History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E14Conundrum

It turns out that it's shipwide: no one aboard can remember who they are, although they seem to have retained their skills and training (the doctor knows how to work the medical equipment, the engineer knows what the engines do, etc.) The tall guy with the beard and the navigator with the funny nose head down to Ten Forward, where they meet an android serving drinks and a woman who seems to have an empathic ability that no one else does. And this woman and the tall guy seem to remember each other...

...Hey... wait a minute...

They are the crew of the ''Enterprise'', flagship of the United Federation of Planets. The Federation is currently at war with another power, the Lysian Alliance, and the ''Enterprise'' was on a secret mission to destroy the Lysian command center. The memory loss they've experienced is in keeping with rumors Federation intelligence has been hearing about a secret Lysian weapon that's been disabling Federation vessels. The ''Enterprise'''s mission is a crucial one for ending the war, and they are under strict radio silence orders. So they have no way to contact the Federation and confirm all of this. Despite some obvious misgivings, Picard orders the ''Enterprise'' to move forward.

Later, Picard calls [=MacDuff=] into his Ready Room, and there he expresses his concerns. Picard has serious moral issues with this entire situation: he's being asked to blindly follow orders he doesn't remember getting the first time. Orders which require him to kill people he doesn't know. And the encounter with the Lysian ship, whose weapons technology was clearly no match for the ''Enterprise'''s, has filled him with tremendous doubt. [=MacDuff=] expresses his sympathy with the Captain, but he reminds him that they are at war, and the possibility of saving Federation lives must naturally outweigh one man's moral qualms.

* ArcNumber: There are [[The47Society 47]] sentry pods defending the Lysian Central Command.

* ShoutOut: The brief glimpse of [=MacDuff=]'s true physical form shows that the Satarrans closely resemble the aliens from ''Film/TheyLive'', another race who make use of illusion and subterfuge to get humans to do their dirty work for them.

* PunchClockVillain: We really don't know enough about the Lysians, the Satarrans, and their war to make any judgments, so we really can't call [=MacDuff=] anything more than someone trying to do his duty to his people.
** In retrospect, the Lysians were pretty quick to start shooting at a strange spacecraft that they knew nothing about. The information [=MacDuff=] plants in the ''Enterprise'' computer explicitly paints the Lysian Alliance as "genocidal," but the truth of that statement is, like everything else, up for debate. For all we know, the Lysians are the aggressors in the war and [=MacDuff's=] plan was one of last resort. Of course this also means that Picard and Company might even have helped him if he'd just ''asked''.

* RememberTheNewGuy: [=MacDuff=] tries to pull this off in-universe. Interestingly, the direction for the episode doesn't go out of its way to present him as a "new guy"; there's no closeup shot with ominous music or anything when we first see him. If you had never seen TNG before, you might not know there was anything special about him at all. Even regular fans might think he's just some random helmsman or other officer, until the crew manifest is recovered.

* BlingOfWar: Invoked-this is the reason why Worf thinks he's the captain, given his shiny sash. Naturally he's a little embarrassed to discover it isn't, he just wears it as a token of pride in the Klingon part of his heritage.
* CallBack: While speculating about his purpose, Data suggests that androids like him may be standard-issue on starships. [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextgenerationS2E9TheMeasureOfAMan Isn't that what Bruce Maddox wanted?]]
** Riker plays "The Nearness of You" by Hoagie Carmichael on his trombone. He'd previously played it in "11001001".
** Doubling as a MythologyGag, Data's chess match with Troi calls back to a similar match between Kirk and Spock in the [[Recap/StarTrekS1E3WhereNoManHasGoneBefore second original series pilot]].

* CurbStompBattle: The Enterprise quickly destroys the meager defenses of the Lysians without any real effort. This serves as a major clue that something is very fishy about that story of the lengthy war the Federation is supposedly fighting against them.
* DidTheyOrDidntThey: It's left ambiguous as to whether Riker and Ro slept together during their amnesia. (Although given that we last saw Ro, in the bedroom scene, saying "And what makes you think you're going to get any sleep, mister?", what are the odds that they settled down to a nice game of pinochle and a cup of cocoa?) [[WomanScorned But Troi's not very amused in the end]].
* DidntThinkThisThrough: Even if [=MacDuff's=] plan had succeeded, did it ever occur to him or the Satarrans that the Federation might not take kindly to having one of their ships getting hijacked and the crew being manipulated into fighting their war for them under false pretenses?

* {{Foreshadowing}} / PropheticName: [[Theatre/{{Macbeth}} MacDuff is not of woman born]].

* MomentKiller: At least as far as Troi is concerned, when Ro interrupts a tender moment between her and Riker. As for Riker - he just proceeds to [[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow have a tender moment]] with Ro instead.

** Mind you, they have by now faced the Borg on multiple occasions, and plenty of other threats besides. The ''Enterprise'' and Starfleet are dedicated to peaceful exploration in general, but at the same time, Starfleet has a policy of equipping its starships to at least ''modestly'' handle themselves. Concurrent with this period in the ''Trek'' universe, Starfleet was making its first purpose-built warships (the ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Defiant]]''-class) in a direct response to the walloping their fleet had taken at Wolf 359.
* MundaneUtility: Watching Data demonstrate his speed and dexerity in Engineering, [=LaForge=] remarks, "You must have been one hell of a bartender." Considering that Troi's wager in their Chess game was that Data make her a specific cocktail "as only you can make it," this is probably very true.

* SchizoTech: The Satarrans have memory-altering technology far more advanced than anything the Federation has seen, but their weapons tech is way behind. With how easily one guy took over the Enterprise, a massively powerful warship from a civilization they knew nothing about, it's entirely possible they didn't think they ''needed'' weapon tech.

* TechnicianVersusPerformer: Data versus Troi in their Chess game. Troi is the Performer, playing by intuition, whereas Data, as an android, is incapable of being anything other than the Technician. Surprisingly (and perhaps unrealistically), Troi wins.

* VillainousBreakdown: [=MacDuff=] has one when his plan starts to unravel.
* TheWorfEffect: When [=MacDuff=] tries to take command from Picard, Worf moves in to stop him -- and gets thrown aside.
* WritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: OK, so the Lysian defence system is really puny. But 4.3 kilojoules? Let's leave aside the fact that you would surely be more interested in power (watts) than energy (joules) -- a domestic woodburning stove puts out more than 4.3 kilojoules every second. Apparently the aliens have built base defences with something that wouldn't boil a kettle.

Things take a turn for the not-so-typical when they reach said corner of space, and encounter a small spacecraft of unknown design. Sensors indicate a single lifeform aboard, but whoever they are, they don't reply to a hail, and start scanning back. The scan soon turns into an attack: a wave of green light sweeps through the ship...and suddenly, no one can remember who they are.

Checking the computer systems, the blind guy who seems to be the computer expert finds that the memory files have also been erased. But he manages to get a list of the command crew. That bald guy who's trying to get everyone to calm down and think about this situation? That's Jean-Luc Picard, the Captain. The guy with the baldric? Worf, the Tactical Officer (Worf is bummed he's not in charge and ashamed that he assumed he was, but Picard consoles him with the fact that nobody remembers anything anyway). The blind guy? Geordi [=LaForge=], Chief Engineer. The navigator with the funny nose? Ensign Ro Laren. That android down in the bar? Data, the Operations Officer. The empathic woman? Deanna Troi, Ship's Counselor. The tall guy with the beard? Second Officer William Riker. The shifty guy over there? First Officer Kieran [=MacDuff=].

...Hey...wait a minute...

Anyway, once the crew figures out who they are, they gather for a meeting. [=LaForge=] has managed to get a little more information out of the computer. Like the memories of the crew, the computer memory files have been selectively deleted. Any personal data or historical logs are gone. All they know is some general information and their current mission:

Meanwhile, crew members are trying to get to some point of normalcy. Riker escorts Troi back to her quarters, where she expresses her unease: something about this whole situation doesn't feel right at all. Riker shares her unease, but he thinks it's just because they're at war; war never feels right. Bidding Troi a good night, Riker returns to his quarters...to find a provocatively-dressed Ro waiting for him.

After this conversation, [=MacDuff=] speaks to Worf privately. He notes that he and Worf are NotSoDifferent: the ''Enterprise'' is a diverse ship full of experts in science, engineering, and diplomacy, and they're both clearly the experts in combat. And he wants Worf's assurances, from one soldier to another, that they have each other's backs...and that Worf will back him if the situation should arise that they need to make a hard decision the Captain can't. Worf isn't very enthusiastic about this possibility; like everyone else in the crew, he's starting to feel like something is very wrong here.

Meanwhile, a restless Troi visits Riker, once again feeling like somehow they have a connection. Riker manages to confirm this: while searching his quarters, trying to figure out who this William T Riker guy is, he found a book with a handwritten dedication in it: "To Will, From Deanna, With Love." They are about to share a tender moment, but then Ro comes in and breaks up the party.

The ''Enterprise'' encounters very little resistance as it progresses through Lysian space: all they meet are a few automated defenses that they easily steamroll over. Until finally they reach the Lysian command center. It's a space station with a crew of thousands...and weapons technology a hundred years behind the Federation's. [=MacDuff=] urges Picard to destroy the station, but Picard has had enough of this. There is ''no way'' the Lysian Alliance could possibly be the mortal enemy of the Federation if ''this'' is how advanced they are. At any rate, he's not about to end thousands of lives without being absolutely sure it's necessary. [=MacDuff=], on the verge of VillainousBreakdown, tries to take over, but he's quickly shot dead by Worf and Riker. In the process, his disguise is damaged: he's not even ''human.''

Now that she knows that the procedure is actually safe, Doctor Crusher starts to restore everyone's memory. Things are slowly getting back to normal - except for poor Riker, who has the most awkward meeting imaginable with Ro and Troi...[[note]]Because, of course, it's completely Riker's fault that Ro jumped on him[[/note]]

* TheUnfairSex: Troi and Ro really give Riker the business after everything is resolved.

* WritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: OK, so the Lysian defence system is really puny. But 4.3 kilojoules? Let's leave aside the fact that you would surely be more interested in power (watts) than energy (joules) -- a domestic woodburning stove puts out more than 4.3 kilojoules every second. Apparently the aliens have built base defences with something that wouldn't boil a kettle.

* TechnicianVersusPerformer: Data verus Troi, and their vastly different Chess-playing styles. Troi is the Performer, playing by intuition, whereas Data, as an android, is incapable of being anything other than the Technician. Surprisingly (and perhaps unrealistically), Troi wins.

* AsideGlance: [=MacDuff=] manages a few of these...just in case we didn't know he was in on the plot.

Later, Picard calls [=MacDuff=] into his Ready Room, and there he expresses his concerns. Picard has serious moral issues with this entire situation: he's being asked to blindly follow orders he doesn't remember getting the first time. Orders which require him to kill people he doesn't know...and the encounter with the Lysian ship, whose weapons technology was clearly no match for the ''Enterprise'''s, has filled him with tremendous doubt. [=MacDuff=] expresses his sympathy with the Captain, but he reminds him that they are at war, and the possibility of saving Federation lives must naturally outweigh one man's moral qualms.

Now that she knows that the procedure is actually safe, Doctor Crusher starts to restore everyone's memory. Things are slowly getting back to normal...except for poor Riker, who has the most awkward meeting imaginable with Ro and Troi...[[note]]Because, of course, it's completely Riker's fault that Ro jumped on him[[/note]]

* MoreDakka: Worf reports that ''Enterprise'' has 275 photon torpedoes in its inventory. For a ship dedicated to peaceful exploration that's operated by an organization that insists it's not a military, ''during peacetime'', one wonders what the hell kind of situations Starfleet thinks ''Enterprise'' might find herself in that would require a standard loadout of that many antimatter weapons.

