While Picard gets most of the credit for his Bruce Willis imitation, and deservedly so, this may one of Data's greatest episodes. He is about as funny as I have seen in any episode. In fact I am convinced when he meets Commander Hutch, the scene was improvised. Look at Dr Crusher and Commander Riker closely. They have genuine laughter, like an unplanned script. Its almost like they expected Data to say one thing and he improvised and came up with something so funny they could not help laughing. It reminded of an SNL skit where they laugh during a skit. This is a great episode on different levels. There are some plot holes or it would get a 10.
23 Reviews
Picard: Action Man!
Tweekums15 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
After many years in space the Enterprise needs to go to the Remmler Array for routine decontamination. This entails the use of a 'baryon sweep'; a process that is deadly to living tissue so necessitates the evacuation of the ship. As the senior crew attend an event hosted by the facilities rather boring commander Picard learns that that there are horses there so decides he must go for a ride. While retrieving his saddle from the Enterprise he bumps into an engineer and is suspicious as the ship should have been fully evacuated by now. He confronts the man and is attacked. With the Enterprise powered down he can't get off the ship so sets about finding out what is going on; it turns out a gang is using the baryon sweep as an opportunity to steal trilithium from the ship's engine; this extremely volatile substance will sell for a tidy profit. Picard sets about thwarting the gang's plans, all the time staying in front of the deadly sweep. Meanwhile back at the reception Georgi notices a strange energy signature which leads to staff members reaching for hidden weapons; Geordi is shot and wounded and the others are held hostage.
This is a rather exciting episode and it was certainly nice to see Picard forced to take the roll of action man rather than one of the younger crewmembers. Patrick Stewart does a fine job making us believe that the usually restrained captain has it in him to take on the thieves. There are plenty of fun moments during their cat and mouse chase through the ship; notably when he tells the bad guys that he is Mr Mott the barber and later when he brings one of the bad guys down with a crossbow! The action on the station starts well with Data trying to learn small talk by observing the local commander; this leads to some amusing scenes as they out-bore each other! Once the action starts things here weaken a bit; these must be the worst hostage takers ever as they allow our protagonists to walk around and make plans to fight back they must also be deaf as the discussions about how to defeat them were hardly whispered! The guest cast did a pretty good job; it was nice to see Tim Russ, who will later become a main character in 'Star Trek Voyager' and Patricia Tallman, a 'Babylon 5' regular, appear among the villains. Overall a superior episode with tension and humour.
This is a rather exciting episode and it was certainly nice to see Picard forced to take the roll of action man rather than one of the younger crewmembers. Patrick Stewart does a fine job making us believe that the usually restrained captain has it in him to take on the thieves. There are plenty of fun moments during their cat and mouse chase through the ship; notably when he tells the bad guys that he is Mr Mott the barber and later when he brings one of the bad guys down with a crossbow! The action on the station starts well with Data trying to learn small talk by observing the local commander; this leads to some amusing scenes as they out-bore each other! Once the action starts things here weaken a bit; these must be the worst hostage takers ever as they allow our protagonists to walk around and make plans to fight back they must also be deaf as the discussions about how to defeat them were hardly whispered! The guest cast did a pretty good job; it was nice to see Tim Russ, who will later become a main character in 'Star Trek Voyager' and Patricia Tallman, a 'Babylon 5' regular, appear among the villains. Overall a superior episode with tension and humour.
Picard Throws Down
M_Exchange7 August 2018
In William Shatner's documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," one of the Next Generation's writers mentioned that Patrick Stewart emphasized "the two F's" for his captain role. He wanted more fighting and.... um, effing.
Well, there is certainly more fighting in this one-- and it's a welcome relief because it seems like his character was going through yet another stretch of pedestrianism. It's nice to remind the audience that Picard wasn't just cerebral-- he was a virile leader as well.
When you throw in Brent Spiner/Data's excellent comedy in this one you know that it's a classic.
Well, there is certainly more fighting in this one-- and it's a welcome relief because it seems like his character was going through yet another stretch of pedestrianism. It's nice to remind the audience that Picard wasn't just cerebral-- he was a virile leader as well.
When you throw in Brent Spiner/Data's excellent comedy in this one you know that it's a classic.
Star Trek Action!
russem3130 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:144 - "Starship Mine" (Stardate: 46682.4) - this is the 18th episode of the 6th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Again, like in the first season episode "11001001" when the Enterprise was docked to undergo upgrades, in this episode the ship is evacuated in order to conduct a baryon decontamination sweep. While everyone else left the ship attending a reception at Arkaria Base with a talkative Cmdr. Calvin 'Hutch' Hutchinson, Picard goes back for his horse saddle, only to realize and be captured by terrorists trying to take over the Enterprise (including Tim Russ, in another role before his famous Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager). Picard is soon captured by the terrorists (telling them he's the barber Mott!) and even the reception becomes commandeered by the same terrorists!
What do the terrorists want? Find out in this exciting action-oriented episode!
Trivia note: Data tries his hand at "small talk"! Also, we see Counsolor Troi wearing one of her old counselor outfits (since "Chain Of Command" she's been wearing her blue-colored officer's outfit). And, Picard does a "Vulcan neck pinch" on the future Tuvok!
Again, like in the first season episode "11001001" when the Enterprise was docked to undergo upgrades, in this episode the ship is evacuated in order to conduct a baryon decontamination sweep. While everyone else left the ship attending a reception at Arkaria Base with a talkative Cmdr. Calvin 'Hutch' Hutchinson, Picard goes back for his horse saddle, only to realize and be captured by terrorists trying to take over the Enterprise (including Tim Russ, in another role before his famous Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager). Picard is soon captured by the terrorists (telling them he's the barber Mott!) and even the reception becomes commandeered by the same terrorists!
What do the terrorists want? Find out in this exciting action-oriented episode!
Trivia note: Data tries his hand at "small talk"! Also, we see Counsolor Troi wearing one of her old counselor outfits (since "Chain Of Command" she's been wearing her blue-colored officer's outfit). And, Picard does a "Vulcan neck pinch" on the future Tuvok!
Die Hard, Mister Ed- On Babylon 5!
XweAponX22 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This episode introduces the substance "Trilithium" - Originally as a Waste Product from the Warp Engines, this was changed to a Nuclear Inhibitor for the film "Star Trek: Generations" that for some reason, only the Romulans had access too. In This Ep which follows the Plot of "Die Hard" for some reason, the substance was being drained from a tap on the Warp Core, rather than from a secret Romulan Base.
