Product Details

• Actors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden
• Directors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: May 31, 1995
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302457041
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,504 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Federation freighter Odin has been disabled by an asteroid. There are no signs of life on the ship, but three escape pods are missing, so the crew of the Enterprise take a trip to the nearest planet, Angel One, to see if they can locate any survivors. The civilization on Angel One is "similar to mid-20th-century Earth," except the gender roles are switched. Women are the hunters and natural leaders, while the men are treated as pretty ornaments and playthings. You can imagine how well that plays with Riker. But it's Riker who, in pure Shatner mode, nearly gets lucky with the leader of Angel One, Mistress Beata (Karen Montgomery). Well, it turns out the three survivors are fugitives from justice because they've been inspiring the men on the planet to campaign for equal rights, and the women just don't like that. Meanwhile, the Enterprise has been incapacitated by a mysterious virus. The obvious politics of this episode are nicely balanced by the entertainingly "girlish" costumes worn by the men on the planet. --Andy Spletzer

From the Back Cover

Searching for the missing crew of a disabled Federation freighter, the Enterprise travels to Angel One, a planet ruled by women. The away team discovers that the survivors - all men - are fugitives on the planet, having refused to embrace the doctrine of the female-dominated government. Now the government's leader, Mistress Beata (Karen Montgomery), demands the return of the fugitives, who will be sentenced to death.

Meanwhile, the Enterprise has been taken over by a mysterious virus, rendering Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew helpless. While Riker (Jonathan Frakes) bargains for the lives of the fugitives, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) desperately searches for an antidote to save the lives of the starship's crew.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Klingons appreciate strong women.", April 25, 2004

By 

Steven Y. "Pop Culture Addict" (Marvel Universe 616) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 15: Angel One [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Angel One" undoubtedly was intended to be an insightful commentary on the nature of gender dynamics and sexual politics when it was originally conceived. Unfortunately, it comes across as something that not even the most generous viewer would describe as "enlightening." Essentially it wound up in its final form as something closer to the television equivalent of bird cage liner.

The Enterprise-D arrives at planet Angel One to search for survivors from a lost Federation freighter. They discover that the male survivors are considered fugitives due to their refusal to embrace the planet's matriarchal ruling structure. Yet, the men refuse to return to the Federation when discovered because they have found spouses on the planet. After the fugitives are captured, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) attempts to transport them to the Enterprise-D but abandons his plan when the danger of shipwide contamination by a virus from the planet arises.

Watching Riker save the day in "Angel One" by relying on his "manliness" will either strike you as offensive or will cause you to guffaw uncontrollably. Either reaction is undesirable and speaks to the multitude of problems inherent in this episode from start to finish. Even if you disregard the sloppily-constructed male-female-battle-of-the-sexes angle of the story, the manner in which the threatening virus and the danger in the Neutral Zone come out of left field makes you wonder if any care or serious creative thought actually went into the writing of "Angel One." Ring up this outing as one of the low points of the first season and an episode to avoid whenever it appears as a re-run on television.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Riker does the "When in Rome . . ." thing, April 20, 2004

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 15: Angel One [VHS] (VHS Tape)

One of the plot lines of this episode involves the recurring theme that I consider the greatest weakness of TNG. The chief medical officer of the Enterprise, whether she be Crusher or Polaski, never seems able to handle medical problems quickly. When medical problems arise, in this case a dangerous viral infection spreading throughout the crew, Crusher's lines reduce to variations of "I don't know . . .". Considering that only the very best medical minds could be in Star Fleet and the Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation, it is absurd to believe that the only officer who can overrule the captain would appear to be so lacking in capability. Of course, she eventually stumbles on the solution and the crew is cured.
The second major plot line involves the Enterprise searching for survivors of an accident involving another ship. When the ship was destroyed, the nearest planet is one where women are the dominant sex and the males are smaller and subservient. The Enterprise goes to the planet and establishes contact in an attempt to search for survivors. It turns out that there were survivors and they are the leaders of a mini-rebellion against the matriarchal hierarchy.
While it is sensible that Riker would adopt the appropriate attire for a meeting with the headmistress of the planet, his interaction with her is absurd. At one point in Riker's conversation with her, when he is arguing against the death sentence pronounced against the rebels, the headmistress ends a line with , " . . . that attitude." Commander Riker is the second in command of the Federation flagship and a trained diplomat. The headmistress is of course the leader of a planet and also must be a diplomat. It is very hard to believe that they would engage in a conversation at the level of a lover's quarrel. People in their positions would not speak to each other that way.
The premise of a female dominated society is an interesting one, worthy of being the major plot in an episode. However, the implementation leaves a lot to be desired and I consider this one of the weaker TNG episodes.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shirtless Riker Ain't No Kirk!, January 12, 2001

By 

picardfan007 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 15: Angel One [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Angel One or......Shirtless Riker ain't no Kirk!

In this episode a repeat of Roddenberry's "Genesis 2" concept is part of the plot. The short version?.....Well folks, Mistress Beata is going to execute a band of rebels on her home world. Riker, Tasha and Troi are part of the away team. It's a place were women rule men! Commander Riker must avert what could be a terrible war. Hey.....this sounds like it could be a good Saturday Night Live routine!