The Outrageous Okona (episode)edit

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

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

"The Outrageous Okona"
TNG, Episode 2x04 Production number: 40272-130 First aired: 12 December 1988
←	29th of 176 produced in TNG	→
←	29th of 176 released in TNG	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered
←	135th of 727 released in all	→

Teleplay By Burton Armus Story By Les Menchen Lance Dickson David Landsberg Directed By Robert Becker
42402.7 (2365)
	Arc: {{{wsArc0Desc}}} ({{{nArc0PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc0PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc1Desc}}} ({{{nArc1PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc1PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc2Desc}}} ({{{nArc2PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc2PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc3Desc}}} ({{{nArc3PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc3PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc4Desc}}} ({{{nArc4PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc4PartCount}}})

The Enterprise-D crew rescue a roguish freighter captain whose ship is malfunctioning, but his presence drags them into an interplanetary feud.

[edit] Summary

[edit] Teaser

"Captain's Log, Stardate 42402.7. We are traveling in the Omega Sagitta system, traversing between the twin planets that form the Coalition of Madena. Both worlds are populated by a humanoid race which colonized the planets two centuries ago and which now coexist under a precarious but successful treaty."

The Erstwhile

The Enterprise-D, while traveling in the Omega Sagitta system between two twin planets, inhabited by Humans who have created a pact called the Madena Coalition, stumbles upon a Class-9 starship with one humanoid inside. The ship is the cargo freighter, Erstwhile commanded by Captain Thadiun Okona who has problems with the guidance system. The Enterprise offers Captain Okona to help repairing his faulty guidance system. Deanna Troi establishes that he displays rogue like characteristics making him a suspicious character and should not be taken lightly.

Okona introduces himself to Lt. Robinson

[edit] Act One

Upon entry to the ship, Okona charms the transporter officer, Lieutenant Robinson and begins to display characteristics as a scoundrel and a rake. Okona and Lt. Robinson leave the transporter room, and Okona accompanies Data to Main Engineering to observe the repairs to the guidance system. Okona questions Data's ability to comprehend humor and other Human characteristics, apparently finding the concept of an emotionless android fascinating.

The holographic comic

[edit] Act Two

Data is inspired by Okona's questions and insights about humour, and goes to the holodeck to view a comedy show by the Holo Comedian. Data inquires about a series of comedic acts and performances to further his understanding of comedy. They begin a series of improvs which include 20th century Jerry Lewis, but the plan goes awry when Data is abruptly interrupted by a call to the bridge: an unidentified ship is approaching the Enterprise.

[edit] Act Three

Debin, the Captain of the ship, warns the Enterprise that they are entering their territory. Deban establishes that Okona is, in fact, a rogue who committed crimes on the planet Altec. While the entire confrontation is occurring, another ship of similar classification is approaching. This ship commanded by Captain Kushell from the planet Straleb also states similar issues relating to Okona.

Jean-Luc Picard calls Okona up to the bridge to understand what crimes he has committed. After brief deliberation, Okona hedges his response, stating that he isn't aware that he committed any crime on either world. A skeptical Picard asks Debin what crimes has been committed. Debin, infuriated, explains that Okona had impregnated Debin's daughter, Yanar.

[edit] Act Four

"Captain's Log, supplemental. Some of the mystery surrounding this ancient morality play we've been dragged into has been revealed. One of Captain Okona's pursuers is an outraged father with a heartfelt, if arcane, sense of righteousness."

Kushell has claimed that Okona stole the national treasure, the Jewel of Thesia. Picard and Okona discuss the matter at hand. If Okona is handed to Debin, the Thesians will use the slight to declare war, while if Picard gives him to the Thesians, the same result will occur. Picard and Okona agree that the only way to resolve the situation is to let Okona continue on and find a place of refuge.

After a long talk with Wesley Crusher, in which it's revealed that Okona has become tired of living the nomadic lifestyle and just wants the entire mess vis a vis Yanar and the Jewel to be settled, he decides to voluntarily turn himself in -- to both sides.

