TF01 3,YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISES 4,by Tim Smith YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISES ------------------------- (A Season by Season Review of Star Trek: The Next Generation) --------------------------------------------------------------- by Tim Smith -------------- After an uneven first season, the second season managed to convey interesting stories with equally interesting characters. However, the show still seemed to lack that spark which turns a good show into a phenomenon. The third season changed that, and indeed was the season that The Next Generation came of age. Several changes in the crew occurred. In front of the camera Diana Muldaur left the show. Although a fine actress with a proven track record, (previously to her work with The Next Generation she had appeared in two episodes of the original series) her role failed to work. Many thought that Pulaski was too much like McCoy and she failed to find harmony with the other characters. She was replaced by Gates McFadden who returned to reprise her role as Beverly Crusher. As for the production staff, they too saw changes. Bob Blackman replaced Durinda Rice Wood as costume designer. Consequently the Starfleet uniforms were redesigned to a more comfortable two piece. After the fourth episode Peter Lauritson became a co-producer. After the nineteenth episode Mike Okuda and Rick Sternbach were credited as technical consultants. Joining Lauritson as co-producers were Hans Beimler and Richard Manning whilst Melinda Snodgrass took over their old post as the executive script consultant. The third season also saw two production staff begin their Star Trek career. Both have been highly influential since. They are, of course, Michael Piller and Ronald D. Moore. Piller replaced Maurice Hurley as chief of the writing staff whilst Moore had a spec' script ("The Bonding") accepted. He was then hired as story editor beginning with the seventeenth episode. It was also a very successful year for Emmy nominations and wins, co- nominations and wins withstanding, there were some nine nominations (up from the previous season's seven.) There were also wins at art direction ("Sins of the Father") and sound editing ("Yesterday's Enterprise"), but again there were no nominations for acting, even for Patrick Stewart's performance in the cliff hanger ending to the season "Best of Both Worlds". EPISODE 1 - "Evolution" ----------------------- AIRDATE: 25/9/89, STARDATE: 43125.8 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Ken Jenkins (Dr Paul Stubbs) Dr. Stubbs is on board the Enterprise with a probe designed to study the explosion of a neutron supergiant binary. However, one of Wesley's science experiments gets out of control and ends up threatening not only the probe's launch but the entire ship... Originally meant to be the second episode of the season, this is a straight forward ship in jeopardy with some character forming scenes thrown in. From the very beginning of this episode you can see the leap in quality that the show has taken. The lighting, costumes, and music are all vastly improved from the preceeding seasons. The acting too shows a new maturity to it, with good performances from all the regulars as well as the guest star Ken Jenkins. As for the plot, well, although the basic premise is nothing new, it is in the detail that it shows it's true quality. Many points of trivia and other information can be found. For instance, Wesley's love of baseball (last seen in the first season episode "Justice") resurfaces. More than likely this is due to Michael Piller. Of all the photographs and film clips of him, I have only seen one where he isn't wearing a baseball cap. We also learn that Guinan has been married twice, and has many children one of whom is several hundred years old. Data states that there has been no systems wide failure no a starship for 79 years (this places the event sometime around the Star Trek IV or Star Trek V era.) The Nanites are found to have a collective intelligence (like the Borg) and instead of being destroyed, are given a new homeworld Cavis Alpha IV. This is what places Trek above other shows. Learning to understand new life forms, not destroying them. Other high points are some nice shots of the Enterprise, Beverly Crusher's reaction to missing Wesley after spending a year at Starfleet Medical, and a brief mention of the Borg. A good solid start to the season. EPISODE 2 - "The Ensigns Of Command" ------------------------------------ AIRDATE: 2/10/89, STARDATE: 43133.3 ----------------------------------- Guest Stars: Eileen Seeley (Adrian McKenzie), Grainger Hines (Goshevn) The mysterious Sheliak Corporate contact the Federation and demand that they clear Tau Cygna V of it's human colonists. The only problem is that the colonists, long forgotten by the Federation do not want to leave... This, the first episode filmed but the second actually televised, sticks in my mind for two reasons. Sadly it is not because of anything positive. The acting is lacklustre, and is only one of the many weak aspects to "Ensigns of Command". The colony on Tau Cygna V lacks any realism or dynamics, and Data's struggle to understand human nature (which is more or less an integral part to this story) has been handled a lot better in many other episodes. The best thing about "Ensigns" are the little nuggets of Trivia buried in the dialogue. Data is seen playing the violin, an activity that would be seen in episodes such as "Sarek" and "In Theory". O'Brien is seen playing the cello (although this seems a little incongruous with his nature) and they are joined by a Vulcan. On a sadder note, the shuttlecraft Data uses is the Onizuka named after one of the astronauts so tragically lost in the explosion of the Challenger shuttle. The Artemus (the ship on which the colonists originally came from) was launched for Septimus Minor 92 years prior to the episode placing it sometime after the events in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". However, none of these points are what are memorable about this episode. No, these are the following. Firstly, that Grainger Hines had all his dialogue re-dubbed by another actor and demanded that his name be pulled from the credits. Secondly, that the Dalai Lama and his followers paid a visit to the set. Now that is quite interesting in itself but what really tops it is that the photo he had taken on the set (complete with grinning Spiner) was used by CIC as the video cover for the first third season tape. One of the weakest third season episodes. EPISODE 3 - "The Survivors" --------------------------- AIRDATE: 9/10/89, STARDATE: 43152.4 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: John Anderson (Kevin Uxbridge), Anne Haney ( Rishon Uxbridge) The Enterprise answers an urgent distress call from Delta Rana IV. However, when it arrives there they find all but two of its colonists dead... After the relative disappointment of "Ensigns of Command", "Survivors" was a return to the high standard that most of the third season adhered to. It also marked a return to location shooting, the first since the first season's "Justice". A further two episodes in the third season would involve location work. Both the guest stars give fine renditions of their characters. John Anderson's grizzly face and equally grizzly voice give depth to Kevin Uxbridge. Ann Haney would later appear in the Deep Space Nine episode "Dax". There are several nice touches. Andorian renegades are mentioned as causing trouble to another starship. Riker shows his distaste for having to leave the pursuit of the alien ship. Worf's reaction to drinking tea and his chiding by Picard for his over confidence, and finally the look on Rishon's face when Picard tells her the truth about the attack are examples of the attention to detail that is typical of Star Trek. The only real weak point of the plot is that Picard fails to tell anyone of his suspicions or of his reasons for his actions. Obviously this is for dramatic effect but when you think about it, it doesn't really make sense. An interesting episode with strong performances. EPISODE 4 - "Who Watches The Watchers" -------------------------------------- AIRDATE: 16/10/89, STARDATE: 43173.5 ------------------------------------ Guest stars: Kathryn Leigh Scott (Nuria), Ray Wise (Liko) A failing reactor at a cultural observation post on Mintaka III explodes injuring three scientists. When the away team beams down to help, they can only find two of the scientists... Following on from "Survivors" this is the second episode to involve location shooting. Used more extensively than the previous episode's exterior locale, Vasquez Rock were used in several classic Trek episodes notably "Arena", "Shore Leave", "Alternative Factor" and "Fridays Child". The memory wipe that is attempted on Liko was also used on Data's friend Sarjenko in the second season episode "Pen Pals". Its failure here also begs the question as to whether Sarjenko remembers the events in "Pen Pals". Subcutaneous transponders are fitted to Riker and Troi when they go under cover to the Mintaka III colony. These were used in the classic Trek episode "Patterns of Force". As to the actual quality of the episode it has both its good and bad points. Visually it's very impressive. The costumes are beautiful and the make up convincing particularly when Riker and Troi are sent down to the planet in disguise. Vasquez Rocks compliment both the costumes and make up very well with the sets blending into the natural environment almost imperceptibly. It is the episode's basic coda that disappoints me. That religious belief is something that societies grow of. As a person with deep religious beliefs myself I find this as coming from a misunderstanding of faith and patently not true. Of course everyone should have the freedom to believe what they want to believe, but both sides of the argument should be available for people to make their own mind up. A solid episode. EPISODE 5 - "The Bonding" ------------------------- AIRDATE: 23/10/89, STARDATE; 43198.7 ------------------------------------ Guest stars: Gabriel Damon (Jeremy Astor), Susan Powell (Marla Astor), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) Whilst on an away team led by Lieutenant Worf exploring the ruins of the Koinonian civilization, Lieutenant Marla Astor is killed. Just as her son, Jeremy begins to come to terms with the tragedy, Marla Astor reappears on the Enterprise... This is probably most famous for being written by Ronald D. Moore, a fan who, within two years of having his script accepted (a rarity in itself,) became a co-producer. He has continued to pen such episodes as "Redemption", "The Next Phase" and "Relics". His latest project involved writing the first Next Generation feature film (along with Brannon Braga.) It is also an episode packed with scenes, dialogue and information that add not only to Worf, but Data and Picard as well. We learn that Worf was six when his parents we killed at Khitomer and that Wesley was less than twelve when his father died. Data tells Riker that he felt different when Tasha died, and Riker replies that if everyone felt as deeply about each death, history would be a lot less bloody. Picard shows his worries about children on board his ship, and it is a pity that this isn't developed any further. The real let down is Gabriel Damon. With the character of Jeremy Astor being so integral to the plot, a strong performance is needed, but that is not what we get from Damon. Weak and wooden are the two words that spring to mind when he appears on screen. The most touching scene of "The Bonding" comes at the end when Worf perform the Russtai bonding ceremony with Jeremy making them brothers. An average episode due to the poor acting by the guest star. EPISODE 6 - "Booby Trap" ------------------------ AIRDATE: 30/10/89, STARDATE: 43205.6 ------------------------------------ Guest stars: Susan Gibney (Dr. Leah Brahms), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) The Enterprise comes across an ancient Promellian battle cruiser, but as the ship's energy drains away the crew realise that they have fallen prey to the same trap that destroyed the Promellian cruiser... Geordi gets his first episode of the first season with this effective blending of action and character. His luck, or rather lack of it with women is a strong character trait that carries through to such episodes as "Transfigurations", "Galaxy's Child" and "Aquiel". Indeed Julie Warner (who plays Geordi's "real" love interest) would later reappear in "Transfigurations". However, Picard also comes to the fore. We learn (in a funny scene in the transporter room) that he used to build model airships in bottles, and that his skills at piloting are second to none. Guinan tells Geordi that she is attracted to bald men because a bald man was once kind to her. An event that might, or might not, be seen in the sixth season's episode "Time's Arrow Part II". Leah Brahms attended the Daystrom institute (named after the scientist who appeared in the classic Trek episode "The Ultimate Computer".) It would get several mentions in future episodes, although it has yet to be seen. On a final trivia note, the Utopia Planetia Mars station referred to here is, of course, where Commander Sisko served prior to his arrival on Deep Space Nine in "Emissary". An average third season episode. EPISODE 7 - "The Enemy" ----------------------- AIRDATE: 6/11/89, STARDATE: 43349.2 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: John Snyder (Centurion Bochra), Andreas Katsulas (Commander Tomalok), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) An away team in investigating Galorndon Core, a planet swept by electrical storms. There, they find a crashed Romulan craft. Then Geordi goes