History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E8AMatterOfHonor

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tng_amatterofhonor_hd_252.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:How's that gagh, Riker?]]

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Although this episode establishes many of the standard concepts for the TNG Klingons, there is one odd moment when Klag tells Riker that, to a Klingon, his career is everything and family is less important. This is very much in contrast to concepts of Klingon family-based honour that would soon be introduced. Also, in the same conversation Riker castigates Klag for refusing to contact his father (due to said father's supposed dishonour), angrily reminding him that "he is your ''father''"... But later on, in [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E14TheIcarusFactor "Icarus Factor"]] we find out that Riker himself is estranged from his own father, and hasn't seen him in 15 years.

* IdenticalStranger: Peculiar example with Mendon the Benzite, who looks identical to Mordock from [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E18ComingOfAge "Coming of Age"]] ([[YouLookFamiliar and is played by the same actor]]) and is initially mistaken for him by Wesley. He says that all Benzites from the same "geostructure" look identical. Apparently this was a case of RealLifeWritesThePlot: the script calls for an exhange officer who's not familiar with Starfleet practices, so they couldn't use Mordock... But they still wanted to use the same actor, because the Benzite head cast was molded to fit a specific individual, and hiring the same guy to play Mendon was cheaper than to make a new cast for someone else.

* AThreesomeIsHot: When two Klingon women seem to show interest in Riker, and one of the men suggests that they want to see how well Riker can endure them, he responds "One or both?" This show of bravado endears him to the Klingons, including the women.

[floatboxright:
Series: ''Series/{{Star Trek The Next Generation}}''\\
Episode: Season 2, Episode 8\\
Title: "A Matter of Honor"\\
Previous: "Unnatural Selection"\\
Next: "The Measure of a Man"\\
Recapper: Mandichaos]

* AbsenteeActor: La Forge and Troi do not appear, in Creator/LeVarBurton's first absence from the series.

* IdenticalStranger: Peculiar example with Mendon the Benzite, who looks identical to Mordock from [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E18ComingOfAge "Coming of Age"]] ([[YouLookFamiliar and is played by the same actor]]) and is initially mistaken for him by Wesley. He says that all Benzites from the same "geostructure" look identical. Apparently this was a case of RealLifeWritesThePlot: the script calls for an exhange officer who's not familiar with Starfleet practices, so they couldn't use Mordock... But they still wanted to use the same actor, because the Benzite head cast was individually molded, and hiring the same guy to play Mendon was cheaper than to make a new cast for someone else.

* IdenticalStranger: Peculiar example with Mendon the Benzite, who looks identical to Mordock from [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E18ComingOfAge "Coming of Age"]] ([[YouLookFamiliar and is played by the same actor]]) and is initially mistaken for him by Wesley. He says that all Benzites from the same "geostructure" look identical.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Although this episode establishes many of the standard concepts for the TNG Klingons, there is one odd moment when Klag tells Riker that, to a Klingon, his career is everything and family is less important. This is very much in contrast to concepts of Klingon family-based honour that would soon be introduced.

Series:Series/{{Star Trek The Next Generation}}\\

Title: A Matter of Honor\\
Previous: Unnatural Selection\\
Next: The Measure Of A Man\\

The ''Enterprise-D'' visits Starbase 179 and take on some replacement crew as part of an Officer Exchange Program. Picard notes that Starfleet thinks it would be a good idea for someone from the ''Enterprise'' to participate as well - and mentions that there is a Klingon vessel, the ''Pagh,'' in the area that would agree to take on an exchange officer. Inspired, Riker volunteers to participate because "nobody's ever done it before." He has a slightly rocky start, but manages to develop a camaraderie with most of the crew of the ''Pagh''. Most of the crew, anyway - the overly paranoid Captain Kargan is a different story.

Meanwhile, the exchange officers on the ''Enterprise'' are adjusting. The overly-eager Ensign Mendon, a Benzite, irritates Worf with his constant suggestions for improvement and apparent arrogance, and when he discovers a potentially dangerous bacteria on both the hull of the ''Enterprise'' and the ''Pagh'', he waits overly long to inform Picard of the discovery. When questioned, he states that it is a Benzite regulation to wait until they have a full analysis and resolution before reporting the problem. Picard informs him that if there is a potential for danger to the ship, he should inform the bridge immediately and continue his analysis. Upon discovering that the ''Pagh'' is even more susceptible to the bacteria, the ''Enterprise'' changes course to intercept the Klingon ship to warn them of the potential danger.

Unfortunately, Kargan is convinced that the ''Enterprise'' deliberately spread the bacteria to them and orders his crew to attack. Riker continues to uphold his oath of loyalty to the ''Pagh,'' but before the order to fire can be given he tricks Kargan into taking the emergency transponder that Worf gave him - and Kargan is promptly beamed onto the ''Enterprise.'' Worf stuns Kargan before he can attack the bridge crew, and Riker takes command of the ''Pagh,'' and orders a bemused Captain Picard to surrender and repair the Klingon ship. Both ships are repaired, and Riker returns command to Kargan, growling at him and allowing Kargan to punch him to retain his dignity. As Lieutenant Klag helps Riker up, he muses that Riker has handled himself well.