The Enterprise is to be cleared of all personnel for a "Baryon Sweep" - Which will kill any living matter in it's path. Picard beams back up to the Enterprise with Minutes to spare before the Sweep, to get his English Saddle. Down Below, the Enterprise Bridge Crew is expected to attend a reception given by "Commander Hutchenson"/"Hutch" - Which Picard was deviously trying to find a way to excuse himself from - After Denying Geordi the same thing! So, we have a ship full of Nobody, and the rest of the Bridge Crew attending a small "party" on the planet below. Recipe for Mischief, if you ask me.
Of Course, Picard discovers "Engineers" aboard the Enterprise, who ought not be there - And so allows himself to be trapped on the Enterprise, in the path of a Sweep of Baryon Particles (Composite Particles of the Hadron family, along with Mesons) which will surely kill him if allowed to pass over his body.
This is the scenario that has been set up by the Writer of this Ep, Morgan Gendel who wrote the Hugo-Award Winning story for 3rd Season 25th Ep, "The Inner Light".
From this point on, this episode closely follows the film "Die Hard" - Starfleet personnel are held Hostage below, while Picard takes out the Enemies Above, One by One. According to the Trivia Section, there is even dialogue which follows Die Hard. And, as both Bruce Willis and Patrick Stewart both go "Bald" in a lot of their roles, this Ep is a very good Homage to the Action Films of Bruce Willis, and Picard holds his own very well- Since he does have superior knowledge of the Enterprise - These Trilithium Bandits have absolutely NO chance of succeeding.
This Ep has both Patricia Tallman (Kiros) and Marie Marshall (Kelsey) who both had Memorable Roles on Babylon 5. We also have a non-starfleet appearance of Tim Russ as Devor, and Ironically, Picard takes him out with a "Vulcan Nerve Pinch" - Since this Ep follows the two-part "Unification" Episode where he meets Spock and had also shared Sarek's Mind in the 3rd Season Ep "Sarek" we must assume that Picard picked up that Knowledge of how to do a Nerve Pinch from Sarek. This also could be a reference to the Character Tuvok which Tim Russ would play in Voyager - Which Series began about 2 years after this ep.
Glenn Morshower makes an appearance, not as Ensign Burke, but as the Alien "Orton" who Data initially bores with Small Talk. And finally, Data meets his Match in "Hutch" - Commander Hutchinson (David Spielberg), who is as good at talking about inane Trivia as Data is, they get along superbly- And this is Ironic.
This is a fine Episode with the Next Generation tradition of telling two simultaneous stories at once, an aspect of this series which other series began following. The Last Two Lines of this episode, refer directly to the Theme Song from the show "Mister Ed" - Of Course!
The Enterprise is to be cleared of all personnel for a "Baryon Sweep" - Which will kill any living matter in it's path. Picard beams back up to the Enterprise with Minutes to spare before the Sweep, to get his English Saddle. Down Below, the Enterprise Bridge Crew is expected to attend a reception given by "Commander Hutchenson"/"Hutch" - Which Picard was deviously trying to find a way to excuse himself from - After Denying Geordi the same thing! So, we have a ship full of Nobody, and the rest of the Bridge Crew attending a small "party" on the planet below. Recipe for Mischief, if you ask me.
Of Course, Picard discovers "Engineers" aboard the Enterprise, who ought not be there - And so allows himself to be trapped on the Enterprise, in the path of a Sweep of Baryon Particles (Composite Particles of the Hadron family, along with Mesons) which will surely kill him if allowed to pass over his body.
This is the scenario that has been set up by the Writer of this Ep, Morgan Gendel who wrote the Hugo-Award Winning story for 3rd Season 25th Ep, "The Inner Light".
From this point on, this episode closely follows the film "Die Hard" - Starfleet personnel are held Hostage below, while Picard takes out the Enemies Above, One by One. According to the Trivia Section, there is even dialogue which follows Die Hard. And, as both Bruce Willis and Patrick Stewart both go "Bald" in a lot of their roles, this Ep is a very good Homage to the Action Films of Bruce Willis, and Picard holds his own very well- Since he does have superior knowledge of the Enterprise - These Trilithium Bandits have absolutely NO chance of succeeding.
This Ep has both Patricia Tallman (Kiros) and Marie Marshall (Kelsey) who both had Memorable Roles on Babylon 5. We also have a non-starfleet appearance of Tim Russ as Devor, and Ironically, Picard takes him out with a "Vulcan Nerve Pinch" - Since this Ep follows the two-part "Unification" Episode where he meets Spock and had also shared Sarek's Mind in the 3rd Season Ep "Sarek" we must assume that Picard picked up that Knowledge of how to do a Nerve Pinch from Sarek. This also could be a reference to the Character Tuvok which Tim Russ would play in Voyager - Which Series began about 2 years after this ep.
Glenn Morshower makes an appearance, not as Ensign Burke, but as the Alien "Orton" who Data initially bores with Small Talk. And finally, Data meets his Match in "Hutch" - Commander Hutchinson (David Spielberg), who is as good at talking about inane Trivia as Data is, they get along superbly- And this is Ironic.
This is a fine Episode with the Next Generation tradition of telling two simultaneous stories at once, an aspect of this series which other series began following. The Last Two Lines of this episode, refer directly to the Theme Song from the show "Mister Ed" - Of Course!
The Baryon Sweep
bkoganbing13 August 2018
This TNG episode has the Enterprise undergoing a little maintenance while the
officers and crew are doing a little R and R. What's happening to the Enterprise
is that it is undergoing what they call a Baryon sweep. Some highly toxic rays
are beamed into the ship to destroy any unfriendly microbes the ship picks up in
outer space.
This is the time some terrorists decide to drain some unstable radioactive waste from ship's engine. They have to do it in a certain amount of time or the toxic rays will do them in.
Two things go wrong. Patrick Stewart has to quickly return to the ship for something he forgot. Secondly several of the rest of the senior staff discover something and they're taken hostage.
Two performances really make this episode. The first is Marie Marshall as the lead terrorist who is a tough and resourceful villain and equal to any male. In fact truth be told she really hasn't much use for the male of the species which she demonstrates on a few occasions.
