3:10 The Defector

[Kostmayer]

Maybe not an obvious choice, but I'd say this is one of Picards best episodes. In it he has to decide wether a Romulan defector, Jarok, is genuine, or part of a Romulan plot - a decision which could well plunge the Federation into war.

I like the way he handles Jarok, paticularly when he faces Jarok down in his Ready Room, refusing to act unless he has full cooperation.

And I especially like it when he outwits a very smug Tomalok, to the obvious amusement and admiration of Riker.

And of course theres the odd Shakespear reference, which Trek does so well.

[Dave]

This was the start of TNG getting really good, warming up a season that would be very special with 'Sins of the Father' and then 'Best of Both Worlds' a the end. After avoiding using the Romulans and other Classic Trek villains, they began to be happy to use them and use them well. Difficult to criticise this episode, almost perfect. The universal translator has problems with Romulan and Klingon curses and Romulan measurements though.

[Kostmayer]

True. Considering the type of Diplomatic missions the Galaxy Class ship was intended for, you'd think the replicators would understand foreign alien measurement systems. I'd have also thought that the replicators would be able to replicate Romulan Ale, it has been widely available, albeit illegal, for at least 50 years.

[Shrek Baby]

What's the deal with Romulan Ale anyway? It is definitely illegal in the Federation but Kirk managed to get some in STVI when he and his officers dined with the Klingons (which begs another question - why do Klingons seems to enjoy a beverage from the homeworld of their greatest enemy?), almost everyone apart from Admiral Ross had sampled Romulan Ale in the episode "Inter Arma Einem Silent Leges" and in "Nemesis" it was being served at Riker and Troi's wedding at which Worf didn't even know it was illegal.

Maybe this needs a whole other thread..