star trek next generation season 5 episode 19

Star Trek: The Next Generation

The First Duty

Cast & crew.

Wil Wheaton

Wesley Crusher

Ray Walston

Robert Duncan McNeill

Cadet First Class Nicholas Locarno

Lt. Cmdr. Albert

Jacqueline Brookes

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TNG Season 5

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

Episodes [ ]

Summary [ ].

The fifth season of Next Generation starts off with the Federation exposing the secret Romulan - Duras plot explored in the previous season. (" Redemption II ") Ensign Ro Laren joins the crew of the USS Enterprise -D , and although some members of the crew, notably Commander William T. Riker , have misgivings about her presence on board, she eventually proves herself to be a valuable crew member. (" Ensign Ro ")

Picard has some memorable experiences, such as learning to communicate with the heretofore unintelligible Tamarians (" Darmok "), overcoming to some extent his dislike of children when he is trapped along with three children inside the turbolift after the Enterprise -D is struck by a quantum filament (" Disaster "), and meeting with Ambassador Spock on Romulus . (" Unification I ", " Unification II ") Most notably, he experiences 40 or so years of life as an ironweaver on an extinct alien world after an encounter with a probe launched before the destruction of that world. (" The Inner Light ")

Wesley saves the Enterprise -D from an alien game which was actually a mind-control device (" The Game "), but later at Starfleet Academy , he participates in a coverup of the circumstances surrounding the death of one of his classmates. Captain Picard, however, eventually convinces him to do the right thing. (" The First Duty ")

Worf is paralyzed after an accident in a cargo bay and wishes to commit suicide , but is convinced to undergo a risky medical procedure, which, though nearly killing him, eventually allows him to regain control of his body. (" Ethics ")

The crew of the Enterprise -D encounter a Borg drone separated from the rest of the collective, and plan to use him as a sort of time bomb that they hope will disrupt the entire Borg Collective . However, this is complicated when the drone gains individuality, and a name, Hugh . Despite this, they send him back to the collective. (" I Borg ")

The season ends with the discovery of Data 's head in a cave under San Francisco which had been sealed for around 500 years. Data, Picard, La Forge , Troi , Riker, and Doctor Crusher end up trapped in 19th century Earth . (" Time's Arrow ")

Background information [ ]

The "warp effect" logo in Season 5

Celebrating the 25th anniversary

• This is the last season of Star Trek to premiere on its own until Voyager 's sixth season in 1999. This coincides with the seven-year run of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
• An alternative captain 's uniform is introduced in " Darmok " consisting of a dark blue turtleneck with the captain's pips and a red jacket.
• This season includes the first occurrence within The Next Generation of a two-part episode in mid-season, " Unification I ".
• The text of Star Trek: The Next Generation in the opening credits is given blue background streaks for this season, but returns to the Season 4 theme in Seasons 6 and 7.
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was released during the run of this season. The movie was filmed during the hiatus between Season 4 and 5.
• This is the only season of The Next Generation not to feature Q played by John de Lancie . Several potential Q stories were considered, but were all rejected. Q featured in two episodes in the following season, " True Q " and " Tapestry ".
• Gene Roddenberry , creator of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation , passed away early this season (the cast and crew found out while filming " Hero Worship ") at the age of 70, with " Unification I " dedicated to his memory. He was credited as "Executive Producer" until the last episode of this season.
• This year, Star Trek celebrated 25 years of boldly going where no one has gone before. For this anniversary, Paramount Television Executive Mel Harris held a speech and introduced the Gene Roddenberry Building on the Paramount lot.
• Besides Marina Sirtis who did not appear in " The Perfect Mate " and " The Inner Light ", all main cast members were featured in every episode of this season.
• Two characters from Star Trek: The Original Series " cross over " to The Next Generation during this season: Sarek in " Unification I " and Spock in " Unification I " and " Unification II ".

Credits [ ]

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
• LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi ("Redemption II” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend” – “The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
• Gene Roddenberry

Co-Producers

• Joe Menosky
• Ronald D. Moore
• Peter Lauritson

Line Producer

• Merri D. Howard ("Power Play")
• David Livingston
• Herbert J. Wright ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Cause And Effect")

Supervising Producer

• Jeri Taylor

Executive Producers

• Michael Piller
• Rick Berman

Associate Producer

• Wendy Neuss

Executive Script Consultant

• Peter Allan Fields ("The First Duty” – “Time's Arrow")
• Junie Lowry-Johnson , C.S.A.
• Dennis McCarthy ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification I” – “Unification II", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• Jay Chattaway ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")

Main Title Theme by

• Jerry Goldsmith
• Alexander Courage

Director of Photography

• Marvin Rush

Production Designer

• Richard D. James
• Robert Lederman ("Redemption II", "Silicon Avatar", "Unification II", "New Ground", "The Masterpiece Society", "Ethics", "The First Duty", "The Inner Light") (credited as Bob Lederman in "Redemption II")
• Tom Benko , A.C.E. ("Darmok", "Disaster", "Unification I", "Hero Worship", "Conundrum", "The Outcast", "Cost Of Living", "I Borg", "Time's Arrow")
• J.P. Farrell ("Ensign Ro", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time", "Violations", "Power Play", "Cause And Effect", "The Perfect Mate", "The Next Phase")
• Steve Tucker ("Imaginary Friend")

Unit Production Manager

• Merri D. Howard

First Assistant Directors

• Brad Yacobian ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Doug Dean ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")

Second Assistant Director

• Adele G. Simmons

Costume Designer

• Robert Blackman

Set Decorator

Visual Effects Supervisors

• Dan Curry ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Robert Legato ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• Ron Moore ("The First Duty")
• Gary Hutzel ("Imaginary Friend")

Senior Illustrator/ Technical Consultant

• Rick Sternbach

Scenic Art Supervisor/ Technical Consultant

• Michael Okuda

Make-Up Designed and Supervised by

• Michael Westmore

Visual Effects Coordinators

• Ron Moore ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Gary Hutzel ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")

Set Designer

• Gary Speckman

Assistant Art Director

• Andy Neskoromny

Original Set Design

• Herman Zimmerman

Original Starfleet Uniforms

• William Ware Theiss

Script Supervisor

• Cosmo Genovese

Special Effects

• Dick Brownfield

Property Masters

• Joe Longo ("Redemption II” – “Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Alan Sims ("The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground” – “Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")

Construction Coordinator

Scenic Artist

• Cari Thomas

Hair Designers

• Susan Carol-Schwary ("Redemption II” – “Ethics")
• Joy Zapata ("The Outcast” – “Time's Arrow")

Make-Up Artists

• Gerald Quist
• June Abston Haymore

Hair Stylists

• Gus Le Pre ("Redemption II” – “A Matter Of Time")
• Patty Miller ("New Ground” – “Time's Arrow")

Wardrobe Supervisor

Sound Mixers

• Alan Bernard , C.A.S. ("Redemption II” – “Violations", "The Outcast” – “Time's Arrow")
• Bill Gocke ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Ethics")

Camera Operator

• Joe Chess , S.O.C. ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Time's Arrow")

Chief Lighting Technician

• William Peets

First Company Grip

Key Costumers

• David Velasquez ("Redemption II")
• Amanda Chamberlin ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg")
• Kimberley Thompson ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Jerry Bono ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase")
• Mary Ellen Bosché ("Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "The Inner Light") (credited as Mary Ellen Boché in "The Inner Light")
• Maurice Palinski ("Unification I” – “Unification II", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• David Roesler ("Conundrum")
• Phil Maldonado ("Time's Arrow")

Visual Effects Associate

• David Takemura

Music Editor

• Gerry Sackman

Supervising Sound Editor

• Bill Wistrom

Sound Editors

• James Wolvington
• Wilson Dyer

Post Production Sound By

• Modern Sound

Production Associate

• Susan Sackett ("Redemption II” – “Violations")

Production Coordinator

• Diane Overdiek

Post Production Coordinator

• Wendy Rosenfeld

Post Production Associates

• Terri Martinez ("Redemption II” – “Violations")
• Heidi Julian ("Redemption II” – “Violations")

Production Associates

• Terri Martinez ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Time's Arrow")
• Heidi Julian ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Time's Arrow")

Casting Executive

• Helen Mossler , C.S.A.

