star trek tng season 6 episode 3

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6

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In season six, the crew is faced with a familiar face from the past who insists that machines cannot replace human experience. This causes conflict in Data who questions his affiliation with the Enterprise vs. joining a powerful enemy in order to feel his first emotion. Worf begins a quest to find his father as a means to finally accept his Klingon heritage and to restore honor upon his family. As the journey continues through the galaxy, Picard is kidnapped by a rebel alien command and Riker takes on the role of Captain to free Picard and restore the Enterprise. To Riker’s surprise, an old enemy returns and offers assistance with Picard’s rescue. All finishing with the Enterprise facing its most shocking surprise.

20 Episodes

S6 e1 - time's arrow (2), s6 e2 - realm of fear, s6 e3 - man of the people, s6 e4 - relics, s6 e5 - schisms, s6 e6 - true q, s6 e7 - rascals, s6 e8 - a fistful of datas, s6 e9 - the quality of life, s6 e10 - chain of command (1), s6 e11 - chain of command (2), s6 e12 - ship in a bottle, s6 e13 - aquiel, s6 e14 - face of the enemy, s6 e15 - tapestry, s6 e16 - birthright (1), s6 e17 - birthright (2), s6 e18 - starship mine, s6 e19 - lessons, s6 e20 - the chase, where does star trek: the next generation rank today the justwatch daily streaming charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. this includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. this includes data from ~1.3 million movie & tv show fans per day..

Streaming charts last updated: 5:24:30 PM, 05/04/2024

Star Trek: The Next Generation is 5339 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The TV show has moved up the charts by 1176 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than The Boneyard with Georges St-Pierre but less popular than Godless.

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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Cast and Crew

TNG Season 6

• View history
• 3 Background information
• 4.3.1 Production companies
• 6 External links

Episodes [ ]

Summary [ ].

The season begins with the successful rescue of Data and the others from the 19th century , and we learn just how long Guinan has actually known Picard. ( TNG : " Time's Arrow, Part II ")

The crew also took part in a variety of shady operations, the first of what would be many departures from Gene Roddenberry 's more Utopian vision of the future. Picard is temporarily assigned away from the Enterprise for a dangerous espionage mission against the Cardassians , but is captured and subjected to torture , nearly succumbing before being released. ( TNG : " Chain Of Command, Part I ", " Chain Of Command, Part II ") Deanna Troi engaged in a similarly risky mission of espionage against the Romulans . ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy ") The Enterprise also nearly became a victim of space pirates. ( TNG : " Rascals ")

Picard also underwent significant personal development during this season. He formed an intense and troubled romantic relationship with the Enterprise 's head of stellar cartography, Nella Daren . ( TNG : " Lessons ") After his artificial heart is nearly destroyed, Q helps Picard experience a vision of the unremarkable life he could have led, giving him a better understanding of his mortality and his reasons for living. ( TNG : " Tapestry ")

Riker also experiences a deeply personal conflict, making a gripping personal battle with his own sanity, ( TNG : " Frame of Mind ") and later discovers an accidental transporter-copy of himself that had been abandoned on a desolate planet for nearly a decade. ( TNG : " Second Chances ")

Several well-known recurring characters make appearances this season, the most famous among them being Montgomery Scott . The TOS Enterprise engineer is discovered alive, and after an awkward period adjusting to the 24th century, sets out to explore the galaxy on his own. ( TNG : " Relics ") The sentient hologram Professor Moriarty returns, holding the ship captive in a complex game that he hopes will grant him freedom to live outside the holodeck. ( TNG : " Ship In A Bottle ") Reginald Barclay continues to develop, overcoming his fear of transporters. ( TNG : " Realm Of Fear ") Q, in addition to his appearance in Picard's counterfactual vision, returns earlier in the season. ( TNG : " True Q ")

We are left with the rediscovery of Lore , leading a group of rogue Borg , who with the influence of an emotional stimulant for androids , successfully seduced Data to become a willing participant in his violent plans in the cliffhanger that ends the season. ( TNG : " Descent ")

Background information [ ]

• This season was broadcast concurrent with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 .
• Brent Spiner and Ronald D. Moore both named this season as the best one. Moore further named " Tapestry " as one of his favorite episodes. ("Mission Overview Year Six", TNG Season 6 DVD special feature)
• This is the only season of The Next Generation not to feature Lwaxana Troi played by Majel Barrett . Her (to this point) annual appearance was made this year instead on the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " The Forsaken ". She does however still portray the voice of the Starfleet computer on both series.
• This is the only season of The Next Generation in which Wil Wheaton does not appear as Wesley Crusher . The character is briefly referenced. This is also the only season of The Next Generation where Denise Crosby does not make an appearance at all (though her only appearances during Season 2 were part of stock footage sequences).
• This is also the final season of The Next Generation in which Colm Meaney appears as his character, Miles O'Brien transfers to Deep Space 9 along with his family.
• Between seasons 5 and 6, the turbolift closest to the " pool table " in main engineering was replaced by a Jefferies tube access shaft. The turbolift doors were last seen opening, revealing a turbolift in " The First Duty ", while the Jefferies tube was first seen behind the door in " Realm Of Fear ".
• Several characters " cross over " from other Star Trek series in this season: Montgomery Scott in " Relics "; Julian Bashir and, briefly, Morn in " Birthright, Part I "; and, after a fashion, Kahless the Unforgettable in " Rightful Heir ". (The original appearance of Kahless in TOS : " The Savage Curtain " was a duplicate created by the Excalbians , while the version who appeared in " Rightful Heir " was a clone .)

