The Pegasus is a well-crafted episode, with even its minor scenes fitting into its overall themes. There is a focus on the character of Riker, fleshing out his backstory and a bona fide, if somewhat implausible mystery to be solved.

The episode opens, amusingly enough, with Picard and Troi going through a pile of children’s artwork, prepared for that most famous of holidays: Captain Picard Day. Riker, using what looks like a little voodoo doll, playfully teases his captain. It’s a fun scene playing on the relationships and camaraderie of these characters. It also establishes the genuine loyalty and admiration the crew of the Enterprise has for their captain.

Both points are relevant when faced with the character of Admiral Pressman (played by the same actor who plays John Locke in Lost), who comes aboard for a top secret mission. It seems that Pressman was once captain of The Pegasus, with Will Riker a young Ensign. The Pegasus was once the vehicle for a secret experiment. At some point, the experiment went bad, the crew mutinied against Pressman, and with Riker coming to his defense, the captain managed to escape before the ship exploded and was presumed to be lost.

But the Romulans have discovered that the derelict Pegasus is somewhere in an asteroid field, and so the Enterprise races off to find it before they do. During the search, Riker’s loyalties and character are called into question. He’s no longer a wide eyed young officer. He has opinions and stands by them. He questions.

And his biggest question is whether or not he did the right thing twelve years ago in assisting Pressman.  Adding to his inner conflict, Pressman has ordered Riker not to divulge what he knows about the doomed Pegasus mission.  As he struggles to find the right path, this leads to confrontations between Riker and both Picard and Pressman.

The Enterprise manages to find the Pegasus before the Romulans.  But there is a problem.  The derelict is, somehow, in the middle of an asteroid.  So Pressman boldly orders the Enterprise (against Picard’s explicit objection) to navigate into the heart of the asteroid, in order for he and Riker to beam to the Pegasus.  As they arrive at the Pegasus, the mystery deepens when we learn that it is partially entombed in the rock itself.

On board, Riker and Pressman find the experiment, intact.  Riker finally confronts his former captain, vowing to stop any further tests.  But their showdown is interrupted by the Romulans who have “accidentally” sealed the Enterprise  inside the asteroid.  With no options left, Riker comes clean and tells Picard that, in violation of the Treaty of Algeron, the Pegasus had been developing a super-cloaking device — one that not only cloaks the ship, but allows it to pass through solid material.

The concept is a bit far fetched.  But of course, it’s necessary for the Enterprise to extract itself from its predicament.  And Riker’s stand, for truth, finally settles his inner conflict — and settles Admiral Pressman’s attempts to circumvent the law.  And it provides an important lesson.  Pressman was right to object to the difficulties imposed by the  Treaty of Algeron.  But to break the law, no matter the reason, is wrong.  The ends do not justify the means.

The Pegasus is a well constructed episode. The sci-fi element is fun, but ultimately a bit implausible.  Otherwise, I strongly recommend this episode.  It is definitely a classic.

Topics: Romulans
Filed under: TNG Reviews