The Mind's Eye (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
"The Mind's Eye" | |
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David Livingston[1] | |
Story by |
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Teleplay by | René Echevarria |
Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
Cinematography by | Marvin V. Rush |
Production code | 198 |
Original air date | May 27, 1991 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Mind's Eye" is the 98th episode of the
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the
This episode is inspired by the 1962 movie
Plot
Chief Engineer
At the colony, Vagh shows Captain Picard and Kell several Federation weapons and medical supplies taken from the rebels. Picard orders his crew to investigate. Lt. Commander Data finds that strange E-band radiation is nearby but cannot detect the source. He and La Forge also discover the apparent Federation weapons were replicated using Romulan technology and powered by Romulan energy cells. Later, under the direction of his controllers, La Forge unknowingly transports a case of Federation weapons from the Enterprise to the rebel base, and then subsequently erases the logs. Vagh, monitoring the transport, immediately accuses the Enterprise of its deception. Data and La Forge review the transport logs but find no evidence for the transport even though the weapons originated from the Enterprise, and realize that only they themselves and two other crewmembers could have falsified the logs in that manner. Again, outside of his control, La Forge enters Kell's quarters on the Enterprise, where it is revealed that Kell was controlling La Forge. Kell orders La Forge to assassinate Vagh in a public setting before witnesses in such a manner as to utterly convince Vagh's people of Federation involvement.
At Kell's suggestion, Picard invites Vagh to come aboard the Enterprise to witness the transport logs firsthand. As Picard takes Vagh around the ship, Data comes to learn that the E-band radiation is coming from aboard the Enterprise and that La Forge never made it to Risa. He orders Security Chief Worf to immediately detain La Forge. The assassination attempt is blocked, and Data arrives to explain the situation, saying that the limited transmission range means the device controlling La Forge must either be in Picard's or Kell's possession. Kell refuses to undergo a search, but Vagh offers to take him to the colony to do so there. Fearing the consequences of being investigated by his own people, Kell quickly requests asylum aboard the Enterprise, which Picard says they will consider after his name is cleared of any wrongdoing by the Klingons. Kell is taken away by Vagh's guards. La Forge is cleared but struggles to understand what happened to him.
Notes
- This is the first episode to feature former cast member Commander Sela. In this appearance she is heard but not clearly seen, foreshadowing the character's appearance in the forthcoming "Redemption" episodes. She previously appeared as Tasha Yar in an alternate reality in the Season 3 episode "Yesterday's Enterprise".
Reception
In 2012, Wired magazine said this is one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.[3]
In 2017,
Home video
This episode was released in the United States on September 3, 2002, as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation season four DVD box set.[5]
CBS announced on September 28, 2011, in celebration of the series' twenty-fifth anniversary, that Star Trek: The Next Generation would be completely re-mastered in 1080p high definition from the original
References
- ^ "David Livingston On Directing Star Trek Episodes, Part 1". Star Trek.com. July 2, 2012.
- ^ Interview with David Livingston, Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 DVD Extras "Departmental Briefing - Year Four: Production"
- ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "A Beginner's Guide to the Star Trek Universe". www.vulture.com. September 25, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
- ^ Ordway, Holly E. (September 9, 2002). "Star Trek the Next Generation – Season 4". DVD Talk. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Blu-Ray Release". July 10, 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 4 Blu-ray Review | High Def Digest". bluray.highdefdigest.com. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ Miller III, Randy (July 28, 2013). "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season Four (Blu-ray)". DVD Talk. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ Simpson, Michael (July 29, 2013). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 Blu-Ray Review". Sci-Fi Now. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- Star Trek The Next Generation DVDset, volume 4, disc 6, selection 4
External links
- "The Mind's Eye" at IMDb
- "The Mind's Eye" rewatch by Keith R. A. DeCandido
- "The Mind's Eye" at Memory Alpha