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: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303200982
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,250 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Picard refuses to allow Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) to perform an operation on him, even though she's qualified, she tells him to check into a hospital on Starbase 515. Turns out he needs a cardiac replacement because an earlier replacement was faulty, but he didn't want the operation done on the ship because he didn't want to appear weak. While he's gone, the Enterprise answers a distress call from some alien sad sacks whose ship is broken and who are far from home. Since they are reported as being a benign species of scavengers, searching the universe for things to make their ship go, the Enterprise sends over Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge to make the necessary repairs. Deanna Troi assesses the situation and immediately senses that Geordi is in great danger, as he is something that will make their ship go and they will be loath to give him up. It's up to Riker to formulate a plan to get him back. As the crew of the Enterprise learns not to judge a seemingly idiotic race by their appearance, Picard learns there is strength in facing up to one's weaknesses. --Andy Spletzer

From the Back Cover

As Wesley (Wil Wheaton) prepares to fly to Scylla 515 for his Starfleet exams, he is joined by an unexpected traveling companion - Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Unbeknownst to Wesley, Picard has been ordered by Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) to undergo a cardiac replacement operation.

While Picard and Wesley travel to Scylla 515, the Enterprise receives a distress call from the Pakleds. The Pakleds, a race of slow-witted humanoids, need help to repair their ship. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) beams Geordi (LeVar Burton) aboard the Pakled vessel. Suddenly, Geordi is disarmed and the Pakleds refuse to release him until Riker surrenders all of the Enterprise's computer information.

As Riker struggles to devise a way to flee Geordi, an emergency summons arrives from the Starbase: surgery complications have left Picard near death. Is the Enterprise about to lose both its engineer and captain?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars "Please don't be worried Captain Picard.", September 21, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 43: Samaritan Snare [VHS] (VHS Tape)

All this episode is missing is the Wesley Crusher save at the end.

Picture this:

Okay, we're at the end of the episode. Picard's laid out on the operating table. He's real shook up about this heart thing, so much so that he wouldn't even get it done on his own ship for fear that the crew would think he's weak.

And then, holding the Captain's heart in his hands, in walks The Boy:

"I've never done this before, but I have some great news. I just passed my Starfleet exams! Please don't be worried Captain Picard."

Perfect ender for a Second season episode. Picard learns there is strength in facing one's weaknesses and Wesley saves the day again and wraps up some daddy issues.

Perfect.

But it didn't actually end that way so it only gets four stars. Sorry, Captain Picard.

1.0 out of 5 stars Samaritan Snare Is The #2 Worst Episode!, October 8, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 43: Samaritan Snare [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I love Star Trek: The Next Generation and have loved most of the episodes of this magnificent TV show's long run but of the few episdoes that I don't like Samaritan Snare is high on my short list of worst episodes. Sub Rosa is what I think is the #1 worst episode and this episode Samaritan Snare is the #2 worst episode! The Pakleds are really annoying and this episode is like watching a really bad B movie that could easily be made fun of by Mystery Science Theater! This episode is just plain dumb!

3.0 out of 5 stars Duh, duh, duh, . . . dull, March 27, 2005

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 43: Samaritan Snare [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I really dislike this episode and like so many of those I find weak; it is largely due to it having two distinct lines to the plot. The first is that Picard's artificial heart is starting to fail and he refuses to have the surgery performed on the Enterprise. Therefore, Dr. Pulaski orders him to a star base to have the surgery. It is also time for Wesley Crusher to take his Star Fleet exams, so they travel together to the star base. They have some effective conversations during their trip and it is clear that Wesley feels closer to Picard when they arrive.
The surgery begins and quite predictably, there is a crisis and Picard is on the verge of death. Of course, the only person within hundreds of light years who can solve the problem is Dr. Pulaski, so the Enterprise is ordered to make speed to the base. This is such a weak plot device that I am surprised that the producers felt they had to resort to it. Furthermore, the costumes that the operating room personnel wear are ridiculous, and they are not wearing surgical masks.
The second plot line is that when Picard is gone the Enterprise receives a distress signal from a ship crewed by a race called the Pakleds. They are dullards and are unable to repair their ship. This is interesting for about two minutes and unfortunately, the episode runs another forty minutes. The Pakleds repeat the same phrases over and over again, which really grates. Geordi beams over and easily repairs their ship, but when he is done, the Pakleds refuse to let him return. Somehow, they have managed to hide the fact that they have shield capability from the Enterprise scanners. The Enterprise command crew then manages to deceive the Pakleds and beam Geordi back to the Enterprise. The idea that such a species could ever reach the level of space travel is absurd.
This is a boring episode, in some ways it is offensive because the lack of intelligence of the Pakleds is so stereotypically portrayed. Having Dr. Pulaski be the only person who can repair Picard's artificial heart is one of the lamest plot devices ever used in the series.