Top 50 Epsiodes #08-06

EPISODES 8-6

# 8. THE VISITOR

Deep Space Nine, Season 4

Episode Number 76

Info and General Credits

Directed by David Livingston

Written by Michael Taylor

Aired 1995

Stardate Unknown

Guest Cast

Older Jake Sisko Tony Todd

Korena Sisko Galyn Görg

Nog Aron Eisenberg

Melanie Rachael Robinson

Premise

When a tragic accident in the Defiant's engineering room seemingly kills Captain Sisko it ends an era on the station, and for Jake in particular, a difficult and painful transition is in store for him as he seeks to find a new direction in life. But when the ghostly apparition of his father appears before him, it becomes apparent that he is not dead after all, but trapped out of time, in intricate layers of subspace - a freak occurrence triggered by a subspace inversion of the wormhole. Jake takes up school again and goes to work in researching subspace mechanics, and he his prepared to spend a life time in his pursuit to get his father back.

Comments

This was quite a stark contrast to the season opener, 'The Way of The Warrior', in fact I can't liken it to any other Star Trek show. So the fact that it is new, interesting, different, and has significantly emotive undertones bodes well for it straight away. I don't need to go into the plot of this one, nor do I have to comment too heavily on the performances or technical issues. They all speak for themselves.

Tony Todd is excellent as the aging Jake Sisko, and both he and Avery Brooks play exceedingly well off each other, and their plight is entirely convincing. From start to finish we are taken on an emotionally rich journey, tinged with hints of grief, regret, melancholy, even desperation - not all of which are ingredients you'd always expect to make an enjoyable episode, but in my eyes, that which moves me impresses me. Sometimes productions such as this, in any show, don't work out as intended. Something which is meant to be emotionally charged can often fail to hit the mark quite precisely, and we end up being totally aloof to the story and characters. Not so here. Like the death of Spock in Star Trek II, this moving slice of Trek really does provide the emotive effect the material intends. As you will see with most of the episodes in this top ten, they move, they compel and engage, and as such they stand in out above the rest in many regards.

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Soundbites:

Writers take note:

Sisko: "I'm no writer, but if I were, it seems to me I'd want to poke my head up every once in a while and take a look around, see what's going on. It's life Jake, you can miss it if you don't open your eyes."

A promise Jake couldn't keep:

Sisko: "Let go Jake! If not for yourself, then for me. You still have time to make a better life for yourself. Promise you'll do that! Promise me!!"

# 7. FIRST CONTACT

The Next Generation, Season 4

Episode Number 89

Info and General Credits

Directed by Cliff Bole

Teleplay by Dennis Russell Bailey, David Bischoff, Joe Menosky, Ronald D Moore

Story by Marc Scott Zicree

Aired Feb 1991

Stardate Unknown

Guest Cast

Chancellor Durken George Coe

Mirasta Yale Carolyn Seymour

Krola Michael Ensign

Berel George Hearn

Nilrem Steven Anderson

Dr. Tava Sachi Parker

Miss Lanel Bebe Neuwirth

Premise

Whilst conducting standard surveys and reconnaissance in preparation for First Contact on Malcor III, Riker is caught up in social disturbances and is rushed to a nearby medical facility. Whilst being treated, the native physicians discover something extremely unusual about their patient: he doesn't appear to be Malcorian. Could he be an alien? Speculation turns into a dangerous rumour, and Picard, desperate to locate his lost Officer, accelerates the First Contact process and beams down to basically say: "We come in peace..."

Comments

This was a very interesting and thought provoking episode. There is little doubt that this Malcorian culture is modelled on our own, sharing a similar level of technology, with many social issues yet to be resolved. A commentary such as this is itself worthy of Star Trek allegorical treatment, but what fascinated me most was that this was the first time an episode had been shot through the eyes of the alien race, and how they view the Federation as this mighty, strange and frightening force from the stars. What could possibly be their motivation: invasion, exploitation, enslavement? What do they want from us, what do they represent, and what should we do??? Gripping, and wholly involving, this episode throws up a multitude of questions we should all be asking ourselves. And the starry eyed Mirasta Yale (Carolyn Seymour) is a representation of all of us in how we all aspire to grasp the final frontier. I sincerely hope that one day Star Trek will revisit Malcor, and the situation Picard and The Enterprise left behind.

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Soundbites:

Eventually it will all become too much for the sceptical Krola:

Yale: "At twelve-point-four after launch the warp field generator will be activated."