missing and a Romulan ship heads towards Galorndon Core intent on finding any survivors... This was the first episode directed by David Carson. He would also direct "Yesterday's Enterprise" later on in the season as well as several other Next Generation and Deep Space Nine episodes. More importantly he will direct the first Next Generation feature film, due in British cinemas in February 1995. It also marks the return of the Romulans in their first appearance since the second season episode "Contagion". They would return in two further episodes in the third season ("The Defector" and "Tin Man") and Commander Tomalok would be seen in "The Defector" and the fourth season "Future Imperfect". Both Snyder and Katsulas are fine in their roles and LeVar Burton gets the second episode in a row to concentrate on his character. The theme of the story may not be all that fresh but has a twist added to it when Worf refuses to donate the blood that would save the Romulan. Only two bits of trivia spring to mind from watching "The Enemy". They being that Crusher had never operated on Romulans prior to the episode and that Galorndon Core would be used in the Romulans plans for the invasion of Vulcan in "Unification Part I". Finally, a question for you - if the Enterprise is escorting Tomalok's ship back to the neutral zone at the end of the episode, how come the two ships go off in completely different directions? A very good episode both acted and directed well. EPISODE 8 - "The Price" ----------------------- AIRDATE: 13/11/89, STARDATE: 43385.6 ------------------------------------ Guest star: Matt McCoy (Devinoni Ral) Several delegates are on board the Enterprise to bid for the rights to an apparently stable wormhole near Barzan III. One of them is the human Devinoni Ral who seems to be having quite an effect on Troi... It is a sad state of affairs when the only episode to concentrate on Deanna Troi in the third season is the weakest entry of that season. It has nothing to do with either Marina Sirtis or her character, as has been proved in such episodes as "Face of the Enemy". What it does have to do with is a weak plot (written by Hannah Louise Shearer) and an uninspiring performance by the guest star, Matt McCoy. As an added bonus(?) there is an excruciatingly embarrassing scene between Beverly Crusher and Troi as they work out in the gym. If you can struggle through all of this (including the terrible music) you learn that Troi's office is located at deck 8/3472 whereas her quarters are at deck 9/0910. Her love of chocolate is also shown as it would be in many future episodes such as "The Game" and "Liaisons". It also seems that some of the inspiration for Deep Space Nine comes from "The Price". The wormhole opens, at least initially, in the Gamma quadrant, although the Ferengi pod (the first and only time it is seen) is eventually stranded in the Delta quadrant. Truly awful. EPISODE 9 - "The Vengeance Factor" ---------------------------------- AIRDATE: 20/11/89, STARDATE: 43421.9 ------------------------------------ Guest stars: Lisa Wilcox (Yuta), Joey Aresco (Brull), Nancy Parsons (Marouk) Commander Riker leads an away team to a Federation outpost that has been attacked. Investigations show that a group known as the Gatherers are responsible... Fortunes improve as the Next Generation gets back upto spec' after the previous episode. After Troi has a tragic love affair it is Riker's turn. In fact, it seems that being Riker's love interest is the most dangerous job in the galaxy as unfortunate incidents have involved several of his "friends". The opening scene, as the away team searches the outpost, is beautifully lit and shot and although "Vengeance Factor" does not quite live upto its promise, it is still an enjoyable effort. The only problem I have with this episode is that I get no sense of any closeness between Riker and Yuta. They do not have many scenes together and thus it is difficult to believe that Riker feels so deeply for Yuta. Perhaps it is just that Riker falls in love so easily! As for the technical aspects of the show, they are all at least adequate. Although the first Gatherer to be murdered looks like he is wearing a Borg costume. The only real trivia note is the Rigellian phaser rifles used. Could they come from the same Rigel mentioned in the original Trek episode "Wolf In The Fold". A fairly good episode. EPISODE 10 - "The Defector" --------------------------- AIRDATE: 1/1/90, STARDATE: 43462.5 ---------------------------------- Guest stars: James Sloyan (Jarok), Andreas Katsulas (Tomalok) The Enterprise intercepts a Romulan scout ship being pursued across the neutral zone by a warbird. Asking for asylum, its pilot brings startling news of a planned invasion, but can he be trusted...? Both the Romulans and Commander Tomalok return in one of the high points of the third season. Not only are all the performances of a very high standard but they are combined with great special effects and an intricately woven storyline written by Ronald D. Moore. The teaser provides both Spiner and Stewart with the chance of some Shakespearian acting in a scene from Henry V that would be echoed by Picard in "Best of Both Worlds" part one. We also get to see the first sight of Romulus, albeit in a holodeck, and the Romulan scout vessel. The battle of Cheron is also mentioned some twenty years after it was first mentioned in the original Trek episode "Balance of Terror". A nod to the events depicted in "The Enemy" is given with Crusher giving Worf a look that could melt ice, and Riker's old ship, the USS Hood gets yet another mention. With the confrontation between the Enterprise and Tomalok's ship comes a classic moment when, much to Tomalok's suprise, three Klingon birds of prey decloak to support the Enterprise. A superb moment in an excellent episode. Excellent. EPISODE 11 - "The Hunted" ------------------------- AIRDATE: 8/1/90, STARDATE: 43489.2 ---------------------------------- Guest stars: Jeff McCarthy (Roga Danar), James Cromwell (Nayrok), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) The Enterprise has arrived at Angosia III to report on their suitability to join the Federation. The Angosian report that a violent criminal has escaped from a lunar penitentiary and asks for the Enterprise's help in tracking him down... The Next Generation comes up trumps again with this allegory to the treatment of Vietnam veterans. The character of Roga Danar is one of the strongest (both physically and mentally) to appear in the Next Generation and Jeff McCarthy handles the part well. The two incidents where he is pursued by the Enterprise are well shot and work in managing to convey Danar's skills and determination. To compliment this are his conversations with Troi and Data. Indeed, I would have liked to have seen a little more of this. The general moral of the Angosian society training these men to kill in the name of