Encounter at Farpoint (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Encounter at Farpoint" is the first episode of the science fiction
television program
Star Trek: The Next Generation
It was written by series creator Gene Roddenberry
and directed by Corey Allen
.
The episode premièred on 28 September, 1987 and was the first new live-action episode of Star Trek
to have been created since 1969.
The crew of the newly built USS Enterprise-D
examine the mysterious Farpoint Station which the enigmatic Bandi people are offering to the Federation
, while under the judgmental gaze of a powerful alien entity that calls itself Q
.
's USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, is assigned to travel to Deneb IV for its first mission out of drydock, both to collect the remaining members of its crew and to open relations with the simple Bandi people who have somehow been able to tap immense energy reserves and constructed Farpoint Station, much to the surprise of the United Federation of Planets
. En route, the Enterprise is met by an omnipotent being who identifies himself as a member of the Q continuum
and declares that humanity is being put on trial, using their actions in this upcoming mission to judge their worthiness and to avoid extermination. Before letting the ship continue to Deneb IV, Q warns Captain Picard
that he is destined to fail.
As the Enterprise arrives, the awaiting crew members explore the offerings of Farpoint Station led by their Bandi host, Groppler Zorn. The crew is suspicious of how certain items they desire appear moments after they look away and are unable to identify the power source that feeds the station. Deanna Troi
, an empath, senses a being with powerful yet despairing emotions nearby, and others of the crew discover a strange labyrinth beneath the station, but Zorn is unable to offer an explanation. As the Enterprise crew continues its explorations, a large unknown alien craft enters orbit and begins to fire upon an older Bandi settlement near Farpoint Station and abducts Zorn. Before Picard orders the crew to fire phasers at the craft, Q appears to remind him of humanity's trial and prompts Picard to send an away team to the alien craft. The away team discovers the craft has passages similar to those under Farpoint and are able to free Zorn. Their actions cause the alien craft to transform into a jellyfish
-like space creature, and Picard is able to deduce the mystery of Farpoint Station. He confirms with the apologetic Zorn that the Bandi had found a similar lifeform injured on their planet and, though they attempted to care for it, they also exploited its ability to create matter to create Farpoint Station. The creature now in orbit is trying to help free its mate by punishing those who ensnared it.
Though Q goads Picard into punishing the Bandi, Picard refuses, instead ordering the Enterprise to fire a vivifying energy beam onto Farpoint after the station is evacuated. The beam allows the land-bound creature to transform back into its jellyfish-like form, and it flies into orbit to join its fellow being. As the crew watches the reunion of the alien creatures, Q reluctantly tells Picard that they have succeeded in their test, but hints that they will meet again.
by DeForest Kelley
as Admiral Leonard McCoy
. This was the first of several eventual appearances by Original Series cast members on the series; the others being "Sarek" (Mark Lenard
) in "Unification I", Spock
(Leonard Nimoy
) in "Unification II", and Scotty
(James Doohan
) in "Relics".
It also started the tradition that the first episode of each new Star Trek series (set in the 24th century) include an appearance by a prominent character from a previous Star Trek series: TNGs Captain Jean-Luc Picard
(Patrick Stewart
) in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
premiere and DS9s Ferengi
bartender Quark
(Armin Shimerman
) in the Star Trek: Voyager
premiere.
, found the episode disappointing with reference to the character of Captain Picard and the female crew members and a lack of sense of fun.
Actor Wil Wheaton, also reviewing the episode years later for TV Squad, gave the episode a 'C-' grade, suggesting that "at the time, Trekkies
who were hoping to see the Star Trek that they were used to from the sixties must have been disappointed".
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
It was written by series creator Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer and futurist, best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, California where his father worked as a police officer...
and directed by Corey Allen
Corey Allen
Corey Allen was an American film and television director, writer, producer, and actor. He began his career as an actor but eventually became a television director. He may be best known for playing the character Buzz Gunderson in Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause...
.
The episode premièred on 28 September, 1987 and was the first new live-action episode of Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
to have been created since 1969.
The crew of the newly built USS Enterprise-D
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
examine the mysterious Farpoint Station which the enigmatic Bandi people are offering to the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
, while under the judgmental gaze of a powerful alien entity that calls itself Q
Q (Star Trek)
Q is a fictional character who appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well as in related products. In all of these programs, he is played by John de Lancie....
.
Plot
The newest flagship of the United Federation of Planets, StarfleetStarfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
's USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, is assigned to travel to Deneb IV for its first mission out of drydock, both to collect the remaining members of its crew and to open relations with the simple Bandi people who have somehow been able to tap immense energy reserves and constructed Farpoint Station, much to the surprise of the United Federation of Planets
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
. En route, the Enterprise is met by an omnipotent being who identifies himself as a member of the Q continuum
Q (Star Trek)
Q is a fictional character who appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well as in related products. In all of these programs, he is played by John de Lancie....
and declares that humanity is being put on trial, using their actions in this upcoming mission to judge their worthiness and to avoid extermination. Before letting the ship continue to Deneb IV, Q warns Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
that he is destined to fail.
As the Enterprise arrives, the awaiting crew members explore the offerings of Farpoint Station led by their Bandi host, Groppler Zorn. The crew is suspicious of how certain items they desire appear moments after they look away and are unable to identify the power source that feeds the station. Deanna Troi
Deanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
, an empath, senses a being with powerful yet despairing emotions nearby, and others of the crew discover a strange labyrinth beneath the station, but Zorn is unable to offer an explanation. As the Enterprise crew continues its explorations, a large unknown alien craft enters orbit and begins to fire upon an older Bandi settlement near Farpoint Station and abducts Zorn. Before Picard orders the crew to fire phasers at the craft, Q appears to remind him of humanity's trial and prompts Picard to send an away team to the alien craft. The away team discovers the craft has passages similar to those under Farpoint and are able to free Zorn. Their actions cause the alien craft to transform into a jellyfish
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
-like space creature, and Picard is able to deduce the mystery of Farpoint Station. He confirms with the apologetic Zorn that the Bandi had found a similar lifeform injured on their planet and, though they attempted to care for it, they also exploited its ability to create matter to create Farpoint Station. The creature now in orbit is trying to help free its mate by punishing those who ensnared it.
Though Q goads Picard into punishing the Bandi, Picard refuses, instead ordering the Enterprise to fire a vivifying energy beam onto Farpoint after the station is evacuated. The beam allows the land-bound creature to transform back into its jellyfish-like form, and it flies into orbit to join its fellow being. As the crew watches the reunion of the alien creatures, Q reluctantly tells Picard that they have succeeded in their test, but hints that they will meet again.
Production
The episode features a cameo appearanceCameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
by DeForest Kelley
DeForest Kelley
Jackson DeForest Kelley was an American actor known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek.-Early life:...
as Admiral Leonard McCoy
Leonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
. This was the first of several eventual appearances by Original Series cast members on the series; the others being "Sarek" (Mark Lenard
Mark Lenard
Mark Lenard was an American actor, primarily in television.-Biography:Lenard was born Leonard Rosenson in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Abraham, and his wife, Bessie...
) in "Unification I", Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
(Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
) in "Unification II", and Scotty
Montgomery Scott
Montgomery "Scotty" Scott is a Scottish engineer in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by James Doohan in the original Star Trek series, Scotty also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics", and in numerous...
(James Doohan
James Doohan
James Montgomery "Jimmy" Doohan was a Canadian character and voice actor best known for his role as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the television and film series Star Trek...
) in "Relics".
It also started the tradition that the first episode of each new Star Trek series (set in the 24th century) include an appearance by a prominent character from a previous Star Trek series: TNGs Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
(Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
) in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
premiere and DS9s Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
bartender Quark
Quark (Star Trek)
Quark is a fictional character in the American television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The character, which was played by Armin Shimerman, was depicted as a member of an extraterrestrial race known as the Ferengi, who are stereotypically ultra-capitalist and only motivated by...
(Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman is an American actor. Shimerman is best known for playing the Ferengi bartender Quark in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kramer's caddy Stan on Seinfeld, voicing Dr. Nefarious in the Ratchet & Clank series, and Andrew...
) in the Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
premiere.
Reception
Michelle Erica Green, reviewing the episode for TrekNationTrekNation
This article is about the website. For the 2006 film, see Trek Nation.TrekNation is a reference and community website for the Star Trek franchise...
, found the episode disappointing with reference to the character of Captain Picard and the female crew members and a lack of sense of fun.
Actor Wil Wheaton, also reviewing the episode years later for TV Squad, gave the episode a 'C-' grade, suggesting that "at the time, Trekkies
Trekkies
Trekkies is a 1997 documentary film directed by Roger Nygard about the devoted fans of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek franchise. Starring Denise Crosby , the movie contains interviews with Star Trek devotees, more commonly known as Trekkies...
who were hoping to see the Star Trek that they were used to from the sixties must have been disappointed".
See also
- All Good Things..., the TNG series finale whose years-past scenes have elements that take place before the opening of this episode.
External links
- Encounter at Farpoint, Part I reviewed by Wil WheatonWil WheatonRichard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
(Wesley CrusherWesley CrusherWesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
) - Encounter at Farpoint, Part II reviewed by Wil WheatonWil WheatonRichard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
(Wesley CrusherWesley CrusherWesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
) - Encounter at Farpoint rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido