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Enterprise visits a planet looking for entry to the Federation.

This is an enjoyable episode with some memorable character moments.

The long running saga of Picard and Crusher's feelings for each other is addressed in a rather contrived piece of sci-fi plotting, but to be fair to Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden, they both do excellent work with the material they have, and it includes some quite clunky exposition that they make sound good.

There is a pretty humorous sub-plot that involves the childlike leaders of Kesprytt dealing with Riker. If these scenes were intended to be played for laughs they are done well. Jonathan Frakes is great in these scenes and you can't help be amused by his exasperation.

I think your enjoyment of this will depend very much on what you want out of the Picard/Crusher character stories. You also need to find the telepathy jokes funny.

A couple of cultures are at each other's throats. They inhabit the same planet and are filled with distrust and paranoia. One of them is seeking an alliance with the Federation, but they are so suspicious that they trust no one. Picard and Crusher go to the surface to begin negotiations with one of the factions, only to be misdirected to the other group which arrests them as spies. They are able to escape their captors due to inter-mediators, but the escape isn't easy. On the Enterprise, things aren't going well and Worf and Riker have about had it with their "guestss." Meanwhile, Jean-Luc and Beverly, who when imprisoned had some devices planted on them, begin to read each other's thoughts. This makes them uncomfortably realize the affection and love they have for each other. As they move to escape, there are tender scenes between them where they act like teenagers at a school dance. This connection has been obvious for so many episodes and is bound to come to a head. It was delightful to see these venerable characters deal with the truth.

Watching this particular TNG story I was put in mind of the island of Hispaniola, the island in the Carribean Sea that has two countries, Haiti and the Domican Republic. Over the centuries two nations evolved on that island and on this planet the Enterprise is visiting there are two civilizations. One has applied for Federation admission the other hasn't. And they don't like each other much.

A dilemma for Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher when they beam down and land in the wrong country. A big dilemma for Commander Riker as he tries all kinds of ways to get his captain and doctor back.

For Jonathan Frakes he feels like a UN mediator negotiating between Robin Gemmell of one group and Lenore Kasdorf of the other. He has to take some drastic action to get the two in the same room.

As for Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden some intimate thoughts are exchanged that were never meant to be voiced. Watch the episode to see what an why.

The final season of Star Trek, the Next Generation gave us some splendid episodes and also a fair share of stinkers. Everyone knew by this stage that they would not be renewed and attempts were made to wrap up various story lines before they said their final goodbyes. There is still a great deal to be enjoyed.

Now here's one that richly deserves it's share of lower scores. Personally, I gave up caring about the Picard/Crusher romance about four seasons back. Actually, it may be even longer, the last time the two exhibited any real chemistry was in Season 1 episode, The Big Goodbye. Whoever though that having them able to listen to each other's intimate thoughts was a good idea was clearly looking down the back of the sofa for ideas by this stage.

The rest of the episode is pretty standard Trek fare with:

(a) two races of interesting looking aliens in conflict with one-another

(b) some welcome outdoor scenes (even if the landscape does look rather Californian)

(c) good use of the fibreglass rock formations in sound stage B

If the silver haired alien with the line down his forehead looks familiar it is because Canadian born actor Robin Gammell had already played parts in just about every long-running TV show of the day. Alas, he only made the one appearance in Star Trek but, on the other hand, Lenore Kasdorf, who played his opposite number, may be recognisable to viewers of Babylon 5.

Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.

The Enterprise is invited to visit some planet that wants to join the Federation. Soon, however, the Captain and Dr. Crusher are kidnapped by their rivals, the Prytt. These rivals are described by the Kes as unreasonable and paranoid--something that you later see is true of both sides. I would also add childish! Through some help from the Kes (who soon come to suspect and hate the Enterprise crew), Picard and Crusher are able to escape their prison and go on a cross-country trek. However, during this time together they realize that the brain implants their captors put on them allow them to read each other's thoughts! At first it's quite embarrassing though eventually the two learn about each other's deepest yearnings and it brings them closer.

This is a very good episode for two reasons. First, it was nice to FINALLY see some sort of discussion of the attraction between Picard and Crusher--something almost every fan wanted. Second, the show had a nice sense of humor when Riker negotiated with the two sides-- and his solution was exactly what the situation needed. All in all, a very satisfying episode.