* PatrickStewartSpeech: Even suffering from amnesia, Picard manages one of these...[[FridgeBrilliance because that's one of his skills]].
* PunchClockVillain: We really don't know enough about the Lysians, the Satarrans, and their war to make any judgements, so we really can't call [=MacDuff=] anything more than someone trying to do his duty to his people.

* TheWorfEffect: Just to demonstrate that [=MacDuff=] is more dangerous than anyone thought, guess who gets tossed halfway across the bridge?

* CringeComedy: The awkwardness in Riker's conversation at the end with Ro and Troi... oh, it's ''palpable.''[[note]]Because, of course, it's completely Riker's fault that Ro jumped on him[[/note]]

* DidTheyOrDidntThey: It's left ambiguous as to whether Riker and Ro slept together during their amnesia. (Although given that we last saw Ro, in the bedroom scene, saying "And what makes you think you're going to get any sleep, mister?", what are the odds that they settled down to a nice game of pinochle and a cup of cocoa?) [[WomanScorned But Troi's not very amused in the end]].[[note]]Because, of course, it's completely Riker's fault that Ro jumped on him[[/note]]

* TheUnfairSex: Troi and Ro really give Riker the business after everything is resolved.[[note]]Because, of course, it's completely Riker's fault that Ro jumped on him[[/note]]
* VillainousBreakdown: [=MacDuff=] has one when his plan starts to unravel.

Now that she knows that the procedure is actually safe, Doctor Crusher starts to restore everyone's memory. Things are slowly getting back to normal...except for poor Riker, who has the most awkward meeting imaginable with Ro and Troi...

* CringeComedy: The awkwardness in Riker's conversation at the end with Ro and Troi... oh, it's ''palpable.''

* DidTheyOrDidntThey: It's left ambiguous as to whether Riker and Ro slept together during their amnesia. [[WomanScorned But Troi's not very amused in the end]].

* SmartPeoplePlayChess: Data and Troi at the beginning of the episode.

* TheUnfairSex: Troi and Ro really give Riker the business after everything is resolved.

* OpenMystery: Of a sort: We viewers know that this [=MacDuff=] guy isn't part of the crew, and this war with the Lysians is a fabrication. We just don't know what's really going on or how he figures into it.

* RememberTheNewGuy: [=MacDuff=] tries to pull this off in-universe. Interestingly, the direction for the episode doesn't go out of its way to present him as a "new guy"; there's no closeup shot with ominous music or anything when we first see him. If you had never seen ''TNG'' before, you might not know there was anything special about him at all. Even regular fans might think he's just some random helmsman or other officer, until the crew manifest is recovered.

* MoreDakka: Worf reports that ''Enterprise" has 275 photon torpedoes in its inventory. 'For a ship dedicated to peaceful exploration that's operated by an organization that insists it's not a military, during peacetime, one wonders what kind of situations Starfleet thinks ''Enterprise'' might find herself in that would require a standard loadout of that many antimatter weapons.

-->"I feel as though I've been handed a weapon, sent into a room, and told to shoot a stranger. Well, I need some moral context to justify that action, and I don't have it. I'm not content simply to obey orders. I need to know that what I am doing is right."

* MadeOfIron: [=MacDuff=] is able to absorb a surprising amount of phaser hits before he finally goes down. It's not clear if the Satarrans are just super-tough or if he's been augmented somehow.

* MadeOfIron: [[=MacDuff=]] is able to absorb a surprising amount of phaser hits before he finally goes down. It's not clear if the Satarrans are just super-tough or if he's been augmented somehow.

[floatboxright:Series: Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration\\
Episode: Season 5, Episode 14\\
Title: Conundrum\\
Previous: The Masterpiece Society\\
Next: Power Play\\
Recapper: Tropers/{{Anarquistador}}]