Stunt Coordinator

• Dennis Madalone ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Disaster", "Unification II", "New Ground” – “Violations", "Conundrum” – “The Outcast", "The Perfect Mate” – “The Next Phase")

Research Consultant

• Richard Arnold ("Redemption II” – “Conundrum")

Pre-Production Associate

• Eric A. Stillwell

Prosthetic Electronics

• Michael Westmore II ("Ensign Ro", "Cause And Effect")

Monitors By

• Sony Corp. of America ("Redemption II", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time” – “Hero Worship", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "The First Duty", "Imaginary Friend")

Filmed with Panavision ® Lenses and Cameras

Special Visual Effects By

• Industrial Light & 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

"Soliton Wave" Animation By

• Stokes/Kohne Assoc., Inc. ("New Ground")

Uncredited [ ]

• Terry Ahern – 2nd Unit Craft Service ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Power Play", "The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Dayton Anderson – Extra Costumer ("Ensign Ro")
• Dolores Arce – Assistant Accountant
• Dave Archer – Artwork Provider: Paintings ("New Ground")
• Camille Argus – Costumer ("Ensign Ro", "Silicon Avatar", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The First Duty")/2nd Unit Costumer ("Hero Worship” – “Violations", "Power Play")
• Richard Balder – Special Effects Labor Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Michael Baxter – Second Assistant Director ("Ensign Ro” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Beebee – Generator Van Operator ("Darmok” – “Ensign Ro", "The First Duty")
• Alan Bernard – Sound Mixer ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum")
• David Bernard – Sound Cable Person ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Steve Birkett – Mike Operator ("The Masterpiece Society” – “The Outcast")
• Rob Bloch – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow")
• Mitchell S. Block – Extra Camera Assistant ("Darmok” – “Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification II")/Blue Screen Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Darmok")/2nd Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “Disaster")/First Assistant Camera Operator ("Ensign Ro", "The Game” – “Unification II")
• T. Blue – 2nd Unit Playback Machine Operator ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “Disaster", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum", "Ethics")/Playback Machine Operator ("Unification II")/2nd Unit Sound Cable Person ("Power Play")/2nd Unit Sound Recorder ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Jerry Bono – Set Costumer ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "THe Masterpiece Society” – “Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg")
• Mary Ellen Bosché – Extra Costumer ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Cost Of Living” – “The Perfect Mate")
• Susan Boyd – Hair Stylist ("Darmok” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Brannon Braga – Staff Writer ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Michael D. Brown – Extra Camera Assistant ("Ensign Ro", "Unification I")
• Christian H. Burton – 2nd Unit Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Hero Worship” – “Violations")
• Mark Bussan – Makeup Artist ("Violations")
• Lloyd A. Buswell – Construction Foreman
• Rick Byrum – Location Manager ("Ensign Ro” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Little C – Blue Screen Unit Costumer ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Costumer ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “Disaster")
• Campbell – Extra Costumer ("Silicon Avatar", "Power Play")
• Amanda Chamberlin – Set Costumer ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Ed Charnock – Painter
• Joe Chess – Camera Operator ("Darmok” – “Violations")
• Ian Christenberry – Lamp Operator ("New Ground” – “I Borg")
• Richard Chronister – Special Effects Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Patrick Clancy – Visual Effects Compositor ("Conundrum")
• Paul Clark – Greensperson ("The Masterpiece Society", "Cost Of Living")/2nd Unit Greensperson ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Ray Clarke – DFX Paint FX Artist: The Post Group
• Craig Cleaver – Post Production/Visual Effects Assistant
• Caryl Codon – Hair Stylist ("Unification II", "Violations", "Power Play")
• Cooke – Extra Grip ("Cost Of Living")
• Tom Conley – Crab Dolly Grip ("Redemption II” – “New Ground")
• Laura Connolly – Hair Stylist ("Cost Of Living” – “The Perfect Mate")
• Ruth Ann Crudup – Teacher ("Ethics", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Diane Cummings – Body Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Dick D'Angelo – Swing Gang ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Darryl – Greensperson ("Imaginary Friend")
• Doug Davey – Re-Recording Mixer ("The Next Phase")
• Ron Dempsey – DGA Trainee ("The Outcast” – “I Borg")
• Thomas F. Denove – Cinematographer ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Cinematographer ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Frank Del Boccio – Extra Camera Assistant ("Disaster")
• Ken Diaz – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Jon Djanrelian – 2nd Unit Craft Service ("Disaster” – “The Game")
• Rose Dolfi – DGA Trainee ("I Borg", "Imaginary Friend")
• Doug Drexler – Makeup Artist ("Unification II", "Violations", "Conundrum” – “Power Play", "Time's Arrow")/Special Effects Makeup Artist ("The Inner Light")
• Syd Dutton – Matte Artist ("Redemption II", "Unification II", "Unification I", "A Matter Of Time", "The Masterpiece Society", "Conundrum")/Matte Supervisor ("The First Duty")
• Hank Edds – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Carolyn Elias – Hair Stylist ("Silicon Avatar")
• Lennie Evans – Extra Camera Operator ("Darmok” – “Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Cost Of Living")/Camera Operator ("Conundrum")
• Lolita Fatjo – Assistant to the Executive Producers
• Alfred T. Ferrante – ADR Mixer ("Darmok” – “The Game", "A Matter Of Time” – “Time's Arrow")
• L. Fife – Welfare Worker/Teacher ("Disaster", "New Ground” – “Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play")
• Marian Fife – Welfare Worker ("Ensign Ro” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Kim Fitzgerald – Production Associate
• Frank – Makeup Artist ("Violations")
• Edward French – Makeup Artist ("Darmok", "Disaster", "Unification II” – “New Ground", "Conundrum” – “Power Play")/Blue Screen Unit Makeup Artist ("Darmok")
• Arlene Fukai – Second Assistant Director ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Hala Gabriel – Accountant
• Rusty Geller – Steadicam Operator ("Ensign Ro", "Unification I")
• Gary Gero – Animal Handler ("Ensign Ro")
• Dean Gilmore – 2nd Unit Sound Mixer ("Hero Worship” – “Violations", "The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Cheryl Gluckstern – Production Associate
• Bill Gocke – Mike Operator ("Redemption II” – “Conundrum", "The Outcast” – “I Borg")/Sound Mixer ("The Outcast")
• Gold – Extra Camera Operator ("Disaster")/2nd Unit Camera Assistant ("Disaster")
• Green – Hair Stylist ("New Ground")
• Gene Green – Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Coordinator ("The First Duty")
• Lynn Greenberg – 2nd Unit Teleprompter Operator ("Hero Worship” – “Violations")
• Morton Greenspoon – Contact Lens Consultant ("Conundrum")
• Peter Greenwood – Special Effects Artist: Monster Suit ("Time's Arrow")
• Chris Haire – Re-Recording Mixer ("The Next Phase")
• John Hanna – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow")
• D. Harrington – Sound System Operator ("Darmok")
• Paul Hill – Visual Effects Compositor: Digital Magic
• Dennis Hoerter – Motion Control Technician ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Michael Hood – Costume and Character Designer and Fabricator: Devidians ("Time's Arrow")
• Adam Howard – Digital Compositor ("Redemption II” – “Unification II", "New Ground” – “Violations")/Visual Effects Animator ("A Matter Of Time")/Visual Effects Compositor ("The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play” – “Time's Arrow")/Animation Supervisor ("Conundrum")
• Adrian Hurley – Motion Control Operator ("Conundrum")
• Frederick Iannone – Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “Darmok")
• Nick Infield – Extra Camera Assistant ("Silicon Avatar", "Unification I", "Hero Worship")/First Assistant Camera Operator ("Disaster", "Unification II")
• Phil Jacobson – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Gregory Jein – Model Maker ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Mark Jennings – 2nd Unit Playback Machine Operator ("Disaster” – “The Game")/2nd Unit Sound Cable Person ("Unification II", "A Matter Of Time")
