TF01 3,Yesterday's Enterprises - Pt 2 4,by Tim Smith Episode 14: Conundrum --------------------- Airdate: 2/17/92, Stardate: 45494.2 Written by Paul Schiffer and Barry Schkolnick, directed by Les Landau. Guest Cast: Erich Anderson (Commander MacDuff), Michelle Forbes (Ensign Ro). The crew have their memories wiped clean. This episode bears some resemblence, at least in part, to the fourth season episode "Clues". The crew are all knocked unconscious by a strange force. However, this time they wake up with selective amnesia. Placed on to the computer is a false background to why they are in that sector of space, and a false mission, which involves destroying an 'enemy' station. There is a slight give away to this when, after the teaser where the crew are knocked unconscious, a new character appears on the bridge. Apparently certain people at Paramount thought that no one would notice this! There is a nice moment in the teaser when Data and Troi are playing 3D chess, and Troi wins. This harks back to the original writer's bible for the show that states that Troi is as intelligent as Spock. I have to say though that the rest of the episode is a bit of a let down. Since the viewer knows who the crew really are, and that Commander MacDuff is an interloper, the whole thing just seems to grind on to a predictable conclusion. I didn't find either the crew's search for their identity, or whether or not they would destroy the station, gripping enough. I just knew what was going to happen. Granted what was on the screen was put on there relatively well, the acting, effects, and lighting were all fine. It just wasn't interesting or entertaining. One of the main problems of epsisodes in the fifth season was there predictability, and "Conundrum" is yet another example of that fault. With a bit more carfeul writing, it could have been alot better. For instance if the alien involved in this deception had taken over the image of an already established crew member, the element of surprise so sadly lacking would have been there. A case of missed opportunities; again. Best Moment: Teaser. Person Of The Moment: Captain Picard. Best Line: "Contact the operations officer to assist you.", "He's in 10 forward; waiting tables." Rating: Poor. Episode 15: Power Play ---------------------- Airdate: 2/24/92, Stardate: 45571.2 Written by Rene Balcer, Brannon Braga, Maurice Hurely, Paul Rueben, and Herbert J. Wright, directed by David Livingston. Guest Cast: Rosalind Chao (Keiko O'Brien), Michelle Forbes (Ensign Ro), Colm Meaney (O'Brien). Three Enterprise crew members are taken over by alien beings. "Power Play" is just the sort of story that would have appeared in the original Star Trek series. The whole idea of crew members being possessed by aliens and trying to take over the ship sounds terribly hokey. However, thanks to some great acting, solid directing, and a decent, if not exceptional, script, it is a joy to watch. There are several moments worth keeping an eye out for. There is mention of a Daedalus class ship, the USS Essex, which is at least one hundred and seventy two years old, adding a bit of background to the history of Starfleet. McKinley Park is also mentioned. Could this be connected to the station that the Enterprise was under repair at in the fourth season episode "Family"? There are also references back to two fallen comrades, namely Astor (see the third season episode "The Bonding") and Yar. Finally, for all you Babylon 5 fans, Patricia Tallman who plays Lyta Alexander, can be glimpsed as an Enterprise security officer. The only fly in the ointment is a rather unconvincing shuttle crash on the planet. It doesn't help that it is blatantly obvious that there is no glass in the cockpit, and I don't know how Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, and Marina Sirtis managed to keep straight faces whilst filming it. The plot involves you right from the start with some an absorbing scene on the planet, and proceeds to move along at a cracking pace. It is nothing original, as I have already said this is a problem that plagued the show's fifth season, but is done in such style that somehow it doesn't really matter. Brent Spiner gets another chance to step outside of Data's normal character, and is one of the highlights of the episode. "Power Play" is never going to be looked back on as anything exceptional, or as a classic episode, but compared to alot of fifth season material, and more than a few others, it is an enjoyable and exciting entry. Best Moment: The away team on the planet. Person Of The Moment: Brent Spiner. Best Line: "I have no fear of death.", "And I have no fear of killing you!" Rating: Very Good. Episode 16: Ethics ------------------ Airdate: 3/2/92, Stardate: 45587.3 Written by Sara Charno, Stuart Charno, and Ronald D. Moore, directed by Chip Chalmers. Guest Cast: Brian Bonsall (Alexander Rozhenko), Caroline Kava (Doctor Russell), Patti Yastuake (Nurse Ogawa). Worf breaks his back, and must face an uncertain future. "Ethics" is another of those episodes that drowns in its' own earnestness. When Worf breaks his back he literally wants to end his life, but Doctor Crusher objects. She also objects to the experimental solution offered by a doctor