The second is David Spielberg their genial and talkative host on the space station the crew is on. He bores to tears just about everyone with his steady stream of small talk. But Data is trying to master that art of making pleasant conversation so the two go at it. Speilberg and Brent Spiner absolutely hysterical one of the funniest moments in TNG history.
Worth watching for that alone.
This is the time some terrorists decide to drain some unstable radioactive waste from ship's engine. They have to do it in a certain amount of time or the toxic rays will do them in.
Two things go wrong. Patrick Stewart has to quickly return to the ship for something he forgot. Secondly several of the rest of the senior staff discover something and they're taken hostage.
Two performances really make this episode. The first is Marie Marshall as the lead terrorist who is a tough and resourceful villain and equal to any male. In fact truth be told she really hasn't much use for the male of the species which she demonstrates on a few occasions.
The second is David Spielberg their genial and talkative host on the space station the crew is on. He bores to tears just about everyone with his steady stream of small talk. But Data is trying to master that art of making pleasant conversation so the two go at it. Speilberg and Brent Spiner absolutely hysterical one of the funniest moments in TNG history.
Worth watching for that alone.
Finally, we see Picard behaving more like The Terminator!
planktonrules29 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This has always been among my favorite episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" because Picard is in rare form. Instead of the usually quiet and passive sort of guy who is NOTHING like Kirk, here he's a bloodthirsty killer--and I like it!!
The Enterprise is docked at a space station as the ship is being swept with Baryon. I have no idea what this is (nor does anyone watching the show) but apparently it cleans the ship AND will kill whoever it touches! So, the crew all beam to the station for some R&R. However, Picard decides to go back to the ship to fetch something and finds that space pirates are aboard and they are planning on stealing the ship's trilithium in order to sell it to terrorists! So, uncharacteristically, Picard stealthily runs about the ship killing off the pirates one at a time.
An additional plot is a humorous one where Data is trying to learn small-talk. He is incredibly dull so the crew sicks him on the man running the space station, as he's also incredibly dull and the pair end up having a ball!
The show is exceptional in every way--unusual, exciting, tough and, at times, funny. This show is simply among the very best.
The Enterprise is docked at a space station as the ship is being swept with Baryon. I have no idea what this is (nor does anyone watching the show) but apparently it cleans the ship AND will kill whoever it touches! So, the crew all beam to the station for some R&R. However, Picard decides to go back to the ship to fetch something and finds that space pirates are aboard and they are planning on stealing the ship's trilithium in order to sell it to terrorists! So, uncharacteristically, Picard stealthily runs about the ship killing off the pirates one at a time.
An additional plot is a humorous one where Data is trying to learn small-talk. He is incredibly dull so the crew sicks him on the man running the space station, as he's also incredibly dull and the pair end up having a ball!
The show is exceptional in every way--unusual, exciting, tough and, at times, funny. This show is simply among the very best.
The Enterprise Seems to Have Some Real Vulnerability
Hitchcoc29 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this episode because it is full of suspense and some cliffhanger events, but it does beg the question that whenever they dock for repairs, they seem to get themselves in trouble. Basically, who is minding the store. While the ship sits in dry dock to have a baryon scan (whatever that is; sorry science majors), Picard decides to go onto the ship to pick up a saddle so he can ride a horse that is available to him. He has been inundated with requests and decisions to be made and needs a little time to himself. While he is on the ship, he realizes there are others. A group of potential terrorists with an agenda to get their hands on trilithium, an extremely volatile substance. It is led by a ruthless woman who is willing to kill her partners. When he is captured, Jean-Luc pretends he is the Enterprise's barber. He hatches a plan to derail their efforts. Meanwhile, the other significant crew members are being held hostage by the confederates of these guys and must devise their own plan. Of course, the deadly baryon scan is moving forward, killing any living thing, so time is of the essence. Very good cliffhanger.
Jean-Luc McClane
Mr-Fusion27 July 2017
I think it's completely fair to label this "Die Hard on the Enterprise" what with it being an excuse to see Picard as a fly in the terrorists' ointment. And while these hijackers lack Alan Rickman's charisma, there are a few clever touches that make this stand out. One is the Enterprise on lockdown, stations vacated and touch screens darkened, simple lighting tricks here and there that increase the eeriness. Also, the Baryon sweep, a looming threat that heightens the stakes.
But it does come down to the bond between captain and his ship, and Patrick Stewart brings the physicality to defend it. He's pretty comfortable with a crossbow, too.
7/10
But it does come down to the bond between captain and his ship, and Patrick Stewart brings the physicality to defend it. He's pretty comfortable with a crossbow, too.
7/10
REVIEW 2022
iamirwar28 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
We're docked at the Remmler Array where the ship will undergo a routine procedure to eliminate accumulated baryon particles. Everyone must disembark as the sweep is deadly to humans and living tissue samples.
It's interesting to note that the Enterprise has logged more warp hours in five years than most Federation star ships do in 10. At least we can all look forward to our reception with Commander Hutchinson.
A gripping episode where Mot the Barber gets himself involved in the action. Who'd have thought it. At least the bad guys shut Hutchinson up, so they can't all be bad.
As I am in the process of completing a review of the entire TNG run of 176 episodes, I did set about this task with the intention of setting out the wheat from the chaff. There have been some exceptional episodes during the run to-date, but there have also been some turkeys. I also wanted to identify any of those episodes that could be said to form an arc. These could either be Borg arc, Data-Lore Arc, Klingon arc, or even DS9 arc.
It is noticeable that the pedigree of the story-telling has vastly improved during season six. I will find it very hard to re-evaluate these shows to determine a top four episodes of season, there have been so many good ones. I still have seven shows left for this season, and I find that I have already awarded 10/10 for season to six of these shows so-far, with two only falling short by a single point.
This Episodes Clue: Devor - T'kar - Tuvok
(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
It's interesting to note that the Enterprise has logged more warp hours in five years than most Federation star ships do in 10. At least we can all look forward to our reception with Commander Hutchinson.
A gripping episode where Mot the Barber gets himself involved in the action. Who'd have thought it. At least the bad guys shut Hutchinson up, so they can't all be bad.
As I am in the process of completing a review of the entire TNG run of 176 episodes, I did set about this task with the intention of setting out the wheat from the chaff. There have been some exceptional episodes during the run to-date, but there have also been some turkeys. I also wanted to identify any of those episodes that could be said to form an arc. These could either be Borg arc, Data-Lore Arc, Klingon arc, or even DS9 arc.