Durken: "And that will be when it breaks the light barrier...?"

Yale: "Yes Chancellor. If we're successful the craft will leave our star system and in a matter of minutes will be on its way to the Garth system."

Krola: "And then what...?"

Yale: "And then Krola, we'll see what's there..."

We come in peace. Take me to your leader...:

Picard: "Mirasta Yale....?"

Yale: "Yes..."

Troi: "Please, don't be alarmed at our appearance."

Picard: "My name is Jean-Luc Picard, this is my associate Deanna Troi."

Yale: "What are you!"

Troi: "We've come with some very important information."

Yale: "About what?"

Picard: "About space; about the universe you are preparing to enter."

Troi: "We come from a Federation of Planets. Captain Picard is from a planet called Earth, which is over two thousand light years from here. I'm from another planet called Betazed."

Picard: "We've been monitoring your progress toward warp drive capability. When a society reaches your level of technology, and is clearly about to initiate warp travel, we feel the time is right for first contact."

Riker, to yet another alien conquest....:

Riker: "I'll call you the next time I pass through your star system.."

Durken reflects:

Durken: "I go home each night to a loving wife, two beautiful daughters, and eat evening meal together as a family. I think that's important. And they always ask me if I've had a good day."

Picard: "...And how will you answer them tonight, Chancellor?"

Durken: "I will have to say this morning I was the leader of the universe, as I know it. This afternoon I am only a voice in a chorus. But I think it was a good day."

I probably would've made the same request:

Yale: "Captain Picard, I have one last request......take me with you."

Durken: "She will be unhappy with the restrictions I must place upon her at home..."

Picard: "We may not be back here in your lifetime. And I have to believe that you cannot be fully prepared for the realities of space travel."

Yale: "I have been prepared for the realities of space travel since I was nine years old and sitting in a planetarium."

Picard: "Mister Worf, to my Ready Room........ Escort Chancellor Durken to the Transporter Room Lieutenant... And assign quarters for Minister Yale, she will be remaining aboard."

# 6. ALL GOOD THINGS... (Parts 1 & 2)

The Next Generation, Season 7

Episode Numbers 277 and 278

Info and General Credits

Directed by Winrich Kolbe

Written by Brannon Braga and Ronald D Moore

Aired May 1994

Stardate 47988

Guest Cast

Q John de Lancie

Tomalak Andrea Katsulas

Ad. Nakamura Clyde Kusatsu

Lt. Ogawa Patti Yasutake

Lt. Yar Denise Crosby

O'Brien Colm Meaney

Jessel Pamela Kosh

Lt. Gaines Tim Kelleher

Premise

The entire quadrant is under threat from a mysterious anomaly that's formed in the Devron system. Meanwhile Q manipulates Picard as he's flung back and forth through time in hope that he might find a solution.

Comments

'All Good Things' of course has to be on the list somewhere, and if I could have multiple number ones, then this would certainly be one of them. This as we all know was the grand finale, and last salute to The Next Generation, and as glorious as this farewell is, one cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness to see them all go. If I could have my way, the top brass at Paramount would have said, "hey, to hell with the movies, I know, we'll put our monetary ambitions on hold, this show is great, so let's make it forever". Brent Spiner would have got a facelift to continue playing the ageless android, all actors would then have suspended their real lives and careers and happily signed on for another 7 seasons... But unfortunately the world doesn't work like that, but if I was Q, just try and stop me! Anyway, All Good Things was indeed a tremendous 'bookend' to the series, virtually ending where it started off: under trial by Q, as humanity faced its deadliest peril yet -extinction... (drum roll) due to a spatial anomaly, one that Picard must put an end to thanks to Q leaving a trail of breadcrumbs through time for him to follow. As was previously anticipated, this final instalment is a thrilling ride from start to finish, as we see wonderfully recreated 1st season sets and characters, and an imaginative future set twenty five years ahead, complete with a greying Riker, a miserable Worf, a senile Picard, an academic Data, Captain Beverley Picard, a 20-20 vision Geordi, and er, a dead Troi, oh, and a souped up refitted Enterprise that really kicks some. I mentioned earlier about moving Trek moments, well that final scene with them all playing cards, and the pan back through the ship's hull as they fly off into the sunset (a nebula), that's up their on my all time greats list as well. If only DS9's poor finale 'What You Leave Behind' could have been this good......

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