Original air date: February 1, 1988
The Bynars (pictured) upgrade the Enterprise's computers in spacedock. Riker and Picard become distracted by a surprisingly realistic holodeck character.
Tropes featured in this episode:
- Abandon Ship: The Bynars make it look like the Enterprise's warp core is going to fail, leading the crew to evacuate the ship and autopilot it out of spacedock to minimize possible casualties.
- As You Know: Picard reminds Riker that arming the auto-destruct is the one decision that requires them to be in total agreement.
- Call-Back: Picard mentions that they've had problems with their holodecks. Well, a man almost died in a holodeck the last time it was used, which would count as a problem.
- Continuity Nod: When discussing the sophistication of Minuet's program, Picard notes that the holodeck has previously given them woodlands and ski slopes, figures that fight and fictional characters with which they can interact.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: When it's all over, Riker tells the four Bynars they could've asked for help and that Starfleet would've likely said yes. When they say their need was too great and that they might've been rejected, Riker chalks it up to their binary thinking.
- Did Not Think This Through:
- As pointed out at the end of the episode, the Bynar could have just asked for Starfleet's help, which in all probability would have been granted instantly! Somewhat justified, as their binary thinking meant they only saw two options and they simply couldn't risk "No" being the answer.
- Two humans are needed to operate the system to reboot the Bynar planet, yet they only kidnap one, Riker, and Picard only ends up on board by accident.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Minuet is made to distract Riker, and later Picard, from realizing the Bynars' plans.
- The Dividual: Bynars are like this by nature.
- Dull Surprise:
- Wesley says that there's a problem with the antimatter magnetic containment field in a very unconcerned tone, when such a problem could mean the ship's destruction.
- The look on the crew's faces when the Enterprise finally returns to spacedock.
- When Data orders all hands to abandon ship, the initial reaction is people stopping, listening to the announcement, then casually walking in another direction.
- Early-Installment Weirdness:
- The Enterprise computer has both a male and female voice, due to the production team having not yet settled on Majel Barrett as the standard Starfleet computer voice.
- The whistling sound effect from TOS is heard in this episode.
- The realism of Minuet is considered to be beyond the capacity of the ship's computer to simulate, but later episodes have the computer creating characters at least on par with her. One is realistic enough for another crew member to fall in love with. Another gains sentience.
- Also, Minuet freezes when Picard calls for the exit rather than "Computer, freeze program."
- The auto-destruct is stated to be fixed at a five-minute countdown. Later, the Captain is shown able to choose the delay. In addition, Picard and Riker activate it with handprint recognition, instead of simply giving their clearance codes.
- EMP: According to Minuet, this is why the Bynars need help. A nearby star was about to go supernova, and it would generate a burst that would permanently knock out their main computer. Picard surmises they intended for a temporary shutdown and to store the data in a safe place in the meantime, but things went wrong when the supernova occurred faster than expected and the Enterprise was late arriving at the starbase.
- Escort Distraction: Minuet was made by the Bynars to be this to the Enterprise.
- Everything Sounds Sexier in French: Or at least a French accent.
- Finishing Each Other's Sentences: Bynars do this all the time.
- Forgot About His Powers: As the Enterprise is exiting spacedock, Worf and Yar ask where the transporter room is, causing the starbase commander to state that there's no time as the ship is almost clear of the station. Apparently, their transporters can't do site-to-site transport the way a starship's can. Also, this is a massive starbase designed for servicing starships, and is several miles tall, but apparently it does not have tractor beams.
- Informed Attribute: Riker and Picard marvel at how lifelike Minuet is, but she doesn't seem any more lifelike than the characters we just saw two episodes ago in "The Big Goodbye." McNary even had an existential crisis about his status as a fictional character, something Minuet doesn't have the presence of mind to do.
- Innocuously Important Episode: This episode introduces the idea of self-aware holographic programs with Minuet, which would be explored more with Professor Moriarty in season 2's "Elementary Dear Data", and pave the way for characters like the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager and Vic Fontaine on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- It's All My Fault: Lieutenant Commander Data blames himself for the whole mess, feeling that because he doesn't require rest or recreation, he was neglecting his duties. The others are quick to reassure him otherwise.Tasha: That's a pointless argument, Data. You could've been on the bridge and it still may have happened.
- Lady in Red: Minuet.
- Magic Countdown: Occurs during the autodestruct sequence.
- Meaningful Name: "Minuet" is a slow ballroom dance, which is her metaphorical purpose with music-loving Riker — to keep him occupied in a long dance.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: The four Bynars' actions helped save their entire planet, but they still stole the ship, so they are taken away and expected to stand trial. They said they expected this and leave without complaint.
- The Password Is Always "Swordfish": The code to begin transferring data from the Enterprise computers to the Bynar master computer (and unlock normal functions) is a short sequence in binary that Picard and Riker figure out quite quickly. Data says it's likely to be a name or other significant phrase. In this case, the Bynars probably meant for it to be easily guessed.
- Self-Destruct Mechanism: Picard and Riker arm the auto-destruct system to prevent the ship from falling into hostile hands. They then deactivate it once they regain control of the ship.
- Stock Footage:
- The spacedock footage from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is used greatly here, modified to feature the Enterprise-D model instead of the original Enterprise.
- Several shots of crewmembers in engineering and on corridors during alert are recycled from "Where No One Has Gone Before", including a crewman wearing the infamous "male skant" costume.
- Take a Third Option: Ironically, this is what the Bynars did. They knew if they asked the Federation for help, the only possible answers were "Yes" or "No".
- This Is Not a Drill: The Abandon Ship order.
- Title Drop: "11001001" is the password used to reboot the Bynars' homeworld and named for each of the Bynars on the Enterprise (One-One, Zero-Zero, One-Zero, and Zero-One).
- Wham Line: "Please...try, to...Help...us."
- Wham Shot: Picard and Riker beam onto the bridge expecting a firefight and instead find the four Bynars collapsed in a corner and dying.
