Star Trek: The Next Generation — 7x11 — Parallels

Aired 1993-11-29

SpaceOpera.com rating:9

Average reader rating:8.27

Synopsis

Worf finds reality changing, but no one else notices.

Remarkable scenes

Worf's surprise party.
The crew singing "He's a jolly good fellow" to Worf in Klingon.
Troi: "It wasn't easy to translate. There doesn't seem to be a Klingon word for jolly!"
I love the first few scenes of small things changing.
Worf proposing Troi become Worf's stepsister so that she could become Alexander's godmother. I love Worf's reaction when Troi tells him that would make her mother his stepmother. Worf, very seriously: "I had not considered that! It is a risk I am willing to take."
Worf appearing on an alternate Enterprise.
Troi married to Worf!
Worf asking Data for details regarding "when, where, and how" Worf and Troi coupled.
Worf becoming first officer and Riker becoming captain. I like the mention of Picard being killed by the Borg.
Wesley appearance!
The mention of the Bajorans overpowering the Cardassian Empire and becoming a hostile power in the galaxy.
Thousands, maybe millions of Enterprises!
Wesley: "Captain, we are receiving 285,000 hails!"
One of the Rikers: "We won't go back. You don't know what it's like in our universe. The Federation's gone, the Borg are everywhere! We're one of the last ships left. Please, you've got to help us."
Riker destroying his counterpart.
Troi: "I know Klingons like to be alone on their birthdays. You probably want to meditate, you hit yourself with a pain stick or something."

Review

This one's a classic. Worf was perfect for the role because he remained defiant of the changes in the timelines longer than anyone else would have. Another good detail in the episode is the incredible amount of continuities with other episodes. Too many to even list. All of them excellent and entertaining. This one is a gem among the 7th season and among all of TNG itself.

7 reader comments

It is always fun to watch this episode. The problem with Worf switching realities becomes worse and worse. You start to feel bad for him. The only drawback is that the solution was too easy. Get in your shuttle, emit this kind of field, and off you go. However, that part is long after all the cool things happen. I'll never forget the Enterprises filling space, or the Enterprise from Borg infested space, who's Captain Riker refuses to go back. This episode it a balls to the ground classic. I'm giving it a 9.
by Orion Pimpdaddy | 06/21/2006 at 1:56 am

The disappointing ending turns a nearly-perfect one into a superb one. I guess that a 2-part episode may have presented the room for a more dramatic final, although it could have been difficult not to frustrate the viewers, and to maintain the tension.
by Wolfgang | 06/29/2006 at 8:48 pm

Did you notice how in one of the timelines Data had blue eyes? Spooky!
by Jason Shooter | 02/07/2008 at 10:41 am

Really enjoyed this episode, the scene with hundreds of thousands of enterprises! I also enjoyed the subtle changes that were unlaboured, like data's eyes and the picture on his wall constantly changing
by Paul | 08/17/2010 at 10:13 pm

Agree with others that the ending was disappointing and rushed. There were some serious changes in some of the timelines, and especially with the last one, which could have been explored more. Science Fiction fans always love to ask "What if?" This episode could have been a two parter.
The first part could have ended with the revelation that Worf's shifting, and his inability to perform his duty had killed Geordi. That was a moment that was not very well explored in this episode. Deanna rather casually shows up in his quarters, lightheartedly mentioning that she'd heard he'd had some trouble on the bridge. It would have had real dramatic weight if she'd had this attitude of concern and nervousness in knowing that he'd screwed up badly enough that one of their dear friends and comrades had been seriously injured. The second of the two parts would have only had one timeshift, but it would have deal with Worf accepting some of the realities of his current universe in his attempt to get back. It's a different, and grimmer one, without Captain Picard or LaForge, and they'd end up losing Worf also (most likely, since we never see what happens in that timeframe after the shift back). The grim reality of a Deanna Troi forced to give up her husband and an Enterprise losing its first officer would have made for great drama. A second part of this episode would have been a greater contribution to Trek history than some of the later episodes in season 7, like Genesis and Sub Rosa.
by Bronn | 06/04/2013 at 5:51 am

A shuttle full of Worf's.
There's a bit too many episodes with time loops and alternative timelines in Star Trek.
But if we would have to remove one such, this is not one of those that would have to go. Since even though it is weird, and of course completely impossible, the idea presented here is indeed found in actual scientific discussions. That for every action with a choice - two timelines would be created. Even the conservation of energy in creating the new split off universes would not be violated, in case the universe is a hologram - which is part of a hypothesis that have been introduced after this episode of TNG were made. (Not that I even for a split second think the universe works that way, but consider it to be one interesting model only.)
The telling of the story is also better than for a few other alternative episodes in Start Trek. So with good science and one enjoyable story I give this episode a solid 8.
by TheAnt | 11/04/2013 at 3:33 pm

I don't get why Troi would have to "give up her husband"… once the Worf that we know goes back to his "proper" dimension, aren't all the dimensions put back to normal--and therefore, wouldn't alternative Troi's life with her husband Worf also be put back in place?
hmm… this hole in the narrative logic meant I didn't feel sad for her
by pzaz | 08/19/2017 at 5:25 am