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: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 6303201008
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,021 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's always enjoyable to see the family members of familiar Star Trek characters, because it gives new dimensions to people usually seen in work mode. In "Manhunt," the familial arrival is Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett), mother of counselor Deanna Troi. Barrett, the widow of series creator Gene Roddenberry and the only actor to appear in every Star Trek series, had made one previous appearance in The Next Generation, and this character would turn up again in later episodes. In this outing, she is beamed aboard the Enterprise, which will transport her to a Federation conference where she is a delegate. The Enterprise is also carrying a pair of delegates from the planet Antede Three--but they have chosen to spend the flight in suspended animation because it's the only way they can endure space travel.

Though they provide the plot's jeopardy at the end of the show, the real focus is on Lwaxana, who is going through what Deanna refers to as "the phase"--a period of heightened sexual hunger. The story is meant to be comic, based on the turnabout notion of this female sexual predator chasing Picard and Riker. Given that the episode aired in 1987, it seems retrograde in its depiction of men trying to put off this forthright vamp. It doesn't help that Barrett, never a great actress, reads all her lines as though they were written by Oscar Wilde, when the script doesn't even rise to the level of Neil Simon. --Marshall Fine

From the Back Cover

Ordered to transport delegates to a Federation conference on Pacifica, the Enterprise beams up two representatives from the planet Antede Three. Unaccustomed to space travel, the Antedians arrive in a self-induced comatose state to deal with the trauma of their voyage.

The crew is surprised by the unexpected arrival of another conference invitee: Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett). Lwaxana's daughter Deanna (Marina Sirtis) warns Picard (Patrick Stewart) that Lwaxana is in "the phase"-the period in which a Betazoid woman's sex drive increases tenfold!

While Lwaxana relentlessly pursues Picard, the Antedians return to consciousness with a deadly secret mission: to destroy the Federation conference!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Picard trying to smoke a cigarette, very funny moment., March 26, 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 45: Manhunt [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In this episode, the Enterprise is assigned to transport delegates to a Federation conference, two of which are from Antede Three. Since they are unaccustomed to space flight, the delegates place themselves in a self-induced trance for most of the voyage. Suddenly, the Enterprise receives a message to transport another Federation delegate, who turns out to be Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna Troi. Furthermore, Lwaxana is in the midst of the phase, a time when Betazoid women experience a very dramatic increase in sex drive. In her usual obnoxious style, she sets her sights on Captain Picard, inviting him to a diplomatic dinner where he is the only guest.
Thinking fast, Captain Picard invites Data to the party to explain the ceremonies of other cultures. After extricating himself from his predicament, Picard decides to make himself scarce by going to the holodeck and taking on the role of a private detective who has made a great deal of enemies. Lwaxana then sets her sights on Commander Riker, unexpectedly announcing their forthcoming wedding. In the end, even though she amuses and befuddles the crew, Lwaxana is unable to snare a husband and must leave to tend to her diplomatic duties. Before leaving, she casually informs the Enterprise crew that the delegates from Antede Three are in fact assassins.
Although the character of Lwaxana Troi is one of the most obnoxious and self-centered in all of television, I enjoyed the episode. What saved it for me was were the scenes where Picard was in the holodeck. Although he fails in several attempts to relax and avoid people trying to kill him, Picard finally manages to get away from it all by taking his receptionist to the local bar. Having his radio play a song about "getting away from it all" was a funny moment. The best scene of all is when Picard is in the bar with his receptionist and the friendly bartender, trying to act the part of a tough private detective. His attempt at smoking a cigarette is one of the funniest moments in the next generation series.