Category: The Next Generation

Stardate 44704.2: Shortly after very nervously performing a scene from “Cyrano de Bergerac” with Dr. Crusher, Lt. Barclay is assigned to accompany Geordi on a close examination, via shuttle, of an alien probe that has impeded the functioning of a subspace telescope array. But after being scanned, the probe somehow singles Barclay out to receive a massive mental “upgrade,” doing away with the lieutenant’s legendary reclusiveness and shyness, and replacing those traits of his personality with knowledge and learning abilities beyond human experience…and arrogance.

written by Joe Menosky
directed by Robert Legato
music by Ron Jones

Guest Cast: Dwight Schultz (Lt. Barclay), Jim Norton (Holodeck “Einstein”), Kay E. Kuter (Cytherian), Saxon Trainor (Lt. Larson), Page Leong (Ensign Anaya), David Coburn (Ensign Brower)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 44769.2: After an apparent sabotage of the Enterprise’s warp drive committed by Klingon exchange officer J’Ddan, Starfleet sends Admiral Nora Satie out of retirement to investigate the possibility of a Klingon faction cooperating with Romulans. But Satie goes beyond that, accusing a shy junior crewman of Romulan collaboration and even accusing Captain Picard of aiding Romulans and the Borg.

written by Jeri Taylor
directed by Jonathan Frakes
music by Ron Jones

Guest Cast: Jean Simmons (Admiral Satie), Bruce French (Sabin Genestra), Spencer Garrett (Simon Tarses), Henry Woronicz (J’Ddan), Earl Billings (Admiral Thomas Henry), Ann Shea (Nellen)

Notes: This episode begins a build-up to the season finale dealing with a possible Romulan-Klingon alliance. It was also the last episode of Next Generation to be scored by composer Ron Jones, who was fired by the producers for consistently disregarding instructions which Jones said were cramping his musical style.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 44805.3: Kalon scientist Dr. Timicin has beamed aboard the Enterprise to travel to a star much like his planet’s own sun to conduct tests of a modified photon torpedo that could reduce the level of solar activity – something that needs to be done within decades, or Kalon II’s sun will explode, eradicating his people. When the test fails, Timicin continues, but he is due back on Kalon II so he may carry out the Resolution – a traditional Kalon ceremony in which one ends one’s life by painless suicide at sixty. Lwaxana Troi, also visiting the Enterprise, tries to convince Timicin to continue living, although his request for asylum from his people could result in war.

teleplay by Peter Allan Fields
story by Ted Roberts and Peter Allan Fields
directed by Les Landau
music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Cast: David Odgen Stiers (Timicin), Majel Barrett (Lwaxana Troi), Michelle Forbes (Dara), Terrence E. McNally (Science Minister B’Tardat), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Carel Struycken (Mr. Homn)

Notes: Dennis McCarthy’s score was nominated for an Emmy in 1991.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 44821.3: Ambassador Odan is being transported to the Peliar Zel system to attempt eleventh-hour mediation between civilizations on two moons. One society’s new power source may mean long-term pollution and deterioration of the other society’s world. Odan intends to settle the dispute, and on the two week trip he and Dr. Crusher have fallen in love. But when a faction of radicals attacks the shuttlecraft Odan has insisted upon taking to the surface of one of the moons – he refuses to use the transporter – Odan is severely injured and is forced to reveal that he is, in fact, a Trill – an alien symbiont within a humanoid host body. When Odan’s fellow Trills cannot send another host in time to save the parasite’s life, and a countdown to war begins on the two moons, Riker risks his own life to serve as a temporary host.

written by Michael Horvat
directed by Marvin V. Rush
music by Jay Chattaway

Guest Cast: Franc Luz (Odan), Barbara Tarbuck (Governor Trion), Nicole Orth-Pallavicini (Kareel), William Newman (Lathal Trose), Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa), Robert Harper (Lathal Bine)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 44932.3: During the Enterprise’s investigation of a dark-matter nebula, Lt. Jenna D’Sora, recently having broken up with a longtime boyfriend, becomes attached to Data, who at first protests that he has no human feelings, and then attempts to emulate emotions. In the meantime, the density of the matter in the nebula pulls off an astonishing disappearing act – making an entire class-M planet fade from existence. And whatever caused that is in the path of the Enterprise.

written by Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore
directed by Patrick Stewart
music by Jay Chattaway

Guest Cast: Michele Scarabelli (Lt. Jenna D’Sora), Rosalind Chao (Keiko), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Pamela Winslow (Ensign McKnight), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice), and Spot

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 45047.2: The Enterprise and a Tamarian ship rendezvous at El-Adrel IV and Tamarian Captain Dathon opens communications. The Tamarians speak incomprehensibly, using English words laced with names from their culture. After the contact fails, Dathon and his first officer argue over Dathon’s statement, “Darmok and Jelad at Tenagra.” Dathon vanishes, and Picard is kidnapped via transporter. Both are beamed to the planet, where Dathon attempts to communicate again. Picard deciphers the language, finding that it is based on Tamarian folklore and metaphors. “Darmok and Jelad at Tenagra” refers to two heroes who traveled separately to a distant island, defeated a mighty beast, and left together. El-Adrel is home to such a creature, and Dathon hopes that the Tamarians and the Federation can begin a friendship by likewise defeating a common enemy. When the beast attacks, Picard is immobilized by an attempt to rescue him through interference projected from the Tamarian ship, while Dathon is mortally wounded. Picard can now negotiate in the Tamarian language – if he survives the creature’s next attack.

teleplay by Joe Menosky
story by Philip Lazebnik and Joe Menosky
directed by Winrich Kolbe
music by Jay Chattaway

Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Paul Winfield (Captain Dathon), Richard Allen (Tamarian First Officer), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Ashley Judd (Ensign Lefler), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 45122.3: Riker, Crusher and Data visit a new colony site when the Crystalline Entity that wiped out all life on Data’s home world appears unexpectedly and attacks, forcing the colonists and visitors underground. The Enterprise returns and finds that the planet has been left barren. The colonists are rescued, and the crew, joined by Dr. Marr, investigates the damage. Marr, whose son was killed by the Entity long ago, believes that Data, like his “brother,” is aiding the Entity. During the investigation, Marr is convinced that Data is not responsible for the attack and finds that his memories of his home include memories of the colonists who died there. She asks him to recite some of her son’s diary and decides she must avenge her son, but Picard wishes to try communicating with the Entity.

teleplay by Jeri Taylor
story by Lawrence V. Conley
directed by Cliff Bole
music by Jay Chattaway

Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Ellen Geer (Dr. Marr), Susan Diol (Carmen)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 45156.1: On a routine day, Picard takes the three winners of the ship’s school science fair on a tour. Beverly pesters Geordi, who is checking fuel tanks in a shuttlebay, to audition for a play; Riker, Data, Worf, and a pregnant Keiko relax in Ten Forward, and O’Brien and Troi perform bridge duties. When an undetectable object collides with the ship, emergency systems isolate everyone where they are. Picard is injured and must rely on the scared children; Riker orders Data to risk his life to reach engineering; Worf must deliver Keiko’s baby when she goes into labor; Geordi and Beverly are caught between a fire and several tanks of unstable fuel; and Troi is trapped on the bridge with a minimal crew and Ensign Ro is all too ready to point out the worst case scenario: unless the ship’s antimatter supply is stabilized, the Enterprise could be destroyed.

teleplay by Ronald D. Moore
story by Ron Jarvis and Philip A. Scorza
directed by Gabrielle Beaumont
music by Dennis McCarthy

Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Rosalind Chao (Keiko), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Michelle Forbes (Ensign Ro), Erika Flores (Marissa), John Christian Graas (Jay Gordon), Max Supera (Patterson), Cameron Arnett (Ensign Mandel), Jana Marie Hupp (Ensign Monroe)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stardate 45208.2: Wesley Crusher, on vacation from Starfleet Academy, visits the Enterprise. During Wesley’s visit, an holographic game Riker picked up on a visit to Risa begins to circulate around the ship, making every member of the crew who plays it an addict. Suddenly, Data – the only being who is immune to the game’s addictive “rewards” – is mysteriously shut off. With the bridge crew and everyone else falling victim to the game, Wes

teleplay by Brannon Braga
story by Susan Sackett & Fred Bronson and Brannon Braga
directed by Corey Allen
music by Jay Chattaway

Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), Ashley Judd (Ensign Lefler), Katherine Moffatt (Etana), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Patti Yasutake (Nurse), Diane M. Hurley (Woman), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

LogBook entry by Earl Green