Phasers Set To Stun: Top 10 Episodes from Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1

0:05 Space the Final Frontier. Join us for a bold conversation our prime directive to recap our favorite Star Trek shows, both new and old, to engage in debate about all things Trek. Prepare to energize with Phasers Set to Stuntman. Hello listeners, and thank you for joining us for Phasers Set to Stunt. We've seen so much love for you from you for Star Trek from our limited series, but there's always more to explore. So this ongoing series from a film by podcast focuses on every quadrant of the ever expanding universe of Trek by covering television, animation, movies, directors, and more. Plotting the course as always as your core crew, I'm Scott Hoffman, I'm David Burns, and I'm Wayne Whiten. All Right, thank you so much guys for coming back to this and getting into bigger Trek. I don't know how we're gonna limit this to our typical hour because there's so much to say, but I'm looking I just gotta wanted to ask round Robin Wayne, as our resident expert on Trek history, what are you looking forward to with Phaser Set to Sun.

1:25 Well, there's so much of Star Trek. I mean, we've got coming up to sixty years the show. I'm just looking forward to reviewing and maybe even reevaluating some of the past episodes of the different Star Trek series, sharing my opinions, delving into the background info, maybe just discussing the various areas of the franchise with you and with the viewers. Cool, David, what about you? Pretty similar to what Wayne mentioned, you know, just like a film buy. When we're doing all the other podcasts, I get to revisit films and stuff like that that I haven't seen in many, many years. So the fact that this is giving me an excuse to go back and revisit all this Star Trek again that I have loved so much just excites me. And the fact that I get to talk about with you guys and the listeners just excites me to no end. I'm excited to get started, especially because since this first episode helps bring some new interest into the Trek universe.

2:17 We all have a friend like our executive producer Jeff, who's interested in Trek but doesn't know where to start. So one of the things we'll be doing on Phasers is something we like to call starter treks. A curated episode list for first time viewers. So Jeff has gotten hooked on modern series like Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks, but never got into the clastic series. So this spoiler free list focuses on the top ten episodes from each season for people like Jeff as a great place to start with starter Decks. We simplify the menu with choice cuts of Prime Trek that gives people a taste of each season. After listening to this episode, you can find the course we're plotting for you with our list in the description below. So Dave, what series and see? Isn't it recovering today? Well, you know, I've got this big smile on my face because you know, we talked about how we were going to start Phaser set to Stune and we are going to be diving into the series that I know YouTube grew up with in me, and that of course is Star Trek the Next Generation. We're going to be discussing season one today. It's a series that really holds a special place in my heart, and I'm sure it does for YouTube as well, because you know, I know, older people than us grew up with the o G. We grew up with the next generation crew, and you know that kind of leads into, you know, to talk a little bit about the series as a whole. You know, this series had to break new ground for people because everyone knew Kirk you know, Spock check off through a little boy. They're giving because a whole new crew, a whole new ship. So that's that's

3:49 bold in itself, right, they were. They were taking a risk here, you know, and you can see that they didn't want to spend a ton of money because they didn't know how it was going to be received. Because come be honest, guys, I mean, if we grew up with the original crew, like a lot of people did at that time, you're being told that you got to accept a new crew. Would you be willing to do that when you're so used to Kirking all of them? So they took a big risk here, and you see that in season one a little bit, because let's admitted, season one is not perfect. Okay, it is not perfect, So you know, they they're feeling the way like most seasons do. You know that first season's rough. They got to find their way. I mean even some of the actors felt like, ah, this is gonna be a one and done and we're out of here, you know.

4:30 But it turned a corner, and today that Star Trek to Neihering crew is like the original crew. Now we all love them, adore them, and when we see them at conventions like we did recently, we race to them to talk to them and get their autographs. So it really it made its way into our hearts, is basically what I wanted to say. I remember the first time I was aware of the next generation was when the video cassette of Star Trek four came out, had the very first promo for the series, and that was the first time it was ever released, very raw, no visual effects, sound effects. Music was weird in it, and I'm like, well, I'll check it out. And when the show came I loved it. I thought it was great. But then I didn't have that, you know, connection to the original series like a lot of people did, so there was no animosity against the new crew. I just I fell in love with them right away and the first season. I may not like some of the episodes that a lot of people do like, I may love some of them that people hate, but it's a show that I was attracted to right away from the beginning. Yeah yeah, Scott, what about you man? Yeah, So for me, it was my first committed into Star Trek. So the only taste that I had had before that was really Star Trek Rethicon Star Trek two, and it never really got me into the original series. It's just something that I enjoyed and I kind of watched over

6:03 and over again. I hadn't really gotten into the subsequent movies, but it was really kind of a community thing with my brother and my sister. We watched it together when it first came out, and we were there in front of the TV every single night to watch the latest episode, and we got hooked pretty quickly. It was it was a lot of fun to discover it for the first time and kind of establish a relationship with crew that we followed all the way through the end, and we still I'll still jump on the phone with my siblings and talk about you know, if you haven't watched this latest one, you've got to watch it because it goes back to what we loved. So, you know, it became a series that you didn't missed an episode right you were there. I mean, I did anything possible to get home to watch those episodes. Heck, I even wrecked my car on the way trying to wrest them to get to watch the unfortunately, happened to have been one of the worst episodes of the series reason my opinion. But that's that's a different thing. You know, I didn't know at the time, but it became must see television for us, especially for sci fi fans.

7:06 This is this is in the day when the water water Cooler shows, yes, where you know, you watched it from fall to spring and then it would take a break over the summer. So the whole summer you're spending talking your friends, Oh my god, did you can you? What do you think they're gonna do? And that kind of thing. And you know we're gonna get into one of the hugest cliffhangers later on in this uh you know, not today in this podcast, but in what season three I think it is. Yeah, we're gonna be talking one of the biggest cliffhangers, and you know it's that they're like, man, you had to wait all summer to get the the closure of that. So I missed those kind of shows. You know, we're living in a day where we got streaming and you get all it almost all at the same time. Sometimes you don't. Some streaming services are going back to that one episode per week time on which I like, I know a lot of people don't. Yeah, same here, But it just builds that energy, It builds that you know, excitement for it. You know, I miss those days and Star Trek did that so well guys it yeah, yeah, well it And that kind of release approach makes it so that in between you have a lot of chances to have a lot of great conversations with friends about speculation. You know what's going to happen, but you also have all this build up in your mind. I bet it's going to go here. I bet it's going to go here.

