The First Duty (episode)

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

Following an accident during an Academy training exercise that leads to the death of one of his friends, Wesley Crusher must decide whether loyalty or truth is the first duty.

Summary

Teaser

"Captain's Log, Stardate 45703.9. We are en route to Earth, where it will be my pleasant duty to deliver this year's commencement address at Starfleet Academy. I'm also looking forward to seeing Wesley Crusher again. His flight team will perform a demonstration near Saturn that will be transmitted to the graduation ceremonies."

The USS Enterprise-D is en route to Earth where Captain Picard will give this year's Starfleet Academy commencement speech. But before reaching Earth, the captain receives a message from Rear Admiral Brand, the Academy superintendent: there's been an accident involving Cadet Wesley Crusher.

Act One

File:Wesleys desktop model.jpg

Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher visit Wesley after the accident

Picard brings the news to Dr. Crusher: her son's flight team, Nova Squadron, has suffered a catastrophic collision, one pilot has been killed, and Wesley has been seriously injured. While she is worried, Picard assures her that he will be fine, and their thoughts turn to Wesley's lost friend, Joshua Albert.

Upon arrival at Earth, Admiral Brand briefs the Nova Squadron parents, and Captain Picard, about the upcoming inquiry into the accident. Joshua's father, a lieutenant commander in Starfleet, is consulted and requests that commencement ceremonies go forward despite plans to cancel them due to the tragedy. After all, there are still duties to perform and life must go on.

Picard and Dr. Crusher go to Wesley's quarters. Picard attempts to talk to Wesley about what happened during the accident but he refuses, saying that he has gone over it too many times over the past two days. Their reunion is interrupted by the leader of Nova Squadron, Cadet Nicholas Locarno, who says that he was there to check on Wesley. Locarno tells them that he feels horrible that he has lost a member of his team. Picard replies that unfortunately for a commanding officer, it never gets easier. Wesley then asks Picard and his mother to leave, saying that he has to talk to Locarno about some things. After Picard and Crusher leave, Locarno tells Wesley not to worry about the inquiry and everything will be fine, as long as the team sticks together.

Act Two

Captain Picard walks through the quad of Starfleet Academy and finds Boothby, the Academy groundskeeper. He catches up with him and reminisces about his days in the Academy. Meanwhile, Locarno gives a pep talk to his team before entering the room for the board of inquiry investigating the accident.

To open the deposition, Cadet Locarno gives a description of the maneuver they performed. He explains that, while approaching Saturn, the group turned toward Titan, and moved into a diamond slot formation. They turned again in preparation for a Yeager loop. Soon after, Albert's ship, in the starboard position, collided with Jean Hajar in the center and eventually all five ships were destroyed just after the crew was transported out. Admiral Brand asks the team navigator, Cadet Hajar, if they had changed their flight plan after filing it with Starfleet. When the navigator gives a cryptic response of "we were still within flight safety parameters," Admiral Brand becomes angry, stating that Hajar did not answer her question. She then says yes, they did change their flight plan en route. Captain Satelk, a Vulcan, then asks Cadet Sito Jaxa, who was flying in the rear of the formation and thus had the best vantage point of the crash, if she saw either the collision itself or any indication beforehand that Albert was having problems. She says that she didn't see him because she was flying on sensors alone, which was extremely unusual for the maneuvers listed in the team's testimony. After being continually probed by Admiral Brand and Captain Satelk, not believing the answers they received, Locarno helps out Hajar and Sito by blaming the accident on Cadet Albert. Locarno says that Albert crashed into Cadet Hajar when he panicked while performing the Yeager loop maneuver near Titan.

Locarno and Wesley Crusher — Cadets Locarno and Crusher

Admiral Brand says that she is disturbed over what has happened. She says that Nova Squadron has displayed a large degree of misjudgment and she is dismayed that the team did not release the information on Albert's insecurity on flying before the accident. Admiral Brand says that the first data from Wesley Crusher's flight recorder would be available that evening. Pending the results, the board of inquiry will be in recess and will reconvene at 1300 hours tomorrow. Cadet Albert's father is visibly dismayed over what the team has said about his son. Locarno tells Wesley Crusher that there's nothing to worry about and to trust him.

