

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

For the planet, please see Angel I.

While Riker leads an away team to a female-dominated planet, a mysterious virus spreads among the Enterprise crew.

Contents show]

Summary

Teaser

The USS Enterprise-D has discovered the wreckage of the Odin, a freighter that disappeared seven years earlier. It was disabled by a collision with an asteroid, and there are no life signs on board, but three escape pods are missing. The Enterprise travels to Angel I, the nearest class M planet, to search for survivors. Angel I is a female-dominated society, ruled by six elected mistresses and a leader known simply as "the elected one". It has been 62 years since the last Federation contact with the planet.

The Enterprise hails the planet, and Troi speaks with the elected one, Mistress Beata. Although initially wary, she agrees to let an away team beam down to visit the planet.

Act One

As the away team heads for the transporter room, they encounter Wesley and a friend entering the holodeck for a skiing lesson. The away team of Data, Riker, Troi, and Yar beam down to the planet, where they meet with Beata and ask about any survivors that might be on the planet. Still suspicious, she asks why they are only coming now, and Troi explains that the Enterprise's discovery of the freighter was unexpected. Their only purpose in coming is to simply find any survivors and bring them home. Another member of the council, Ariel, expresses her misgivings, and Beata refuses to tell them if there are survivors. Instead Beata's male servant, Trent, takes them to another room. Troi reckons that Beata's refusal to tell them about the survivors confirms that there are in fact survivors.

Back on the Enterprise, Picard tells Worf in the turbolift that they have to prepare for a trip to the Neutral Zone when the away team returns, as Romulan battle cruisers have been detected near one of the Federation's border posts. As they pass the holodeck, they are hit by a snowball thrown by Wesley. Picard scolds him. He also detects an unusual smell that Worf identifies as Night-Blooming Throgni, a Klingon scent.

Data is investigating some perfume when Trent returns to bring them back to the council chambers. Beata tells them that, although the decision was not unanimous, they have decided to tell them about the survivors. She says there were four of them, and their leader is a man named Ramsey. However, they are now fugitives in hiding: some time after arriving on Angel I, they started to abuse the hospitality they received and began to cause trouble. She warns Troi that they are dangerous.

Act Two

Meanwhile, Dr. Crusher tells Picard that Wes and his friend are sick with a respiratory ailment. She is, however, working on a vaccine. On the planet, Data suggests that they can locate the survivors by searching for platinum, an element not found on Angel I, but which would have been brought by the survivors. Data asks La Forge to begin the search. Riker is brought an outfit worn by the men of the planet, as he wants to wear it when he meets Beata, to impress her by wearing indigenous apparel. Troi and Yar find his appearance wearing the outfit hilarious, however.

Dr. Crusher examines Captain Picard, pronounces him unfit for command, and orders him to bed. He relents and tells La Forge he has command. La Forge sits in the captain's chair, and Worf tells him the platinum has been located on the planet. Riker meets with Beata and tells her the Enterprise has found the location of the survivors. Ariel is still suspicious and tells Riker this, then she storms out. Riker waits with Beata and tells Yar to begin the search. She, Data, and Troi beam to the location of the platinum, a cave mouth, where they meet a man who says he's been expecting them.

Act Three

Crusher tells La Forge there are 82 more cases of the virus and she's converted a holodeck to deal with it. Worf then leaves the bridge to go to sickbay. Meanwhile, Yar tells Ramsey how they found him, and tells him they're bringing him home. He shocks them by telling them he doesn't want to leave as he and the others are happy. They have wives and in some cases children.

Beata tells Riker that Ramsey and his friends are anarchists and outlaws. She starts flirting with him, and as they start to kiss, Trent walks in with a present that Riker has brought for her. He shows her the Albeni meditation crystal, before they get back to kissing. Ramsey tells the rest of the away team that at first they thought Angel I was great, but then they saw how the men had no respect and were discriminated against. When they spoke out, they were forced to become fugitives. He refuses to leave, and Data adds that they can't force him, as he and his crew are not members of Starfleet, nor do they have to obey the Prime Directive. Crusher tells La Forge there are more sick than beds, and he remarks they'd be seriously undermanned if they were forced to take action against the Romulans.

Yar contacts La Forge, asking to beam the three of them to their previous location, where they will regroup with Riker and return to the ship. He informs them that one-third of the crew is infected and more Romulan vessels are converging in the Neutral Zone. Ramsey won't tell them how he knew they were coming, but after they beam away, Ariel comes out of the cave and kisses him.

Riker is with Beata when Trent enters and tells her that the away team hasn't got the survivors. Yar fills in Riker, and then Beata says she is forced to sentence the survivors to death.

Act Four

Dr. Crusher visits Picard in his quarters to give him some medicine and notices the same odor that Picard smelled at the holodeck. She realizes that this is the way the virus spreads. Down on the planet, Data tells Riker that seven Romulan battle cruisers are now in the vicinity of the outpost, and the USS Berlin has responded to the distress call. However the presence of the Enterprise is still regarded as a vital show of strength by Starfleet.

