Relics 

The Enterprise stumbles upon a Dyson sphere, with a ship crashed on the outer surface. An away team finds some systems still powered up and the chief engineer from the old Enterprise, Montgomery Scott, locked in the transporter cycle.

Director:

Alexander Singer

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Ronald D. Moore

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Lanei Chapman	...	Ensign Sariel Rager
Erick Weiss	...	Ensign Kane
James Doohan	...	Scotty
Stacie Foster	...	Bartel
Ernie Mirich	...	Waiter
Majel Barrett	...	Enterprise Computer (voice)

Storyline

When the Enterprise locates the missing transport ship USS Jenolan, it's found to be stuck on a round object large enough to cause gravimetric disturbances, which fits the theory of a Dyson sphere, large enough to contain an entire star's powers. Riker's away team investigates the wrecked ship and finds a permanent diagnostic loop in the transporter buffer; Geordi guesses right this was the clever method to survive for 75 years used by two men, one of which has degraded, but the Enterprise's chief engineer from Kirk's days, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, is alive and confident he still can be useful. After trying Geordi's patience with his ignorant questions and dangerous presumptions, Scotty feels ready to retire. However, the gravity has both ships locked to the sphere, the star inside is about to release a flare in hours which the shields can't survive, and Scotty, who literally wrote the impulse reactor's manual, can show Geordi the real tolerance margins...

---

Plot Keywords:

u.s.s. enterprise ncc 1701 d | reference to captain kirk | man from the past | holodeck | observation lounge | 

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1992 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Doohan is the fourth Star Trek (1966): The Original Series actor to appear as the same character in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). DeForest Kelley appeared as Bones in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Encounter at Farpoint (1987), Mark Lenard appeared as Sarek in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Sarek (1990) and Star Trek: The Next Generation: Unification I (1991), and Leonard Nimoy appeared as Spock in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Unification II (1991). During the first season, Doohan heavily criticized TNG, believing it to rehash a number of classic episodes TOS had done. It was only when his family sat him down to watch the show that he began to see it in a new light.

---

Goofs

Even assuming a Dyson's sphere were possible to engineer, building one would be quite impossible. Such a structure would be comprised of metals/elements, which are produced from a planets natural resources. It would have taken the entire resources of many planets to construct such a massive sphere.

---

Quotes

[the Enterprise crew has freed Captain Scott from a transporter buffer after 75 years]
Scotty: The Enterprise? I should have known. I bet Jim Kirk himself hauled the old girl out of mothballs to come looking for me.

---

Connections

Referenced in Showbiz Today: Episode dated 24 August 1992 (1992)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

The Much-Anticipated Appearance of "Scotty"

"Relics" featured the much-anticipated appearance of James Doohan as Montgomery Scott. The story was well written; and, the episode was filled with fun moments. Overall, the episode was very enjoyable.

James Doohan was the third regular cast member from the original "Star Trek" series to reprise his character on "Star Trek: the Next Generation." Compared to the earlier appearances by his cast mates, DeForrest Kelley ("Encounter at Farpoint") and Leonard Nimoy ("Unification," parts 1 and 2); Doohan's appearance in "Relics" was probably the most satisfying of the three for fans of the Star Trek franchise. Doohan spent more time on screen than did Kelley or Nimoy in the earlier episodes; and, the story of this episode was more focused on Doohan's character. The story explored (rather than merely acknowledged) the character.

"Relics" was a great episode for "Star Trek: the Next Generation." It provided fans with a nostalgic nod towards the classic "Star Trek" series and thoroughly lived up to expectations.