2x15 Pen Pals - Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Next Generation

- Episode 02x15

Episode: 02x15
Title: Pen Pals
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 141
First Aired: May. 01, 1989

Season 2 » Episode #15 - Pen Pals

Star Trek: The Next Generation - 02x15 Pen Pals

Summary: Enterprise is on a survey mission to monitor a system of planets, when it is learned that Data has secretly been communicating with a “pen pal” on Drema IV, one of the planets being investigated. Although he was contacted by accident by the little girl, his response back was still a major breach of protocol, and Picard is quite displeased. However, Data has learned through his contact, that conditions on Drema IV are deteriorating and the planet’s life is about to be extinguished.Meanwhile, as part of his ship board studies to become a full officer, Riker puts Wesley in charge of the team performing the mineral studies being done on the planet. Wesley finds that being in charge of a team composed of more senior adults a big challenge, as they begin to dismiss his directions and instead try to convince him to follow their lead.Will Data be allowed to rescue his new found friend on the planet, and will Wesley be able to reign in the scientists under his temporary command?

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

Captain Jean-Luc Picard	played by Patrick Stewart
Lieutenant Geordi La Forge	played by LeVar Burton
Counselor Deanna Troi	played by Marina Sirtis
Lt. Commander Data	played by Brent Spiner
Wesley Crusher	played by Wil Wheaton
Doctor Pulaski	played by Diana Muldaur
Ensign Davies	played by Nicholas Cascone
Sarjenka	played by Nikki Cox
Ensign Hildebrant	played by Ann Gillespie

	Season 2 / Episode 15: - Pen Pals Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [on his way to a ride on the holodeck] Are you sure you don't want to reconsider? Counselor Deanna Troi: No. I'll just watch you and be impressed.
	Season 2 / Episode 15: - Pen Pals Sarjenka: Is anybody out there?

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

PLOT: Picard's decision to help Dreama IV rests solely on his own emotionalism, which is exactly the type of action the Prime Directive was designed to prevent.
PLOT: Sarjenka's house has rustic decorations implying a primitive culture, but has a wall that can dissolve on contact.
FAKE: After Data brings Sarjenka with him to the bridge, and Capt. Picard asks Counselor Troi to escort Sarjenka to Sickbay, she resists and raises her hands in front of her face in fear, and when she does so, you can easily see the fake fingertip extensions on her hands.
PLOT: The Federation's Prime Directive is a hard rule of noninterference with less-developed cultures. Picard is vehement about it in "Justice". But Picard does a 180-degree turn when he hears Sarjenka calling for help. This contradicts Picard's behavior in "Encounter at Farpoint", when the Bandi city was being destroyed and the people were screaming for aid, and Picard calmly sat and discussed his options. Likewise in "Symbiosis" when one of the Onarans begs for help, and Picard refuses, citing The Prime Directive.
CHAR: Picard orders Data to sever contact with Sarjenka. Data responds to Picard's order by piping the transmission from Sarjenka into the captain's quarters, violating a direct order.

TRIVIA

The spectral analyzer in the geology lab is the oscillation overthruster prop from the film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984). This was an homage to the film by the art department.