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First Contact (episode)

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An injury to Commander Riker during a reconnaissance mission threatens the prospects for first contact with a culture on the verge of warp travel.

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Production history
• 3.2 Story and script
• 3.3 Production
• 3.4 Cast and characters
• 3.5 Continuity
• 3.6 Reception
• 3.7 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Guest stars
• 4.4 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.5 Stunt doubles
• 4.6 Stand-ins
• 4.7.1 Script references
• 4.8 External links

Summary [ ]

Riker is injured, and being treated at a hospital on an alien planet . The doctors, while trying to assess Riker's injuries, notice various peculiarities in his physiology – the cardial organ in the wrong place, missing costal struts , and digits on his terminus . His face had been surgically altered to help him blend in, but not his entire body.

Act One [ ]

Riker is posing as Rivas Jakara , a tourist from the Marta community on the southern continent . When he awakens, he explains to Dr. Berel that his abnormalities are genetic , and that his own physician, Dr. Crusher is familiar with them – but she's currently on sabbatical. The doctors and hospital officials of the Sikla Medical Facility are not convinced. Dr. Berel wonders why, of all the medical facilities on the planet, did the alien have to show up here. He decides to keep it quiet until they thoroughly check out his claims, but with a guard posted at his door "29 hours a day".

Picard and Troi make first contact with Mirasta Yale

The Malcorians are on the verge of possessing warp capabilities. Mirasta Yale , an eager scientist , presents her plans for a warp drive to Chancellor Avel Durken to get approval for funding, amid objections from the minister of security , Krola , who states that the people are frightened and confused by new technology. Ultimately, the chancellor agrees to fund the warp drive program, stating that his people should be looking to the future, not the past.

Later, Picard and Troi beam into Mirasta's lab as she is working, startling her. After introducing themselves, they inform her that they have been monitoring her progress with warp drive and now feel it is appropriate to initiate first contact with the Malcorians. In response to her natural skepticism, Picard offers to provide her with proof. Mirasta accepts, and they beam her back to the USS Enterprise -D with them.

Act Two [ ]

Mirasta Yale walks into Ten Forward with Picard and Troi. After seeing her homeworld from space through the lounge's large viewports , she begins to reminisce about her times in the planetarium when she was a nine-year-old. She had always wanted to know about other worlds and cultures. Captain Picard and Deanna Troi explain to Yale that they had been monitoring her planet for years, analyzing their popular culture, broadcast signals, and entertainment. Picard explains how the Federation also sends down observation teams to blend in with the culture. He reveals to Yale that the undercover observation teams have been gathering information on her species for years. Picard then tells Yale that Riker was sent down undercover to coordinate with the observation teams in final preparations for first contact. He is now missing on the planet somewhere near the capital city . Yale agrees to do whatever she can to find him.

"Jakara" is questioned by Doctor Berel

Yale states that the Malcorians' culture holds the belief of being superior in the galaxy and that it may be difficult to change that belief. Yale asks Picard not to discuss the missing Riker in front of Chancellor Durken and Krola, for fear that Krola will use him as a scapegoat in calling the warp project as a great threat to their culture and race.

Back in the hospital, there is quite a stir. Doctor Berel is annoyed over the attention, but the nurse Tava says that it will ultimately be very difficult to hold back the interest. Riker (Jakara) is being questioned in his room. Doctor Berel tells him that there is no Doctor Crusher on the planet. He accuses Riker of being a member of an alien species . Riker continues to deny the accusations; however, the doctor advises that he believes Riker is hiding something and that he cannot stay in hiding forever.

Meanwhile, a busy Chancellor Durken reluctantly receives Yale to his office with Picard following behind. Durken is shocked over what he sees, and Yale suggests that Durken clear his afternoon schedule.

Act Three [ ]

Picard and Durken share a glass of wine

Chancellor Durken is given a tour of the Enterprise and is brought to the bridge by Picard with Yale. Chancellor Durken and Yale both meet Commander Data as well, in awe of the android , a "constructed being" as Yale puts it. Data replies that "artificial lifeform" would be the more accurate term. After the captain and the chancellor leave them to speak privately to one another, Data informs Yale that there is still no word from Commander Riker. They have continued to scan the capital city for him without success.

In Captain Picard's ready room , Picard offers Durken wine from his brother 's vineyard . Picard proposes a toast to the new friendship between the Federation and the Malcorians. Durken does not completely trust Picard's overtures of friendship, and he perceives it as a prelude to attack from an interstellar conqueror. Durken asks what Picard will do if the chancellor asks them never to return to his planet. Picard says that they will respect his wishes and stay away.

Picard explains the Prime Directive after Durken asks why the Federation would not offer their superior technology to his people. Picard says that such an act would be irresponsible and destructive. Durken agrees and goes back to his family on the planet, deciding to tell his children that he had a good day.

" There are differences in the way that my people make love. " " I can't wait to learn. "

Back in the hospital, Riker is attempting to escape by smashing out a window with a metal bench where he encounters a nurse named Lanel , who tells him he cannot escape due to the guards outside. Lanel asks if Riker is an alien. When he says no, she does not believe him. Lanel offers to let Riker escape to his spaceship in space, but only if he would make love to her. Riker says no, but Lanel insists, eager to learn how Humans make love. " I can't wait to learn ", she eagerly says.

Lanel fulfills her part of the bargain, distracting a guard by saying she thinks Riker is dead. Lanel asks if she will ever see Riker again. Riker says " I'll call you the next time I pass through your star system. " He runs into several people who stop his escape and begin to beat him. The beating exacerbates the injury to his kidney and he begins bleeding internally . Doctor Berel, growing tired of the escalation in violence, instructs his staff to contact central security and to escort Riker back to his room for surgery.

Act Four [ ]

Durken and his staff meet to discuss first contact with the Federation

Krola, Yale, Chancellor Durken, and a member of their staff are having a meeting regarding what to do in regard to first contact with the Federation. Krola believes that Yale and Chancellor Durken are being naive and that the reforms Yale and Durken are making are destroying the Malcorian culture. After they state that Krola is overreacting and that Captain Picard has no intention of conquering the planet, Krola says that they do not have to since Durken and Yale are willing to give over their planet with open arms. In order to further drive home his point, Krola says that he has captured a spy – Commander Riker. Yale then explains how the captured man is Captain Picard's first officer, and that she instructed Picard not to discuss Riker with Durken. Durken then angrily demands all the information that Yale was keeping from him.

