Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1997
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304403313
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #462,013 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

While monitoring the destructive course of a stellar core fragment, the Enterprise discovers a human colony on Moab IV. Picard (Patrick Stewart) offers to evacuate the people, but the colony's leader, Aaron Conor (John Snyder), fears that it would destroy their genetically engineered society.

In search of an alternate solution, Conor allows an Away Team, the first visitors of any kind, to transport to the surface. Colony scientist Hannah Bates (Dey Young) is assigned to work with Geordi (LeVar Burton), while Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) becomes fascinated by Conor and his perfect society.

Ultimately, Hannah and Geordi devise a plan to save the colony, but meeting the crew has altered the colonists' world forever and now they are faced with an even greater problem - some of them want to leave!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting, July 29, 2001

By 

Hugo Dart (Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 113: The Masterpiece Society [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Mr. Bernabo's review (below) contains an excellent description of the episode. For my turn, I would like to offer the following comments:

The philosophical issues are impressively well-explored. Picard's strong point-of-view will surprise the many fans of this great series who are used to thinking that the writers are always too careful, except when they refer to things everybody is either for or against, like rape (as in "Violations", the episode that immediately precedes this one).

Geordi LaForge is the other regular character that is wonderfully used in the episode. Some of the dialogues between him and the colony's technology specialist remind us of Gene Roddenberry's best writing ever.

Deanna Troi's participation, however, is extremely weak. Her "love affair" with the colony's leader is much less believable than the often criticized relationship that develops between Kirk and 20th century's Edith Keeler (The Original Series' "City on the Edge of Forever"). It is also unnecessary to the plot and it harms the storytelling.

3.0 out of 5 stars What's most important to you?, September 11, 2002

By 

kallan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 113: The Masterpiece Society [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Quite an interesting episode, this, where the colonists on Moab IV have to decide whether to let outsiders into their perfect world or not. If they do, their safety from the disruption caused by a passing stellar fragment can be guaranteed. But if they don't, they'll have to just hope for the best.
"The Masterpiece Society" presents an interesting dilemma and explores it from many angles, from those who would rather die than compromise their beliefs, to those who believe that change cannot be avoided. However, the romance angle with Troi leaves neither her nor Aaron Connor, the colony's leader, looking particularly admirable, even though it did provide a new angle on the core dilemma; and the acting from the guest stars leaves something to be desired.
I personally couldn't help but feel rather glad that the Masterpiece Society was disrupted - they are oh-so-superior in their attitudes. But that's not to say you don't feel for them as their world changes around them. And Geordi plays a more important role than usual, which is a plus.