8:18 And it's so much more satisfying when you see that in the next episode released. But it gives you that time to kind of savor it a bit. Yeah, and they use that to greade effect. In this series. There's a lot that are standalone episotic and it never comes back to what's going on, So very good standalones. But then also the through threads of the characters are are very well done. Unfortunately, some got more of a chance to explore that than others, but we'll get it. Into that, especially with this season. So when you're watching season one, you know you're going to see a lot of lower budget stuff. You know, I mean, the special fact are still good, don't get me wrong, but you can tell that they didn't have the biggest budget that they needed. So you know, I applor everybody do not hold that against the show at all. And you know that was a problem too at the time, because you know, it looks low budget, but kind of keep in mind at the time that it was made, it's actually one of the most expensive series on true Mission.

9:11 They were spending over a million dollars, which today that's like cheap, you know, if anyone spend a million dollars, But back then that was incredible. But there was no CGI, there was no easy view of doing the visual effects, so they were really struggling to get this stuff out. Yeah, and if you notice still, like even the uniform is a little bit rough. They don't fit some of these actors very well. If you notice that, it's almost like they were in a rush at times to get some of this stuff done. You know, when we were watching some of these episodes, I'm like, oh, that uniform doesn't look too good. On him some of them. Some of them do, don't get me wrong. And as this you know, and again as we talk about the first season is going to be rough and a lot of shows, and as this show progresses it gets fantastic with everything. This first season has some serious teething problems at times can be hard to get through, but there are some really good stuff and you can't skip it. I mean, if you have to look at it to the as a whole. We have to start at beginning to appreciate the end of the series. And I agreed. Yeah, well, well, all right, well we got it a lot to discuss. Only ten episodes. Wayne, start us off with the first of our favorite picks.

10:11 Tell us the title and what it's all about. Well, for the first we have to go with the first, and that would be encounter at Farpoint. While in route to their first assignment, the newly commissioned USS Enterprise is interrupted by the omnipotive being known only as Q. Captain Picard and his new crew are put on trial for the crimes of humanity, and the outcome depends on them solving the mystery of Farpoint Station and its builders. The episode was written by DC Fontana, and Gene Roddenberry, obviously to people who were from the original series. Directed by Corey Allen, and it originally aired on September twenty sixth, nineteen eighty seven, the premiere of the series. It is a two hour episode, the only two hour episodes from the first season.

10:56 Obviously they were going to it's sometimes when you watch on televisions, broke it up in two pieces, but it aired as a pilot. There are some great things about this episode. I don't want to give too much away on it, but you'll see some great appearances, including DeForest Kelly, who makes a very brief appearance just as a favor to Gene Roddenberry, you know, kind of kind of sue the the worries of the original series. But in another character I want everybody to pay attention in this is someone else who appears in it without a name. Cole Meeni first appears in this episode. He doesn't have a name in this series. That didn't get a name until the second season, but that's Miles O'Brien. He becomes one of the main cast and characters later on in the show and of course in Deep Space nine.

11:45 And another thing I'd like to point out on this which I absolutely love this. The visual effects for this episode were done by industrial like magic. When Roddenberry came to them to do the models, he says, hey, we'll do your visual effects. And that actually was the most beneficial thing for this show because they did such a huge catalog of visual effects for this episode, just simple shots like the Enterprise flying by or orbiting a planet, that those effects were be able to be were able to reused throughout the entire series, keeping costs down and allowing them to make these great episodes throughout the seven years. If my minor thining is didn't they try to get Lenard Nimoy at first? That's correct, Yes, yes, yeah, he wasn't interested.

12:30 Yeah, so that's when they went with the divorce. Kelly. I do like that they did that kind of to bridge the original crew with the new crew, to show that, you know, we're in the same you know Galaxy, you know, world of Star Trek. So I do appreciate they did that, and I feel why they did it, so it makes it It's a simple scene and it's very it's a beautiful scene. It's it is yeah, and Bones is that kind of character where it's almost like one of the most human characters, like from President Day right, because he's like, wait a second, he talks that data about wait a second, now you're an android. Yeah, and you know, kind of that new kind of perspective that he adds to it. So I think he was the right character in there. And I'm glad we got an appearance by Deforce Carol Kelly there.

13:18 And it's set a trend that for every New Star Trek series that came out up till the end of Enterprise, someone from the previous series appeared in the pilot episode. Yeah. Oh yeah, that's right, that's true, that's true. Anything about that, but you're right, very interesting. I find it also interesting that this is the episode well it starts off with the whole Star Trek nextiration, but is also where we get the catchphrases from a card come make it So, Yes, which is used quite a lot throughout the series. Yes. And there's a lot of missteps to in this episode, and you could really see a lot of deeping problems where they're really trying to get things right. Troy's outfits behind that makes me laugh every time I see she looks like a teenage cheerleader. In this very snippy shirt and puffed out here extream eighties right there, Yeah, yeah, yeah. One of my one of my favorite guest stars on this episode is a voice that you'll recognize if you're a fan of Transformers or g I Joe, the voice of Duke Zema and Major Blood. Michael Bell plays a major role in this and that man has a mile long list of voice acting credits, and to see him live action here I think give a really really great performance is very refreshing.

14:46 So Jeff in particular, you know, come watch Duke in a different kind of role. You know. I think they even had to create Hugh as a second storyline, wasn't it, Because this was originally done as like a one hour Then a paramount wanted with a two hour pilot, so they had to come up with another storyline. So that's how they put Q into this two part episode. So I found that interesting. So, and that's why there's two riders. I believe the far Point storyline was by DC Fontana and Roddenberry went and we wrote the script and added all the Q to to expand it to the two hours. Yeah, and for those who know Star Trek, you're gonna see Q quite a bit, So yeah, get used to it. Get used to it all right. Well with that, Dave, take us to the next episode. What's our number two pick? So we have the episode called the Battle. In this episode, the Enterprise meets up with a Feringi ship, which where we meet Damon Bach, who wants a meeting with Captain Picard. It seems the Feringi has a gift for him, which turns out to be the Stargazer the car served on in the same ship he did the legendary move known as the Picard maneuver all, isn't it.