Krola arrives at the Sikla Medical Facility to interrogate Commander Riker. Yale pleads to contact the Enterprise to help Riker. Krola asks Doctor Berel to revive Commander Riker using drugs that would increase his heart rate and vascular pressure, but Berel refuses, citing an analog to the Hippocratic Oath that he will "do no harm". Krola then promptly says that he will find someone else to replace Berel.

At their next meeting, a deeply concerned Chancellor Durken confronts Captain Picard with Commander Riker's discovery on the planet when Picard arrives in Durken's office. Picard explains that when Starfleet met with the Klingons , contact was "disastrous" and decades of war resulted. After that, the Federation decided that surveillance of this nature was necessary. He assures Durken that in time, full disclosure of the surveillance would have been made. Picard had hoped that his crew would have found Commander Riker before the Malcorians did, because the Malcorians most likely would have reacted negatively to the Federation's arrival. Durken is pleased with Picard's forthrightness, and comforted by the fact that he makes mistakes. Durken informs Picard that he will make a decision later regarding Riker.

Back in the medical facility, Krola relieves Berel as medical director and locates Dr. Nilrem , who agrees to revive Riker.

Act Five [ ]

Once Riker is revived, Krola asks to be left alone with him. Krola agrees to bring Riker's people to the hospital, but only after he answers his questions.

Doctor Crusher and Lieutenant Worf see to Commander Riker

Chancellor Durken is furious with Yale, stating that he would have asked for her resignation if it weren't for her vast expertise in space travel. Durken says that he is prepared to release Riker to Picard once he has been questioned, but Yale states that Riker condition is extremely grave, and he might not survive interrogation.

Krola demands to know why a race of peaceful people would have a need for such lethal weapons, while holding Riker's phaser . Riker explains that the weapon is only used for defense, but Krola does not believe him. Krola says that he must force Durken to keep him from forging an accord with the Federation. Krola then places the phaser in Riker's hands and fires it into his own chest, hoping to die as a martyr. Riker passes out again as Nilrem and Tava enter the room; they believe that Riker has shot Krola and that the security minister is going to die.

Doctor Crusher, Worf , and Martinez materialize in the hospital room at this point to rescue Riker. She reports Krola's condition and that she will need to beam him up as well. Picard, who is in Durken's office, receives word of this and says that he will meet them on the Enterprise . Durken accompanies him. Crusher reports that Riker was stabilized and that they saved him just in time. Krola is fine as well, because the phaser was only set on stun, but Dr. Crusher is able to ascertain that his injury was self-inflicted, answers the Chancellor's speculation that the two struggled for the weapon by explaining that Commander Riker was in no position to offer any struggle. Upon regaining consciousness, he weakly begs Durken once more not to trust the aliens nor pursue relations with them.

In Captain Picard's ready room, Chancellor Durken regretfully declines Picard's offer for first contact. He intends to delay the development of warp technology to allow the Malcorians more time to prepare themselves in regards to their society and culture. Picard agrees, though he regrets that he will not be able to learn more about Malcorian society. He asks Durken how they will keep the alien contact a secret. Durken says that even though stories of a government conspiracy will circulate for many years, they will pass in time as people deem them untrue conspiracy theories.

As a final request, Yale requests that Picard take her with him. Picard warns that the Federation may not return to Malcor III for many years, but Yale insists that space travel has been her dream since childhood. Picard summons Worf to escort Chancellor Durken to the transporter room and to assign quarters to Yale. Picard bids Durken farewell, hoping that they will meet again someday to continue their friendship.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" I can't find his cardial organ. (searching in new area) There it is. Up here. " " In his digestive tract? "

" What are you? "

" Mirasta Yale? " " Yes? " " Please, don't be alarmed at our appearance. " " My name is Jean-Luc Picard. This is my associate, Deanna Troi. "

" It's everything I ever dreamed of. "

" … will you help me [get out of here]? " " If you make love to me. " " … What? " " I've always wanted to make love with an alien. " " … It's not that easy, there are differences in the way that my people make love. " " I can't wait to learn. "

" Chancellor, I think… you might want to clear your afternoon schedule for this. "

" Will I ever see you again? " " I'll call you the next time I pass through your star system. "

" It's far more likely that I'm a weather balloon than an alien. "

" … he is a living, intelligent being. I don't care if the chancellor himself calls down here. I have sworn an oath to do no harm, and I will not! "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

• Final draft script: 28 November 1990 [1]
• Filmed: 30 November 1990 – 11 December 1990
• Insert shot filmed: 30 January 1991
• Premiere airdate: 18 February 1991
• First UK airdate: 28 September 1994

Story and script [ ]

• "First Contact" derived from a story that Marc Scott Zicree had pitched in the third season . Zicree recalled, " It's very hard to sell to Star Trek . They've gone months without buying any stories. I had done up something like 50 or 60 stories in pitching to the show. Usually I sell on the first or second story. I must have run fifteen stories by them before we hit 'First Contact.' Piller liked the stuff so he kept saying keep going. At one point Ira Behr was joking and said this guy is an idea machine, we should just lock him in a room and have him slip paper out from under the door. It was the day before Thanksgiving in 1989, and the meeting was at 5:00 in the morning. Everyone was sick of being there and wanted to go home, and it was a hard pitch for a while. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 216)
• Piller found the concept irresistible – to show for the first time how first contacts are dealt with in the Federation. The idea went through various permutations, including versions by " Tin Man " writers Dennis Russell Bailey and David Bischoff , as well as one by Ronald D. Moore and Joe Menosky which took the point of view of the Enterprise crew. At one point the story was considered for the season cliffhanger, and in another called "Graduation" it was to have been Wesley's final episode, in which he was to remain on the planet following the cultural contact mission. According to Zicree, one version had the planet discovering the Federation by taking in a crippled Enterprise shuttlecraft, while in another the members of the away team became celebrities. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 156))
• For Piller, what held the episode back was not the idea itself. He recalled, " Our rules told us we never have open shows, and we wrote the first two drafts from our point of view and I realized it wasn't working. The thing that was holding us back was a rule, and I'm very much a supporter of the rules of Gene 's universe, but I also love to break them if they're in the interest of the show. I went to Rick and said that even though I know he doesn't like to break format, this could be a special show if he would let me write it from the alien point of view. He did, as long as I let everyone know that we weren't going to ever break this rule again. No other show in the history of Star Trek has taken the alien perspective of our characters, and I think that makes it very special and very unique. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 216) This format ended up being revisited for Star Trek: Voyager 's " Distant Origin ".
• The basic plot was seen as a homage to the classic science fiction film, The Day the Earth Stood Still (directed by Robert Wise ). Piller remarked, " I said it was a '50s space movie except we're the aliens and that's really the way I tried to write it. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 216)

