growing malady from the first trip through the transporter takes a different turn when it causes physical side efects, therefore bringing further strain to his already taxed nervous system, and in trying to find an answer, everyone thinks he's going nuts. But when it all comes together as to where everyone is, his illnes turns out to be the best clue to the transporter malfunction. When its all over, Barclay's the hero and his fears (at least ONEof them) are laid to rest, until he meets an old friend of Chief O' Brien's. ... Read more

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

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

Reviews (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frame up
Frame of mind is altered by aliens

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

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

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

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

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

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The Comic Genius of Alan Spencer
SLEDGE HAMMER was the work of a comic genius named Alan Spencer who should be demanded to give the public yet another offering in the tradition of this masterpiece of inspired madness. SLEDGE HAMMER ranks right up there with the best works of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. It's a brilliantly sustained satire that DEMANDS RELEASE ON DVD with full commentary from Spencer. I want this show now! America needs it!

GREATEST TV SHOW EVER!!!!
Do you have a diseased sense of humor? Is sarcasm a daily, active part of your life? Do you laugh at the misfortunes of others? Do you like to see cops the way they "REALLY ARE" ??

If so, then you'll LOVE this one!! I had all 30 episodes a few years back and even to this day(15 years later), nothing keeps me rolling on the floor gasping for air more than this one! Your face will be purple laughing so hard you might suffocate.

My advise to you is don't let this opportunity escape you! If you have the opportunity, purchase it. You WON'T be sorry...... ... Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ambassadors from the planet Iyaar arrive on the ship as part of acultural exchange and throw everyone--particularly Worf and Troi--into atizzy. As Worf, Michael Dorn shines in a role where he's got to repress hisviolent side, as the Iyaaran he is assigned to show around becomes more andmore demanding, temperamental, and rude. Acting polite in diplomaticsituations is just not his cup of tea, but it's very funny watching him try.Troi has a different problem. She has to teach her diplomat about eating forpleasure instead of just for nourishment, and the overabundance of chocolateand cake that results almost turns her off of dessert for good. Meanwhile,Picard has left on a shuttle to visit the planet Iyaar, but an energydisruption field forces him and his Iyaaran pilot to crash-land on thenearest M-class planet. The pilot dies and Picard meets Ana, a survivor froman earlier crash who falls instantly and obsessively in love with him, to thepoint where she nearly rapes him. Not to give anything away, but the missionof the Iyaarans is to learn more about strange human emotions firsthand, justas it was the mission of the writers to examine basic human emotions from analien perspective. A fun episode, but not very deep. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

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Perplexing Liaisons (as opposed to the Dangerous kind)
Captain Picard is headed for the Iyaaran home world as part of a cultural exchange when the shuttle crash-lands, injuring the pilot, Voval. Picard goes off in search of help when he is knocked out by a plasma burst and awakens inside a wrecked freighter being taken care of by a woman named Anna, who claims to be the sole survivor of another crash. Claiming she loves Picard, Anna refuses to let Picard go and blocks every attempt to get them rescued. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, the crew has to endure the two Iyaaran ambassadors, one of whom wants to eat every dessert Troi can provide him while the other insists of getting of Worf's bad side.

The Iyaaran's certainly get the better of this cultural exchange. "Liaisons" is one of those episodes where there is more than meets the eye to Picard's situation. What makes this a slightly above average episode is that what is happening on the Enterprise is as much a part of the mystery as what is going on with Picard on the planet below. There are also some fun moments to be had with Worf and Troi's encounters with the ambassadors as well as with Picard playing hard to get. At the end of the day, "Liaisons" is a slightly above average STNG episode.

Good and amusing episode
This episode deals with several alien representatives visiting the Enterprise and learning about the culture of the Federation

Lt. Worf is very annoyed by the person he is assigned to. Can he finish the assignment without losing his cool? ... Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Best Show
I love watching charlie's angels. I am looking for a certain epsiode that I can't find on tape it seems. It's either called Let Our Angel Live or To Kill an Angel the final episode. That is my favorite. If anyone knows or has this epsiode please email me, [e-mail address]I wish they would make a Charlie's Angels reunion movie. With all of the angel's. I can't wait o see the new movie Charlie's Angels's 2, I heard jaclyn smith is supposed to star in it with cameron diaz,and lucy lui. Hopefully it will be good.