15:56 What seems is if Fringy has something up there fleet, as they often do, and they even have a bigger surprise waiting for Picard that we discovered back is holding for him. What I find interesting about this episode is the Picard maneuver for one, because, for those fans who know Star Trek very well, Patrick Stewart constantly would pull down his his his top because he kept pulling up on him, so the cast secretly started calling that the Picard maneuver. Patrick Stewart did it so much that it became a commonplace that he started doing it on you know, on purpose. Because we expected it to happen.

16:37 But yeah, so the Pacar Mauver has two meetings in the series, one for actually in the show and one for you know, behind the scenes for the fans and stuff like that. So I found that quite quite humorous for sure. This episode was directed by Rob Bowman, which I did not know because Rob Bowman did a lot of X Files and when you know what a huge X Files fan I am, I didn't realize he directed episodes of Star Trek. It's so I started to dig into these. I was like, oh, the crap, this is Rob Bowman. But very I thought, this is a really good episode. Guys, what do you think? I agree? I agree, And you know with this is the Feringi's second appearance on the show, and they were supposed to be the big batties to take over Klingons, and that first appearance is just it's just horrible. You know, they don't work at all in the first appearance. But here in this episode, it seems like that they realized that right away and changed it.

17:30 There's still they're still at the Feringi that we're familiar with redew Space nine, or they're getting there. They've been they've been improved. They're more scheming, they're they're more they they're more normal because they're just really really fairal In the first episode, I like the performances of the Feringis and the actress that played him to Yeah, I know, this is the episode that I think Will Wheaton said that fans turned on him. Will Wheaton said, you know, because they gave us the clunky dialogue and a very absurd dialogue in this that he says, this is the episode that a lot of the fans turn on his character. Here. I could see that. Yeah, yeah, You've got to give some respect to Will Whedon for that, because I think his character goes to great places, but especially in this first season, the sweaters, those sweaters and the dialogue, and he's got some that's a big hill to go ice skating up right, it is. And just the fact that I think Wesley and Data had so many scenes where people were like dismissing them, were saying like, oh, you're talking too much and all this other kind of stuff, and I'm like, I'm really glad they didn't continue with that with the characters because it just seems so demeaning. And yeah, so I'm glad I went to a better place, and I'm glad they went to a better place with the Ferengi as well. Like I mentioned, that first appearance really does feel like a Playmate's a Glub kind of who is the

19:04 who had the license for the toys? Wasn't a Playmates? That was? That was gloom Glub at the time. Yeah, yeah, it felt like a toy commercial, right, like, oh no, it's the Varengi and they've got their whips. Watch out crew, that's okay, I've got Riker Like Yeah, this one very much felt like they were starting to round them out a little bit more. And you've got some history on uh Picard on the Stargazer, so everybody got a little bit more depth in this one, which is a welcome change. Yeah, we're starting to see us in that character development here. You know, we didn't get to much of that encounter fair Points, so we're starting to see a lot of that and getting developed, which I like, you know, we need to know our characters and where they're coming from so that we can care about them. Right. Well, the next one on the list is Hide and Q, And as you mentioned, Q comes up a lot. He's a very important character to this series, and this is definitely the one where he starts to become or the queue that we're used to. So in this one, the Enterprise crew is forced to play a deadly game when Q returns with attempting offer for Riker to trade his humanity for unlimited power as part of the Q continuum. Now there's a little bit of a spoiler in there, but it's it's an interesting premise to think about. You know, they've seen what Q can do. They see a lot more of that here, so to offer that up, they do that in very interesting ways. I think they play it out in some morality decisions that they have to make. And we also see more of the

20:38 playful side of Q. In the first episodes, he was so menacing and it was all about kind of orchestrating this trial kind of idea. But this is, you know, using the powers to play the games. A lot of costume changes. He impersonates one of the characters in kind of an interesting way. It's interesting. A few things I didn't know about this is that Troy does not appear in the episode very much, and she thought at the time that she's going to be cut from the show, which is going to be horrible. Yeah, And I mean it's I guess having to know that with such a big cast, if everybody's going to get equal time, it's going to be very difficult to do that kind of a show. But that had to be kind of unsettling for her, and I'm glad that's not the direction they took. I think she's one of the best characters that they have.

21:37 And credit to John Delancy for what he did with Q. I saw that the director of this episode was studying the first episode intensely to try to make sure that he was getting Q right, and John just slipped right back in and took it to great new places. So this is the cue that you'll be seeing a lot more. There's a lot more fun that happens with So it's definitely the kind of episode you want to buckle up for it. And this is the first appearance of LeVar Bert with that as visor. Yeah, so you're right, yeah, yeah, and that that's used to it's a great effect at this one. And it's it's tough to talk about these things. Is that talk about spoilers? I know it is. You want to make sure that you're giving somebody enough to know, you know, what they're in for. But uh, there's so much to say about how it resolves, so just don't let us know. This is another example too.

22:30 It's a great, it's a good episode. This is probably one of the few that worked where where they're really trying to copy some of the feel and look of the original series. It's very much of a Traline type of of episode. And even in so much as it sets that that planet set is so fake with its gel background and it's it's sand ground, but it looks just like something out of the sixties. They didn't do that again, fortunately, but it's it's just so incredibly fake. But then it's Q created it, So you know, who's to say that that's not the way it supposed to work? Like he did it on purpose? Probably you know, Yeah, well, to that effect, I know that the original series we're talking like sixties special effects. There is a bit of you know, there's almost that original series aesthetic to some of the special effects like in this episode, so it almost seems like there's a bit of an accidental bridging effect there.

