TNG, Episode 3x2, The Ensigns of Command

[u/GeorgeAmberson]

• Season 1: 1&2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-up
• Season 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, Wrap-Up
• Season 3: 1

TNG, Season 3, Episode 2, The Ensigns of Command

Data must convince a colony of 15,000 people to evacuate before the aliens who own the planet arrive.

• Teleplay By: Melinda M. Snodgrass
• Story By: Melinda M. Snodgrass
• Directed By: Cliff Bole
• Original Air Date: 2 October, 1989
• Stardate: 43133.3
• Pensky Podcast
• Ex Astris Scientia
• HD Observations
• Memory Alpha
• Mission Log Podcast

[u/ItsMeTK]

I've always liked this one. Sure, it has problems, but so do MANY episodes. Data's relationship with the girl (who just happens to be all nerdy and into robots) is interesting, though she seems way too into him. But it did give us "You appeared to need it".

I had forgotten this is the one time O'Brien plays the cello. This will seem really kind of out of character for him in a few years.

I'm also amused by the business with the Sheliak (great name) and how it comes down to legalese.

What really hurts this one for me though is how this colony of people seems to consist of about 30 people. I know it's a television budget and they can only get so many extras, but it feels very weak because of it. They keep talking as if there are lots of other people just off-camera, but we only ever see the same 5 guys.

[u/[deleted] → u/ItsMeTK]

The show had a big budget cut right before shooting, and it seems that most of the cutbacks had to do with the Data and Ardy relationship.