History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E17SamaritanSnare

* TooCleverByHalf: Picard insists on having a routine medical procedure performed at a distant Starbase while a very highly qualified physician (Dr. Pulaski) and medical staff onboard the ''Enterprise'' who could have easily performed the procedure because he didn't want the crew of the ''Enterprise'' to know about his artificial heart. This comes back to haunt him when complications occur during the medical procedure, resulting in Dr. Pulaski being called in anyways to help save his life.

* TechnoBabble: Geordi makes some up to pretend that he's helping the Pakleds fight the ''Enterprise'', but really he's sabotaging their ship and making them believe that they're helples.

* AsYouKnow: A bizarre in-universe example. When Troi warns Riker that the Pakleds are dangerous, Data states, "Our Betazoid counselor is often aware of things beyond our perceptive abilities." Not only is Riker well aware of this fact, Data also states Troi's species and position on the Enterprise, which everyone on the bridge already knows.

* AsYouKnow: A bizarre in-universe example. When Troi warns Riker that the Pakleds are dangerous, Data states, "Our Betazoid counselor is often aware of things beyond our perceptive abilities," stating Troi's species and position on the Enterprise, which everyone on the bridge already knows.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Wesley asks Picard if the incident with the Nausicaans happened "before the Klingons joined the Federation", to which the Captain answers yes. It's later clarified that the Klingon Empire is still a galactic power of their own, and while allies with the Federation, they're not a member species by any means. Also, in ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'' established that the peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingons took place in 2293, more than three decades before Picard's brawl as a cadet.

As the ''Enterprise'' heads on without them, they receive a distress signal from a stranded ship. The ship is full of Pakleds, an apparently dim-witted species who have no idea how their own technology works. Although Worf is leery of the situation, Riker decides to beam Geordi over to their ship to make their repairs for them. Just after he leaves, Troi bursts onto the bridge warning Riker that the Pakleds are not as harmless as they seem. When Geordi finishes his repairs, the Pakleds are impressed by his intelligence and [[HostageSituation take him hostage]].

* DitzyGenius: This seems to be the truth behind the Pakled's only-half-faked veneer of haplessness, apparently having a knack for reverse-engineering and integrating disparate technologies even when they don't fully understand how something works (see the rapid creation of a second phaser), and enough cunning to have apparently pulled off this sort of scam multiple times before.

* PlanetOfDunceCaps: The Pakleds are a dim-witted species, though not quite as dim-witted as they first appear.

** Riker's refusal to take the Pakleds seriously as a threat until it is too late is implied to be for a similar reason.

* {{Pride}}: Picard's flaw. He was a hot-shot young cadet, which got him slapped with an artificial heart. Even after all these years, he's too prideful to brook the idea of his crew knowing that he's not invincible.

The ''Enterprise'' is about to study a new pulsar cluster, but first it has to drop Wesley off at Starbase 515 to take a Starfleet exam. Meanwhile, Dr. Pulaski urges Picard to have an operation he's been neglecting, but he doesn't want it performed on the ship for fear that his invincible aura among the crew will be shattered. In spite of his desire to see the pulsars, he decides to accompany Wesley to the starbase and have the operation off-ship. The pair board a shuttlecraft and settle in for a 13-hour flight at impulse power.

Meanwhile, Picard and Wesley arrive at Starbase 515. Picard's operation starts to go unexpectedly sideways, and the surgeon states that unless they get a specialist involved, Picard will die. The ''Enterprise'' receives word that Picard is on the brink of death, and they are needed at the starbase. But first, Riker and Geordi need to spring their trap. Riker announces that he's going to destroy the Pakled ship with Geordi aboard. Geordi assures the Pakleds that he's on their side now and delivers a stream of TechnoBabble to justify some new adjustments he's making to their weapon systems. The ''Enterprise'' showers the Pakleds with harmless hydrogen exhaust, and Geordi exclaims that the "crimson force field" has deactivated the Pakleds' weapons. Deciding that they have lost, the Pakleds drop their purloined shields and allow Geordi to escape. The ship high-tails it to Starbase 515.

* FlawExploitation: Riker uses this to trick the Pakleds by using a dazzling light-show and Geordi's sabotage to make them think they were hit with a secret defensive countermeasure.

* FormerTeenRebel: Picard during his cadet days, which considering the dignified, reserved persona he gives off now seems almost impossible to believe.

* IdiotBall: Riker takes a very firm grip of it in order for him to be fooled by the Pakleds despite Worf, Data and Troi telling him they can't be trusted.

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Picard recounts this--he got into a BarBrawl with three Nausicaans and held his own until one stabbed him in the back and through his heart.
* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: The Pakleds clearly have no clue how their ship (or ships in general) works. Whether this is true of the entire species, or whether these three bozos just stole a ship, is never made clear.

* LowCultureHighTech: The Pakleds opt to steal advanced technology from other ships since their society has only basic spacefaring technology and underdeveloped linguistic abilities.

* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: As the name of the episode implies, the ship tries to be a Good Samaritan, but fall victim to a WoundedGazelleGambit.

** Riker's refusal to take the Pakleds seriously as a threat until it is too late is implied to be for a similair reason.

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Wesley reacts in alarm when he learns he's going to be spending his 13-hour shuttle trip with Picard, although he rallies hastily.

Picard awakens on the hospital bed fully healed and is shocked to discover that Dr. Pulaski is there, having saved his life. He realizes that the whole ship must now know of his infirmity, but the doctor assures him that no one cares. When he arrives on the bridge, he congratulates Wesley on passing his exam and announces, "[[Creator/MarkTwain Any rumors of my brush with death are greatly exaggerated]]." And with that, we're on to the next adventure! Unbeknownst to all, however, the Pakleds will bide their time, and [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekLowerDecksS1E10NoSmallParts eventually come back]] to prove that simply leaving them behind was a bit of a mistake...

Picard awakens on the hospital bed fully healed and is shocked to discover that Dr. Pulaski is there, having saved his life. He realizes that the whole ship must now know of his infirmity, but the doctor assures him that no one cares. When he arrives on the bridge, he congratulates Wesley on passing his exam and announces, "[[Creator/MarkTwain Any rumors of my brush with death are greatly exaggerated]]." And with that, we're on to the next adventure!