• M. Johnson – 2nd Unit Costumer ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")/Extra Costumer ("Unification II")
• Norma Johnson – Extra Costumer ("Cost Of Living")
• Ralph Johnson – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Brian Q. Kelley – Electronical Editorial ("The Outcast")
• Wayne Kennan – Blue Screen Unit Cinematographer ("Darmok")/Cinematographer ("Ensign Ro")/2nd Unit Cinematographer ("Ethics")
• Kenney – Crab Dolly Grip ("New Ground” – “I Borg")
• Hermine Kosta – Teacher ("Power Play")
• Bob Krivak – Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Coordinator ("The First Duty")
• Kruzelock – Extra Grip ("Redemption II” – “Ensign Ro")
• Don Lee – Visual Effects Editor ("A Matter Of Time", "Conundrum")
• Laura Lee – Hair Stylist ("Cost Of Living")
• Robert Legato – Visual Effects Supervisor ("Imaginary Friend")
• Mike Little – Blue Screen Unit Camera Operator ("Darmok")/Extra Camera Operator ("The Game", "Unification II", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum")
• Joe Longo – Property Master ("The Game", "Hero Worship")
• Bill Loranger – Extra Camera Assistant ("The Game", "Unification II", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Power Play", "Cause And Effect” – “I Borg")/First Assistant Camera Operator ("Unification I", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum", "The First Duty")/2nd Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Unification II” – “New Ground", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Jill MacKay – Jewelry Designer
• Bruce MacRae – Model Maker ("Unification II", "Unification I", "Hero Worship")
• Jim Magdaleno – Scenic Art Assistant
• Phil Maldonado – Extra Costumer ("Silicon Avatar", "Unification II", "New Ground", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum")/2nd Unit Costumer ("Disaster” – “The Game", "Unification II” – “A Matter Of Time", "The Outcast” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Joseph Markham – Extra Costumer ("Unification II")
• Jeff Mart – Extra Camera Operator ("The First Duty")
• Marvellen – Extra Costumer ("Ensign Ro")
• Elaine Maser – Extra Costumer ("Ensign Ro")
• Chris McBee – Hair Stylist ("Hero Worship” – “I Borg")
• Tania McComas – 2nd Unit Makeup Artist ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")/Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living” – “The Perfect Mate")
• Frank McEldowney – Greensperson ("Darmok", "Cost Of Living")
• Thomas McEnery – Studio Teacher ("Disaster")
• Scott McKnight – Lamp Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")/Blue Screen Unit Chief Lighting Technician ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Chief Lighting Technician ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• David McWhirter – DGA Trainee ("Unification I", "A Matter Of Time” – “Ethics")
• Joe Menosky – Writer ("Conundrum")
• Ed Miarecki – Prop Maker ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Patty Miller – Hair Stylist ("Ensign Ro” – “A Matter Of Time")
• Michael Mills – Makeup Artist ("Unification II")
• Monica – Hair Stylist ("The Game", "Unification II")
• Tom Moore – Extra Grip ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Richard L. Morrison – Re-Recording Mixer ("The Next Phase")
• Erik Nash – Motion Control Photographer ("Redemption II", "A Matter Of Time")
• Danny Nero – Extras Casting: Central Casting
• John Nesterowicz – Swing Gang ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")/2nd Unit Property Master ("Unification II", "A Matter Of Time")/Set Dresser ("The First Duty")
• Vincent Niebla – Sculptor ("Cost Of Living")
• Louise Nielsen – Set Designer
• Peter Norkus – 2nd Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Disaster” – “The Game", "Hero Worship” – “Violations")/Extra Camera Assistant ("A Matter Of Time” – “New Ground")/2nd Unit Second Assistant Camera Operator ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Daniel O'Brien – Composer: Additional Music ("Cause And Effect")
• Ernie Over – Assistant to Gene Roddenberry
• Mark Overton – 2nd Unit Playback Machine Operator ("Ethics” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Maurice Palinski – Costumer ("Disaster")
• Francisco X. Perez – Makeup Artist ("Violations") (listed as Francisco Carassosa )
• Janna Phillips – Makeup Artist ("Unification II")
• Daniel R. Purinton – Rigging Gaffer/Lot Best Boy
• Tom Purser – Construction Worker
• Maricella Ramirez – First Assistant Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• László Regos – Extra Camera Operator ("Unification II")
• Robbie Robinson – Still Photographer ("Darmok", "Unification I", "A Matter Of Time", "Conundrum", "The First Duty", "I Borg")
• Jill Rockow – Makeup Artist ("Unification II", "Imaginary Friend", "The Inner Light")
• David Roesler – Extra Costumer ("Disaster” – “The Game", "Violations", "Power Play", "Cost Of Living")
• John Frank Rosenblum – Writer ("Time's Arrow")
• David Rossi – Production Associate
• Rick Rowe – Craft Service ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Jan Rudolph – 2nd Unit Script Supervisor ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Charlie Russo – Assistant Property Master ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")/2nd Unit Property Master ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Stewart Satterfield – Transportation Coordinator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Scott Schneider – Model Maker ("Unification I")
• Bob Scribner – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Fernando Sepulveda – Property Lead Person ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Naren Shankar – Writing Staff Intern
• Suzie Shimizu – Production Accountant
• Phil Signorelli – Extra Costumer ("Redemption II")
• Charmaine Nash Simmons – Extra Costumer ("Redemption II")
• Alan Sims – Property Master ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar")
• Joseph Smith – Orchestrator
• Mike Smithson – Makeup Artist ("Unification II")
• Waverly Smothers – Second Grip ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Richard Snell – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• B. Stanley – Steadicam Assistant ("The First Duty")
• Peter Sternlicht – Visual Effects Editor ("A Matter Of Time")
• Steward – Hair Stylist ("Redemption II")
• Mark Stimson – Special Effects Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Michael Stradling – Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Robert Stromberg – Matte Artist ("A Matter Of Time")
• George Stuart, Jr. – Painter ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Rick Talmadge – Video Playback Operator ("I Borg")
• Jeri Taylor – Writer ("I Borg")
• Wil Thoms – Special Effects Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Rich Thorne – Creative Director: Digital Magic
• Jim Thorpe – Lamp Operator ("Redemption II” – “A Matter Of Time")
• Monte Thrasher – Designer & Illustrator Romulan insignia and Romulan language ("Unification I", "Unification II")
• Jerry Trent – Foley Artist ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• David Trotti – 2nd Unit DGA Trainee ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")/DGA Trainee ("The First Duty")
• Richard Turner – Extra Camera Operator ("Silicon Avatar", "Unification I", "A Matter Of Time” – “Hero Worship", "Power Play", "Cause And Effect” – “The Perfect Mate", I Borg")/2nd Unit Camera Operator ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", Cost Of Living")
• Elaina M. Vescio – Set Security ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Julia L. Walker – Hair Stylist ("Ensign Ro", "Imaginary Friend” – “I Borg")
• Jana Wallace – Secretary to Gene Roddenberry /Script Typist
• Ron Walters – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• L.Z. Ward – Set Security ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Karen Westerfield – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living", "The Inner Light")
• Michael Westmore II – Prosthetic Makeup Artist ("The Game", "Disaster", "Time's Arrow")
• Lisa White – Location Manager ("The First Duty")
• Richard Wicklund – Welfare Worker ("Disaster")
• Troy Wilcox – 2nd Unit Mike Operator ("Hero Worship” – “Violations")
• Williams – DGA Trainee ("Redemption II” – “Unification II")
• Murphy Wiltz – Lamp Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Glen Woodmansee – Studio Teacher ("Disaster")
• Edmond Wright – Blue Screen Unit Key Grip ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Key Grip ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")/Extra Grip ("Ensign Ro” – “I Borg")
• Isabell Yale – Set Nurse ("Power Play")
• G. Young – Electrical department ("Disaster")
• Susan Zietlow-Maust – Hair Stylist ("The First Duty” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend” – “I Borg")
• Zimmerman – Extra Costumer ("The Masterpiece Society")