23:23 But yeah, it also kind of takes you out when you're used to the Star Trek today and you're like, really, just a flood of green, that's the sky, just green. Okay, it needs a pretty green, right exactly. Well, let's take a quick break and we'll get back to finishing our list. They check it out. There's a brand new podcast on the way exploring the discographies of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. It's called Apples and Oranges and and Lodges. On February seventh, we will be matching albums against each other in a one v one format, discussing every single track and then giving our verdict on which album is better. Pet Sounds versus Revolving Sergeant Pepper versus Smile. Wouldn't it be nice if most people knew how well the Beach Boys actually held up against the Fab Four. Both bands inspired each other to keep pushing the boundaries of what was possible in pop music here, there, and everywhere, and what we got were some of the greatest albums of all time. Awesommer Long versus A Hard Day's Night, River Sol versus the Beach Boys. Today, so let's come together for some fun, fun, fun, and help me Ronda get this podcast off the ground, and we'll sure appreciate you being around. On February seventh, wherever you find your podcast that's Apples and Oranges. February seven, we're back and we're going to talk to Wayne about the next episode Haven. Okay, this is one of my favorites from the first season. This is Haven. The Enterprise visits the planet Haven, where counselor Deanna Troy is visited by her mother Lausana and is

24:56 reminded of her commitment to an arranged marriage to a human doctor named Wyatt. While plans for the wedding is being made, the Enterprise must deal with the appearance of a plague ship on a heading for the planet. This was written by Tracy Tormat and Lane o'conne, directed by Richard Compton. This I just I love this episode for many reasons, and the biggest one being this is the first appearance of Major Barrett as the Vaux Santa Troy. She amazing, Yes, immediately from the from the get go. It becomes an incredible character that that's fun to watch, very out bearing and and and the way she her and and Patrick Stewart worked together, and just it's it's fun to watch.

25:42 Every minute is yeah, you know it's it's a perfect casting for her. We also see another first appearance too, the Betazoy gift box is the head is played by Armine Shimmerman, who went on to play Quark on Deep Space nine. This is his first Star Trek appearance. And this is something I just learned too. The director Richard Compton, he actually used to be an actor and he appeared on the original series as Lieutenant Washburn in the episode of Doomsday Machine. I've got to go back and watch that because I had no idea about But another thing too I want to bring out is the music for this episode is probably some of the best from the first season. It was Stump by Dennis McCarthy. He did the pilot and this was very early in his career. Wonderful score, very beautiful and subtle, but with some great themes. And because of that, he was certain he was going to get fired. One of the producers of the show, Rick Berman, did not like music on the show, and if it was up to him, he would have every episode without any music. And because of the themes and because it stood out in the mini of the scenes, he was afraid he was going to get fired and that I'll bring this up later on, maybe when we get around to talk to season three or four, because it got worse and worse as years go by. But I completely disagree against Berman.

27:12 The music is fantastic and does everything to enhance the episode. Well, you know, if if Rick Berman ever hears this, I'm sorry, mister Berman, but you are wrong. Music is everything when it comes to TV movies. Whatever it is. Without it, it's not gonna be good at all. I'm sorry. Yeah. And there's an amazing use of a musical instrument in this episode, a little gong. Oh, it's played an amazing time. Now she storms out and just knocks it over. I love that. Yeah. And for those who don't know, start track too, ma. Joe Baird is the voice of the computer for Enterprise and the original number one and the original number one that's yes, yeah, yeah, and that's a that's a great oh. And Nurse Chapel exactly exactly. So, I mean it's one of those things where you know, I didn't have that experience with Majel Barrett before Lowak's on a Troy. So going back and watching things like The Cage and watching some original series episodes, it's like, Wow, she's really been with this through the whole thing. If you were listening to Lower Decks this past season, watching those episodes like you said the Gift Box tonally, I think a lot of things that carry through into lower decks you first start to see here. It's an interesting balance of comedy and drama because it's kind of both types of episodes are running in parallel in this one or both

28:45 types of stories, but it never feels like can we get done with the comedy, get back to the drama. It's used to great effect. I think it broadens the the betazoid aspect of Troy a lot war because you can kind of see what it means for her to be half human half bitizoid in how the walks out and used the sure powers and just the dynamic she's She comes back so often, and it's such an amazing character. It's a trait every time she comes back. And her appearances are so varied. I mean, we've got you go from some episodes like Manhunted are huge comedies, and then you turn into one's like Dark Page, which are serious, serious dramas.

29:27 Yeah, you can perform at all, and she's fantastic in every bit of it. Yeah, yeah, completely agree. I'm glad we got a taste of her in the first season. Yea's I'm glad we picked this one. It's really great, Dave, what's next on the list? So the next one is one of my one of my favorites from the from this season, and that is Data Lore. The crew of the Enterprise travel to Omikron Theta to the site where a colony has mysteriously vanished and so happens to be where the starship Tripoli found Data. The way, team uncovers the lab that belonged to Data's creator, doctor Noonan Sung, where they find a disassembled Android that turns out to be Data's brother law Laura is reactivated and of course quickly turns on the crew and find we find out he's working for with the entity.

30:17 There are so many good things about this episode, guys. One of the biggest ones for me is Data learns to sneeze but no, but just kidding. One of the biggest ones that we learned here is how good of an actor Brent Spiner is. Yes, yes, this man can turn that switch on and off like it's nothing anyone who know he plays Lore and he plays Data in this, and he is so good at playing Data. Who's good, Who's you know, like a kid learning, you know, those kind of things. Then he turns that switch off and becomes Lord. Who is this the complete opposite of Data, you know, evil and just you know, wants to destroy everything. And you know, it's amazing to watch him be able to turn that on and off. And even the creators who were working on this episode were kind of concerned on how that was going to come off. If Brince Speiner was able to pull it off. Well, guess what, he pulled it off extremely well. And you know we see that in later years too, you know of Brnce Speiner's acting coming out, and he's so good at it, guys, you know. And again this episode was directed by Rob Bowman. Again, but yeah, this is among one of my favorites and is the final episode written by Geen rod Berry.

31:37 M interesting. I did not know that. Yep. Yeah, I totally agree about Brince Speiner's range. I mean before I saw him here, I didn't even know who he was from Nightcore, a completely different character, but from the comedy roots, you know, they've got somebody who is at this point has a lot of experience as a comedic actor playing a character that has no emotions, and he plays that with comedic beats that are so subtle that you don't realize you're watching a comedic actor play that through. And to see him play both roles with Lore, I'm very glad they went in the direction they decided to go. I know that there were early iterations where it was supposed to be female android that they found I'm glad they didn't do that.

