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The Ferengi are introduced and they are far more evil than they will later become. It will be interesting to watch the evolution from full-on villain to charming nuisance on Deep Space Nine.

Evolution: let’s talk about this:

Picard is much less of a dick by this episode. That basically stopped right after the pilot, but it took a few episodes for the bad taste to wear off.

Troi — what exactly is her job again? She just gets to sit there and make comments? Do any other ships have a “counselor” or is it just because the Enterprise is lucky enough to have a half-Betazoid on board? Obviously, she is there for story purposes only. Number one: wear tight clothes, show off knockers (as Lt. Yar has none and Dr. Crusher has to look respectable.) Number two: make googly eyes at Riker, fine. Number three: (and this just kinda dawned on me) function as the “McCoy character.” Data, obviously, is the Mr. Spock supplement, but Troi, all emotional and whatnot, is our supplement for McCoy. I think this will kind’ve fizzle out as the series grows into its own.

And since we’re talking about Data — you’ll notice that in these early episodes he acts a little too android-y. But I believe that learning and changing is built into his programming.

Worf — so far, no real introduction. Only a very quick reference (by Q in “Encounter at Farpoint”) about an alliance with old enemies. Considering that, in 1987, the original Trek movies still had Klingons as the enemy, it is surprising there hasn’t been more made of this. I expect a Worf-heavy episode is coming up soon.

Anyway, this episode is fun. I don’t really understand the ending (who was that dude with the staff on the planet?) but that’s okay. I liked this more, for some reason, than when I first reviewed it a few months back.