Encounter at Farpoint
- Episode aired Sep 26, 1987
- TV-PG
- 1h 32m
On the maiden mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), an omnipotent being known as Q challenges the crew to discover the secret of a mysterious base in an advanced and civilized fashi... Read allOn the maiden mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), an omnipotent being known as Q challenges the crew to discover the secret of a mysterious base in an advanced and civilized fashion.On the maiden mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), an omnipotent being known as Q challenges the crew to discover the secret of a mysterious base in an advanced and civilized fashion.
- Mandarin Bailiff
- (as Cary-Hiroyuki)
- Main Bridge Security
- (as Timothy Dang)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis marks the final television appearance of DeForest Kelley before his death on 11 June 1999, discounting his appearance in ST:DS9 Trials and Tribble-ations (1996), which was archive footage from Star Trek (1966). Kelley filmed his scene on Tuesday 2 June 1987.
- GoofsWesley is dripping wet when talking to Captain Picard outside the holodeck. As holographic matter cannot exist outside of the holodeck, the water should have disappeared once he stepped through the door. However, just moments before, Data explains to Riker that the holodeck uses a combination of holograms and actual material that is materialized (similar to the way the food replicators create food) so the water could very well be real.
- Quotes
Admiral Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy: How old do you think I am, anyway?
Lt. Commander Data: 137 years, Admiral, according to Starfleet records.
Admiral Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy: Explain how you remember that so exactly!
Lt. Commander Data: I remember every fact I am exposed to, sir.
Admiral Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy: [looking at both sides of Data's head] I don't see no points on your ears, boy, but you sound like a Vulcan.
Lt. Commander Data: No, sir. I am an android.
Admiral Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy: Hmph. Almost as bad.
- Alternate versionsThe original Columbia House video release had the episode cut into two parts, as it was re-aired, while later releases has the episode in its original two hour cut that was on the Paramount Home Video release.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hide and Q (1987)
I had watched a lot of TNG episodes with my daughters over the years, but I avoided the pilot because I remember it being a little cheesy. Upon rewatching, it was better than I remembered. They did a good job of introducing the new Trekosphere.
There was a "bit of the old, bit of the new" feeling to the pilot. On the "old" side, we had the ladies wearing mini-dress uniforms, a cameo by McCoy, an all-powerful being behaving badly, and a plot that was very much in the "seek out strange new life" vein. On the new side, there was the holodeck (fun!), children on board (what?), a Klingon on the bridge (gasp!), an Enterprise that could separate the saucer (squee!), and a Captain that was very much Not Kirk. (In the future, we will have evolved beyond the need for toupees...)
I told my kids that when TNG first aired in 1987, loyal fans of the original series had been waiting 18 long years for another ongoing Trek series, and the anticipation was huge. I still remember the closing scene where Picard leans forward in the captain's chair and exclaims "Let's see what's out there..." I got a charge out of that line Back In The Day, and I got a charge out of it again.
It was fun to boldly go again, and especially fun to watch it with The Next Generation of fans in my family.
- marcusq22
- Dec 2, 2018
Details
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1