Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) Encounter at Farpoint (1987) User Reviews

A half-good, half-dubious beginning to a worthy successor of the Original Series

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 9 May 2013]

Star Trek: The Next Generation's pilot episode is a mixed bag. On the one hand, there's a decent cast and everything LOOKS better than the original series -- the spacecrafts, F/X, costumes and sets -- but, on the other, half of the story is goofy and awkwardly implemented into the main story.

The "goofy" part is the character of Q, an omniscient being, who suddenly appears on the Bridge of the Enterprise just past the 5-minute mark (!) and shortly later transports most of the Bridge crew to some absurd trial against humanity with a bunch of barbarians as the audience. This part of the story was written by Gene Roddenberry and he was pressured to add it to D.C. Fontana's script to make "Encounter at Farpoint" a double episode.

The problem with the Q subplot is that it's premature. The purpose of a pilot episode is to establish the characters and the basic tone of the series. Fontana's story about the cast grouping together and their experiences at the Farpoint station accomplish this, but Roddenberry's Q story seems tacked-on, outlandish and premature.

Sure, the character of Q was based on Trelane from the Original Series episode "The Squire of Gothos," but (1) that episode wasn't introduced until the second half of the first season when the serious tone of the series was well established, and (2) Trelane was presented in a believable way despite his goofy antics. It's called good writing.

In "Encounter at Farpoint," by contrast, it's not 6 minutes into the story -- the very first episode of the series -- and this goofball character suddenly appears on the Bridge and proceeds to kidnap the Bridge crew and take them to some bizarre trial in the midst of a bunch of uncouth barbarians. These events take place in the first half hour and it just mars the seriousness and credible-ness of the rest of the 2-part episode.

Thankfully, everything else is like the Original Series, just better, at least as far as appearances go. The writing wouldn't catch up till the third and fourth seasons, although there are some gems here & there in the first two, e.g. "Heart of Glory," "Conspiracy," "The Schizoid Man," "A Matter of Honor," "The Dauphin" and "Q Who."

The pilot runs 1 hour, 31 minutes.

GRADE: B-/C+

C+: Good, but not great.

[garydiamond · 7/10 · 29 July 2008]

'Encounter At Farpoint' is the double-length pilot episode of The Next Generation and introduces us to the characters, the ship and... the writers, who at this point were the weakest link.

The two main plots are engaging enough. Going on commentary from Roddenberry, the Q entity was written in later at Paramount's behest but, to me, is the most amusing part of this outing. Q almost represents the studio's viewpoint - in the show, the whole human race is on trial, in reality, the entire TNG concept was on trial. His presence is a definite highlight and he would go on to be one of the most memorable characters of any Star Trek incarnation. Q's presence interweaves comfortably with 'the trial' itself which is the unravelling an enigma: how did an obviously technologically deficient race build a frontier outpost of high-technology to service the Federation, and can the mystery be solved without resorting to violent methods thereby proving Q correct in his definition of the human race as barbaric and child-like?

From a technical standpoint this episode is respectable. For particular commendation I would single out Industrial Light and Magic's excellent special effects work. The models of the Enterprise-D and the alien spacecraft(s) set a high watermark which remains, for me, an engrossing aspect of the show to this day. We now take complex and expensive shots like these for granted in television shows, but until TNG it wasn't all that common.

As for the performances, the cast are still tentative within their new roles, finding their comfort zones and strengths. Some of the dialogue allows them chances to connect with their characters and therefore with the audience, other sections would be better delivered tongue-in-cheek rather than with deadly earnestness, or omitted entirely. My own assumption is that at this point Roddenberry was working towards the strengths of the old cast, whom he was familiar with, expecting them to be partial clones of Kirk and crew instead of relying on his new actors to take Star Trek in interesting new directions. When he stepped down as Executive Producer and handed more responsibility to Braga (who, sadly, would go on to lose his deft touch while in control of Voyager) many of the problems were ironed out.

'Encounter At Farpoint: Parts I and II' represent some of the best moments of the first season but not necessarily the entire Next Generation run or the four films that would follow. It is abundantly obvious that the premise has great promise, but it would not be until late into the second season that consistency would improve and truly great stories would be added to the Star Trek canon.

In hindsight, it's okay.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 9 November 2014]

I have not watched any episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" since they first debuted. Now, two and a half decades later plus, I am going to watch and review them all.

As for this first episode, I remember hating it when it debuted. However, I am giving it a fair shake...and then I'll explain why I hated it!

The show begins with Captain Picard taking command of the Enterprise. Soon after, a super-being, Q, takes control of the ship and explains that humans are all savage idiots--and he advises them to go back to their own solar system...NOW. Picard, of course, doesn't comply with this decree and soon finds that Q IS pretty much all-powerful. Eventually, Q places Picard and the crew on trial--a trial that MIGHT result in their obliteration. The trial is a total farce and it's interrupted when Picard suggests that Q examine the PRESENT human race to see if it still savage--at which point Q releases everyone for them to continue their original mission to Farpoint. Could it be what they do at Farpoint determines what Q will do next?

After re-watching the show, I realize that I was a bit harsh-- though it is not a particularly outstanding episode either. While I really grew to love the Q episodes, this one is VERY preachy about how noble the human race has become--one of the more annoying aspects of the Star Trek future. Additionally, the show is a bit slow compared to later shows--but I cannot blame everyone, as the show was trying to find its way and establish itself. Worth seeing but not particularly noteworthy aside from being the first two episodes.

Picard and crew confronting ¨Q ¨ and heading mysterious Fairpoint

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 19 January 2007]

2364 year , the initial mission of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D is suspended by appearance of a strange living being called Q (John De Lancie) , a charismatic megalomaniac . Previously counselor half-Betazoide , half-human Dana Troi (Marina Sirtis) had perceived a powerful mind and an immense barrier avoids the airship goes on its destiny : the Fairpoint station . ¨Q¨ appears in the wheelhouse dressed in various suits from diverse epochs . His objective is to judge mankind accused for being a cruel and savage race . He transports to Captain Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) , lieutenant android Data (Brent Spiner) , Counselor Troi and lieutenant Tashs Yar (Denise Crosby) to a trial with a violent crowd , they are condemned for mankind crimes . Picard asks him for prove that humans have evolved throughout time .¨Q¨ assign them to go toward Fairpont to demonstrate their courage . The Fairpoint station is a sidereal base located in Deneb IV , it's inhabited by the Bandi . There , they are going : doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFedden) , her son (Wil Wheaton) and Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes). Riker interviews to the Station administrator Groppler Zorn (Michael Bell). Later on , there arrives the Enterprise aircraft and captain Jean-Luc Picard begins the investigation . He sends a group formed by Data , La Forge (Le Var Burton) , Troi , Yar and Riker to investigate the strange station . Meanwhile , an unknown starship moves into the Deneb IV orbit and starts shooting against the city of the Bandi , near from the Fairpoint station .

This first episode from first season is introduced the classic characters who entertain us in the overlong series . And other characters making brief appearance , such as De Forest Kelly from the original series , in an enjoyable intervention . As always , spectacular and atmospheric musical score by the great Jerry Godsmith and Alexander Courage . This TV movie is made in the typical professional manner of the franchise . This agreeable entry was compellingly directed by Corey Allen who will make other episodes . This is an amusing romp through space and time that will appeal to hardcore trekkers such as the neophyte .

A Solid but Uneven Start

[brianwolters · 6/10 · 12 February 2008]

Encounter at Farpoint had the chore of setting up the characters and settings of the first Trek series since the original. It also introduces Q, who is surrounded by an interesting but thin premise about proving if mankind has changed much throughout history.

I decided recently to go back and watch The Next Generation from the start. Since I have a new baby and a lot of time spent watching or holding her, I had the time. I sometimes cringe at the first season, as some of the costumes were horrible, the acting and characterizations were a little off and the special effects weren't as sharp as they could have been. That said, I was surprised how much this episode and many of the first season offerings did hold up.

Encounter at Farpoint is an entertaining start for Trek but it wasn't completely successful. Q was a great character, it was fun seeing McCoy and a lot of the other characters were well introduced. Troi was horrible and I am glad they eventually got rid of her over emotional empathy. Worf was just a token Klingon who thankfully, became one of the most complex characters through Deep Space Nine. And Yar was one of the most unfocused characters ever created for Trek, this side of Harry Kim from Voyager. The story, while classic Trek, took a backseat to the look and new characters.

This is a good start to the series. Several stinkers were to follow and the uneven second season helped The Next Generation finds its wings though it's run.

Part 2 of the historic TNG pilot

[russem31 · 7/10 · 7 April 2006]

ST:TNG:02 - "Encounter At Farpoint Part II" (Stardate: 41153.7) - this is part 2 of the 2 part pilot episode that launched the successful Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series and 4 succeeding feature films (to date). It introduces us to the crew of the Enterprise-D (just recently built) commanded Captain Picard (played by the great Patrick Stewart), Commander Riker, Data (probably this generation's Spock), Counselor Troi, Geordi La Forge (before he became Chief Engineer), Lt. Worf (before he became head of security), and Dr. Beverly Crusher, as well as major characters for a few seasons only (Tasha Yar, Wesley Crusher), as they team up on their first mission to Farpoint Station to figure out its mysteries in a "civilized" way as the omnipotent Q (playfully acted by John de Lancie) tests them). Though not the best episode in the series, as the characters still have to find their places, the potential is nonetheless there and if you continue to watch well into the 3rd season and beyond, you'll see what I mean!

Off to a Good Start

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 26 July 2014]

As this series progressed and we got to know and love these characters, we must harken back to the inception of the series. It's an awful lot to throw out there. Multiple characters, most of whom continue in their roles for all or most of the series. The introduction of Picard, who is a real contrast to the James T. Kirk flamboyance. There is adventure and control. We are shown the ship and get to know how she came to be. Q enters at the start and will be a factor in the future. I've always struggled with this being because when a nearly omnipotent creature show his face, it diminishes the powers of the poor crew whose efforts seem somehow futile. It's good that he bows out, for the most part, as the series continues. The expense and effort of this experiment asked us to accept a new, modern version of the somewhat tacky, though highly entertaining, original. Commander Data takes on the Spock role, but as an android brings a different kind of detachment. His programming has a couple of interesting subsystems. The first plot test Picard and the crew to become more global (universal?) in investigating a force in the universe that doesn't play by their rules. How they approach this and deal with this while being tested by Q works very well for the most part. When I first saw this, I was so pumped. Just the thought of intelligent science fiction on prime time television made me long for its success.

Dr McCoy cameo was Amazing !

[nicofreezer · 7/10 · 30 July 2021]

But weird story, difficult to understand and to follow. More difficult to understand than any Star trek ooriginal episodes. But at least its not boring ans we get to know the new characters !

And like the last sentences Say " our next mission will be more interesting" i truly Hope so , ahah.

Revisiting Encounter at Farpoint

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 26 May 2013]

I am giving this a 10, not for this episode in itself, but for what the series eventually became.

In fact, many mistakes were made in this episode. Paramount had insisted to Gene that this be a two-hour pilot. Initially, it was to be just about the "Starbase" built on "Farpoint" and the deception of the alien race who built it. But the added hour caused Gene to add the "B" Story (Or, "A" Story, I've never figured out which story was the main story here) about the being named "Q" putting Picard on Trial for the "Crimes of Humanity".

This was not needed, the original "alien" story could have been expanded to be made interesting. But despite this, this episode provided the formula for rest of the series, each episode having an "A" and B" storyline- Compressed into a 45-minute format, this works. But as a 2- Hour pilot, it was hard to watch.

It was as if all of the new gadgets of Trek had to be all exploited in this pilot. We know from the books written about Trek and The Making of it, that even the original Enterprise had a Holodeck and the Saucer Section could separate from the Drive Section. Had The Original Series gone on to more seasons, we would have seen these things- They just never came up in the 80 episodes of TOS (Including the great Original Pilot with Jeffrey Hunter).

I just thought it was rather dumb to separate the Saucer Section immediately - In all of the rest of the series, this had happened only three additional times: In "Arsenal of Freedom" where Geordi fights the Leggs-Container-in-space, when Riker fought the Borg, and then the Drive Section blew up in "Generations". However: We had to get Riker over to Farpoint while the Q thing was happening, and this was the only way to do it.

My first impressions of Data, Worf, Troi, Tasha, and especially Dr. Crusher were particularly bad. And to have BONES show up for a Cameo, was almost senseless. But I did enjoy seeing DeForest talking to Data and looking at his Ears. I just thought these new crew characters were weak.

Not to mention, we had Data, Worf, Geordi, and Riker all as the Primary Bridge Crew. Too Many Bodies, too many Lieutenants- too many things to keep track of and to go wrong.

But the BEAUTY of this pilot, everything looked very good. The Special Effects were Feature Film Quality, and I thought, "If they can do this on practically a weekly basis, I'll keep watching".

Watching the extra features on the 2003 DVD set, Gene himself knew of these shortcomings, and they were addressed immediately. Geordi slowly graduated to Engineering, Worf logically took over Security.

I Could never finger down why I never liked Dr Crusher and Tasha Yar. Neither of them acted like what they were representing. I could tell they were great actresses, but often I would go "What...?" - Tasha just wasn't Tough enough it seemed. And Crusher never really made us believe she was a Doctor - Not until she came back in the 3rd Season after Dr. Polaski's female version of Bones left. And when Tasha came back for "Yesterday's Enterprise" she was much more believable in the role.

Changes in Writing Staff and Production Crew had to be established before any of these changes could occur, it is not that the original Writers, some of them David Gerrold and DC Fontana from TOS - These are fantastic writers - But something different had to be done, and it was not until they hired Ronald D Moore and the Beimler-Manning production team, things started clicking.