It is noticeable that the pedigree of the story-telling has vastly improved during season six. I will find it very hard to re-evaluate these shows to determine a top four episodes of season, there have been so many good ones. I still have seven shows left for this season, and I find that I have already awarded 10/10 for season to six of these shows so-far, with two only falling short by a single point.
This Episodes Clue: Devor - T'kar - Tuvok
(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
Die Hard in space!
Nominahorn3 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Picard ends up stranded aboard the Enterprise as a team of bandits attempts to steal a toxic waste product to be sold and used as a weapon for terrorists. It's up to Picard to thwart them and save the day.
This episode uses some rather convoluted plot devices (and some glaring plot holes) to try and recreate a Die Hard-type scenario for Picard. The end result is fun but terribly flawed episode.
Picard as the action hero is great and his ventures as he McClanes his way through the Enterprise and eliminates the bad guys one-by-one are very fun to watch. He uses his superior knowledge of the ship an impressive amount of ingenuity to out-smart and out-maneuver the unwitting bandits. Probably his best move of all is telling them he is the barber, causing them to drastically underestimate him for the first half of the episode.
Tim Russ shows up as the first of three Star Trek characters he will end up playing. He would later play a small part in Generations as a tactical officer aboard the Enterprise B, before landing his most well- known role as Tuvok on Voyager. While he great as Tuvok (easily the best and probably only good thing about Voyager), here he is entirely unremarkable, doing little and getting taken out early by Picard.
The episode easily could have been a 9 or 10 if it weren't for the serious flaws in the writing. As I have re-watched the entire series, I notice that TNG has a serious problem with getting the bigger elements right but messing up on the details. This episode really exemplifies that, as explained below.
Overall, though, this is still a fun and enjoyable episode in spite of its flaws.
THE GOOD-
-Picard as John McClane, using his guile to outsmart the baddies. You almost feel bad for them because he is such a BA in this episode and you know they have no chance against him. And anybody who says Picard never wins a physical fight needs to see his slick takedown of Tim Russ' character. Of course he then proceeds to get beat up by a skinny woman later on. Ah well.
-Picard pretending to be Mott, the barber. He's actually convincing as a helpless and scared civilian and it's fun to watch how completely they buy his story.
-When Worf is given permission to not attend the reception but Geordi isn't. The smirk on Worf's face makes me laugh every time.
THE BAD
-Plot holes galore!
-Picard has his comm badge but never tries to contact anybody. The baryon sweep obviously doesn't impede communication since the bandits are able to still communicate.
-Picard's leisurely pace as he is trying to leave the Enterprise always annoys the heck out of me. He knows how little time is left and yet he barely hurries. When he tries to beam off and the transporter shuts down I find myself saying out loud, "Well what did you THINK would happen, Picard?!"
-The guys who take the senior staff hostage on the planet are impossibly incompetent. They sit there and watch and listen as the crew makes plans to stop them and they never try to interfere.
-What is the bandits' plan? Why wouldn't their ship come and get them as soon as they have the Trilithium? Why wait until the sweep is nearly completed? And were they planning on just leaving the hostage-takers on the planet?
THE UGLY
-Trilithium in the episode is apparently something completely different from Trilithium in Generations. I suppose that technically that is a problem with the latter and not the former, but it is still annoying.
-What happens to Commander Hutchinson? He gets shot and then isn't seen for the rest of the episode.
-Tim Russ. It's nice to see him here, but it is somewhat insulting to the viewers to have the same actor play three different characters, each with virtually no makeup, as if we wouldn't notice or care.
-Laforge says that the field diverter in engineering was necessary to protect sensitive equipment there. Since Picard destroyed it, was that equipment also destroyed?
-I don't like it when non-Vulcans use the nerve pinch. Supposedly there is a mental component to the nerve pinch, since the Vulcans have some telepathic powers, but having Data and Picard both do it in TNG (Data does it in Unification) goes against that idea.
-Do the bandits' weapons even work? They never fire them. Would explain why they don't just kill or stun Picard when they have the chance. It makes no sense for them to drag him along with them and give him more opportunities to mess up their plans. But if the weapons don't work then why have them?
-Picard is very destructive in this episode. He kills at least 7 people (maybe more, depending on how many are on the ship), cuts up multiple jeffries tubes, wrecks engineering, sets off an explosive in ten-for, and destroys the bandit ship. He also raids Worf's quarters for weapons.
This episode uses some rather convoluted plot devices (and some glaring plot holes) to try and recreate a Die Hard-type scenario for Picard. The end result is fun but terribly flawed episode.
Picard as the action hero is great and his ventures as he McClanes his way through the Enterprise and eliminates the bad guys one-by-one are very fun to watch. He uses his superior knowledge of the ship an impressive amount of ingenuity to out-smart and out-maneuver the unwitting bandits. Probably his best move of all is telling them he is the barber, causing them to drastically underestimate him for the first half of the episode.
Tim Russ shows up as the first of three Star Trek characters he will end up playing. He would later play a small part in Generations as a tactical officer aboard the Enterprise B, before landing his most well- known role as Tuvok on Voyager. While he great as Tuvok (easily the best and probably only good thing about Voyager), here he is entirely unremarkable, doing little and getting taken out early by Picard.
The episode easily could have been a 9 or 10 if it weren't for the serious flaws in the writing. As I have re-watched the entire series, I notice that TNG has a serious problem with getting the bigger elements right but messing up on the details. This episode really exemplifies that, as explained below.
Overall, though, this is still a fun and enjoyable episode in spite of its flaws.
THE GOOD-
-Picard as John McClane, using his guile to outsmart the baddies. You almost feel bad for them because he is such a BA in this episode and you know they have no chance against him. And anybody who says Picard never wins a physical fight needs to see his slick takedown of Tim Russ' character. Of course he then proceeds to get beat up by a skinny woman later on. Ah well.
-Picard pretending to be Mott, the barber. He's actually convincing as a helpless and scared civilian and it's fun to watch how completely they buy his story.
-When Worf is given permission to not attend the reception but Geordi isn't. The smirk on Worf's face makes me laugh every time.
THE BAD
-Plot holes galore!
