Air Date: January 29th, 1990
Plot
The Enterprise is delivering medical supplies to a planet that is at the beginning of a revolution when Doctor Crusher gets captured by the revolutionist. As the crew investigate her abduction we learn from the other side that the revolutionists are using a form of teleportation that is instant, untraceable, goes through shields but also slowly kills the user. They are hoping that Doctor Crusher can help prevent the inevitable death but even though she tries she can't.
During the episode Doctor Crusher starts to experience Stockholm syndrome as her abductor, a Kyril Finn, explains that while it may be seen as an outsider as senseless violence, the reality is that sometimes change has to come through rebellion. Eventually the Wesley is able to figure out how they transport and how to trace it and they beam down and rescue Doctor Crusher. They succeed but kill Finn in the process.
Commentary
The episode does a good job showing that sometimes people are so desperate they are willing to sacrifice themselves to fight for what they believe in. While violence is rarely the answer, it is sometimes the only answer.
This episode is banned in the UK due to a comment Data made about how terrorism was what allowed Ireland to be unified in 2024. This episode mirrored the kinds of attacks that were happening in Ireland so I can see that it might have been too hot a topic for the time. It is still banned today.
The episode did have two Starfleet officers die. One red and one gold.
Quotes
"In a world where children blow up children - everyone's a threat." - Devos
"You should be drawing, not killing people." - Doctor Crusher
"I can do both" - Finn
"This is a war for independence. And I am no different than your own George Washington." - Finn
"Washington was a military general, not a terrorist." - Doctor Crusher
"The difference between generals and terrorists, Doctor, is only the difference between winners and losers." - Finn
"I have been reviewing the history of armed rebellion. And it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change." - Data
"Yes, it can be. But I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun." - Picard
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