Credits [ ]

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
• LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Suspicions", "Second Chances” – “Descent")
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine” – “Suspicions", "Second Chances” – “Descent")
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
• Gene Roddenberry

Executive Producers

• Michael Piller
• Rick Berman

Co-Executive Producer

• Jeri Taylor

Co-Producers

• Ronald D. Moore
• Wendy Neuss
• Peter Lauritson

Supervising Producers

• David Livingston
• Frank Abatemarco ("Time's Arrow, Part II" – "Aquiel")

Line Producer

• Merri D. Howard

Story Editors

• Brannon Braga
• René Echevarria
• Junie Lowry-Johnson , C.S.A.
• Dennis McCarthy ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle", "Tapestry", "Lessons", "Suspicions", "Second Chances” – “Timescape")
• Jay Chattaway ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I” – “Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I" – "Starship Mine", "The Chase” – “Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Descent")
• Don Davis ("Face of the Enemy")

Main Title Theme By

• Jerry Goldsmith
• Alexander Courage

Director of Photography

• Marvin Rush ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")
• Jonathan West ("Man of the People” – “Descent")

Production Designer

• Richard D. James
• J.P. Farrell ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Relics", "Rascals", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I", "Lessons", "Suspicions", "Timescape")
• Robert Lederman ("Realm of Fear")
• Tom Benko , A.C.E. ("Man of the People", "True Q")
• Steve Tucker ("Schisms", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part II", "The Chase", "Rightful Heir", "Descent")
• David Ramirez ("The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle", "Tapestry", "Starship Mine", "Frame of Mind", "Second Chances")

Unit Production Manager

• Brad Yacobian

First Assistant Directors

• Jerry Fleck ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• Adele G. Simmons ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Second Assistant Director

• Arlene Fukai

Costume Designer

• Robert Blackman

Set Designer

Visual Effects

Visual Effects Supervisors

• Ron Moore ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• David Stipes ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Post-Production Supervisor

• Wendy Rosenfeld (credited as Wendy Knoller in "Timescape" and "Descent")

Supervising Editor

• John P. Farrell

Senior Illustrator/Technical Consultant

• Rick Sternbach

Scenic Art Supervisor/Technical Consultant

• Michael Okuda

Make-Up Designed and Supervised By

• Michael Westmore

Art Director

• Andy Neskoromny
• Gary Speckman

Visual Effects Coordinators

• Philip Barberio ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• David Takemura ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Original Set Design

• Herman Zimmerman

Original Starfleet Uniforms

• William Ware Theiss

Script Supervisor

• Cosmo Genovese

Special Effects

• Dick Brownfield

Property Masters

• Joe Longo ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Alan Sims ("Realm of Fear” – “Descent")

Construction Coordinator

Scenic Artists

• Jim Magdaleno ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", Timescape")
• Alan Kobayashi ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Hair Designer

Make-Up Artists

• Gerald Quist
• June Abston Haymore

Hair Stylists

• Candace Neal ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Patti Miller ("Realm of Fear” – “The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase” – “Descent")
• Josee Normand ("Chain of Command, Part I” – “Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons” – “Descent")

Wardrobe Supervisor

Sound Mixer

• Alan Bernard , C.A.S.

Camera Operator

• Joe Chess , S.O.C. ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")

Chief Lighting Technicians

• William Peets ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")
• R.D. Knox ("Man of the People” – “Descent")

First Company Grip

• Bob Sordal ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")
• Steve Gausche ("Man of the People” – “Descent")

Key Costumers

• Kimberley Thompson ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• Amanda Chamberlin ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• David Powell ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")
• Jerry Bono ("Realm of Fear")
• Mary Ellen Bosché ("Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape") (credited as Mary Ellen Boché on the first four episodes)
• Matt Hoffman ("Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Music Editor

• Gerry Sackman

Supervising Sound Editors

• Bill Wistrom ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Chain of Command, Part II")
• Mace Matiosian ("Ship in a Bottle” – “Descent")

Sound Effects Supervisor

• Jim Wolvington ("Time's Arrow, Part II")

Sound Editors

• Miguel Rivera
• Masanobu Tomita
• Guy Tsujimoto
• Dan Yale ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Birthright, Part II")
• Wilson Dyer ("Starship Mine” – “Frame of Mind")
• Ruth Adelman ("Suspicions” – “Descent")

Production Coordinator

• Diane Overdiek

Post Production Coordinator

• Dawn Hernandez

Visual Effects Associate

• Edward L. Williams

Production Associate

• Kim Fitzgerald

Based Upon Material By

• Matthew Corey ("True Q")
• LJ Scott ("The Quality of Life")

Science Consultant

• Naren Shankar ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Aquiel", "Tapestry” – “Descent")

Casting Executive

• Helen Mossler , C.S.A.

