History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E1EncounterAtFarpoint

* KillItWithIce: Q does this to the {{Redshirt}} Lieutenant Torres and later to Tasha Yar, though both are revived (Torres with the ''Enterprise'''s sickbay, Yar by Q himself). Part of the EarlyInstallmentWeirdness; later on Q's weapon of choice for messing with people is different forms of TeleportSpam.

* MythologyGag: At the end of their initial encounter aboard the Enterprise's bridge, Picard angrily dismisses Q and his whole agenda, commenting that this is far from the first time humanity has encountered arrogant SufficientlyAdvancedAliens who felt their higher level of technology gave them grounds to mock and scorn humanity for its violent past or lower power level. This actually indirectly references ''several'' stories from ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', most prominently in the season one episodes ''The Corbomite Manuever'' and ''Arena''.

* MauveShirt: Creator/ColmMeaney is playing a nameless RedShirt extra in this episode. This role later evolved into Chief Miles O'Brien, who eventually even got [[AscendedExtra main character status]] in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.

** Q's first appearance--as a middle ages Sea Captain taking in iambic pentameter, is almost jocular (SoundtrackDissonance aside)--but a few seconds later he's freezing a crewman solid with a glimpse. Enter...''chaos''.

** The Bandi were apparently a pre-warp civilization, even going so far as to rely on the argument that they do not like to leave their homeworld as an excuse for not accepting a proposal to build starbases for the Federation elsewhere. Despite this, the [[AlienNonInterferenceClause Prime Directive]] is apparently not an obstacle to the Federation setting up shop on their planet, even though in later seasons it would be argued that comparable civilizations should not be saved from ''extinction'' due to the Prime Directive forbidding even contact with them.

* BeyondTheImpossible: Picard tries to outrace Q and pushes the ''Enterprise'' to its maximum emergency speed of warp 9.7 (which is a subtle ContinuityNod to the Original Series, where in the episode [[Recap/StarTrekS3E17ThatWhichSurvives "That Which Survives"]] a villain made the ''Enterprise'' go at warp 14.1, the same speed but on the old scale). Then Q's "ship" reaches warp 9.8. Data says they might be able to match that, but at "extreme risk". As Picard hesitates and considers...

* AndTheAdventureContinues: Justified as this is the first episode and the beginning of the journey.
-->'''Picard:''' Let's see what's out there... Engage.

** Q's trial is stated to be taking place during the "post-atomic horror" of 2079. While the franchise has not fully mapped out the 21st Century, it is now clear that World War III occurred in the 2050s and this was followed by first contact with the Vulcans in 2063. Afterwards, the Vulcans took stewardship of Earth and helped humanity rebuild.

Suddenly, the voyage is interrupted by a vast energy grid blocking their path. Picard orders full stop, and the crew is startled by someone who flashes onto the bridge. The being declares that humanity has gone too far into the galaxy and they are to return home at once. Identifying himself simply as Q, he demonstrates his powers by blocking security from entering the bridge and freezing a {{redshirt}} (though non-fatally). Picard and Q engage in philosophical debates as the former tries to explain how humans have grown up from being a "grievously savage child race." Nevertheless, he inadvertently gives Q an idea and the being departs. Worf recommends they fight while Security Chief Tasha Yar recommends escape. Thinking quickly, Picard decides to see just what a ''Galaxy''-class starship is capable of and orders them to jump to maximum warp. A Sphere of Fear gives chase and eventually starts to overtake the ''Enterprise''. The Captain orders all civilians into the saucer section, which separates while he takes the stardrive against Q. However, recognizing that he is outmatched, Picard broadcasts a surrender.

Suddenly, Picard, Troi, Data, and Yar find themselves in a late-21st Century court. They are heckled by the audience and threatened by armed soldiers until Q arrives, dressed in regal attire as the court's judge. He presents the charges against Picard, that humanity is a savage race. Despite promising a "fair trial," it's quite clear that the Q have already made up their mind. He has the soldiers put their guns to the defendants' heads and demands they plead guilty. Picard does so, but only provisionally. He asks Q to test humanity, to see if this is still true of humans. Q is intrigued and agrees this, noting that Farpoint Station will make an excellent test.

* AppealToForce: Once Q has put the Enterprise crew on trial, the accusation is made that humanity was once and still might be a "dangerously savage child-race." Picard says they will successfully defend themselves against the accusation if the trial is fair. Q replies that [[BlatantLies the trial will be absolutely equitable]], and then promptly orders that Picard and crew be summarily executed if they enter any other plea besides ''guilty.''