-->'''Klag:''' You understand the Klingons better than I thought, Commander.
-->'''Riker:''' Thank you, my friend.

* ChekhovsGun: The emergency transponder that Worf gives Riker before he leaves for the ''Pagh.'' It isn't shown or mentioned again until the climax when Riker uses it to trick Kargan into beaming off the ''Pagh.''
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Although this episode establishes many of the standard concepts for the TNG Klingons, there is one odd moment where a Klingon tells Riker that, to a Klingon, his career is everything and family is less important. This is very much in contrast to concepts of Klingon family-based honour that would soon be introduced.

* IdenticalStranger: Peculiar example with Mendon the Benzite, [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E18ComingOfAge who looks identical to Mordock from "Coming of Age"]] ([[YouLookFamiliar and is played by the same actor]]) and is initially mistaken for him by Wesley. He says that all Benzites from the same "geostructure" look identical.

* KlingonPromotion: {{Discussed}} early on by Worf and Riker. During the climax, Riker uses a {{Downplayed}} variant--he doesn't kill Kargan, but tricks him into getting beamed off the ''Pagh'' for a while.

** Kalgar tries to get Riker to betray Starfleet; when Riker refuses, [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves Kalgar tells him that if he had, Kalgar would have executed him as a traitor on the spot.]]
** More humorously, Kalgar is testing Riker's ability to handle Klingon customs throughout the episode. For example, he has a couple of Klingon women come on to him to see how he reacts. (He passes the test.)
* AThreesomeIsHot: When two Klingon women seem to show interest in Riker, and one of the men suggests that they want to see how well Riker can endure them, he responds "One or both?"

* SecretTestOfCharacter: Kalgar tries to get Riker to betray Starfleet; when Riker refuses, [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves Kalgar tells him that if he had, Kalgar would have executed him as a traitor on the spot.]]

Meanwhile, the exchange officers on the ''Enterprise'' are adjusting. The overly-eager Ensign Mendon, a Benzite, irritates Worf with his constant suggestions for improvement and apparent arrogance, and when he discovers a potentially dangerous bacteria on both the hull of the ''Enterprise'' and the ''Pagh'', he waits overly long to inform Picard of the discovery. When questioned, he states that it is a Benzite regulation to wait until they have a full analysis and resolution before reporting the problem. Picard informs him that if there is a potential for danger to the ship, he should inform the bridge immediately and continue his analysis. Upon discovering that the ''Pagh'' is even more susceptible to the bacteris, the ''Enterprise'' changes course to intercept the Klingon ship to warn them of the potential danger.

* AlienLunch: Before his transfer, Riker indulges in Klingon cuisine, which includes live serpent worms called ''gagh''. Later on, in the Klingon mess hall, he discovers that Klingons actually eat their ''gagh'' while it's still alive. Despite initial hesitation, he eventually takes the plunge.

* SecretTestOfCharacter: Kalgar tries to get Riker to betray Starfleet; when Riker refuses, [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves Kalgar tells him that if he had, Kalgar would have executed him as a traitor on the spot.]]

* ForeignQueasine: In the mess hall, Riker discovers that Klingons actually eat ''live'' gagh, which is essentially live serpent worms. Despite initial hesitation, he eventually takes the plunge.

* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: Kalgar tries to get Riker to betray Starfleet; when Riker refuses, Kalgar tells him that if he had, Kalgar would have executed him as a traitor on the spot.

* AccidentalInnuendo: One klingon crewman tells Riker that if he doesn't feel like eating live gagh, he can ask one of the females to breastfeed him; apparently unaware of the erotic implications of the act in human culture.

* MeatMoss: Both ships are infested with a bacterial colony that doubles in size every quarter-hour and feeds on the metal of their hulls. Getting rid of it serves as the B-plot of the episode.

* IdenticalStranger: Peculiar example with Mendon the Benzite, who looks identical to Mordock from "Coming of Age" (and is played by the same actor) and is initially mistaken for him by Wesley. He says that all Benzites from the same "geostructure" look identical.

* IdiotBall: Kargan is convinced that the bacteria is a deliberate attack by the ''Enterprise''. Even when his own crew points out the holes in his logic, he insists that the ''Enterprise'' gave them the bacteria simply by scanning them.

* IdenticalStranger: Peculiar example with Mendon the Benzite, who looks identical to the previously-featured Mordock (and is played by the same actor) and is initially mistaken for him by Wesley. He says that all Benzites from the same "geostructure" look identical.

Unfortunately, Kargan is convinced that the ''Enterprise'' deliberately spread the bacteria to them and orders his crew to attack. Riker continues to uphold his oath of loyalty to the ''Pagh,'' but before the order to fire can be given he tricks Kargan into taking the emergency transponder that Picard gave him - and Kargan is promptly beamed onto the ''Enterprise.'' Worf stuns Kargan before he can attack the bridge crew, and Riker takes command of the ''Pagh,'' and orders a bemused Captain Picard to surrender and repair the Klingon ship. Both ships are repaired, and Riker returns command to Kargan, growling at him and allowing Kargan to punch him to retain his dignity. As Lieutenant Klag helps Riker up, he muses that Riker has handled himself well.

!!Provides examples of: