Samaritan Snare

The part with Wes and Picard is worth watching, but the half with the Pakleds is just about as stupid as the Pakleds. How Tweedledee and Tweedledum got their Hands on a spaceship is something I will never waste time thinking about.

Picard to get surgery, Wesley to take SF exam Pakled ask for help and seem simple-minded but NOT --don't really want help but are devious

When the episode begins, Captain Picard announces that he's heading to the nearest starbase and Wesley, who needs to go there for the Starfleet exam, will be accompanying him. However, exactly WHY Picard is temporarily relinquishing command is unknown--and he's being very cagey about it.

Shortly after the Captain leaves, the Enterprise receives a distress call from the Pakleds. When Riker and the crew arrive to help, they are a bit bemused, as the Pakleds seem incredibly simple-minded and harmless. How they were able to obtain a spacecraft seems like a real puzzler. But, happy to be of service, LaForge goes to the Pakled ship to offer help--and soon gets the ship running well. However, when Troi learns that they are dealing with the Pakled, she is worried as she sees these beings as very deceitful and they are NOT as dumb as they've been acting. What's next?

Overall, this was both an entertaining episode as well as one that furthered Picard's character development--something sorely needed for the normally super-stoic leader. Well done and one of the better episodes of season two.

2 stars for Picard's backstory

0 for the rest of the episode.

No idea how anyone thinks this is a good episode. No only is the premise dumb, but the way they "trick" the enemy makes absolutely no sense. This whole episode is ridiculously bad. One of the worst TNG episodes by far.

This is so ridiculous that it's almost beyond belief. The only thing that's entertaining is how funny the dumbo aliens are, saying things like "We like things that make us go..." but even though these aliens are big, dumb lunkheads, Riker sends Jordie over and they kidnap him and actually get away with it! As another person said here, these guys are so stupid that you'd be surprised if they could tie their shoes, yet they manage to trick Riker.

And then story line #2 with Picard having his heart worked on but some great specialists can't do it, but Dr. Pulanski can? This is yet another 'you gotta be kidding me' episodes.

That's all I have to say.

A wonderful series This is an interesting, thought provoking, and most of all entertaining series. Gene Roddenberry not only gave us a "Wagon Train to the Stars," but he gave us interesting stories reflecting the great values our society holds as truths. I know that "some" episodes were not that good, but that can be said of any series that has a long history. For the most part this program exceeds the mark of excellence in writing and entertainment. The delivery of the writing by Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner et. Al. Truly brought the Star Trek future to life. The casting of this program is wonderful!

While Wesley Crusher accompanies Captain Picard to Starbase 515, Riker leads the Enterprise on an apparent mission of mercy when they receive a distress call from a crippled Pakled vessel. When Geordi beams over to conduct some repairs, however, their true intentions quickly reveal themselves.

A theme I've noticed with season two is the number of episodes that feel like two disconnected stories running simultaneously, often to the detriment of each other. So it is here - the Pakled are a comically inept bunch of baddies who possess as much a sense of threat as a child's teddy. The second story, involving Picard bonding with Wesley on board an inexplicably slow shuttlecraft, isn't given the time it needs and feels rushed and a little clichéd as well. Together, they make for a pretty average episode at best.