Angels forever....
The series was based on three female detectives who worked for the Charles Townsend Detective Agency. Charlie, who was their anonymous boss, gave them assignments via a speaker phone. The show was based on guns, hair, and make-up. The trio consisted of Sabrina Ducan (Kate Jackson) best known for being the "smart angel," Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett) known as the "athelic angel," and rounding out the team was "street wise" Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith). The Angels worked with their trusty male counter-part, John Bosley, played by David Doyle.

Charlie's Angels was a huge success the moment it hit the airwaves. Each Wednesday night, around 10 o'clock, women tuned in for the clothing and hair, while men just tuned in.

Contains two tapes of the Angels battling the bad guys. features two tapes Angels in Chains and Angels Under Covers. Each tape contains two episodes:

Angels in Chains features: 1- AGELS IN CHAINS (10/20/76): in which the Angels infiltrate a prison with a secret brothel. Guest stars: Kim Basinger, Lauren Tewes, Christina Hart. 2- THE BLUE ANGELS (05/04/77): The Angels find themselves barely covered in a massage parlor while investigating a prostitution ring. Guest stars: Dirk Benedict.

Angels Under Covers features: 1- TO KILL AN ANGEL (11/10/76): Kelly helps a young boy and finds herself accidentally shot by a gun that was used to kill someone else moments before in an amusement park. 2- NIGHT OF THE STRANGLER (10/13/76): The Angels go undercover to find who is killing high fashion models. Guest stars: Richard Mulligan. ... Read more

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Kivas Fajo is a man with "no moral difficulties. At all." Saul Rubinek plays him with the ruthlessness and charm of Dr. Mengele. (By all accounts, Mengele could be very charming.) And like Mengele, Fajo collects things that please him, such as the Rejac Crystal and Data.

"The Most Toys" is eerie and creepy and exudes a strange fascination. It's like a car wreck: one is compelled by the force of human nature to look.There's just something strangely attractive about evil. Make no mistake, Kivas Fajo is evil. Sure he prances about like a demented gnome, but he also kidnaps, steals, and kills without compunction. He uses Data's programmed value of all life against him. When degradation and threats don't work, the collector produces an illegal disrupter and aims it at his assistant Varria (Jane Daly), who is herself a prisoner in his stable. Fajo will stop at nothing to get Data to sit in the chair. When Data finally does sit in the chair, the viewer understands that everybody has his price--even Data. Especially Data. That price is another being's life.

This episode contains the most chilling line in TNG's history: "I cannotfeel pleasure. I am only an android." It's extraordinary not only for great writing and acting but also for its sad backstory. Actor David Rappaport was originally cast as Fajo, but committed suicide before filming could be completed. The ironic thing is that "The Most Toys" is all about the affirmation of life. --Kayla Rigney ... Read more

Reviews (3)

How well do you really know someone?
His crewmates think he has died in a shuttle accident; but Data has been kidnapped. A wandering trader, Kivas Fajo, engineered the shuttle explosion to cover his acquisition of Data for his collection of unique, priceless objects. Data is used to being able to handle any situation. But when he discovers that Fajo seems to have thought of every contingency to block his escape - and worse, that his captor has absolutely no morals whatsoever - he is forced to realise how desperate his situation is. But how far can an emotionless android be pushed?
"The Most Toys" is a very well constructed episode; tight and well-written, even the brief scenes adding something important to the whole. The acting is excellent, from Brent Spiner, Saul Rubinek, and the actress who plays Varria. There are some affecting moments: Geordi's comment on what he thought Data's fate would be; Worf's reflection that his promotions have come after his colleagues' deaths; Varria's explanation of why she keeps working for Fajo; Fajo's realisation that he can still be surprised, by himself as well as others. There is a claustrophobic feel to the scenes on Fajo's ship, and as avenue after avenue is closed to Data, as the tension mounts, you can really understand why the climax develops as it does.
The last few minutes of "The Most Toys" are shocking in more ways than one. That the implications of this story were never explored is a fault of Star Trek: TNG as a whole, not of this episode.

