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TNG · SEASON 33×04

Who Watches the Watchers

NOMADIC PICK · ESSENTIAL VIEWINGPicard refuses to become a god.
FIRST SHOWN (US)
16 October 1989
ON
First-run syndication
STARDATE
43173.5
DIRECTED BY
Robert Wiemer
PRODUCTION NO.
152

WRITTEN BYWritten by Richard Manning & Hans Beimler

IN BRIEF

SPOILER-FREE

When a hidden Federation observation post fails, a Bronze Age people catch a glimpse of the Enterprise crew and begin to believe Picard is a god.

SYNOPSIS

SPOILERS
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSISHIDE SYNOPSIS

Federation anthropologists are secretly studying the Mintakans, a peaceful proto-Vulcan people, from a disguised observation post. When its holographic screen fails, a Mintakan named Liko is badly injured, and Dr Crusher beams him aboard the Enterprise to save his life. Her attempt to wipe his memory fails. Liko remembers a figure he calls the Picard, and soon the villagers believe their ancient gods have returned. Riker and Troi go down disguised as Mintakans to undo the damage, but Troi is taken prisoner. Picard, horrified at the idea of founding a religion, brings the village leader Nuria aboard to show her that his people are mortal. Liko is not convinced, so Picard stands before him and lets Liko shoot him with an arrow, proving that he can bleed. The Mintakans accept the truth, and Picard agrees to remove the Federation's post from their world.

DID YOU KNOW?

  1. 01The title translates Juvenal's Latin question “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”, which also inspired Alan Moore's Watchmen.
  2. 02Filmed partly at Vasquez Rocks, a familiar original series location, over two days in heat of around 100°F (38°C).
  3. 03Jonathan Frakes said playing a disguised Riker in Mintakan make-up gave him new respect for what Michael Dorn went through every morning.
SOURCES WE CHECKED