Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) The Pegasus (1994) User Reviews

What is 'The Experiment'?

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 12 September 2015]

When news that the USS Pegasus, a ship that was assumed destroyed twelve years previously, is reported to have been found its former commander, Admiral Pressman, comes aboard the Enterprise to take command of the recovery mission. It isn't long before suspicions are raised about the Pegasus's final mission as we see Riker, who was a young ensign on that mission, and Pressman talk about 'The Experiment' and the possibility that it may be restarted. We then learn that there was a mutiny aboard and Riker was one of the few people to stand by his captain. When they get to the site of the Pegasus they find a Romulan ship is already searching the location; Pressman is determined that they don't get their hands on it but he is also determined that destroying it will be the last option. Eventually they find the Pegasus deep within an asteroid; fused with the rock. The Enterprise is taken in via a narrow fissure but are trapped when the Romulans 'accidentally' seal the way out. To get out they will have to use 'The Experiment'… a phased-cloaking device that will enable them to pass through solid rock but is strictly banned by treaty.

This is a fine episode with plenty of intrigue; as soon as 'The Experiment' is mentioned I wanted to know what it involved… the fact that it was so secret that Pressman ordered Riker not to mention it to anybody, including Picard, made it sound somewhat sinister. It was interesting to learn more about Riker's past; not only about the events on the Pegasus but also the reason why Picard selected him to be his First Officer. Riker's forced secrecy causes a degree of tension between him and Picard and at times threatens their relationship; both professionally and personally. Guest star Terry O'Quinn does a fine job as Pressman even though we can guess that his character is a wrong-un almost from the moment he is introduced. It was great to see that some within the usually all too perfect Federation are willing to break the rules. If the episode has a real flaw it is the fact that there is no explanation as to why there have been no further attempts to create a cloaking device in the previous twelve years. Overall though this was a really good episode that is well directed by LeVar 'Geordi La Forge' Burton.

Number One's test of character

[Mr-Fusion · 9/10 · 14 November 2017]

Thoroughly absorbing from beginning to end, 'The Pegasus' makes terrific use of conflict; Riker opposes his former commanding officer (Terry O'Quinn), and Picard stands by as the ultimate judge. There's also the big question looming overhead: what was the "experiment" that led to a mutiny and the loss of a ship in deep space? The moving parts of this are all well-coordinated and O'Quinn plays a good villain (in a long line of sociopathic admirals). Levar Burton also deserves credit in the director's chair for the episode's staging, but the primary appeal is to see what sorts of skeletons could possibly be in Will Riker's closet; and it's a fascinating excavation.

9/10

"glowing letters of recommendation that tell you nothing"

[nebmac · 8/10 · 12 June 2016]

The problem with episodes revolving around a Big Secret is that they usually don't pack quite the same punch on subsequent viewings. Nevertheless, this is a well-done story that provides a glimpse into the dark side of the Federation and lays the groundwork (albeit indirectly) for a deeper examination of that topic in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

One of the highlights of the episode is seeing Riker get yelled at, separately, by both Picard and the admiral. Any viewer who's ever been caught in the crossfire between their boss and the boss' boss will certainly relate.

While I'm generally not into nitpicks, this one is too good to pass up: In one scene, Riker and the admiral are discussing the Big Secret in Ten-Forward (a.k.a. the ship's bar), making sure to emphasize that nobody must find out about it...within earshot of at least a dozen people. As the kids say these days, LOL.

Riker's past

[eonbluekarma · 10/10 · 19 January 2009]

One of Riker's former captains returns as an Admiral in search of their lost ship. Pegasus forms a part of Riker's past, like the episode "Second Chances", to help us understand his evolution as Picard's "number one". The conflict between Picard/Riker/Admiral Pressman drives the drama.

The internal conflict within Riker is equally intriguing. He must choose between duty, friendship and the mistakes of his past to avoid disaster. "Pegasus" also showcases the directing talent of LeVar Burton, foreshadowing his future success as a director in other Star Trek series.

Riker's past.