Pre-Production Associate

• Lolita Fatjo

Stunt Coordinator

• Dennis Madalone ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms” – “Chain of Command, Part I", "Tapestry” – “Starship Mine", "Frame of Mind” – “Descent")

Post Production Sound By

• Modern Sound

Monitors By

• Sony Corp. of America ("Schisms", "Rascals", "The Chase")

Filmed with Panavision ® Lenses and Cameras

The Sherlock Holmes characters were created by A. Conan Doyle . This use by arrangement with Dame Jean Conan Doyle . ("Ship in a Bottle")

Special Visual Effects By

• Industrial Light and Magic , A Division of Lucasfilm, Ltd.

Motion Control Photography By

Video Optical Effects By

• Digital Magic

Special Video Compositing

• CIS Hollywood

Editing Facilities

• Unitel Video

Uncredited [ ]

• Greg Agalsoff – Mike Operator ("Descent")
• Dolores Arce – Assistant Accountant
• Camille Argus – Costumer ("Descent")
• Richard Balder – Special Effects Labor Artist ("Descent")
• Christopher Bergschneider – Prop Fabricator: Kurlan naiskos ("The Chase")
• David Bernard – Sound Cable Person ("Descent")
• Rob Bloch – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I")
• Tom Bookout – Grip ("Tapestry” – “Descent")
• Mary Ellen Bosché – Set Costumer ("Descent")
• Brannon Braga – Lyrics: Klingon aria ("Birthright, Part II")
• George Brozak – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Lloyd A. Buswell – Construction Foreman
• Kevin D. Carlson – Puppeteer: Exocomps ("The Quality of Life")
• Richard Chronister – Special Effects Artist ("Descent")
• Ray Clarke – DFX Paint FX Artist: The Post Group
• Richmond G. Cogswell – Video Playback ("Descent")
• Cogswell Video Services, Inc. – Video Playback ("Descent")
• Laura Connolly – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Brian Cooper – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Descent")
• Dick D'Angelo – Swing Gang ("Descent")
• Doug Davey – Re-Recording Mixer ("A Fistful of Datas", "Descent")
• Robert De La Garza – Assistant Property Master ("Descent")
• Frank Detone, Jr. – Extra Grip ("Descent")
• Alfred T. Ferrante – ADR Mixer ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Man of the People", "A Fistful of Datas” – “The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle” – “Tapestry", "Starship Mine” – “Descent")
• Larry Field – Final Colorist ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• Hala Gabriel – Accountant
• William Jay Gahret – Extra Camera Operator ("Descent")
• Mark Gehred-O'Connell – Storyline ("Timescape")
• Jeff Gersh – Sound Editor ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Cheryl Gluckstern – Production Associate
• Jason Gold – Production Assistant
• Peter Greenwood – Special Effects Artist: Creature Suit ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Chris Haire – Re-Recording Mixer ("A Fistful of Datas", "Descent")
• John Hanna – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Paul Hill – Visual Effects Compositor: Digital Magic
• Arthur Loy Holcomb – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Michael Hood – Costume and Character Designer and Fabricator: Devidians ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Adam Howard – Visual Effects Compositor ("Realm of Fear” – “A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I” – “Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy” – “Descent")
• Carey Howe – Model Maker ("Realm of Fear")
• Gregory Jein – Model Maker ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• Brian Johnson – Crab Dolly Grip ("Descent")
• Ralph Johnson – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Dean Jones – Makeup Artist ("Chain of Command, Part I” – “Chain of Command, Part II", "Birthright, Part I” – “Birthright, Part II")
• Starr Jones – Makeup Artist ("Birthright, Part I” – “Birthright, Part II")
• Hilarie Jutras – DGA Trainee ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Face of the Enemy")
• Richard Kelley – Assistant Camera Operator ("Aquiel” – “Descent")
• Alan Kobayashi – Graphic Designer ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• Jules Kovisars – DGA Trainee ("Descent")
• Kris Krosskove – Camera Operator ("Descent")
• Erwin H. Kupitz – Wig Maker ("Ship in a Bottle” – “Descent")
• Don Lehman – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Michael E. Little – Camera Operator ("Man of the People” – “Descent")
• Jill MacKay – Jewelry Designer
• Daryl F. Mallett – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Margulies – Extra Camera Assistant ("Descent")
• Daniel Cary McCrystal – Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Descent")
• Scott McKnight – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Ed Miarecki – Props ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• Patricia Miller – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Ronald D. Moore – Co-Writer ("Chain of Command, Part II")
• James Mooring – Storyline ("Tapestry")
• Richard L. Morrison – Re-Recording Mixer ("A Fistful of Datas", "Descent")
• Janet Muswell – Lead Compositor ("Realm of Fear” – “Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle")
• Danny Nero – Extras Casting: Central Casting
• John Nesterowicz – Swing Gang ("Descent")
• Josée Normand – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Frank O'Hea – Painter ("Descent")
• Daniel R. Purinton – Rigging Gaffer/Lot Best Boy
• Tom Purser – Construction Worker
• Robbie Robinson – Still Photographer ("Tapestry", "Descent")
• Tim Roller – First Assistant Camera Operator ("Descent")
• LuJean Rose – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("True Q", "Aquiel")
• John Frank Rosenblum – Writer ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• David Rossi – Production Associate
• Rick Rowe – Craft Service ("Descent")
• Charlie Russo – Property Person ("Descent")
• Richard Sabre – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Stu Satterfield – Transportation Coordinator ("Descent")
• Suzie Shimizu – Production Accountant
• Fernando Sepulveda – Property Lead Person ("Descent")
• Joseph Smith – Orchestrator
• Mark Stimson – Special Effects Artist ("Descent")
• Jeri Taylor – Writer ("Chain of Command, Part II")
• Karen Thomas-Kolakowski – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Birthright, Part I")
• Kimberley Thompson – Costumer ("Descent")
• Wil Thoms – Special Effects Artist ("Descent")
• Rich Thorne – Creative Director: Digital Magic
• Daryl Towles – Script Typist
• Monte Thrasher – Graphic Designer: Romulan language ("Face of the Enemy")
• Jerry Trent – Foley Artist ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• David G. Trotti – Second Assistant Director ("Descent")
• Elaina M. Vescio – Set Security ("Descent")
• Patrick J. Vitolla – Extra Grip ("Descent")
• Julia L. Walker – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Barbara Wallace – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Jana Wallace – Script Typist
• L.Z. Ward – Set Security ("Descent")
• Jack White – Second Grip ("Descent")
• Murphy Wiltz – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Jim Wolvington – Sound Effects Supervisor ("Schisms")

