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.

All Star Trek (up through ENT) has great episodes and terrible ones. 11001001 is good example of an interesting concept (which is why we love Star Trek) which is poorly written (which is why some people dislike Star Trek). Overly simplified, ignorant of science, shallow in character, it's so caught up in the gosh-wow of its own concepts that it disregards much of the show's own premise. If this were the only/first Star Trek you ever saw, you would conclude that: 1. The Enterprise pretty much drives itself 2. Supernovas are akin to earthquakes, and happen only for short periods of time -- days, or even minutes -- and then life goes on as before 3. Combadges are powerful enough to talk from one star system to another instantly 4. A pretty face is all it takes to sidetrack a (male) officer from duty.

You might also reasonably wonder how crew members are tracked by their combadges in other episodes when they don't here, and what kind of vetting Star Fleet does for aliens working on their top-of-the-line starships.

Abounding also are the usual TNG weaknesses: the first guess anyone comes up with in a crisis proves to be exactly the right answer; the overweening social psychobabble (even when they're correct, it's superficially so); the characters explaining to each other what they should already know.

The good news is Carolyn McCormick's portrayal of Minuet is nuanced, if necessarily flawed by the script she was given. The Bynar actors are occasionally pretty good -- again, within the script they were given.

There was a lot of idea/concept shoveled in here, mostly haphazardly and incompletely -- and honestly, that is something to be excited about. The actual episode, though, suffers from ham-fisted assertions and flat-out ignorant science. Which is sometimes necessary for the structure of TV drama, but even that is mushy here.

So: is it good? No. Should you still watch it? Why yes, of course. Just know you're going to have a lot of "What the --?" moments.

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 has arrived at a starbase for some R&R as well as to have upgrades made to the systems. However, instead of human techs, the freaky little Binar race scurries about the ship--chirping their strange language and acting a bit cagey as the work. Still, no one seems to really notice and most everyone has left the ship. As for Riker, he decides to stay on the new and enhanced holodeck where he meets a super-hot babe (Carolyn McCormick--who later played the psychologist on "Law & Order"). When Jean-Luc arrives at the simulation, this perfect woman seems to do her darnedest to keep the men there and entertains them wonderfully. Why? Because the freaky Binars are going to steal the ship---and they don't want to have anyone around who can stop them. Will the two command officers stop lusting after this holowoman long enough to realize what's happened to their beloved Enterprise?

Despite this being a holodreck episode (yes, I know how to spell holodeck), this is a very good one. Well written and intelligent-- something you can RARELY say about any holo episode!! But it unfortunately would lead to MORE holodeck episodes---too many.

The Enterprise is in dock to have its computers updated by a group of Bynars, a species that has evolved from computers. They work on things in pairs at a rapid fire pace. Both Wesley and Riker are a bit suspicious of what is going on. While Riker and Picard sit in the a jazz club in the holodeck with a beautiful young woman, bad things are happening. Somehow, the Enterprise is being compromised. Data orders the crew evacuated because the ship is potentially explosive. Once everyone is off (except, of course, Riker and Picard) the ship leaves and goes into warp. It is now up to the two ranking officers to figure out what is happening and to remedy it. I won't spoil anything, but for the first time there is a story of real complexity, aliens that are very interesting, and a problem that could happen in this realm. The solution is quite satisfying. The other thing that works here is that the characters of the Captain and his Number One relax and show their human sides. Jean Luc in particular is probably a pretty lonely man, married to his ship. Like a brother in a monastery, everyone else comes first. Riker is a romantic and shows himself quite the smooth talker and we find that he has a great love of jazz and a penchant for the trombone.