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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S3.E2
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The Ensigns of Command

  • Episode aired Sep 30, 1989
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
Brent Spiner, Grainger Hines, and Mark L. Taylor in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
After 111 years of silence, an extremely litigious alien race asserts its agreed upon right to wipe out a Federation colony in its territory.After 111 years of silence, an extremely litigious alien race asserts its agreed upon right to wipe out a Federation colony in its territory.After 111 years of silence, an extremely litigious alien race asserts its agreed upon right to wipe out a Federation colony in its territory.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Cliff Bole
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Melinda M. Snodgrass
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cliff Bole
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Melinda M. Snodgrass
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos16

    Brent Spiner, Grainger Hines, and Mark L. Taylor in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner and Eileen Seeley in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Eileen Seeley in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner, Grainger Hines, and Mark L. Taylor in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Jonathan Frakes, Colm Meaney, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Capt. Jean-Luc Picardas Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Cmdr. William Rikeras Cmdr. William Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forgeas Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lt. Worfas Lt. Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Dr. Beverly Crusheras Dr. Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troias Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lt. Cmdr. Dataas Lt. Cmdr. Data
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Wesley Crusheras Wesley Crusher
    Eileen Seeley
    Eileen Seeley
    • Ard'rian McKenzieas Ard'rian McKenzie
    Mark L. Taylor
    Mark L. Taylor
    • Haritathas Haritath
    Richard Allen
    • Kentoras Kentor
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brienas Chief Miles O'Brien
    Mart McChesney
    • Sheliakas Sheliak
    George B. Colucci Jr.
    • Colonistas Colonist
    • (uncredited)
    BJ Davis
    BJ Davis
    • Colonistas Colonist
    • (uncredited)
    Shana Golden
    • Colonistas Colonist
    • (uncredited)
    Grainger Hines
    Grainger Hines
    • Goshevenas Gosheven
    • (uncredited)
    Buck McDancer
    • Colonistas Colonist
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Cliff Bole
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Melinda M. Snodgrass
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The shuttle Onizuka, which Data rode in, was named in tribute to astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.
    • Goofs
      Gosheven's spoken words do not match his mouth movements at various points throughout the episode.
    • Quotes

      [Picard has trapped the Sheliak in their own contract]

      Commander William T. Riker: You enjoyed that.

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You're damned right.

    • Connections
      Edited into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Maquis, Part I (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Severely weakened by wooden acting by most of the guest actors
    The story is decent. The crew seemed a bit thick headed not to look at the treaty a lot sooner than they did.

    It was nice to occasionally see aliens not be easily swayed by a Picard (or Kirk) speech.

    But most of the guest actors act so woodenly, I wonder if they got their lines right before shooting each scene. Or possibly they were directed to act this way.

    I don't know but it seriously degrades the entire planet side story.

    I was unaware until just now that Gosheven's lines were dubbed. Ironic because I thought he was the most convincing of the guests.
    helpful•1
    0
    • bgaiv
    • Feb 5, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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