Code of Honor

DVD, TNG S1 (Code of Honor)

The rather heavy-handed punching home of the message of the Prime Directive and the embarrassing way Picard and his officers have to almost beg Riker to let him go down to the planet are two examples of the negative differences of the series compared to the original. It seems quite ridiculous now, after such things were integrated into the ongoing adventures later. Can you imagine Picard in the films being refused to beam down by Riker? Or Sisko taking that kind of talk from Kira?

Thankfully some of the good things about the original are also on show. The lavish alien sets, and exotic persona's give the episode some spice, and the exciting battle for Yar at the end recalls the kind of challenge Kirk would have been forced into. There are also good scenes between some characters, particularly ones featuring Data, such as his attempt to tell a joke to Geordi. It's also funny how Picard reacts to Beverly's putting a word in for Wesley, and the subsequent allowance onto the bridge of the young man. Not to mention how he's hiding in the turbolift to begin with! A much better episode than the last one.

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