[russem31 · 3 May 2006]

ST:TNG:164 - "The Pegasus" (Stardate: 47457.1) - this is the 12th episode of the 7th and last season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In another great TNG episode, Riker's past catches up with him when Admiral Pressman (played by Terry O'Quinn of "Lost" fame) comes onboard the Enterprise. Pressman, who was Riker's first commanding officer, brings news that their old ship, the Pegasus, has finally been found, after being lost for 12 years. Their mission is to find the ship and prevent sensitive technologies onboard from falling into wrong hands (like the Romulans).

However, Pressman and Riker seem to know a carefully guarded secret that they can't tell anyone else, even Picard whom Riker trusts dearly. Soon, to find the Pegasus the Enterprise herself must go into an asteroid! Find out what happens next!

Trivia note: Picard is told by an Admiral that he can exceed Warp Speed limitations (that were imposed in "Force Of Nature". And, look out for Captain Picard Day!

Special note: the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise takes place during this episode - with Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis reprising their TNG roles.

Wow...the Federations sure can be tricky!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 5 December 2014]

Admiral Pressman (Terry O'Quinn) has come aboard the Enterprise and taken temporary command. It seems that he has a mission for the crew and it's all rather secret. For Riker, it's an interesting and unwanted reunion, as he served with Pressman long ago on the Pegasus--a ship that was destroyed during their time together. The mission, surprisingly, is to try to recover the ship...but it's supposed to have been destroyed. This isn't the end to the weirdness of the mission, as there are quite a few details that Pressman won't tell anyone and he's ordered Riker to keep silence! What they heck is going on here?!

I liked this episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" a lot because all too often the humans in the show are so annoyingly noble and inhuman because of their extreme niceness! Here, Pressman and others are sneaky, incredibly dishonest and ignore Federation peace treaties--just the sort of tricky stuff I love to see. Well worth seeing.

Strong episode with a great dynamic between Picard, Riker and Pressman

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 7 January 2021]

Admiral Pressman joins Enterprise for a cloak and dagger mission.

I enjoyed this episode for how it explores the themes of duty and loyalty and the exchanges between Riker, Picard and Pressman.

The plot is mostly character-driven by Riker and Pressman and unfolds in a pretty compelling way. It does slightly shoehorn some new history into Riker's backstory for the sake of the story and themes, but it still works thanks to the actors performances. It also focuses on a treaty the federation signed up to with some dubious strategic thinking, however as this is Trek, honouring the terms of a peace treaty is far more important than the short-sightedness of chasing a military advantage. I don't take television seriously enough to have any problems with the plausibility of this happening in reality.

Jonathan Frakes and Terry O'Quinn are strong in their depiction of crewmen with a dark shared history, particularly O'Quinn who injects fantastic energy and charisma into all scenes. When Picard shares stage the charisma levels go through the roof as Patrick Stewart's presence seems to add a reassuring quality that whatever happened to Pegasus won't be permitted to jeopardise Enterprise.

Another Renegade Admiral

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 12 October 2014]

It would seem that the screening process for high level officers in starfleet isn't very successful. A former Captain, Pressman, from the Pegasus finds himself aboard the Enterprise and there he meets his former ensign, Will Riker. There is immediate dislike between the two men. It turns out that something happened aboard the Pegasus in the past and actions taken by the captain and Riker had dire consequences. As a matter of fact, the crew of the doomed ship mutinied. Riker, now more seasoned, wishes to put this behind him, but Pressman wants to find the ship, which is in dangerous Romulan territory, and complete an experiment he failed at during those early days. He enlists Riker and forces him to promise he will not reveal the mission. Somehow, this guy has gotten the higher ups to allow him free reign in his efforts, not knowing his real motives. Star Trek is littered with unstable former captains and officers.

REVIEW 2022

[iamirwar · 10/10 · 10 October 2022]

Captain Picard Day, and the captain has to pick a first, second and third place and four honourable mentions. Meanwhile, the Enterprise itself is studying the Merkoria Quasar. But Admiral Blackwell has a priority call for the captain and it would seem to be the case that the Quasar study is to be postponed for the present time, and I suspect for ever.

The Enterprise has to go and pick-up someone from Starfleet Intelligence. So, we are off to the Devolin system.