-Picard has his comm badge but never tries to contact anybody. The baryon sweep obviously doesn't impede communication since the bandits are able to still communicate.
-Picard's leisurely pace as he is trying to leave the Enterprise always annoys the heck out of me. He knows how little time is left and yet he barely hurries. When he tries to beam off and the transporter shuts down I find myself saying out loud, "Well what did you THINK would happen, Picard?!"
-The guys who take the senior staff hostage on the planet are impossibly incompetent. They sit there and watch and listen as the crew makes plans to stop them and they never try to interfere.
-What is the bandits' plan? Why wouldn't their ship come and get them as soon as they have the Trilithium? Why wait until the sweep is nearly completed? And were they planning on just leaving the hostage-takers on the planet?
THE UGLY
-Trilithium in the episode is apparently something completely different from Trilithium in Generations. I suppose that technically that is a problem with the latter and not the former, but it is still annoying.
-What happens to Commander Hutchinson? He gets shot and then isn't seen for the rest of the episode.
-Tim Russ. It's nice to see him here, but it is somewhat insulting to the viewers to have the same actor play three different characters, each with virtually no makeup, as if we wouldn't notice or care.
-Laforge says that the field diverter in engineering was necessary to protect sensitive equipment there. Since Picard destroyed it, was that equipment also destroyed?
-I don't like it when non-Vulcans use the nerve pinch. Supposedly there is a mental component to the nerve pinch, since the Vulcans have some telepathic powers, but having Data and Picard both do it in TNG (Data does it in Unification) goes against that idea.
-Do the bandits' weapons even work? They never fire them. Would explain why they don't just kill or stun Picard when they have the chance. It makes no sense for them to drag him along with them and give him more opportunities to mess up their plans. But if the weapons don't work then why have them?
-Picard is very destructive in this episode. He kills at least 7 people (maybe more, depending on how many are on the ship), cuts up multiple jeffries tubes, wrecks engineering, sets off an explosive in ten-for, and destroys the bandit ship. He also raids Worf's quarters for weapons.
Die Picard
Samuel-Shovel22 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
In "Starship Mine" the Enterprise heads to space dock to get scrubbed of all its radiation while the ship is empty. When Picard heads back at the last minute to grab his riding saddle, he discovers a terrorist plot to steal some of the Enterprise's dangerously explosive material. All alone on the ship, Picard must defend himself and the Enterprise against a crew of criminals.
This is the closest I think we ever see Picard get to going full Cpt. Kirk. This type of story feels right up Kirk's alley, less so for Picard though. But in a pinch, TNG's captain isn't afraid to duke it out when necessary. We get some fun traps and action scenes with Stewart.
I'm a bit less interested with what's going on down on the planet's surface. Data's "small-talk" B-plot is pretty mediocre and hangs on by a thread, almost ruining the episode for me. But the main story line is so overpowering that I can't help but love this episode.
This is the closest I think we ever see Picard get to going full Cpt. Kirk. This type of story feels right up Kirk's alley, less so for Picard though. But in a pinch, TNG's captain isn't afraid to duke it out when necessary. We get some fun traps and action scenes with Stewart.
I'm a bit less interested with what's going on down on the planet's surface. Data's "small-talk" B-plot is pretty mediocre and hangs on by a thread, almost ruining the episode for me. But the main story line is so overpowering that I can't help but love this episode.
Yippee Ki Yay, Make it so
snoozejonc6 December 2021
This is an enjoyable episode due to the Die Hard tribute and moments of humour.
It has a good premise of the Enterprise being emptied for the purpose of the baryon sweep and from then on it's the Enterprise command crew as hostages and Picard as the action hero.
The action is reasonably good, as it's Die Hard in a gentler Star Trek style and with the obvious budgetary constraints. Trek has always been about thinking through problems as opposed to shooting and Picard mostly uses his brain to get through everything. However there are some violent aspects that are handled well by the actors, but could have been filmed better to make them clearer.
Generally I found it quite humorous, especially towards the beginning where Picard is harassed by virtually every member of the regular cast for various reasons. This is followed up by some great small-talk related humour from Data and guest character Hutch.
Patrick Stewart is great as always, and the other cast members support well, particularly Brent Spiner and David Spielberg.
It has a good premise of the Enterprise being emptied for the purpose of the baryon sweep and from then on it's the Enterprise command crew as hostages and Picard as the action hero.
The action is reasonably good, as it's Die Hard in a gentler Star Trek style and with the obvious budgetary constraints. Trek has always been about thinking through problems as opposed to shooting and Picard mostly uses his brain to get through everything. However there are some violent aspects that are handled well by the actors, but could have been filmed better to make them clearer.
Generally I found it quite humorous, especially towards the beginning where Picard is harassed by virtually every member of the regular cast for various reasons. This is followed up by some great small-talk related humour from Data and guest character Hutch.
Patrick Stewart is great as always, and the other cast members support well, particularly Brent Spiner and David Spielberg.
Entertaining but....
JCinHB10 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Given that they can scan ships and tell how many people are on a ship miles away, why wouldn't they scan a ship undergoing a baryon sweep to make sure nobody is on board? That should be an automatic safety feature that can't be overridden.
Another non-action actioner.
Blueghost12 May 2023
I had this on in the background between jobs one evening, and was puzzled by yet another "talkie" Star Trek episode. Female terrorists who wear makeup, a pre-Voyager Tuvok who is unarmed as a terrorist, and a lot of talking over what during Kirk and Spock's hay-day would have been a kind of James Bond action in space kind of episode, with a few fist fights, Kirk and Spock calling for help from Sulu or Scotty, and probably some bloodshed.
Instead we get another examination of personality types and interaction with the plot serving as a background for character exposition.
And that's really why Star Trek the Next Generation was such a "different" show, but really a bad one. A lot of TV throughout the years has looked at character interaction. The old Mental Hygiene films from the 40s, 50s and 60s gave didactic instrution on how to behave, have manners, keep yourself well groomed and so forth. Conventional television is actually the "fun version" of the same kind of films, and so it is that Star Trek the Next Generation offers the same thing.
And so it is that the primary focus is on how Riker, Geordi and Dr. Crusher push Data on a guest character who proves to be obnoxious. So it is that the "action" (if you want to call it that) is very much soft peddled. And so it is that we really don't get a sense of why the Enterprise is being hijacked or sabotaged in the first place by a bunch of second rate terrorists or infiltrators, the female members of which wear makeup.