32:32 I'm glad they let him explore this. Laura is one of my favorite characters, one of my favorite villains. I keep going back to the episodes with Lore whenever you have a chance. But there's so much of an aspect of discovery with this one. Not the show, but that the concept of discovering something. You know, they land on the planet and this rock face moves. They get a little bit deeper into you know, the lab where they find where data had come from, and oh, there's there's just so much great use in this, and great moments for the Wesley character as well.

33:15 Yeah, you know, I go back to say it quite often. I said it another podcasts before, So if you've listened to those, and I repeating myself. I apologize, but comedic actors are probably one of the most talented people when it comes to making that transition from comedy to drama, because the comedy is hard, really really hard to pull it off properly, to have that timing Scott that you mentioned, if you can, if you're really good at that, and you can pull it off, drama seems to come to them people very easy, and they do it so well, and Brent Speyer proves that in this episode and beyond Yes, and this is one of those episodes. This is one of the gems of the first season and a really good reason why you shouldn't skip the season. This episode is important.

34:00 It's it's important to these series as a whole. You really need to see this one. Absolutely, Yeah, totally agree, and we'll see that, Dave. What you're talking about with comedic actors, One's Garnon becomes part of him. Whoopi Goldberg. Yeah, I would not have guessed in a million years that Whippy Goldberg, where she was as a standup comedian, would have been on Star Trek. But both of them, like Brent Spinder's legacy, once you get to a certain point and you you know you get all the way through all these episodes and you look back at the catalog of characters that he's played to greater effect with enormous range. He's yet one of my favorite actors in this in this show, I agree. So the next Monato list is called Heart of Glory, and this time the focus is Wharf. So we find that three Kleon warriors are found adrift on a derelict ship in the neutral zone between Federation and rabuland space, which brings a mystery to the enterprise along with a personal test for Wharf. I think in the first season one of the things that they're starting to kind of they don't quite have their feet under them, so to speak, as far as what they want to do with certain characters, and I think that's definitely true for Wharf. I think it was kind of two dimensional in certain places, embarrassingly so in some cases, but I'm glad that the actor plays Wharf. Michael Dorn was really happy with the outtime of this episode, and it shows that there's more depth and

35:34 more interest than to just say, oh, the Klingons are now friends with the Federation. I guess they don't get into it too much as far as you know, what's that relationship? How did it happen? It's a while before we get the movie Undiscovered Country, one of my absolute favorites, that starts to explain that. But yeah, it's amazingly well done, and I think this is where we start to get concepts of you know, honor being so important to Wharf and loyalty being so important. There's also an amazing escape sequence. I won't say too much, but I thought it was a very inventive use of costuming in escape. Geene Roddenberry. I don't know if he's the one who came up with the idea of putting a Klingon on the bridge of the Enterprise, but I think that was a unique idea because you wouldn't expected that, right anybody's in the original series would not expect a Klingon to be a part of the crew. So I think that was a bold move and I feel like it wasn't just you know, a shock factor for the audience. They had a plan for him, they just didn't know right away.

36:40 But you know, Scott, what you were kind of leaning towards, you know, they just put him on the bridge, and they did that with a few like you said, I'm looking at you, Tasha, you are I apologized in East Crosby that they didn't have a plan for you right away, But yeah, I really liked that they did that, and I'm glad that they finally started finding his way. And this is the episode You're right, Scott, that I feel like they're finally starting to get their feet under them, you know, as you said, So, yeah, this is the first episode that Wharf really had anything to do. Many of the episodes he was just in the background. I wasn't sure what they were planning on doing with him or if he even really was going to be part of the main cast. I mean, you know, I'll admit most people know that I'm not the biggest fan of the Klingons. This isn't one of my highest regarded episodes from the first season, but I won't deny that of the importance of the episode, especially to the development of the Klingons, because before this we really we really didn't have any development at all. The original series didn't do any didn't explore the Klingon race that much, and with the exception of what is Star Trek three, which kind of kind of touched into it, very lightly. This is the first time we actually see the Klingons that were familiar with today and a lot learn a lot about their culture, and putting Wharf on the bridge was the best way to do that because through him we can see how he reacts and how he explores his own his own race, his own culture. Yeah. I find it funny too that I mentioned earlier that that one episode was the first time that we saw Jordan LaForge without

38:10 his visor. This is the first time we get a POV from Jordan Laforge's visor. Yeah. Yeah, they use that a lot of interesting ways. Yea. And with this one they there are scenes where we get to see from Jordy's perspective how he sees the world, how he kind of absorbs it, and we see how he sees other characters like Riker and Data, very unique ways that he sees them. And I thought it was interesting in the scene that we're talking about, it was actually their body doubles. It wasn't actually Riker in Data, so it's interesting. We also get a lot we kind of get three sides of the Klingon race with this one. You get the three Klingon warriors without spoiling too much. Who feel a certain way about clingon culture and where it's going. You get the the captain of a playing on ship who sees in a very different way, and you've got Wharf smacked out in the middle. But there's a lot that I think, I'm glad that this comes up so often in the rest of the series that they choose to focus on Wharf in this way. In some cases he's the big cliffhanger.

39:22 We'll get to that later seasons. But yeah, I'm glad they did more with Michael Dorn. It had to be disappointing for any episode where he just looks at the script and says, Wharf growls yeah, like again, really, can I do more than snarl cobocks please? Well, Tassy Yard had clicks buttons on a screen. You know, they didn't know what they were going to do with some of these characters, and it shows so badly at times. Yeah. Yeah, there are a couple of times when here Tasha say like, shouldn't I go down there, sir, and no, stay here and be at the console, and she's like, yeah, we met in these Crosby Galaxy cut and Columbus an amazing an amazing talent there we can't say too much, but wow, yeah, we'll get into that later, all right. And in this episode they did save some money too, because he used some stock footage from Star Trek the motion picture. It worked, all right, Wayne, Take us to the next one, all right.

40:23 The next one is The Arsenal of Freedom. This was written by Maurice Hurley and Robert Lewyn and directed by less Landown. The USS Enterprises investigation into the disappearance of the USS Drake leads them to the planet Ninos, where the away team is trapped on the surface and the Enterprise must deal with an automated weapons system set for total destruction of all life on the planet. Now, this this is an interesting episode. You know, it falls later in the season, but this is only the second time we see the Enterprise separate mm hm, and you know it's it's sad we didn't get to see this more.

