Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) Liaisons (1993) User Reviews

Unusual ambassadors

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 28 August 2015]

This episode sees the Enterprise hosting two Ilarian ambassadors as Picard travels to their home world with a third. Things get off to an awkward start when one of them, who was meant to be looked after by Riker, insists that he must be looked after by Worf. From then on he is consistently rude; it is almost as if he is deliberately goading Worf. The ambassador assigned to Troi couldn't be more different; he is friendly and keen to enjoy himself; especially when he discovers the delights of chocolate. Picard meanwhile has greater problems; the shuttle he is travelling in hits a spacial anomaly and crash lands on a remote planet. The Ilarian is seriously injured so Picard goes to seek help. He is caught in a plasma storm and rendered unconscious. When he wakes up he finds he has been moved to crashed cargo transporter by a woman who says she has been alone on the planet for seven years. She informs him that she went to the shuttle and found the Ilarian dead. He is determined to find a way to contact help but while she claims to be keen to escape the planet her actions suggest otherwise… then she starts hitting on Picard; claiming to be in love with him!

After a dramatic season opener this is more of an 'alien of the week' episode; that doesn't mean it isn't fun though. Of the two ambassadors on the Enterprise the one who is with Worf provides most of the entertainment; his belligerence and rudeness look sure to start a fight and when they finally do his reaction is priceless, we also have an hilarious moment when Data points out that all these negative traits mean he and Worf have a lot in common. The story on the planet is intriguing although I'm sure most viewers will get an inkling that the woman isn't what she claims to be long before Picard learns the truth. When we finally learn the reasons behind what we have seen it makes sense within the context of an alien race making contact with a new society. Overall this might not be a classic but it is still a decent episode with a good mix of drama and humour.

Worf, chocolate and a lady much like Kathy Bates in "Misery"...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 1 December 2014]

While "Liasons" is a pretty good episode, I should also point out that the problems that the Enterprise crew have with the Ilarians are EASY to figure out...and it makes no sense that it takes everyone so long to figure out what's happening! This is a serious weakness in an otherwise decent plot.

When the Ilarian ambassadors enter the ship, one of the ambassadors requests that Worf escort him around instead of Riker. The other is escorted by Troi and he spends most of the show eating EVERYTHING that is edible. Later, Picard is stranded on a planet and is discovered by a screwy lady who is HIGHLY reminiscent of Kathy Batesin "Misery". What do these three things have in common? See the show.

As I said, the idea in of the Ilarians is novel and interesting. I just wished it had been handled a tad differently--making it all a bit less obvious.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Liaisons

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 15 February 2015]

Iyaarans are new to the Federation (and the ways of officers and how they function emotionally/behaviorally), and so a "cultural exchange" takes place so that "diplomatic relations" could commence between the two parties. One of the Iyaarans seems to purposely instigate Worf's resolve, asking him to do menial deeds for him and constantly cutting him off, using belittling tactics to incite/goad him to anger. The other is introduced to desserts by Troi, and his appetites become insatiable. Picard takes a shuttle with the third Iyaaran, but the dialogue between them is rough at best. When the shuttlecraft hits an "energy discharge" during their journey, crashlanding on a planet with constant "plasma interference", Picard and the Iyaaran are hurt. The crash supposedly kills the Iyaaran while Picard strays from the shuttlecraft to search for medical assistance, hit by a "plasma charge" (basically a lightning bolt) and injured. He is pulled away by a woman named Anna, for whom he awakens to. She proves to be an obsessive captor needing Picard to love her! She even accosts him with kisses and appeals for his love in one strange scene as Picard has to force her off of his person! Told he has broken ribs and that the Iyaaran is dead, Picard recuperates and soon learns that Anna is not who she says. She tells him she has spent seven years on the uninhabited planet and that thoughts of leaping from a precipice to her doom have crept in her heart at moments. When her love isn't shared and Picard "calls her bluff" on jumping (a necklace is a clue), he soon discovers something the Iyaarans have been needing to understand is the reason he's on the godforsaken planet. Human emotion (well, not just human, just concepts like love, antagonism, and the joy of "bad food") intrigues the Iyaarans so they want to get as much understanding of it as possible. Okay episode is more amusing than anything else, a tiny blip within the long-running series, "Liaisons" won't be confused with Yesterday's Enterprise or Relics, but it has its entertainment value. If anything seeing Worf uncomfortably stuck in a diplomatic role has its comic value, and seeing the Iyaaran rise up after being physically assaulted by Worf thanking the Klingon for enlightening him on the use of violence on the receiving end of antagonism is a hoot! Troi getting tired of chocolate after her Iyaaran has been feeding himself silly over the course of his stay is also quite funny. "Liaisons" is more of a diversion than something you'll remember long after its over. The planet Picard and Anna (stuck in a freighter that had crashed with Anna the only survivor, those once on the ship Terrellians, had perished) are trapped is another one of those barren, rocky horrors with constant electrical discharges quite used in the early seasons.

