History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E21Symbiosis

* ChemicalMessiah: The felicium is the entire basis of the society of ''both'' planets, because the Ornarans believe they need it to survive, and the Brekkians, in response have completely built their economy around its production.

* [[CaptainObvious Ensign Obvious]]: The X-rays from the star causes a surge of blue light in the computer Wesley is working with. His response? "Captain, my console seems to be overloading."

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Near the end of the episode Tasha can be seen waving at the camera. That scene was Denise Crosby's last filmed shot on set as Tasha Yar, at least until the character's return in "Yesterday's Enterprise."

* LostTechnology: The Ornaran space ships will soon be this, because the Onarans forgot how to repair them if needed. In the end, Picard is counting on this when he comes up with a Prime Directive compatible way to end their exploitation by the Brekkians.
* PlotHole: The freighter Sanction was carrying both the medicine and the payment for said medicine. Logically, the payment would be delivered to Brekka prior to loading the medicine for the return voyage to Ornara. The payment was on the freighter purely to involve the Enterprise crew in a dispute of ownership.
* RubberForeheadAlien: The makeup of the Ornarans would serve as the basis for the makeup of the Bajorans starting in "Ensign Ro", before being streamlined on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.

'''T'Jon:''' Right...and how do we do that?\\
'''Picard:''' (''"YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe" AsideGlance to Riker'') What is the matter with these people?
* TakeAThirdOption: When faced with the decision between perpetuating a cycle of abuse or breaking the Prime Directive, Picard withdraws his offer to repair the Ornarans' ships, ensuring the eventual breakdown of the system while leaving the Directive intact.
* TheMcCoy: Dr. Crusher displays similar views to those of her predecessor, arguing for morality over the Prime Directive.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: You'd figure the Brekkians would be a little more concerned going to a planet that is bound to get through their withdrawal, realize that they have been exploited for generations and the only two Brekkians they can take their outrage out on are on their planet.

* YouLookFamiliar: The actors who play T'Jon and Sobi, Merritt Butrick and Judson Earney Scott, had much more prominent roles in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', namely David Marcus and Joachim respectively.

* CurbStompBattle: Armus strikes down Tasha, and she is dead almost immediately - much to the dissatisfaction of Armus, who wanted to see her suffer.

* YouLookFamiliar: The actors who play T'Jon and Sobi, Merritt Butrick and Judson Earney Scott, had much more prominent roles in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan''.

'''Picard:''' *''"YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe" look''* What is the matter with these people?

Perhaps best-known in retrospect for being the final episode in production order that Denise Crosby worked on, and also for the extensive behind-the-scenes feature that Creator/LeVarBurton did for an episode of ''Series/ReadingRainbow''.

* DrugsAreBad
* [[CaptainObvious Ensign Obvious]]: The xrays from the star causes a surge of blue light in the computer Wesley is working with. His response? "Captain, my consol seems to be overloading."

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: You'd figure the Brekkians would be a little more concerned going to a planet that is bound to get through their withdrawal, realize that they have been exploited for generations and the only two Brekkians they can take their outrage out on are on their planet.

'''Picard:''' *YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe look* What is the matter with these people?

* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Picard and Dr. Crusher, simultaneously deducing that [[spoiler: the Brekkians knew about the drug all along.]]

* TakeAThirdOption: When faced with the decision between perpetuating a cycle of abuse or breaking the Prime Directive, Picard [[spoiler: withdraws his offer to repair the Ornaran's ships, ensuring the eventual breakdown of the system while leaving the Directive intact.]]

* RubberForeheadAlien: The makeup of the Ornarans would serve as the basis for the makeup of the Bajorans in "Ensign Ro" before being streamlined on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.

* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Picard and Dr. Crusher, simultaneously deducting that [[spoiler: the Brekkians knew about the drug all along.]]

* TheMcCoy: Dr. Crusher displays similar views to those of her predecessor, arguing for morality over the prime directive and earning herself a PatrickStewartSpeech at the end.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: You'd figure the Brekkians would be a little more concerned going to a planet is bound to get through their withdrawal, realize that they have been exploited for generations and the only two Brekkians they can take their outrage out on are on their planet.

* RubberForeheadAlien: The makeup of the Ornarans would serve as the basis for the Bajorans in "Ensign Ro" before being streamlined on [=DS9=].

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Near the end of the episode Tasha can be seen waving at the camera. That scene was Denise Crosby's last filmed shot on set as Tasha Yar, at least until the character's return in "Yesterday's Enterprise."

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Near the end of the episode Tasha can be seen waving at the camera. Denise Crosby would leave for the first time next episode.

Picard tries to mediate a trade dispute between two neighboring planets, one of which is the sole supplier of a drug to treat the other's apparently fatal disease.