STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - SEASON FIVE GUIDE ---------------------------------------------------- by Simon Plumbe and Edwin Yau ------------------------------- Season 5 is well underway in America, with about half of the season transmitted. Following in the trend set by previous seasons, season five looks as if it is going to be the best yet. The episodes for this season are as follows: REDEMPTION II (21st September 1991) ----------------------------------- The conclusion of the season four cliff-hanger which sees the Klingon Empire in a state of civil war. Worf, now serving the Empire, is beggining to find himself isolated from the other Klingons, and the Romulans are joining in the fray. Picard leads a Federation task force to prevent the Romulans from intervening, with ships commanded by Riker and Data. A reasonable episode, but a very weak ending. DARMOK (28th September 1991) ---------------------------- Probably one of the show's better episodes. The Enterprise encounters a little known alien race and Picard and the alien captain are transported to a nearby planet in a fight for survival. Guest stars Paul Winfield (Captain Tyrell from STAR TREK II). ENSIGN RO (5th October 1991) ---------------------------- A Federation outpost on the Cardassian border is attacked by a group of Bajoran terrorists. The Enterprise is assigned to negotiate with the leader of the group and a new officer has been assigned to the Enterprise for the mission, Ensign Ro Laren, who has just been released from prison! A very good story introducing a good semi-regular character. Look out for the scene where Ensign Ro removes the top from her uniform.... from the front! SILICON AVATAR (12th October 1991) ---------------------------------- Riker, Data and Doctor Crusher are witnessing a new Federation colony in its early stages of development when the colony is suddenly attacked by the Crystalline Entity, last seen in Datalore. The trio and all but two of the colonists survive - the first group of people to do so, and a Federation expert suspects that Data may be the reason that they have survived! Superb! Incredible special effects, and a very well written and brilliantly acted story. Watch out for the scene where Brent Spiner seriously injures his back. DISASTER (19th October 1991) ---------------------------- The Enterprise is between missions when it is suddenly hit by several Quantum Filaments, severely damaging the ship. Sick Bay is closed off and Ten Forward is converted into a temporary sick bay, where Worf is left in charge. Meanwhile, Keiko (O'Brien's wife) is about to give birth! At the same time, Riker and Data are attempting to reach Engineering through the access tunnels, Picard is forced to face his worst nightmare - being trapped in a turbolift with three children, Geordi and Doctor Crusher are trapped in a cargo bay and Deanna is left in command! A great episode, with something involving ALL of the cast. THE GAME (26th October 1991) ---------------------------- Riker returns from shore leave with a new game that he was introduced to. He soon shows it to other crew members, who replicate their own copies and seem to spend most of their free time playing it, oblivious to it's narcotic properties. Only Wesley, who is on leave from the Starfleet Academy, is oblivious to it's lure and it's up to him to save the day! A surprisingly good episode for Wil Wheaton! UNIFICATION (2nd November 1991) ------------------------------- The much awaited return of Spock! Picard and the Enterprise is assigned to find and retrieve Federation Ambassador Spock, who has been seen on Romulus and who is believed to have defected. Picard and Data go undercover to get him back, but defection is not what Spock has in mind.... UNIFICATION PART II (9th November 1991) --------------------------------------- Part 2. A disappointing story for Spock, and a wasted opportunity. The story doesn't really achieve anything in terms of character development and plot and the episode ends in the same situation as when it had started. There is NO reference to Worf or his grandfather, Spock doesn't even set foot on the Enterprise and there could have been stronger links made with STAR TREK VI. Highlight of the episode is when Data uses the Vulcan nerve-pinch!! I think that this episode should have been the one called "Disaster", not the one earlier in the season!! A MATTER OF TIME (16th November 1991) ------------------------------------- Picard is involed in trying to save an endangered planet when he breaks the Prime Directive and seeks advice from a visitor from the future. Guest stars Matt Frewer (Max Headroom). Very good. NEW GROUND (28th December 1991) ------------------------------- Originally called BARRIERS, this sees the return of Worf's son Alexander, as his human parents are unable to cope with the young Klingon. Worf is unsure about his role as a parent and he asks Deanna for counselling. HERO WORSHIP (4th January 1992) ------------------------------- The Enterprise encounters an unidentified vessel whose sole occupant is a young boy. The boy has suffered a string of tragedies and he struggles to come to terms with his emotional stress. In order to cope, he decides to find himself a role model in the form of Data! VIOLATIONS (25th January 1992) ------------------------------ An episode involving two unusual telepaths that come on board the Enterprise. THE MASTERPIECE SOCIETY (8th February 1992) ------------------------------------------- An episode dealing with the subject of genetic engineering. CONUNDRUM (15th February 1992) ------------------------------ POWER PLAY (22nd February 1992) ------------------------------- An alien fugitive takes a number of Enterprise crewmembers hostage in Ten Forward. This is probably the story known as TERROR IN TEN FORWARD. ETHICS (29th February 1992) --------------------------- Worf is injured (probably on an Away Team mission) and faces the possibility of being paralysed. THE OUTCAST (14th March 1992) ----------------------------- CAUSE AND EFFECT (21st March 1992) ---------------------------------- A story connected in some way with the experience of the phenomenon known as deja vu. Hasn't this story been done before? Plus the following (order and transmission dates unknown): I, BORG ------- Written by Rene Echeverria (author of THE OFFSPRING and TRANSFIGURATIONS). This is probably the season cliff-hanger. For the rumoured plot details, read the news section! PAST PERFECT ------------ This is the Doctor Crusher episode that was promised last season. It revolves around Beverly's memories of her life with Jack Crusher. Will this episode ever get transmitted? Who knows! BREACH OF MIND -------------- This is the rape story that was rumoured a few months ago and features an alien that rapes people's minds. THE RIVALS ---------- An episode focusing on Geordi. No more information known. RASCALS ------- This doesn't sound very hopeful! Something happens which reduces the Enterprise crew to children! Whether they are physically or mentally regressed, no one is quite sure yet. INVISIBLE FRIEND ---------------- This involves one of the children on the Enterprise who has an imaginary friend who isn't as imaginary as he used to be! DUELING Q'S ----------- As the title suggests, we again get to see another member of the continuum. This is believed to involve a contest between Q and another Q, with Q (this is getting confusing!) choosing a "team" comprising of Enterprise crewmembers. From what we have heard, this second Q is being played by William Campbell (Trelane, Koloth from the original series)! Could this be hinting at the fact that Trelane was a member of the Q? Only time will tell... Note: This episode MAY be cancelled due to the budget being overspent this season (e.g UNIFICATION - $6 million!!) Plus two untitled episodes featuring the return of Lwaxana Troi (This is believed to involve Lwaxana taking Worf's son, Alexander, under her wing!) and the return of Lt. Barclay. Also note that there are 27 episodes listed above. One of the episodes without plot details is probably one of the stories elsewhere in the list. NOTE - All transmission dates in brackets are the days for uplink by satellite.