Act Three

Captain Picard asks Chief Engineer La Forge and Data to make their own independent investigation into the crash. La Forge is unsure what they will find outside of the Academy investigation, as they have the most sophisticated accident reconstruction simulation equipment available. Picard agrees but notes that Wesley is one of their own and they must help in the investigation.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the flight team meets together to get their stories straight on the next round of questioning in the board of inquiry. Wesley and the rest of the team are angry that they lied to the board of inquiry, but Locarno insists that it is now time for them to save their own skins. They are convincing themselves that Albert did have some kind of trouble. Locarno then starts to brief Wesley on his flight recorder data that was highly damaged during the accident and only covers the time before the crash. Wesley doesn't believe he can lie to the board, but Sito tells him not to volunteer any additional information. With Locarno's emphasis on Wesley's knowledge that a team must support each other when their lives are in each other's hands, he silently agrees.

Wesley goes to practice his deposition where he meets Cadet Albert's father. His father brings Wesley his sweater from Joshua's quarters that belongs to him. Wesley identifies it as a memento from a ski trip to Calgary, as Joshua had forgotten his. They reminisce on Cadet Albert, talking about his problems in math and how he never gave up on anything. Cadet Albert had a lot of respect for Wesley. Joshua's father admits that he knows that it was his son's fault and apologizes for letting the team down.

The next day, Wesley begins his deposition, following along with the video account of the crash from his flight recorder. After his flight recorder shorts out, he gives a narrative of his version of the events. When Admiral Brand asks if he has anything to add, he says no. Captain Satelk suspiciously asks Wesley to describe a Yeager loop. The Captain asks Wesley if Nova Squadron had ever gone out of formation after completing the Yeager loop. Wesley says no. Admiral Brand asks if he is absolutely sure about that. He says he is. Captain Satelk then confronts Wesley with the image from a satellite orbiting Saturn that shows their squadron's ships in a very different formation while they were in the satellite's field of view, approximately seven seconds before the accident. When Admiral Brand asks what Wesley's explanation is for this, he has none.

Act Four

Doctor Crusher comforts Wesley in his quarters and assures him that the Enterprise is going to find out what has happened. She thinks it is strange that the satellite view makes it look like he is lying when she knows he is not. As a result, Doctor Crusher and the other parents got together and decide that they want to delay the inquiry. Wesley is shocked and tells his mother to stay out of the inquiry and not to protect him.

Picard has another talk with Boothby on the Academy grounds, asking him to tell him more about Nova Squadron. Boothby says that after Nova Squadron won the Rigel Cup the other students treated them like they were gods, and that was a difficult thing to live up to. Boothby also says that Nova Squadron would do anything for the team leader, Locarno, even if it meant "going right over a cliff." Captain Picard returns to the Enterprise and asks if La Forge and Data have come up with anything in their investigation. They say no, stating that there are too many variables to determine exactly what happened; however, one item of note was that Wesley's plasma interlock was open when it is supposed to be closed during flight. It is extremely dangerous, as the interlock may ignite the drive plasma. Given this information and the imagery shown from the satellite, Picard realizes what Nova Squadron was trying to do that caused the accident.

Act Five

Kolvoord Starburst emptvents — The third step of the Kolvoord Starburst; the ships involved empty their plasma exhaust, forming a pattern similar to the arms of a five-pointed star

Kolvoord Starburst final — The final step of the Kolvoord Starburst, where the plasma is ignited, forming a starburst pattern

Captain Picard invites Wesley Crusher to his ready room on the Enterprise. Picard asks him to watch an animation simulation on his display. Wesley identifies a Kolvoord Starburst, and admits that the maneuver hasn't been performed at the Academy for a hundred years because it had been banned after an incident where all five cadets who attempted the maneuver died after an accident. Captain Picard says that he thinks that Locarno wanted to end his Academy days in a blaze of glory and manipulated the team to perform the maneuver. He asks Wesley if he is correct. Wesley chooses not to answer. Picard says that he has already answered the question at the board of inquiry – a lie. Wesley says that he has told the truth; however, Picard tells him that he has told a partial truth, leaving out important details, which in his opinion is still a lie. Captain Picard reminds Wesley of how he knew every control on his chair when he mother brought him to the bridge on the day he first boarded the ship, and that he chose to make him an acting ensign due to his belief that Wesley had the potential to be a great Starfleet officer, a belief Picard had never questioned until this incident. He then tells Wesley that the first duty of every officer is to the truth, one of the principles upon which Starfleet was founded on and gives Wesley a simple choice – either he tell Admiral Brand the truth about what happened or he will before angrily dismissing him.

