Star Trek: Ethics

Episode: "Ethics"

Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 5, Episode 16

Original Air Date: March 2, 1992

via Memory Alpha

Worf is injured in a freak accident, left paralyzed from the waist down.  A visiting doctor, Toby Russell, may be able to save him but her procedure is untested.  Understandably, Dr. Crusher is reluctant to let her use Worf as a guinea pig.  But the consequences of not trying are not to be taken lightly: Worf is determined to kill himself by ritual suicide.

I love this episode.  It tends not to make other people's best of lists so I suppose it makes up for all of the ones other people like but I don't.  Generally speaking, I think Star Trek is at its best when wrestling with an ethical dilemma and this one has several at once.  I mean, it's right there in the episode title!  There's the conflict between Crusher and Russell: Beverly is in the right but we as the audience want Russell to get her way because we want Worf to live.  There's Riker's dilemma: Worf has asked him to assist in the suicide.  While he understands the honor being offered by his friend, Wil refuses to do it.  What's more, by tradition, the role should go to the eldest son.  Worf decides to try the questionable procedure rather than force his son to help in the ritual.  (Yes, it's an Alexander episode.  But it's the best Alexander episode.) 

To me, this is what great storytelling is all about: pull the audience in multiple directions, loads of ambiguity.  Give them what they want but not at an easy price.  Well done.

And in my opinion, it's the best Beverly Crusher episode to boot.

Acting Notes

via Quantum Leap Wiki

Caroline Kava (Dr. Russell) was born September 25, 1949 in Chicago.  Film credits include Heaven's Gate, Year of the Dragon and Little Nikita.  In addition to her acting career, Kava is an accomplished playwright.  Her play The Early Girl was performed Off-Broadway in 1986.