Not a nit, but the title seems to come from a 1907 poem, The Spell of the Yukon by Robert Service.

In the holodeck, was that one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that Riker was fighting?

After defeating his skullheaded opponent, Worf seems to be caught up in a berserker rage so that he doesn't see Riker as either friend or commanding officer. First off, if this is a normal reaction for Klingon warriors, then why are there any Klingons left. Secondly, doesn't Starfleet run psychological simulations on its members to find out how they will react in different situations? I should think a report that reads 'goes into a berserker blood lust when fighting and may kill fellow crewmembers' would not indicate that Worf is a 'team player.' (But then the level of psychological know how in the 24th century has been shown in various episodes to be very limited.)

I don't have this episode on tape so I could not doublecheck, but pay attention to where Riker stands just before they leave the Holodeck. Worf has just mentioned how personal his more intense calisthenics are then we see Riker standing, then he moves to walk by the camera and as he is walking out of frame the scenery fades to reveal the Holodeck. It seems like Riker was either standing very close to the wall or was standing where the wall is. I believe the camera is locked into position so it should be easy to check where he was standing in relation to where the Holodeck wall appears. You could probably just stick your finger on his feet and wait. Of course it does bring up a good question. Since the Holodeck is in reality just a small room projecting pictures of a bigger space on its walls, what does it do when someone comes too close to a wall? How far apart where Worf and Riker when they were fighting? How did the Holodeck keep Riker and/or Worf from smashing their elbows into the wall when they took a swing?

When trying to show the captain the area of blackness Data claims it is visible on the screen, then Picard has to magnify the image. Why didn't Data just magnify the image to begin with? (Or does Picard just need glasses?)

When Data searches records for similar areas of blackness he says there is nothing in Federation records. Well, what about checking non-federation records? While I realize Data is an android with a computer memory, shouldn't they check the ship's computer for this information? Maybe the programmers had put information in it that Data did not have?

Why is Dr. Pulaski on the Bridge?

A magnification of ten is asked for and Data complies, then Pulaski asks for a magnification of one hundred and then ten thousand, and Data obeys both orders. First off just what is the full magnification that the screen can do? I don't ever remember anyone before or after this episode asking for 10,000 times magnification, although I have heard "Full magnification." Secondly, are all the magnifications times the previous magnification or are they all timesed from the normal screen size?

Concerning the argument over Chief O'Brien's rank, besides Riker calling him "Lieutenant." you can clearly see two solid pips on O'Brien's collar.

Worf can't get the Yamato's computer to answer him and Riker says, "Let's find a turbolift to the Bridge." If the ship's computer is not working, then how does Riker expect the turbolift to work? Also a few minutes later, the Enterprise is having some power problems and Geordi can't contact Engineering from the Bridge, so he decides to take the turbolift to Engineering.

At the beginning of the show Picard says that there has never been a manned exploration of this region of space, but when talking to Nagilum, Picard says that they represent a Federation of Planets in this area.

Nagilum needs to kill one third to one half of the crew to understand death, but didn't Worf tell of a Klingon legend about an area of blackness that swallows ships? Presumably, this refers to Nagilum, but if Nagilum has been swallowing ships for all these years, then why doesn't he understand death yet? If the Klingon legend is about Nagilum, then his claim about killing the crew must be a lie to see how Picard and the crew will react. In other words a psychological test.

Also if the Klingon legend does refer to Nagilum, it also explains why Nagilum didn't bother to examine Worf earlier on the bridge as Klingons are, by now, old hat.

When Nagilum creates the faux Troi and Data to convince Picard to cancel the self-destruct, Picard should have known that Data wasn't Data when he asked what death was. Did Picard just forget about Tasha dying and Data asking him about whether he missed the point of her memorial service in Skin Of Evil?

Some good points here. About that viewscreen one- I think I need glasses for this episode, not just Picard! I have watched and watched and watched again and until Data centres the cursor on the area of the viewer and magnifies, I cannot see the void at all. The close-up shows it has a defined edge (in the graphics if not in dialogue), so it should be visible before the cursor centres on it.