One of the series' truly most despicable villains
When I first started watching this episode, I thought that it was going to be routine with little or no redeeming value. However, as the story developed, I became involved in this story of a creature totally devoid of conscience.

Saul Rubinek, a well-respected actor of stage and screen, is brilliant in the role of Kivas Fajo, a collector of one-of-a-kind items. He considers Data, as well as all that he desires, to be nothing more than acquisitions, deserving only for display in his compound. Fajo will stop at nothing to keep his "possessions".

His most malevolent act made me want a speedy demise for this heinous beast.

"Monsters" don't always have multiple legs or horns

A deranged collector adds Data to his special collection
Data is supposedly on the shuttle Pike that is transferring the unstable substance hytritium from a trader's ship to the Enterprise when the craft explodes. La Forge refuses to believe that his friend is dead without more proof; after all, Data is an android and it is possible his positronic brain survived. The more he investigates, the more suspicious he becomes. Of course, La Forge is right; Data is not dead, he has been kidnapped by Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek), a collector of the first order who just has to have Data the android in his eclectic collection. Fajo is essentially an evil child, who wants what he wants when he wants it without any compunction about any other concern than making himself happy. If Data will not comply with his wishes and willingly become an object in his treasure room, Fajo will simply kill his assistant.

"The Most Toys" is not only about Fajo's obsession with things but underscores once again that even if Data is not "human," his humanity is vastly superior to most beings encountered in the Star Trek universe. Of course there is a nice contrast between Brent Spiner's always understated peformance as Data and Rubinke's scenery chewing as Fajo. This is the episode from the third season that most focuses on Data, so it would be a must have episode for his legion of fans. ... Read more

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Riker Van Winkle
Riker and much of the crew are celebrating his birthday in Ten-Forward as the Enterprise detects strange readings from a planet near the Neutral Zone. An M-Class planet, yet unhospitible conditions - they are being probed and the crew suspects that this could be from an underground, secret Romulan base that there have been rumors about. Riker's birthday party is put on hold as he, Worf & Geordi beam to the surface to investigate.

Volcanic gasses including sulphur become overwhelming and they have to beam back right away, but the Enterprise cannot lock on to Riker due to unknown interference. He coughs as the gasses become thicker and he is overcome and collapses.

He wakes up in Sickbay to find Dr. Crusher standing over him - but she looks considerably older and her hair and uniform are different. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror and sees that he's a little worse for wear himself. Dr. Crusher then tells him what has happened. While on the planet, he contracted an Alterian Virus. The DNA from the virus lays dormant until one day, it becomes active, destroying memory synapses in the brain... all the way back to the date of infection. After 10 days of fever, he has awakened in Sickbay to find out that he is missing 16 years worth of memories. He is the captain of the Enterprise, and he is supposed to rendevous with the Romulan ship Decius to sign a landmark treaty that will mean peace between the Romulans and the Federation at last.

He finds out that he was married, but his wife died 2 years earlier, and he has a 12 year old son named Jean-Luc. It's all a little too much for him to handle as Admiral Picard thrust him into negotiations with the Romulans when he feels he lacks the proper information to proceed with the negotiations. He only needs to reveal the location of a long-time secret Federation base to clinch the deal and seal the bond of trust.

He feels uneasy about it, but is goaded by Troi and Picard to proceed. Trying to jog his memory to recall any memory from the past 16 years, he accesses the ship's computer to look at his family record and photos until he finally sees a photo of his wife and he realizes that nothing is truly what it seems.

Just when you think the mystery is solved, another one surprises you. This is a well-thought-out story with excellent acting and mind-stimulating plot twists.