Riker and his old Captain Pressman from the Pegasus have some unfinished business, but something to do with an experiment that went wrong certainly has Will worried. So, we have a mystery. His old captain is now an admiral and has overall control of the mission we are on. It's clear that the Admiral and Riker don't see eye-to-eye and I get the feeling that Riker doesn't like Pressman. Even Picard and Riker are at odds with each other now.

I was wondering when we would get to this episode. I do remember it and have seen it a few times previously. It's a good one with hints of Mutiny On The Bounty and the Philadelphia Incident. It does have plenty of meat on the bone. Personally, I thought the cloak was a great idea. Sod the Romulans and their treaties. I actually liked Pressman. He certainly got things done.

Riker may still have some hard questions to answer. It is so noted, Sir.

This Episodes Clue: First Place with the Cpt Picard Day art work

(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)

"Another reason I don't like this show" -- asininity at its worse

[jason-49843 · 8/10 · 22 May 2023]

This bloviating "critic's" excursion into collateral issues and tangential plot points is so far off base that one wonders if they actually watched the episode. Who cares why the crew mutinied.

The episode is about how the past can catch up with even the most exemplary of people, and the resulting moral dilemma, in this case, of Commander Riker's.

The only really important criticism of the episode is that Riker was forced to act, therefore, he never really had to examine his moral dilemma.

The Romulans having conveniently sealed off the entrance, there wasn't really anything Riker could do other than to reveal Admiral Pressman's deception.

An excellent and entertaining episode nonetheless.

Making Riker sweat.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 18 May 2021]

The heart of the episodes is Riker having to wrestle with his past and current identity. As you gain experience perceptions and importance tend to change and this is the case with Will Riker. I also enjoyed the nice juxtaposition between the Admiral/Picard in terms of what defining characters they feel is important in an officer. With all that said ---- It is indeed a bit silly for Picard to be so outraged by the development of the cloaking device with the Romulan's constantly messing with the galaxy. The outrage should be placed upon the Admiral for neglecting safety for the scientific study of the Clocking device.

This is one of those episodes that is forever relatable. I certainly wish I could go back in time and make a few better choices. But if I did that I might end up handing people Clipboards like Picard in Tapestry.

Who knows right? Maybe Riker would have been a 40 year old ensign if he never experienced this traumatic event.

Stupidity and Hypocrisy

[iblack-23610 · 9/10 · 30 August 2022]

Ok where to start!? First off I love the episode as it's very well acted and engaging.

Now for the bile. I'm not going to cover ALL the times Picard and Riker show how stupid they behave, but I'll try.

First off is it my imagination or in the past has Picard kept the entire crew in ignorance due to an Admiral's direct orders on more than one occasion? Yet he bristled up like crazy and threatened Riker with a demotion for doing the exact same! Hypocrisy at its best.

Second, Riker did the right thing in defending his former Captain. Pressman wasn't putting the crew in immediate danger. He was simply testing a new piece of technology that some stuffed shirts at Starfleet command didn't approve of. Yet Rikers apparently torn by guilt about it. Every time Picard broke the prime directive Riker should have had him thrown in the brig after relieving him of command.

Third, I'm surprised Starfleet hasn't found a way to have phaser's banned throughout the federation, as it would be unfair to their enemies if they had a chance to defend themselves. I don't know what morons agreed to that dumb treaty but they should go down in history as war criminals or saboteurs.

Fourth, Picard and Riker should have been content to stay inside the asteroid until they rotted. However they feel completely justified in breaking there foolish moral code in using the evil tech when it can prove helpful.

In conclusion Terry really carried this episode for me not only an actor but as a character because I considered him to be 100% correct. The Enterprise crew was the biggest let down in this instance for their sheer stupidity.

Picard in the dark

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 1 April 2019]

In this TNG story the Enterprise has a guest Admiral Terry O'Quinn who back in the day was Will Riker's first commanding officer on Ensign Riker's first assignment in StarFleet.

The ship Pegasus on which they served was reported lost with all but seven members of the crew including O'Quinn and Jonathan Frakes. The Pegasus was conducting experiments that Frakes knows about but is under orders not to talk about it. Patrick Stewart is left in the dark.