whose methods are dubious to say the least. Now, of course such issues ought to be examined, and debated by the show, but when they are the writing must be of exceptional quality. Here it so clearly isn't, apart from one or two individual scenes. There are no complaints to be made about the acting, not even from Brian Bonsall as Alexander, but when they are spouting dialogue that belongs in some dreadful soap opera, it doesn't matter if you are Lawrence Olivier. It is still rubbish. Well, maybe I'm being a little too harsh. They are some good moments. Jonathan Frakes does not feature heavily in this episode, but in the few key scenes that he is in, he steals the show from evryone else, Patrick Stewart included! Unfortunately, "Ethics" never really goes anywhere. It seems to only serve as a vehicle for the issue, and at the end of it you feel like you have just watched a rather bad edition of Panorama, rather than an episode of The Next Generation. It should really have been an episode packed full of emotion and chracter growth, but it just doesn't have either of these, apart from the scenes with Jonathan Frakes. As for the ending of Worf 'dying', but not really being dead, it was laughable at best, and not worthy of the show, but also typical of alot of the writing during the fifth season. Best Moment: Picard and Doctor Crusher's discussuion, and Worf and Riker's discussion. Person Of The Moment: Jonathan Frakes. Best Line: "You look pretty good for someone who's been eating sickbay food for three days." Rating: Poor. Episode 17: The Outcast ----------------------- Airdate: 3/16/92, Stardate: 45614.6 Written by Jeri Taylor, directed by Robert Scheerer. Guest Cast: Melinda Culea (Soren). Riker falls in love. This is probably THE most controversial episode in Star Trek history. When this was shown in the States, there were various outcries from various groups who either thought that it was the best episode or the worst episode ever made. The truth actually lies somewhere in between. On the technical side of things, such as lighting, direction, and the acting, it is nothing exceptional. That is not to say that it is bad, just that it is up to the usual standard, but not above it. It is the subject matter that makes this episode memorable to some people, that of homosexuality. The point that the episode tries to make is that people are people, and should be more tolerant and understanding of each other regardless of what their sexual preferences are. It makes it very successfully, and I am not talking about whether you agree with it or not. Personally I had one or two problems with what they were trying to say, but I cannot deny the power with which they say it. Jonathan Frakes is the undoubted star of the show, and once again shows that he can act alongside the best of them. However he is not the only one to shine, and there is a touching scene with Marina Sirtis. For trivia fans we kearn that the Federation was founded in 2161, something that is suppossedly going to be examined in some sort of form in the eighth Star Trek film. The teaser once again includes a poker game scene. Geordi is once again seen sporting a beard (the other time was in "Ethics). This was due to the fact that LeVar Burton was getting married, and had wanted to do so with a beard, so the producers gave him permission to sport one for a couple of episodes! However what alot of people seem to ignore is the fact that there is a flagrant violation of the Prime Directive by Riker and Worf. Of course some people feel that there are times when it needs to broken, or at least that it is permissable to do so. However, do the ends always justify the means? That is for you to decide, but I do find it odd that Picard says nothing to either his first officer, or security chief after the incident on the planet. I mean look at the dressing down that Worf got after killing Duras! Best Moment: The poker game. Person Of The Moment: Jonathan Frakes. Best Line: "They like to pretend they're not doing anything to attract a woman, even when it's the most important thing on their minds." Rating: Average. Episode 18: Cause And Effect ---------------------------- Airdate: 3/23/92, Stardate: 45652.1 Written by Brannon Braga, directed by Jonathan Frakes. Guest Cast: Michelle Forbes (Ensign Ro), Kelsey Grammer (Captain Bateman), Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa). The Enterprise is caught in a time loop. "Cause And Effect" was the fourth episode to be directed by Jonathan Frakes. Rumour has it, and I do stress that it is only rumour, that he was given this show to direct in the hope that he would find the whole experience too difficult, and thus not ask to direct any more episodes. However he has done a superlative job, and in the process established himself as The Next Generation's finest director. Technically this was perhaps one of The Next Generation's most challenging episodes. Each act repeated a series of events ending with the destruction of the Enterprise. Unlike some other shows that would have used the same footage several times, Frakes filmed each repeated scene from several different angles and viewpoints. This dedication to quality is quite astonishing, and is the main cornerstone of