The Ultimate Guide to Unearthing Hidden Gems from Star Trek: TNG's Debut Episode

Summary

"Encounter at Farpoint" struggled to establish the characters and tone of Star Trek: TNG, but the compelling crew of the USS Enterprise-D kept viewers engaged.

The pilot episode showcased inconsistent characterizations, with several officers behaving in ways that didn't align with their usual personalities, like Picard expressing anger and Data exhibiting uncharacteristic emotions.

However, despite these flaws, "Encounter at Farpoint" established the groundwork for the future success of TNG. It introduced significant relationships, demonstrated the rare saucer separation maneuver, and hinted at the potential of Q becoming a recurring character.

Star Trek: The Next Generation made its debut in 1987 with a pilot episode named "Encounter at Farpoint," which was a feature-length installment. However, certain aspects introduced in that episode turned out to be temporary. The series focuses on the endeavors of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, taking place approximately a century after the voyages of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) from Star Trek: The Original Series. In "Encounter at Farpoint," Picard confronts a powerful entity called Q (John de Lancie), who puts the Enterprise crew on trial for the misdeeds of humanity.

In anticipation of its premiere, numerous hardcore fans of the original Star Trek series were dissatisfied with and apprehensive about Star Trek: TNG, doubting its ability to capture the essence of the beloved original. After viewing "Encounter at Farpoint," they could have believed their concerns were valid. Despite having a potentially intriguing narrative, TNG hadn't quite defined its identity yet. Nevertheless, there was something captivating about this particular Enterprise and its crew, even if the characters hadn't fully developed at that point. It took a couple of seasons for TNG to truly find its stride, but the first episode laid the foundation for the remarkable journey that followed.

10 Several Characters Behave Out Of Character

9 Geordi's Visor Causes Him Constant Pain

"Encounter at Farpoint" faced the daunting challenge of introducing the crew of the Enterprise-D and establishing the show's overall tone. However, the episode seems to have a more serious tone than what TNG eventually became. Captain Picard displays a quicker temper and tendency towards violence, Tasha Yar acts impulsively without waiting for orders, Commander Riker adheres strictly to the rules, and Deanna Troi deeply experiences every emotion she senses from others. It would take several more episodes for the writers and actors to fully develop these characters and the world of the Enterprise.

Following the arrival of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) aboard the Enterprise, La Forge pays a visit to Sickbay. Dr. Crusher conducts an examination of Geordi's visor, which enables him to see, and inquires about it. Geordi then reveals that he has been blind since birth, and although the visor allows him to perceive a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, it also subjects him to perpetual pain. While the show occasionally depicts malfunctions with Geordi's visor, his pain is seldom mentioned thereafter. Dr. Crusher proposes options such as pain medication and exploratory surgery, but Geordi declines as both choices would hinder his ability to fulfill his duties.

8 Q Is More Antagonistic And Less Fun

Q's initial eight appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation established him as a cunning trickster, yet he never again exuded the same level of cruelty as he did in "Encounter at Farpoint." Although Q continuously vexed Captain Picard and his crew, an unexpected affinity grew between them. In his inaugural encounter, Q lacked the eventual sense of humor he would come to possess. This aberrant behavior might be attributed to the writers and John de Lancie grappling with the character or due to Q's personal transformation. Despite this, Q would ultimately evolve into a captivating recurring character, although his initial debut falls short of the amusement found in later episodes.

7 The USS Enterprise-D Performs A Saucer Separation Manuever

To ensure the safety of civilians and non-essential personnel from Q, the Enterprise executes a saucer separation in "Encounter at Farpoint". This strategic maneuver allows the larger saucer section to retreat to a secure location while the propulsion section of the ship confronts Q. This separation of the saucer is portrayed with great intensity, indicating its potential frequency in future encounters. Unfortunately, due to budget and visual effects limitations at the time, the Enterprise seldom utilizes this capability. While it is understandable that TNG wanted to showcase this feature, it is regrettable that its usage was limited.

