The crew of the newly commissioned USS Enterprise-D are challenged by Q to solve the mystery of a strange base in a civilized fashion.
Summary
In 2364, Jean-Luc Picard assumes captaincy of the Enterprise-D. En route to Farpoint Station, an immensely powerful being called "Q" intrudes aboard the ship and accuses humanity of being an immature species. To prove their worthiness, they have to solve the "mystery of Farpoint Station". It turns out that the inhabitants of Deneb IV, the Bandi, have captured a huge space-dwelling being to serve as their starbase. The Enterprise helps to free the creature and Q, disappointed that the crew was smarter than he thought, retreats-though he hints that it won't be the last time they see him.
Saucer separation of the NCC-1701-D.
Memorable Quotes
"I don't see no points on your ears boy, but you sound just like a Vulcan!"
"I am an android."
(grunts)"Almost as bad..."
- Admiral McCoy to Data
"You treat her [the Enterprise] like a lady, she'll always bring you home..."
- Admiral McCoy to Data
"If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are!"
- Jean-Luc Picard
"Let's seen what this Galaxy Class ship can do!" - Jean-Luc Picard
Background
- This marks the final television appearance of DeForest Kelley before his death on June 11, 1999, discounting his appearance in DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations", which was archive footage from The Original Series.
- Colm Meaney (Miles O'Brien) and John de Lancie (Q) are the only actors, besides the regulars, to appear in both this episode and the finale "All Good Things...". However, Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar), who left the cast in "Skin of Evil" and was therefore not a regular at the time of the finale, also appeared in both episodes.
- Industrial Light and Magic did the special effects only for this episode, but was also credited for the rest of the series because footage was continuously reused.
- This episode is the first mention of the Ferengi Alliance on Star Trek.
- The diamond-shaped chrome shelf unit in the Farpoint Mall set comes from Kirk's apartment in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
- This episode is the only one with the credits scrolling up instead of fading the text, as done in the other 177 episodes.
- Picard describes the facsimile 2079 court created by Q as "...one that agreed with that line from Shakespeare: 'Kill all the lawyers.'" This is a line from Shakespeare's play Henry VI, Part II.
- In the very final scene is the only time Tasha Yar can be seen wearing the skirt style uniform.
- Despite being the first episode of an extremely highly-regarded sereies, this episode is often seen by fans as being one of the worst.
Links and References
Main Cast
- Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard
- Jonathan Frakes as William Riker
- LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
- Denise Crosby as Natasha Yar
- Michael Dorn as Worf
- Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher
- Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
- Brent Spiner as Data
- Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher
Guest Stars
- John de Lancie as Q
- Michael Bell as Zorn
Special Guest Appearance By
Co-Starring
- Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
- Jimmy Ortega as Lt. Torres
- Timothy Dang as bridge security officer
- Evelyn Guerrero as female computer ensign
- David Erskine as Bandi shopkeeper
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as the Mandarin bailiff
- Chuck Hicks as drugged military officer
- Phil Fondacaro as bell ringer (uncredited)
References
2036; 2079; Altair III; android; apple; Bandi; battle bridge; battle section; Betazed; Betazoid; chief medical officer (CMO); combadge; commie (Communism); Crusher, Jack; Deneb IV; DeSoto, Robert; EM spectrum; encyclopedia; Enterprise-D, USS; exobiology; Farpoint Station; Ferengi; forcefield; French language; fruit; Galaxy-class starship; geothermal energy; groppler; gymnasium; "Henry VI, Part II"; hologram; holodeck; holoprogram; Hood, USS; humanity; imzadi; joke; library computer access and retrieval system (LCARS); Livingston (fish); narcotics; NCC-7100; New United Nations; old Bandi City; Pinocchio; "Pop Goes the Weasel"; post-atomic horror; Prime Directive; primary hull; probability mechanics; Q (species); Q Continuum; saucer module; saucer separation; secondary hull; Shakespeare, William; stardrive section; Starfleet Academy; startime; transporter; United Earth; United States; US Marine Corps; VISOR; viewscreen; Vulcan; woodland pattern; World War III; yellow alert.
External links
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Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 |
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