Code of Honor (10 Oct. 1987)

When the leader of an alien culture takes a romantic interest in Lt. Yar, he claims her for his own, to the dismay of his own wife, who, in turn, challenges Tasha in a fight to the death.

Director:

Russ Mayberry

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Katharyn Powers,

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Geordi La Forge
Denise Crosby	...	Lt. Tasha Yar
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Worf (credit only)
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Cmdr. Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson	...	Lutan
Karole Selmon	...	Yareena
James Watkins	...	Hagon (as James Louis Watkins)
Michael Rider	...	Transporter Chief

Storyline

The Enterprise travels to the planet Ligon II to collect a vaccine that will prevent a particularly virulent disease on Federation planet Cyrus IV. The planet's leader, Lutan, is more than pleased to provide them with the cure but while on board takes a particular interest in the ship's security officer, Lt. Tasha Yar. He is attracted to her physically and is intrigued at her obvious skills and intelligence. He kidnaps her to show that he is a brave man but when the time comes for her return, he refuses to do so wanting to make her his first wife. His current first wife challenges Tasha to a fight to the death to retain her position. Meanwhile, Data continues to try and understand humor but the nuances continue to escape him.

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Plot Keywords:

24th century | speaking klingon

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1987 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Russ Mayberry was fired by producer Gene Roddenberry before filming was completed. Assistant Director Les Landau finished directing the episode, uncredited.

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Goofs

During the fight between Tasha and Yareena, from one angle it is clearly Tasha's stunt double fighting.

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Quotes

Yareena: How could you not love him? Every woman loves him.
Lieutenant Tasha Yar: I fight for the vaccine. That's the truth.
Yareena: The truth is I will kill you if I can. And believe me, I can. There's nothing else to say.
Lieutenant Tasha Yar: In my world it's a greater honor to refuse...
Yareena: You are on our world!

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Connections

Referenced in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cost of Living (1992)

User Reviews

My review of TNG's "Code of Honor"

The highlight of this episode is when the planet's leader Lutan kidnaps Tasha Yar to be part of his harem. The only problem is Picard must negotiate with Lutan in order to obtain a life saving vaccine needed on a Federation planet where colonists are dying. So it is up to Tasha to fight with Lutan's wife Yareena to break the bonds of marriage and obtain this valuable life saving vaccine.

This episode does not make much sense now, does it? There is an interesting "cat fight" towards the end of this episode, though. This is a strictly average, by-the-numbers episode. It's one of several episodes during the 1st Season where Tasha rushes into/or is exposed to a near death experience while on duty. Interestingly, according to IMDb, the entire guest cast of this 1987 episode are no longer employed as actors in Hollywood.

This particular episode must be quiet an embarrassment to a Hollywood career that unfortunately did not pan out for them. Good-riddance; it's better to live in the real world than get caught up in the "rat race" of cynical tinstletown...