Angosia, and then not only abandoning them, but locking them away from society as well is clearly a parallel how America treated the soldiers who returned from Vietnam. Picard's solution to the soldiers who storm the capital, not interfering due to the Prime Directive is satisfying and it would be interesting to return to Angosia III to see what has developed. Excellent. EPISODE 12 - "The High Ground" ------------------------------ AIRDATE: 29/1/90, STARDATE: 43510.7 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Kerrie Keane (Alexana Devos), Richard Cox (Kyrill Finn) The Enterprise has arrived at Rutia IV to deliver medical supplies. Whilst on the planet's surface there is a terrorist explosion and Doctor Crusher tends to the victims, but as she does so the terrorists disappear out of nowhere and kidnap her... After the Vietnam war allegory, the Next Generation turns the Northern Ireland situation. Before getting into the politics of the episode it has to be said that it already has its problems. The acting and other "technical" aspects are all fine - it is in its plot that it falls flat on its face. Firstly, would Crusher really be allowed to sit in a cafe on a planet where there is a virtual civil war? Remember, she is not a civilian but a Starfleet officer. Secondly, why doesn't Crusher at least try to contact the Enterprise? She has ample opportunity. Finally, when Picard has been kidnapped Riker beams down into what could be a dangerous situation. He should have not been allowed to since he is the commanding officer. Remember, he was stopped beaming off the ship in "Best of Both Worlds". As for the politics, on a personal level, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. To make terrorist out to be heroes (albeit tragic ones) is morally dangerous. No matter how justified people feel they are, no one has the right to kill someone to attain their own political ambitions. I suppose it is a matter of how you perceive this episode. To me, they seem to be saying that ultimately if the terrorist kill enough people the government will eventually be forced to talk to them. America does not have to live with such a situation. The people of Eire, Northern Ireland and England do. An average episode with a worrying political message. EPISODE 13 - "Deja Q" --------------------- AIRDATE: 5/2/90, STAR DATE: 43539.1 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: John de Lancie (Q), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) The Enterprise is struggling to restore Bre'el IV's moon to its correct orbit. Then Q shows up... Half way through the season brings us the first comedic episode. There would be two further comedy episodes in the third season ("Hollow Pursuits" and "Menage a Troi") but the Next Generation would continue to be criticised by some people for taking itself too seriously. Anyway, on to the actual episode. John de Lancie shows his class a Q with some great one liners, perhaps the best of which is his comment to Worf "...eat any good books lately?" From this episode onwards stopped being a threat and was more of a comic relief. Although in one sense this meant his character lost something, the best Q episodes were yet to come ("True Q" and "Tapestry".) Whoopi Goldberg makes a relatively brief appearance as Guinan. Her attack on Q seems out of character for her and the scene where Q is attacked by the Calamarains and Guinan stands down looking at him looks too staged. Yet again there is continuity with the original series. The Berthold rays used by the Calamarains were the same rays that should have killed the colonists in the original series episode "This Side of Paradise". We also learn the Data needs no food but occasionally eats a "semi- organic nutrient suspension in a silicon based liquid medium" to lubricate his biofunctions. That doesn't sound quite as appealing as the chocolate sundaes that Data says Troi eats when she is depressed. It seems that each individual Q is not aware of other Qs, as when Q2 (played by Corbin Bernsen) interrupts Q just before he is going to torment the Calamarains, he actually surprises him. On first viewing this is extremely enjoyable, but on reflection I am not sure that it stands up to repeat viewing. This is not due to any failures by the actors or the script, I suppose it is the basic idea of Q losing his powers. It is really a one liner stretched into forty five minutes. Funny, but not that funny. EPISODE 14 - "A Matter Of Perspective" -------------------------------------- AIRDATE: 12/2/90, STARDATE: 43610.4 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Craig Richard Nelson (Krag), Gina Hecht (Manua Apgar), Mark Margolis (Nel Apgar), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) Riker beams back from a routine mission on a space station. Just as he is beamed from the station it explodes killing Doctor Apgar. Soon afterwards Inspector Krag comes on board the Enterprise and demands Riker's extradition to Tanuga IV on the charge of murder... This is something really different. Although the idea of a crewman being arrested for murder has been done before (in the original series episodes "Court Martial" and "Wolf In The Fold") the use of the holodeck adds a new dimension to it. In a nice teaser Picard asks Data for his opinion on his attempts at painting - needless to say Data is completely honest and we never see Picard's efforts again. However Data's interest in painting has continued throughout such episodes as "The Most Toys" and "Birthright" part one. The research station looks incredibly like the one in Star Trek II. I wonder why? The majority of this episode is taken up with the various testimonies provided by each witness, although why neither Geordi or O'Brien are called as witnesses is a bit of a mystery. In fact it is how each person perceives what happened that is the really interesting aspect of the show rather than the very clever special effects used in recreating the events on the holodeck. A very good and very different episode. EPISODE 15 - "Yesterday's Enterprise" ------------------------------------- AIRDATE: 19/2/90, STARDATE: 43625.2 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar), Tricia O'Neill (Captain Rachel Garrett), Christopher McDonald (Lieutenant Castille), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) The Uss Enterprise NCC 1701-C emerges from a temporal rift twenty two years into the future. A future where the Federation is fighting a losing battle against the Klingon Empire... "Yesterday's Enterprise" is on most peoples lists of all time favourite episodes and it's not difficult to see why. Time travel, Klingons, the return of an old comrade, and plenty of action all go together to form an episode that is deservedly remembered as one of the Next Generations highpoints. The attention to detail is quite astounding. Several changes are made to show the differences between the two timelines. Replacing the Captain's log and stardate are the Military Log and Combat Date. The ramps on the bridge are replaced by steps, sidearms are carried by all the crew and there is a singular lack of both Worf and the ship's counsellor, Deanna Troi. In the teaser, Worf shares a prune juice and conversation with Guinan. She would mention this to his parents in the fourth season episode "Family". It is also the only time that I can remember Worf laughing out loud. Events in "Yesterday's Enterprise" would have ramifications in future episodes such as "In the Minds Eye", "Redemption" and "Unification". Guinan's empathy with time would also be seen in "Times Arrow" and she visits the bridge for what is the first and only time. Amongst the many background and incidental touches to the episode are the following:- 1) Doctor Selar is heard being paged over the ships speakers. 