* BeyondTheImpossible: Picard tries to outrace Q and pushes the ''Enterprise'' to its maximum emergency speed of warp 9.7 (which is a subtle ContinuityNod to the Original Series, where in the episode [[Recap/StarTrekS3E17ThatWhichSurvives "That Which Survives"]] a villain made the ''Enterprise'' go at warp 14.1, the same speed but on the old scale). Then Q's "ship" reaches warp 9.8. Data says they might be able to match that, but at "extreme risk." As Picard hesitates and considers...

* CallBack: Admiral [=McCoy=]'s old-age makeup was designed to resemble the doctor's appearance after being hit with the rapid ageing disease in TOS's "The Deadly Years."

-->"Captain's log, Stardate 41153.7. Our destination is Planet Deneb IV, beyond which lies the great unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile I'm becoming better acquainted with my new command – this ''Galaxy''-class USS ''Enterprise''. I'm still somewhat in awe of its size and complexity. As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer, but I'm informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William Riker, will be waiting to join the ship at our Deneb IV destination."
* CerebusRetcon: When the crew is placed on trial, Picard suggests that Q judge them based on their performance on the "long mission" they have ahead of them. Q dismisses the idea but says he will judge them just based on how they perform on this specific visit to Farpoint Station. Seven years later, in the final episode [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E24AllGoodThings "All Good Things..."]], Q reveals that he took up Picard's suggestion after all, saying "the trial never ended." Later, in the ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' episode ''[[Recap/StarTrekPicardS2E02Penance Penance]]'' Q states tells Picard that the trial is still on-going.

** The holodeck behaves a bit oddly compared to later in the show. The water Wesley falls into must have been non-holographic, since it persists when he leaves. Data also throws a rock, which bounces off the holodeck wall instead of merging into the scenery as it should.
** On top of that, Data is stated to be in "Holodeck Area 4-J." Holodecks would only be listed by a single number.

** When formulating his plan to outrun Q, Picard says that his orders will be transmitted via "printout only," in contrast to the clearly NoPaperFuture.
** Picard asks Riker if he'd like to initiate "an illegal kidnapping." Later episodes would show Picard to be quite a strickler with rules.

** This is the only time in which Picard says "supplementary" in his Captain's Log, instead of "supplemental."

** The "Previously" segment in part two is narrated by a male voice, which announces the title of the pilot episode, "Previously, on 'Encounter at Farpoint'", as though the creators didn't know if the show would be picked up for a full run and lacked the confidence to use the actual series name because it wasn't full-grown yet. Later two-parters would be narrated by Creator/MajelBarrett, who would say "Last time on ''Star Trek: the Next Generation", then a recap segment, and finish by saying, "And now, the conclusion."

** Commander Riker boards the ''Enterprise'' and immediately has a talk with Captain Picard about his previous service. Picard brings up a time when Riker refused to let a previous CO beam down to a planet (which becomes a running theme between the two of them in the later series). Picard gruffly asks if Riker has any respect for a Captain's rank. Riker, without being either defensive or smug, says that a Captain's ''life'' means more. Picard suddenly smiles and says "Welcome aboard the ''Enterprise''." This scene is more or less sums up how their relationship is going to go for the rest of their time serving together.

* FamousFamousFictional: When Q first appears, he is dressed as a captain from the [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen Age of Sail]], then as a US Marine from The20thCentury--and finally as soldier from the [[AfterTheEnd Post-Atomic Horror]] of the [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture 2070s]]. (And at the end of the episode, he is continuing the theme by wearing the uniform of a contemporary [[note]]meaning 24th century[[/note]] Starfleet captain. This last one will evolve into the default outfit for him and other Q in many later episodes.)

-->"Splendid, splendid, Captain! You're a veritable ''fountain'' of good ideas. There are preparations to make, but when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed [[KangarooCourt exactly as you suggest]]."

* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: Q promises Picard that there will be "a fair trial, absolutely equitable." This fairness lasts about half a minute, culminating in Q ordering guns to the defendants' heads and demanding a guilty verdict.

* ShuttingUpNow: {{Subverted}}--when Data apologizes for "commenting on everything" while on the space-dwelling life form, Riker tells him, "Don't stop, my friend." [[RunningGag He probably ends up regretting that.]]

* WeWillMeetAgain: After completing the test, Picard demands Q get off his ship. Q obliges, but not before saying, "But I do not promise never to appear again."

* ChewingTheScenery: Counselor Troi has some moments when she senses the pain of an imprisoned alien. It doesn't quite come off, as Creator/WilWheaton notes in his [[http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/01/09/star-trek-the-next-generation-encounter-at-farpoint-part-ii/ recap]]: