Of course, it does. Not only that, one of the Mintakans – Liko – manages to electrocute himself too, because their society doesn’t have any concept of live wires. Crusher, in true doctorly fashion, begins to treat him and beams him to the Enterprise. Unfortunately his daughter sees the whole thing. I’m sure that won’t be too damaging, right?

After Doctor Crusher successfully out-logics Picard (“The damage was already done! I just ground the fragments into a fine dust!”) they agree to try wiping his memory, Pulaski-style, before returning him to the planet. But it didn’t work! That Pulaski has ruined things for the last time! Liko now has memories of Picard, and when he wakes up he dutifully sets about re-ordering society around the idea of a Picard-based afterlife.

Rather than face explaining to his superior officers that an entire society now worships him (and also because there’s a scientist still missing) Picard sends Troi and Riker to the planet disguised as Mintakans. They also have magic communicators that only they can hear. After the pair make a big splash at the town meeting (subtle!) the town’s leader, Nuria, argues with them about the concept of a Picard. Is he benevolent or petty? Why do bad things happen to good Mintakans? And is he a literal Picard or just the fictional central captain in a collection of morality tales?

Before we can discover this, another Mintakan drags the missing scientist into town. Having whipped themselves into a state of ritualistic bloodlust, the Mintakans decide to sacrifice the scientist. Riker and Troi attempt to intervene, but mostly just succeed in blowing their cover.

Tired of the incompetence of those around him, Picard beams Nuria onto the ship and attempts to level the situation with her. She’s about as confused as you’d expect a woman from the bronze age would be if she found herself on a space ship, but eventually Picard convinces her that he’s not a God, he just a regular dude with some really over-developed tools. She sort of understands, but then betrays her lack of understanding by asking if Picard would bring some Mintakans back to life for her.