41:04 There was a very good reason why we didn't get to see this very very much. And this will be the last time you see it until season four and then that'll be it until movies. Yep. But here you know it. This is something that they wanted to use a lot more. They just couldn't for logistics reasons. But we got this. It's a good episode. It's it's well done. We got some weird planet sets down there, which lots of plants and another one of those gel backgrounds, but we gotta we get a lot of good character moments. But what I find funny is this is one of those times and the original series did this a lot where most of the important bidge Bridge crew beam down to the planet and get stuck there, leaving the Enterprise with the very very inexperienced Jeordie Lafort. Yeah, who has to fight the others on the Enterprise, you know, for to to respect him. Unfortunately, he does gain his respect, and you know, we see the seeds of what will come in the series and and you know, but here he's just a lowly ju lieutenant junior grade and doing his best to keep everyone alive. Yeah, I think it was was it Lieutenant Logan? I think who was giving him the hardest time in this episode?

42:23 Yes, he was the chief engineer. One of the this is That's another thing about the first season is, uh, they hadn't originally planned to have an engineer set, so they never really cast a chief engineer. So every episode has a new chief engineer. I mean, I think the Enterprise went through like a dozen of them during that first season. I don't know what was going on, you know, until finally, you know, Jordi gets gets the position. But yeah, and and I mean, Logan is kind of an Asshole's probably why you got Booter tell you the truth. Yeah, get out of here, Logan. Nobody likes you, buddy. This is also the episode that I'm gonna butcher his name plays the peddler. Yeah, then I believe Yeah. Yeah, from like Fastoon member has been high ghost never dies. This dude is awesome. He hops up. I just I love watching him. Yes, he's a highlight of the episode too. Every time he's on the screen. It's fun to watch. Yeah, and I'm glad that we get to see the side of Jordy that we get to see here, because I feel like his character wasn't used in the best ways in the first season. If you know him from any of the later work, you know that he's an essential part of engineering. I'm pointing that much by saying it. But until then, you know he's he's at different consoles, at different stations. It's not really clear what his career path is following, and a lot of times when he's kind of telling jokes to Data in this

43:57 episode, he really shines a lot of confidence, especially if for a lieutenant JG. Like you know, it's like having Ruthford or Boiler on the on the bridge. Yeah, and he owns it, and I think he masterfully goes through the situation and the way that he's supposed to. So I'm glad that they made better use of LeVar Burton. Yeah, it's gets another idea too, where another example of where they had an idea but it didn't work, I think Roddenberry's idea and they thought it would be funny that a blind man is steering the ship, and that's what the original intension was out on. Yeah. Yeah, that didn't work because it didn't get a character anything to do other than sit there and push buttons and you know, you know, that's it. So I'm glad that they stopped that right away. One of the things in that I you know, you talk about all these characters finding their way finally and what they did with Laforge's character. But one of the things that I really appreciate that we're going to see over the years is the relationship between Jordi and Data. I love the relationship between those two on how it just becomes such an incredible friendship. Yeah, you know you you you see this android desperately trying to become human. You know, it's like the like Pinocchio, the wooden boy who wants to become humans so bad.

45:15 You know, it's very similar here, and Jordi really helps him along that way. I know it's kind of out a place to talk about in this episode, but you know, I just bringing up Jordy, you know, I just want to mention that because for those who have not seen Star Trek, you're going to see that, you know. Over you know, the seven years of the next generation of those two friendship just blooming, and I love it so much. I always look forward to seeing that and think about it. Go thirty five years later, uh season three of Picard, when when Jordy activates Data for the first time after they thought he was dead, and he turns and sees Jordy for the first time. Yep, think of the emotional impact that had on all us. Here where this work going all the way back to the beginning, this is where it started. This Yep, that shows exactly how incredible the characterizations and the creation of these characters through the years. I'm not gonna lie. I teered up when that happened, because I mean, I grew up with this crew, So when I got to see that that many years later, I teared up and it started.

46:13 Yeah, I'm glad they chose who they chose, and they they got this crew. We're definitely absolutely Dave. What about our next one, Well, we're gonna be very careful on how we talk about this episode. Yes, this episode is called Skin of Evil. The Enterprise receives a distress signal from Detroit Deana Troy Shuttlecraft, who was returning to the ship, but is discovered to have crashed on a planet, and away team beams down to find a poll of tar that turns out to be a very evil entity known as Armis. Commander Riker and crew have to find a way to reason with the creature. Deaner Troy, being held against their will, is forced to communicate with the being to learn its secret, But as we discovered in this episode, the damage has been done, changing the dynamic of the Enterprise crew forever.

47:01 Now again, I know we've gotta be very careful in what we talk about this. I don't want to spoil this for anyone because it was shocked all of us. The ending of this episode was just beautiful. I think that is my favorite part of the entire season in my opinion, was the ending to this episode because none of us saw it coming, and when it did happen, it was like, what like a shock to the system for sure, and it was handled so well. And then one of the things that's said at the end just wow. I mean even now I think about what was said and I'm like, oh my god, it's just heart reaching, absolutely, you know. And this goes back to, like you know, we talked about the original when the sets and props of this haves that original feel. It really does, especially on the planet when when with the tar and stuff like and Wayne, you know, if I had side conversations recently back at Galaxy about this episode, how I know you weren't a big fan of the tar and stuff like that. I find it it's a little cheesy, it's a little it's a little original series, a little bit too much Original series that for my liking it. You know, you got an ancient evil which has never really explained very much, or at least not explained to my liking. But and this would probably be my least favorite episode of the entire series if it wasn't for the events of later in the episode, which I can't talk about. So I can't really talk about my favorite parts.

48:29 But this is this is another episode that you can't You can't skip it. It's too important. You have to watch this one. Yeah, this is vital to season one. You cannot skip this one, cannot Yeah. Yeah, there's there's a lot of great interpersonal relationships come to the surface. And at the time that we're coming to this episode, we haven't been with this crew that much, but you a lot of connective threads come out. I think it's a great use of Troy's character, who is isolated on the shuttle and has nobody else. She's sitting across from somebody who might be dead the I forget the crewmate that's in the shuttle, but you know, surrounded by this menacing character that I think is used really well. We'll talk in a later episode about the character itself. The armis character, at least the look and the feel comes back in an episode with the shelleyac and I can't watch that episode without thinking of this one. But yeah, maybe in the next in the next few episodes, when we talk about the rest of Trek, we can look back on this and kind of get back into it. Well, the next one we've got, I feel like is one of the moments, aside from Skin of Evil, Conspiracy is the next episode we're going to talk about. And this one feels to me almost like a ton will shift

50:00 from where we start with The Naked Now for example, which is a very different episode from where we ended up at the end of the series. This feels like they're kind of getting into second gear and getting ready for the second season. In this one, Picard has a clan. This is also one that's very difficult to talk about it without going spoilers. But in this one, Picard has a clandestine meeting with trusted colleagues who give them a cryptic warning about a dangerous corruption growing throughout Starfleet. As the ship gets closer to revealing the threat, they may already be too late. So this is one that won an Emmy for Outstanding Makeup for a Series I just learned. Yeah, I'm going to tread lightly here with saying this one, and I tried to put this in a very specific way, but I was surprised to learn that this episode was originally intended to lead to an introduction of the Borg in the second season premiere, Apparently due to the writer strike in nineteen eighty eight, the storyline gets pushed back several months and the subplot that we see coming to the surface and this one eventually gets abandoned, which ye interesting, partly due to budget shortages. But I know they don't make much mention of what happens here, even though it seems enormous, a very bold use of special effects, I will say in this one, a very almost seems like a non Star Trek use of special effects. Yep. But I think it's this one

51:37 is just fascinating to me. I come back to this somewhat often, not as often as like Data Lore, but it's very interesting some of the places they start to go with this, and it feels like there's kind of a theme that we see come up in various series. That's almost like maybe they are aspects of Starfleet that are not perfect, and maybe there are some things dipped out. Now this one there's a sinister reason behind it, so It's not like it's exposing a fatal flaw in Starfleet, but it is interesting to start to go to that place and say we're not always going to be good with authority, going to challenge it from time to time, which I think has used really well. So it kind of great. Go ahead person this this episode. Again, not to give away too much, but this goes back to a film Scott you and I covered for nineteen eighty six at the Sarca film and even even from a nineteen fifty three film. And I don't want I'm I'm not gonna say anymore. Well done. Yeah, but it really does, Wayne, Sorry, go ahead this. It feels like the first part of a multi part episode and you know, I'm not gonna give anything way, But unfortunately it's never returned to. It's one of those episodes, one of those those plots that you keep hoping every time a new series or a new season starts with a series, I think you're ever going to return to this? Are we're ever going to to give a conclusion or a

53:09 continuation? We never have in thirty five years. We're still hoping what we're still hoping because there's a lot of open ends a lot of questions still left unanswered. And and I you know, as Scott mentioned, this was supposed to be a multi part episode. Yep, that just never came to be. I just I'm really surprised that they've never brought it back, never brought the plots back to Maybe I think the best way to do it would be lower decks happened to Oh my god, get Brandon Williams on the phone. We have an idea. Yep. Yeah, all right, Wayne, why don't you bring us home? What's our top ten episode? All right?

53:54 Well, the last of the Top ten is the last episode of the first season, and it is called The Neutral Zone. Written by Deborah m McIntyre and Amona Lee, directed by James o' conway, The Enterprise discovers a Derelck satellites containing cryogenically frozen humans from the twentieth century. Three of the humans have survived the process, but find it difficult to adjust to the fact that three hundred years have passed them by. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is sent to investigate the destruction of Federation outposts near the Neutral Zone, leading to the first confrontation with the Romulents in over fifty years. Now, Scott, you brought up to mention that Conspiracy was supposed to be the first part that was going to originally lead to the Boorg. This was to be the second part of that story. But unfortunately, because of the writer strike of nineteen eighty eight, which had a huge impact on season two, and we'll talk about that in the next episode, they had to completely change the storylines and this is what came of it. And through that though, we got the first appearance of the Romulans in the next generation. You know, they have been mentioned a couple of times that there's a threat that they're you know, they're out there, but they haven't been seen by the Federation, and it's actually it was fifty three years. They just like like vanished, you know, without a trace, and no one has seen You're very mysterious. And then here they

55:27 are now investigating the same incidents that's going on. And it's a nice redesign of the Romulans. They don't look exactly like they did in the original series, specifically because the makeup designer did not want them looking like Bulkans. And then we get their new ship, the wonderful Romulan war Bird. It's one of the most beautiful ships that was designed for Stars Break the next generation, right, totally agree, Yeah, Probert, he was the designer of the Enterprise D and of the Feringi Marauder to incredible ships. He was he was in one of the best of the business for ILM and he did a good job. It's a great episode. I don't want to spoil some of the ending to it. It is left open ended, but this fortunately did get a continuation in the second season, so we did get to see the result of this the open ended plot points for the end of this season. And it isn't a cliffhanger. This isn't a cliffhanger like that that comes later a show. And this establishes that the Nixtunson to take place in twenty three sixty four for the first time too, isn't it. That's right? You're right, yeah, yeah, so we can kind of put that because I think everything from there on out in Star Trek is based off of this year, right, like they know from then on out what year everything takes place from here on out, correct, You're right, You're right. And they were able to set all the stargates because some of the startings before this are a little off. They're a little weird. But after this, everything is set

56:58 perfectly and you can you can fit every show from that point all the way to the present day shows perfectly in the timeline. Yeah. Absolutely. Here's another thing that I found very interesting. When Claire is searching for her family members of Troy, did you guys take a look of the names on the screen? Yes? I did mention that I forgot about it yet there was like what Gilligan's Island names were on there, and then the cast of the Next Generation crew were on there, and I think even is it Mash I think was was mentioned on there too. That is hysterical. Man, oh and you miss you missed my favorites. Very clearly on the screen are six names the names of the six actors who played Doctor Who at the time.

