Why is Geordi yelling for help in the cave, after he falls down a shaft? He's still got his communicator.

And why does he keep yelling for both of his colleagues, especially when it's really hard to yell "Comma-a-a-nder Ri-i-i-ker!"?! It's not like Will is going to hear Geordi yelling and say to himself, "Oh, he's yelling for Worf so I'll ignore him"!

I remember watching this episode when it was new (was it REALLY 10 years ago?! Geez!), and how my jaw dropped when Worf refused to help the wounded Romulan. I really thought he was going to give in to Picard and grudingly comply. I was impressed the producers allowed Worf to stick to his guns and refuse to help, thus thumbing their noses at all those politically-correct viewers that might feel Worf had no choice..

Here, here, Will.

I would have done the same thing in Worf's position.

Peter.

Worf said at the beginning that the communicators were "disfunctional" so probably Geordi's was too.

After the Romulan told Worf that he would rather die then be healed with "Klingon filth", why did Picard and Crusher still try to convince Worf to help? The Romulan made his wishes clear, surely Crusher wouldn't treat him against his will? I suppose that she could say that due to his injuries he does not have the mental ability to refuse, but he talked with Worf easy enough.

I suppose the EM interference would have made it impossible, but I don't think anyone suggested using a shuttle to get down there.

Why did they only drop one beacon? Why not drop several in the same area to increase the chance that Geordi would find one?

I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but...At the end of the episode, Picard tells Tomalak that he will escort the Warbird to the Romulan side of the Neutral Zone...Then, we see the ships flying off--in opposite directions! This is, to the best of my knowledge, not escorting...
Also, am I the only one who thinks that even a low intensity phaser blast (directed upwards and away from people, of course) would make a really, really good distress signal? Certainly much better than yelling, I should think.
-Sasha

Shouldn't it be dangerous for Riker, Worf and Geordi to beam into a howling windstorm? How does the transporter put them together again, but keep out all the airborne particles?

With all those particles flying around shouldn't the Away Team be wearing goggles and helmets and possibly air filters?

Wouldn't helmets with lights on them be a bit more practical than just hand lights?

Geordi looks at the remains of the Romulan vessel and sees Ultritium residue, which is amazing because in Manhunt the Antideans lined their robes with Ultritium because the Transporter couldn't read it. Does this mean that they didn't need Lwaxana to save the day in that episode? (If anyone has Manhunt on tape check to see if Geordi is ever in the same room with the Antideans.)

Why didn't they just beam the Romulan directly to Sick Bay?

When Riker wanted to send another team to find Geordi, it looked like Picard nodded his head yes, but he said, "Denied."

Why didn't the Federation outposts catch Tomalak's transmission to the Pi? Don't tell me they still haven't been rebuilt after the Borg destroyed the old ones.

Why didn't Picard separate the ship? The saucer section could have continued to orbit Galorndon Core and wait for Geordi, and the Stardrive section could have taken the wounded Romulan to the Neutral Zone.

Why does Geordi automatically assume that Wes was responsible for the Neutrino stream?

Riker and Worf are talking about what if the Federation and the Romulans become allies. Worf says that would never happen and Riker points out that the Klingons and the Federation were once enemies. Then Riker says to Worf, "Think how many of both sides died in that war." What war? The Organians in Errand Of Mercy prevented the Klingons and Federation from having a war.

As the only Klingon on board the Enterprise, shouldn't Dr. Crusher have samples of Worf's blood and other bodily fluids in storage in case of an emergency?

Geordi and Bochra are fixing up the neutrino detector and Geordi says, "Let her rip." Shouldn't Bochra say, "Let what rip?" (Or are Romulans well versed in how to speak Geordi-onics?)

The window behind Picard show the stars moving by fairly quickly, but when the Ready Room doors open and Worf leaves, the stars on the main viewscreen don't move.

Finally, after commenting on this in several of my entries, we finally see a shadow leading away from the main viewscreen. Of course, it's not as dark as the shadow leading toward the viewscreen, but there are shadows there, most of the time. When Geordi and Bochra stand in front of the main viewscreen one camera angle shows shadows leading away from the viewscreen, but then the angle changes and the shadows are missing, then the camera switches back and so are the shadows.

Why does Geordi automatically assume that Wes was responsible for the Neutrino stream?

HRTS (He Read The Script)

Deanna's empathic insights regarding Tomalak are about as insightful as a Chinese fortune cookie:

"There is much hostility behind his smile" I believe was one of them.

