Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 1, Episode 5
Original Air Date: October 19, 1987
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| via Wikipedia |
The Enterprise follows a Ferengi vessel to the planet Gamma Tauri IV. The Federation doesn't know much about the Ferengi, never having had direct contact before and they expect an uncomfortable encounter as they confront them about a stolen energy converter. Both ships are disabled by a mysterious power drain. While each initially suspects the other, the source of the drain seems to be the planet itself, previously presumed to be uninhabited.
The creative team intended the Ferengi to be the primary adversary in the new series so this first appearance was particularly meaningful. Understandably, Roddenberry wanted to move on from the Klingon and Romulan animosities established in TOS. There are interesting similarities between this story and the initial Romulan and Klingon tales in TOS.
The Romulans came first, in "Balance of Terror," one of TOS's best. In both that episode and this, the visual reveal of the adversary is delayed. A big deal is made of never having seen members of the race before. While the moment of truth is deeply meaningful in "Balance of Terror," in this case it is underwhelming. Long term, the Ferengi work well as a ruthless, capitalist annoyance but they're way too comical to serve as the big baddies. Fortunately, it didn't take too long for the writers to realize their mistake.
The Klingons were introduced in "Errand of Mercy." In both that story and this, there is a grossly underestimated third party involved. Gamma Tauri IV was once an outpost of the long extinct Tkon Empire. No one informed the guard of the extinction, identified as Portal 63 and reminiscent of the Bridgekeeper in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, who activated the planet defense system now ensnaring the ships. He challenges the two landing parties to justify their worthiness before/if he is to set them free.
The Portal 63 showdown turns out to be the more interesting part of the story as it provides an opportunity for Riker to lay out some Trek moral philosophy. Portal, once convinced of our heroes' righteousness, offers to finish off the Ferengi but Riker, charitably and rather patronizingly, asks they be spared so they can learn and grow as a society. It is the typical tell-rather-than-show telegraphing of material that can get tedious with Star Trek but it still manages to be touching it its way.
In the final analysis, "The Last Outpost" falls well short of both "Balance of Terror" and "Errand of Mercy." The respect and compassion Kirk feels for the Romulan commander is far more satisfying than the near-jocular dismissal of the Ferengi. As for "Errand of Mercy," the satisfaction of that story comes in its more ambiguous moral resolution. It leads me to reflect, is the righteousness of Picard's Enterprise ever left so unclear by episode's end? No such story yet comes to mind. I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar) was born November 24, 1957 in Hollywood, California. Hers is the third generation in a famous showbiz family, her grandfather none other than Bing Crosby, sliver screen titan and owner of one of the most beautiful singing voices in the history of recorded music. She went to Cabrillo College to study theater but dropped out, understandably hurt when a teacher shamed her in class for trying to cash in on the family name.
Her career survived, beginning with modeling. She found smaller big screen roles in 48 Hrs, Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther. On television, she had a brief run on Days of Our Lives. She also appeared in two music videos:
"Dancin'" by Chris Isaak
"No Stranger to Love" by Black Sabbath
When the Star Trek gig came, she and Marina Sirtis were initially cast in opposite roles: Crosby as Deanna Troi, Sirtis as Macha Hernandez, the security officer character who would eventually become Tasha Yar.
The Klingons were introduced in "Errand of Mercy." In both that story and this, there is a grossly underestimated third party involved. Gamma Tauri IV was once an outpost of the long extinct Tkon Empire. No one informed the guard of the extinction, identified as Portal 63 and reminiscent of the Bridgekeeper in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, who activated the planet defense system now ensnaring the ships. He challenges the two landing parties to justify their worthiness before/if he is to set them free.
The Portal 63 showdown turns out to be the more interesting part of the story as it provides an opportunity for Riker to lay out some Trek moral philosophy. Portal, once convinced of our heroes' righteousness, offers to finish off the Ferengi but Riker, charitably and rather patronizingly, asks they be spared so they can learn and grow as a society. It is the typical tell-rather-than-show telegraphing of material that can get tedious with Star Trek but it still manages to be touching it its way.
In the final analysis, "The Last Outpost" falls well short of both "Balance of Terror" and "Errand of Mercy." The respect and compassion Kirk feels for the Romulan commander is far more satisfying than the near-jocular dismissal of the Ferengi. As for "Errand of Mercy," the satisfaction of that story comes in its more ambiguous moral resolution. It leads me to reflect, is the righteousness of Picard's Enterprise ever left so unclear by episode's end? No such story yet comes to mind. I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
Acting Notes
 |
| via Wikipedia |
Her career survived, beginning with modeling. She found smaller big screen roles in 48 Hrs, Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther. On television, she had a brief run on Days of Our Lives. She also appeared in two music videos:
"Dancin'" by Chris Isaak
"No Stranger to Love" by Black Sabbath
When the Star Trek gig came, she and Marina Sirtis were initially cast in opposite roles: Crosby as Deanna Troi, Sirtis as Macha Hernandez, the security officer character who would eventually become Tasha Yar.
I can't stand the Ferengi and was glad they were not showcased more. When they first came on, I actually laughed. To me they are a dumb villain. I think Denise Crosby thought she would make it big once she left Star Trek but, she didn't. She did come back in one of my favourite episodes.
ReplyDeleteFerengi: In the long run, I do think they serve a purpose, just not the one originally intended.
DeleteCrosby: I'll definitely devote some time to her departure when it comes. It was symptomatic of broader issues for TNG in its first season, and perhaps beyond. For now, I'll say this: she wasn't wrong to leave. Shortsighted? Probably, though as you said, she managed to make up for it later.
the Ferengi were off-putting. When one kidnapped Diana's mother, I was totally disgusted.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandable.
DeleteI wonder if things would've been far different for Crosby if she and Sirtis had remained in their originally casted roles. Ironically Sirtis frequently had little to do in the first season, and arguably her best spotlight in the season was the same episode Yar dies ("Skin of Evil"). And Sirtis proved to have considerable range. I think she could've nailed the security role better than Crosby. But then maybe Crosby would've been too conventional as ship's counselor.
ReplyDeleteThis was a terrible introduction to the Ferengi. But their second appearance in the season was far better.
I'm not sure about far better. But definitely better. "The Battle" at least sets the groundwork for a more meaningful role for the Ferengi moving forward.
DeleteWe can agree to quibble.
DeleteHaha! "The Battle" is definitely better - even a moment for the Ferengi that's nearly "Balance of Terror" worthy. I don't say that lightly. They still have a long way to go before the writers find the proper niche for them.
DeleteInteresting post. It made me think about music videos and how much my friends and I would watch them growing up. I don't watch many now- so it was fun watching these. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
A different time, definitely. Mind you, kids still watch videos. But YouTube is a different game from MTV. In some ways, that's a good thing. Early teen girls in small town Vermont devoted to Korean boy bands? That was not even a remote possibility in the late '80s. Now, it's practically mainstream.
Deleteenjoy to watch videos...thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure.
DeleteI saw the Ferengi first in DS9, so, when I finally saw this episode, I was confused. Mostly, my thoughts about the first season of TNG are that I would rather be watching Babylon 5.
ReplyDeleteDenise Crosby had some delusions of grandeur issues from what I understand, which is what ultimately led to her untimely departure from Trek. Mostly departed, anyway.
Again, she wasn't wrong to leave. We'll discuss that more when we get to it.
DeleteTNG is the opposite of TOS which started strong, then tanked.