Production companies [ ]

• Birds & Animals Unlimited – Animal Handler (Guinea Fowls) ("Ensign Ro")
• Central Casting – Extras Casting
• Cogswell Video Services, Inc. – Video Playbacks ("Darmok")
• Critters of the Cinema – Animal Casting and Training ("Time's Arrow")
• Cynthia's Distinctive Catering – Catering Service ("The First Duty")

See also [ ]

• TNG Season 5 performers
• TNG Season 5 UK VHS
• TNG Season 5 US VHS
• TNG Season 5 DVD
• TNG Season 5 Blu-ray

External links [ ]

• Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Five Credits at StarTrek.com
• The Next Generation Season 5 episode reviews  at Ex Astris Scientia
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Guide - Season 5

By season 5, the Star Trek: The Next Generation creative team began stretching their wings a bit, extending upon ideas which had been slowly evolving through seasons 2 through 4: Data’s progression to humanity, Worf’s place in Federation society, and of course the bad ol’ Borg.

One or two clunkers (e.g. the inexecrable Violations) aside, ST:TNG season 5 is show-for-show one of the best Star Trek seasons of the lot, with typically strong scripts and a couple of bona fide classics (Darmok, The Inner Light) mixed in. Ohhhh, and about midway through the season are a pair of episodes devoted to some old dude named Spock…

1. Redemption, Part II – After starting with perhaps the best cold open in TNG history (it’s either this or “Cause and Effect”) featuring Captain Kurn acting as a totally insane badass, we get more space warfare and Captain Jean-Luc Picard getting the Federation involved – after all, if the Federation’s Romulan enemies are attempting to overthrow the Federation-based government, that’s of interest to the ol’ UFP.

The Duras clan-backing Romulan leader is revealed to be a half-human named Sela, whose mother is Tasha Yar – more paradoxically, a Tasha Yar who was captured from the USS Enterprise-C decades earlier (cf. “Yesterday’s Enterprise”). Sela’s tale of Yar’s final fate is even more grisly than her backstory or the alternate death of “Skin of Evil”.

Picard’s plan has been organized and put into operation: 23 Federation starships (two of which are helmed by Riker and Data) at the Klingon-Romulan border have formed a net of sorts that will reveal anything which attempts to cross, namely the cloaked Romulan ships carrying weapons, supplies and information to Duras’s troops. The Romulans find a way to sneak through the invisible barricade, but acting captain Data saves the day with some amazing tactics. As Picard says later, “Nicely done.”

This could be said for the entire episode. *****

2. Darmok – An all-time fan favorite, which is amazing in that “Darmok” is centered on language and linguistic concepts. Perhaps it’s down to the acting, with Patrick Stewart’s Picard playing off Paul Winfield’s Dathon, a member of an alien species that not even those handy universal translators can handle (aside from the pronouns and conjunctions, that is), just brilliantly. *****

3. Ensign Ro – The title character temporarily – then permanently with regular guest appearances – joins the Enterprise crew in order to help track down a Bajoran terrorist. ***

4. Silicon Avatar – Dr. Kila Marr, a scientist specializing in the study of the heretofore purely destructive “Crystalline Entity” once encountered on Data’s home world (cf. “Datalore”), now seeks to communicative with the being – but she holds a grudge. Considering the predictability of this episode, Picard et al really should have seen the rather obvious conclusion coming from a light-year away. **

5. Disaster – Most functions in the Enterprise are disrupted or worse when the Enterprise takes a couple hits from a “quantum filament.” O’Brien and Troi are the only officers left on the bridge; Dta, Riker, Worf and Guinan are stuck in Ten Forward; LaForge and Dr. Crusher are in the cargo bay, where highly explosive plasma threatens disaster to the entire ship; and Picard is trapped in an elevator with three crying children- epic stuff... ***

6. The Game – Sure, the video game of discs and cones that addicts essentially everyone on the Enterprise except the visiting Wesley Crusher and a friend seemed pretty lame in 1991, but tell me you couldn’t market that as a premium app for your iPhone 25 years later… **

7. Unification, Part I – Federation officials receive word that a certain Ambassador Spock has gone Romulan. Picard first meets with the not-yet-dead Sarek, who advises Picard as to whom Spock might be contacting on Romulus. Picard and Data are disguised as Romulans and take a cloakable Klingon ship to get to Romulus in another “Search for Spock.” (Spoiler They find him in the last minute of screen time.) ****

8. Unification, Part II – Talk about your clash of generations: As it turns out, Spock is seeking to reunify the Romulan and Vulcan people (though we should admit that ultimately he’s not very successful, given his exposition in Star Trek XI). When he is presented with an officer from a high-ranking Romulan official, Spock falls for the trap set by Sela. But, of course, not for long. ***

9. A Matter of Time – A historian from some 200 years in the future boards the Enterprise to witness some upcoming historical events. In the end, he turns out to be – repeat after me – not what he seems. Some very good bits turned in by guest star Matt Frewer. (Dude, he was Max Headroom!) ***

