Encounter At Farpoint, Parts I and II

Next Generation episodes #1 and #2 - 1x01 & 1x02

Written by D. C. Fontana and Gene Roddenberry. Directed by Corey Allen.

Stardate: 41153.7 First aired: 28 September 1987

The vast new USS Enterprise is sent to distant Deneb IV to pick up the last of its bridge officers and to investigate the mysterious Farpoint Station, which seems too advanced to be the product of the native Bandi. En route, the ship is surrounded by a huge forcefield, and a man, Q, materialises on the bridge in a range of historical costumes. Q tells Picard that humans shouldn't come this far out into space, as they are too primitive. Picard complains that Q is being judgemental and this gives Q an idea. Picard separates the saucer section, sending it on to Deneb, and prepares to confront Q. He, Troi, Data and Tasha find themselves in a mock-up of a twenty-first century kangaroo court. Picard admits that humanity has been savage in the past - but it has outgrown that now. Q says he will test this, and releases them. Meanwhile, on Deneb, Riker meets the Farpoint administrator, Groppler Zorn, and becomes suspicious. The Enterprise arrives, and the crew begin their investigations - Troi senses great pain, but Zorn denies this. As they continue their search, another ship arrives at Deneb, and begins firing at the surface. Wary of appearing violent in front of Q, Picard instead sends a team to investigate the alien ship. They realise that the alien ship resembles Farpoint, and that it's not a ship... it's a living creature capable of manipulating matter. Zorn has captured its mate, and forced it to take the form of Farpoint Station. The Enterprise transmits energy to the creature on the surface allowing it to return to its native form. The aliens leave. Q grudgingly admits as he leaves that Picard has passed the test - but doesn't agree that the matter of humanity's nature has been settled. This was the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. "Farpoint", set some 95 years after the end of the first Star Trek series, introduces the Starship Enterprise-D and its crew, including Captain Jean-Luc Picard. This episode was originally produced as a two-hour-made-for-TV-movie, although for later airings it was divided into two hour-long segments. Q later returned in several other episodes, including "All Good Things..." (TNG), which was the last television episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Guest Cast

John de Lancie as "Q". Michael Bell as "Groppler Zorn". Colm Meaney as "Miles O'Brien". Cary Hiroyuki as "Mandarin Balliff". Timothy Dang as "Main Bridge Security". David Erskine as "Bandi shopkeeper". Evelyn Guerrero as "Young female ensign". Chuck Hicks as "Military Officer". Jimmy Ortega as "Lieutenant Torres". DeForest Kelley as "McCoy".

Quotes

"Well it's a new ship - but she's got the right name. Now you remember that, you hear?"
"I will, sir."
"You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home." - McCoy advises Data

Trivia

• DC Fontana was responsible for the Farpoint story, Gene Roddenberry for the scenes with Q putting humanity on trial. originally, these were intended to be separate episodes.

• Q was named after Roddenberry's friend Janet Quarton.

• As well as its original two-hour format, this story is also available as two normal-length episodes, with a few minor cuts to scenes to help speed up the pace.

• The decision was made, relatively late in the day, to use the theme from Star Trek: The Motion Picture as the title music instead of a new piece. The incidental music for the episode is based in the unused main theme.

• DeForest Kelley's cameo as 'The Admiral' was kept secret, so much so that his character's name isn't referred to in the script or in dialogue.

• Colm Meaney's part is credited as 'conn ensign' and he would be seen again as a security guard in Lonely Among Us. He settles down to a semi-regular role as the transporter chief in the second season, and gets a surname. O'Brien, in The Child. Officially, although its an odd set of duties and he has a different rank each time, all these appearances are the same character.

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