Production [ ]

• David Livingston noted, " It's the first episode where we really broke the mold. From a visual standpoint, we tried to create sets, wardrobe and medical instruments that looked evocative of our culture today, but were different, and add enough that they didn't say we just rented a gurney from Central Props. We took a lot of pains in terms of talking about the props and the set dressing, so that it looked a little bit odd. I think this we were pretty successful. It was very hard, but I think the audience identified with these people. It was how I would feel at first contact. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 216)
• "First Contact" was filmed between Friday 30 November 1990 and Tuesday 11 December 1990 on Paramount Stage 8 , 9 , and 16 . On the first day, 30 November, the previous episode " Clues " was completed and only a short scene between Patrick Stewart and George Coe in the ready room was filmed. An additional scene in Riker's hospital room was filmed as an insert shot on Wednesday 30 January 1991 on Paramount Stage 8 during the production of the episode " The Nth Degree ".
• Several scenes which were planned were either dropped or cut from the episode. These are scene 17 and 18 in an extended version including several background actors like Joycelyn Robinson and Gerard David and scenes 8, 15, and 16 set in the transporter room when Mirasta Yale and Chancellor Durkin were beamed aboard, went through a corridor and visited engineering. According to the call sheet of Tuesday 4 December 1990 there were also many more background performers scheduled to appear in Ten Forward.

Cast and characters [ ]

• This episode marks the first instance of an actor ( Bebe Neuwirth ) from the acclaimed sitcoms Cheers and Frasier , also distributed by Paramount, guest-starring on TNG. Neuwirth's scene was written in late with her in mind for the role. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 156)) The next was in the fifth season episode " Cause And Effect ", with Kelsey Grammer appearing as the captain of the time-trapped USS Bozeman . The two had starred together on both Frasier and Cheers as husband and wife, and later ex-husband and wife. The entire principal cast of Frasier , except for Kelsey Grammer, later did a skit with Kate Mulgrew spoofing Star Trek: Voyager for the Star Trek 30th anniversary special.
• Carolyn Seymour previously appeared as a Romulan , Sub-commander Taris , in the second season episode " Contagion " and later played a different Romulan, Commander Toreth , in the sixth season episode " Face Of The Enemy ". She went on to play Mrs. Templeton in VOY : " Cathexis " and " Persistence of Vision ".
• LeVar Burton ( Geordi La Forge ) does not appear in this episode.

Continuity [ ]

• Marc Scott Zicree later wrote the story for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " Far Beyond the Stars ".
• "First Contact" was later used for the title of the second Next Generation film , and the eighth film overall.
• When offering a glass of wine to Chancellor Durken, Picard says that the wine was given to him by his brother Robert. He is referring to the events of the episode " Family ". In that episode, Robert asks him not to drink it alone, and Picard grants his brother's wish here.
• This marks the third of four times the Captain shows a native female her home planet from orbit. This also happens with Rivan in " Justice ", Nuria in " Who Watches The Watchers " and Lily in Star Trek: First Contact . This approach clearly has meaning to the Captain as he tells Anij in Star Trek: Insurrection , seeing his home planet from space for the first time was a moment where time stood still.
• This is one of only five TNG episodes that don't have a stardate. The others are " Symbiosis ", " Tapestry ", " Liaisons ", and " Sub Rosa ".

Reception [ ]

• Entertainment Weekly ranked this episode number eight on their list of "The Top Ten Episodes" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation . [2]
• Jonathan Frakes remarked, " I'm not sure that the writing in that episode was as good as it could have been. I really liked the story idea, [but] it had loopholes. It was loaded with great actors; George Coe and George Hearn and Bebe, who was a delight. What a funny woman. I loved that scene. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 216)
• Marina Sirtis commented, " I thought it was one of the most interesting episodes of the season. It was something so obvious that we hadn't addressed and an issue that hadn't been brought up in 150 episodes of Star Trek . Of course there are going to be people who are going to get warp power and are going out into space. How do we deal with this? I thought it was a really good episode and Patrick agreed that we were exactly the right two people to go down to the planet and say hi. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 216)
• Director Cliff Bole comments, " Originally, when I read it, my challenge was how to handle all the talking, because it was a very talky show. Real talky, and sometimes between just two people. I think we came out all right with it. I don't know how it stands in the [fan] rating. I would like to do a first contact story that results in a nice big conflict. I think that can be an issue show. Look at what's happening in Europe. I think they should make contact and really step into it. Picard actually made references to that in dialogue. He said something about that happening with the Klingons, that the first contact with them became a 100-year war. " ("Cliff Bole – Of Redemption & Unification", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 17 , p. 34)
• A mission report for this episode, by John Sayers, was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 16 , pp. 26-29.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 45, 6 April 1992
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 4.5, 16 July 2001
• As part of the TNG Season 4 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring [ ]

• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars [ ]

• George Coe as Avel Durken
• Carolyn Seymour as Mirasta Yale
• George Hearn as Berel
• Michael Ensign as Krola
• Steven Anderson as Nilrem
• Sachi Parker as Tava
• Bebe Neuwirth as Lanel