Riker gets off the bridge and into character
While others have pointed out the surprising nature of this episode's hypothesis, the thing that impresses me most about "Future Imperfect" is how its premise allows for normalcy. The drama here is propelled by very ordinary concerns: fatherly instincts, the grief of a wife's death, and simple disorientation. Marina Sirtis, divorced from her normal psychobabble, provides an unusually sympathetic performance. And Jonathan Frakes is allowed to step outside his posturing bridge presence to display rather more individual concerns. The result is an episode which contains not only satisfying plot twists but more subtle acting as well.

Waking Up A Stranger
Imagine you go to bed tonight, and tomorrow morning you wake up in your bed, but the room has changed. And who is that woman in bed beside you? Soon you see that 16 years is missing from your memory!

This is not exactly the scenario facing Riker, but he does awaken to find 16 years missing from his memory. Most of the crew is there, but they, like himself, have aged. He is now the captain, Data is his first officer, and Picard is an Ambassador. It seems that during those 16 years Riker has married, become a father, and a widower.

But he has little time to adjust to his new world. He is the key in an important negotiation with the Romuluns. But as time goes by, Riker becomes suspicious. Is this future indeed reality? If not, who is fooling him and why?

This episode is well written and directed, and it provoked many thoughts in me. For instance, I am in my middle 30's, and if I woke up tomorrow and I was 50, in time I would be distressed how I had in a sense "lost" 16 years. It is in contrast to the 25-30 years that Picard "gains" in the "Inner Light".

It is also interesting to see how Riker reacts to his being such a changed person. He has always distrusted the Romulons, but it seems that in the last 16 years he has helped bring peace between this race and the Federation. This is one of several episodes that would have been a good movie.

A thrilling mystery involving Captain Riker of the Enterpris
"Future Imperfect" is probably my favorite Riker episode from the Next Generation series and certainly provides Jonathan Frakes with an opportunity to show the character at his best. Riker is leading an away team that is investigating a suspected secret Romulan base near the Neutral Zone. Suddenly the group is overcome by poisonous gas and the next thing Riker knows he is awake and back on the Enterprise. The only problem is that sixteen years have passed, he is now captain of the Enterprise, and he can remember nothing of the intervening period--including the fact that he is a widower with a son named Jean-Luc (winningly played by Chris Demetral). Although he is assured that the memory loss is just a side effect of his exposure to the gas on that fateful day way back when. And just to make things interesting Riker is in the middle of final negotiations for a peace treaty with the Romulans. But the more people tell Riker that everything is okay, the less he believes them.

It is somewhat ironic that the best "mystery" episode in the series features Riker instead of Picard/Dixon Hill. More importantly, not only are their multiple layers and solid twists to the story, the payoff is up to the challenge. Of all the glimpses of the "future" Riker, this is far and away the best and his best moment since he told Worf to fire on Locutus. A surprisingly great episode. ... Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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When Deep Throat alerts him to the existence of a UFO crash site in Wisconsin, Mulder sneaks behind the lines of an Air Force recovery operation to gather evidence. After he's is discovered, Mulder and Agent Scully have to work quickly to expose the truth before the government shuts the X-Files down for good.

Two identical murders witnessed by two identical young girls at exactly the same time pull Mulder and Scully into a case of human genetics gone awry in Eve.The first of many clones, another set of perfectly cast spooky children, and evidence (of course) of a government cover-up are the highlights of this creepy episode. ... Read more

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Poking fun at ufology
A nutty guy from NICAP (National Investigation Comittee for Aerial Phenomena), a real organization by the way, helps agent Mulder uncover what the Army is hiding... a crashed flying saucer of course!

Funniest line of the episode: when the NICAP guy asks Mulder if he's from "that new group CSICOP"!

The X-Files, always blurring the lines between fiction and reality. That's why I love it.

Eve: A Compelling Tale of Two Psychopaths
Fallen Angel is an excellent show, but Eve is the ep that should be featured. The suspenseful story of two small girls who kill because they want to fits into the government conspiracy that's going to kill us all. Eve 6 is a haunting yet somehow comforting character, and the two young girls portray the serial killers with acuity. ...