But in this pilot, things drift too much. Troi is wearing what looks like a modified TOS Miniskirt, but they immediately stuck a bun on her head and gave her the suit her shapely figure was poured into for season 1. As a matter of fact, we saw many of these Miniskirted Crewmen - Some Men! Wandering Around the ship! I noticed that they were given regular crew uniforms almost immediately.

I am giving all the reasons why I should hate this, but I could tell even when I watched this for the first time, this could be great. And it did become great. And "Q" just had to come back, he was a great pivoting point from which to kick the stories into a whole new direction.

This Pilot actually became the Blueprint from which Paramount made three other shows: Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise- But Enterprise drifted away from Canon- FAR from Canon. It was a look back when in fact most of the Trek Fans wanted more of the Future Following the ends of DS9 and Voyager. But we had Three SHows which lasted the full seven years, and they all came from this original Pilot, which was the basis on which everything looked: If you watch Deep Space Nine and Voyager, regardless of what you think of those shows - You can tell you are in the same Universe as The Next Generation.

I see nothing so bitter about that

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 13 May 2021]

USS Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew are tested by Q.

This is long-winded but interesting introduction to The Next Generation with a strong theme and some decent character moments.

Even for a two-part episode spanning ninety minutes the story packs a lot in. The two main plot threads involving Q and Farpoint station are great but unfortunately there are many character introductions with background information that slow everything down destroying the flow developed in the early scenes. I felt a retread of themes from original series episodes like 'The Squire Of Gothos' and 'The Devil In The Dark', which work well. Some parts of the trial sequence are unintentionally funny as it mixes social commentary, absurdity and emotive performances.

Picard has a fairly aggressive introduction, thrown into immediate conflict with Q and these scenes are compelling due to the themes and characters. He is also pretty combative in his leadership style.

Riker makes a cinematic entrance with an immediate test of ability and a candid conversation with Picard. This is probably the best of all character intros for me and sets the scene for what is to come in the series.

Introductory exposition dialogue is pretty clunky and contributes to the pace being laboured. There is also a substantial amount of time spent introducing the technology and environment which clutters the episode up too much.

The scene involving a character from the Original Series is a nice bit of fan service but it adds to the unnecessary screen time as it is fairly irrelevant in the grand scheme of the series.

I find some of the dramatic camera movements and extreme angled shots on the bridge a bit distracting. The musical score is pretty dramatic and changes in tone on multiple occasions depending on the emotional theme of each sequence. The well crafted saucer-section sequence is reminiscent of the 'The Cage' episode where the show theme is used during the sequence where the warp drive is engaged. In one scene you can clearly see a stunt-player standing in for Tasha Yar.

Performances are mostly great with Patrick Stewart standing out significantly with a powerful presence and masterful delivery of dialogue. All supporting cast are solid with Marina Sirtis having just one or two ropey moments.

Does Hubris in 'Encounter at Farpoint' Indicate the Tenuous Survival Value of Humans?

[Rizar · 12 September 2009]

"Encounter at Farpoint" (Episode 1, Season 1, Air Date 09/28/87, Star-date 41153.7) restarted Roddenberry's Star Trek years after 'Star Trek: The Original Series', beginning a new search across the universe much in the tradition of the original. It set a thoughtful, imaginative, and visionary tone for the entire 7 season series.

The most interesting feature of this two-part episode consists of little gems below the surface of the show, not the overall plot. But I thought some character actions contradicted its main questions and tests (more on this below): Is humanity civilized? Are we 'savage lifeforms' or a 'dangerous child race'? Can we ever advance to the point where we are not dominated by war, drugs, and immorality? Patrick Stewart plays Captain Picard and enters the series in a dramatic emergency. A God-like alien called Q confronts Picard and his crew with the record of 'savage' wars in our past. Q puts Picard and humanity on trial to decide whether we should be allowed to exist or be exterminated. And then the rest of the episode puts Picard to the test against the mystery of a new Farpoint station and an interesting space-dwelling organism.

However, my question as I re-watched this episode was whether the show violates its own test of humanity. Picard challenges Q to test him and his crew as an example of humanity's current state of sophistication. Picard seems apt to pass the test of civilization's moral worth; he intelligently investigates Farpoint to solve the mystery, he is not prone to cause destruction with evil intentions, and his crew responds automatically to emergencies and the needs of the injured.

But does his crew (both human and Klingon) sometime act like irresponsible imbeciles? The answer is a huge yes. Possibly it is done consciously and by intention. Several crew members act without thinking: Tasha wants to fight Q (which would be lethal since he is an almost all powerful being) and Worf thinks about blasting an image of Q on the front viewer of the ship. Obviously humans (and Klingons) need additional growth to shed their war-like tendencies.

