A Matter of Perspective

Episode aired Feb 10, 1990
TV-PG
46m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

3.5K

YOUR RATING

Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, and Mark Margolis in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Space Sci-Fi Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

The widow of respected scientist Dr. Nel Apgar accuses Riker of seducing her and killing her husband. Rather than turn Riker over for unfavorable trial, the Enterprise reconstructs the facts... Read allThe widow of respected scientist Dr. Nel Apgar accuses Riker of seducing her and killing her husband. Rather than turn Riker over for unfavorable trial, the Enterprise reconstructs the facts.The widow of respected scientist Dr. Nel Apgar accuses Riker of seducing her and killing her husband. Rather than turn Riker over for unfavorable trial, the Enterprise reconstructs the facts.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

3.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Picard is never seen painting again. A deleted scene had Picard throw red paint at his painting after Data's crushing criticism of his work.

Goofs
Krag points to the sensor logs that show an energy discharge from Riker's position to the science station's generator. Krag claims that Riker fired a phaser just as he beamed out. No one disputes this. But in The Most Toys (1990) O'Brien can tell that a phaser has been fired just before transport. Surely he could read Riker's weapon as well, and that would be evidence as to whether Riker fired at all.

Quotes
[O'Brien has beamed Riker back from the research station]
Chief Miles O'Brien: Transporter room to bridge. He's aboard.
Commander William T. Riker: Why do you sound so surprised, Mr. O'Brien?
Chief Miles O'Brien: Well, for a moment, we weren't sure you left the space station in time.
Commander William T. Riker: In time for what?
Chief Miles O'Brien: It just exploded, sir.

Connections
Referenced in Star Trek: Lower Decks: Kayshon, His Eyes Open (2021)

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

User reviews23

Review

Featured review

6/10

Number One, on the mercy of the court

Well, they can't all be winners. 'A Matter of Perspective' restages TNG as a mock trial with Commander Riker on the hook for attempted murder. What follows is a series of exhibits, cross-examinations and analysis, and that's about as dull as it sounds. There's an almost lighthearted tone in the episode's opening, having Riker loitering on the bridge (totally in the dog house) while everyone else gets down to business; and I do like the scientific use of the holodeck aside from its usual role in endangering the ship.

The episode's title is pretty succinct: it's all about changes in perspective. But it's not one of the more engaging episodes.