the episode's success. The dramatic focal point of "Cause And Effect" depends on two factors. One, why are the events happening, and two, how are the crew going escape from the loop. The first point is well handled. The use of the redressed Grissom from "Star Trek II - The Wrath Of Khan" as the Soyuz class USS Bozeman is nice. It would have been even nicer if Kirstie Alley could have made a cameo appearance as Lieutenant Saavik as was originally intentioned, but you can't have everything. However the denouement in which Data decides to go with Commander Riker's suggestion to avoid the Bozeman because of his three rank pips, is a bit of a let down after all the tension built up over the previous forty or so minutes. So is the lack of physical contact between the two crews. Apart from these faults "Cause And Effect" is an very good epsiode by any standards, and when compared to the rest of the fifth season it is definately one of the season's highpoints. Best Moment: The poker game. The poker game. The poker game. The poker game... Person Of The Moment: Jonathan Frakes. Best Line: "Seven and a possible straight for Commander Riker. Jack, still no help for the Klingon." Rating: Very Good. Episode 19: The First Duty -------------------------- Airdate: 3/30/92, Stardate: 45703.9 Written by Ronald D. Moore and Naren Shankar, directed by Paul Lynch. Guest Cast: Walker Brandt (Cadet Hajar), Jaqueline Brookes (Admiral Brand), Richard Fancy (Captain Satelk), Shannon Fill (Cadet Sito), Ed Lauter (Lieutenant Commander Albert), Robert Duncan McNeill (Cadet Locarno), Ray Walston (Boothby), Wil Wheaton (Cadet Crusher). Wesley Crusher is involved in an accident whilst training at the academy. When this was first aired I remember people joking about it being the first episode where Wesley lied. This of course refers back to Wesley's infamous line from "Justice", "We're from Starfleet. We don't lie!" I think that these people were slightly missing the point. Firstly Gene's vision of Starfleet was a fundementally honest one, and secondly "First Duty" doesn't so much see Wesley lie, but be faced with his first real moral dilemma. Wil Wheaton is particularly good this time round, and is given the opportunity to show Wes as a fully rounded character, rather than the precocious child. I know that a lot of people will disagree with me, but I would like to have seen him remain in the show, and be allowed to portray this more believeable character. However the acting honours must go to Ray Walston for his quite brilliant cameo as the infamous Boothby. It was his only appearance as the character, but is one of the guest roles most remembered by fans. Shannon Fill also features in the role of Sito. She would of course return in one of the few good seven season episodes "Lower Decks". Robert Duncan McNeill plays Nic Locarno, and all of you must know that he now plays a similar character (Tom Paris) in Star Trek: Voyager. The overall quality of the episode is marred by one of it's main plot points. Would Starfleet personnel really act like Locarno and his ship mates? I know that many of you will have particular views on this, and so do I. I don't think that they would, and although "First Duty" is a well written, and very well acted, episode, it ultimately leaves me with an uneasy feeling, much like episodes such as "The Drumhead", "The Wounded", and "Ensign Ro". Best Moment: Captain Picard's conversations with Boothby. Person Of The Moment: Ray Walston. Best Line: "What happened to your hair?". Rating: Good. Episode 20: Cost Of Living -------------------------- Airdate: 4/20/92, Stardate: 45733.6 Written by Peter Allan Fields, directed by Winrich Kolbe. Guest Cast: Brian Bonsall (Alexander Rozhenko), Majel Barrett (Lwaxana Troi), Tony Jay (Campio), Carel Struyken (Mr Homn). Lwaxana Troi pays a visit to the Enterprise, and announces that she is going to get married. It comes as no surprise that it is Majel Barrett who is the star of this episode. As with the previous season's Half A Life it is a mixture of comedy and pathos, and Barrett handles this change in dramatic style very well. However, she is about the only bright light in this otherwise dismal effort. It is not that everyone else is awful, in fact they all give pretty good performances, it is that the basic story is weak. The plot has two threads to it; Alexander and Worf coming to loggerheads over Alexander becoming a warrior (he doesn't want to, but Worf does want him to), and the loneliness of Lwaxana Troi. However, instead of using this opportunity to really exploring each character's traits and qualities, apart from a couple of isolated scenes, it really just descends to the level of soap opera. The real shame is that there are these brief scenes that give you a glimpse of what Cost Of Living could have been. Both of them involve Lwaxana Troi. One in which she discusses various things with her daughter, and one in which Alexander and herself talk about what he wants to do, and she admits to him that she is desperately lonely. As for the rest of the episode there is nothing to write home about, unless you want to say how disappointing it was. Whatever you do, try to forget the excruciatingly embarrassing holodeck scenes. Best