S5E17
The Outcast
⚠ Spoiler alert This recap gives away what happens in this episode.
Episode Summary & Review
Summary
Riker finds himself falling for a Gennai when the two races collaborate on a mission to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a shuttle.
Our Take
A well-meaning allegory that was braver in 1992 than it feels now, though the execution is pretty timid. Riker’s romance never quite convinces, and the ending pulls its punches, but Jonathan Frakes and the guest star do earnest work with material the show clearly wasn’t allowed to fully commit to. Worth a watch for the ideas, just don’t expect them to go anywhere risky.