10. New Ground – Worf plays single parent, as his own foster parents return his son to him, explaining that young Alexander is not adapting to life on Earth. Meanwhile, LaForge’s experiment with the transporter causes a natural disaster. **

11. Hero Worship – Data rescues a boy from a nearly destroyed ship, and the boy emulates his new hero to the nauseating point of acting like a cute android. Meanwhile, a mysterious shock wave continuously hits the Enterprise and hey isn’t this episode a bit like the last one…? **

12. Violations – Now here’s one way to cleans the viewer’s metaphorical palate after two young boy-centered show: Do one about Counselor Troi getting mentally raped by a member of the privileged class. Seriously, with a “mystery” and “suspense” dumped by the end of the first half of this one, what’s the point of finishing it…? 0

13. The Masterpiece Society – A colony on Moab has been isolated for 200 years and has enjoyed the advantages of selective breeding, but must accept Federation help in diverting a potential planet-killing phenomenon. **

14. Conundrum – Nothing like a good head trip episode to the season back on track! Within seconds of opening the episode, the memory of every crew member (including Data) has been erased. Luckily, the bridge crew (including the prominent Commander Kieran MacDuff) are soon ready to rejoin their forces in the midst of the massive war they’re fighting. But something just isn’t right…****

15. Power Play – Disembodied aliens take possession of Data, Troi and O’Brien, mostly because these three are by far the most likely to be mentally taken over than any other characters in the entire Star Trek pantheon (well, except Kes, but we don’t need to talk about her here). ***

16. Ethics – A Worf-centric episode that may also be some sort of comment on euthanasia. Worf is paralyzed in an accident and requests that Riker help him perform an honorable ritual suicide; Dr. Crusher seeks medical alternatives. **

17. The Outcast – In a story probably about 20 years ahead of its time, Riker falls in love with an androgynous alien, who is ultimately brainwashed back to her society’s norms into believing that distinct gender identification (not to mention wanting to roll around in the sack with a very hirsute male male such as Riker) is a twisted aberration. **

18. Cause and Effect – The Enterprise explodes before the theme music comes up, then again before each of the commercial breaks. How can the crew get out of one hell of a time loop? Very cleverly. Stick around to the very end for an excellent cameo appearance. ****

19. The First Duty – All it took to make a good, solid Wesley-based script was to boot him out of the regular cast. In “First Duty,” Wesley is held accountable for a stunt he and some other cadets pulled at Starfleet Academy which left one dead. ****

20. Cost of Living – Now here’s a match made in Sto'Vo'Kor: Lwaxan Troi and Alexander Son of Worf. Such happens when Deanna’s mother makes her annual visit to the Enterprise to marry, what, her ninth potential fourth husband? ***

21. The Perfect Mate – An ambassador traveling to make trade negotiations has his cargo broken into by a pair of Ferengi also temporarily aboard the Enterprise. Among this crew is a pheromone-gushing woman set for arranged marriage (so like a 24th-century mail-order bride, then), who wreaks havoc on every male on the ship before getting off – I mean, disembarking. ***

22. Imaginary Friend – The Enterprise plays host to yet another disembodied alien, this one from a nebula (come to think of it, they’re always finding weird stuff in Nebulas; best steer clear next time, Mr. Crusher) who takes on the form of a young girl’s imaginary friend. **

23. I, Borg – A well-acted and decently suspenseful episode is marred by the wussification of the Borg (who wouldn’t truly recover their in badassery until Star Trek: First Contact film) and the fine tradition – carried on by Janeway throughout the last half of the Voyager series – of not utterly destroying the scary cybernetic menace when given a clear chance … ***

24. The Next Phase – LaForge and Ensign Ro’s head trip A bizarre accident seems to make LaForge and Ensign Ro noncorporeal, with Ro ultimately believing they’ve entered the Bajoran afterlife. ***

25. The Inner Light – A high-concept episode that’s an all-time favorite of Wil Wheaton and innumerable Star Trek fans. Picard finds himself living an ordinary life on a long-dead world. A simple, wonderful story that might have been made even better if the cutting back to scenes of the Enterprise crew hovering concernedly over Picard’s body were removed. *****

26. Time’s Arrow, Part I – “Time’s Arrow” certainly isn’t the best ST:TNG season-enders, but it’s gotta be the weirdest. A dandy grabbag of a story includes a temporal paradox involving a decapitated Data (!), Guinan’s first meeting with Picard, ominous aliens who drain humans of lifeforce, and Mark Twain. ***

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 5, Episode 5

Where to watch, star trek: the next generation — season 5, episode 5.

Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 5, Episode 5 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

Star Trek: 6 Worst Things Done By The Federation, Ranked

The Federation certainly doesn't have clean hands in the Star Trek franchise. These examples demonstrate them at their worst.

• The Federation's dark side is revealed through blackmailing and trickery in political and wartime scenarios.
• The actions of key figures like Captain Sisko and Janeway raise ethical questions about Federation ideals.
• Section 31's drastic measures, including attempted genocide, show the darker side of the Federation's morality.

Star Trek 's United Federation of Planets may ostensibly be the franchise's good guys, but even sci-fi's most progressive utopia has a few skeletons in its closet. This is hardly surprising: Captain Jonathan Archer, a key figure in the founding of the Federation, was not averse to indulging in occasional piracy or torture during his time in command of the Enterprise NX-01. And, while the Federation has many positive aspects, it seems that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree regarding the great power's flaws.

6 Biggest Retcons To Star Trek History

Many of the Federation's worst excesses can be explained (if not excused) by the existence of dire threats or states of widespread conflict . Some, however, are more personal, leading to long-held fan grudges that still simmer decades after the acts themselves. From political machinations to every flavor of war crime, the Federation is hardly blameless, even if the ends sometimes justify the means.

6 Blackmailing Qo'nos

That's one way to win a war.

• Star Trek: Discovery: "Will You Take My Hand?" (Season 1, Episode 15)

Fans remain split on Star Trek: Discovery. Is it a bold new take on the classic franchise, or does it miss the point by several light-years? Whatever the case, one thing is clear when it comes to the Federation's actions at the end of the show's first season: they're as villainous as they are incoherent. Discovery 's debut season focuses on a dangerous conflict between the Federation and the militaristic Klingon Empire ; faced with the risk of imminent defeat, the Federation enlists the help of Emperor Georgiou, a genocidal dictator from the Mirror Universe.

Georgiou's scheme is as silly as anyone should expect from a Mirror Universe inhabitant. Discovery travels to the Klingon homeworld and hides a bomb inside the planet's crust. While Georgiou's initial plot to destroy the planet is foiled, the Federation uses the bomb as leverage, essentially blackmailing the Klingons into accepting a puppet ruler with pro-Federation policies. Enforced regime change on a grand scale is hardly the action of a benevolent state, suggesting that the Federation is less virtuous than it likes to pretend.

5 Tricking The Romulans

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "In the Pale Moonlight" (Season 6, Episode 19)

"In the Pale Moonlight" is one of the Star Trek franchise's most iconic episodes. Set during the Federation's darkest days, the episode sees Captain Sisko enlist the help of former spy Elim Garak to bring the Romulan Star Empire into the war on the allied side. The devious Romulans are unwilling to join forces with their Federation rivals, so Sisko and Garak are forced to use a blend of deception and diplomacy to achieve their strategic goals.

