Star Trek Episode of the Week: Encounter at Farpoint

Image: Star Trek: The Next Generation. Copyright CBS Paramount Studios.

Welcome back to the no-longer-on-hiatus Star Trek Episode of the Week. I plan on slamming through every episode of Next Generation from beginning to end. That means that this week, I will be covering the series’ debut, “Encounter at Farpoint.”

Plot: On its way to check out Farpoint Station, a potential trading partner for the Federation, the Enterprise runs into a giant psychedelic chain link fence. The crew does its best to demonstrate the capabilities of the Enterprise to the TV audience, but simply cannot escape this threat.

It turns out a being of incredible power, Q, is behind the antics. He wants to put humanity on trial for being a “grievously savage race.” Picard eventually talks him into testing that claim by allowing the Enterprise to continue on its mission to Farpoint and reviewing the findings.

Character Development: This episode introduces us to the new crew of the all new Star Trek: The Next Generation. We discover that:

• Data is an android who has graduated from the academy and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander, yet behaves like he’s never been around humans before.
• Geordi’s eyes don’t work, but he has a visor that gives him special visual powers.
• Riker has already nailed Troi, and may soon be moving on to the other women checking him out.
• Picard is a hard-ass who hates children, his crew, and pretty much everyone else.
• Wesley Crusher is an annoying twat.
• Worf is a Klingon and behaves like one.
• Tasha Yar is without interesting character traits that can be developed in further episodes.

Forehead of the Week: That’s got to be the Bandi of Deneb IV. This species is primarily known for its abuse of giant space jellyfish for fun and profit. They are very similar to humans in appearance, although they tend toward long, scraggly hair and miserable facial expressions.

Memorable Quote: “Let’s hope they find you as tasty as they did their past associates.” – Picard, discussing the dangers of the Ferengi. Apparently Quark has an appetite for more than just Latinum.