Again, the plot is there to serve as a background tableau for an examination of people interacting with one another, and to serve as a lesson for the audience, in this case the "smart" audience or the more imaginative audience who like the Star Trek name brand for their entertainment.
Otherwise had this episode been written with a more conventional framework, then we would have gotten a look at the political and social framework of why the antagonists were trying to sabotage the ship. Again, it's another therapy session.
The music has a lot of soft violins and soft horns, the lighting is soft and clinical. Again, it's a hospital like feel. And yet, people kept watching, even though it was very unsatisfying. The show was not aimed at inspiring people, but aimed at instructing and catering to the therapy minded.
The whole series is like this. And during its initial run I kept taking a chance on an episode here and there. And, time and again, this broader and younger audience and therapy oriented show format is what kept pushing me away, and kept me questioning who watched this. Well, I guess now I know.
Instead we get another examination of personality types and interaction with the plot serving as a background for character exposition.
And that's really why Star Trek the Next Generation was such a "different" show, but really a bad one. A lot of TV throughout the years has looked at character interaction. The old Mental Hygiene films from the 40s, 50s and 60s gave didactic instrution on how to behave, have manners, keep yourself well groomed and so forth. Conventional television is actually the "fun version" of the same kind of films, and so it is that Star Trek the Next Generation offers the same thing.
And so it is that the primary focus is on how Riker, Geordi and Dr. Crusher push Data on a guest character who proves to be obnoxious. So it is that the "action" (if you want to call it that) is very much soft peddled. And so it is that we really don't get a sense of why the Enterprise is being hijacked or sabotaged in the first place by a bunch of second rate terrorists or infiltrators, the female members of which wear makeup.
Again, the plot is there to serve as a background tableau for an examination of people interacting with one another, and to serve as a lesson for the audience, in this case the "smart" audience or the more imaginative audience who like the Star Trek name brand for their entertainment.
Otherwise had this episode been written with a more conventional framework, then we would have gotten a look at the political and social framework of why the antagonists were trying to sabotage the ship. Again, it's another therapy session.
The music has a lot of soft violins and soft horns, the lighting is soft and clinical. Again, it's a hospital like feel. And yet, people kept watching, even though it was very unsatisfying. The show was not aimed at inspiring people, but aimed at instructing and catering to the therapy minded.
The whole series is like this. And during its initial run I kept taking a chance on an episode here and there. And, time and again, this broader and younger audience and therapy oriented show format is what kept pushing me away, and kept me questioning who watched this. Well, I guess now I know.
"It has been quite a day, has it not?"
classicsoncall28 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
You know, I had to laugh. No matter the justification offered, the whole idea of Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) having a saddle aboard the Enterprise just cracked me up. It reminded me of the time Captain Kirk had a suitcase in his stateroom on the Enterprise in the episode "This Side of Paradise". Of all things, why? When assigned to the Enterprise as Captain, did Picard say to himself, gee, maybe I should take my saddle in case we encounter a planet with horses. The idea is so absurd I'll remember it for a long time, just like the Captain Kirk episode, which by the way, also told a story of a planet with potentially lethal Berthold rays that could disintegrate living animal tissue. How's that for coincidence?
Anyway, now that I've stopped laughing, this was a pretty good episode detailing how Captain Picard could think on his feet to defeat a gang of mercenaries attempting to steal a quantity of dilithium from the ship's engineering section. With everyone on board the Enterprise evacuated because the ship was going to be swept to remove deadly accumulated baryon particles from years in space, the only ones left were the profiteers making their move before the cleansing routine was initiated. That is, until Picard beamed back up to get his saddle (sorry, I'm busting up again!). With help from the bridge crew safely distanced in space dock, Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) set off a sonic burst that rendered the accomplices of the mercenaries unconscious while the Captain eliminated those aboard the ship one by one. Even though their leader Kelsey (Marie Marshall) got the drop on Jean-Luc and managed to escape with the dilithium, its instability caused the escape scout ship to explode, rendering the theft a futile exercise.
Counterbalancing the tension of Picard's situation, Commander Data (Brent Spiner) serves up a lot of humor in his effort to perfect small talk to fill in the gaps in conversation with those he comes across. His dialog with Commander Hutchinson (David Spielberg) in space dock is particularly amusing as they exchange trivial details about nothing at all of importance. It's surprising to see Data's facial expressions as he initially observes 'Hutch' boring the officer crew, knowing that he's unable to express emotion, but at least this one time you can overlook it.
By the way, Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is getting a little paunchy, isn't he?
Anyway, now that I've stopped laughing, this was a pretty good episode detailing how Captain Picard could think on his feet to defeat a gang of mercenaries attempting to steal a quantity of dilithium from the ship's engineering section. With everyone on board the Enterprise evacuated because the ship was going to be swept to remove deadly accumulated baryon particles from years in space, the only ones left were the profiteers making their move before the cleansing routine was initiated. That is, until Picard beamed back up to get his saddle (sorry, I'm busting up again!). With help from the bridge crew safely distanced in space dock, Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) set off a sonic burst that rendered the accomplices of the mercenaries unconscious while the Captain eliminated those aboard the ship one by one. Even though their leader Kelsey (Marie Marshall) got the drop on Jean-Luc and managed to escape with the dilithium, its instability caused the escape scout ship to explode, rendering the theft a futile exercise.
Counterbalancing the tension of Picard's situation, Commander Data (Brent Spiner) serves up a lot of humor in his effort to perfect small talk to fill in the gaps in conversation with those he comes across. His dialog with Commander Hutchinson (David Spielberg) in space dock is particularly amusing as they exchange trivial details about nothing at all of importance. It's surprising to see Data's facial expressions as he initially observes 'Hutch' boring the officer crew, knowing that he's unable to express emotion, but at least this one time you can overlook it.
By the way, Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is getting a little paunchy, isn't he?
"TNG" Meets "Die Hard"
jon_carlson-289531 July 2019
Die Hard with the Next Generation
ShogaNinja8 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This episode goes down exactly like Die Hard 1, except instead of Bruce Willis it's Patrick Stewart, and instead of his wife being held hostage it's the senior staff. All in all, this is a pretty good little episode, but it has some major plot holes which is discouraging because they were on a good plot-hole-free streak and now it's ruined. Here's what went wrong: First, if all they wanted was trilithium there were probably easier ways to get it than messing with the best ship/crew in Starfleet. Besides, couldn't they have left Data on board? The sweep didn't affect any other devices on the ship.