Beata brings in Ramsey and his crew, whom she found by having Ariel followed. She tells Riker that the fugitives are to be executed tomorrow. Riker is outraged and asks her for another chance to convince Ramsey to leave with them. She agrees, but Ramsey still won't go. Riker wants to beam them aboard anyway, against their will, in violation of regulations. However, Dr. Crusher won't allow anyone to come aboard the ship. La Forge has succumbed to the virus, and she can't find a cure. Riker orders Data to beam up and take the Enterprise to the Neutral Zone before it is too late.

Act Five

The next day, Trent invites them to come to the execution. Data contacts them and says they still have time before their ship has to leave for the Neutral Zone: 47 minutes to be exact. Riker agrees to attend the execution, which will be carried out by disintegrating the fugitives. Riker makes a speech about how Beata is trying to hold back evolution, which can't be done, and warns her that she'll just make a martyr out of Ramsey. At the last second, she relents and adjourns to reconsider. Crusher informs Data that she has devised an inoculant. Data then informs Riker that the Enterprise is ready for the away team to return. Riker instructs Data to maintain a lock on the away team and Ramsey's group but to stand by for further instructions. Beata then returns and says she's decided to stay the executions, and she exiles Ramsey and his followers to a remote region. It's not quite as hospitable as the rest of the planet, but she is confident that if they work hard, they can make a life for themselves... and be free to live as they please.

The away team returns to the Enterprise and is inoculated by Dr. Crusher against the virus. Captain Picard, although hoarse, has returned to the bridge, and the ship heads for the Neutral Zone.

Log entry

Memorable quotes

"I think I may sneeze."

"A Klingon sneeze?"

"Only kind I know."

- Worf and La Forge discuss matters on the bridge



"Ever feel like you're not really wanted?"

- La Forge, after Beata's terse statement to the Enterprise



"Save us some deep powder."

"No problem, sir. The holodecks have all you'll ever need."

- Riker, when Wesley Crusher and his friend are dressed in snow wear



"Engineering reports computer ma... ah... ACHOO!! ...I'm sorry, I'm getting sick."

"I'm sure half the ship knows that by now."

- Worf and La Forge, on Worf's rather loud "Klingon sneeze"



"On the Enterprise, Mr. Crusher, nothing just happens!"

- Picard, to Wesley Crusher after he accidentally throws a snowball at him



"Make it so!"



- La Forge, while in temporary command of Enterprise



"You can't rescue a man from what he calls his home."

- Ramsey, refusing to be transported aboard the Enterprise from Angel I



"It looks horrible, tastes worse, but it's absolutely guaranteed to make you feel better."

- Beverly Crusher, giving Picard a liquid remedy on his sickbed



"I must say, commander, it looks kinda sexy!"

"Thank you. Actually, it feels quite comfortable."

- Yar and Riker, regarding the latter's outfit for his rendezvous with Beata



(hoarsely) "Mr. Data, set course for the Neutral Zone. Warp six."

"Coordinates set. Warp six, on your mark, sir."

(inaudibly) "Engage."

"Sir?"

(Picard turns to Riker, who gives the order) "Engage."

- Picard, Data, and Riker, after Picard's recovery from the virus



"We have determined that the heretical teachings of Ramsey and his followers are inconsistent with harmonious life on Angel I. Our patient efforts to silence revolutionary voices have failed. Therefore, we are left with none but the most final alternative."

(Trent demonstrates the device used on Angel I for executions, vaporizing a vase)

"As you can see we are not without compassion. Your deaths will be swift and painless."

- Beata, Elected One of Angel I



"After careful consideration this legislature has voted to stay the executions of the prisoners. Their children will be returned to them immediately. Do not rejoice prematurely. Ramsey and his followers are to be exiled to a distant and unpopulated region. Life will be difficult there, with little time for revolutionary or evolutionary upheaval. As some have observed we may not be able to stop evolution, but perhaps we can reduce it to a slow crawl. (aside) For a man, you can be very clever, Commander Riker."

- Beata, informing Ramsey and the Enterprise crew of the vote to stay the executions

Background information

Production history

Story and production

Cast and characters

This was Leonard John Crofoot's first Star Trek appearance. He later appeared in TNG : " The Offspring " and VOY : " Virtuoso ".

appearance. He later appeared in : " " and : " ". This episode was also the first for recurring background actor David Eum who was most notably featured as Ensign Wright during the first three seasons of The Next Generation.

Props and sets

Continuity

Reception

Maurice Hurley was succinct in his opinion of "Angel One": " Terrible. Just terrible. One of the ones you'd just as soon erase ". (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , page 118))

". (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages A mission report by Patrick Daniel O'Neill for this episode was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 5, pp. 19-21.

issue 5, pp. 19-21. Keith DeCandido reviewed the episode for Tor.com. He described the episode as being " one of the most sexist episodes of Star Trek ever produced under the veneer of feminism ", and that the virus subplot was " filler, and boring filler at that ". He said that it was " one of the absolute low points of the show ", giving it a score of two out of ten.