Different methodology.

[russem31 · 1 May 2006]

ST:TNG:154 - "Liaisons" (Stardate: Unknown) - this is the 2nd episode of the 7th and last season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The Enterprise welcomes Iyaaran ambassadors as part of a cultural exchange with this new race. While Troi gets an ambassador that loves food (especially dessert), Worf (who doesn't want to be an ambassador) gets one that's rude and selfish (getting on Worf's nerves). Meanwhile, Picard and a pilot are en route to their planet to meet the ambassador there but are forced to crash land on a desolate planet. With the pilot killed and Picard knocked unconscious, he is rescued by a woman named Anna who has been on this planet by herself for 7 years.

But Picard soon suspects that Anna isn't who she seems, and neither are the ambassadors onboard the Enterprise.

Trivia note: Troi's love of desserts is shown here - especially chocolate (including a chocolate puff with 17 varieties of chocolate in it)! Also, Anna crashed landed 7 years ago (an homage I think to the fact this is the 7th season). And, we see another one of the crew's poker games.

So Many Characters Seem Able to Perform Magic

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 7 October 2014]

Three "Larians" are visiting the Enterprise on a diplomatic mission. Each has an interesting being about him. One is gregarious, attracted to Troi and food. He gorges himself and acts as a glutton for pleasure. The second is a hostile, confrontational bully, who chooses Worf to attend to him and then abuses his powers (obviously, Worf can do nothing because these are their guests). The third goes on a mission with Picard on a shuttlecraft. He barely speaks to Picard, seeming to be quite annoyed at being with him. A malfunction in the shuttlecraft sends them to a planet that has intense storms. They are trapped and Picard, leaving his "friend" behind (he was badly injured in the crash) tries a bit of reconnaissance but is hit by a bolt from the sky. He is rescued by an attractive young woman who takes him with her to her hiding place. She nurses him, but keeps him locked up. I think that if there is a bit of a weakness in the verisimilitude in this series, it has to do with shape changing and out and out magical abilities of the aliens. I will not spoil anything, but even in science fiction, there are some things that are far fetched. It's a fun episode if one doesn't think too much.

This episode is funny, in a Star Trek sort of way

[snarky-trek-reviews · 7/10 · 1 March 2019]

Worf and Riker bro down while they put on dresses. Riker gets all SJW on Worf before complementing him. They meet up with Picard and Troi. Troi is wearing a dress too, but Picard just has on a snazzy jacket. They meet up with three aliens and then go to 10 forward for a party. Except for Picard, he and one of the aliens go for a bromantic shuttle ride.

Everyone at the party in 10 forward has a grand old time except for Worf who gets to play waiter for his alien companion. Data makes small talk with Worf and its pretty funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

Meanwhile on the shuttle, Picard and his alien brodie are having an awkward moment when the power suddenly fails and they have to crash land on a desolate planet. Communications are out and Pircard's brodie is hurt so Picard goes outside to look for help. Its noteworthy how many breathable atmospheres there are in the Star Trek universe. He's hit by a plasma discharge and rescued by a stranger.

Back on the Enterprise Worf is playing nice with his new frienemy (Geordi is too modest, I'd have said yes because its so obviously true). Troi is out and about with her new alien bestie who's never seen a child before. They make a new friend and then go get desert. Its funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

On the planet Picard awakens to find himself injured and alone with a mysterious women named Ana. She tells him that his Brodie is dead and then leaves the room for what I assume was a commercial break. Turns out she's been stranded herself for 7 years (since stardate 40812). Not to worry though, she's off to the shuttle to get a communications device.

On the Enterprise Worf is plotting a murder. Riker and Troi are quite pleased with his frustrations. Its actually pretty funny, in a Star Trek sort of way. They plan to play a game of poker.

Meanwhile Picard's new boo has destroyed the communications device with a phaser. She expresses her hopelessness, mulls over suicide, and confesses her love for Picard in an effort to get into his pants. Then she makes him dinner and starts forcing the issue while he works on a way off the planet. Its a little awkward.

