Plot Synopsis: When Riker’s first commanding officer comes aboard to aid in the search for the vessel they served on, he is forced to rethink the actions he took at that time.
Plot A and B Analysis: In one of the more famous teasers, this episode begins with Captain Picard day! An admiral diverts the Enterprise to pick up Admiral Pressman, Riker’s first captain when he served on the Pegasus. Evidently “she’s still out there, and the Romulans have found her.” Plot A is about the Pegasus, there is no plot B. The ship–a prototype vessel–was lost 12 years ago, presumed destroyed. Since it was carrying “experimental technologies” they can’t let it fall into Romulan hands. We learn about a mysterious experiment, and Riker is shocked to hear that Pressman intends to try again if they find the ship. He gives Riker strict orders to keep Picard in the dark about it. They and the Romulans are searching for the Pegasus in an asteroid field. We find the Pegasus but have to circle back later so as not to tip off the dirty Rommies–during that time Picard grills Riker in his quarters and learns the crew of the Pegasus mutinied against then-captain Pressman. Riker clams up, under orders. Later Pressman overrides Picard, the big jerk, and orders the Enterprise herself into the asteroid despite the danger to the ship. Finding the Pegasus somewhat intact, Pressman only allows Riker to accompany him onboard. Riker talks some smack while there, and upon returning learn the Romulans have sealed the Enterprise in the asteroid! Riker spills the beans on Pressman’s device, and the Enterprise cloaks and phases through solid rock. Picard reveals the ‘phasing cloak’ to the Romulans and arrests Pressman. Picard and Riker hug it out, and this episode is over.
Favorite Scenes: There are several good scenes in this episode. The final scene, with Riker finally standing up to Pressman and then using the phasing cloak to slide out of the asteroid is a great scene, and a wonderful way to end the episode. My favorite scene begins in the 21st minute with Riker entering Picard’s quarters, where Picard starts grilling him about an investigation regarding the Pegasus, to which Riker becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Picard isn’t satisfied, why did they mutiny?
Riker: Sir may I suggest you take this up with…
Picard *shouting*: I’m taking this up with you, Will! The judge advocate thought that you were participating in a conspiracy to cover up the truth. Now what the hell is going on here, Will?! Why did that mutiny happen? What is Pressman so determined to find your ship 12 years later?
Riker: I’ve said all I can. I am under direct orders from Admiral Pressman not to discuss this…sir.
Picard *pauses*: Very well. He’s an admiral, I’m a captain. I cannot force you to disobey his orders. Therefore, I will have to remain in the dark on this mission. And I will just have to trust that you will not let Pressman put this ship at unnecessary risk. And if I find that that trust has been misplaced, then I will have to reevaluate the command structure of this ship. Dismissed.
Use of Cast/Characters: This is a Riker episode, but Picard does feature somewhat prominently as well. Picard shows some guts saying he’ll abort the mission if the asteroid gets too narrow, and Patrick has a terrific scene with Frakes. However, after all they’ve been through, wouldn’t Picard have more trust in Riker? We get significant character development regarding Will, from his earliest days as a commissioned officer to his incident with captain Desoto that led to Picard selecting him as his first officer. Riker finally explains why he grew the beard back in season two: “I got tired of hearing how young I looked.” Also, some trivia: if Riker was an ensign 12 years ago–seven months out the academy–and he’s been on the Enterprise for 6+ years, that means he advanced from ensign to first officer of the flagship in six years’ time? That strains credibility a bit. We also learn Picard’s reason for picking Riker as his Number One. “I wanted someone who would stand up to me. Someone who was more concerned with the safety of the ship and accomplishing the mission than with how it might look on his record.” I love what this tells us about both Riker and Picard. The rest of the cast suffers however: Data, Worf, Geordi, Beverly and Troi have almost nothing to do. Terry O’Quinn plays Admiral Pressman and does a great job, he plays it right.
Blu Ray Version: The video quality is a little uneven in spots, but it’s not intrusive.
Nitpicks: The reference to ‘exceed warp speed limitations’ thanks to Force of Nature rears its head here, ugh. I’m not a big fan of the Picard/Romulan banter in this episode, it just seems stilted and substandard compared to previous encounters. When Pressman asks Riker how long he’s had his beard he answers four years, but it would really be at least five years. In the 30th minute Data says 65% of the Pegasus is inside the rock of the asteroid. Riker follows this up with “half the ship materialized inside sold rock.” I’m no math whiz but 65% is about two-thirds, not half. Finally, I have an issue with the line “You made a mistake 12 years ago, but your service since then has earned you a great deal of respect, but this incident could cost you some of that respect.” I know it’s minor but that sentence bugs me. If the sentence stopped after ‘ago’, omitted the ‘but’ and began with ‘Your’ it would be solved.
Overall Impression: Wonderful acting, a compelling, unpredictable plot, high stakes, wonderful acting and great use of characters all add up to another outstanding episode. The Pegasus is the only rival that Frame of Mind has for the best Riker episode. The guest star does a good job, it’s nice to see the Romulans, and it’s one of my favorite episodes for the entire series. Captain Picard day is a nice touch, and miraculously the title of the episode makes sense too! I rate this episode 5 out of 5 stars.
Behind the Scenes/Trivia: This is the only time Jonathan Frakes does a Picard impression, heh. Pressman’s remark about Picard losing a ship is a reference to the Stargazer, which we first learned about way back in The Battle. Stay tuned for that by the way, because a future episode will also reference it. Watch carefully at 19:12, you’ll see Patrick initiate the Picard Maneuver closely followed by Riker doing the same thing–it’s poetry in motion. Once isn’t enough for you? They do it again at 43:46!
This is the second and final episode directed by LeVar Burton. The first was Second Chances, and he’ll go on to direct 10 DS9 episodes, eight Voyager episodes and nine Enterprise episodes. I think the idea for a phasing cloak had its genesis back in The Next Phase. Where the Rommies failed, the Federation succeeded! Ron Moore got the premise of this episode from Clive Cussler’s novel Raise the Titanic. This episode finally answers the question as to why the Federation never developed cloaking technology. Finally the last episode of Enterprise, “These Are the Voyages…” takes place during this episode. If you want to know more about how Riker decided to tell Picard everything, watch that episode. The entries for “Captain Picard Day” came from two actual elementary schools somewhere nearby.
Missable/Unmissable? Unmissable, this episode is excellent. The next one definitely isn’t.