In addition, the crew is typically compelled to act like dare devils; Picard ignores probabilities at times and pushes the ship to speeds well past safety limits. He even tries a new maneuver to separate the ship's saucer section when he never ever tested the procedure at such high speeds. My question was: How will this crew survive Q's test at this rate? And will it instead prove that our emotional prejudices against reason and probabilities will be our demise?

Here are some highlights I enjoyed:

(1) Data announces his desire to be more human-like. This makes me ask: Should Data learn to whistle and become more human, or should he ignore silly human qualities and take pride in his own characteristics? Since he strives to be more human than he is, he sets out on a goal to participate in the Form of Humanity (as Plato might say) as closely as he can; he is like one of Plato's imperfect instances or shadows of a Form, always trying to attain a more perfect human Form or identity (Plato's 'Republic' or 'Phaedo').

(2) Data points out that humans tend to be prejudiced against machines, which makes Riker wonder whether Data thinks he is superior than humans. Data says he is in many ways (in a matter of fact way). Of course, Riker probably knows that by simply pointing to a prejudice, Data doesn't imply any thoughts of superiority.

Cool technology: (3) Introduction of the Holodeck. (4) The ship computer can locate any crew member anywhere (a little frightening for privacy). (5) The ship has a low gravity gym. (6) Dr. Crusher uses a paperless and thin, hand held, computerized screen to do her work.

(7) Admiral McCoy inspects the ship and converses with Data, who he compares to a Vulcan and calls 'boy' a lot for some reason.

(8) Wesley Crusher gets to visit the bridge and show off his knowledge of ship equipment. Picard feels uncomfortable around kids, but even he can't avoid sharing in the wonder of a child examining the bridge for the first time.

(9) The alien space-dwelling organisms in the episode are able to transfer energy into matter at will (in a more advanced way than ship transporters). They can safely live in space, reminiscent of the space child born at the end of Kubrick's '2001 - A Space Odyssey'.

(10) Q says he might be back and he will be. Q was never my favorite invention in the series, but a few interesting ideas become possible through such a powerful being.

Gene Roddenberry reimagined the show with a larger crew and cast than the original series; the captain is older, many children live on ship with their parents, the ship lighting looks more like a Kubrick film (compare it to '2001: A Space Odyssey' or even 'The Shining'), a mysterious android joins the crew, and many characters have special abilities.

But as Stephen Hawking points out, Star Trek doesn't generally imagine humans as much more biologically or personally advanced than us (see Ch. 6 on Star Trek in Hawking's 'The Universe in a Nutshell'), except for those few special cases listed below.

LeVar Burton as Geordi has enhanced vision, Marina Sirtis as Deanna has extra sensory powers for the emotions of other lifeforms (through her half-Betazoid/half-human empathy), Brent Spiner as Data has immense physical strength and far superior mental processing, and later we find that Wil Wheaton (as Wesley Crusher) has potential to become a time traveler and the 'Mozart' of understanding technology.

I think the episode highlights the struggle to overcome our flaws, and perhaps it highlights just how much SF depends on hubris and a lucky turn of events to save us! Can humanity dare to hope for such luck too?

Good start

[gritfrombray-1 · 9/10 · 10 June 2007]

I was in real fear when I heard that a new Enterprise and crew had been created. I loved the original cast so much I was under the deluded impression that they could not be replaced. As this show continued I realized that this was a brilliant progression and not a replacement. Patrick Stewart's Jean Luc Picard brought us a brand new Captain. It would have been real boring if he had been anyways like Kirk. The rest of the crew were all interesting too, all with carefully researched backgrounds and these would present many an interesting story throughout the series illustrious 7 year run. Early into the ship's first mission the crew encounter Q, an omnipotent being who puts the crew on trial. Interestingly similar to war crimes of Neuremberg in a strange kind of way. They are given a test and proceed. All crew are gradually introduced and they are all uniquely different. When Commander Riker asks for the android Commander Data, we see him escorting a very special Admiral to the shuttle bay. None other than Admiral McCoy from Starfleet in one of Star Trek's most beautiful scenes ever. The test which Q set is eventually passed and the Enterprise warps off for a fantastic 7 year run of adventures

The Next Generation of fans...

[marcusq22 · 7/10 · 3 December 2018]

I remember watching Encounter at Farpoint with my kids for the first time. My middle daughter was taking a Sci-Fi Philosophy class in school (lucky kid!) and they showed this episode on a day when she stayed home sick, so she wanted to catch up with the class. Naturally, I was only too happy to help her with her homework.