Star Trek ", and that the virus subplot was " ". He said that it was " ", giving it a score of two out of ten. Wil Wheaton watched it for AOL TV, and thought that it started well but soon descended into the appearance of an episode from The Original Series with Riker in the Kirk role. He also noted that if the speech that Riker gave towards the end of the episode had been given to Yar or Troi then the overall message would have been more subtle. He gave it a grade of D overall.

with Riker in the Kirk role. He also noted that if the speech that Riker gave towards the end of the episode had been given to Yar or Troi then the overall message would have been more subtle. He gave it a grade of D overall. James Hunt of Den of Geek said that the episode was not as bad as " Code of Honor ", but that it contained " almost every terrible cliché seen in TNG's first season in one episode ". He summed up, " We've seen all of this before, and it was barely interesting the first time around. The second time, it's just tedious. A horrible episode on so many levels. "

", but that it contained " ". He summed up, " " Zack Handlen watched the episode for The A.V. Club and said that he was not sure what the reversal of gender roles in the episode was meant to achieve. He described the virus subplot as "absurd" and gave the episode an F grade.

and said that he was not sure what the reversal of gender roles in the episode was meant to achieve. He described the virus subplot as "absurd" and gave the episode an F grade. The episode was included in a couple of worst episode lists, including in one compiled by Scott Thrill for Wired magazine, and it was ranked the fourth worst episode by Jay Garmon at the website TechRepublic.

Video and DVD releases

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-star

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

20th century; 2302; 2357; 47; adjournment; advice; ailment; Albeni meditation crystal; alcohol; alternative; amusement; anarchist; android; Angel I; Angel I execution device; Angel I native; Angel I settlement; Annotated Shakespeare, The: anticipation; aphrodisiac; appointment; area; Armus IX; asteroid; "at home"; attack; attention; attitude; audience; audio signal; autopilot; away team; battle cruiser, Romulan; bed; Berlin, USS; Betazed; bingo; border post (border outpost); "by all means"; cabin; campfire; carbon-based lifeform; case; choice; citizen; class M; cloud; combadge; computer; contact; collision; cologne; color; compassion; compliments; comportment; coordinates; course; courtesy call; court martial; culture; day; death; Denubian Alps; death penalty (execution); department; desktop monitor; destination; diplomatic relations; discovery; dissent; distance; distress call; domestic affairs; earring; Earth; effect; Elected One; element; evolution; escape pod (rescue pod); eternity; examination; "excuse me"; exile; existence; eye; fact; failure; family; fear; feather; Federation; Federation starship (2302); field trip; figure of speech; fixed orbit; floral; freighter; friend; fugitive; fur; Galaxy-class decks; gesture; "go ahead"; Great Hall; guilt; hailing frequency; head of state; heaven; hiding place; holodeck; hope; hospitality; hostility; hour; hunter; hypospray; idea; impression; "in action"; "in addition"; "in bad shape"; information; inhalation; "in kind"; "in my opinion"; inoculation; instruction; "I see"; isolation ward; job; Kabatris; kiss; Klingon; law; leader; leadership council; leniency; lesson; library; listening device; log entry; "make your point": malfunction; marooning; martyr; matriarchal; "matter of fact"; maximum warp speed; medical emergency; medical situation; medical test; medical tricorder; meeting; Milky Way Galaxy; minute; mission; mister; mistress; month; moral imperative; morning; mountain; murder; natural order; nature; necklace; Night-Blooming Throgni; "no problem"; "not at all"; number one; object; objection; obligation; Odin; "of course"; olfactory nerve; oligarchy; "on my way"; "on the double"; opinion; opportunity; order; "out of control": painting; paper; paranoia; Parliament of Angel I; perfume; permission; phaser; place; planet; platinum; plea; pleasure; praise; Prime Directive; prisoner; privacy; problem; quadrant; Quazulu VIII; Quazulu VIII virus; question; ready room; reason; reference; region; repatriation; report; representative; revolution; Romulan; Romulan battle cruisers; Romulan Neutral Zone; Romulan Neutral Zone outpost; room; scent; sculpture; search; search pattern; second; scanner; sensor range; sex; sextant; sexual pleasure; sexy; shipmate; sickbay; sincerity; skant; skiing; ski instructor; smell; sneeze; snow; snowball; society; "so far"; soldier; "stand by"; Starfleet; Starfleet regulations; starship; statue; status; status report; stimulation; stranger; student; success; surface; survivor; symbol; technology; territory; "thank you"; term; time; tomorrow; trace; traitor; transmission; transporter; transporter room; tricorder; trip; tunic; turbolift; type I phaser; universe; unnamed plants; value; viewscreen; visit; VISOR; voice; vote; window; wings; wish; Wong; word

Deleted references

Hesperan thumping cough



