"The Last Outpost"
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1x05 [107])
Stardates 41386.4-41386.5 (2364)
Teleplay by Herbert Wright
Story by Richard Krzemien
Original broadcast: October 19, 1987
Rewatched: March 31, 2024
Summary
The
Enterprise is persuing a Ferengi starship which is reported to have stolen a T9 energy converter from the Federation outpost on Gamma Tauri IV. As both ships enter the Delphi Ardu system, they both slow to impulse in orbit of Delphi Ardu IV, a previously uncharted planet. As the
Enterprise begins to experience a power drain, Picard and his crew can only conclude its an unknown weapon of Ferengi design and that his only bloodless option is to offer an unconditional surrender.
When the Ferengi DaiMon Tarr refuses Picard's terms, believing that he is ordering the Ferengi to surrender, they both determine that it is the planet that is affecting both starships and they agree to send a joint away team to the surface of the planet to investigate and stop the energy drain.
Riker leads the away team to the surface and, because the transporter beam was refracted, all team members arrive in different locations. While several members of the team quickly reassemble, the Ferengi use this opportunity to attack the Starfleeters and render them unconscious using their energy whips. The timely arrival of Lieutenant Yar wielding a phaser is enough to get the Ferengi to stand down, yet they are soon faced with a greater problem in the form of Portal 63.
Portal 63 is the last guardian of the Tkon Empire, a civilization that ruled this section of the galaxy 600,000 years ago, and unfortunately, Portal "slept" through the supernova that wiped his empire out and believes that Starfleet and the Ferengi are petitioning for entry into Tkon space. Despite attempts by the Ferengi that Starfleet are the savages and to destroy them and free their own starship, Riker is able to convince Portal of Starfleet's intentions not to fight by evoking the work of Sun Tzu. Portal frees the
Enterprise and on Riker's insistence, frees the Ferengi so that they can learn from the experience.
Thoughts
After a few references throughout the season so far, we finally get our look at
Star Trek: The Next Generation's first "Big Bad", the Ferengi Alliance. Developed by Gene Roddenberry and Herb Wright, the idea was to hold up a mirror to 20th century Humanity and portray them as the worst form of Capitalists or "Yankee Traders" that validate the phrase "
caveat emptor" ("let the buyer beware"). The concept of the Ferengi is an excellent idea, as an allegory it's certainy timely as the late 1980s was an era of unchecked capitalism and commercialism, or as a Brit we might say the "age of the Yuppee". It was certainly a unique idea for
Star Trek at the time, after all the Klingons and the Romulans were developed in the more traditional model and used as allegories for the Soviet Union and China, respectively. However, the world had moved on as the Cold War was slowly thawing out and a new villain for a new era was needed.
Unfortunately, the introduction of the Ferengi in "The Last Outpost" had been described as "uneven" at best, and "disastrous" at the worse. While Andy Probert's design for the
D'Kora class marauder is absolutely beautiful, and the design for make-up and prosthetics for the Ferengi are a unique and interesting look, the performances of the three Ferengi actors on the surface, led by Armin Shimmerman, leaves much to be desired. It's unfair to throw this criticism at Shimmerman and his fellow actors though, Shimmerman has stated that it was on the notes of director Richard Colla that they were told "
jump up and down like crazed gerbils", and it really ruins the Ferengi as a contentious threat when they appear to be a group of eight year olds being caught being up to no good by their parents.
Away from the Ferengi though, there's a lot more to like about this episode. The Tkon Empire and the introduction of Portal 63 is TNG's first use of the ancient race trope that was used so often during
Star Trek: The Original Series, and indeed this episode reminds me of both "Arena" and "That Which Survives" from that show's first and third seasons. The trope is used quite effectively here though, the Tkon have an intriguing air of mystery around them and one can't help but feel empathy for Portal who has slept for millennia while his Empire fell.
As for the regulars, Jonathan Frakes really gets an opportunity to shine as Riker takes charge and has negotiations with both the Ferengi and Portal. There's some wonderful interactions as the friendship continues to develop between Geordi and Data, whispering at the front of the bridge and the whole Chinese finger trap gag; Worf gets to finally take part in an away team and have a fight with the Ferengi; and Yar gets to make a fantastic entrance, phaser in hand as thunder rumbles around her as she saves her colleagues from the Ferengi.
On the whole, another strong episode from TNG's first season. The stiffness and formality of those early episodes are starting to fall away we have our first real conference scene where Picard gives all of his senior staff the opportunity to speak up, and we see the relationships that go on to define this series, begin to form and take flight. My only criticism, beyond the introduction to the Ferengi, is the plot thread of the power drains effect upon the
Enterprise. We go from a scene with Picard, Beverly and Troi tending to the crew as temperatures begin to drop aboard ship, to a scene where they're all passed out on the bridge, seeminly seconds from death. It really feels like there's a scene missing here, and I would take a scene of Picard reacting as his crew begin to drop, over some silliness with the Ferengi. Overall, I can't complain too much, a much stronger outing than I first remembered.
Continuity Corner
Following references in "Encounter at Farpoint" and
Double Helix #1:
Infection, the Ferengi make their first appearance. While this is the first "official" first contact between the Federation and the Ferengi Alliance, Picard unknowingly encountered a Ferengi vessel during his final mission on the
Stargazer. Humans had also previously encountered Ferengi in 2151 (in the
Star Trek: Enterprise episode, "Acquisition"), although the name of the Ferengi wasn't heard by the crew of the
Enterprise NX-01.
Armin Shimmerman makes his second appearance in this marathon, having previously played the Betazoid gift box in "Haven". Shimmerman would later go on to play the role of the Ferengi bartender Quark in
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He later commented that he wanted to redeem the Ferengi following his turn in "The Last Outpost".
Next Destination
"Growing Pains"