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.

Has a few pretty great moments, but I still skipped ahead a LOT

[TARDIS_Tech_Support · 3/10 · 5 September 2022]

I hadn't watched this pilot episode in about 20 years, and it hasn't aged well for me. Slow, dull, and plodding in a lot of spots; but the high definition remaster added a lot to the special effects overall. That said, I found myself wanting more and more for the episode to just get over with already.

The introduction of Q was pretty great, but besides some flexing of superpowers that went on way too long, there was nothing to be gained here that couldn't have been summed up in a scene half as long.

I would literally rather be watching Star Trek: The Motion Picture or Star Trek V: The Final Frontier than this, possibly the worst pilot episode in all of Star Trek. I'm amazed (and pleased) that it made it past Season 1.

A so-so start for a terrific series.

[Li-1 · 7 February 2004]

** out of ****

Star Trek: TNG was one of my favorite TV shows growing up. Space adventures always appealed to me, but it was the cast and the concepts the show explored that often won me over. After having seen the pilot episode, a two-parter entitled Encounter at Farpoint, I see many of the qualities I enjoyed about the series, but this is a fairly subpar episode that's only occasionally compelling.

Set some 80 years after the original Star Trek (thus placing it, if I'm not mistaken, in the 24th century), the new crew of the starship Enterprise is headed by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). The crew's assignment: to investigate Farpoint station, but before they can reach their destination they're intercepted by a god-like entity who calls "himself" Q (John De Lancey). Q has deemed the human race savage beasts and puts the Enterprise crew on trial. Their test is Farpoint and if they fail to uncover the dark secret of the station, then well...they'll assumingly receive a dreadful fate.

The first part of Encounter at Farpoint is pretty good, the characters are nicely introduced and mostly well-played by the cast. Patrick Stewart immediately stands out as the stern but well-meaning Picard. Brent Spiner is fantastic as Data, and Jonathan Frakes makes a likeable first officer as Commander Riker. Noticeably different from the original Star Trek is a larger female cast. Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, and Denise Crosby are all fairly attractive (Sirtis would later be a full-blown hottie by season two, and McFadden is actually the best-looking of all the Star Trek ladies right now, talk about aging gracefully; sorry, Jeri Ryan and Jolene Blalock just don't do it for me).

Unfortunately, the plot, while initially intriguing, ultimately doesn't really go anywhere and there's the certain feeling that fitting the whole story into two parts is really stretching it out. A lot of the material, obviously played for introductory purposes, could still have been cut out. In fact, all the stuff focusing on the mystery behind Farpoint barely adds up to a half-hour, excluding the really lengthy climax, which is just plain boring. When the secret of Farpoint is revealed (which you'll probably figure out before the cast does), all the conjecture and facts are messily spouted in one of those silly coversations where each character continues the sentence after the previous speaker has finished.

But Encounter at Farpoint works adequately enough as an intro to one of the best sci-fi television series, right up there with Stargate: SG-1 and the first two seasons of Sliders. Watch for Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Q's bailiff.

Riker watches Encounter at Farpoint on TV

[whatch-17931 · 6/10 · 14 May 2021]

Clunky first episode. The Q story was bolted on to make it movie length. Good thing ultimately because the Farpoint plot is quite weak.

There is a positively surreal scene where Riker is watching this very episode on TV.

The first of many TNG Adventures

[russem31 · 7/10 · 7 April 2006]

ST:TNG:01 - "Encounter At Farpoint Part I" (Stardate: 41153.7) - this is the beginning part of the 2 part pilot episode that will launch the successful Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series and 4 succeeding feature films (to date). It introduces us to the crew of the Enterprise-D commanded under Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by the great Patrick Stewart) as a captain so far removed from the likes of Captain Kirk, we get to see another type of captain in action. We are also delighted to see John de Lancie as one of Star Trek's best villains - Q in his first of many appearances ("temper temper, mon capitan"!). And lookout for a guest star appearance by a "Southern Doctor"!

The one that started it all...

[gilbertayres · 6/10 · 4 October 2018]

As an introduction to the various characters this is not so bad, and although delaying the arrivals of Riker, Dr. Crusher, and La Forge for over a half an hour was a good idea, the Q filler is far more horrific here than he would ever be again. The court scene is not just frightful, it is also excessively long and dates the show to its late-1980s release more so than many later episodes of TNG. Thankfully later episodes would improve the series, as would Troi's abilities. Although certainly not the worst (the dividing of the ship and its coming together again save the show, and the scene between the old admiral and Data is great), one can tell that the show is trying to figure out where it is going. Overall grade a C/C+.

