Code of Honor 

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.

Directors:

Russ Mayberry, Les Landau (uncredited)

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Katharyn Powers

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
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
Julian Christopher	...	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:

human betazoid woman | cargo bay | explosion | ship to shore communication | human boy | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2012, Patrick Stewart agreed with fans who consider Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Measure of a Man (1989) to be "the first truly great episode of the series," stating that the first season "had several quite weak episodes". Referring to this episode in particular he said, "I can think of one very early on that involved a race of black aliens that we all felt quite embarrassed about."

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Goofs

When Geordi is shaving we see the razor on his right cheek when viewed from over his shoulder but when the camera angle changes to a front view the razor is on his left cheek. It is again on his left cheek when the camera angle changes.

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Quotes

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: By our standards, the customs here, their... code of honor, is the same kind of pompous, strutting charades that endangered our own species a few centuries ago. We evolved out of it because no one tried to impose their own set of... I'm sorry, this is becoming a speech.
Counselor Deanna Troi: You're the Captain, sir. You're entitled.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Hmm - not entitled to ramble on about something everyone knows. Carry on.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: The Next Generation End Credits
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Not as bad as the current ratings, though I am sure a few folks might be offended by this one.

The Enterprise finds itself at Ligon II--a planet with an honor- based culture and a look that is very similar to tribal Africans. Picard is actually amazingly inept dealing with these folks, and when the Lionese kidnap Lt. Yar, he thinks like a human--not like these people. Eventually, when he begins to think more like them, relations go much better--which is important since these people have a cure for a space plague and the Federation needs it.

This isn't as bad an episode as the dismal current score of 5.2 would imply. It's actually pretty good. However, I do think that some people might be a bit offended by this one, as the tribal folks are all black people and the tone seems a tad patronizing.

UPDATE: By the way, it isn't just me who hated this episode. At the 50th anniversary Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, this was voted as one of the 10 worst of all episodes from every Trek franchise! That is some ignoble designation! So, perhaps I was too charitable towards this one!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

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

Runtime:

46 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1