PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG - Season 2 Episode 8

One of my favorite episodes for building Worf’s character and showing some understanding to Klingon’s culture. Detail that I noticed was that Data stepped in front of Captain Picard when the Klingon Captain was about to shoot. One of those details that makes rewatching TNG interesting.

I’m going to predict Alex and Josh are going to love this one! The LORE!!! The Klingons! And hey, a peak at the phaser range too! What’s not to love? I especially love how Riker goes from asking Worf about the “killing the Captain” thing and seemingly thinking it’s barbaric, to fully understanding it within Klingon Culture and using it to save the day! Great stuff! Fun Fact: The shot at the end of Enterprise repairing the Pagh was made by freeze framing the shot of the Bird of Prey on approach to landing on Vulcan from The Search for Spock!

One thing I notice on watching TNG with a more analytic mind is that Riker is one of the few human Star Trek characters that we can visibly see appriciating and having FUN with people from other (truly "alien") cultures/species. (I can think of others but no spoilers.) For all the talk of Star Trek being about diversity, the humans can come across as being a bit snobby. Sure they are mostly tolerating and curious about other cultures, but it's more like an intellectual exercise and not something to engange with on an emotional level.

"Rash and stupid" doesn't really come to my mind as much as "how have you survived this long?" does.

You guys asked for development of Klingon culture, and here it is! While the Klingons in this episode come off as rash and stupid, we start to see some important facets of their culture and command structure. And it also shows Riker at his best, not floundering in the unfamiliar environment, but confident and adaptable.

I think this is generally a fairly good episode, but it features yet another "too violent to be anything but an idiot" Klingon. It's unfathomable that this stupid race even got warp capability in the first place. They're just too violent to have made a truly advanced society without constantly imploding. Also, fortunately, we finally see signs about how Worf is more of a "model Klingon" (or his idea of it), while other Klingons are bit less idealistic.

We finally get to see Klingon culture and lore. Frakes is at his peak in this episode and shows that Riker cleverness. Definitely a highlight of this season.

I always loved to rewatch this episode. Here is where the Klingons get truely flashed out and Riker gets to finally show off that fancy beard of his in action:-). The first Riker episode of the season and it surely doesn't dissapoint. And of course "THE LORE!"

The best episode of TNG so far, my third-favorite Season 2 episode, and arguably the first time we are seeing the “real” TNG that viewers remember.

Great episode. Fun, exciting, and builds on Klingon culture. It also shows you how tough Riker actually is. I mean physically. He can kick some ass when he needs to!

Fun Fact: The Klingon captain is played by Christopher Collins, aka Chris Latta, the voice of Starscream and Cobra Commander in the original Transformers and G.I. Joe cartoons of the 80s.

This is It !!!!! I have been looking at the calendar and counting down for this moment !!! This episode Has Riker, Has Klingons and also a return of the Benzite Vaping race. Lol This episode should check a lot of boxes for what you guys have been asking for.

Riker finally stops being a whipping boy! Although he still has to eat live worms, get bullied, smacked around, called a liar, oh, wait... Seriously though, the first home run of many.

Really enjoyable episode. But it's one of those "how does the Klingon Empire survive, nevermind thrive like this?" type episodes for me....🤔

I have not rewatched the episode yet for a fresh take but I know I liked it. I remember enjoying the gusto that Riker had digging into Klingon cuisine. This was the episode that was visited by the GAF 3D cameras to later put out the Viewmaster reel of the episode. I felt that was a milestone for TNG as the TOS Viewmaster reels were so popular among fans, like the Mego action figures (TNG would not see any Mego action figures until their revival a few years ago). This episode gave them an opportunity to reuse bird of prey shots from the movies.

The first I think "good" TNG episode. Not that there haven't been good episodes so far already, but THIS ONE feels like what a "good TNG" episode is. And yes Alex, the Klingon LOoooRE! But how odd this isn't a Worf ep. Oh well, at least Riker shines here.

Ok...you guys have another Riker Ep. you talked about a couple Eps ago. Another Benzite, too bad he's a bossy know-it-all. He reminds me of B.E.M from TAS. It is funny watching Riker eat Klingon food and get hit on by their Females, he looked a bit worried! I think you will comment "2 good ones in a row!" Fun Fact...the Benzite is the same actor who played Mordock. 😀🖖

And you were worried that Riker wouldn't have anything to do!!! One of the 2 or 3 best episodes of season 2. It helped to build on our understanding of Klingon culture. You'll never look at worms the same way again.

If this doesnt bring out the Klingon side in both of you-perfect for your wrestling..well..something something Klingon petaQ!

My prediction: Riker, "One....or both?" Josh and Alex: "YEAH what a chad!!"