It's mission begins

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 9 August 2017]

The latest star ship to be named Enterprise is to set out on it's continuing mission of exploration from the planet called Bandi which has built this station with a limitless supply of heat and other items. The place has become technologically advanced within a rapid time frame.

The Enterprise on a shakedown cruise encounters for the first time this mysterious super being played by John DeLancie called Q. He thinks humanity has expanded far enough, that we are savage beings and ought to be eradicated on general principles, but he gives the Enterprise and its captain Patrick Stewart a test.

One hint is this is a test to see how humane humans can be.

I never did understand why Q picked humans for his test. If he wanted savage, why didn't Q look at the Klingons. Or rapacious the Ferengi would have been a great subject.

The two hour pilot features 137 year old surgeon admiral of the Star Trek fleet one Dr. Leonard McCoy. His scene with the aged makeup with Brent Spiner is classic.

The cheesy earnest groundwork of what is to come.

[amusinghandle · 7/10 · 20 December 2023]

With a pilot episode one should grade the episode 2 points higher than normal.

There is something wonderfully cheesy earnest about this clunky pilot episode. One of my favorite reoccurring plot events if how almost every series regular gets a moment to discuss there defining attribute "Hi Commander Riker! I'm Wesley and this is my mom. My dad was killed by a Picard order --- let's check out these fabrics.." --- It honestly feels like a role playing game where I initiate conversation with a non-playable character "You! Tell me your life story!".

Picard --- Doesn't like kids, grumpy, lovably pompous.

Dr Crusher --- Picard got her husband killed. A beautiful mane of red hair to challenge even Aphrodite herself.

Riker ---- Dyed in the wool starfleet officer. Painfully professional. Had a lot of hot sex with Troi previous to his starfleet posting.

Tasha Yar ---- Lived on a lawless planet and was saved by starfleet.

Troi ---- Can read emotions ... ... sometimes. Had a lot of hot sex with riker previously to her starfleet posting.

Geordi ---- Is blind but can see things that normies like you and I cannot.

Data ---- This was really on the nose but he is Pinocchio. The android who wants to be a real boy.

Wesley ---- Painfully earnest and excited. A starfleet fanboy.

Worf ----- Aggressive Klingon.... More to come.

Was it contrived as hell? Yup, but it did the job of defining the characters on the show.

I loved seeing the Skants ---- I swear that Gene put them in just so he would have some ammunition to use against feminist (or just regular women) who were bummed out about women parading around half naked on TOS all the time. "I am not sexist! Everyone wears skirts in the future!"

We get an adequate plot about Zorn enslaving a sentient space animal to serve his purpose and the ultimate resolution of the enterprise freeing it. Aww!

The battle bridge seemed a bit silly ---- Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of having to move everyone from the diplomatic/exploration bridge to the battle bridge every time some dangerous situation comes up?

You really need to turn a blind eye to a lot of silly elements in this episode and appreciate it swinging for the fences and ultimately striking out but damn if they didn't try to hit a home run.

If this was any other episode I would rate it a 5 out of 10 but because it is a pilot and actually succeeded (clunky) in establishing our core characters I am giving it a 7 out 10.

"Well, this is a new ship, but she's got the right name."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 14 August 2023]

I was never intrigued enough to view any of the Star Trek series that followed the original, although I have seen all the movies. Can't really say why, other than I didn't think they could compare with the Kirk/Spock version for interest and compelling sci-fi. However, I decided to take the plunge with 'Next Generation', and I found this first entry to be a decent starting point for more adventures on the newly outfitted Enterprise-D. With a lot of character introductions and not much to go on, it wouldn't be fair to pick a favorite character just yet, although Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data as a surrogate Spock hold a lot of promise. The introduction of a major villain like Q (John de Lancie) was probably premature, as dealing with an omnipotent being like him needed more time to demonstrate the ability of the Captain and others under his command to engage with such a powerful adversary. It also bothered me a little that Picard called the members of his crew 'children', as if they didn't have the expertise to be aboard a starship with someone of his experience. But that conversation he had with Commander and newly assigned first officer Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) about maintaining the safety of a starship captain was well written and set up a trusting relationship between the two officers. It wasn't clear to me whether the challenge imposed on the Enterprise crew was engineered by Q himself or Groppler Zorn (Michael Bell) with Q as an observer, but it went far to test the crew's humanity, under question by Q for the history of human savagery. Those arguments between Q and Picard were also put to a good test, and it will be interesting to see how Q faces off against the Enterprise-D crew in further installments. All in all, a generally good introduction by a new series set one hundred years after the voyages of the first Starship Enterprise. Oh yeah, and a neat nod to the original with that appearance by a one hundred thirty-seven-year-old Admiral Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley). He really did look that old!