Worf is still bad at poker. Not only does he lack a poker face but he keeps his chips in front of another player. The ensuing conflict is completely predictable and somewhat funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

Hooray, Picard has MacGyvered a way off the planet but his savior would rather stay and bang him out. Her desperation is palpable. No means no Ana, no means no.

Spoiler spoiler plot exposition spoiler.

Picard and his brodie head back to the Enterprise where Worf and his new bestie have been fighting in the holodeck. Homeostasis is restored and the credits roll.

Over all this episode is pretty good as a one off, but its not very memorable. Every time I rewatch TNG I forget all about this episode until it rolls around. And then I end up enjoying the B-story on the Enterprise much more than the A-story on the planet. Its not badly written by any means, its just not quite to my taste.

Verdict: Funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

It's Misery... in SPPPAAAAACCCEEEEE

[hovraluckm · 7/10 · 23 May 2023]

Honestly - I can't bring myself to rate almost any TNG episode poorly, but this one very much feels like a been there done that. If I wanted another shapeshifting alien in the Star Trek universe, I would go watch DS9.

The yin and yang of the diplomats on the ship is kind of interesting, but even that feels a bit heavy handed in both directions. This is also another of a long line of "Klingons are supposed to be strong warriors, but here's another example of an enraged Worf getting shut down immediately. (I mean, it IS Riker doing his best Zangief impression, but still)

As usual - Sir Patrick Stewart does his absolute best with the plotline he has. It's far from the best TNG episode out there; and also not quite in the basement.

I just about stayed with it

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 4 January 2022]

Enterprise hosts three ambassadors.

For me this is quite a flat episode as it has a predictable story that is not the most interesting.

There are no scenes that are particularly badly made, I just struggle to engage with the plot and characters when they are depicted as failing to see what is being done to them in this type of situation. That being said the 'Misery' tribute is relatively fun and Picard makes an interesting observation at the end.

Performances are good and so are the production values, but it is mostly lost on me and I find myself at times willing it to finish. This is probably a matter of personal taste, so others may like it.

REVIEW 2022

[iamirwar · 9/10 · 2 October 2022]

Is Worf procrastinating? ... or deliberately wasting time in order to miss or delay his appointment at some gathering or other? He does have a brand new sash. He is expected to spend about five minutes greeting the Iyaarans and maybe an hour making small talk.

Captain Picard is being taken down to the Iyaaran homeworld as part of this diplomatic mission.

They've certainly put on a good spread, yet Worf's new ambassador friend is angling for a good slap. In fact, its amazing Data hasn't been given a slap aswell.

Imagine being stuck in a lift with the most arrogant, rude and annoying of persons. That is more-or-less, the gist of this episode. Add to that a most inhospitable of environments and Anna that doesn't want to be left alone again. Think Misery: Stephen King. To be honest, the first time I saw this episode 29 years ago, I thought I might enjoy the idea of being trapped on the planet with Anna. But not if she's Voval as well??? That would be creepy.

We have a trio of stories involving different members of some of the crew, and each in different locations It has to be said that Troi is looking particularly sweet with her new hairstyle and now she has introduced her charge to delicious treats. Picard gets stranded on a hostile planet, and Worf continues to keep his temper in check. He's stealing himself very well. So, we have drama-comedy.

I liked this one very much... it was a little bit different from the usual home-world fare and a good start to the final season, this being the first stand-alone episode of the set as opposed the two-part season six finale/season seven opener, Descent.

This Episodes Clue: Paul Sheldon

(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)

Experiencing humanity through performance art.

[thevacinstaller · 6/10 · 7 May 2021]

The idea is interesting ---- aliens who have no understanding of human/starfleet emotion attempt to understand it by essentially putting on a dramatic performance to experience the emotions.

There is nothing inherently bad about this episode but the pacing/flow of it really dragged for me. It was fun to see Worf endure the intolerable ambassador but I did not get much out of the ambassador with the sweet tooth. The ambassador of love (my pet nickname) storyline was interesting enough and extremely awkward with a 'no means no' physical assault from the ambassador.

I think the scene between Picard and the Ambassador could have been resigned to take up the majority of the episode and would have landed better for me if we had truly no idea what was going on. Like perhaps this is the aliens societies idea of first contact?

Not an overly enjoyable experience for me despite good performances from the majority of the players.

A Senior Trekker writes................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 6 March 2022]

The final season of Star Trek, the Next Generation gave us some splendid episodes and also a fair share of stinkers. Everyone knew by this stage that they would not be renewed and attempts were made to wrap up various story lines before they said their final goodbyes. There is still a great deal to be enjoyed.

As I've already stated many times, there is no accounting for taste. I REALLY LIKE THIS EPISODE. Not so much for the flummery taking place aboard ship but for the highly atmospheric mystery that embroils Captain Picard when the shuttle taking him on a diplomatic exchange mission crashes on a remote planet.

Veteran director Cliff Bole has ramped up the tension between Patrick Stewart and Canadian guest actress Barbara Williams to the extent that I really felt their uncomfortable disconnect. Skilful lighting gave the shelter built inside a crashed spacecraft an authentic look and the weather effects were convincing enough. Of course, all of this requires a considerable suspension of disbelief, especially when looking back from a era of much more advanced special effects, but I thought that these two theatrical actors were more than able to bring the script to life. Yes, I know that the final scene between them took place against a painted backdrop and that many viewers had long since worked out what was going on with the necklace but for me this episode generated the atmosphere of a classic SciFi. Story.

Guest actors Paul Eiding, Ricky D'Shon Collins and Michael Harris make an enjoyable trio of ambassadors, stretching the hospitality of the Enterprise Crew to the limits. Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn both get splendid comic turns as their long-suffering hosts but it is Cmdr Worf's barely suppressed rage that steals every scene.

Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.

Everything you Can dream of a Star trek episode

[nicofreezer · 9/10 · 19 January 2022]

This episode " Liaisons " got the total package, everything a star trek fan Can ask is there right here, A main character on an hostile planet , with a weird stranger there, this episode makes me think a bit to " all our Yesterday" with Spock and a woman.

But the Great thing about TNG is that there is always an other plot to the main one, in this one it is a very funny one with Work and Deanna.

9/10.

The Ilarians want to know first hand

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 18 November 2019]

The Federation is about to open diplomatic relations with the Ilarians and three emissaries come over to the Enterprise and each take an Enterprise crew member to work on an aspect of human emotions that they don't have.

Deanna Troi gets an eager to please Ilarian who falls in love with the human concept of desserts with meals. Marina Sirtis just keeps feeding him sweets of all kinds.

Worf gets an obnoxious twit of an emissary and let's baiting a bear is less hazardous to your health than baiting a Klingon.

And Captain Picard gets to fly with a third on a shuttlecraft that is forced down and he is held by a strange woman who's warm for his form. That one is truly revealing.

Interesting storym especially the Worf part.

Barbara Williams Ruined It

[jaigurudavid · 4/10 · 31 October 2019]

Holy smoke is she terrible. Perhaps she's trying to be a dippy hippy character? Or perhaps she's just a bad actress.

"This has been an enlightening experience."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 5 April 2024]

Ilarian ambassadors arrive on board the Enterprise on a diplomatic mission, but their real motive isn't revealed until the end of the story. Not knowing what human emotions are all about, two of the Ilarians who remain on the vessel are escorted by officers. Ambassador Loquel is shown around by Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) and Ambassador Byleth (Michael Harris) specifically asks for Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn). Voval (Eric Pierpoint) had the assignment of bringing Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) back to the Ilarian home planet for the assumed diplomatic mission. While en route, their shuttlecraft malfunctioned, and the vessel crashed on an M-class planet, with Picard leaving the vessel to find help for the injured and near death Voval.

Aboard the Enterprise, Counselor Troi is soon worn out by Loquel's voracious appetite, especially for sweet desserts that he's never had before. Byleth on the other hand, is nothing but surly toward Worf, and you know how that can infuriate the Klingon. When Worf can't take it anymore, he hands Byleth a serious beat down, but surprisingly, it seems like the Ilarian actually welcomed it. Meanwhile, Picard finds himself being tended to by an attractive woman on the far-flung planet, who stated that she's been marooned there for seven years. When she expresses her love for the Captain, he tactfully but firmly informs her that it's only the situation they find themselves in that had given rise to her feelings of attraction. Disappointed, it appears that she's ready to go off and harm herself, but the Captain sorts things out when Voval suddenly appears uninjured, suggesting they look for the woman named Anna (Barbara Williams).

The upshot of all this is that the Ilarians, unaccustomed to human emotions, were all in the process of examining such traits as pleasure, antagonism and love, with each ambassador targeting an Enterprise officer for how they reacted under the given conditions to elicit the responses they were each attempting to discover and understand. The story's most humorous moment occurred when Worf complained about Byleth being demanding, temperamental and rude, prompting Commander Data (Brent Spiner) to remark that Worf shared all of the same qualities, and to use those similarities to build a relationship!