Fifth Season - Episode 110

NEW GROUND

Stardate: 45376.3
Rating: 9 Humour: - Action: + Tension: + Romance: -

Alternate Titles: Work: "BARRIERS"
German: "DIE SOLITON WELLE"

Teleplay By: Rosenberg, Grant
Story By: Charno, Sara
Charno, Stuart
Director: Scheerer, Robert
Executive: Berman, Rick
Piller, Michael
Roddenberry, Gene
Supervisor: Taylor, Jeri
Producer: Livingston, David
Co-Producer: Lauritson, Peter
Menosky, Joe
Moore, Ronald D.

Cast

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Patrick Stewart
Cmd. William T. Riker: Jonathan Frakes
Lt.Cmd. Geordi LaForge: LeVar Burton
Lt. Worf: Michael Dorn
Doctor Beverly Crusher: Cheryl Gates McFadden
Counselor Deanna Troi: Marina Sirtis
Lt.Cmd. Data: Brent Spiner
Mrs. Roszhenko: Georgia Brown
Alexander: Brian Bonsall
Lowry Kyle: Jennifer Jennifer Edwards
Dr. J'Dar: Richard McGonagle
Ensign Felton: Sheila Franklin

Plot

The Enterprise heads to Bilana Three to help with historic tests of a new propulsion method, a Soliton Wave, which would impart warp drive to a ship without the bulky warp drive engines. While in the sector, Worf's mother visits the ship with Worf's son, Alexander who has been having difficulties living on Earth. Alexander stays on the Enterprise and enrolls in school but he appears to be a liar, a thief and a bully. Worf must learn to build a relationship with Alexander and learn how to be a father. Meanwhile, the experimental ship and Soliton Wave perform beautifully at first but, something goes wrong - a power fluctuation causes the wave to go out of control, destroying the test ship and damaging the Enterprise's engines, shields and sensors. The wave, at an unexpected energy level, heads toward a populated colony at warp speed and, if it hits the colony will completely destroy it. The Enterprise must find a way to stop the wave before it is too late.

Goofs

  • Alexander states that he was born on stardate 42305. Unless the equivalent of 01000 stardate equals approximately one year, Alexander would be only 2 and a half years old.
  • The creature which Riker saves from the lab is obviously a hand puppet.

Quotes

Data: "This might be exiting...."
Worf: "Very interesting..."
LaForge:"I'm talking to wrong crewmembers..."

Troi:"You can't hide from your feelings.."

Worf: "Request permission to leave the bridge"
Picard:"Granted... "

LaForge: "I'm talking to the wrong crowd."

Revised: ddmmċċċċ