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Anthony as Ten Forward waiter
• Thomas J. Booth as operations division officer
• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Carter as Malcorian nurse
• Gilbert Combs as Malcorian med tech
• Davis as Malcorian doctor
• Chris Doyle as Malcorian guard
• Elliot Durant III as operations division ensign
• Keppler as Malcorian nurse
• Bruce Koski as Malcorian med tech
• Manicone as Malcorian med tech
• McConnell as Malcorian minister
• Tim McCormack as Bennett
• Michael Moorehead as civilian
• Pastor as Malcorian doctor
• Perez as Malcorian minister
• Randy Pflug as Jones
• James Washington as Malcorian doctor
• Bolian ensign
• Female Malcorian hospital com voice
• Female operations division ensign
• Malcorian assistant (voice)
• Male Malcorian hospital com voice
• Two civilian women

Stunt doubles [ ]

• Dan Koko as stunt double for Jonathan Frakes
• Frank Orsatti as stunt double for Steven Anderson

Stand-ins [ ]

• Michael Braveheart – utility stand-in
• Bill Craig – stand-in for George Hearn
• Jeremy Doyle – utility stand-in
• Margaret Flores – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis , Sachi Parker , Bebe Neuwirth , and Carolyn Seymour
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner , Steven Anderson , George Coe , and Michael Ensign
• Lorine Mendell – stand-in for Gates McFadden and Carolyn Seymour
• Randy Pflug – stand-in for George Hearn
• Keith Rayve – utility stand-in
• John Rice – utility stand-in
• Richard Sarstedt – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes , Michael Ensign , and George Coe
• Dennis Tracy – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• James Washington – stand-in for Michael Dorn

References [ ]

" a lot "; accord ; acting ; address ; adrulmine ; alien ; " all right "; android ; angle ; arrival ; artificial lifeform ; " as well "; associate ; assumption ; " at home "; " at least "; attention ; Betazed ; birth defect ; Bolian ; brain activity ; broadcast signal ; capital city ; capture ; cardial organ ; cardial rate ; case ; " catch their breath "; Central Security (Malcor III) ; century ; chance ; chancellor ; Chateau La Barre ; chest ; chorus ; circulation ; circulation pattern ; Code Blue ; code 3 drill ; community ; confrontation ; confusion ; conqueror ; consciousness ; conspiracy ; cosmetic surgery ; costal strut ; cranial damage ; cranial lobe ; crisis room ; daily broadcast ; danger ; dark ages ; day ; death ; decade ; deep space ; del-scan series ; device ; diagnostic bed ; digestive tract ; digit ; diplomacy ; disappearance ; dissent ; distraction ; door ; drug ; Durken's family ; Earth ; eating establishment ; economics ; education ; Engineering station ; entertainment ; Environmental station ; era ; error : evening meal ; evidence ; experience ; expertise ; family ; fear ; federation (government); fiction ; first contact ; " for instance "; friend ; friendship ; fruit ; Garth system ; genetic mutation ; genetic trait ; goal ; grapes ; guard ; " had no business "; hallway ; hand ; high frequency E-M charge unit ; history ; home ; hour ; humor ; hundred ; idea ; idealist ; ideology ; imagination ; implant ; " in a manner of speaking "; information ; inherited genetic trait ; injury ; innocence ; instinct ; instructor ; internal bleeding ; Internal Security ; interrogation ( questioning ); Jakara, Rivas ; Jakara's father ; Jakara's neighbors ; jewelry ; joke ; journalism ; Klingon Empire ; lab ; language ; " last thing "; launch ; leader ; life ; lifeform ; light ; light barrier ; light year ; logic ; location ; " lost your mind "; Lupo ; lying ; machine ; " make love "; Malcor III ; Malcor III capital city ; Malcor III primary ; Malcor III system ; Malcorians ; Malcorian civilians ; Malcorian language ; Malcorian warp ship ; Marta community restaurant cook ; Marta community ; martyr ; medical aid ; medical facility ( hospital ); medical journal ; medical library ; medical technology ; metal ; Minister ; Minister of Security ; minute ; mission ; Mission operations station ; mistake ; mob ; month ; music ; name ; Nessor ; night ; oath ; observation team ; octare ; " of course "; office ; " on file "; " open your eyes "; opponent ; opportunity ; " out of control "; outer space ( space ); panic ; path ; patient ; peace ; permission ; philosophy ; physician ; pin ; Picard, Robert ; planet ; planetarium ; police ; policy ; political agenda ; popular music ; present ; Prime Directive ; prisoner ; privilege ; problem ; production unit ; progress ; prototype ; quadroline ; question ; reality ; recovery ; relationship ; renal organ ; resignation ; resource ; riot ; room ; rumor ; sabbatical ; schedule ; science station ; scientific community ; scientist ; search ; second officer ; secret ; security ; service exit ; Sikla Medical Facility ; sitting ; sky ; social development ; social reform ; society ; southern continent of Malcor III ; Space Administrator ; Space Bureau ; space traveler ; spaceflight ( space travel ); spaceship ; specialist ; species ; spy ; station 12 ; story ( tale ); surface ; surface reconnaissance ; surgery ; surgical cube ; surrender ; surveillance ; surveillance team ; telencephalon ; term ; terminus ; thing ; threat ; time ; " to be honest "; toast ; tourist ; toy ; tradition ; transport coordinates ; transporter room ; trauma ; trust ; truth ; understanding ; universe ; vascular pressure ; vice-chancellor ; vital buffer ; voice ; warp drive capability ; warp engine ; warp field generator ; warp program ; warp travel ; way of life ; weather balloon ; wine ; wing ; witness ; word ; Yale's parents ; year

Script references [ ]

armament ; aspiration drill ; calmative ; Central Province ; children ; conference ; cranial bone ; delegate ; demonstration ; diagnostic center ; disguise ; dreamer ; Federation ; first contact transport ; four planets ; ichor ; invasion ; journalist ; judgment ; knee ; medical officer ; realist ; resource allocation ; room ; security chief ; speed of light ; theory ; thousand ; training ; violence ; wall ; warp drive ; warship

External links [ ]

• " First Contact " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " First Contact " at Wikipedia
• "First Contact" at StarTrek.com
• " "First Contact" " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• "First Contact" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein

Star Trek: First Contact /YMMV

• Headscratchers
• Heartwarming
• Tear Jerker
• All Subpages
• Award Snub : This movie lost the Academy Award for Best Makeup to the Eddie Murphy remake of The Nutty Professor . Though the Academy made up for it years later by giving the award to the 2009 Star Trek .
• Base Breaker : The Borg Queen, also goes for her appearances on Star Trek: Voyager . Some find her an interesting addition to the Borg. Others believe her creation was a huge mistake, going against everything the Borg embody.
• Complete Monster : The Borg Queen (especially when you take her Voyager appearances into account).
• Plus Cochran blasting Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" across the base as the Phoenix lifts off.
• Fan Disservice : what's left of the Borg Queen after her flesh melts off.
• At least five of the Borg drones are Klingons (presumably assimilated at the Battle of Wolf 359.) If Resistance Was Futile for them, what chance would the rest of us have?
• The montage in which we see the Enterprise crew failing to hold back the Borg, during which we see several officers are being assimilated. One looking in horror as his amputated arm gets fitted with a cybernetic claw. Another with a freshly gouged eye being covered with an eyepiece.
• Hilarious in Hindsight : Picard gets accused of acting like Captain Ahab. Guess what role Stewart would play two years later?
• Holy Shit Quotient : The opening battle against the Borg ship. That sequence alone was worth the movie format. Especially when the Enterprise fires the blue quantum torpedoes the surround sound crushes you into the chair.
• "Captain Ahab has to go hunt his whale!"
• "Assimilate THIS!"
• Picard's Big No (before he breaks his little ships) has also turned into something of a meme, even being referenced in South Park .
• Narm : The scene where the crew depart via the escape pods would have looked more dramatic, if the escape pods didn't look like tiny pianos.
• Truth in Television : At that height, ostensibly the Lagrange Point, with no clouds, that's precisely what the Earth looks like.
• So Special Effects Failure is really a case of Reality Is Unrealistic .
• And this movie isn't half-bad, so that's saying something.
• Still, they averted a potentially much worse case of this trope. The original screenplay was role-reversed and had Picard impersonating the injured Cochrane , while Riker fought off the Borg invasion. The focus of the story was Picard's wacky antics while pretending to be Cochrane, and in the end he never even found out that the Borg had ever been on the Enterprise . Thankfully Patrick Stewart stepped in and pointed out that it would be about a million times more logical to follow up "The Best of Both Worlds" and have Picard confronting the Borg once more.
• SF Debris joked that the Borg deliberately waited until Sisko was away from the station and the Defiant to launch their attack. The stardates even work out.
• Unfortunate Implications : The film suggests that even though humans created warp drive on their own, the real reason humans got out of darkness and became great was because visitors from the sky came down and made us that way. Disappointing when you remember Gene Roddenberry hated such tropes as Ancient Astronauts .
• Villain Decay : While it works in this movie, the introduction of the Borg Queen marks the start of the Borg's overall decay, since even Data notes that the very existence of a Queen challenges previous assumptions about how the Borg work. Apparently earlier drafts of the script didn't have the Queen, but they realized that the Borg were essentially cyborg zombies without some sort of leader.
• It says something about just how far visual effects evolve that years later, when Voyager also wanted to feature the Borg Queen, they managed to improve the visuals... on a TV show's budget.

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First Contact

Star trek: the next generation.

• Disguised as an alien prior to First Contact, Will's life becomes imperiled when incurred injuries reveal his foreign internal structure to a xenophobic alien population.
• Commander William Riker has been on an acculturation mission under an alias for months on the Malcorian planet, surgically altered to appear as a local, but he gets badly wounded, beyond their medical skills to correct because his internal organs are unknown to them. Captain Jean-Luc Picard decides to speed up his official diplomatic approach (a.k.a. First Contact protocols) and intercede on Riker's behalf, but they are told by a fascinated, open-minded Malcorian scientist that her planet's culture is particularly xenophobic and would reject any alien as being unequal to them. The Malcorian government keeps the matter secret but is internally divided: while Chancellor Durken is in favor of Riker's release without his people finding out and establishing friendly relations with the Federation, his powerful security minister, Krola, is prepared to go to any length to preserve their traditional way of life, including framing Riker for murder. — KGF Vissers
• Captain Picard and crew are about to engage in one of their more dangerous exercises - making first contact with the Malcorians, a race on the cusp of developing warp power. Experience tells the Federation it is better to make first contact before they set off into space. An advance team has already been on the planet for some time, Commander Riker among them, posing as Malcorians to make final arrangements. Unbeknown to Picard, Riker is in a hospital, having been severely injured in a riot. Picard and Counselor Troi make contact with native scientist Mirasta Yale (responsible for the warp program), who is enthusiastic at what they propose. Not all Malcorians welcome contact, however, and the planet's leader, Chancellor Durken, must decide to what extent his people are prepared to learn definitively that they are not alone in the universe. — garykmcd
• Commander William Riker is injured while visiting a planet on a First Contact mission. Hospitalized, the planet's inhabitants discover he is not one of them. Riker's predicament forces the Enterprise crew to speed up the First Contact timetable in order to save him, even though some on the planet believe the Enterprise is on a mission of conquest instead of peace. — Moviedude1
• Commander William Riker has been on an acculturation mission under an alias for months on the Malcorian planet, surgically altered to appear as a local, but he gets badly wounded, beyond their medical skills to correct because his internal organs are unknown to them. Dr Nilrem (Steven Anderson) and Dr Tava (Sachi Parker) find out that he is not Malcorian (from his fingers and placement of organs). When Riker comes to, he claims he is Malcorian and was born with genetic defects. They find his phaser, which Riker explains as a toy for a neighbor's child. His communicator is missing. Dr Berel (George Hearn) is the chief of medical staff at the hospital and wants to keep things quiet till they are able to verify all available facts and reach a conclusion. Malcorians are on the verge of warp flight and Mirasta Tale (Carolyn Seymour) is head of their space program. Chancellor Durken (George Coe) is a forward-looking person and wants to pursue a technologically progressive agenda, while his powerful security minister, Krola (Michael Ensign) wants Durken to be more conservative and abandon space flight altogether. Captain Jean-Luc Picard decides to speed up his official diplomatic approach (a.k.a. First Contact protocols) and intercede on Riker's behalf, but they are told by a fascinated Mirasta, who was beamed aboard the Enterprise by Picard to prove that they are not playing a joke on her, that her planet's culture is particularly xenophobic. They believe that Malcorian is a superior race and that their planet is the center of the universe. They would reject any alien as being unequal to them. Picard informs Mirasta that Riker went missing on the planet when he was finalizing the details for the observation team. Mirasta promises to help but warns Picard the Durken and Krola will not be understanding at all in this matter. They will view this as an intrusion, an invasion even, of their society. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Mirasta introduces Picard to Durken by herself. Durken understands the diplomatic language of Picard and has a favorable impression of the Federation. A nurse, Lanel (Bebe Neuwirth) is willing to help Riker escape the hospital, but only if he makes love to her. But Riker is caught by Nilrem and is beaten up badly, aggravating his injuries. Berel saves him and transfers him to surgery. Berel saves Riker, but only barely. The matter is escalated to Krola now. Meanwhile Mirasta discusses the matter with Durken and Krola. Krola informs Durken that the aliens have already sent a spy amongst them, and the threat cannot be ignored. Mirasta tells Durken that Riker is Picard's first officer. Durken confronts Picard who defends the observations, saying that years ago a first contact with Klingons went wrong and led to decades of war. Since then, the policy of observations before first contact was formulated. Durken won't confirm Riker's release when asked by Picard. The Malcorian government keeps the matter secret but is internally divided: while Chancellor Durken is in favor of Riker's release without his people finding out and establishing friendly relations with the Federation, Krola, is prepared to go to any length to preserve their traditional way of life, including framing Riker for murder. Krola puts the phaser in Riker's hand and aims it at himself. He thinks that his death will preclude any peaceful accord with the Federation and the traditional way of life on the planet will succeed. Mirasta begs Duken to give Riker's position to Picard, else Riker will not survive interrogation by Krola. Krola fires the phaser and lies on the floor, when he is discovered by the hospital staff. That's when Beverly beams down with Worf. They find the phaser, but Riker had changed the setting to stun, before Krola fired it. Beverly saves both. Durken tells Picard that his people are not ready for this change (Krola was ready to die for that philosophy) and decides to keep the whole thing a secret. Mirasta asks Picard to take her on the Enterprise, a request that is granted by Durken