Production companies [ ]

• Central Casting – Extras Casting
• Critters of the Cinema – Animal Casting and Training ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I")

See also [ ]

• TNG Season 6 performers
• TNG Season 6 UK VHS
• TNG Season 6 US VHS
• TNG Season 6 DVD
• TNG Season 6 Blu-ray

External links [ ]

• Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Six Credits at StarTrek.com
• The Next Generation Season 6 episode reviews  at Ex Astris Scientia
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Guide - Season 3

Now we’re rolling! The apex of televised Star Trek begins at around episode 7 of The Next Generation’s third season when this program became the first-ever “must-see TV” in syndication. High concept episodes like “Yesterday’s Enterprise” are paeans to the fans and sci-fi hardcores, whereas stories like “The Offsping” show TNG’s maturity into mainstream-audience viewing – a rarity for science-fiction shows in those days before the genre geeks took over entertainment.

And the whole thing culminates in “Best of Both Worlds,” a triumph of an episode habitually ranked among all sorts of “Top TV episodes” listings, Star Trek-themed or no that ultimately spawned the fantastic Star Trek: First Contact. (The best ST film, for STG’s money…)

1. Evolution – Acting ensign Wesley Crusher screws up (sigh) by unleashing a swarm of sentient nanites into the Enterprise; a war for control of the ship ensues. A really small-scale war, but still Good news: This would be the last weak script to begin a TNG season. **

2. The Ensigns of Command – Data must convince a third-generation Federation colony to evacuate their planet before the aggressive Sheliak move in. Picard’s outsmarting of the would-be new tenants in the last act is nearly worth the price of admission. ***

3. The Survivors – 10,998 of a Federation colony of 11,000 have been killed, their planet made essentially uninhabitable. So how are the two humans left able to survive, living in a pristine house? **

4. Who Watches the Watchers – See, Federation types? This is what you get for spying on “primitive” cultures Prime Directive violations all over the place (well, that and Star Trek: Insurrection). In this episode, a Bronze Age-type stumbles upon Federation observers and becomes convinced that Captain Picard is a god. (You mean he’s not?) **

5. The Bonding – On an away mission, Lt. Worf gets a Red Shirt killed. An entity attempts to comfort the Red Shirt’s young son by creating an image of his mother who offers to live with him on the uninhabited planet. The boy ultimately decides Worf is cooler, stays on the Enterprise, and disappears by the next episode. **

6. Booby Trap – Any episode of any ST series in which a character falls in love with a Holodeck character (I’m looking at you, Harry Kim) is stupid. The icky vibe Geordi LaForge gives off in this one only makes it worse. 0

7. The Enemy – As though in karmic payback for “Booby Trap”, LaForge gets to spend most of this episode on a fairly inhospitable planet with an irritable Romulan in the Star Trek version of “Enemy Mine”. ***

8. The Price – Four parties (for the record, it’s the Federation, Caldonians, Chrysalians and Ferengi) board the Enterprise so as to begin bidding and negotiations with a group offering to sell the rights to a wormhole which leads into the Gamma Quadrant. Ultimately, it is revealed that at least two of the parties haven’t played fair and that the wormhole is worthless anyway. Also, Troi falls in love but nobody cares. ***