8 Coolest Starships From Star Trek: The Next Generation

Admittedly, Garak is responsible for many of the scheme's more villainous aspects, such as orchestrating the death of a Romulan senator to implicate the Dominion. However, Sisko (and by extension the Federation) is a driving force behind the plot. Bringing the Romulans into the war proves essential for ensuring an eventual Federation victory, but the Federation's methodology for doing so remains questionable. Yet, as Sisko points out, he will simply have to live with his villainy.

4 The Forced Deportation Of The Ba'ku

Do the ends ever justify the means.

• Star Trek: Insurrection

Deep Space Nine 's Dominion War sent shockwaves throughout the franchise, with its impact felt in a range of TV shows, novels, and movies. Indeed, despite featuring characters from The Next Generation , Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) examines the Federation's ethics during wartime. Dominion forces are overwhelming the Federation Alliance at every turn, but the planet of Ba'ku may prove to be a secret weapon. The Federation plans to use Ba'ku's naturally medicinal environment as a hospital for its war effort, but there's a problem.

The planet is already home to the Ba'ku people , and the Federation becomes embroiled in a plot to forcibly relocate the native population to another planet. This policy becomes even harder to defend once it becomes apparent that the supposedly friendly Son'a have their own vendetta against the Ba'ku. It's no wonder, then, that Captain Picard and his crew elected to defy the Federation in this case. Picard may be one of the Federation's most famous figures, but he refuses to be complicit in its wrongdoing.

3 Using Bioweapons To Poison A Planet

Did captain sisko go too far.

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "For the Uniform" (Season 5, Episode 13)

When does the quest for justice become a bloody hunt for revenge? This question is posed by "For the Uniform," an episode that pits the morally gray Captain Sisko against the traitorous Eddington, a member of the Maquis terrorist group . The Maquis plan to deploy biological weapons to drive the alien Cardassians away from planets which the Marquis claim for themselves. Sisko, however, turns the plot on its head by using his biological weapons against the planets, making them uninhabitable for humans.

Star Trek: Things You Didn’t Know About Benjamin Sisko

Sisko's decision to devastate an entire planet is one of Star Trek 's most shocking moments, and this is emphasized by Worf's initial hesitation to obey Sisko's command. Sisko believes that drastic action is the only way to force Eddington to surrender, but fans continue to debate whether the Emissary of the Prophets let his emotions cloud his judgment. Eddington made a fool of Sisko by betraying and then openly attacking the Federation—in doing so, he pushed Sisko into ordering one of the Federation's most evil acts.

2 The Attempted Genocide Of The Founders

When does warfare become a war crime.

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "What You Leave Behind" (Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26)

The Federation may be a place of intellectual progress and equality, but its benevolence conceals a seedy underbelly. Section 31, a Federation intelligence agency with a broad remit and a questionable moral compass. Section 31 and its agents are responsible for some heinous actions, such as blackmailing Starfleet officers and employing villains from the Mirror Universe . However, Section 31's most radical scheme involves the attempted genocide of the Dominion's Founders.

The Federation, via Section 31, infects the Founders with a morphogenic virus that is designed to exterminate the species. While this would bring about the end of the devastating Dominion War, it demonstrates that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Luckily, good intentions save the Federation in the long run, as curing the disease convinces the Founders to end the war.

1 Janeway's Murder (?) Of Tuvix

Can kathryn janeway ever be redeemed.

• Star Trek: Voyager : "Tuvix" (Season 2, Episode 24)

Kathryn Janeway may be just one Starfleet captain, but she and her starship represent the whole of the Federation's presence in the far-off Delta Quadrant . As such, many of her actions have raised fans' eyebrows, from allying with the Borg against Species 872 to falling in love with a holographic character (and deleting his wife from the program). However, viewers are especially disgusted by Janeway's treatment of Tuvix, a hybrid inadvertently created from the Vulcan Tuvok and the Talaxian Neelix.

Star Trek: 8 Best Book-Only Characters, Ranked

Tuvix is sentient, displays a unique sense of self and identity, and makes it clear that he wants to live. Janeway, however, sees things from a more utilitarian perspective: she's lost one of her best officers due to Tukov's hybridization into Tuvix. Her decision to overrule Tuvix's right to exist to restore the status quo represents Janeway at her most ruthless, and many fans have yet to forgive Star Trek 's first female captain. As Federation crimes go, it's a small one, but some still take it personally.

Screen Rant

Star trek: ds9 revealed captain kirk broke the mirror universe.

After 27 years, Deep Space Nine returned to Star Trek's Mirror Universe to discover that Captain James T. Kirk had only made things much worse.

• Kirk's influence in the Mirror Universe led to the downfall of the Terran Empire, creating a harsh dystopia.
• DS9 explored the aftermath of Mirror Spock's failed attempt to reform the Terran Empire based on Kirk's suggestions.
• Michael Piller's curiosity and the impact of Kirk's character drove the return of the Mirror Universe in DS9.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine revealed the prime timeline Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) broke the Mirror Universe during his one and only visit. At the end of Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 10, "Mirror, Mirror," Kirk suggests to Mirror Universe Spock (Leonard Nimoy) that the future of the Terran Empire could be more peaceful, like the Federation in Star Trek 's prime timeline . Star Trek didn't return to the Mirror Universe for another 27 years, in DS9 season 2, episode 23, "Crossover", which aired in 1994, and revealed a number of details about how Kirk impacted the Terran Empire .

Having rejected multiple Mirror Universe storylines for Star Trek: The Next Generation , producer Michael Piller eventually gave into his curiosity in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Various Star Trek: DS9 characters crossed over into the Mirror Universe between seasons 2 and 7, beginning with "Crossover". DS9 's first Mirror Universe episode established what happened after Mirror Spock attempted to implement the changes suggested by Prime Kirk. Spock's attempts to reform the Terran Empire were a disaster, and created an even harsher dystopia than before .

Star Trek: The Mirror Universe's History Explained

Ds9’s mirror universe episode revealed captain kirk broke the alternate timeline.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 23, "Crossover", Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) are transported to the Mirror Universe following an accident in the Bajoran wormhole . In the 24th century Mirror Universe, there is no Deep Space Nine, but there's a Terok Nor, which is overseen by the Intendant, the Mirror version of Kira. As with its prime universe counterpart, the Cardassian space station Terok Nor is an ore processing plant populated with Terran slaves.

Future Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Mirror Universe episodes featured an adapted transporter that could cross between universes.

It's revealed that Kirk had a " profound influence " on Mirror Spock, who rose to commander in chief of the Terran Empire with promises of more peaceful reform. This substantially weakened the Terran Empire so that it was unable to defend itself against the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. The Terran Empire fell, and the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance became the dominant force, meaning that Kirk ultimately seeded the downfall of the Mirror Universe. Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors" revealed that Mirror Spock was executed for introducing his Kirk-influenced reforms , presumably when it was realized the Terrans could not defend themselves against the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance.

