PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG S1E21 - The Arsenal of Freedom

The Arsenal of Freedom is one of my top 5 favorite episodes of the first season. It offers a good variety of action, humor and drama without any of it seeming too forced. In my opinion, the pacing of the narrative was particularly successful. Very quickly the rescue mission of the U.S.S. Drake set off a whole series of events. Riker is trapped in a force field, Data and Tasha are repeatedly attacked by probes on the surface, Picard and Beverly fall into a ruin, with Dr. Crusher is injured and the captain has to look after his ship's doctor, the Enterprise is attacked in orbit by an unknown enemy, Geordi is in the captain's chair for the first time and he is immediately asked to make a lot of decisions and all of this happens in the first 20 minutes. Everyone from the crew contributes their small part to the episode without the focus being placed on just one person or group. There's also a new chief engineer again, wohoo, a running gag from the first season. I hope you two had as much fun and entertainment as I did after watching the episode countless times. I love your Star Trek videos, keep it up where no react has gone before. Greetings from Germany :)

AnnoHolic ACC

The chief engineer of the Enterprise D is such a weird feature of season 1 of TNG. Why have this rotating assortment of people instead of one person? It was so convoluted.

Eric Bundy

Also, this episode is the set up for Beverly Crusher having sex with a ghost.

Leighton Cressman

This episode I do rather like and it’s probably one of the best out of season one though it always annoyed me that they didn’t try to take one of the mini weapons laying around on the planet to try to destroy the drone.

Leighton Cressman

I liked this one as it had plenty of Character building. Also every time I see Vincent Schiavelli I think of him as Mr. Vargas in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I think both of you will like this one, I'm just not sure how you will handle the Resolution. Just say I'll buy and it's over...pretty simple, maybe too simple. 😀🖖

Duane Chancey

I've noticed that in Season 1 everyone says "I don't like Season 1 that much, but I do have one favorite episode.." and everyone's favorite episode is different, haha. This is probably my favorite episode of the season. I know it gets a little razzing because Riker for the second episode in a row is paralyzed by an energy field, but on its own, it's fun. Great guest star turn by Vincent Schiavelli, a fine character from the 80s and 90s. He played the subway ghost in Ghost (1990). He had Marfan Syndrome, a condition affecting connective tissue which gave him his tall stature, long face, and gaunt appearance. Another actor with the same condition was Peter Mayhew, who portrayed Chewbacca in the theatrical Star Wars films.

Ian Westcott

LeVar Burton was way more famous than all the other new actors combined as he starred as the leading actor in the miniseries Roots. When it aired, the final episode of Roots was the most widely seen entertainment program ever at 100 million viewers, passed only by Nixon's resignation speech and the Apollo 11 Moon landing at 125–150 million viewers.

Chtphr Rrr

It's so funny how, after all these years, this show can give me a new dimension of entertainment (through these two gents) that I didn't know could exist. I really can't hardly wait for them to plow through the whole series!

Jovet

The plot armor they introduce (now and later) to deflect from that obviously simple solution is pretty infuriating.

Jovet

I remember thoroughly enjoying this episode. The one thing I have to wonder about is how soon will you guys figure out the solution. I believe I was yelling at the screen about halfway through. Vincent Schiavelli is awesome (as always).

Nerd's Gold

There is no Wesley in this one (did his mom override the red alert ? Doctors orders) This has a strong use of the ensemble cast maybe the best so far. I generally look at it as Picard Keeps losing confidence in Engineers It is clear that after 8 - 9 months together this crew is becoming cohesive I predict you both will find this the best so far. I did, I do, I will.

Thicketdweller

I knew him from this and Batman Returns, as the Organ Grinder in charge of the Red Triangle Circus Gang.

tyranusfan

This is a great Georgi and Worf episode and was a big part of getting to know (and love) their characters.

Chuck Rice

Beverly’s advice to simply “turn it off” would have worked very well with the Holodeck in The Big Goodbye! The original plan for the saucer separation was that any time the Enterprise was called upon to do battle or anything dangerous, they could leave the families behind on the saucer and head off. The filming miniature actually separated. ILM built it to work in both “modes.”

tyranusfan

Well, it's not good enough for Geordi either, since he told Logan to go back to Engineering and do his job. The only reason Logan is bringing it up is because he's a prick. I can't say enough how well written the character dynamics in this episode are!