[edit] Act Five

Okona's choice allows Picard to use the Enterprise as a neutral meeting place for both parties to settle their claims. The two families are antagonistic towards each other, both claiming that Okona has infinged their laws and both expressing an equally valid claim on the wayward freighter captain. The story unfolds when they discover that Kushell's son Benzan impregnated Yanar, rather than Okona, and that Okona was the go-between for Yanar and Benzan's courtship (which was disapproved by both families). The jewel was stolen to be used in the wedding between Yanar and Benzan, who agree to marriage, and their fathers continue their quarrels (this time about the details of the wedding) as Picard invokes the Prime Directive as an excuse to make a discreet exit from what has now officially become an internal matter of the respective families' governments.

Data and Guinan participate in a comedy show with the Holo Comedian. They resolve the issues of Data's ability to deliver a joke by giving Data an audience. Unfortunately, Data discovers that the audience is programmed to laugh at anything he says or does, regardless of whether or not it's actually humorous, and that his delivery is still flawed.

At the end of the show, Data inadvertantly delivers a joke that causes the bridge crew to break into laughter, and Okona (having resolved his differences with the Thesians and Yanar's father) continues on his way.

[edit] Memorable quotes

"You spoiled the joke. It could have been your timing."
"My timing is digital."

- Guinan and Data

"Say goodbye, Data."
"Goodbye Data."

- Wesley Crusher and Data

"Captain, they are now locking lasers on us."
"Lasers!?"
"Yes, sir."
"Lasers can't even penetrate our navigation shields. Don't they know that?"
"Regulations do call for yellow alert."
"Hmm, a very old regulation. Well, make it so Number One. And, reduce speed... drop main shields, as well."
"May I ask why, sir?"
"In case we decide to surrender to them, Number One... "

- Worf, Riker, and Picard

"So... if you put funny teeth in your mouth, and jump around like an idiot, that is considered funny!"

- Data

" Guy walks into the doctor's office. The doctor tells him you need an operation. Guy says "I want a second opinion." Doc tells him "Okay you're ugly". Badoom Boom!

- Data telling his first joke to Guinan

[edit] Background information

The intent of this episode was for the secret love affair revealed at the end to be an allegory for Romeo and Juliet. It is unclear who Okona was supposed to be in that interpretation, although Friar Lawrence would be the best choice.
^{(citation needed • edit)}
This is the first of two second-season episodes in which Dr. Pulaski doesn't appear. The other is "Q Who".
Filming for this episode took place in late October 1988, with the final day of the shoot on 1 November 1988. ("Lost & Found", Star Trek Magazine issue 148)
The signage on the turbolift is wrong the two times we see it. The deck shown is Deck 11, yet Okona visits rooms which are on decks 7 and 8.
When Okona asks Data if he's ever been drunk, Data claims "not from alcohol", a reference to TNG: "The Naked Now" where the polywater intoxication acted on his programming like alcohol would on a human brain.
While Data cannot tell a joke, he appears capable of making up a joke ("Take my Worf, please!").
The final draft teleplay shows that Joe Piscopo made up his own jokes and dialogue as the holographic Comic by himself, including the Jerry Lewis impersonation and the Tip O'Neill reference.
The window or display "frame" behind Debin while speaking on the Enterprise viewscreen is a slightly modified re-use of the battle bridge viewscreen of the USS Enterprise-D.
The damaged prop guidance system from the Erstwhile was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [1]
The holodeck terminal lists the name of the Comic as Ronald B. Moore, a reference to visual effects supervisor Ronald B. Moore, who helped assemble the graphic, not to be confused with Ronald D. Moore, who had not yet joined the staff. (Star Trek Encyclopedia)

[edit] Video and DVD releases

Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 15, catalogue number VHR 2468, 3 June 1991.
US VHS release: 31 May 1995.
UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.2, catalogue number VHR 4738, 12 April 1999.
As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection.

[edit] Links and references

[edit] Starring

[edit] Also starring

LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
Wil Wheaton as Ensign Wesley Crusher

[edit] Guest stars

[edit] Special guest stars

Joe Piscopo as the Comic

And

Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan

Previous episode:
"Elementary, Dear Data"

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2

Next episode:
"Loud As A Whisper"