Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 156: Gambit, Part I [VHS]

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Worf, Dr. Crusher, Troi & Riker are on an away mission to find what happened to Captain Picard. They are in an alien bar on an alien world similar to the Cantina scene in "Star Wars." When people are killed in this seedy bar, no one talks for fear of being the next one to take a phaser hit to the head. Through the gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) art of persuasion, Riker and co. are able to draw the truth out of a Yridian witness in exchange for travel away from the planet. The Yridian explains that he remembers seeing the man they described (Picard) in the bar, asking questions. He is surrounded by mercenaries who vaporize him. He points to the wall where Picard was thrown, then hit by disruptor fire. Crusher confirms that portions of Picard's DNA and clothing fibers are embedded in the wall and the wall shows crystalline warping damage consistent with weapons fire.

The crew is crestfallen that their beloved captain is dead. While Riker is in command, he does not receive a field commission of Captain - which is a bit surprising. Riker is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of the venerable father figure of the Enterprise and vows justice.

Further research into Picard's whereabouts before his altercation in the bar reveal that the avid archeologist was in an archeological dig just prior to his visit to the bar. They visit the site where he was last digging and find similar crystalline damage in precise "hits" in the sand where it looks as though weapons have been fired. While they are searching through what appears to be worthless pottery shards, they find themselves under weapons fire from a group of mercenaries. Riker is abducted as the mercenaries beam out. The Enterprise is able to match and even exceed the small ship's speed, but end up losing the ship as it drops off the radar and is not detectable by their long-range sensors.

Riker awakens aboard the mercenary vessel to find a servo implanted in his neck, tied directly to his nervous system. The decrepit, vile captain of this wayward band of thieves controls everyone's servos via a remote control device, causing them great pain to enforce discipline and prevent mutiny. Riker is stunned to see a familiar face among this group of space-bound vagabonds.

Who are these people? What do they want? Various aliens, including a Romulan, going from planet to planet to loot seemingly worthless excavations of old Romulan artifacts. Riker finds himself in a hopeless situation - trying to make himself appear more useful alive than dead, and helpless to escape while the Captain Baran holds the remote control device that can inflict pain and even death... while trying to keep these thieves from exploiting Riker's Federation ties to the point of harming Federation citizens. Interesting twists in this two-part episode. Of course, everything will be wrapped up in a little bow in the 2nd installment.

Two part TNG episodes are usually "significant" in some way. This one isn't, and perhaps it's all the better for that. It's an adventure that just happens to need more than the standard 44 minutes.
The story opens with the crew investigating Captain Picard's disappearance. They are horrified to learn that he was killed in a bar fight by a group of mercenaries. A grief-stricken and revenge-seeking Riker is permitted by Starfleet to investigate what happened. While examining a looted archaeological site the mercenaries were known to have visited, the away team is attacked. Riker is abducted by the mercenaries - and finds Picard on board their ship! Picard is posing as Galen, an archaeological smuggler, in an effort to find out what the mercenaries are searching for. Meanwhile, Data is left is command of the Enterprise, and has to decide what to do next.
"Gambit Part 1" is a lot of fun. There's action and excitment, and the plot is very well constructed. There's a lot to fit in, but it never feels rushed. It's also enjoyable watching Picard and Riker acting out of character as they establish themselves amongst the scheming mercenaries.
Good old-fashioned fun.