2) Ensign Towers is paged to the combat information centre (C.I.C!) 3) There is an extra console on the bridge (to the right of the screen.) 4) The attack at the Klingon outpost Nerandra III occurred 22 years 3 months and 4 days before this episode. 5) Belt buckles, closed collars and black cuffs are part of the alternate style uniforms. 6) There is a battle map on display in the ready room. 7) The Enterprise is referred to as a battle ship, not a starship. 8) It comprises of 42 decks and 6,000 troops. 9) There are no children or families on board. 10) The war has resulted in the death of 40 billion people. 11) The doors open and close with the original series sound. After all that lot there is little to say other than Tricia O'Neill would appear in the sixth season episode "Suspicions" as a Klingon. The best time travel story Next Generation has done. EPISODE 16 - "The Offspring" ---------------------------- AIRDATE: 12/3/90, STARDATE: 43657.0 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Hallie Todd (Lal), Nicolas Coster (Admiral Haftel) Data returns from a cybernetics conference and builds himself an android, his child... This is the most emotionally powerful Star Trek episode I have ever seen. Like many other Next Generation episodes the premise, or idea had been used in previous episodes, but yet again the quality of the various features of the show shine through. Hallie Todd is superb as Lal bringing innocence and emotion to the role. Rene Echevarria writes a script that serves both the story and the characters. Jonathan Frakes makes an impressive debut as director, and in my opinion is the best director the Next Generation has. Daystrom is mentioned yet again. In this case Admiral Haftel is said to work at a Daystrom annex on Galor IV. The android is initially played by Leonard John Crowfoot and I defy anyone to recognise the actor who played the man servant in the first season episode "Angel One". Then again, who would want to remember that episode. There are a few minor niggles. Mainly Picard's reaction which is rather surprising. Considering the events in the second season episode "Measure of a Man" he really should have been immediately supportive. In fact, why Lal is even being considered being taken from Data is a little far fetched. Surely the rights of an android had been established in "Measure of a Man"? Aside from the above "The Offspring" is a quality episode. In the scene where Lal is choosing its form we get to see an Andorian. It is also established that there are no Andorians on board the Enterprise, but that is the only piece of trivia in a script that really concentrates on character. There are rumours of Lal making a reappearance in the Next Generation's seventh season. I hope that this is true. Excellent. EPISODE 17 - "Sins Of The Father" --------------------------------- AIRDATE: 19/3/90, STARDATE: 43685.2 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Charles Cooper (K'mpec), Tony Todd (Kurn), Patrick Massett (Duras) A Klingon exchange officer comes on board the Enterprise. Eventually he reveals himself to be Worf's younger brother, left behind on the Klingon homeworld when Worf and his parents left for Khitomer. He asks Worf to return to the Klingon homeworld. The reason? To clear his father of treason... Worf's first major story of the third season has Klingon written all the way through it. It would also have implications for the next eighteen months starting a major story arc that would carry from "Reunion" to "Redemption". Charles Cooper, who also played the Klingon general, Korrd in Star Trek V plays council leader K'mpec superlatively. K'mpec would also return in the fourth season episode "Reunion" as would Duras (another fine performance by Patrick Massett.) Perhaps the best performance is from Tony Todd (a long time Trek fan) as Kurn. He would later return in both parts of "Redemption". The most disappointing scene are on the actual homeworld of Worf. All you see are a couple of very dimly lit and claustrophobic sets. No doubt this is supposed to be atmospheric, but it doesn't work. The end result just looks as though they ran out of money and/or imagination. Not surprisingly we learn a fair amount about Kurn, Worf and the other Klingons. Kurn was one year old when Worf and his father Mogh left for the Khitomer outpost. Mogh was following Duras' father Ja'rod whom he suspected of treason. After the attack, the USS Intrepid (commanded by Captain Drew Deighan) is the first ship on the scene (stardate 23859.7.) Worf is found by the ships warp field specialist Sergey Rozhenko. He adopts Worf who is raised on Gault. Kurn was taken into Mogh's friend's (Lorgh) family as the high council assumed he had died at Khitomer. He was told the truth when he reached the age of ascension. What neither of them new is that Worf's nursemaid, Kahlest, also survived and was treated on starbase 24. The disgrace of Mogh (who once served with K'mpec) if found guilty would last seven generations. However, in a brave move by the writers Worf accepts discommendation, i.e. he is no longer a Klingon. A surprising ending but not all that unusual for the Next Generation. As in "The Offspring", "Reunion" and others, there was no happy ending. Very good, but not perfect. EPISODE 18 - "Allegiance" ------------------------- AIRDATE: 26/3/90, STARDATE: 43714.1 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Stephen Markel (Kova Tholl), Reiner Schone (Esoqq), Jocelyn O'Brien (Mitena Haro) Captain Picard is kidnapped and replaced with a double who puts them through a series of tests. Meanwhile the real captain is also being tested... There is very little to say about this episode other than it is all rather pointless and very silly. None of the characters really go anywhere, even though the false Picard woos Crusher at one point, and the reason for the aliens action is yawn inducing. On the plus side, we do get to see the Bolians again. They first appeared in the first season episode "Conspiracy" and would later be seen in several other episodes including "Menage a Troi", "Ensign Ro", "Schisms" and the Deep Space Nine pilot "Emissary". One interest fact that can be deducted from watching these episodes is that Bolian females have a full head of hair whilst the males are completely bald. They also share a truce with the Maropeans. We also learn that Picard visited Chalna (Esoqq's homeworld) some twelve years previous to this episode as captain of the Stargazer, and that his quarters are located at deck 9/3601. As for the false Picard, he turns up at a poker game, the only time Picard is seen at one. When he woos Beverly, they dance together, but her skills would not truly be seen until the fourth season "Data's Day". Finally he runs through efficiency tests for the first time since Riker's tour of duty. The USS Hood gets another (yes, another) mention which must make it one of the most mentioned and least seen seen ships in the Next Generation's history. In a throwaway line Mintaka III (seen in "Who Watches The Watchers" is mentioned but there is little else of note. The piece de resistance is Picard's speech at the end. There is just something rather comical about Picard's pontificating after such a stupid episode. Very silly. EPISODE 19 - "Captain's Holiday" -------------------------------- AIRDATE: 2/4/90, STARDATE: 43745.2 ---------------------------------- Guest stars: Jennifer Hetrick (Vash), Max Grodenchik (Sovak) The crew persuades their captain to take a holiday. What he doesn't know is that it will be anything but restful... A colourful episode in more ways than one. Captain Picard gets off the ship and finds romance and adventure. Patrick Stewart had long wanted a more active role for the captain and although he left the ship in previous adventures, this was the episode where he got some action. Many people and places are featured in "Captain's Holiday". Risa would also be seen briefly in "The Game" and get mentions in many subsequent episodes including Deep Space Nine. Vash, too, would resurface in the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine with "Q-Pid" and "Q-Less" respectively. Max Grodenchik would also follow suit with "The Perfect Mate" (from The Next Generation's fifth season) and his ongoing role as Rom in Deep Space Nine. Races milling about Risa include, apart from the Vorgons, Andorians, Vulcans (!) and Antican. The good old Daystrom Institute gets its now almost customary mention as does Deanna's mother. In another minor scene, the Riker/Troi relationship is given a small breath of life when she reacts to Riker's boasts about the Risan women. Finally, one of the statues seen on Risa was later reused (after some minor alterations) as the statue of the Klingon brothers Kahless and Morath in the fifth season episode "New Ground". However, not everything is rosy in the "Captain's Holiday" garden. Max Grodenchik is very colourful as Sovak the Ferengi, but not quite as colourful as his splendid shirt, but like "Deja Q" the episode really loses any touch it may have after the first viewing. It is "Romancing the Stone" type episode. The trouble with those sort of films is that most are instantly forgetable. Max Grodenchik's the best thing. EPISODE 20 - "Tin Man" ---------------------- AIRDATE: 23/4/90, STARDATE: 43779.3 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Harry Groener (Tam Elbrun), Michael Cavanaugh (Captain DeSoto), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) Tam Elbrum, an extremely powerful Betazoid comes on board the Enterprise with orders to make contact with an alien entity known as "Tin Man". The Enterprise must reach it before the Romulans do... Harry Groener plays Tam Elbrun as tortured soul who is looking for peace in this exciting episode written by Dennis Putnam Bailey and David Bischoff. David Bischoff would also contribute to another first contact story in the fourth season episode "First Contact". "Tin Man" is a much more successful effort that the later episode with its special effects, sets and acting all upto a very high standard. After numerous mentions and one brief appearance in the Next Generation's pilot, we actually get to see the USS Hood's captain played in a nice little cameo by Michael Cavanaugh. There is obviously a great relationship between Riker and his former captain. This is in marked contrast to Riker's reaction to his first captain in the seventh season episode "Pegasus". Tam Elbrun we learn, was born with his mental powers switched on as opposed to developing them during adolescence as most Betazoid children do. Troi first met him when she was studying psychology at university on Betazed. They struck up some sort of relationship but how or why is never explained. He was also involved in a first contact mission that went wrong resulting in the death of forty seven Starfleet officers, two of which were Riker's friends from his class at Starfleet Academy. Data forms a friendship with Tam initially because he is the only crewmember that Tam cannot read. However, they both help each other realise who they are and where they belong. Data's continuing interest in painting is shown with his rendition of the anomaly discovered in the second season episode "Time Squared". Two final notes. "Tin Man" is discovered twenty three parsecs beyond the furthest manned exploration and the Borg are mentioned again. Excellent. EPISODE 21 - "Hollow Pursuits" ------------------------------ AIRDATE: 30/4/90, STARDATE: 43807.4 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Dwight Shultz (Lieutenant Barclay), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) and Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) Lieutenant Barclay is nervous and shy. He is also addicted to the holodeck... Of the three comedic episodes in the third season, this was undoubtedly the most successful. Ever since the holodeck had been introduced, people had been wondering if it could be addictive. They get the answer here with Dwight Shultz as the unfortunate Lieutenant Barclay. He would later return in the fourth season "Nth Degree" and two sixth season episodes "Ship In A Bottle" and "Realm Of Fear". Much like she defends ensign Ro in "Ensign Ro", Guinan also tells Geordi of her uncle Terkim who, she says, is the only one of her family with a sense of humour. Troi tries to counsel Barclay, who obviously has a crush on her, in the office in a funny scene that it more or less repeated three seasons later in "Realm of Fear". It is astonishing, at least to me, that it took three years before we actually see Troi doing her job. Another sign of her character not being treated properly. The ship in jeopardy plot is all a bit ho-hum. You will have seen it all before, and it is the scenes on the holodeck that are more interesting. The scenes with Barclay fighting holodeck images of Picard, Data and La Forge are humourous rather than funny, but that doesn't stop them from being entertaining. Unlike the two