History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E1411001001

Bynars upgrade the ''Enterprise'''s computers in spacedock. Riker and Picard become distracted by a surprisingly realistic holodeck character.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The ''Enterprise'' computer has both a male and female voice.

* TheDividual: Bynars are like this by nature.

* AsYouKmow: Picard reminds Riker that arming the auto-destruct is the one decision that requires them to be in total agreement.

* SelfDestructMechanism: Picard and Riker initiate the auto-destruct system to prevent the ship from falling into hostile hands.

* NotSoDifferent: Bynars take children and remove part of their ''brain'', replacing it with cybernetic implants that mean they are forced to work in tandem with another Bynar. In retrospect, what exactly makes them any better than the Borg?
** They only do it to themselves?
** FridgeBrilliance: This way of life actually has its perks. For example, former Borg drones like [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Seven-of-Nine and Icheb]] are {{Omnidisciplinary Scientist}}s even after they are severed from the Collective. This gives the kind of BrokenAesop that being raised the Borg way ''is'' actually beneficial, so long as you provide the right socialization to drones once they are released from the hive mind as adults. To the Bynars, what they are doing is ensuring that every child of their species has the same intellectual advantages.
* ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: 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 like to be a name or other significant phrase. In this case, the Bynars probably ''meant'' for it to be easily guessed.

* AbsenteeActor: Troi is not seen.

Bynars upgrade the Enterprise's computers in spacedock. Riker and Picard become distracted by a surprisingly realistic holodeck character.

!!Tropes featured:

* AbandonShip: The Bynars make it look like the Enterprise's warp core is going to fail, [[BatmanGambit leading the crew]] to evacuate the ship and pilot it out of spacedock to minimize possible casualties.
* DidNotThinkThisThrough: As pointed out at the end of the episode, the Bynar could have just ''asked'' for their help?! Somewhat justified, as their binary thinking meant they only saw two options and they simply couldn't take "No" for an answer!
** A better example is that it needed two humans to operate the system to reboot the Bynar planet, yet they only kidnapped one, Riker, and Picard only ended up on board by accident.
* DistractedByTheSexy: Minuet was made to distract Riker, and later Picard, from realizing the Bynar's plans.

** FridgeBrilliance: This way of life actually has its perks. For example, former Borg drones like [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Seven-of-Nine and Icheb]] are OmnidisciplinaryScientist[=s=] even after they are severed from the Collective. This gives the kind of BrokenAesop that being raised the Borg way ''is'' actually beneficial, so long as you provide the right socialization to drones once they are released from the hive mind as adults. To the Bynars, what they are doing is ensuring that every child of their species has the same intellectual advantages.

* TakeAThirdOption: [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], this is what the Bynars did. They knew if they asked the Federation for help, the only possible answers were "Yes" or "No".

* TheCastShowoff: Riker plays the trombone for the first time on the show, since Creator/JonathanFrakes plays trombone in real life.

** FridgeBrilliance: This way of life actually has its perks. For example, former Borg drones like [[StarTrekVoyager Seven-of-Nine and Icheb]] are OmnidisciplinaryScientist[=s=] even after they are severed from the Collective. This gives the kind of BrokenAesop that being raised the Borg way ''is'' actually beneficial, so long as you provide the right socialization to drones once they are released from the hive mind as adults. To the Bynars, what they are doing is ensuring that every child of their species has the same intellectual advantages.

* TakeAThirdAction: [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], this is what the Bynars did. They knew if they asked the Federation for help, the only possible answers were "Yes" or "No".

* TookAThirdAction: [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], this is what the Bynars did. They knew if they asked the Federation for help, the only possible answers were "Yes" or "No".

* NotSoDifferent: Bynars take children and remove part of their ''brain'', replacing it with cybernetic implants that mean they are forced to work in tandem with another Bynar. In retrospect, what exactly makes them any better than the Borg?

* HarsherInHindsight: What exactly makes the Bynars any better than the Borg? Yet we're supposed to sympathize with them.

Bynars upgrade the Enterprise's computers in spacedock. Riker and Picard become distracted by a surprisingly realistic holodeck character.