"Star Trek: The Next Generation" Encounter at Farpoint (1987)

Director:

Corey Allen

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator)
D.C. Fontana (written by) ...

TV Series:

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Original Air Date:

26 September 1987 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

On the maiden mission of a new Enterprise, the God-like being known as Q challenges the crew to discover the secret of a mysterious base in a truly intelligent & civilized fashion.

Plot Keywords:

Star Trek | Space | Humanity On Trial | Futuristic | TV Series Pilot

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lieutenant Geordi La Forge
Denise Crosby	...	Lieutenant Tasha Yar
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
John de Lancie	...	Q
Michael Bell	...	Zorn
DeForest Kelley	...	Admiral Leonard McCoy
Colm Meaney	...	Battle Bridge Conn
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	Mandarin Bailiff (as Cary-Hiroyuki)
Timothy Dang	...	Main Bridge Security

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

In the original premiere script, Geordi was going to be gay.

Goofs:

Continuity: The "Q bubble" is meant to surround the Enterprise, but when the saucerless Enterprise surrenders, the near edge of the bubble is clearly behind it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Captain's Log, Stardate 41153.7. Our destination is planet Deneb IV, beyond which lies the great, unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile, I am becoming better acquainted with my new command...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Star Trek: Generations (1994)

I can't believe it...it's been over 15-years since "Encounter at Farpoint" first premiered, and here we are on the eve of the theatrical premiere of "Star Trek: Nemesis."

I was born in the mid-70's, so I grewup with the original "Star Trek" (1966-1969) in re-run syndication from the early to late-80's. But, I wasn't into "Star Trek" exclusively, having watched dozens of TV sitcoms and cartoons that cameout of the 80's. The original "Star Trek" was one of the many shows that I was into during the 80's. When "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" cameout on VHS in 1987, it came with a 60-second promo for "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and upon seeing it, I immediately set a date to catch this series when it came on the air in the fall of 1987.

At the time when "Encounter at Farpoint" first premiered, the only 2 elements of the original "Star Trek" that I could relate to were the following:

1.) The USS Enterprise (new ship, but the same name..)

2.) Commander William Riker's uncanny resemblance to one of my childhood heroes...Captain James T. Kirk.

Plus, it didn't hurt to have LeVar Burton of "Reading Rainbow" join the cast. Even behind that dorky-looking visor, I could totally tell it was him.

As for my first impressions of the rest of the cast:

Picard- I found him to be an old, stodgy, Ebenezer Scrooge-type. I thought that casting this old man was a big mistake, because in my mind, no one could replace Kirk as the legendary captain of the USS Enterprise.

Riker- In my eyes, he was James T. Kirk reborn. What more could I say, he was the hero of the story. :)

Data- I quickly caught onto the impression that Data was to be this new show's android version of Spock.

Worf- A background character.

Tasha- A background character who reminded me of Bonnie from "CHiPs."

Troi- Painfully annoying with her "So much pain..." rant.

Beverly- I found the backstory of her husband's death to be quite moving.

Wesley- What is a kid doing on the bridge of the Enterprise? (In otherwords, I have to admit that I was jealous..)

I was quite intimidated by Q (especially in the post atomic horror courtroom..), and wondered whether or not, Lieutenant Torres and the redshirt at conn on the battle bridge were members of the regular cast.

I can't believe it...it's been over 15-years since "Encounter at Farpoint" first premiered, and here we are on the eve of the theatrical premiere of "Star Trek: Nemesis." :)