Why DS9 Brought Back Star Trek’s Mirror Universe

Star Trek: TNG didn't do the Mirror Universe , largely because its pulpy idea wasn't in-keeping with TNG 's more serious tone. In the book Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, Michael Piller revealed his thinking behind bringing back the Mirror Universe in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and it was all because of Captain Kirk:

I couldn't get away from the fact that it would be interesting to know what happened after "Mirror, Mirror" finished. I couldn't escape the idea that Kirk's influence in the world that he left might have been profound and changed history. What would be more of a gross violation of the Prime Directive?

Robert Hewitt Wolfe, who contributed the idea of the fall of the Terran Empire told the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion that he wanted to explore why the Terrans were so brutal in Star Trek: The Original Series. Hewitt Wolfe's belief was that the Terrans had made themselves harsh and brutal to protect against the " barbarians at the gate "; the Klingons and Cardassians . Star Trek: Enterprise would later dismiss this idea, by revealing that the Terrans were cruel and brutal long before First Contact with the Vulcans. However, without Star Trek: Deep Space Nine revitalizing the concept, it's possible that Enterprise 's Mirror Universe two-parter may never have happened.

All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Original Series are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Star Trek: The Original Series

*Availability in US

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Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew - Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) - with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.

'Star Trek: Discovery' season 5 episode 5 'Mirrors' is a quality installment, but weighed down by another anchor of nostalgia

This entire episode was more than likely written for the sole reason that the sets from "Strange New Worlds" could be utilized.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5, episode 5

The chase across the galaxy for the Progenitors MacGuffin continues, offering chances to insert stand-alone, episode-length adventures along the way. And this week's installment, entitled "Mirrors" features a brief and very random reminder that the Mirror Universe exists. 

And that alone would've made an genuinely enthralling episode, but...Alex Kurtzman et al could not resist the temptation for an utterly pointless and thoroughly unnecessary throwback to the USS Enterprise. Honestly, these people have a serious problem, they should seek help. 

To put all of this into context, the crew of the USS Discovery continue their pursuit of Malinne 'Moll' Ravel (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) and that chase leads them to er...well, you know, a giant, space-time swirly orifice that fills the viewscreen. Apparently, it's some sort of wormhole that's spectacularly unstable because of the constant matter/anti-matter reactions that are taking place at the opening. It's actually more than a little reminiscent of the inside of the V'ger spacecraft from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and that's just fine. 

Watch Star Trek on Paramount Plus: Get a one month free trial  

Get all the Star Trek content you can possibly handle with this free trial of Paramount Plus. Watch new shows like Star Trek: Discovery and all the classic Trek movies and TV shows too. Plans start from $4.99/month after the trial ends.

But it's what they find inside that grinds gears. Since the Discovery is too big to squeeze through the constantly opening and closing orifice, Capt. Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Book (David Ajala) take a shuttle through only to find...the ISS Enterprise. Yes, indeed, last seen (and only seen, actually) in the epic "The Original Series" episode "Mirror, Mirror" (S02, E04).

While beaming back to the USS Enterprise during an ion storm, Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura materialize aboard a almost-identical Enterprise in a parallel universe. Here, the United Federation of Planets has been replaced by the Terran Empire and its inhabitants are violent and cruel. Their only hope is to artificially reproduce the effects of the storm to facilitate a return to their own universe. (" I mperial S pace S hip replaces the traditional " U nited S pace S hip.")

And while the idea of finding a derelict, 900-year-old starship from the latter half of the 23rd century is a great idea, in the name of the Great Prophet Zarquon, why-oh-why did it have to be the Enterprise? There are — at least — 10 other Constitution Class starships that could've been potentially chosen and thus still allowing the updated sets from "Strange New Worlds" to have been used. 

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The USS Cayuga (NCC-1557), USS Constellation (NCC-1017), USS Defiant (NCC-1764), USS Excalibur (NCC-1664), USS Exeter (NCC-1672), USS Hood (NCC-1703), USS Intrepid (NCC-1631), USS Lexington (NCC-1709), USS New Jersey (NCC-1975) and the USS Potemkin (NCC-1657). And those are just the ones that are canon. Another new vessel could just as easily have been introduced as it's not unknown for Nu-Trek to bring brand new ships to the line.

And of course Burnham makes reference to the fact that her brother, Spock, served on this ship, which is probably another reason why the Enterprise was forced upon the writers. And according to some extremely rushed exposition, most of the crew escaped the weird wibblywobbly wormhole and went on to lead peaceful and productive lives — we assume somewhere not too far away given how long ago it happened and the current location in deep space — in a somewhat Space Seed scenario. Another interesting throwaway remark from Burnham was, "Crossing between universes has been impossible for centuries now," which shuts down that potential story avenue rather abruptly. 

But let's also focus on why this episode could've been near-faultless if only someone could counsel Paramount showrunners on how to ween themselves off of nostalgia addiction. This week we get to see the whole Moll and L'ak backstory...and it's rather good and to add to that, Book and Moll confront the fact that they're distantly related. You know, because that makes things much more absurd orderly. (See how Burnham had to be related to Spock.)

The pacing of this episode, and with the exception of using the Enterprise, when any other Constitution Class starship could've worked — and served to expand the Mirror Universe a little bit — this is an enjoyable episode. It's a shame though that this is following the same cookie cutter seasonal storyline template by relying very much on a quest to follow while having standalone episode-long adventures to fill in the gaps, but hey, it can't be much worse than last season. So, there's that.

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" and every other episode of every "Star Trek" show — with the exception of "Star Trek: Prodigy" — currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US, while "Prodigy" has found a new home on Netflix.  

Internationally, the shows are available on  Paramount Plus  in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream on  Paramount Plus  in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.

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'Star Trek: Discovery' season 5 episode 6 goes old school and benefits because of it

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Den of Geek

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 5 Review – Mirrors

Star Trek: Discovery reaches the halfway point of its final season by providing the L'ak and Moll backstory no one asked for.

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This Star Trek: Discovery review contains spoilers .

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 5

Star Trek: Discovery reaches the midpoint of its final season with “Mirrors,” an hour that is probably the worst of the five installments we’ve seen so far. To be clear, the episode isn’t necessarily bad , per se, and those who’ve been with this show since the beginning have definitely sat through much worse than this during its run. But it is an hour that, at best, is pretty darn boring, and that can’t help but feel like a colossal waste of time when we have so few hours left with the characters whose stories we care about. 

Look, most of us ( read: me ) expected this season to include a flashback-laden hour that explained the very obviously telegraphed, clearly semi-tragic backstory of the season’s villains, intended to make us reevaluate how we feel about their quest to find the Progenitors’ technology. But Moll and L’ak have been such poorly sketched adversaries so far that it’s extremely difficult for the show to suddenly turn them into characters we care about or build a relationship between them that we’re invested in. After all, it’s hard to sell a desperate star-crossed love story between two characters we’ve spent such little time with and barely know, and who have generally been huge jerks every time they do appear on our screens.

(Don’t get me wrong, I like Book just fine, and I adore his relationship with Michael, but I don’t think he’s an important enough character to make his vaguely tenuous familial connection to Moll as compelling as the show seems to think it ought to be.)