They do find the abandoned Pegasus in a most dangerous and tragic situation in an asteroid belt. The Romulans are also skulking around to see what StarFleet is up to.

A lot of pressure is on Commander Riker and he bares up well though things get testy with him and Captain Picard.

It's a good episode about mixed loyalties and knowing what is the right thing to do. That perspective can change with age.

LOL what?

[anoldblackmarble · 5/10 · 30 December 2017]

Overall a better than average episode with an intriguing plot and twist, yet that's where we run into a problem. Could Picard, and Riker for that matter, be bigger hypocrites? At around the 38 minute mark Picard finds out the secret of the Pegasus and in Picard fashion lays into a preachy speech about the high and mighty rules and regulation of the Federation and their moral code only to then literally, instantaneously, switch gears and agree to use this forbidden/forsaken device because hey, they're trapped and boy it sure would be useful to use an illegal forbidden device if you got it, even though it is illegal, and you just trashed the admiral for his attempt at recovering it. I like Star Trek, and I just finished re-watching TNG because of the disaster that Discovery is, but you know what, this series is just as hypocritical and preachy. I did not catch this when I saw it originally as a kid, but now I can see where the writers of Discovery got their inspiration. Still no excuse for all their other failings, but I can forgive them about the preachiness since it seems to be part of the Trek DNA. So that's my only complaint with Trek in general. This episode is reflective of the entire series. They preach high morals but they ignore them when it's convenient. Not cool.

Another reason I don't like this show.

[Blueghost · 7 February 2016]

When submarines became widely used there was an aversion and denouncement of them as ungentlemanly and their use akin to being a war criminal. But submarines can break an ocean going foe by being able to conceal themselves in the depths of the ocean, and attack targets with impunity. Today, capable of carrying nuclear tipped ICBMs, they are the most powerful weapon in our military today.

So, why on Earth would you, as a leader of some futuristic space nation, deny your armed force this capability? And, on top of that, allow a foe who has sworn to destroy you, have that same capability which you've agreed not to have?

It's just another notch of stupidity in a show that claims to be high brow, but is, in reality, a lame brained excuse to look at psychological issues, even when the plot doesn't make sense or has massive loop holes and other forms of illogic in the story.

I just can't wrap my skull around why this show continues to get praises for lapses in good thinking. Could not the plot have been reworked to show a deficiency in cloaking technology, or some more pragmatic idea to show why Star Fleet doesn't use that Romulan gizmo?

But no, instead the plot and logic thereof or unimportant. According to the producers what's important is that the emotional clash between officers and the idea of a mutiny on a starship for idiotic story reasons.

Production values are first rate; sets, acting, makeup ... eh, the SFX are a little lacking but passable, but aside from that, the story is flimsy.

If you're going to postulate a mutiny on a volunteer service vessel, then maybe you can ash-can your ivory tower sociology mind and take your ego and shove it some place dark, dank, and full of foul odor, because the condescension here reeks of idiocy.

Reason; you mutiny because you're captain is abusive, immoral, unbalanced, and has put ship and compliment in danger. Not because he's breaking a treaty. Treaties are broke all the time. It's the scale and impact that's important. This episode fails that criteria story- wise.

I've said it once, I've said it many times, if I helmmed this show, then it would have been much different.

Weird romulan.

[Danzence · 8/10 · 22 October 2022]

As well as the arrogant admiral. We get this smug "I would love to see this tosser get smacked" Romulan...

The Romulans are usually annoying anyway but this one is particularly. How would doing that help them in any way?

Seems they're in the area just for the sake of it.

Riker didn't do anything wrong though he defended the right course of action against the (as usual) unsympathetic admiral with psychotic tendencies.

Why did they uncloak next to the weird Romulan's ship anyway? Could have avoided a lot of problems if they faked escaping the asteroid or just left the system without revealing they found that cloak.