Moment: Mrs Troi's confession to Alexander. Person Of The Moment: Majel Barrett. Best Line: "Deanna I love you, but you do make everything sound like an epitaph." Rating: Awful. Episode 21: The Perfect Mate ---------------------------- Airdate: 4/27/92, Stardate: 45761.3 Written by Rene Echevarria, Gary Percante, and Michael Piller, directed by Cliff Bole. Guest Cast: Max Grodenchik (Par Lenor), Famke Janssen (Kamala), Tim O'Connor (Briam). The Ferengi have their eyes on a precious cargo that the Enterprise is carrying, but it may not be quite what they expect. Well folks, it has to be said that this is awful. It has the second appearance of Max Grodenchik as a Ferengi, his last before he became the terribly beleaguered Rom in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It also has the extremely good looking, err... I mean talented Famke Janssen as Kamala. She of course is one of the villains in the new James Bond movie, Goldeneye. Her character also sports the same pattern of spots down the side of her face that Jadzia Dax has in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and it might be a nice idea if someone explained this in a future episode, although there is about as much chance of that happening as the next Enterprise being a Skoda. Finally, and this is not a slight on the actor, it has the dubious honour of featuring a former star of the Glen Larson series Buck Rogers In The Twenty Fifth Century. Apart from those interesting bits of trivia it is entirely forgettable. The dialogue is cliched, the story is another failed romance for Picard (although the real star of this type of plot would turn up in the following season), and I really wish that they had never made this. Best Moment: The closing credits. Person Of The Moment: Yeah, right! Best Line: You are joking right? Rating: Awful. Episode 22: Imaginary Friend ---------------------------- Airdate: 5/4/92, Stardate: 45832.1 Written by Brannon Braga, Richard Fiegel, Jean Matthias, Edithe Swanson, and Ronald Wilderson, directed by Gabrielle Beaumont. Guest Cast: Shay Astor (Isabella), Brian Bonsall (Alexander Rozhenko), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Noley Thornton (Clara Suttter), Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa). A little girl's imaginary friend becomes real. Yes, it's true! They actually manage to make a worse episode than The Perfect Mate! I mean compared to Imaginary Friend, The Perefect Mate is Shakespeare. Oh, and for those who think that Jonathan Frakes is wooden, Shay Astor makes hin look like a whirling dervish. I am genuinely sad to say that she makes the worst guest appearance by anyone ever in any of the Star Trek series. I mean the scenery gives a more animated performance! I am sure that this has something to do with her age, but she obviously needs to go to some sort of drama school. In contrast Noley Thornton gives an enaging performance as Clara Sutter. She really is very good, and may have a future in acting. She would also guest star in the second season Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Shadowplay. The episode is almost painful to watch. The idea of an alien taking a human form is hardly original, and although the way in which it does could have put an original slant to the whole thing, it is done so badly that it manages to plunge it to an even greater depth. This really is exactly the sort of thing that would fit nicely into either Buck Rogers or Battlestar Galactica, or even Jason Of Star Command. The only positive thing to say about Imaginary Friend is that there weren't any episodes worse than this in the fifth season. Best Moment: No, I'm sorry. There just weren't any. Person Of The Moment: Noley Thornton, she is the only good thing in it. Best Line: No. No way. Rating: AWFUL!!!!!!!! Episode 23: I Borg ------------------ Airdate: 5/11/92, Stardate: 45854.2 Written by Rene Echevarria, directed by Robert Lederman. Guest Cast: Jonathan Del Arco (Hugh Borg), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan). An away team find a lone survivor of a crash; it is a Borg. This episode is the cause of many an arguement. Some believe that it was a mistake to make the Borg less threatening, but to me they are completely missing the point of what Star Trek is trying to say. I Borg is exactly what Star Trek is all about, and perhaps more than any other Star Trek episode manages to convey Trek's message of tolerance and understanding. Everyone has to meet their own prejudices, just as the viewer does, and by the episodes conclusion learn that we can learn to at least understand even our most feared enemy, and maybe reach some kind of detente with them. The performances from everyone are perfect. Jonathan del Arco makes a stunning debut as Hugh Borg, and Patrick Stewart and Whoopi Goldberg are also fine as both their characters confront their feelings towards their enemy. However, the one character that comes out of this upholding the ideals of Trek from the beginning is Doctor Crusher in one of her finest episodes of the seven season run. Gates McFadden is superb as she shows the Doctor's horror at what the rest of the crew initially propose to do with Hugh. The story is a fairly simple one, with no