‘THE ENSIGNS OF COMMAND‘ (TNG)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘Star Trek: TNG’ episode sees Data develop as a leader and a negotiator. It sees him attempt to remove a human society from an alien planet where the aliens want to have it back for themselves.
In the episode, the Enterprise responds to an automated message from the alien Sheliak. They are to remove the humans from the planet Tau Cygni V in four days or else they will remove them by force.
The planet however contains an atmosphere of hyperonic radiation which the Enterprise cannot penetrate and is lethal to humans. Even the transporters cannot break through the lethal radiation.
Data is the only one who can get down to the planet to warn the humans as he is sent via a shuttle craft. He arrives on the planet to find how much this society has accomplished in create their home.
After all, they have been on the planet for a long time. Data is informed by the locals that the colony has 15,253 people and they are the descendants of the colony ship Artermis, launched 92 years ago.
Data warns the people that they must leave the planet before the Sheliak arrive and likely kill them. But Darn’s task of evacuating the colonists may not be easy as it seems, as they’re reluctant to leave.
The colony is led by Grainger Hines as Gosheven. The actor is not credit as one of the main guest stars of the episode. This is very surprising as you would expect him to be, since he plays a vital role.
I later found out that Grainger Hines and the director weren’t happy with his performance and asked for his voice to be dubbed over. Well, it doesn’t mean he can’t be credited as one of the guest stars.
Anyway, Gosheven is dismissive of Data and refuses to listen to him when warned about the Sheliak. Gosheven regards Data as just a machine and is determined for his people to remain on Tau Cygni V.
Eileen Seeley guest stars as Ard’rian McKenzie, a young woman who takes an interest in Data. Ard’rian helps Data to find a way of removing the colonists from the planet before the Sheliak arrive.
There’s a moment where Ard’rian kisses Data to reassure and encourage him. It’s a sweet moment. It startles Data when she does it. He cannot comprehend considering he’s an android and can’t feel.
I liked it when Data kissed Ard’rian back at the episode’s end. This is after Data reveals he can’t feel the same way she does about him. It’s Data’s attempt to understand humanity, even if it’s a little bit.
The episode also features Mark L. Taylor as Haritath and Richard Allen as Kentor, two local human colonists on Tau Cygni V. These two are willing to listen to Data’s message about the Sheliak’s attack.
I like how Data gets to persuade the human colonists by force about the dangers of the Sheliak. He uses a phaser to prove his point as well as saying that human lives can’t be replaced as buildings can.
Colm Meaney guest stars as Chief O’Brien, who helps Geordi in their attempts to improve the transporter to beam the colonists aboard the Enterprise. I don’t recall O’Brien having dialogue here.
The Sheliak are an interesting alien race as you don’t get to see much of them in the episode. There seems to be only one of them played by Mart McChesney and he gets voiced by Christopher Collins.
Picard attempts to negotiate with the Sheliak to extend the deadline of removing the colonists to three weeks instead of four days. But the Sheliak are unreasonable as they ignore Picard’s requests.
Eventually, Picard uses the treaty between the Federation and the Sheliak to his advantage. He quotes a clause from the treaty to the Sheliak in order to outwit them and to gain their cooperation.
I enjoyed it when Picard cut off transmission for the Sheliak to contact the Enterprise back. Picard keeps the Sheliak on hold for a bit longer before he answers them as they open hailing frequencies.
I did like that first scene in the episode where Data performs a violin concert to Picard and Beverly in Ten Forward. O’Brien is also performing in the concert. It was pretty funny when Picard ‘walked out’.
‘The Ensigns of Command’ is a fairly decent ‘Star Trek: TNG’ episode. I wouldn’t consider it one of the best, but it is an enjoyable episode that strengthens Data’s character in evacuating a human colony.
‘The Ensigns of Command’ (TNG) rating – 7/10
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