9. The Vengeance Factor – As Picard attempts to solve the problems of the fractured Acamarian society, Riker gets the hots for an assassin and then ties on a good buzz in Ten Forward. *

10. The Defector – A low-ranking Romulan officer gets a conscience and defects to the Federation. And when fellow Romulans seek to double-cross the double-crosser, well, Picard proves too freakin’ clever for them. ***

11. The Hunted – The Enterprise is dispatched to Angosia, a planet being considered for United Federation of Planets membership. Things on Angosia aren’t as hunky-dory as the planet’s leader, who bears a strong resemblance to Zefrim Cochrane, makes it seem – particularly a pesky bunch of genetically-altered soldiers who demand, you know, rights and stuff. ***

12. The High Ground – A terrorist group whose members are slowly dying thanks to their own weaponry kidnaps Dr. Crusher for medical assistance; later they bag Picard himself in a bid to get Federation mediation for their planetary conflict. A science-fiction comment on terrorism and censorship. ***

13. Déjà Q – When is Q not Q? When the Q Continuum strips him of his power and leaves him for Picard and the Enterprise crew to deal with. A decent episode, but Q without powers isn’t nearly as much fun as Q with powers…***

14. A Matter of Perspective – As it turns out, the holodeck can be useful. Picard gets to play defense attorney again when Riker is accused of a murder he (naturally) didn’t commit; the Captain and Data employ the holodeck to help reconstruct events and crack the case. ****

15. Yesterday's Enterprise – A classic that not only thrilled and amazed Star Trek fans, but helped show American TV what that wacky continuity thing could do. The long-since destroyed Enterprise “C” emerges from a rim in space, thereby changing history. In a (televisual) instant, the familiar Enterprise “D” morphs into a warship, fighting a losing war with the Klingon Empire. Guinan, who senses that Lt. Yar should not exist at all and yet is somehow key to winning the war, convinces Picard that the Enterprise C must be sent back through time to *lose* a battle while assisting the Klingons, an act of heroism that thaws relations between Klingons and Federation. Excellent stuff. *****

16. The Offspring – Lt. Data creates an android which he thinks of as a Data. Well funnier and far less nauseating than the idea sounds on paper. And the meeting between Riker and Data’s “daughter” Lal is one of the single best scenes of season 3. ****

17. Sins of the Father – In an attempt to clear his father’s name after the Klingon High Council’s accusations of complicity with the Romulans, Worf, along with Picard, appears before a tribunal to plead the case. This episode introduces Worf’s brother Kurn and the devious House of Duras, who’d make it all the way to Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Generations, respectively. ****

18. Allegiance – Aliens replace Picard with a doppleganger while placing the real Picard in an (almost) inescapable trap along with three others, each of a different species. After Picard deduces everything, he delivers a swell comeuppance to the captors. ****

19. Captain's Holiday – As though not badass enough already, Picard becomes a 24th-century Indiana Jones while ostensibly enjoying some R&R. Mix in Ferengi and time-travelers to make one dandy romp of an episode. ****

20. Tin Man – What appears to be the transportation of a friend of Troi’s to a simple first-contact mission gets complex quickly when Romulans appear on the scene and a nearby star gets set to go supernova. ***

21. Hollow Pursuits – This introduction of the perpetually nervous fan favorite Lt. Reginal Barclay features the former “Howling Mad” Murdock having to get a grip and assist the Enterprise with its mysterious technical difficulties. ***

22. The Most Toys – A dude named Kivas Fajo, perhaps in an attempt to make Comic Book Guy of The Simpsons jealous, swipes Data off the Enterprise bridge so as to add the android to his “collection.” ***

23. Sarek – Spock’s father, a staple of the Star Trek mythos since at least Star Trek III, shows up on the Enterprise in rough shape, as he’s suffering from a terminal disease. Picard assists the Vulcan in his ambassadorial mediation. ***

24. Ménage à Troi – Star Trek Guide doesn’t know what’s more execrable about the tile of this one: The feeble attempt at a very bad pun or the sheer misleading of its implication. In any case, “Meange” is quite a funny episode featuring Ferengi kidnapping Riker, Troi and Troi’s mother. Wesley (!) discovers where they’re being held and Picard must act as though Lwaxana is his lover, threatening to destroy the Ferengi ship in a jealous rage. It almost enough to forgive the stupid title. ****

25. Transfigurations – In another “more than he seems” plotline, the Enterprise finds a human-looking guy with fantastic powers – and some enemies. **

26. The Best of Both Worlds, Part I – “We have engaged the Borg.” In case you’ve never heard it before, here it is: The height of Borg badassery, with concomitant awesome performances by all characters up to and including guest first officer Commander Shelby. The Enterprise comes face to face with a Borg vessel that has assimilated an entire Federation colony, only for the Borg demand that Picard come aboard. Picard is then assimilated, to be used as an information-providing tool to conquer Federation worlds from Earth on down. Now captaining the Enterprise, Riker reckons the Enterprise can destroy the Borg cube with Picard – now dubbed Locutus – aboard. He gives Lt. Worf the command: “Fire!” *****

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5s Betazoid Is A Marina Sirtis Counselor Troi Tribute

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak".

