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

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Corey Allen

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator)
D.C. Fontana (writer) ...

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

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

Following its initial airing, "Encounter at Farpoint" was re-edited into two hour-long episodes for reruns. The original two-hour version would not be seen again until the entire Next Generation series was released on DVD in 2002, 17 years later.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the first scene on the bridge, when Troi senses the Q-being, Picard refers to her as Commander. Later on the planet's surface when she tries to hold Riker back from exposing himself to danger he responds, "You have your orders, Lieutenant." (The three stars on her uniform would clearly identify her as carrying the rank of Commander).

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 - this Galaxy-class U.S.S...

Movie Connections:

References Pinocchio (1971)

Welcome to the 24th Century!

"Encounter at Farpoint" is set a century after the original Enterprise's historic 5-year mission. A new starship, the Galaxy class USS Enterprise-D is launched under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his courageous first officer Commander William T. Riker.

Captain Picard and his crew's first assignment is to investigate the mystery of Farpoint station, built by the inhabitants of planet Deneb IV. Along the way, the crew encounters an omni-potent being known as "Q," who puts mankind on trial for its history of barbarism. When Commander Riker and his away team eventually discover that Farpoint station is actually an alien lifeform, it's up to them to resolve the conflict with benevolent means...or face the wrath of Q.

Review:

I remember watching this episode in its original broadcast. Halfway into the episode, I realized that Commander Riker was poised as the focus of the new show. Frakes's performance as Riker reminded me of the second coming of "James T. Kirk" with his charisma and bravado. John de Lancie performed admirably as Q, with his wit and malevolence, and it was good to see Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) again in his surprising cameo. I especially loved the exciting saucer separation sequence, as well as the scene where Riker calls Data "Pinnochio" in reference to Data's yearning to become human. This was a brand new crew for a new generation, and although the show did not involve Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, I was in awe of the long mission ahead of them...

Rating: 4/4 stars (4 stars: Excellent. 3 stars: Good. 2 stars: Average. 1 star: Poor.)