Boy, I bet Picard was really glad she was on the bridge.

I must note that Crusher's hair is noticably longer in this episode than previous episodes....Yet...It gets short again in the next episode.

The footage of the Enterprise & the Romulan BOP is from "Contagion"

WHY didn't Worf tell Picard that the dying Romulan did not want any blood transfusion after Picard asks Worf to volunteer to be the donor?
I mean, they were talking about aborting Troi's baby in "The Child"..but when she said she wanted it, the question was moot. So, why is it if a dying Romulan doesn't want a blood transfusion from a Klingon the question is not moot?

One is taking a life and the other is preserving it. One out weighs the other.

I guess "the right to die" is no longer in vogue.

This is the first episode to feature Tomolak

Has it ever struck anyone else as fishy that a Vulcan isn't a compatible blood donor for a Romulan, even though the two species are practically identical?

No nits my butt!

In case you didn't read the original book, my reference yesterday referred to the fact that Phil originally declared this episode "nit-free."

Andreas Katsulas makes his first appearance as Tomalak. He also played G'Kar on "Babylon 5," and was the One-Armed Man in the big screen adaptation of "The Fugitive."

Things I learned from this episode:

Beware any doctor who asks for you, then greets you like a cheery kindergarten teacher. (watch the way Doc Crusher greets Worf, when she tells him about his compatibility)

Also:

Federation doctors don't know what "DNR" means on foreign health cards. [g]

Just before the end, Picard says the Enterprise will escort the Romulan warbird to the Neutral Zone...yet, at the end, the ships are flying in opposite directions.

(Somebody must have made a "U-Turn" when we weren't looking!)

That was already pointed out a couple of years ago!

And why couldn't the Enterprise have done a "U-Turn" off camera? Is there a no "U-Turn" law in space?


Go White Sox!

When the rockslide strikes the Romulan who has captured Geordi, why on earth doesn't he use the opportunity to relieve the Romulan of his disruptor? The Romulan is incapacitated for several seconds.

This episode reminds me of Cheney shooting the hunter guy and the Hunter-freind apoligizes to Cheney !

unshot dialog. Geordie
I'm sorry I hit you.

Romulan : I wish I did hit you.

I think the subsequent scene made clear that Geordi placed his faith in Bochra, thinking that in helping him, Bochra would no longer consider Geordi his prisoner.

Inspired by a phaser usage discussion on the Suspicions board, I rewatched this episode to see if Geordi did it correctly and he did not. When firing the phaser, to make his first climing spike, his thumb is not pressing the trigger but the small left button, which I believe is for adjusting beam width.

The 1993 edition of Phil Farrand's "Nitpicker's Guide for TNG" lists this episode as being without any mistakes. I know this because I checked my edition when I saw the starships going in opposite directions after Picard clearly stated the Enterprise would be escorting the warbird to the Neutral Zone. This is a definite nit.
And no, starships do not make "U-turns" from stationary positions. They align themselves to the correct course using thrusters and then advance using impulse or warp. For example, note the way the Enterprise maneuvres when Riker says "Let's get the hell out of" the Neutral Zone in the companion episode to this one: "The Defector"

Vol II of the guide notes that he got nailed on that by all of us nitpickers.

I thought it was Genesis that Phil said had nothing wrong with it?(I do admit I do not have a Guide in front of me)

Nope, it was "The Enemy".

By Will S. on Wednesday, July 12, 2000 - 10:21 am:

I remember watching this episode when it was new (was it REALLY 10 years ago?! Geez!), and how my jaw dropped when Worf refused to help the wounded Romulan. I really thought he was going to give in to Picard and grudingly comply. I was impressed the producers allowed Worf to stick to his guns and refuse to help, thus thumbing their noses at all those politically-correct viewers that might feel Worf had no choice..

And now, it's 17 years ago. My God, where is the time going?!

I always thought that they could have had it both ways. The Romulan could have said as was shown, i.e. "I would rather die than pollute my body with Klingon filth!", and Worf could have refused to donate blood. It might have been interesting if Worf had had a sly change of heart at the end, saying something like "If death is your preferred choice, so be it. Doctor, I am ready for the transfusion!".

Tomalak's first appearance. I kind of liked the guy. More of him would have been all right. And the Romulans were always intriguing. Made for a pretty enjoyable episode. I still can't believe Phil at first thought it nitless. Even missed the dropped phaser gaffe.

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quote:

Callie: And why does he keep yelling for both of his colleagues, especially when it's really hard to yell "Comma-a-a-nder Ri-i-i-ker!"?! It's not like Will is going to hear Geordi yelling and say to himself, "Oh, he's yelling for Worf so I'll ignore him"!

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quote:

Aaron Dotter: After the Romulan told Worf that he would rather die then be healed with "Klingon filth", why did Picard and Crusher still try to convince Worf to help? The Romulan made his wishes clear, surely Crusher wouldn't treat him against his will? I suppose that she could say that due to his injuries he does not have the mental ability to refuse, but he talked with Worf easy enough.

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quote:

KAM: Shouldn't it be dangerous for Riker, Worf and Geordi to beam into a howling windstorm? How does the transporter put them together again, but keep out all the airborne particles?

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quote:

Jedi Outcast: Federation doctors don't know what "DNR" means on foreign health cards.

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Doctors are supposed to save patients if they are able, but not against their will. If an individual refuses a lifesaving course of treatment, doctors are supposed to respect that unless there is something preventing that person from making rational choices, which wasn't the case here.

In this case, though, we don't know if Crusher and Picard know of the Romulan's wishes since he tells them only to Worf. While we would expect Worf to tell the others this fact, it's possible that he doesn't.

"And no, starships do not make "U-turns" from stationary positions. They align themselves to the correct course using thrusters and then advance using impulse or warp. For example, note the way the Enterprise maneuvres when Riker says "Let's get the hell out of" the Neutral Zone in the companion episode to this one: "The Defector"" -Rob

I beg to differ- the Enterprise has been making U-turns, both at warp and impulse, since Encounter At Farpoint!!! :-) (Incidentally, that's one of may favorite manuevers for the Enterprise to perform. Ironically, the other is the one you just describe- the Enterprise wheels around and then takes off, as seen from a perspective jus behind one of the nacelles- I believe the shot is used in the Nth Degree, among others. You know the one I mean? So, there is precedent for the Enterprise doing both.)

By ScottN on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 3:06 pm:
Vol II of the guide notes that he got nailed on that by all of us nitpickers.

Are there any nitpickers using this site who have their name in one of Phil's books?

Yep, me. I'm in the 2nd NextGen Guide under my legal moniker, Stanley.
There's at least one other person, but I think he wants to remain anonymous, so I won't say who.

I'm in Next Gen guide II as "Brian FitzGerald of Acworth, GA" for pointing out to Phil that the new mining technology in "The Quality of Life" was called the particle fountain, not the plasma fountain as he had said in Next Gen I.

OK, there's 2 others. :-)

I don't know whether it has been noticed before but there is a mistake at the very beginning of this episode. When Geordie falls down the hole his visor falls off to the right away from him. When he comes to, I think after the credits, it is right by his left hand. I emailed this nitpick to Phil Farrand several years ago after I read his book but never recieved a reply. I don't have he episode in front of me now so the left and right may be mixed up but it is a definite nitpick.

You can tell an American wrote this episode.

When Picard discusses the possibilty of all out war with the Romulans, he refers to Pearl Harbour is being a preamble to war. Uh, that war had been raging for TWO YEARS prior to the attack on Pearl Harbour. Britain and Canada had already lost many good soldiers before the Japanese attack got the U.S. involved in World War II.

So, Tim, are you saying that you're not American?

I mean, if you're not, that's OK, I've already been chastized by others on this board for supposedly failing to remember that people outside of the U.S. post here too. My post about cricket on the Sports board comes to mind!

Anyway, you make a good point with that observation. And Picard is French, and is portrayed by an Englishman. That makes what he says even more mind-boggling, I think!

I'm Canadian.

And that's cool. I live in Maine, and I was up at the border this summer, but I did not cross over, as I had not brought my passport. But I waved across the river and said "Hi, Canada!

Well, *I* thought it was funny!

Anyway, I spoke with you about DC comics last year, Tim. I thought you had some good things to say.

Also, is it true that when Canadians travel, they hate being mistaken for Americans, and that's they sew the Canadian flag on their backpacks?

I heard that somewhere, it's probably just a joke.

The ship's sensors can't cut through the planet's magnetic storms, and can't confirm the existence of a second romulan survivor, or even if Geordie is still alive. Well, Deanna is on the bridge. She demonstrated in other episodes her ability to sense individual minds from orbit. The storms are no obstacle for telepathic or empathic emissions. She should have told Picard that she sensed two people very much alive on the planet.