• New Betazoid character in Star Trek: Discovery pays tribute to TNG's Deanna Troi, linking past and present storylines.
• Five 24th century scientists hide clues to Progenitors' treasure, honoring Star Trek's legacy with diverse alien species.
• Discovery's Dr. Culber continues Counselor Troi's legacy by providing psychological insight to the crew, keeping with Trek tradition.

Star Trek: Discovery pays tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) with a new Betazoid character who plays an integral role in season 5's treasure hunt. Six scientists were tasked by the Federation President to research the existence of the Progenitors and their technology. When one of these scientists was killed by the Progenitors' technology, it was up to the other five to hide its location. In Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak", written by Kenneth Lin and Brandon Schultz, directed by Chris Byrne, the identities of these five 24th century scientists are revealed by Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) .

Star Trek: Discovery 's five scientists hail from different alien species popularized by a variety of shows, from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Trill to Star Trek: Enterprise 's Denobulans. Discovery season 5, episode 6 also confirms that one of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Betazoids holds the fifth and final clue to the location of the Progenitors' treasure. Dr. Hitoroshi Kreel's clue is a metal card with a Betazoid inscription, which points the way to the final clue, and a scientist whose name links her to TNG 's Deanna Troi.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons", the planet Betazed was a red herring left behind by Romulan scientist Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman).

Star Trek: Discoverys 5 TNG Progenitors Scientists & Clues Meanings Explained

Star trek: discoverys betazoid scientist is a tribute to star trek: tngs marina sirtis.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is a sequel to Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 20, "The Chase" , so it's fitting that it contains a tribute to Deanna Troi actress Marina Sirtis. As Marina Sirtis' namesake, Discovery 's Betazoid scientist, Dr. Marina Derex is clearly a tribute to Star Trek 's most famous Betazoid. Dr. Derex's spiritual connection to Deanna Troi could provide clues on what the next lesson could be on the road to recovering the Progenitors' powerful technology. Each of the four previous clues to the Progenitors' treasure has come with a lesson , most recently, the responsibility involved with new technology.

Betazoids are empaths, which was why Counselor Troi was always on hand to provide counsel to her fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation characters . It's likely, therefore, that the next lesson in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will be related to empathy for others, a vital quality for anyone hoping to wield the Progenitors' technology. How this lesson will manifest itself remains to be seen, but it may be that the USS Discovery will be bound for Betazed after dealing with Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) in Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah".

Jonathan Frakes, who played Deanna Troi's true love, Commander William T. Riker, returns to Star Trek: Discovery as the director of season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point".

Counselor Trois Memory Lives On In Star Trek: Discoverys Dr. Culber

Star Trek: Discovery 's chief medical officer, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) is the show's natural successor to Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Counselor Deanna Troi. Gene Roddenberry devised Counselor Troi because he believed that good mental health in the 24th century would be just as important as physical wellbeing . This is a belief adopted by Discovery 's Dr. Culber, who regularly counsels the Discovery crew, and provides more than just medical assistance. Most recently, Culber and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) teamed up to build a psychological profile of Discovery villains Moll and L'ak .

As Counselor Deanna Troi regularly gave Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) psychological insight into various enemies in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Culber is keeping that tradition alive. TNG is clearly a huge influence on Star Trek: Discovery season 5, from its continuation of "The Chase" to Betazoid scientist Dr. Marina Derex. These connections are an affirmation that, despite being set 800 years in the future, Star Trek: Discovery is inextricably linked to the wider Star Trek timeline.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery season 5 episode 6 is a welcome classic tng episode reminder.

Burnham and Tilly encounter a fascinating new alien language in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, reminding us of a classic TNG episode.

• "Whistlespeak" in Star Trek: Discovery pays homage to TNG's "Darmok" with a unique language element.
• Despite a promising setup, Discovery's use of whistlespeak was abandoned early in the episode.
• The episode missed an opportunity to use whistlespeak creatively to resolve the story's conflict.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak" contains a welcome reminder of a classic episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Discovery season 5 is a sequel to TNG season 6, episode 20, "The Chase", and so connections to the iconic Star Trek show are expected. Discovery season 5, episode 6, written by Kenneth Lin and Brandon Schultz, and directed by Chris Byrne, is a reminder of a completely different TNG episode , however. In "Whistlespeak", Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) visit the pre-warp planet of Halem'no, where Burnham's forced to break the Prime Directive.

While the story of a pre-warp society forming a religion around failing technology is a well-worn Star Trek trope now, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6 makes a good stab at bringing something new to the table. One of the most interesting aspects of "Whistlespeak" is the titular language spoken by the Halem'nites. At the start of the episode, Burnham explains to Tilly that the Halem'nites have two languages, a phonetic language for day-to-day interactions, and whistlespeak for communication across distances. This completely alien language is a reminder of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 2, "Darmok" .

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

How star trek: discovery season 5, episode 6 recalls tng’s “darmok”.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 2, "Darmok", Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is stranded on an alien world with a Tamarian captain whose complex language of metaphors is incompatible with the universal translator. It's only through unpicking the alien language of Captain Dathon (Paul Winfield) that Picard can find a way off the planet. "Darmok" is one of Captain Picard's best TNG episodes , and a wonderful Star Trek story about the importance of communication, no matter how alien the other person's language is.

"Darmok" marked Starfleet's official First Contact with the Tamarians, leading to at least one member of the species, Kayshon, becoming a Starfleet officer in Star Trek: Lower Decks .

From the opening, it appeared that Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak" was going to tell a similar story. However, Burnham and Tilly's universal translators quickly translate the Halem'nites' second language before they even beam down to the surface . It's odd that understanding and using Halem'nite whistlespeak isn't a key part of the story, especially as Tilly becomes stranded inside the High Summit weather station with Ravah (June Laporte). Despite this great distance, Burnham doesn't deploy any whistlespeak to help Ravah and Tilly with their predicament , instead opting to beam directly into the weather station's control room.

Why Discovery Season 5, Episode 6 Didn’t Do More With Whistlespeak

Star Trek 's Tamarians unique language of metaphors was certainly easier to write in the script for Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Darmok". Lines like " Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra " are more poetic and enigmatic than increasingly complicated whistling. It's likely for this reason that Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6 abandoned whistlespeak almost immediately, barring the coda at the end of the episode. There was perhaps a feeling among Discovery 's writers that having Burnham and Tilly communicate purely by whistling would undermine the life-threatening drama of the situation.

The weather station in which Tilly and Ravah were trapped was designed by Star Trek: Enterprise 's Denobulans, who installed them on Halem'no to help its people cope with the punishing dust storms.

Given that the whistespeak was a unique element of Star Trek: Discovery 's formulaic pre-warp planet, it feels disappointing that the episode didn't do more with it. Burnham could have saved herself from breaking the Prime Directive by using whistlespeak to communicate some means to stop the weather tower from suffocating Ravah and Tilly to death. Instead, "Whistlespeak" opted for an abrupt conclusion that just beamed Burnham into the heart of the action to save the day. However, given that Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Darmok" is an unimpeachable classic, it may have been wise for Star Trek: Discovery to avoid remaking it.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

*Availability in US

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 3, Episode 6

Where to watch, star trek: the next generation — season 3, episode 6.

Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 3, Episode 6 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

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Cast & crew.

Patrick Stewart

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Jonathan Frakes

Cmdr. William Riker

LeVar Burton

Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge

Michael Dorn

Gates McFadden

Dr. Beverly Crusher

Marina Sirtis

Counselor Deanna Troi

Episode Info

• Cast & crew
• User reviews
• Episode aired Sep 23, 1989

Wesley's latest science project escapes the lab, threatening the Enterprise and an eminent scientist's life-long project. Wesley's latest science project escapes the lab, threatening the Enterprise and an eminent scientist's life-long project. Wesley's latest science project escapes the lab, threatening the Enterprise and an eminent scientist's life-long project.

• Winrich Kolbe
• Gene Roddenberry
• Michael Piller
• Michael I. Wagner
• Patrick Stewart
• Jonathan Frakes
• LeVar Burton
• 24 User reviews
• 9 Critic reviews

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Worf

• Doctor Beverly Crusher

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Wesley Crusher

• Dr. Paul Stubbs

• Enterprise Computer
• (uncredited)

• Crewman Diana Giddings

• Michael I. Wagner (showrunner)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia First episode where chief engineer Geordi LaForge has been promoted to rank of Lt. Commander. In addition, Worf has been promoted to full lieutenant from his previous rank of lieutenant junior grade.
• Goofs Stubbs refers to viruses as life-forms. Viruses are generally not considered to be alive although the point is sometimes still debated and depends on how narrowly 'alive' is defined. However, they can be 'killed' (or, more precisely, inactivated). Unlike bacteria, which are true life-forms, viruses are not made of cells, have no metabolism or homeostasis, and cannot reproduce without infecting a host cell.

[Dr. Crusher is concerned about Wesley not living the life of a teenager]

Doctor Beverly Crusher : What were *you* doing when you were seventeen?

Capt. Picard : Probably getting into more trouble than Wesley, I can assure you.

Doctor Beverly Crusher : So was I. Isn't *that* what seventeen's supposed to be?

• Connections Referenced in Star Trek: Lower Decks: I, Excretus (2021)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 24

• Aug 12, 2022
• September 23, 1989 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 46 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Den of Geek

Star Trek Just Pulled Off a Huge Call Back to a Beloved Enterprise Character

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 digs deep into The Original Series lore in an episode full of references to "The Paradise Syndrome."

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This Star Trek: Discovery article contains spoilers.

Although Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is focused on a season-long quest for ancient secrets from before the dawn of history, there have also been a few episodes that have been almost standalone in structure. From the time loop in “Face the Strange” to the return of the ISS Enterprise in “Mirrors,” Discovery ’s final seasons has episodic stories, woven into the bigger arc. And, out of all of season 5, episode 6, “Whistlespeak,” is probably the most standalone of the bunch.