Jovet

Well said.

Chris S.

That's a point but not a good one in my opinion. His rank is a fact that Picard is aware of, if it mattered Logan would be in command but he's not so there's really no need for him to bring it up.

Phillip Grischa

Troi was well used, too. The start of the scene in the Ready Room seems to try to get the audience to anticipate that Troi is going to chastise LaForge somehow, but she encourages him. For how it could have been written, it's an excellent discussion with very little handholding.

Jovet

Yup! Vincent Schiavelli was very entertaining in this! 24th century spam!

Jovet

L'eggs for the win! (Green l'eegs and ham-my peformance?)

Jovet

His point was pretty clear, I thought? He outranks Geordi. (Georgi is a Lieutenant Jr Grade, but Chief Engineer Logan is a full Lieutenant.)

Jovet

Looking back on it, it's a bit of a contrived way to get the captain down onto the planet. As we all know, bad things usually happen when the captain beams down. (LOL!)

Jovet

Well, like Riker's butt shot in Home Soil, it shouldn't have been in the final cut of the episode...

Jovet

LOL! I had forgotten about that!!

Jovet

It has been deleted.

Shannon Mullins

It has been deleted.

Shannon Mullins

Shannon the boys are trying to avoid spoilers. As Joe says, you might wish to delete this post

Jon1701

Again, my bad. I have been respectfully chastised by Mr. Concepts.

Shannon Mullins

They may not watch that episode before they see these comments. May I respectfully suggest deleting your comments to avoid any spoiling?

Joe Concepts

Forgive me I'm an old fart.

Shannon Mullins

This is a great episode. Being away from seasons 1 and 2, I realize that while later seasons are more character oriented, these episodes ARE character oriented. At least many of them are. This is tense in that you really see the Enterprise fully in battle for the first time. Its a great Geordi episode!

Chris S.

Shannon Mullins

One of the most underrated episodes of the first season, this one is a lot of fun, especially the scenes with Geordi and Troi.

Anthony Bernacchi

I hadn't seen that explanation. That's at least a reason. I always thought it was strange given how popular Scotty was that he didn't include another chief engineer.

Joe Concepts

Dimples.

Anthony Bernacchi

The only thing I remember about this episode is it has the guy who played the science teacher in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Should be interesting to watch after all these years.

Collin Freeman

They didn’t cast a permanent Chief Engineer because the producers originally thought the advanced Enterprise D wouldn’t need an engineering section. Realising the set might never be built Gene quickly added some scenes into the pilot just in case they needed it in future episodes.

Jon1701

I really enjoyed the way Geordi dealt with the threat in space. It wasn't boring, it was smart and it gave good insight into how the crew would react in a situation where most of the high ranking officers were missing.

valen

The drone was made from a pantyhose container and a shampoo bottle. It was performed by the man who made it, Dan Curry, who was wearing a green suit to blend in with the background vegetation, and was animating the model by hand, like a muppet.

Paul Rymer

This episode has everyone on the crew doing something, Geordi in command with help from Troi, Worf looking good at tactical, Picard and Crusher getting closer together, Tasha and Data fighting off drones, and Riker using “The Good-ship Lollipop Defense”

Gregory

I enjoyed this one, every character gets some good moments and the solution is surprisingly easy and effective. The only weak part is the chief engineer of the week who only exists to be a thorn in Geordie's side but doesn't even make a good point why he should be in command.

Phillip Grischa

The Enterprise stumbles into a 24th century pop-up ad and Riker challenges a chatbot with 1980’s AI. Only one question remains unanswered… "What is the armament on the Lollipop?"

Jerry Brace - Embraceware

Great scene between Geordi and Deanna

James Bottas

They cut into it after she did some other head movement, you can see her hair is still shaking from it.

Mike Rogers

I always enjoyed the episode but dissapointed Bevery and Picard plot didn't go a little deper into their feelings. Looks like the director and others were as well..

Badger

This is like a TOS plot that never got made, I can totally see Kirk figuring out how to just buy the apocalypse weapon system to save the ship.