Then, Picard tricks Sattler by leaving his uniform by a door with the sweep just on the other side, which is just stupid. If I saw his clothes I would have gotten the heck out of there, I definitely could outrun that slow sweep. Yet he is not the only one to die this way. Later his partner says that he found Sattler dead and retrieved a communicator from Picard's uniform. How is this possible. Once the sweep had been thru that area there would be no way thru to the other side, and without power, there could be no transporting. Which brings me to two more points. How did Picard get on board in the first place, and if he had a communicator why didn't he just transport the enemy into space and himself back to the surface, or at least to a part of the ship that had already been swept? Then after their original unknown plan fails in Engineering they decide to go to Ten Forward, then IMMEDIATELY after that the sweep is shown PAST engineering. Not cool. Meanwhile on the planet we have a couple of REALLY bad hostage takers. They let the senior officers come up with a complete plan and execute it all in front of their very eyes, and Riker just waltzes up and casually converses with them, lax with their phasers, and just beats them up, but "lets" himself get beat-down to create the distraction. Why didn't the crew just rush them at this point? Forget plan A when plan B arises and it's better! All this to execute a foggy plan "Data once we're all unconscious get to that computer over there and make it all better!" I've heard of better plans to stake your life on I'll tell you that much.
During the episode there is a lot of fighting and it is all very very bad. Like the episode in the original series where Kirk fight the saurian. Just bad, unbelievably bad action. Picard gets his rear handed to him by a girl for god's sake. I've seen him with his shirt off, he's not that feeble looking, he could knock a girl out. Especially with his experience and training.
Why were the lights on if there was no power either? Then to further prove the plot hole earlier of "how did Picard get on the ship when it had to no power to the transporters?" he screams to some miscellaneous array controller guy STOP THE SWEEP!. Why didn't he just call his ride and get a transport? Back to the bad writing again, and it's a shame.
For the record Picard personally killed or acted in a way that led to the deaths of at least 5 mercenaries in this episode and he didn't bat an eyelash doing it, or lose a wink of sleep. (Tuvok, Sattler, the merc he shot with the crossbow and knockout arrows, and the two women in the shuttle at the end - the other mercs just "disappeared" in the sweep - but he could have done some of them in too for all we know.) YET with his wonderful conversation with the Merc known as Tuvok he tries to "interrogate" him and when he fails Tuvok says "You won't kill me, you are starfleet." Yet he claims 5 confirmed kills in this episode. Tuvok included. You can't run from a sweep if you are unconscious - he killed them because he made them unconscious.
Trivia: Tim Russ (Tuvok) was seen acting as the mercenary Devor in this episode. I love how they re-use major actors in the series like Tim Russ (Tuvok), Michelle Forbes (Ro Laren),and Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat) over and over like no one will ever notice. I have heard the last name Janeway a couple times too in no reference to Catherine here and there throughout the series, so they re-use things a little too much - to the chagrin of posterity.
Then, Picard tricks Sattler by leaving his uniform by a door with the sweep just on the other side, which is just stupid. If I saw his clothes I would have gotten the heck out of there, I definitely could outrun that slow sweep. Yet he is not the only one to die this way. Later his partner says that he found Sattler dead and retrieved a communicator from Picard's uniform. How is this possible. Once the sweep had been thru that area there would be no way thru to the other side, and without power, there could be no transporting. Which brings me to two more points. How did Picard get on board in the first place, and if he had a communicator why didn't he just transport the enemy into space and himself back to the surface, or at least to a part of the ship that had already been swept? Then after their original unknown plan fails in Engineering they decide to go to Ten Forward, then IMMEDIATELY after that the sweep is shown PAST engineering. Not cool. Meanwhile on the planet we have a couple of REALLY bad hostage takers. They let the senior officers come up with a complete plan and execute it all in front of their very eyes, and Riker just waltzes up and casually converses with them, lax with their phasers, and just beats them up, but "lets" himself get beat-down to create the distraction. Why didn't the crew just rush them at this point? Forget plan A when plan B arises and it's better! All this to execute a foggy plan "Data once we're all unconscious get to that computer over there and make it all better!" I've heard of better plans to stake your life on I'll tell you that much.
During the episode there is a lot of fighting and it is all very very bad. Like the episode in the original series where Kirk fight the saurian. Just bad, unbelievably bad action. Picard gets his rear handed to him by a girl for god's sake. I've seen him with his shirt off, he's not that feeble looking, he could knock a girl out. Especially with his experience and training.
Why were the lights on if there was no power either? Then to further prove the plot hole earlier of "how did Picard get on the ship when it had to no power to the transporters?" he screams to some miscellaneous array controller guy STOP THE SWEEP!. Why didn't he just call his ride and get a transport? Back to the bad writing again, and it's a shame.
For the record Picard personally killed or acted in a way that led to the deaths of at least 5 mercenaries in this episode and he didn't bat an eyelash doing it, or lose a wink of sleep. (Tuvok, Sattler, the merc he shot with the crossbow and knockout arrows, and the two women in the shuttle at the end - the other mercs just "disappeared" in the sweep - but he could have done some of them in too for all we know.) YET with his wonderful conversation with the Merc known as Tuvok he tries to "interrogate" him and when he fails Tuvok says "You won't kill me, you are starfleet." Yet he claims 5 confirmed kills in this episode. Tuvok included. You can't run from a sweep if you are unconscious - he killed them because he made them unconscious.
Trivia: Tim Russ (Tuvok) was seen acting as the mercenary Devor in this episode. I love how they re-use major actors in the series like Tim Russ (Tuvok), Michelle Forbes (Ro Laren),and Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat) over and over like no one will ever notice. I have heard the last name Janeway a couple times too in no reference to Catherine here and there throughout the series, so they re-use things a little too much - to the chagrin of posterity.
A close shave.
thevacinstaller27 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Empty calories but a fun watch.
This is good as a one off episode but I am one of those grumpy jerks that wants star trek to either be creative or make me use my brain muscle and think over the messages and dilemma's presented in the show. Action in star trek should service these elements not be the element itself.
It's getting a 7 and I think that's fair .... perhaps a bit too fair.
This is good as a one off episode but I am one of those grumpy jerks that wants star trek to either be creative or make me use my brain muscle and think over the messages and dilemma's presented in the show. Action in star trek should service these elements not be the element itself.
It's getting a 7 and I think that's fair .... perhaps a bit too fair.
The writers set up possible spin-offs
snarky-trek-reviews31 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
With all the talk of Star Trek reboots, prequels, and sequels lately this episode suggests numerous possibilities that might give the franchise new life:
1) The Hutch & Data Show - a podcast in which commanders Data and Hutch improvise "in universe" trivia.
2) Magnum P.I.card - A TV series in which Picard is a horse riding secret agent who is never killed by the people who capture him more than once.
3) Niel the Early Years - A movie that gives us Niel's back story. What drove this pushover to join forces with thieves and steal Trilithium resin?
This episode is forgettable at best and frustrating at worst. The foundations of "movie Picard" are being laid and I hate it.
1) The Hutch & Data Show - a podcast in which commanders Data and Hutch improvise "in universe" trivia.
2) Magnum P.I.card - A TV series in which Picard is a horse riding secret agent who is never killed by the people who capture him more than once.
3) Niel the Early Years - A movie that gives us Niel's back story. What drove this pushover to join forces with thieves and steal Trilithium resin?
This episode is forgettable at best and frustrating at worst. The foundations of "movie Picard" are being laid and I hate it.
Get off my plane err ship.
amusinghandle24 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It's one of those fun action episodes. I feel they could have leaned a bit more into Picard using his knowledge of the enterprise to thwart the thieves.
Some hilarious physical acting from Stewart in this episode with his dread of small talk and his quick exit into the wall while on route to get his saddle.
Normally, I would not be into an episode like this ---- I like star trek to make me feel uncomfortable, be crazy creative or present high drama but I just get a real kick out of watching Patrick Stewart behaving like a member of seal team six.
The pivotal question here ----- who the hell is in charge of vetting workers who board the enterprise? I mean --- We are dealing with those slippery cardassians now it's time to step up the security game.
Some hilarious physical acting from Stewart in this episode with his dread of small talk and his quick exit into the wall while on route to get his saddle.
Normally, I would not be into an episode like this ---- I like star trek to make me feel uncomfortable, be crazy creative or present high drama but I just get a real kick out of watching Patrick Stewart behaving like a member of seal team six.
The pivotal question here ----- who the hell is in charge of vetting workers who board the enterprise? I mean --- We are dealing with those slippery cardassians now it's time to step up the security game.
A Senior Trekker writes...................
celineduchain27 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Golden Age of Star Trek: we had the 6th Season of The Next Generation and the 1st Season of Deep Space Nice on our televisions, Generations on view in our cinemas and First Contact due out soon. This season of TNG contains some excellent stand-alone episodes and several spectacular two-parters, with only the occasional make-weight. Despite the length of time it had already been on the air, it still represents some of the highest standard of television Science Fiction ever broadcast.
When I first watched this episode I was very annoyed at the cavalier way such an interesting character as Cmdr Hutchinson "Call me Hutch" was killed off. This classic "bavard", as the French Captain would call him, was just a harmless chatterbox brought in to give Brent Spiner some delicious comedic moments as Data seeks to master the art of small talk. I didn't particularly like the way the crew rolled their eyes and attempted to avoid him (they are trained in diplomacy, aren't they?) and I especially didn't like the unconcern with which stepped over his hastily covered body when things got serious.
David Spielberg (no relation) was an extremely prolific and versatile actor who breathed life into a part that could have been included merely an excuse for Picard to duck out of the reception and, personally, I thought he deserved better. The writers could at least have left him alive with the possibility of a return. He Passed Beyond the Rim in 2016.
That said, we can now get onto the Picard-does-Die-Hard part of the story. It's OK if you like that sort of thing. Some viewers noticed that the Captain actually killed quite a few people with the pick-them-off-one-by-one method of re-taking control from the hijackers. Patrick Stewart loved it, we're told, but many Trekkers thought it was a genre-busting mistake and that the character of Picard would have been more likely to have come up with a less violent and more cerebral solution.
The villains of this piece are a veritable Who's Who of Science Fiction actors. Redheads Patricia Tallman and Marie Marshall are well known to Babylon Five fans as Lyta Alexander and Private "Dodger" Durman while Tim deZern returns to Star Trek in Deep Space Nine. Tim Russ, despite having been being rejected for a role in the main cast of TNG and then being ignominiously killed off early in this episode, will soon become well known for the part of Tuvok in Voyager. Glen Moreshower (stripy-head) and Alan Altshuld (shoelace-face) are also both Trek veterans
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a five.
When I first watched this episode I was very annoyed at the cavalier way such an interesting character as Cmdr Hutchinson "Call me Hutch" was killed off. This classic "bavard", as the French Captain would call him, was just a harmless chatterbox brought in to give Brent Spiner some delicious comedic moments as Data seeks to master the art of small talk. I didn't particularly like the way the crew rolled their eyes and attempted to avoid him (they are trained in diplomacy, aren't they?) and I especially didn't like the unconcern with which stepped over his hastily covered body when things got serious.
David Spielberg (no relation) was an extremely prolific and versatile actor who breathed life into a part that could have been included merely an excuse for Picard to duck out of the reception and, personally, I thought he deserved better. The writers could at least have left him alive with the possibility of a return. He Passed Beyond the Rim in 2016.
That said, we can now get onto the Picard-does-Die-Hard part of the story. It's OK if you like that sort of thing. Some viewers noticed that the Captain actually killed quite a few people with the pick-them-off-one-by-one method of re-taking control from the hijackers. Patrick Stewart loved it, we're told, but many Trekkers thought it was a genre-busting mistake and that the character of Picard would have been more likely to have come up with a less violent and more cerebral solution.
The villains of this piece are a veritable Who's Who of Science Fiction actors. Redheads Patricia Tallman and Marie Marshall are well known to Babylon Five fans as Lyta Alexander and Private "Dodger" Durman while Tim deZern returns to Star Trek in Deep Space Nine. Tim Russ, despite having been being rejected for a role in the main cast of TNG and then being ignominiously killed off early in this episode, will soon become well known for the part of Tuvok in Voyager. Glen Moreshower (stripy-head) and Alan Altshuld (shoelace-face) are also both Trek veterans
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a five.
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