Not an informative way to start a new series.

[jameselliot-1 · 7/10 · 21 November 2018]

I saw the debut on TV when the series premiered. While the cast was great, except for the Yar character, the two parter was overblown, starting off with the immediate arrival of Q that is way too early. The first few shows sbould have explored the main crew members and their personalities. A few seconds after Q goes into his spiel, I thought 'Wait, this is a copy of Trelane without the dynamic excellence of William Campbell', who played the role with foppish braggadocio to perfection. It took me six or seven episodes to finally warm up to the series.

This is what Star Trek really means.

[lqfigueiro · 8/10 · 9 August 2019]

After reviewing 1960's Star Trek i had to finally see the hole New Generation from start. And...it amazes me how people can even think to compare the original series and this New Generation with the "Star Trek" Discovery. This is what STAR TREK really means.

The worst of all Star Trek pilots

[robert_s01 · 6/10 · 14 September 2008]

First of all, I love Star Trek and especially "The next Generation". But it seems that TNG is the only ST series that needed two full seasons to (really) get started. I mean, there are some all time classics in the first two (most prominently the introduction of the Borg, several Q appearances etc.) but honestly: there was a lot of anachronisms, too, that were clearly oriented on TOS-like concepts which a bit too often led to involuntary comedy (remember "Justice"?).

I don't want to try figuring out the reason but to mention a mere symptom of this hesitant start of a great SF series. I do believe, the pilot is an original problem of this series. To me it suffers from a really bad script (not only the story but the wooden dialog as well), which confronts the Enterprise with a totally absurd scenario which is created around a couple of scenes to introduce each crew member with one or two remarks on his background or abilities. I mean, does it really satisfy a such highly developed creature like a Q to provoke some humans? Is it possible to develop to such a high state by acting on prejudice? The human race on trial for its past sins? Star Trek always had a moral point (one of its definite strengths to me) but this seems to lead in almost theological spheres and the far too sentimental and naive way of dealing with it doesn't suffice a topic of this dimension.

Roddenberry just wasn't willing of letting go of his model image of the Federation and Starfleet. Surely, mankind in Star Trek has advanced in many important aspects. But if you take a look at Captain Kirk, the Starfleet pioneer, he surely had a savage air to him (he was quite fond of the opposite sex and he definitely knew when to fight, even when that included breaking a whole bunch of Starfleet regulations). Otherwise his opposite Spock never would made have made any sense. So to make a long story short, the point that the human strength often lies in its most obvious weakness (the conflict between reason and emotion) was always a main theme in Star Trek and three seasons of TOS plus five feature films (we're in 1987) made that clear. So why again having to point out that we're dealing with a new (or farther developed) mankind? To gain a new, ST-inexperienced audience, I guess. But a new crew, a new ship and all the possibilities coming with that offer so much more than making a wallpaper out of Star Trek's omnipresent but always subtly woven into the plot leading concept...

But among those many flaws, there are some highlights here. First of all Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) who delivers a quite remarkable performance (even if he has some silly lines and is only giving a glance at what is to come). John de Lancie's "Q" is the only one on the set, who can compete with him. Riker's quite sympathetic and Data is played OK but suffers a bit from his underdeveloped character (he refers to the way he feels, but he should not be capable of emotions besides a self diagnosis program). The rest of the cast do quite well, too, except of Troi, who's performance was way below the demanded level of her empathy scenes.

All in all, only the sensitive viewer, who was able to penetrate the surface and take a look at the great potential which lay deeply hidden in the leads, was able to guess how this second ST series would eventually develop. This pilot doesn't seem the right solution to recommend a new TV-Series. Bad script, bad direction (there wasn't a single shot that really convinced me) and a sometimes ridiculous artwork (most prominently the costumes) almost blew it. I guess without its prestigious title, this clearly would have been dropped by paramount. To me this pilot is one of the reasons that lay base for the vicious circle that left Star Tek TNG's first two seasons with a quite low budget and almost no chance to improve beyond the scripts and the eagerness in the acting...

A Flawed First Step

[AshCaton · 3/10 · 15 March 2009]

The series does not start as it means to go on. Although it's first two seasons are crammed with incredibly average episodes, as well as numerous duds, afterwards the pace picks up and one of the finest space operas is born. The first ever episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation is remarkable for two things: it's hugely enjoyable introductions to all of the main cast, and Marina Sirtis' peculiar accent which would later disappear. Seeing how it all began is very satisfying, and viewed in mind of the rest of the series, rather moving actually. Otherwise it is a very mediocre episode featuring Q, and some giant jellyfish. That's right.