Star Trek: The Next Generation - Code of Honor (1987)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

In the hopes of procuring a life-saving vaccine from the people of planet Ligon, the Enterprise crew face adversity when the leader of the planet’s hierarchy kidnaps Lieutenant Yar (Denise Crosby). Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his team must swallow their pride and do what’s in the best interest of the many, even if that comes as a detriment to the few. 

Racist is a word that I’ve seen thrown around in regard to Star Trek: The Next Generation - Code of Honor. That’s obviously a sentiment that does not sit well with the majority, and it’s surely possible many fans of Star Trek possess less-than-ideal memories of the episode as a result of the label that has been attached to it. I’m certainly not denying the problematic nature of Code of Honor, as it depicts African people as just a step above savagery, and generations behind the multitude of advanced civilizations present within this franchise. However, I’ve been made privy to a specific point of view that did not initially occur to me—and that is the race presented to viewers, despite the obvious narrative flaws, is powerful. They are a race of people that rule their own planet, that have autonomy over their choices and the role that others play in their existence. 

Additionally, it makes sense to see African Americans portrayed in this way, given the nature of the many depictions of them in popular media in the 1980s (this certainly doesn’t excuse certain issues, but it, at the very least, provides some clarity). 

In the early going of any series, characters are underdeveloped, storylines often feel incomplete, and the greater scope of what’s to come is ultimately a mystery even to the showrunners. Code of Honor is not immune to those struggles, as characters such as Picard, Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and others feel like shells of what they would eventually become. The performances are mostly effective, but what is given to these actors feels minimal—and the Code of Honor very much feels as if the show was in its infantile stage at this point. 

The word of the day in regard to Code of Honor is underdeveloped. The characters, the overarching storyline, and the set design are all underwhelming as a result of them not being fully realized. Cheap props and unfinished sets hinder Code of Honor even further. The aspect of Code of Honor that suffers most obviously as a result of its underdeveloped nature is the choreography. There’s something almost uncomfortable about the way in which the action sequences are portrayed, and it becomes incredibly difficult to immerse yourself in a world in which you’ve been made to feel this way. Repeated, gratuitous shouting during these action sequences, paired with the seemingly random swinging of one’s arms creates a sense of discomfort that emanates from those moments and creeps into all corners of the production. 

The saving grace of this episode of The Next Generation is the underlying theme of pride. Code of Honor (very subtly) includes the idea of pride in this narrative. Piccard’s pride is questioned time and time again, and he must determine whether or not he has the ability to swallow it in the interest of millions of lives. There’s an important lesson to be learned here, one that keeps in line with the rest of the intellectual relevance strewn throughout the Star Trek universe. The trouble is that it’s a bit too subtle, often overshadowed by the episode’s shortcomings. 

Code of Honor is not a great Star Trek episode. It certainly possesses some of the qualities that have made the franchise great, but it struggles to find direction, to avoid stereotypes, and ultimately to complete much of what it started. It’s a challenging, almost laughable watch—and it’s aged quite terribly. 

Directed by Russ Mayberry & Les Landau. 

Written by Katharyn Powers, Michael Baron, & Johnny Dawkins. 

Starring Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Denise Crosby, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Karole Selmon, Julian Christopher, etc. 

5/10 = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED