The Arsenal of Freedom

We kick this episode off with Picard giving a smirk of approval to the notion of selling weapons to both sides of a conflict. America's disposition toward the middle east comes to mind but I digress. We learn that Riker was offered his own ship before accepting the post of second officer on the Enterprise. Riker's unwillingness to take command is a recurring theme throughout TNG. I sort of wish they spun him off mid series but whatever.

Next, we meet a holographic arms merchant who understands how the universe actually works: "Peace through superior firepower." Picard is impressed so he sends an away team down to make contact and negotiate a sale.

We quickly learn that Starfleet technology can't melt Tritanium so it's a good thing we are here. Looks like we might get to score a free sample, but a reconnaissance drone shows up and traps Riker in a stasis field. Realizing Riker won't be able to close the deal Picard puts Geordi in charge of the ship and beams down to the planet himself with Crusher in tow.

The super dooper sci fi weapon that destroyed a planet has garbage aim but it still manages to chase Picard and Crusher into a hole.

Back in space we meet yet another chief engineer. This time it's Lt. Logan, and he means business. Geordi handles him nicely by putting him in charge of the saucer section and sending him off into space with all the other nonessentials.

Back on the planet Tasha, Riker and Data tangle with another drone while Picard raises Crusher's legs and keeps her warm. She gets tired of his company though, so Picard goes to meet the with the salesman, gets the low down on the Echo Papa 607, and closes the deal.

Jokes aside, this episode is pretty good for season 1, and not half bad when considering the series as a whole. Geordi really feels like a character, Riker and Tasha show hints of sexual chemistry, Worf has some good one liners, and Wesley is nowhere to be found.

Verdict: A season 1 standout.

Fun facts:

Android's can survive 11.75 meter drops without issue. Picard must have landed on something soft.

Lorenz is the mathematician that developed chaos theory.

The alternative name for the Enterprise is the lollipop. She's a good ship.

"Arsenal of Freedom" is a very simple episode--good but with a simple plot. The Enterprise is looking for what's left of another ship, the Drake. The trail leads to a dead planet...and yet the planet makes contact with them! It seems to be an automated message by some arms merchants who own the planet--and it IS a dead planet indeed. But when the away team lands, the planet becomes VERY hostile and begins attacking. Why then the Captain and Doctor beam down, I have no idea. Soon, all five crew members are in a life or death struggle and they cannot beam back aboard. In the meantime, Laforge is in command and this offers him a huge challenge, as the planet soon begins attacking the ship as well. Basically it's a tale of survival as well as of growth for Laforge. Very simple, very direct and yet very enjoyable. Worth seeing.

This episode creates challenges for the entire crew. A hologram character, speaking like a used car salesman, draws the Enterprise to a planet. Upon arrival, the away team is confronted by a hostile force. Weapons that float in the air are able to fire on the crew and surround Will in a kind of electronic cocoon. Jean Luc and Beverly beam down to help out but while trying to outrun the hostile forces they fall into a pit where Dr. Crusher is badly injured. This allows these to characters to show the love they have for each other as Picard cares for her, trying to keep her alive. The others are left to their own survival. Meanwhile, the planetary force goes after the Enterprise and Geordi is put in charge, there being no one else that can do the job. He is shown to be green, lacking in confidence. This is a very personal episode and while he conclusion a little weak, it is a very nicely done effort.

The Enterprise receives a message from a long-dead planet, that continues to act as a showroom for self-sustaining advanced weapon systems. With the away team cut off after being attacked, the Enterprise itself comes under attack which forces La Forge to step up as commanding officer.

Despite a humorous cameo from Schiavelli, this episode feels a bit of a disappointment. The floating weapons look like golden hairdryers, there are too many subplots in play and the latest chief engineer Logan (Vyto Ruginis) is perhaps the most unprofessional and unlikeable officer in the whole of the galaxy! It feels like it couldn't decide whether to be a comedy, an action episode or a dramatic story and sorta ends up being none of these things.

Suggestion: Instead of prepare to beam and beam, how about being ready to beam on "go black" or something. Unless you like warning the enemy. Suddenly the ship has no one with more than one pip but a stranger we've never seen. Heck, let's put Wesley in command. Oh, he doesn't exist this episode. Duh. The obvious solution. Ok. Fun.