Back on Earth, Wesley calls Locarno to his quarters where Wesley tells Locarno everything that transpired on the Enterprise. Locarno says that Picard has no hard evidence of what has happened and that it will be okay – they simply have to dispute Picard's account. Wesley says he can't call Picard a liar and decides to tell Admiral Brand what really happened. Locarno becomes angry because Wesley has made the decision alone to turn them in. Locarno informs Wesley of the duty to his friends. As an alternate plan to coming forward, Locarno tells Wesley to resign his Academy commission to save the team. After all, Locarno would do it without hesitation if he were in Wesley's position.

Wesley Crusher, 2368 — Wesley is reprimanded by Picard

At the board of inquiry, Admiral Brand tells Nova Squadron that the disputing testimony of the satellite and their accounts are troubling; either the satellite has recorded inaccurate data or the cadets have lied to the inquiry. It is clear that Brand believes there is a cover-up going on between the four, but as there is no hard evidence either way she is left with no choice but to close the inquiry. Admiral Brand issues her judgment – she revokes Nova Squadron's flight privileges and issues a formal reprimand to the cadets' permanent records. She then closes the investigation with the ringing of a bell.

Wesley then stands up and says he has something to add. The admiral lets Wesley proceed and admit the truth. Wesley says that Albert died because they pressured him into executing the Kolvoord Starburst – a maneuver that Albert admitted he wasn't ready for. Admiral Brand asks if Locarno has anything to say. He remains silent.

The inquiry has concluded and Wesley is sitting on the grounds of the Academy. Captain Picard arrives and informs Wesley that Locarno has been expelled. Wesley thinks they all should have been expelled and Picard tells him they very nearly were, but were saved when Locarno took full responsibility for the incident to keep everyone else in Starfleet. "Just as he said he would," Wesley comments. Picard then informs Wesley of additional consequences Admiral Brand handed down. In addition to the reprimand, she has canceled Wesley's academic credits for the previous year and he will not graduate with his class. Captain Picard says that there will be difficult times ahead for Wesley and that it will not be easy for him to remain on campus with everyone knowing what he did. Wesley thanks Picard for his help. Picard says that Wesley knew the right thing to do; Picard just pushed him in the right direction (just like Boothby did for him). The two then bid a farewell to each other.

Memorable quotes

"What happened to your hair?"

- Boothby, to Captain Jean-Luc Picard

"Look, don't worry about it, Wes. Everything's gonna be all right. As long as we stick together."

- Nicholas Locarno, before the hearing

"You don't have to lie, just don't... volunteer any new information."

- Sito Jaxa, to Wesley Crusher before his deposition

"And you told the truth, up to a point. But a lie of omission is still a lie!"

- Captain Jean-Luc Picard, to Cadet Wesley Crusher

"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth, or historical truth, or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based, and if you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform. I'm going to make this simple for you, Mr. Crusher; either you come forward and tell Admiral Brand what really took place, or I will."
"Captain-"
"Dismissed!"

- Picard and Cadet Wesley Crusher – Listen to this quote^file info

"He got to you, didn't he? Picard told you some big story about duty and honor. Well, that must've been a pretty good speech to make you turn your back on your friends."
"We're Starfleet cadets. We have a duty to the truth."
"What about your duty to your friends? I got you on this team. I gave you a chance when there were upperclassmen waiting in line. I said: 'He won't let us down. He was on the Enterprise. He knows what it's like to trust somebody with his life.' Well, I guess I was wrong."

- Locarno and Wesley Crusher – Listen to this quote^file info

"You made a mistake. There isn't a man among us who hasn't been young enough to make one."

- Boothby, to Picard

"Do you remember the first day you came aboard this ship? Your mother brought you on the Bridge. And you even sat in my chair! I was annoyed! A presumptuous child playing on my ship! But I never forgot how you already knew every control, every display. You behaved as though you belonged on the Bridge. And then, later, when I decided to make you an acting Ensign, I was convinced that you could be an outstanding officer. And I never questioned that conviction... until now."

- Captain Jean-Luc Picard, to Cadet Wesley Crusher

"Yesterday I testified that the crash occurred following a Yeager loop. That is not entirely true. We performed the loop, and, afterwards, broke formation and attempted a Kolvoord starburst. We knew it was prohibited and we knew it was dangerous, but we wanted to do something spectacular for the commencement demonstration. We pushed Josh into it and he wasn't ready. We thought we could do it. We thought we could do anything. We were wrong, and Josh died."