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Star Trek: First Contact Review

01 Jan 1996

106 minutes

Star Trek: First Contact

Just as they saw The Wrath of Khan rescue the Star Trek franchise from the deathly pomposity of the first movie, Trekkers will be looking to First Contact to set the tone for the second phase of the series — Generations having had the benefit of the reassuring presence of William Shatner, and the novelty of seeing him offed.

Unfortunately, left alone on the big screen, distinctly thin characterisation and a plot that looks like a distended television episode, let the new crew down slightly but there are still enough classic moments to keep fans happy. First Contact finds Jean Luc Picard (Stewart) aboard a new Enterprise heading off to do battle with the Borg, a rapacious cyber "collective" intent on assimilating the human race into its "hive", a process which involves slicing off limbs, drilling into eyeballs and generally mucking people about.

Having had his own brush with Borgification in the telly series, Picard is uncharacteristically vengeful. After plunging through a bargain basement optical effect, the crew finds itself on 21st century Earth, as Riker (Frakes) and Geordi (Levar Burton) — now sporting a dinky pair of electronic eyes — fight to ensure that man's first warp jaunt goes off without a hitch.

Debut big screen director Frakes wisely saves his special effects budget for two key sequences — a battle with the Borg and a spacewalk on the hull of the Enterprise. Using these, a truly impressive opening shot and enough in-jokes and series references, he aims to distract Trekkers from the distinctly cheap-looking remainder. But what he loses is the cosy sense of family which the TV series drew upon, with most characters looking thin and lost on the big screen, and some (Dr. Crusher and Councillor Troy, in particular) almost totally ignored. And with a script that plunges right into the action, there's nowhere near enough time for those not familiar with the series to get to know and care about the characters.

The exceptions are Stewart as Picard, who gets his own scenery chewing big speech, and Brent Spiner as Pinocchio-esque android Data who has long had the most interesting role and for whom assimilation has its own attractions. However, with so many series showing simultaneously on televisions the world over, there's a sense that a movie is nothing all that special. Paramount execs may want to consider rationing their output a bit more rigorously if they're not going to overdose its audience.

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Star Trek: 10 First Contacts We Need To See

In Star Trek, first contact doesn't always mean a movie. Sometimes, you get six seasons too

10. Federation-Medusan

Jack Kiely is a writer with a PhD in French and almost certainly an unhealthy obsession with Star Trek.

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Summary Picard orders the Enterprise to follow the Borg back in time to stop them from destroying the Phoenix, Earth's first warp-speed vessel. (Paramount Pictures)

Directed By : Jonathan Frakes

Written By : Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore

Star Trek: First Contact

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Star Trek: First Contact Mystery Of How First Warp Ship Landed Is Solved

• Zefram Cochrane's Phoenix ship landed back on Earth using a feathered reentry configuration with parachutes to ensure a safe landing.
• Production illustrator John Eaves provided the answer on how the Phoenix ship made it back home after its historic warp flight in Star Trek: First Contact.
• The iconic ship inspired generations of future explorers and remains a pivotal part of Earth's history in the Star Trek universe.

The question of how the Phoenix landed back on Earth in S ta r Trek: First Contact finally has an answer. Star Trek: First Contact follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-E as they travel back in time to April 2063, to stop a Borg invasion. The Enterprise arrives on Earth just before Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) is meant to make the first-ever warp flight in his ship, the Phoenix . This historic flight catches the attention of the Vulcans, who beam down to Earth to initiate first contact with the human race. The Borg intend to prevent Earth's First Contact with the Vulcans and take over the planet when it is at its most vulnerable.

As Captain Picard remains on the Enterprise to take on the Borg, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) remain on Earth to help Zefram Cochrane repair his damaged ship. After Riker and La Forge help ensure that the Phoenix's first warp flight happens as it was always meant to, the Enterprise crew members watch from a distance as Cochrane greets the Vulcans . When Picard first sees the Phoenix in Star Trek: First Contact , he remarks that he often visited the ship at the Smithsonian in the future, but the film never answers how the Phoenix landed back on Earth after its first flight.

Star Trek: First Contact was the film directorial debut of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Jonathan Frakes, who remains one of Star Trek's most beloved and prolific directors.

Star Trek: First Contact Ending & Picard Impact Explained

How zefram cochrane landed his phoenix ship in star trek: first contact, production illustrator john eaves provides the answer..

Star Trek: First Contact may not have shown how Zefram Cochrane's ship made it back to Earth, but production illustrator John Eaves always knew how the ship made it home. Eaves, who has served as a production illustrator for many Star Trek projects, helped design the look and configuration of the Phoenix as it was depicted in First Contact . Eaves had the difficult task of making the Phoenix appear as though it had been designed and built from the shell of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the 21st century, while also suggesting the design future Starfleet starships would adapt. An illustration in the book Star Trek: The Art Of John Eaves by Joe Nazzaro depicts the Phoenix's warp flight, including how it landed back on Earth.

The Phoenix launched using traditional chemical engines before the nacelles were extended and the warp core and plasma injectors were brought online. The same engines used to launch the ship were also used to bring the ship back home. After the warp flight was completed and the warp engines powered down, the Phoenix reentered Earth's atmosphere by way of a feathered reentry configuration . The nacelles then retracted, allowing parachutes to be deployed, so the Phoenix could land safely. Although this process is not shown in Star Trek: First Contact , the landing process for the ship was built into its original design.

What Happened To Zefram Cochrane's Phoenix After Star Trek: First Contact?

The phoenix inspired generations of future explorers..

With its historic warp flight, the Phoenix became one of the most recognizable ships in Earth's history. The original ship eventually found its way to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, where Jean-Luc Picard visited it as a child. In the Star Trek timeline , Star Trek: Enterprise takes place less than 100 years after Zefram Cochrane's flight and contains the most references to his iconic ship . The Phoenix appears in the opening credits of Enterprise, and Admiral Maxwell Forrest (Vaughn Armstrong) and Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) both have models of the Phoenix in their offices or quarters.

The USS Enterprise of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also has a picture of the Phoenix on display in one of its conference rooms. An amusement park is eventually built in Bozeman, Montana at the site of Zefram Cochran's first meeting with the Vulcans . The Lower Deckers of the USS Cerritos visit this amusement park in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3, and they commandeer the model of the Phoenix that serves as a ride vehicle. Because of its significance to the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet, and the history of space travel, the Phoenix will always be one of Star Trek's most important and iconic ships.

Star Trek: First Contact is available to stream on Max. Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, & Star Trek: Lower Decks are available on Paramount+.

Source: Star Trek: The Art Of John Eaves by Joe Nazzaro

Screen Rant

James bond exists in star trek & discovery proved it.

James Bond's existence in Star Trek's universe is tacitly confirmed by Star Trek: Discovery as 007's signature cocktail is name-dropped.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 4 - "Face The Strange"

• Star Trek Discovery season 5 confirms the long-held belief that James Bond exists in Star Trek.
• Commander Jett Reno name-drops the Vesper martini, which was introduced in James Bond's Casino Royale book and movie.
• Deep Space Nine's "Our Man Bashir" homage to James Bond precedes Discovery's nod in season 5, episode 4.

It has long been suspected that James Bond exists in Star Trek 's universe, and Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange" proved it. Written by Sean Cochran and directed by Lee Rose, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4 , is an extraordinary time travel romp as Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), and Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) cycle through key events in the USS Discovery's past and potential dark future. Among the surprises is an unexpected shout-out to 007 by Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) .

Star Trek is set in the future, but pop culture inevitably woven its way into the various Star Trek series and movies. For instance, Star Trek: Discovery season 2 saw then-Lieutenant Paul Stamets and Ensign Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) sing David Bowie's "Space Oddity" together. Alcohol consumption certainly has been a part of Star Trek since the saga's original pilot episode, "The Cage." Still, the signature cocktail of James Bond , the most famous secret agent in pop culture, being name-dropped in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 came out of nowhere, but it confirms the long-held belief that 007 exists in Star Trek' s universe .

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Discovery proves james bond exists in star trek, the vesper martini is jett reno's cocktail of choice.

In one of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4's time jumps, Captain Burnham and Commander Rayner are sent back to the events of Star Trek: Discovery season 3's finale when Osyraa (Janet Kidder) and the Emerald Chain attacked the USS Discovery. Burnham and Rayner take out Osyraa's goons, but Michael makes herself scarce so as not to disrupt the timeline by being seen by Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro). After saving Rayner's life, Reno suggests he buy her a drink - "Vesper martini - ice cold". The Vesper martini is the signature cocktail invented by James Bond (Daniel Craig) in Casino Royale .

The Vesper martini is named for 007's tragic love, Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green in Casino Royale .

James Bond's creator Ian Fleming introduced the Vesper martini in the first 007 novella, 1953's "Casino Royale." The exact recipe is "Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel." Until the 2006 Casino Royale movie which also introduced the Vesper Lynd character, the previous versions of James Bond only ordered vodka martinis "shaken, not stirred". Commander Jett Reno specifically requesting a Vesper martini makes her a James Bond fan , or at least a fan of his favorite drink, and verifies that 007 and Casino Royale exist in Star Trek 's universe.

Star Trek’s Greatest James Bond Homage Was On DS9

"our man bashir" is a classic ds9 episode..

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine homaged 007 in the classic season 4 episode, "Our Man Bashir." Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) unwinds in Quark's (Armin Shimerman) holosuite by play-acting as "Julian Bashir: Secret Agent," a spy who lives in the 1960s. Bashir's holosuite program is clearly based on James Bond as Julian takes on the kind of international crisis 007 would typically face. With Garak (Andrew Robinson) in tow, Julian Bashir saved the world from destruction at the hands of the evil Dr. Noah (Avery Brooks).

A transporter accident sent Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn), and Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) in the holosuite where they became characters in the Julian Bashir: Secret Agent program.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's "Our Man Bashir" premiered just two weeks after GoldenEye , Pierce Brosnan's first film as James Bond , in November 1995. Although James Bond was never name-dropped - and he still wasn't in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4 - "Our Man Bashir" is an obvious ode to 007 that played into the classic James Bond tropes even more than GoldenEye did. Because James Bond lives in an era vastly different from the space-faring universe of Star Trek, it makes sense that characters like Jett Reno on Star Trek: Discovery indulge in the old-school fantasy and luxurious trappings of James Bond, like his signature Vesper martini.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+

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The "present day" for the Federation was the 29th century.

Star Trek Online actually did a plotline where it turned out using Krenim tech fucked up the timeline and created the Sphere Builders, and earlier references to the Temporal Cold War tied in stuff from the other shows.

I admit, when the last thing that happened before teh opening credits was them seeing the Red Angel and travelling through time, I thought the whole episode was going to be all about the Red Angel, Trek's most confusing plot thread. Glad I was wrong. This felt more like Voyager 's "Shattered."

I'm watching the second half right now on the Canadian Space Channel, and like you said, the first half of Year of Hell aired before this episode.

And another deep cut this season in one that's full of deep cuts.

They used to air some late night anime too.

That was in the really early days though.

Yeah, it's what introduced me to Black Lagoon . Also saw a bit of R.O.D the TV .

Is it me or Discovery seems to be going more episodic this season? Despite the overall plot each episode feels self-contain to some degree, unlike previous seasons were every episode endend on a cliffhanger. Weird that they choose the last season for it.

     disco s 5 e 4  This week, time travel. Thanks to Krenim (voy's year of hell) tech that L'Ak and Moll snuck onto Discovery Michael and Rayner start jumping to random points in time on Discovery's timeline. Involving a shitton of continuity and one returning character: Airiam the cyborg.

We also see the actors roll back their looks and performances to S1/S2 time which is pretty interesting. It's primarily a standalone episode though and working on the Michael and Rayner professional relationship and letting him see the advantages of her style.

It's fine but it does suffer that prodigy did a similar episode with random back and forth jumps, in half the time and was well better developing all its ensemble.

Still this is a decent enough standalone well incorporated into the arc, the major repercussion being that Moll and L'Ak have the lead again for the next clue. Though Disco still has all the pieces so far.

I'm watching "Journey's End" and I cannot stop thinking how it's fitting that Wesley's last appearance is arguably his most annoying.

The episode was all Voyager setup.

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Star Trek: Discovery Just Brought Back Two Classic TV Tropes

This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Discovery."

For many Trekkies, "Star Trek: Discovery" has always felt a little like the younger brother clinging onto the franchise's back. The sky-high stakes that always seem to threaten the universe, the heavily serialized nature from episode to episode, and even the way these heart-on-their-sleeve characters carry themselves throughout their duties ("...like best buds at a slumber party," as /Film's Jacob Hall put it succinctly in his review for the season 5 premiere ) has all but screamed the fact that this show was meant for younger, more modern audiences.

So imagine our surprise when episode 4 of this final season suddenly dipped into its bag of tricks to unleash not one, but two classic examples of TV tropes that hearken back to the days of "The Original Series." The "time bug" kicks everything off, catching Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) in the most quintessential of Trekkian problems: a time loop. Although not unfamiliar territory for our heroes — this isn't even the first time "Discovery" has gone back to this well, as season 1's "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad" deals with similar temporal shenanigans — what does  make this episode stand apart is the fact that this plot serves two important purposes.

For one thing, it allows the writers to reuse a handful of the exact same interior sets of the USS Discovery for practically the entire hour, making this  a bottle episode . Secondly, when Burnham travels back in time and re-experiences previous events in the show's history all over again, it's kind of like a Trekkian twist on the idea of a clip show . Together, "Face the Strange" becomes one of the show's quirkiest episodes yet.

Starship in a bottle

Is that a bottle in your episode, or are you just happy to see me? Okay, that wasn't the smoothest segue I've ever written but, much like the lesson learned by Burnham and Rayner by the end of this week's episode of "Discovery," a rough start doesn't necessarily have to be the final word. The pair discovers this the hard way in what essentially turns out to be an homage to a tried-and-true television trope.

Originally conceived as a measure to cut corners and save money when a season ran the risk of going over budget, bottle episodes have always been a win-win situation for everyone involved. The producers and studio bean counters, naturally, will be happy with anything that saves them a tough conversation with the bosses. And although fans these days typically look at constraints as an unequivocal disadvantage for artists, there's actually something freeing about the process where writers are forced to come up with unique scenarios and creative storylines by thinking outside the box — simply to justify using only the same few sets, a handful of actors, and a less extravagant vision.

For instance, a typical episode of "Discovery" tends to involve away missions to far-flung locales, space battles with enemy ships firing lasers, and all sorts of VFX-dominated mayhem. This time around, however, all of the action (outside of the opening few minutes, that is) takes place entirely within the confines of the USS Discovery ... and constantly in the exact same rooms and hallways, too. The Captain's ready room gets a steady workout, as does Paul Stamets' (Anthony Rapp) place in Engineering. Otherwise, we really only ever return to generic hallways, the elevator, and the bridge. Yet despite the small scale, "Discovery" embarks on its most high-concept adventure yet.

Highlight reel

Oh, we're taking things all the way back to the beginning. With the news that the fifth season of "Discovery" would also be its last , it stood to reason that showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Michelle Paradise would take a victory lap of sorts while also treating longtime viewers to a bit of a nostalgia tour. Episode 4 killed both birds with one stone by incorporating the other trick up its sleeve: putting its own sci-fi stamp on the clip-show episode.

Although a rarity in recent years, those of us who grew up on sitcoms know all too well the joys ( and, to be frank, the cringe ) of the clip show — an even more extreme example of cutting costs by literally just re-airing old footage. Thankfully, "Discovery" adds a fresh wrinkle to this trope. Rather than hit pause on the ongoing plot and bring things to a screeching halt for a hackneyed trip down memory lane, the writing team instead makes this the entire point of Burnham's arc in the episode. First, the time loop forces her to relive several major events from seasons past, along with certain ones that she wasn't actually present to witness firsthand. She experiences the Discovery crew's perspective of traveling through the wormhole in the season 3 premiere and ending up far in the future, their desperate battle against the artificial intelligence Control in season 2, and even a fight against her own younger version from season 1.

"Discovery" could've easily settled for channeling its inner "Groundhog Day" or, more relevantly, the time-travel hijinks of "The Constant" episode from "Lost," but instead we receive a mini-highlight reel reminding us of everything this crew has survived together. It doesn't get much more "Trek" than that.

New episodes of "Discovery" stream on Paramount+ every Thursday.