subplot, but what this does is enable the idea of genocide, and whether the crew have the moral right to do something like that, to be examined in great detail. It also allows for concentration on dialogue and character reactions to various dilemmas or situations. Season five was a very mixed bag. There were some truly awful efforts, and a few truly terriffic ones as well. When I Borg is compared to any of these it stands out a mile as the greatest episode of the season. What it also does is stand out as one of the greatest Star Trek episodes of all time. And as for the ending, well it keeps you guessing as to what exactly has happened to Hugh. Of course it would be a year later that the fans would find out. Best Moment: So many. Picard's conversation with Guinan, and the final scene are just two. Person Of The Moment: Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden. Best Line: "When I look at my patient I don't see a collective consciouness. I don't see a hive. I see a living breathing boy who has been hurt and who needs our help, and we're talking about sending him back to his people as an instrument of destruction." Rating: Excellent. Episode 24: The Next Phase -------------------------- Airdate: 5/18/92, Stardate: 45092.4 Written by Ronald D. Moore, directed by David Carson. Guest Cast: Brian Cousins (Parem), MIchelle Forbes (Ensign Ro), Thomas Kopache (Mirok), Susanna Thompson (Varel). Whilst trying to help a stricken Romulan vessel Ro and Geordi are apparently killed in a transporter accident. I don't know what the writers were doing during the fifth season, but after a run of awful episodes not only do we get I Borg, but that is followed by this great mixture of action and mystery. The slow dawning of Ro as she begins to think that she has died is very effective, as is the two oppossing views that she and Geordi have about what has happened to them. Of course it goes without saying that both Levar Burton and Michelle Forbes do fabulous jobs as the two confused crew members. It is also satisfying to see the various other crew member's reactions to what they think are thier friend's deaths. Each one has theire own perspective on death. Worf is happy for them, Data is confused, Crusher never gets used to writing the reports, Riker misses them, and Picard is stoical. All of these scenes are expertly written, and beautifully played. The plot has alot going for it as well. The discovery of their situation, of how to tell the other crew about it, and to do so in time to stop the destruction of the ship, plus the gripping and wonderfully filmed chase sequence towards the episode's climax all add to the sheer quality of The Next Phase. Best Moment: The chase sequence literally through the ship! Person Of The Moment: Michelle Forbes in what is probably the best ever Ensign Ro episode. Best Line: "Well maybe we should develop our own interphase device. If it can teach Ro Laren humility it can do anything!" Rating: Excellent. Episode 25: The Inner Light --------------------------- Airdate: 6/1/92, Stardate: 45944.1 Written by Peter Allan Fields, and Morgan Gendel, directed by Peter Lauritson. Guest Cast: Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa), Richard Riehle (Batai), Margot Rose (Elin). Captain Picard lives the life of another man. This is another classic episode, and a tour de force for Patrick Stewart. I also remember that, much like I Borg, when this was first shown fans were divided over the show's quality. I really cannot see why. Sure the episode concentrates on one character (in this case Captain Picard) to the almost total exclusion of all the others, but it isn't the first episode to do so, and when the acting is of such high quality I think that it can be forgiven. A probe attaches itself to Captain Picard, and he 'awakes' to find himself on a planet and living the life of someone called Kamen. Of course this is the tool used to examine what Picard's life might have been like if he had had a family and children, and just what sort of person he would have become. It also examines the society he finds himself in, and when I discovered just what has really happened to them I felt a real sense of loss. This is achieved once again by solid acting and writting, and without being able to convey this emotional aspect the epsiode would have ultimately failed. The episode can also be congratulated on a technical level. Many people thought that the village scenes were filmed outdoors, but in fact they were done so on a sound stage. Marvin Rush, and the rest of the lighting crew did an almost unbelievably good job, and certainly should have received an Emmy for their work. Fans of trivia might like to know that Patrick Stewart's son Daniel Stewart played his on screen son, and that the role of the administrator was played by Scott Jaeck, who would later play the ill fated First Officer of the USS Voyager in the pilot episode. The make up used to age Picard would be used two seasons later, this time to age Troi in the seventh season episode "Man Of The People", and that Picard would be seen playing his whistle in future episodes, most notably in the sixth season's A Fistful Of Datas. Others might like to sit back and watch a classic piece of