JD Nevesytrof

Wow great episode! Everyone really shined out and all the plots were good.. I love that Picard had some scene time down on the planet too. And Geordi shines out the most showing that he is capable of making great decisions in the chair! Well done La Forge.. well done!! 👏

TalynStarburst

I really like this episode. It's entertaining and exciting, and I get a kick out of the droning salesman. A big plot hole to this story, though, is the repeated upgrading of the drones. What is the point of allowing inferior drones to get destroyed when a planned-upgraded one will just be sent out later? Just send the final one out and be done with it! It's not like the upgrades are dynamically responding to their attackers. If that were the case, then there would be a lot more generations of them than 4. This episode also appears to demonstrate technology that is superior to Federation technology but there's no indication it's ever studied or adapted for use by the Federation. It's not as extreme an example of the repeated "new technologies that should revolutionize the ST universe but are never mentioned again" but it's on the list.

Jovet

This is another season 1 classic. Strong TOS vibes from the planet set, and I just love the ultimate solution to events. Not technobabble or any kind of science jargon, just... "We'll take it!"

Steven Johnson

This was the episode that made me realize there was no "Scotty" on this Enterprise. Every week its a new Chief Engineer, what's up with that? No other department has a senior administrator turnover like that, is the job that friggin' stressful? Does the engineering crew get blasted into space and that's why they're always near a spacedock, to replenish the maintenance crews and their boss?

deskmerc

The episode where they get attacked by an outboard motor, or at least that's what it kind of looks like to me. Geordi in command, and Picard plays doctor with the doctor. For some reason looking back years ago I used to think this was a Season 2 episode, but due to...things that just isn't possible.

KatWithAttitude

21:33 The way Data picked up and literally THREW Tasha probably should have injured her. I kind-of wonder why it didn't.

Jovet

Mr. Logan is a jerk wad. The writers wrote Geordi handling him pretty well.

Jovet

One of the big contrasts to TOS is how the "Chief Engineer" is not a standardized part in this show like TOS but is more done by committee. One-off actors are used as needed (Mr. Argyle excepted) to fit the needs of plot.

Jovet

The world may never know...

KatWithAttitude

This episode is pivotal for Picard's and Dr. Crusher's friendship as her mortal peril makes them closer.

Jovet

43:13 She deserves an award for whatever that pat-on-the-back grinny nod should be called. I've never seen an actual person (not acting) ever achieve something and then behave like that in my entire life. It's one of the most odd, cringy, campy, parody-like-or-worthy moments in all of TNG for me. Facepalm city!

Jovet

How many licks to get to the center?

Jovet

Over the years, I think this has become my favorite episode from Season 1. It has a little of everything: an intriguing plot with a tried-and-true sci-fi twist (a civilization whose greed and reckless technological advances allowed their own AI weapons to destroy them), great character moments acted well by both the cast and guest actors, great special effects (a saucer separation yay!) and some real suspense as to how our heroes will get themselves out of a tight spot. And lest we forget: a much-needed spotlight on Levar Burton and the wonderful intensity he can put into LaForge when given the chance. A true highlight of the season, and a good omen for things to come 🖖

Patrick47

Another banger, and it gives Geordi a chance to shine with his B-team. Sauser seperation, big action, character moments, the episode has everything.

Nolan

Best thing about the episode is the guy who played the subway ghost on Ghost. Great actor. Oh, and Riker's line about 'the good ship Lollipop' of course.

Martin S

This is among my favorite episodes of the first season. Geordi taking command, clashing with the musical chairs engineer, the Enterprise being shown going into battle and firing phasers for the first time and more Picard/Crusher bonding. The anti-"balance of power/ weapons of mutually assured destruction" message is a little blunt but well taken. Of course, you have bloopers here and there. Like after Geordi destroys the attack drone, saving the Enterprise, he orders the shields to be lowered, while still in atmosphere.

Mike Rogers

It's the return of Captain Geordi! Plus we've got backstory (THE LORE!!), Picard and Crusher in a hole, and tons of action! Plenty of good stuff to detract from the fact that we barely learned anything interesting about the Minoians and how they were destroyed. It's definitely a good season 1 outing! Fun Fact: The sand used in the cave set was actually infested with fleas! So Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden were definitely quite miserable filming those bits.

The Game Show Reviewer

I would definitely watch a show focusing on the crew of the USS Lollipop.

THE LORE!!!

You're gonna love this one for the Geordi chararacter development. Also some good stuff between Picard and Beverly.

Michael Mannisto

You wanted a Geordi episode, you got it. How did you like his command style and his conversation with Counselor Troi?

Andreas Schmitt