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It’s a shame that so much of this hour is dedicated to providing a backstory no one really asked for, because its general premise is actually super interesting. Still on the hunt for the location of the Progenitors’ mysterious device, Discovery tracks Moll and L’ak’s ship into a wormhole-like anomaly that leads to a pocket of interdimensional space where the next clue is supposedly hidden. (These scientists from back in the day put in work to hide whatever this thing is, is what I’m saying.) Burnham and Book take a shuttle inside it—at least one of its primary commanders stays on the ship this time—where they find the Terran I.S.S. Enterprise , the Mirror Universe version of the famous starship that’s been damaged and abandoned.

I doubt I’m the only person who wants to know more about the Terrans who were once on board this ship, why they decided to flee to our universe, or how the Mirror Universe version of Saru—ostensibly the same one Michael taught how to fight seasons ago—helped lead them to safety. I mean, I just have so many questions: When did this happen? How long has this Enterprise been abandoned in interdimensional space? (It had to be some time after Michael and Discovery jumped to the future, since the Mirror Universe Enterprise had to remain in its own dimension long enough for the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Mirror, Mirror” to take place, right?) Were there two Sarus in this universe at any point? Did any of the Mirror Universe Enterprise crew cross over as refugees? We’ll likely never know but I’m curious anyway. I also have questions about how the folks hiding all these clues in the first place determined this was a must-have hiding spot, but very little about this puzzle quest has made all that much sense, so let’s just go with it.

It’s unfortunate that the Terran Enterprise connection is so much more intriguing than the hour’s big reveal, which is that L’ak is a member of the Breen, and he and Moll have a blood bounty on their heads. The Breen are an alien species with both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine origins, and whose faces we’ve never seen onscreen before . Their culture is reclusive and mysterious and this twist should be so much more compelling than the catalyst for a star-crossed Romeo & Juliet-style romance with a little overt grifting thrown on top.  

A courier delivering dilithium to the Breen in the wake of the Burn, Moll’s cutting her shipments with other materials to make more money. She offers to bring disgraced royal L’ak into her scheme, to give him a chance to get payback against the uncle who demoted him because he was too different from the rest. How was he different? Why did that matter? Shrug emoji. He accepts and flirting ensues.

Before you know it, they’re having allegedly meaningful conversations about “true faces” and performing The Mandalorian – style slo-mo helmet removals alongside their scammer delivery runs. But of course, they eventually get caught, and now they’re being eternally hunted by very talented trained killers and have to hope that they can trade the Progenitor tech for their lives. This is not a great plan—as Michael correctly points out the Breen will probably just take their world-destroying tech and kill them anyway if they make it that far—but it’s the one they’re going with. 

On the plus side, “Mirrors” is the best Book and Burnham episode we’ve had in a while. A solid reminder of how good they are as a team, both tactically and emotionally—Michael’s unexpected reminiscing about Spock was lovely, as was the bittersweet moment between them when they both thought they were likely to die trying to get out of the wormhole. Beyond the whole Book committing some light treason last season thing, which it’s clear Michael (and the Federation writ large) has forgiven him for, it’s not entirely clear why the two of them aren’t together right now beyond the need for dramatic tension between them. And since the show could not be telegraphing that reunion any harder, maybe it’s just time to cut to the chase where the two of them are concerned.

It’s obviously not Discovery ’s fault that the folks in charge didn’t know this was going to be the show’s final season—and a truncated run at that—when they shot it. But it’s still hard not to feel a bit cheated here. This episode spends so much time on Moll and L’ak and their stilted declarations about how they’d rather die than be separated from each other, all when there are a good half dozen other major characters whose stories I’d rather be watching. And I’m more than a little annoyed that I have to hear all about Moll’s weapons-grade daddy issues in stultifying detail when we could give that screentime to Tilly or Stamets or Culber or Saru, who all seem to be going through some pretty big life changes and emotional adjustments this season and whose individual journeys I’m already invested in. These characters deserve better than this and we, as viewers, do too. 

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Lacy Baugher

Lacy Baugher is a digital producer by day, but a television enthusiast pretty much all the time. Her writing has been featured in Paste Magazine, Collider,…

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 episode 5: Release date and time, where to watch, and more

I n Episode 4 of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, titled Face the Strange , the Discovery crew finds themselves stuck in a time loop due to a time-distorting bug placed on the ship. This episode sees Captain Burnham and Commander Rayner, along with Stamets, navigate through various pivotal moments from the ship's past.

Thereafter, the time loop sends them through events such as the ship's battle with the AI Control, its journey through the wormhole to the 32nd century, and its initial construction. As they relive these moments, Burnham needs to convince her past self and the crew of her identity to garner their assistance in resolving the crisis.

The episode emphasizes emotional bonds and trust, with Rayner learning the importance of these qualities through their time-travel adventures. This installment serves both as a reflection on how far the characters, especially Burnham, have come and as a device to deepen the emotional connections among the crew. Now, the next episode of the show, Episode 5, will be released on April 25, 2024.

When will Star Trek: Discovery season 5 Episode 5 come out?

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5, titled Mirrors , will be released on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 12 a.m. PT . Below is the release schedule for the episode across all time zones:

Where to watch Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 4?

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, episode 4 becomes available for streaming on Paramount Plus, the host for all series seasons. Viewers in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria can stream Seasons 2 and 3 on Pluto TV's Star Trek channel. In Canada, Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel airs the series, also available on SkyShowtime.

What can fans expect from Star Trek: Discovery season 5 episode 5?

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 Episode 5 is written by Carlos Cisco and Johanna Lee and follows closely on the events of Episode 4. Fans can expect Commander Michael Burnham to delve deeper into the mysterious trail linked to M'ak's spaceship, which could reveal significant developments.

Furthermore, the episode will also potentially resolve the fate of the dealer involved in the platinum poison plot from the previous episode. This episode marks the midpoint of the season, with five more episodes to follow, promising more twists and intense story arcs.

Additionally, the official synopsis of this finale season (5) reads as follows:

"Created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman for CBS All Access, the story of "Star Trek: Discovery" begins roughly a decade before Captain Kirk's five-year mission -- as portrayed in the original "Star Trek" from the 1960s -- and a century before the events of "Star Trek: Enterprise."

It further states:

The series follows the crew of the USS Discovery as they encounter new worlds and civilizations, delving into familiar themes and expanding upon an incident that has been talked about within the franchise's universe, but never fully explored."

With episode 5 releasing, it'll be intriguing to witness how the season will shape as a series finale .

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Episode list

Star trek: the next generation.

S2.E1 ∙ The Child

S2.E2 ∙ Where Silence Has Lease

S2.E3 ∙ Elementary, Dear Data

S2.E4 ∙ The Outrageous Okona

S2.E5 ∙ Loud as a Whisper

S2.E6 ∙ The Schizoid Man

S2.E7 ∙ Unnatural Selection

S2.E8 ∙ A Matter of Honor

S2.E9 ∙ The Measure of a Man

S2.E10 ∙ The Dauphin

S2.E11 ∙ Contagion

S2.E12 ∙ The Royale

S2.E13 ∙ Time Squared

S2.E14 ∙ The Icarus Factor

S2.E15 ∙ Pen Pals

S2.E16 ∙ Q Who

S2.E17 ∙ Samaritan Snare

S2.E18 ∙ Up the Long Ladder

S2.E19 ∙ Manhunt

S2.E20 ∙ The Emissary

S2.E21 ∙ Peak Performance

S2.E22 ∙ Shades of Gray

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