- Cadet Wesley Crusher

"You have difficult times ahead."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, captain."
"You knew what you had to do. I just made sure that you listened to yourself. Goodbye, cadet."
"Goodbye, captain."

- Picard, bidding Wesley Crusher farewell at Starfleet Academy when the investigation is concluded (last lines)

Background information

Production history

Final draft script: 22 January 1992 [1]
Filmed: 24 January 1992 – 3 February 1992
Second unit inserts filmed: 6 March 1992
Premiere airdate: 30 March 1992
First UK airdate: 26 April 1995

Story and script

The story for this episode was developed by Ronald D. Moore, during the writing staff's Mexican retreat in the Fall of 1991. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
Rick Berman was initially skeptical of the idea. Michael Piller recalled, "When we pitched it to Rick, he said, it's not a Star Trek. Star Trek is about going off into space and exploring new planets. It's not about going back to Earth. He's right, of course, and no one's going to argue that he's not, but I looked at him and said 'Look, to me we have the opportunity to do something special. We have the chance to explore an issue that is extra meaningful to a lot of young people. If you're involved in drugs or teenage misbehavior or crime, and you may know that it's the wrong thing and you have the choice of being loyal to your friends or doing what is honest – that is a great issue for us to explore." Berman agreed, on the condition that a maximum of three sets were used. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
According to Berman, in early stages of the story, Wesley's crime was more heinous, and the cover-up was much more obvious. He stated, "I found that unacceptable. Wesley is Wesley. He is one of our characters and heroes and he's capable of lapses in judgement, capable of making decisions on an emotional basis as opposed to thinking them out, but not capable of some of the more severe things that were suggested. And not capable of overt cover-up, lying to Starfleet Academy officials. So we basically tempered it down, still keeping it believable and the crime that was serious and would result in a punishment." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
A dispute arose between Moore and Piller regarding the ending. Piller recalled, "I thought he should choose the truth, and Ron thought he couldn't go back on his friends. Ultimately I gave the order to go with the truth – that's what I'd want my kids to do – but I think it shows how much we can get into these characters when we find ourselves debating the points they're arguing." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
Moore later elaborated that, had he prevailed, the story would have been structured very differently, such that Wesley's actions would still be the "correct" moral choice. He noted, "In the aired version of events, Wesley steps forward even though the court of inquiry is about to let them all off the hook. In so doing, Wes commits an act of moral courage by standing up for the truth and being punished when to remain silent would've allowed him to go scot free. Now, let's assume the circumstances had been constructed so that the Nova Squadron was going to be kicked out of the Academy by the court if they kept silent about what really happened. Say that the team had made a decision not to finger the one among them who came up with the idea on the "we all hang together" philosophy. In that scenario, Wesley coming forward to tell the truth is suddenly an act of moral cowardice because it appears that he's only trying to save his own skin at the expense of one of his teammates.

"If that had been the story (which is more or less what Naren and I were advocating) then Picard's impassioned speech to Wesley about the morality of coming forward to tell the truth is suddenly a scene where the Captain tries to convince a young man not to throw away his own career in order to protect one of his friends. In the end, Locarno (the true culprit) comes forward on his own in order to save the rest of the team. As you can see, it's a very different kind of tale even though the essential "plot" is relatively unchanged.

"...Both stories are valid and interesting, but I prefered the story about a young man willing to stand with his friends rather than a morality tale about telling the truth. Don't get me wrong – I like "The First Duty," and I think it works pretty well just as it is, I just wanted to tell a different story." (AOL chat, 1997)

According to Piller, Picard's unnamed indiscretion was added to the script relatively late in the process. "We had to have scenes with Boothby and Picard and we had scenes where they talked about the case, they talked about things, but the scenes weren't clicking and they were the weakest parts of the show. We started talking about maybe he helped Picard out with a problem and maybe he got into trouble, and we tried to figure out what it was. Rick said it doesn't matter what Picard's trouble was. We keep that part of our character a mystery, which we like to do every once in a while. That was a great decision and what it did for us was put in perspective in a life cycle sort of way that if you make a mistake when you're young and it's found out, you have to pay a price for it. It doesn't mean your life is ruined. It means you can still become Jean-Luc Picard." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
According to Naren Shankar, the character Nicolas Locarno was not part of the first draft of the script. Instead of Locarno, Ed Lauter's character Lieutenant Commander Albert was an integral part of the story, as a tough, career-minded officer. (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 21, p. 15)
According to Jack Treviño, about a year before the episode aired, he submitted his first script through the open script policy, called "The Truth". It had Wesley Crusher going to Starfleet Academy almost killing another cadet due to arrogance. It was rejected, Treviño later commented upon the similarities to this story. [2]