Star Trek. Best Moment: The final scene on the planet. Person Of The Moment: Patrick Stewart. Best Line: "The rest of us have been gone a thousand years. If you remember what we were, and how we lived then we'll have found life again." Rating: Excellent. Episode 26: Time's Arrow ------------------------ Airdate: 6/15/92, Stardate: 45959.1 Written by Joe Moenosky, and Michael Piller, directed by Les Landau. Guest Cast: Michael Aron (Bellboy), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Jerry Hardin (Samuel Clemens). Data's head is found in San Francisco. Well, Tony Bennett left his heart there so I suppose that we can't blame Data leaving his head there. I imagine that that is where the expression 'you'ld loose your head if it wasn't screwed on.' comes from. Okay, now that I have got the jokes out of the way what is the episode like? Well it's not too bad. Brent Spiner is fine as Data, and his reaction to finding his head, and thus discovering his mortality, is very touching to watch, as is his friends reactions. There is a nice cameo from Marc Alaimo as a gambler, and Whoopi Goldberg is enigmatic as Guinan as she tells Picard that he must go on the away team mission, and it is perhaps these touches, and others like them, that make Time's Arrow bearable to watch. The plot is slim to say the least, but that is not to say that it is bad, just that it could have been better. Even though it is quite obviously a cliffhanger there isn't really any sense of it building to a climax, and the episode would have benefitted from a little more concentration on its' details. The one unbelievable plot point from my point of view is at the episode's end when all the senior bridge crew (minus Worf) go through the time anomaly in full uniform. I mean, come on! They don't know where, or when it leads to, or what dangers may lie on the other side, and they all march through as if they are just popping down to the shops. However it is not all bad, and at least it is watchable which is more than can be said for alot of the fifth season episodes. Best Moment: When the bellboy tries to get a tip from Data. Person Of The Moment: Whoopi Goldberg. Best Line: "It's just that our mental pathways have become accustomed to your sensory input patterns.", "I understand. I am also fond of you Commander, and you as well Counselor." Rating: Average. So that was the fifth season. It was a season of extremes. What was bad tended to be really bad, but what was good tended to be very good. Although having said that, there really weren't a lot of good episodes. Almost half of the season dealt with either children, or members of a character's family. These episodes (such as New Ground, Cost Of Living, and Imaginary Friend) were also the ones that plunged the series into the land of soap opera. It isn't that the issues themselves would automatically do that, but they were written in such a cliched style that it was inevitable that they would do so. The show also suffered from two many writers, indeed there were an amazing thirty five credited. Not only were there too many, but a high percentage of the ones there were had either never worked on the show before, or never would again. The season was almost universally greeted by fans with criticism. Most people thought that it was the weakest season since the show's premier, and I must say that I agree with them. I don't know how much of this was due to Gene passing away. The truth is is that his day to day control of the show had been lessening each season since the first, but from what various people connected with the show have said, I have no doubt that his presence was always felt. It is sad that his last season would be this one. If only he had been able to hang on for another year he would have seen The Next Generation's best season of its' seven year run. All The Facts And Figures. Number of writers: 35. Number Of Directors: 15. Top Writer: Rene Echevarria for I Borg. Top Director: Roberet Lederman for I Borg. Episode Of The Season: I Borg. Patrick Stewart directed 1 episode, Hero Worship. Jonathan Frakes directed 1 episode, Cause And Effect. Characters:- Ensign Ro appeared in 6 episodes. O'Brien appeared in 5 episodes. Guinan appeared in 5 episodes. Nurse Ogawa appeared in 5 episodes. Alexander appeared in 4 episodes. Keiko appeared in 3 episodes. Worf's: brother appeared in episode 1, Redemption Part II. human mother appeared in episode 10, New Ground. son appeared in episodes 10, 16, 20, 22, New Ground, Ethics, Cost Of Living, Imaginary Friend. Episodes Episodes concerned with family: 9 - 1, 6, 10, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 25. Episodes concerned with children: 6 - 1, 10, 11, 16, 20, 22. Sequels or characters returning: 10 - 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 20, 23. The Ratings: Awful: Silicon Avatar Hero Worship New Ground Cost Of Living The Perfect Mate Imaginary Friend Poor: Unification Part I Unification Part II Conundrum Ethics Below Average: A Matter Of Time Violations Time's Arrow Average: Redemption Part II The Masterpiece Society The Outcast Good: Ensign Ro The Game The First Duty Very Good: Darmok Disaster Power Play Cause And Effect Excellent: I Borg The Inner Light The Next Phase