11001001

"11001001" from Season 1 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is a fascinating episode that dives deep into the symbiotic relationship between organic beings and technology. This episode stands out for its imaginative portrayal of the Bynars, a species so intertwined with computers that their very existence depends on it, offering a prescient look at transhumanism and AI integration.

The episode kicks off with a visually stunning approach to Starbase 74, showcasing some of the best effects seen in the early seasons, borrowed from "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," which gives it a cinematic quality that's rare in TV sci-fi of the era. The music, composed by Ron Jones, complements the narrative beautifully, especially with its jazz elements that resonate with Commander Riker's character development as a jazz enthusiast.

However, the episode isn't without its flaws. The pacing can feel glacial at times, with the plot taking a while to kick into high gear. Additionally, Riker's portrayal as a somewhat superficial Casanova feels dated, detracting from the depth of his character, particularly in the absence of Counselor Troi. His interactions with the holographic character Minuet are intriguing but somewhat undermined by his portrayal as a playboy.

On the positive side, the performances are noteworthy, especially Carolyn McCormick's portrayal of Minuet, which strikes a balance between allure and artificiality, giving her scenes a unique charm. The Bynars themselves are one of the most original alien concepts in "TNG," presenting a species that challenges our understanding of gender and identity, even if this was not fully explored or articulated in the '80s.

The episode also offers moments of character development for Data and Geordi, exploring their dynamic in a way that adds depth to their friendship and professional relationship. The ethical questions about AI, autonomy, and dependency on technology are subtly woven into the narrative, making this episode not just entertaining but thought-provoking.

"11001001" is a standout episode for its forward-thinking concepts and visual prowess, though it could have benefited from tighter pacing and a less stereotypical portrayal of Riker. It's a testament to "Star Trek's" ability to blend entertainment with social commentary, earning it a solid 8 out of 10.

Enterprise docks at a Starbase for a computer upgrade from the Bynars.

This is a solid episode that is a little slow to get going, but once it kicks into life, it's very entertaining and has some good character moments.

The plot is simple but effective and I won't mention any specifics not to spoil. It is safe to say that once we find out what's going on it puts a more interesting spin on what's been happening in the first part of the episode. It has an interesting concept when we consider how much society relies on computers.

I like how a number of different characters provide good contributions to what happens. Picard, Riker, Data and Wesley (ish) all get their share of cool moments. Worf briefly provides a moment of humour with his fiercely competitive Klingon nature on display.

Visuals and sound effects are excellent. I love the design of the Bynars which is similar to the Talosians. Their manner of communication and backstory is also interesting. This includes great visuals of Starbase 74 as the Enterprise docs and undocks.

All performances are solid, especially Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner and Michael Dorn.

For me this is a 7.5/10 but I like to round upwards.

This. Star. Base. Is. Awesome.

Que the sci- fi sound effects at -45:03 and again at -44:32 Netflix standard time and we are off to meet the Binares. Observe the subtle smiles of the one on the left (no, stage left) as they make their way to engineering.

The Bynars are an interesting race and I wish we would have seen more of them throughout TNG's run though they are, to my knowledge, a one off. Turns out its another Riker episode with Picard as second fiddle. We saw the beginning of diplomat Picard in Code of Honor but we haven't seen much else of interest since then. He's largely relegated to explaining things for the audience and badly timed and largely unnecessary words of encouragement to his crew. The most memorable character from the show isn't all that interesting yet.

We do see the crew start to function as a team here but its frustrating how underdeveloped the main cast still is. The Data/Geordi bromance is well underway though Levar Burton is still over acting: "REALLY!" The set up for something fun with Worf and Tasha is there but the writers fail to pay it off. And while Wesley is less irksome than he used to be he still has too much screen time. Troi is absent but you will hardly notice. We also get some foreshadowing of Crusher's exit from the show. Her excitement about "cybernetics and regeneration" is noteworthy given the upcoming introduction of the Borg.

As a side note, the Bynar and the Borg seem to have a lot in common which makes their absence from future episodes feel like a real missed opportunity. Computer/human hybrids were clearly on the writer's minds as they imagined the TNG universe.

The episode falls apart at the end but only if you think about it which is completely optional. How did the Bynars get the data from their planetary computer to the Star Base to begin with? Where did they store it while waiting for the Enterprise? Or did their star go super nova after they took control of the Enterprise but before Picard and Riker left the holodeck? And how does a star the in the Bynar system go nova without wiping out everything else within the solar system.

The writers don't know as much about science as we've been led to believe, but at least there are always chairs on the bridge when you need them despite the fact that they were clearly missing in the previous scene and no one else is onboard the ship.

Que the sci-fi sound effects at -3:03 and were out.

All things considered this episode is pretty easy to watch and even somewhat memorable, but the show still feels lopsided. Tasha and Worf remain underdeveloped while Data and Wesley get too much screen time. Riker is the only character that seems to have come into his own.

Verdict: Pretty good for season 1

Fun Facts:

1) In 41 seconds, two people came make their way from the bridge to a transporter room, beam out, hold a conversation, and still have time to watch their ship leave space dock and go to warp before exploding.

2) It only takes two presses of a button on the transporter pad to beam two people to separate location on the bridge on a ten second delay.

3) There are twenty transporter rooms onboard the enterprise, not counting the cargo bays.

The Enterprise puts in for repair and a race of aliens called Binaries are enlisted to help in the repair. They are a highly unusual species who always travel in 2s like Mormon Elders and co-dependent totally on the other. Their written and spoken language is in binary code like a computer.

These binaries have an agenda all their own. They steal the Enterprise to take to their home planet for reasons you have to see the show to know. The whole crew is on shore leave and later additional personnel abandon ship when it looks like a warp core breach.

All that's left on the Enterprise are Picard and Riker. For Riker the binaries have rigged the holodeck with a most fetching and sultry personality. Carolyn McCormick later the proper and professional psychiatric consultant on Law And Order Dr. Elizabeth Olivet is the alluring Minuet in Riker's program. She really distracts Jonathan Frakes until it's too late almost.

A highly entertaining story that's grounded in a certain reality. The Binaries are a lot like the Logopolitans from the Tom Baker original Dr. Who.

The Enterprise docks at Starbase 74 for routine maintenance on its computers, led by a strange alien race known as the Binars. While the rest of the crew indulge in some R&R, Riker finds himself on the holodeck and falling for yet another enigmatic woman.

A bit less successful than 'The Big Goodbye', this holodeck episode works well alongside a decent narrative involving the Enterprise being taken over. The Binars are an intriguing species that deserved to be revisited in future but the subplot involving Horny Riker never really works as well as it should. After all, it's fairly obvious to the viewer what's going on so why does it take the characters so long to figure it out?