‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Gambit, Part I’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

For the most part, Star Trek: The Next Generation is a series that rarely took major risks. Sure, it would do some bold things with the characters and the stories, and obviously, stories that were impactful and offered commentary about our modern world were a true staple of this franchise. But those wild stories, the kind that wouldn’t fit in the mold were far and few between and understandably so. After all, The Original Series did that often and took some heat for it, and a series that wanted to maintain its goodwill after earning it, knew to mostly steer clear of such stories. But with the final season upon the writer’s room, and a pending movie franchise for the crew on the horizon… clearly this was the moment when the series opted to throw caution to the wind and try new things, as evidenced by the next two episodes in this series.
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For the ‘Gambit’ Saga is quite the unconventional TNG story. One that played out in a supremely unique fashion. Since early on in ‘Part I’, the crew of the Enterprise was engaged in quite the unique manhunt. One that was for Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself. For he had gone missing on an archeological dig, and the crew wanted answers and received quite the devastating one. In that, the captain of Starfleet’s Flagship, perished in a simple bar fight. Something that did not sit right with Will Riker, to the point where he made some bold moves and decisions. Such as humbly yet firmly requesting that Starfleet Command let him use the 1701-D and her vast resources to offer proper closure as to how one of the fleet’s most decorated captains lost his life in a meaningless moment.

Which shockingly, Starfleet Command agreed to and just like that, Will Riker made the time to dust up an informant and found himself getting into phaser fire fights with rogue agents and that led… to another wild twist. Wherein Riker was captured by those he was fighting and thrust aboard a ship with… an alive and well Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Who was going under the name Galen and well… that only confused Riker further and thankfully, he and the audience, were able to learn, that Jean-Luc had stumbled onto something quite fascinating. In that, these rogue agents were robbing archeological sites all over the sector and were working to find specific artifacts that would handle some kind of secret need. Which meant, it was up to Riker and Picard to solve this mystery, one so great, that this story was forced to end on a juicy cliffhanger.

But what matters more here, is that none of this… was hardcore sci-fi in the slightest. It was science fiction with a pirate twist. One filled with colorful characters and an amazing cameo from Star Trek legacy actor, Robin Curtis. Who just so happened to play Lieutenant Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and it is just incredible to see her alongside Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes in an unconventional Star Trek story. One that really does lean harder into adventure and had it been broadcast in any other season, it would have been lambasted by the fans for not being properly part of the mythos. But here… in this final season, the whole episode truly works. Simply because it does liven things up and informs us that season seven will send the unexpected our way. 

Not to mention, it is filled to the brim with delightful twists and turns and some amazing acting from the principle cast as well. Since the crew is forced to reconcile with the ‘reality’ that their beloved captain is gone and that they all have new roles to play. If anything, it just best to declare this particular episode as downright fun through and through. Because you simply savor the mystery and the many wild moments, and the cliffhanger works as well since you’re dying to know if Picard was forced to damage his ship to keep his cover and well… the only way to know, is to continue the journey post haste. So, we can see what becomes of the Enterprise, and of course… what it is these pirates are searching for and to wrap up a two-part surprise, so we can continue to sneak toward the end, of one of the finest science fiction shows to ever hit the airwaves. Until next time.  

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