"Therefore, I will have to remain in the dark on this mission."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 16 April 2024]

This episode demonstrates that even a high-ranking Starfleet officer is subject to pursuing his own agenda in violation of Federation regulations. Admiral Eric Pressman (Terry O'Quinn) was Commander Riker's (Jonathan Frakes) very first commanding officer on the USS Pegasus twelve years earlier, with both surviving the assumed destruction of their vessel during some sort of altercation in space. Shadowy reports of mutiny on the part of the crew against Pressman were glossed over in the Federation record, with a young Ensign Riker standing by his superior in a display of loyalty that didn't harm his career. That allegiance is tested in this story when it's learned that Pressman was actually violating the Treaty of Algernon by experimenting with a newly developed cloaking device for the Pegasus. When the Pegasus is discovered hidden deep within the cavern of a huge asteroid, Pressman sees his chance to recover the ship and the cloaking device. There's a bonus aspect to this device as it would allow a vessel to actually proceed through solid matter! Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) of course, won't go for Pressman's faulty logic, and after freeing the Enterprise from its embedded position in the asteroid, has Pressman arrested for violating a Federation treaty. In a noble gesture, Riker considers that he should be arrested too for his past indiscretion, but the Captain felt his twelve years of service more than compensated for the youthful error of an inexperienced ensign. Meanwhile, a Romulan warbird hanging around nearby never had a clue of what was going on with the Enterprise, and consequently did not figure in the final outcome.

Hypocrisy

[M_Exchange · 5/10 · 17 August 2018]

A previous reviewer named "anoldblackmarble" absolutely nailed it. Especially during this season the captain does fake outrage then throws away his convictions when it suits him.

This episode has such an intriguing and engaging backstory that I was leaning toward rating it positively despite my misgivings about the captain and the crew's hypocrisy. But just as I was nearing the completion of the "Lower Decks," WHICH IS JUST A FEW SHOWS AFTER THIS ONE, I noticed that almost immediately after Riker notifies Picard, "launching a probe in a Cardassian space would be a treaty violation," he ORDERS WORF TO LAUNCH A PROBE. WTF?!?! So he wants to pontificate about the RIGHTEOUSNESS of such things only when he has personal misgivings about someone?

Frankly, it just makes the captain and even this entire series seem a bit ridiculous. Sorry.

A Senior Trekker writes........................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 9 March 2022]

The final season of Star Trek, the Next Generation gave us some splendid episodes and also a fair share of stinkers. Everyone knew by this stage that they would not be renewed and attempts were made to wrap up various story lines before they said their final goodbyes. There is still a great deal to be enjoyed.

This episode opens with Troi preparing Jean Luc for Captain Picard Day, an event regularly celebrated by the children of the Enterprise. Apparently the artwork was commissioned from a group of real schoolchildren and was so highly thought of that it surfaced twenty five years later in the first episode of Star Trek Picard. It was my favourite part of this one, I'm afraid.

This was a straightforward espionage thriller with yet another rogue Admiral and some troubling secrets emerging from Commander Perfect.....I mean Riker's.....past on the Starship Pegasus. In another flash forward we now know that Riker's dilemma about how much to reveal to Picard forms the basis of another story altogether. This is the Enterprise episode: These are the Voyages, which will be broadcast ten years after this one to almost universal opprobrium.

This Pegasus, however, cannot be blamed for what may later be done in its name. It's not a bad story. Terry O'Quinn makes that much more convincing a villain because he really believes that what he is doing is right. I never understood why the Federation lagged so far behind on cloaking technology either. It seems that this was an end-of-series attempt to finally answer that question but I'm not sure it was particularly convincing. Well, it was nice to see Commander Stuffed Shirt get knocked off his pedestal for once, even though we all know he'll be back up on it by the next episode.

Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.

Riker out of Character

[markbyrn-1 · 5/10 · 27 December 2023]

Given this is season 7 and everything we about the Riker character and his relationship with Picard, the writing was senseless. For the purpose of storyline, Riker is transformed out of character into a naive & disloyal fool who turns on Picard to back the Admiral who Riker knows is pursuing an illegal action. A Riker in character would have called a meeting with the Admiral and Picard to lay it all out and recommended that PIcard put the Admiral in the brig for attempting to once again violate the treaty of Algernon. The story could have continued to have PIcard retrieve the cloaking device in order to acquire evidence to court-martial the Admiral.