57:38 Yeah, that's right, very cool. I love it when they put touches like that in shows. And I feel like, the face that we see on that view screen is that not Roddenberry's face. I'm sure. I'm not sure. She looks up a distant relative. It's like, oh my god, Yeah, I do know. They used a lot of the crew members and stuff. It's very well yea, but yeah, the Romulins are such an amazing there, very cordial, very polite, very political menace that comes back in the series. I love the fact that whenever the ship de cloaks, it kind of slithers into view and by the time it d cloaks, it's so close you can see into their deck windows, right, And but it's always very polite, and I think the way that they manage those situations is so expertly done and it gives such a great range to that species.

58:39 And I'm glad that we get to see them. And it's it's only a taste of the Romneys, that's that's what they just just just a little little bite to you know, to let you know that that these are the main menace of the generation. Now. I think because the Feringi didn't work the original plans, they decided to bring them back. You know, we we you knew at the end of this episode that we were in for more of the Romulans. There was going to be a lot of a lot more to come than you were looking forward to. A boy, what are you looking forward to it? After this? And I want to give a shout out to Anthony James as son commander. Is that thigh they he was in like high planes Drifter unforgiven, dude has own tons of work, So definitely shout out to him because I thought he did a great job. So that gets through our top ten. I know that. Well we'll go alone and they'll go hi. Uh, there's a dishonorable mention we have to talk about here.

59:37 Uh, there's a certain episode that should should technically be skipped because it is not a great episode. Specifically, I think it's episode three Code of Honor. Yes, yep, very tone deaf and embarrassingly racist episode that most of the crew would love to forget. If you're going to be you know, if you want to get the whole thing and be complete and go through, certainly do so. But just know that there there are sometimes when we get stinkers, and if you're going through, I'm on the fence about you know, should you avoid it or not. I almost feel like it should.

1:00:20 You have to see it so that you know what happened. But it's it's not a high point. Wayne made a very good Wayne made a very good point to me, and I'm gonna let him talk about it. So Wayne, go ahead about that episode. Yeah, it's not an important episode of the series, and you definitely can skip it, but it's one of the very few episodes from the first season that Denise Crosby got to do anything. It's it's it's Atasha episode. And for that, I'm not gonna say I like because I don't. It's it is one of the worst episodes. But she's great in it. I mean, she really gives a phenomenal performance and shows what what could have been, you know, if she was allowed to explore her character more, which she didn't get too. And in that case, it's not my least favorite episode of the series, it's my second.

1:01:07 My my least favorite is actually the episode before that, in episode two, the Naked Now. I just that episode you can skip. You can skip both of these. Really, yeah, go straight, which you make which you make your your second episode Heyn, which is perfect. But you know, it's just I don't like The Naked Now. I find the the visual effects are clunky, the acting is is it's clunky to the it's very camp it's doing trying to be too much like the original series. Yeah, and the actors are kind of off character, and you know, it's it's too early in the series for everyone to be trying to play drunk yep. Yeah, and it doesn't work. It's it's it's a cringe worthy episode.

1:01:51 So so if you do need, if you don't have all the time to watch twenty six episodes, twenty six hours, there's two hours right there, you can skip. Well. Getting back into something positive, as Boemler says, let's talk about Riker. Riker, Wayne, you got a favorite Riker moment from season one? Yes, I do. You brought it up a little bit earlier. I like Riker's performance, his characterization in Height and Q. You know, he's presented with an impossible decision. You know, he's got the powers. He's omnipotent. He's got the powers of Q. He can do anything. He can. He can bring back the dead, which he does. He brings back Wharf and and and Wesley. He can he can do anything. He can give Wharf girlfriends and and you know, he he could save and stop war everything. But but he has to make the moral decision. And and I love Jonathan Frakes's performance in this episode. It's it's a it's a Riker episode, and it gives Riker one of the few times in the series, or it might be the only time where he really gets to interact with Q because before the hour after this it's it's Patrick Stewart, Johnallancy all the way. But here here it is we've got Jonathan Fraake's and John Delancy and they do a phenomenal John this This is my choice.

1:03:07 Good choice. All right, Dave, what about you? What's your favorite record moment? So mine actually comes at encounter at far point at the beginning of the series, so it's more like a Picard Riker moment when they first meet on the ship, Rikers is beamed on board Tasha. Yard takes him to the battle bridge and you know, he basically, you know, automatically says, well, something must have happened because the saucer section was missing, and you know, he walks onto the battle bridge, but Card really gives him this like cold shoulder, you know what I'm talking about. Yeah, it comes up, and you know, and then Picard tells him, you know, we're gonna let you review something. And it never looks back at him, just keeps looking forward. And then you know he Yard takes him over and sits him down and he watches the screen basically watches the episode with us you know what we've already seen, which was really weird in itself, but besides the po and of course when it was over, you know, he lost you. He calls that a little adventure. And then after all of that is asked to manually dock the saucer section. Talk about being put to test right away by your captain. There you go, right, yeah, welcome aboard, sir, Welcome aboard. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, we see that. That kind of reminds me of was it Ratha Khan m h. When Chris Yalley's character is asked to, you know, pilot manually, there's always kind of that little test that kind of comes up a lot.

1:04:31 Yeah, It's it's tricky, like, don't break it. We just got it, no pressure. Sure, that's fine for me. There's a bit of quick thinking on Arsenal of Freedom where you see kind of the cleverness of Breaker come out when he talks about the good ship Lollipop and I won't say too much of that spoiling because it's an interesting twist, but getting to see him develop a little bit more into kind of his tactical mind and start to kind of come out. I think that comes out a lot more when the Beard comes back, so we'll look forward to that in the next season well. As always, thank you guys for joining me on this one. I love talking track with you, trips to the cons and all this other kind of stuff where Jeff is just like, I don't know this yet, but I'll get there. Just check out a list exactly if you have a chance, go through our list. Even if you don't have a chance to catch them all, that's fine. This is just a little taste kind of a map to get through some of these seasons and then you can just explore as much as you want to. As always, thanks listeners for joining us for these adventures, these discussions. Hailing frequencies are always open for you to share your thoughts and your questions on social run all the favorite platforms there.

1:05:48 Email us at a Film by a Podcast at gmail dot com, find us online at a film by a podcast dot com. And if you're looking for more exclusive content, possibly some swag. If you see you to set a coon, send us some latinum r way through the Patreon and we'll get you on our list. The next few episodes, we'll talk about season two in a top ten and explore what else there is to do. Thanks Wayne, Thanks thank you