My own little observation on this show:
At one point whilst Riker and Worf are still on the fake Yamato, Nagilum cuts power to some of the ship and the bridge is plunged into semi-darkness, with all the control panels off-line. Shortly thereafter, power is restored and Ensign Haskell discovers a patch of stars.
Just before the power comes back, however, you can see him sitting there idly tapping at the blank console. This doesn't seem like a good idea. If power suddenly came back, he could send the ship zooming off to anywhere!

Interesting how Welsey is at his post before and after Negilum decides to kill the person at Conn but is conviniently gone at the right moment. Too bad...it would have been great! :)

I thought the whole scene on the Yamato bridge was priceless! For one thing it gives us an all around veiw of where each of the doors on the bridge are located, Turbolift 1/Observation lounge on upper level, turbolift 2/ Main Bridge Ready Room on lower left, turbolift 3 and the OTHER door on the upper level, presumably the rest room.

Dr Piluaski was rude to Data yet again! And she says that she "must accept" that Data is a life form because Starfeet says he is. She makes me very sick! I wish they would just throw the old hag out the nearest airlock!

Did you notice that Haskell was wearing red? Any Star Trek fan knows that on the ordinal Star Trek, whenever a no name crewman in a red uniform beamed down with Kirk and the landing party, that he was going to die! Good to see that carried over to The Next Generation!!

Evidently, Pulaski was SO boorish to Data, that the later episode "The Measure of a Man" would FORCE Pulaski to accept him as a sentient being, and therefore "perhaps" an equal. (If she didn't reject the obvious, and clung to her weak arguements)

At one point Riker comments that looking into the void is like "looking into infinity." I found that statement odd considering that the Enterprise crew is always looking out into infinite space.

When the Yamato first comes into view, Picard asks Data to open hailing frequencies. Data does this and then begins to address the Yamato. Isn't Picard the one who's supposed to talk to other ships? I don't think Data ever did this before or has done it since.

Dick, if you think about it, the universe isn't really infinite. It's "only" 15 or so billion light years in diameter.

But the void, however, is devoid of stars, and is a completely unknown entity, which, to a visitor who was unfamiliar with it, would seem like infinity. Such a visitor would simply fill-in the blanks with whatever their imagination came up with, much as Guinan told Geordi in Galaxy's Child(TNG).

It was probably named for the same guy who named a planet "Uranus."
The organizational structure of quadrants and sectors suffers a serious blow in this episode. The Squire of Gothos(TOS) and ST III featured odd uses of the terms "quadrant" and "sector" (see my nits for those episodes). This episode misuses both terms. In the beginning of the episode, the Enterprise is en route to the Morganna Quadrant. Morganna Quadrant? I don’t recall any Greek letter with that name. Besides, aren’t there already four quadrants, the Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma? How exactly does the Morganna Quadrant fit in?
Captain, I’m detecting a disturbance too! It’s in sector 666-7734!
Then, before the fake Romulan ship appears, Worf reports a disturbance in sector 108, and then the Yamato in sector 091 mark 26. Given that the word "sector" is used to refer to designated areas of known space, isn’t it confusing and inefficient to use the term to refer to short distances in the vicinity of a ship? Shouldn’t he have said bearing 091 mark 26?
Maybe the Void is the interstellar equivalent of the Autobahn?
Shortly after entering the void, the crew decide to return to their prior course, and Riker orders Wesley to set a course out of the void at impulse. As the crew begin to realize that they’re not going anywhere, Picard calls Geordi in Engineering, tells him to monitor their velocity, and says they’re increasing to Warp 2. After a short while, Picard asks Data how far they’ve travelled, and Data says 1.4 parsecs. Data says this exactly 43 seconds after Picard told Geordi they were increasing speed to Warp 2. A parsec, or parallax second, is 3.258 light years, so 1.4 parsecs is 4.5612 light years. According to The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Warp 2 is 10 times the speed of light, so traveling 4.5612 light years would take .45 years, or about five and a half months, not mere seconds or minutes. Even odder, Voyager later establishes that it takes 70 years to travel 70,000 light years, or 2.739 light years a day at MAXIMUM warp! So how could the Enterprise travel 4.5 light years in less than a minute at Warp 2?
Perhaps Mike Okuda is in his "abstract minimalist" stage as an artist?
After Worf and Riker step onto the "second" Yamato bridge, the shot cuts back to the Enterprise, specifically, Haskell and Data’s hands resting on their consoles. For some reason, even though the director chose to focus on the consoles, they’re both totally blank!
Oh, Number One! You make me giggle when you act insubordinate!
After returning from the fake Yamato, Riker, frustrated and bewildered, practically mouths off to Picard about using what they’ve got and getting outta there, and Patrick Stewart tries desperately to stifle a smile!
Well, that void is an "empty nest" if ever I saw one
Trivia Answer: Actor Richard Mulligan, from TV’s Soap and Empty Nest. If you spell his name backward, and drop one "l," it’s Nagilum.

::Dick, if you think about it, the universe isn't really infinite. It's "only" 15 or so billion light years in diameter.::

Yes, the universe isn't infinite, but there was really no way for the Enterprise to tell that the void was anyway. When simply looking out the viewscreen into space, it does appear infinite, just as the void did, at least to these 21st century eyes. But then again, Starfleet officers are probably so used to space that it doesn't seen all that infinite…

Um, ISNT the universe infinite? According to Dr. Hawking, its "infinite but has an edge."

That's Professor Hawking, John.

Ah, thanks.

Doesn't P. Hawking hold the Lucasian chair? The same one that Data held in "All Good Things...."?

I may be mistaken, but I thought Professor Stephen Hawking [Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge] thought the Universe was finite, but without an edge (like the surface of the Earth--this fits in well with the idea that the Universe is expanding like a ballon being blown-up)

I will check my copy of A Brief History of Time as soon as I get home, Tech, but I'm pretty sure that its the other way around...

I think Tech is correct.

I was listening to the Book on tape version just today of a Brief History so I can say it was "finite but without an edge.." Sorta curved if not totally bent.

Ok, it had been awhile.

Just cuaght this episode on the local syndication. A couple of things got my attention.

First of all, I find it odd that Riker and Worf just decide to beam on over to the Yamato. The ship is in an odd void of some sort, Data even suspects that the void could be causing sensors to go berserk. You want to have your molecules dissembled and throw them through this odd reigon of space and hope they come back together the right way? Seems like a pointless risk when it would take only a minute to try to beam some inanimate object over and back and see how that goes (although maybe they did and the writers figured that would be way too boring to show!).

The Drama Syndrome strikes again in this episode. Picard just has to wait until the final seconds to deactive the self-destruct in order to get our little hearts going "pitter-patter". Of course, aborting the self-destruct and then investigating would make more sense. If it does turn out to be an illusion, then start a new destruct sequence. If Nagilum starts zapping people, set the interval to 5 seconds or something. Better than diddling around, trying to guess in 20 seconds if the space around you is an illusion!

And I still am at a loss for why Picard wants to blow the ship up at all. Ok, yes, Picard refuses to stand for all the experimentation nonsense and blah blah blah. Point is, isn't it better to walk away with a nice intact starship and 1/2 the crew than to blow the whole thing up? Especially considering that there are numerous families and children aboard the ship? Nah, blow them all up! Seems a bit of a rash and emotional descion, especially given the fact that they have spoken to Nagilum and his impressions seem to make him benevolent enough to spare children (or at least most of them). But then again, niether the families nor children of the Enterprise have mattered much in emergency situations.

And finally, I think Worf needs to go back to the academy and take some more classes in Strategy and Common Sense. When Nagilum shows his "face", Worf recommends a photon torpedo. Yes, I know the writers want to show his lust for battle and everything, but this is presumeably the same being that has already created an illusion of a Romulan warbird (which attacked rather well!) and another illusion of a Federation starship. Firing a torpedo into its face or illusion of its face isn't a very bright idea ... no matter how trigger happy one may be. Worf was embarassed with his Klingon legend thought -- this attempt at a thought should embarass him signifcantly more.

When Worf goes into his blood lust rage and he don't responds to Rikers call, Riker should have deactivated the holoprogram. The sudden disappearance of his weapon and the surroundings should have brought Worf out of his trance. At the very least Riker would have had a better chance.

After they lost the 2 probes Wesley says that he can move them in closer. Picard accepts this an d they move for about 15-20 seconds under thrusters. Then Picard orders a sfull stop, and they proseed with doing NOTHING. No probes is launched, no scans is performed, no discussion about what it could be. Nothing. They just stare at the viewscreen, Worf even cross his arms and stands motionless as if he is boored. Couldn't they have done this at the previous position. They know that the void devours spacefaring things, so why risk the ship with all theese civilians by moving closer.

Right after the opening credits when Data and Riker explains the phenomenon of the void to Picard, Picard does a very good impression of a grumpy old man: Moves in real close as if he is having trouble hearing, looks puzzled, shakes his head lightly as if he hears the words but they don't add up for him. After Riker finish talking there is also a few moments in which I doubt if Picard was even paying attention, since he is just standing there. I thought that was a funny scene.

At least Pulaski isn't calling Data for Daata anymore.

I think I know why Picard wanted to blow the ship up.

I doubt he had any intention of it being completely destroyed. Nagilum was only trying to see the different methods of human death. If the ship were to blow up, he would be deprived of this knowledge. If deprived of this knowledge, then he would have no reason to keep them there so he would let them go.

Boy, THERE'S a Catch-22 if I ever heard one:

Picard wants to deprive Nagilum of his knowledge of death, so he threatens to blow up the Enterprise...So Nagilum panics and lets them go...So the ship doesn't blow up....So the crew is still alive and thus candidates for Nagilum's experiments...So he decides not to let them go after all...So Picard threatens to blow up the ship again...etc. etc. etc.

Or - now that I reread it - maybe not so much a catch-22, as a giant game of 'chicken'.

The Romulan cloaking device isn't much use is it? Sensors have no difficulty detecting the warbird even though they are not expecting it...

If the void contains no matter or energy, then why is it blue? (It looked black from outside, but inside it is dark mottled blue.) Colour requires energy.

Data quickly determines that no Federation starship has encountered anything remotely like this void. There are two problems with this:

1) As stated in The Guide Volume 2, it looks very much like the void in The Immunity Syndrome.

2) In 'The Naked Now' Data took a long time to check for records of similar phenomenon, needed the science station to do it, and only arrived at the solution when Riker have him a big clue.

The Romulan cloaking device isn't much use is it? Sensors have no difficulty detecting the warbird even though they are not expecting it...

Just because they could tell that it was around does not mean that they could get a phaser lock on it and shoot it with any degree of accuracy.

Why does Nagilum spin Palaski around to get a good look at her? I'd rather spin Troi!

Who says that Troi is more desirable than Pulaski? This Nagilum isn't human. He obviously has different tastes.

Also, if you look at the preview on startrek.com website, this is a great example of PAL.

"A surprise attack sends the Enterprise into a void..."
-mixed with scenes from the holodeck implying that the orc was an enemy

>I< say that that Troi is more desirable! SHE'S MINE!

Troi must have magical powers...she just vanishes from the Bridge then reappears later in the episode.

Maybe Nagilum took her away for a better look?

Maybe he was really John A. NagiLang?

"After returning from the fake Yamato, Riker, frustrated and bewildered, practically mouths off to Picard about using what they’ve got and getting outta there, and Patrick Stewart tries desperately to stifle a smile!"

Why do you assume it's the actor and not the character?

Poor choice of a creature name if you ask me. Nagilum is too close to nagilah, as in the old Yiddish folk song Havah Nagilah

Why would Picard be getting the giggles after his subordinate mouths off to him?

Poor choice of a creature name if you ask me. Nagilum is too close to nagilah, as in the old Yiddish folk song Havah Nagilah - tim gueguen

I know what you mean...

I always thought the word Humans sounded a lot like hummus. Tough to not get them confused.

And Spock is too close to Spick
And Data is too close to Dada.
And Troi is too close to Troy and Toy.
And Worf is too close to wharf.

Why not? Ever since I first saw the episode, I never thought of that scene as Patrick Stewart trying to cover up the fact he's smiling. I always thought it was Picard.

Why would Picard find Riker mouthing off to him funny?

Dunno.

You'd probably have to ask him.

Earl Boen (Nagilum) is in real life, somewhat of an unassuming fellow (probably best known for playing confused psychologist Dr. Peter Silberman in every Terminator film), but his deep voice makes him the perfect candidate for animated villainy: the thuggish Rhino that works for Scarface on "Batman," the Red Skull on "Spider-Man," and the non-villainous but agitated Police Chief on "Bonkers."

Earl Boen also worked for Angela Bower in the early episodes of "Who's the Boss?". MikeC, if you are going to do these "guest star updates", you need to do more research. Mr. Boen's been in ALOT more stuff than just the Terminator films and doing cartoon voice work!!!!!

And as far as Patrick or Picard trying to keep from giggling, I would have to say it was Picard. If it was Patrick doing it out of chariter, then why would the creators leave it in the show? They have editing machines you know? Its pretty silly to think they HAD to leave it in the show JUST BECAUSE they got it on film!

Yes, I KNOW Earl Boen has been in more than those things; if you want to see his whole filmography, go to IMDB or TV.Com. I wanted to list the most famous roles of the actor/roles that interested me. If you want to fill in the gaps, go ahead.

Right after they're engulfed, notice how the ship's internal communications are disrupted, but only long enough to cut to the commercial break with an extra bit of tension. The moment we come back to Picard's log he says something to the effect of, "Oh, and communications are fine now. Yup." Pointless tension, anyone?


2) In 'The Naked Now' Data took a long time to check for records of similar phenomenon, needed the science station to do it, and only arrived at the solution when Riker have him a big clue.

Well having looked it up then, now he already knows all that stuff, doesn't he?

When Dr. Pulaski is repeatedly being rude and apologizing to Data at the beginning of the show, Data has to stifle a smile, we see the corners of Data's lip going up a little bit. Also, later on, when Nagilum is making openings in the void randomly appear and dissapear, when one of them disappears, Data says "I've lost the signal, sir."

By LUIGI NOVI on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 2:25 pm:

Why would Picard be getting the giggles after his subordinate mouths off to him?

I haven't seen this episode in probably ten years, but when I first saw it, that scene confused me. I took it (Picard's smile) to mean that there was something he knew that Riker didn't, and watched for that plot element to come into the story, and at the end I was wondering if I missed it. It's a rather noticeable shot too, as it's the one that faded to black for commercials. It makes me wonder in retrospect if maybe a scene was cut somewhere for time constraints, which might have given it meaning.

Either that or it was just a goof that no one noticed at the time and didn't have time to go back and reshoot later.

Kirk and Co. encountered a void like this in The Immunity Syndrome (as Phil pointed out). How the heck could Data have missed that in his search of the database!?

Maybe Data was distracted by the top secret Starfleet parrot?

If the universe isn't infinite, what
happens when you try to pass the
edge? What was seen in the first Traveler episode? Blank, matterless space? The hall of mirrors effectyou see when you no-clip out of a Doom level? Or do you end up on the opposite edge of the known universe repeating like when you no-clip out of the level in games such as Quake or Doom and continue moving in a straight line and end up in the level again in the opposite end from where you started? x

Imagine a 2 dimensional creature living on the curved surface of a sphere. The sphere is not infinite but it has no edge, the creature can just keep moving in the same direction and it will never encounter a boundary. Instead, it will simply find itself returning to its starting point. The universe could be a 3 dimensional volume similarly curved in 4 dimensional spacetime, making it finite but unbounded.