Category: The Next Generation

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

The Nth Degree

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDswritten 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

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

Qpid

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 44741.9: Picard is readying a speech on the subject of the planet Tagus 3, whose archaelogical digs are off-limits to outsiders, to be delivered to a group of distinguished archaeologists, and is surprised to find that Vash, a very fondly remembered acquaintance from his visit to Risa, is present as well, no doubt to fulfill her nefarious urge to go treasure-seeking. She and Picard seem to be able to agree on nothing, which catches the attention of Q, who, to force Picard to admit that he does indeed love Vash, sends the crew, Vash, and even himself, into Sherwood Forest. Picard, of course, becomes Robin Hood, his crew become Robin’s merry men, Q becomes Guy of Gisbourne, and Vash, naturally, is the damsel in distress…a role she doesn’t play willingly, or, indeed, correctly!

Order the DVDsteleplay by Ira Steven Behr
story by Randee Russell and Ira Steven Behr
directed by Cliff Bole
music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Cast: Jennifer Hetrick (Vash), Clive Revill (Sheriff of Nottingham), John de Lancie (Q), Joi Staton (Servant)

Notes: Clive Revill, the Sheriff of Nottingham in this story, also has another well-known science fiction saga in his resume: he provided the voice (and a shimmering but fuzzy image) of the Galactic Emperor in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 (Ian McDiarmid took that role over in 1983’s Return Of The Jedi when the Emperor finally made a personal appearance in the saga).

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

The Drumhead

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDswritten 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

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

Half A Life

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDsteleplay 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

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

The Host

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDswritten 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

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

The Mind’s Eye

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 44885.5: En route to an artificial intelligence conference on Risa, Geordi, alone in a shuttlepod, is kidnapped by Romulans, who send a “copy” of him to Risa. Under the supervision of a female Romulan who remains in shadows at all times, Geordi is tortured and brainwashed to obey, without question, instructions transmitted on a certain wavelength to his VISOR. When he returns to the Enterprise – with “memories” of his trip implanted into his mind – Picard deals with a belligerent Klingon colony governor who accuses the Federation of assisting a rebel political faction. In fact, however, there is another Klingon responsible for this, and he is relaying Romulan instructions to Geordi, who may unwittingly become an assassin…

Order the DVDsteleplay by Rene Echavarria
story by Ken Schafer and Rene Echavarria
directed by David Livingston
music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Cast: Larry Dobkin (Ambassador Kell), John Fleck (Taibak), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Edward Wiley (Governor Vagh), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice), Denise Crosby (Sela)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

In Theory

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDswritten 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

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Season 04 Star Trek The Next Generation

Redemption

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 44995.3: The Enterprise is summoned to the Klingon homeworld so Picard may fulfill his final duty as arbiter of the succession of power there. Gowron intercepts the Enterprise before it arrives, warning Picard that Klingon civil war is brewing. Gowron, about to take control of the empire, is challenged by Lursa and B’etor, the sisters of Duras, who offer his son Toral as an alternative candidate for the throne. Picard, attempting to remain completely neutral in order to avoid accusations that the Federation is taking a hand in Klingon politics, denies Toral’s challenge. Those who would the family of Duras attack Gowron’s ship as he and Worf discuss the redemption of Worf’s family honor. Worf’s brother, Kurn, who now leads four squadrons of Klingon ships, saves Gowron from the attackers, but the victory is only temporary. With the revelation that Kurn is also a member of Worf’s family, Gowron returns Worf’s honor to him. Gowron then requests Federation assistance from Picard, who refuses, citing the recent attack as strictly internal Klingon matters to be dealt with only by the Empire, without Federation interference. Worf requests a leave of absence to stay temporarily on Gowron’s ship. When Picard denies permission to do this, Worf resigns from Starfleet and leaves anyway. After Worf departs, the Enterprise leaves the Klingon homeworld to avoid any further involvement. But on the Klingon planet, in the quarters of Lursa and B’etor, a Romulan officer in the shadows steps forth and predicts that Picard may return because “humans have a way of showing up when you least expect them.” And this is very true, for the words come from a woman who bears a very strong resemblance to Tasha Yar…in Romulan uniform.

Order the DVDswritten by Ronald D. Moore
directed by Cliff Bole
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), Robert O’Reilly (Gowron), Tony Todd (Captain Kurn), Barbara March (Lursa), Gwynyth Walsh (B’etor), Ben Slack (K’Tal), Nicholas Kepros (Movar), J.D. Cullum (Toral), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Tom Ormeny (Klingon First Officer), Clifton Jones (Helmsman), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice), Denise Crosby (Sela)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Redemption II