6 Data Behaves And Speaks Oddly

5 Several Officers Wear Different Uniforms Than Usual

In "Encounter at Farpoint", it becomes evident that the characterizations had not been fully developed by the writers and actors. This is particularly noticeable in the portrayal of Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), who exhibits more emotion in this episode than he does throughout the rest of the series. It seems that both Brent Spiner and the writers were still in the process of understanding Data and his behavioral traits. Despite this, Data remains one of the most captivating characters in the episode, but it would take some time for his character to fully settle into his usual self. "Encounter at Farpoint" does, however, establish Data's aspiration to become human, which would subsequently become a fundamental aspect of his identity going forward.

The pilot of TNG introduced the concept of the uniforms, but there were some elements that were not fully developed at that time. One interesting detail was the introduction of a "skant" uniform, which was essentially a minidress worn by a male Starfleet officer. While the skant made a few more appearances in the first two seasons, it was eventually phased out in favor of more practical pants and jumpsuits. Another deviation from the later established uniforms was seen in Geordi La Forge and Worf, who initially wore gold uniforms in the pilot but later switched to command red and embraced their new roles as Chief of Security and Chief Engineer respectively in season 2, prompting the uniform change.

4 Deanna Troi & William Riker's Previous Relationship Is Implied, As Is Picard and Crusher's

"Encounter at Farpoint" establishes two significant connections among the primary characters. When Captain Picard introduces the new First Officer, William Riker, to Deanna Troi, he learns that the two have already crossed paths. Troi and Riker would go on to become one of the most adored couples in the Star Trek universe, eventually tying the knot in Star Trek: Nemesis. Although less overt, Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher also share a history and engage in a will they/won't they dynamic throughout TNG. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, it is revealed that they later had a son named Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers).

3 Deanna Troi Speaks To Commander Riker Telepathically

In "Encounter at Farpoint," it is established early on that Deanna Troi is a mix of human and Betazoid heritage, granting her the unique ability to perceive the emotions of others. This is evident when Troi communicates with Commander Riker through telepathy upon their reunion on the Enterprise bridge. Although Riker does not respond, it is implied that they used to communicate this way in the past. The episode frequently highlights Troi's emotion-sensing capabilities, implying that they will play a significant role in the series going forward. However, despite frequently utilizing her abilities to sense emotions, Troi does not employ telepathy with anyone other than fellow Betazoids throughout the remainder of the show.

2 The Ferengi Are First Mentioned And Implied To Be Dangerous Antagonists

In Star Trek: The Next Generation and especially in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the Ferengi eventually fulfilled their promise, but they never lived up to the terrifying villains portrayed in "Encounter at Farpoint." While negotiating with Zorn (Michael Bell), the supervisor of Farpoint Station, Captain Picard mentions that "the Ferengi would be very interested in a base like this." In response, Picard humorously remarks, "I hope they find you as appetizing as they did their previous associates," implying that the Ferengi consume their enemies.

Initially, the Ferengi were intended to replace the Klingons as the primary adversaries for the Enterprise. However, their portrayal quickly changed after their first appearance in season 1, episode 5, "The Last Outpost." In this episode, the Ferengi were not intimidating but rather comical, leading to significant alterations in their species before their subsequent appearances.

1 DeForest Kelley Makes A Brief Appearance As Admiral McCoy

Admiral Leonard McCoy's (DeForest Kelley) inclusion in "Encounter at Farpoint" had little significance to the story apart from symbolically passing the torch from the original Star Trek series. Though McCoy had a few memorable lines, his interaction was solely with Data. While it would have been enjoyable to have more screen time with him, the main focus of TNG was, of course, on Picard and his crew.

Nevertheless, McCoy's appearance was well-received and served as a respectful homage to TOS. Following the introduction of Admiral McCoy in TNG, it became customary for a character from the previous Star Trek series to appear in the pilot of each new installment. Despite the somewhat uneven pilot episode, Star Trek: The Next Generation went on to create exceptional science fiction television and proved itself a worthy successor to Star Trek: The Original Series.