Production

The First Duty location map — The location map attached to the call sheet

"The First Duty" was filmed between Friday 24 January 1992 and Monday 3 February 1992 on Paramount Stage 8, 9, and 16. On Monday 27 January 1992 the production filmed the Starfleet Academy outdoor scenes on location at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. Second unit inserts were filmed on Friday 6 March 1992 on Paramount Stage 8 and 16.
On Friday 24 January 1992 Make-A-Wish Foundation child Karo Coy-Smith visited the sets at 11:00 am and on Monday 27 January 1992 the ice hockey team the New York Rangers had a set visit between 11:30 am and 12:15 pm although main filming took place on location. (Call sheets)
The Academy flag seen in the exterior matte paintings flies at half-staff, a touch added by Dan Curry. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion) This episode also featured one of the last oil painted matte painting by Curry himself. ("Memorable Mission Year Five" ("Hero Worship"), TNG Season 5 DVD special feature)

Cast and characters

Robert Duncan McNeill (Nicholas Locarno) later played Tom Paris on I AM ERROR, a character partly based on Locarno. It was hoped that Locarno himself would be a character on Voyager, but when it was realized that such a decision would mean that the writers, to wit Ronald D. Moore and Naren Shankar, of this episode would receive royalties for each Voyager episode, it was deemed cost-prohibitive and the character was adjusted to become Tom Paris. ^{(citation needed • edit)} However, this was an unlikely rationale as, while the reasoning per Writers Guild of America rules was valid for stories bought from outside writers, it did not hold true for "on-staff" writers, which Moore and Shankar at the time were.
A picture of Robert Duncan McNeill as Locarno later appeared on Admiral Owen Paris' desk (representing Tom Paris as a cadet) in VOY: "Pathfinder".
Robert Duncan McNeill said in an interview that while they may seem similar, Locarno and Tom Paris were actually quite different. He remarked, "Locarno seemed like a nice guy, but deep down he was a bad guy. Tom Paris is an opposite premise in a way. Deep down he's a good guy. He's just made some mistakes." Some fans have interpreted this as another example of why Paris was created to fill Locarno's originally-planned role on Voyager, as his actions in this episode rendered him irredeemable while Paris still had a chance to make up for his mistakes. [3] McNeil however, did not take into account in his narrative that the Locarno character eventually took sole responsibility for the incident and had successfully pleaded on behalf of his team mates to be retained by the Academy, whereas Tom Paris was at first somewhat reluctant to own up to the bad choices he had made.
Voyager Producer Jeri Taylor has stated, "We had liked the idea of a character like Tom Paris ever since we had done "First Duty" and had Lecarno [sic.]. We didn't make Lecarno the con officer, because he was somewhat darker and more damaged. We felt Lecarno couldn't be redeemed and we wanted to be on a journey of redemption." On the same occasion Taylor confirmed that McNeill had always been the first choice for the character, "We knew from the get-go we were going to read this guy," thereby squashing the contemporary rumor that it had been a stroke of inspiration from Executive Producer Rick Berman. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 27, issue 4/5, p. 62)
It turned out that Taylor even proceeded from the assumption that McNeill was to reprise the Locarno character for Voyager, as her preliminary story notes of 3 August 1993 during the development stage of the new series showed and where he was mentioned by name as one of the main protagonists, reiterated in her story notes of 10 August. However, by the time a preliminary version of the series' "Writer's Bible" was drafted at the end of September, the character's name was, for whatever reason, changed into that of Tom Paris. (A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, pp. 178, 186 & 208)
Episode writers Moore and Shankar never bought into the "irredeemable" argument however, stating on a later occasion that they were "bummed" that the very same actor McNeill was recast as Tom Paris, instead of reprising his role as Locarno as they could see no valid reason as to why Locarno's actions should have been irredeemable whereas Paris' equally serious actions were not. Shankar took a jab at the "royalties" argument as well when he jokingly added that he would not have minded the royalties cheques either, knowing full well that he, as then staff writer, was not entitled to any. (TNG Season 5 Blu-ray: "The First Duty", audio commentary)
Shannon Fill reprised her role as Sito Jaxa in TNG: "Lower Decks".
This is the first time we actually see Boothby, played by Ray Walston. He replies in response to Picard's comment "I thought you were a mean-spirited, vicious, old man.", "I was, and by the way, I was about the same age that you are now", which makes Boothby around 104 years old in this episode. He reprised the role in two episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, "In the Flesh", and "The Fight" (although on both these occasions it is not the real Boothby, but a member of Species 8472 disguised as him and a hologram/hallucination respectively).

Continuity

Although spoken of since the original series, this is the first appearance of Starfleet Academy.
Ronald D. Moore also wrote the Deep Space Nine episode "Valiant" that focused on another group of Starfleet cadets, Red Squad.
Picard references of his meeting with Wesley sitting in his chair in "Encounter at Farpoint", and making him an acting ensign later in "Where No One Has Gone Before".
The Ligonians from "Code of Honor" are mentioned for the last time.
This episode would prove to be the jumping-off point for two seventh season episodes: "Lower Decks" and "Journey's End".
The uniforms worn by the cadet crew resemble the "DS9-style" uniforms though without the gray undershirt.

Sets and props

Wesley has a model of the USS Enterprise in his quarters. This is actually a pewter and gold replica of the ship that The Franklin Mint issued in the late 1980s.
Wesley's quarters at the Academy have a hinged door with a mechanical doorknob or ringbell, rather than the automatic sliding doors seen in most Starfleet facilities.

Reception

Entertainment Weekly ranked this episode #9 on their list of "The Top 10 Episodes" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. [4]
The writing staff was pleased with the added depth this episode gave to the character of Wesley.
- Jeri Taylor remarked, "I felt this episode humanized Wesley in a way that he never has been and maybe now would allow fans to actually like him. He wore this awful mantle of the genius child who always saved the ship and in that sense seemed remote from a real person. He was the perfect Wesley, and that was hard with people to identify with. He made a mistake, a bad mistake, he's flawed. People are and I think in enriching him as a character, it gives him texture, maturity. It gives him something he now has to work through. That makes you a finer person in the end instead of just being a plastic perfect teenager." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
- Ron Moore agreed, noting, "We took that character in a really interesting direction and I think it helps him grow as a character a lot and makes him more accessible and human. I'm just really happy with what the episode became. It's probably my favorite episode of the year. It had a lot of meaty stuff; the Picard/Wesley scene is powerful. When he looks up from behind the desk and gets up, you think he's going to slug him. Picard just had a real heartfelt anger in his face." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
- Director Paul Lynch credited the performance of Wil Wheaton, noting "It's nice to see because he was a good young kid actor when we first started Next Generation, and now he's matured into a good first-rate actor. It's nice to see the difference over the years." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
Rick Berman opined, "I think the direction by Paul Lynch was excellent and the casting was great. Getting Ray Walston to play Boothby was fortuitous and the casting of the three other Starfleet kids was successful. It was not a typical episode, it was not science fiction in nature, it was earthbound and it was a very dramatic character piece and courtroom drama. As filmmaking and one hour dramatic television, I thought it was riveting. It was a terrific episode and by dealing with some of the hi-tech abilities to detect what they were doing, we got elements of science-fiction in there as well." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
Michael Piller mentioned that "...the Air Force is showing this episode today to say "Look! Thats what it's all about."" ("Departmental Briefing Year Five" ("The First Duty"), TNG Season 5 DVD special feature)
A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 21, pp. 10-12.
This episode is shown to United States Air Force Academy cadets in training, citing the USAFA's motto of "I will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do." The episode is used to emphasize the Academy's adherence to moral code and the truth.

Video and DVD releases

Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 60, 15 February 1993
UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 5.7, 2 December 2002
As part of the TNG Season 5 DVD collection

Links and references

Previous episode:
"Cause and Effect"

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 5

Next episode:
"Cost of Living"

The First Duty (episode)

Contents

Summary

Teaser

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

Memorable quotes

Background information

Production history

Story and script

Production

Cast and characters

Continuity

Sets and props

Reception

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Special guest star

And guest starring

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins and photo doubles

References

External links

Fan Feed