previous comedy episodes, this does stand up to repeat viewing. I don't know why that is. Maybe it is the character of Barclay or maybe it is seeing Picard et al out of character. Whatever it is this episode certainly stands the test of time. Humourous rather than outrageously funny but still very good. EPISODE 22 - "The Most Toys" ---------------------------- AIRDATE: 7/5/90, STARDATE: 43872.2 ---------------------------------- Guest stars: Saul Rubinek (Kivas Fajo), Jane Daly (Varria), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) Data seems to be killed by a shuttle craft explosion. What the crew of the Enterprise do not know is that Data has been kidnapped by Kivas Fajo, a man who collects unique things... There is a tragic story to this episode. As most fans know, the role of Kivas Fajo was originally to be played by David Rappaport. Two days into filming he attempted suicide and was hospitalised. Soon afterwards a second attempt was successful, and the diminutive actor died. This left producers with little time to complete the episode, no lead actor and footage they could no longer use. Taking this into consideration they have not done too badly. Saul Rubinek comes across as thoroughly unlikeable. Data's death seems to affect everyone on the Enterprise. Worf replaces a fallen comrade for the second time, the first being his replacement for Tasha in the first season episode "Skin of Evil". When Geordi and Wesley go to Data's room to clear his things many personal items belonging to Data are trotted out. His numerous medals, playing cards, his violin, a book form the captain and a hologram of Tasha are all seen. However, it would have been a little more moving if we hadn't already seen most of these things in the second season episode "Measure of a Man". The one truly moving scene is when Picard reads from the book the following quotation, "He was a man taken all for all. I shall not look upon his like again." The one aspect of the episode most people talk about is whether or not Data fired the weapon at the end of the episode. On the one hand he is programmed with a fundamental respect for life and a strong inhibition against causing harm to living beings. On the other he is designed to seek out weaknesses in enemies and can kill in self defence. Spiner says he thinks Data fired and I must say, so do I. As for the trivia, well the shuttle is the Pike (a past captain of a past Enterprise,) a USS Grissom is mentioned being near Cugna Arami and some of Fajo's collection include a baseball card of a famous player, the Mona Lisa, a Lapling and finally a banned disruptor. Quite good all things considered, but not brilliant. EPISODE 23 - "Sarek" -------------------- AIRDATE: 14/5/90, STARDATE: 43917.4 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Mark Lenard (Sarek), Joanne Miles (Perrin), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) The renowned ambassador Sarek comes on board the Enterprise to establish formal links between the Federation and Legarans. As he comes on board there is an outbreak of violent behaviour among the crew. Are the two related, and if so, how...? This marked the first appearance from a member of the original Star Trek cast since DeForest Kelley's cameo in the pilot episode "Encounter At Farpoint". Leonard Nimoy would appear in the fifth season's "Unification" and James Doohan in the sixth season "Relics". "Sarek" falls somewhere in between in terms of quality. The trouble with this episode is that it was not written originally for the Sarek character. The original episode concerned an ambassador who was going senile but being protected by his advisors. It shows, much like "Unification", "Sarek" could be about any Vulcan. Apart from one or two lines of dialogue there is nothing that distinguishes Sarek from any other Vulcan. Even though Mark Lenard acts his little cotton socks off there is little point to him being there. All that happens is that Sarek turns up, lots of people lose their temper. Patrick Stewart gets the chance to act a bit, and Sarek leaves. As to the background information there is quite a bit of that. We learn that Picard met him briefly at his son's (it has been admitted that it was Spock) wedding when he was a lieutenant. He had been preparing for the first meeting with the Lagarans for ninety six years which places about a year before the events depicted in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Sarek's contraction of Bendii Syndrome is the first case in two hundred years and at that time there is no known cure. Big disappointment. EPISODE 24 - "Menage A Troi" ---------------------------- AIRDATE: 28/5/90, STARDATE: 43930.7 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Majel Barrett (Lwaxana Troi), Frank Corsentino (Daimon Tog) At a trade conference, Daimon Tog is stuck by Lwaxana Troi. When Mrs Troi, Deanna and Wil Riker are enjoying some shore leave on Betazed, Daimon Tog returns and kidnaps them... The Ferengi return for only their second featured episode in the third season and are firmly established as comic relief. Majel Barrett also returns for her third Lwaxana episode, but she would eventually move to more dramatic work. At the Biennial trade conference on Betazed it seems that all are welcome. At the reception afterwards (the episode's teaser) Vulcans, Betazoids, Bolians, Ferengi and Zakdorns can all be seen. A little about Mrs Troi's past is learned. She apparently had been married before she met Deanna's father, and before him had known someone called Zarn. The Betazoid official hosting the conference also knew Deanna since she was little. As for the Ferengi they apparently have a four node brain which means that they can not be read by empathic races like the Betazoids, a fact that would also come up in the Deep Space Nine episode "The Forsaken". They do not have any erogenous zones but their ears are sensitive to stroking or Oo-max. I could have done without knowing this though. Betazed, in the only time shown on the Next Generation, looks a beautiful place and it is there that the Muktah (?) flower grows. It lives for hundreds of years and produces a strange tinkling sound. Riker was assigned there as a junior officer and it was there that he met a very serious psychologist, Deanna Troi. The relationship between them is kept alive when they share a kiss just before their kidnap. As for poor old Wesley, even though he passes the Starfleet written test he misses the USS Bradbury (named after the author) but gets a field commission after working our Riker's message in the Cochrane distortion (a nod to the original series episode "Metamorphosis".) If he had not missed the ship he would have been lucky to return the Enterprise as according to Data only 9% of Starfleet graduates are posted to galaxy class ships. This is all relatively entertaining but there would be better episodes for all concerned. It is really like visual bubble gum - all sweet and enjoyable for awhile but dull eventually and not something you would cherish for a long time. Only average. EPISODE 25 - "Transfigurations" ------------------------------- AIRDATE: 4/6/90, STARDATE: 43957.2 ---------------------------------- Guest stars: Mark LaMura (John Doe), Charles Dennis (Commander Sunad), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien), Patti Tippo (Nurse Temple), Julie Warner (Christy Henshaw) Doctor Crusher nurses a severely injured humanoid, found in the wreckage of an escape pod, back to life... This episodes boasts a sympathetic portrayal by Mark LaMura but is not the brilliant episode I remember it to be. Geordi actually has a romance (with Christy Henshaw from the earlier episode "Booby Trap") that does not involve the holodeck. An worf gets to die a second time (after the first season episode "Hide and Q".) He would also die in the fifth season episode "Ethics" and the motor assist bands used on John Doe would also be seen in "Ethics". However the over reliance on techno-babble detracts from this, and robs the episode of a lot of its emotional impact. That's all there is to say about this episode really. Good acting, nice sets, bad script. Not as good as it could have been. EPISODE 26 - "The Best Of Both Worlds" -------------------------------------- AIRDATE: 18/6/90, STARDATE: 43989.1 ----------------------------------- Guest stars: Elizabeth Dennehy (Lieutenant Commander Shelby), George Murdock (Admiral Hanson), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Colm Meaney (Lieutenant O'Brien) The Borg are back...! The most powerful and popular enemies in Star Trek return in this hum dinger of a cliff hanger. Everything about this episode is of exceptional quality. The acting gets top marks. Elizabeth Dennehy gives Shelby the air of youthful arrogance with the scenes between her and Riker charged with electricity. George Murdock (the evil entity in Star Trek V) is crusty as Admiral Hanson and appears as world weary but still capable of doing the job. The episode starts with an away team led by Commander Riker beaming down to Jouret IV, one of the Federation's outermost colonies. They beam down to what should be the centre of a busy colony but they find themselves next to huge crater, as if the whole colony had been scooped up. The surface conditions are identical to those found at system J-25 (from the second season episode "Q Who?") which in itself is similar to the damage found at outposts Zero V and Tarod IV (from the first season episode "The Neutral Zone".) It is the above events that lead to Shelby and Hanson rendezvousing with the Enterprise. Shelby took over Borg tactical some six months prior to this episode, and Starfleet tactical had known the Borg were on their way for over a year. The weapons that they were developing would not be ready for another one and a half to two years which makes me wonder why the Enterprise was not fitted with them when they encountered the Borg for the fourth time three years late in "Descent". Riker is offered his third command. The first he turned down to become the Enterprise's first officer. The second he turned down in the second season episode "The Icarus Factor". Jonathan Frakes has reportedly said that he did not see the point of Riker turning down his third command but it does offer us the opportunity to see how Riker has changed. It also adds meaning to his actions in "Best Of Both Worlds" part two. I supposes that he could have accepted the post as he would never have been able to transfer until after the Borg threat had been dealt with and the Melbourne would have been destroyed by then so it wouldn't have mattered! In a scene reminiscent of a scene in Henry V Captain Picard tours his ship. When he reaches ten forward he talks with Guinan about the forthcoming battle with the Borg. It is not a very emotional scene but is is deeply moving, with both characters realising the impending doom might bring the Captain's death. At a poker game in Riker's quarters (located on deck 8) Wesley joins in his first game and Shelby's confrontation with Riker continues, all of which adds to the general tension. The set piece in which the Borg kidnap the Captain and the subsequent actions by the crew to rescue him whilst trying to bring the Borg ship out of warp are all upto big screen standards. The shock of the team finding the captain is very effective. Shelby's desperation, Worf's anger and Beverly's anxiety are completely appropriate to each character. This episode has no weak points to it. Written by Michael Piller (with no baseball references) music by Ron Jones, the costumes, sets (especially of the Borg ship interiors) and special effects are all ingredients in a stupendous episode that marked the end of an equally stupendous and remarkable season. Only one question remained. How on earth were they going to top this? Excellent! The season's tally: Abysmal - 1 The Price Poor - 4 Ensigns of Command The High Ground Allegiance Sarek Average - 9 Who Watches The Watchers? The Bonding Booby Trap The Vengeance Factor Transfigurations Deja Q Captains Holiday The Most Toys Menage a Troi Good - 2 Evolution The Survivors Very Good -5 The Enemy A Matter of Perspective Yesterday's Enterprise Sins Of The Father Hollow Pursuits Excellent -5 The Defector The Hunted The Offspring Tin Man Best Of Both Worlds Worst of the season: The Price Best of the season: The Offspring Well, there you have it. All in all this was a landmark season. We learned a lot about each crew member, including the location of some of the crew quarters. Worf started a major storyline that would have far reaching consequences and events in "Yesterday's Enterprise" would also have future ramifications. Only Troi did not receive a good deal, but then she would not get a decent season until the sixth. As for the technical side everything improved - costumes, lighting, writing and direction. All were light years ahead of the two previous seasons. This really was the season that the Next Generation removed any shackles it may have had to the original season. Several people were introduced who would be massively influential in the style and content of the show. Michael Piller, Ronald D. Moore, Rene Echevarria and directors Jonathan Frakes and David Carson are just some of those people. Looking back on the season it was an astonishing twenty six episodes. It really set the standard for not only future seasons but for all future science fiction shows. This may sound a little over the top but it is true. Whatever came next would be compared (by critics, executives and fans) to the Next Generation. The actors grew, the show grew and the fans grew with it. The only problem was how were fans going to react to the fourth season. They had an impressive cliff hanger to resolve, and with the quality of the season being so high, the fans expectations would be even higher.