In order to retrieve the latest clue to the Progenitor tech, the USS Discovery jumps to the planet Halem’no, a pre-warp planet. Here, Burnham and Tilly have to go undercover to not only find the clue, but also, repair some concealed technology. Along the way, Discovery pays homage to The Original Series , the prequel series Enterprise , and beyond. Here are the biggest Star Trek easter eggs and references in the episode…

Weather Towers 

Throughout all of Star Trek , or at least the time of The Voyage Home , there’s been the strong suggestion that the weather on Earth, and other Federation planets, is controlled by low-key terraforming technology. In “Whistlespeak,” Burnham and Tilly have to fix a weather tower that is malfunctioning on a pre-warp, Prime Directive-protected planet. This exact mission hasn’t happened before, but it is reminiscent of several Trek episodes from the past…

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Going Undercover With an Indigenous Culture

The conceit that Burnham and Tilly have to blend in with a pre-warp civilization has several precedents in other Star Trek series and films. In The Original Series episodes “Pattern of Force,” “Return of the Archons,” “A Private Little War,” and “The Paradise Syndrome,” the crew has to infiltrate planets and pass themselves off as natives. Ditto The Next Generation episode “Who Watches the Watchers?” and the beginning of the feature film Insurrection . Burnham, Owo and Captain Pike also went undercover in a pre-warp civilization in the Discovery season 2 episode “New Eden.” Then, the entire Strange New Worlds gang, including Pike, Spock, and La’an all went undercover in the series premiere of that that show, also titled “Strange New Worlds.”

Finally, the very first glimpse of Michael Burnham ever happens near the start of the first Discovery episode from 2017, “The Vulcan Hello.” And in that episode, Captain Georgiou and Michael Burnham are helping save a pre-warp civilization from a drought without being detected. So, in Disco’s first season and its last, Burnham is on a very similar mission. At least once, anyway.

Subcutaneous Comms

Burnham and Tilly also rock both subcutaneous — under the skin — communicators, as well as tricorders embedded into their eyes. The retinal tricorders are new, but Kirk and Spock both had subcutaneous transponders put into their arms in the episode “Patterns of Force.” 

The scientist who created the weather towers for the Halem’nites was named Hitoroshi Kreel, a Denobulan. Though we never see him on screen, we know, generally, some basic features of what Denobulans look like. The beloved character of Dr. Phlox in the series Enterprise was a Denobulan, and it was in that series that nearly all the lore of the planet Denobula was established, even though the planet was never seen on screen. Outside of Enterprise , we’ve seen Denobulans in Lower Decks , Prodigy , and briefly in Strange New Worlds Season 2. But, despite being mentioned in this Discovery episode, no Denobulans appear.

Burnham’s Job

While it’s easy to forget what Burnham trained to do for Starfleet, this episode reminds us of the fact that in season 1, it was established that in both Starfleet and at the Vulcan Science Academy, Burnham studied xenoanthropology. She’s actually perfect for away missions like this because of her anthropological background, unlike say, several other Starfleet captains who frequently would go on missions like this.

“We could really use you at” 

Ever since season 4, Tilly has been teaching at Starfleet Academy, which, for now, is located somewhere at Federation HQ. Tilly telling Burnham she wants her to teach there too is interesting, and has some precedent in previous Star Trek lore. When Spock was teaching at Starfleet Academy, in The Wrath of Khan , he brought Kirk in to help out at the beginning of the movie. Because Tilly and Burnham are both from the 23rd Century initially, it’s not too nuts to think of them both teaching at Starfleet Academy at some point in the future, much like their classic-era colleagues across space and time.

Paradise Syndrome: Reloaded

Overall, the story of “Whistlespeak” feels like a modern update of tricky TOS episode, “The Paradise Syndrome.” In that episode, Kirk lost his memory, and became part of a tribe of Native Americans who lived on a planet that was not Earth. Progressive stuff for 1968 maybe , but less than great or thoughtful now. However, the sci-fi premise of “The Paradise Syndrome” was fantastic even if the politics were iffy: A device that was placed on the planet by an advanced alien race—designed to protect the people of the planet—malfunctions and gains religious significance. This is exactly what happens with the weather stations on Halem’no, and, just like Kirk and Spock had to go back into the obelisk in TOS to save the native population, Burnham and Tilly have to do the same thing in this Discovery episode. 

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Interestingly, this “Paradise Syndrome,” connection goes even deeper when you realize that “The Preservers,” mentioned in that episode, were the first indication that an advanced humanoid species seeded several planets with humanoid lifeforms. So, without “:The Paradise Syndrome,” you kinda don’t have the TNG episode “The Chase,” and without that, you certainly don’t have Discovery season 5’s epic search for the Progenitor tech, which goes all the way back to 1993, or 1968, or millions of years in the past, depending on your point of view.

Ryan Britt is a longtime contributor to Den of Geek! He is also the author of three non-fiction books: the Star Trek pop history book PHASERS…