Since you liked Heart of Glory, you should love this. This is a far better Klingon episode than Heart. Having scenes on a Klingon ship and interactions with the crew was something new. Riker steps into the spotlight and doesn't disappoint.

FUN FACT: For some of the children of the 1980s, the actor playing Captain Kargan was the voice of the original Starscream in the Transformers, and Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe!

Riker.. talk about having balls of steel when you can just take over a Klingon ship and declare yourself as captain!

"One or both?" Riker slinging that Kirk-rizz...

Another fun fact: This episode is the most-watched episode of the show so far, when it first aired.

Storybook time: Commander Riker serving under Captain Kargan over Lieutenant Klag eating gagh on board the Pagh.

Riker eating all the Klingon food before his departure is going to be a most loved or most hated scene! LOL!

Fun fact: The same actor who played Mordock back in "Coming of Age" plays Mendon here. So, it's kinda forgivable for Wesley to be confused.

Riker had to beat someone up as soon as he got there, just like prison. Or high school

The Data / Geordi friendship has been an obvious one. Here we get a bit of the low-key Riker / Worf relationship, and really as time goes on you can pick any pair of characters and find some interesting dynamic between them. As should be expected by any seven-season show.

Pretty much this is the first appearance of "real Klingons" instead of the renegade ones we saw in Season 1. And it's one of the very best of the season.

FINALLY, the great Riker episode you were waiting for! Rewatching these episodes now, I'm seeing this really is a significant Riker coming-into-his-own episode. You see he's clever, aggressive and ambitious, and also just really embracing the adventure of joining the Klingon crew. This is the Bearded Riker people were talking about. :)

I think you both will love this episode and it will even go all the way to the top of your list to be your favorite episode so far in TNG.

Who knew Wesley was such a racist?😂

Riker episode!! Klingons!! .... not-Mordock!!

This episode should be pretty much 35 years old when you watch it, with an air date of Feb 6th 1989.

This is one is really good, especially for the second season. Well written and begins the backstory for the Klingons. My question is, should Riker have killed the commander as Worf says that's how Klingons advance in rank instead of just getting him off ship? I always figured the rest of the crew of the Prang would have not recognized Riker as the captain since technically he did not follow normal Klingon protocol for rank advancement.

I was expecting this to be the first episode of the season that you guys really loved, but it looks like that award already went to The Schizoid Man. Still, you've been wanting to go deeper into the Klingons for some time now, and this is the first episode to really deliver that. How do you think the episode might have gone if a different officer than Riker had been chosen for the exchange?

People will often point to a different episode as the "First Great TNG Episode," and rightly so. I will often half-jokingly say that this one actually happened before that one. I love this episode so much.

Riker joining the crew of the Klingon ship as part of a cultural exchange program is a fun hook to the episode. We get to see more of what life is like about a Klingon starship, and get some more LOREEEE, which is always fun. Riker gets to put everything he's learned from his adventures with Worf in those earlier episodes to practical use so we get some payoff from that as well.

Fun fact: the Klingon captain was played by the same guy who voiced Cobra Commander and Starscream in the 80s "G.I. Joe" and "Transformers" respectively. I think you guys will like this one: Klingon culture, Riker getting something to do, a similar face coming back from Season 1 even if not the same guy. I will be surprised if you don't like this one. Either way though: when can we expect to see you eating Gagh on camera?

Very enjoyable episode and the concept of serving on other allied vessels makes some sense. I’m glad they sent Riker and not Worf which would have been predictable. Further evidence also that Riker will flirt with anyone.

This one is solid in both A and B stories. Wesley is a racist because he thinks all Benzite look alike(CANCELLED!) The ending pays off well with Riker demonstrating his Kirk-esque strategic moves. Also great to see that guy who shows up in all kinds of things as the Klingon 1st officer. (He shows up at the start of the first Terminator, in the X-files, and one of the Mortal Kombat movies among other things.) My two favorite scenes in this one feature Riker sitting at a table eating. They both say a lot about him. Chiefly, he's got a cast-iron stomach.

Me thinks you're gonna like this one.

Klingons and Captain Riker, that plate of live gagh must have really gone to his head.

This one ought to satisfy TA immensely. Great Riker episode! Looking forward to TA's reaction!

A good episode. Some focus on Riker for a change. Klingons, Riker - I think you'll love this episode so hard.

Just when you guys were getting frustrated with the lack of Riker. Also, return of the Vape Lord.

You’ll dig the phaser range scene. Klingons: THE FOOD LORE!!!

If you like Klingons and their lore you should like this. And for this episode at least you can't complain that Riker hasn't had anything to do. I have it listed on my rankings as “Best of the Best”.