A Matter of Honor 

Under an Officers Exchange Program, Riker serves aboard a Klingon ship, whose aging captain seeks an unwarranted bloody retaliation for suspected Enterprise treachery.

Director:

Rob Bowman

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Burton Armus (teleplay by)

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Geordi La Forge (credit only)
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Worf
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi (credit only)
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
Diana Muldaur	...	Doctor Pulaski
John Putch	...	Ensign Mendon
Christopher Collins	...	Captain Kargan
Brian Thompson	...	Second Officer Klag
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
Peter Parros	...	Tactics Officer
Laura Drake	...	Vekma

Storyline

When the Federation promotes an officer exchange program, Commander Riker decides to accept an assignment aboard a Klingon war ship. As the first Federation officer to serve aboard a Klingon vessel, Riker has to gain the trust of his new shipmates and particularly that of his irascible captain. As part of the same exchange program, the Enterprise welcomes aboard Ensign Mendon from a culture that is forever seeking to improve operational efficiency. When he discovers a bacteria attacking the integrity of the ship's hull, he searches for a solution on his own rather than reporting it. When the same bacteria affects the Klingon ship, its Captain believes the Enterprise is responsible and orders an attack.

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Plot Keywords:

bearded man | acting starfleet ensign | communicator badge | klingon security chief | audio communication | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Klingon

Release Date:

4 February 1989 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 45 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Starbase 179" is mentioned five times within the first minute of this episode, including twice by Data, and twice by Commander Riker.

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Goofs

When the Klingon captain is beamed onto the Enterprise bridge, he reaches for a weapon. Worf phase-stuns him while Data acts to shield Captain Picard. The crew's behavior is unnecessary as the transporter can detect and disarm weaponry.

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Quotes

Captain Kargan: You should have killed me.
Commander William T. Riker: I don't want your command.
Captain Kargan: But you tricked me to get it.
Commander William T. Riker: Either way you can have it back.
Captain Kargan: ...Then return to your station.
[Riker glances a Klag and stays where he is. Kargan hits him. Klag checks on Riker]
Captain Kargan: Get him off my ship!
Lt. Klag: Yes, Captain.
[to Riker]
Lt. Klag: You understand the Klingons better than I thought, Commander.
[...]

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Connections

References Star Trek: The Next Generation: Coming of Age (1988)

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User Reviews

A Klingon tradition

There's a cultural exchange program going on with Star Fleet and the Enterprise welcomes several new crew members including some alien races on board. One of them is played by John Putch and apparently one of the characteristics of these folks is an overeagerness to please. For Worf who is in charge of Putch that amounts to butt-kissing something that Klingons find loathsome.

But there are bigger problems. Commander Riker is sent aboard a Klingon vessel and he is serving under a captain played by Christopher Collins who is a belligerent sort. Getting a few pointers in Klingon culture from Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes learns that assassination is a tradition from a subordinate if one things the superior officer isn't doing the job.

I'm an agreement with another reviewer because I can't see how that would lead to anything but chaos. Still when a rust like virus infects the Enterprise and the Klingon ship Frakes uses some Klingon rules to save both ships as Collins is hell bent on a fight with the Enterprise.

I'll tell you one thing. After observing the Klingon Mess Hall scene I'm never having them cater anything.