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 45020.4: War erupts between the forces of Gowron and those of the family of Duras. The forces of Duras are winning even after Gowron’s fleets destroy all of their possible supply bases. Picard plans to take starships the Klingon/Romulan border to act as a blockade against Romulan aid to the Duras followers. Various Enterprise officers are assigned to other ships, most notably Data as captain of the starship Sutherland, whose first officer, Hobson, objects to serving under an android commander. Commander Sela, half-human, half-Romulan daughter of Tasha Yar, demands that the Federation leave the border. Guinan reveals that Sela is the product of the Tasha Yar who was sent to the Enterprise-C by Picard. Gowron launches a surprise attack on their enemies. Lursa and B’etor send a plea for aid. Sela tries to slip past the Sutherland, but Data foils the plan and the Romulans are revealed and forced to retreat, leaving Lursa and B’etor helpless. They escape and abandon Toral, leaving him to Gowron. Gowron offers Worf a chance to slay Toral, but Worf chooses not to judge Toral by his father’s actions and rejoins the crew of the Enterprise. As later noted when they unexpectedly arrived at Deep Space Nine, the Duras sisters are listed by the Klingon government as renegades, but still remain at large with at least one ship of their own, trying to raise capital for a second grab at the throne of the Klingon Empire.

Order the DVDswritten by Ronald D. Moore
directed by David Carson
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), Denise Crosby (Sela), Tony Todd (Kurn), Barbara March (Lursa), Gwynyth Walsh (B’etor), J.D. Cullum (Toral), Robert O’Reilly (Gowron), Michael G. Hagerty (Captain Larg), Fran Bennett (Admiral Shonti), Nicholas Kepros (Movar), Colm Meaney (O’Brien), Timothy Carhart (Lt. Commander Hobson), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Jordan Lund (Kulge), Stephen James Carver (Helmsman), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Darmok

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDsteleplay 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

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Ensign Ro

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 45076.3: Admiral Kennelly assigns the Enterprise to help resolve tensions with the Bajora, an isolated, once-advanced race whose territory was long ago taken by the Cardassians. Since then, the Bajora have carried out terrorist attacks on the Cardassians, and now, according to Kennelly, the Bajora have traveled outside their own system and attacked a Federation outpost. The Enterprise is to contact the Bajoran terrorist leader Orta and offer serious discussions after years of sympathetic talk and no action. Ensign Ro Laren, herself a Bajoran – recently court-martialed but pulled out of prison by Kennelly – is assigned to the Enterprise. Ro is an abrasive officer who does not want to be on the ship or the mission. She does, however, tell Picard to contact Keeve, leader of a Bajoran colony that has no technology and isn’t even able to adequately feed or clothe its own people. On another planet, Picard contacts Orta – after being abducted by Orta’s guards – and discovers that the Bajora do not have the resources to attack anything beyond their own system. Ro then reveals to Picard that Kennelly is aware of this, and that she and the Enterprise are being used by the Cardassians to quietly get rid of the Bajora “threat” by escorting them straight into the Cardassians’ line of fire.

Order the DVDsteleplay by Michael Piller
story by Rick Berman and Michael Piller
directed by Les Landau
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), Michelle Forbes (Ensign Ro), Cliff Potts (Admiral Kennelly), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan), Scott Marlowe (Keeve Falor), Frank Collison (Gul Dolak), Jeffrey Hayenga (Orta), Harley Venton (Transporter Technician), Ken Thorley (Mr. Mot), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

Notes: Michelle Forbes was later offered the chance to bring Ensign Ro to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as a regular, but she opted to pursue a film career instead, and the character of Major Kira Nerys was created to fill the gap.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Silicon Avatar

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDsteleplay 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

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Disaster

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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.

Order the DVDsteleplay 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

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

The Game

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 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

Order the DVDsteleplay 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

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Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Unification I

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 45233.1: One of the Federation’s most valued advisors, Spock, has been seen on Romulus. Picard is assigned to go to Romulus undercover and find out if Spock has defected from the Federation. The Enterprise goes to Vulcan, where Picard visits Sarek, and Riker investigates the recovered wreckage of a Vulcan ship. Sarek, near death, suggests that Spock may have gone to visit Pardek, a Romulan peace advocate Spock met at the Khitomer peace conference decades ago. The next stop is the Klingon planet, where Picard borrows a cloaked ship to cross the Neutral Zone. Picard and Data, equipped with disguises, head for Romulus. Federation shipyard operator Dokachen assists Riker in the wreckage investigation. They find an unidentified ship receiving supplies from the shipyard without authorization. The ship fires at the Enterprise, which fires back at minimum power – yet the other vessel explodes. Data and Picard, having just received news of Sarek’s death, beam to Romulus and find Pardek, but before they can follow him, guards stop them and lead them to Pardek…and they discover that Spock is indeed alive and well on Romulus.

Order the DVDsteleplay by Jeri Taylor
story by Rick Berman and Michael Piller
directed by Les Landau
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), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), Mark Lenard (Sarek), Joanna Miles (Perrin), Stephen Root (Neral), Graham Jarvis (Dokachen), Malachi Throne (Pardek), Norman Large (Captain K’vada), Daniel Roebuck (Jaron), Erick Avari (B’ijik), Karen Hensel (Admiral Brackett), Mimi Cozzens (Soup Woman), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

LogBook entry by Earl Green