A Matter of Honor: Difference between revisions

| caption = Riker takes command of the IKS ''Pagh''.

* Wanda M. Haight

* Gregory W. Amos

* [[Burton Armus]]
}}

| guests =
* [[John Putch]] – Mendon

* [[Christopher Collins]] – Kargan

* [[Brian Thompson]] – Klag

* [[Colm Meaney]] – [[Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)|Miles O'Brien]]

* [[Peter Parros]] – Tactics Officer

*[[Laura Drake (actress)|Laura Drake]] – [[Vekma]]

| season_article = Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 2)

"'''A Matter of Honor'''" is the eighth episode of the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|second season]] of the American [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', the 34th episode overall, first broadcast on February&nbsp;6, 1989. The teleplay is written by [[Burton Armus]], based on a story by Armus, Wanda M. Haight and Gregory W. Amos, and directed by [[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Rob Bowman]].<ref name="DeCandido">{{Cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2011/09/08/star-trek-the-next-generation-rewatch-qa-matter-of-honorq/ |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: “A"A Matter of Honor”Honor"|last=DeCandido|first=Keith R. A.|date=2011-09-08 |website=Tor.com|language=en-US |access-date=2019-07-20 }}</ref>

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the [[Starfleet]] crew of the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) | Federation starship Enterprise-D]]. In this episode, [[William Riker|Commander Riker]] is assigned to temporarily be first officer aboard a [[Klingon]] vessel as part of an officer exchange program.

As part of an officer exchange program, [[Benzite]] Ensign Mendon is brought aboard the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] [[starship]] ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|Enterprise]]''. Acting Ensign [[Wesley Crusher]] mistakes Mendon for Mordock, another Benzite who took the Starfleet entrance examination with him (in "[[Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Coming of Age]]"). [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]] suggests a similar officer exchange with the Klingons, and Commander Riker readily volunteers. Riker is assigned to the Klingon ship IKS ''Pagh'', captained by Kargan. Before Riker departs for the ''Pagh'', [[Worf|Lt. Worf]] briefs Riker on Klingon customs, and gives him a transponder to signal the ''Enterprise'' in the event of an emergency. Riker embraces his role as the Klingon First Officer, and when challenged by Second Officer Klag, subdues him by force, pleasing Captain Kargan and earning respect from the crew.

Before the ships move away, Mendon scans the Klingon vessel and discovers a patch of strange organic material on its hull but does not bring it to Picard's attention. Worf soon discovers a similar patch on the ''Enterprise'' hull, identifying it as a lifeform. Mendon then reveals his previous discovery of the same matter on the Klingon ship, and when asked why he withheld the information, explains that on Benzite ships, it is considered improper to bring up a problem before you have a solution. Picard chastises him and orders the ''Enterprise'' to intercept the ''Pagh'', as the Klingon ship is even more susceptible to damage from the organism. While en route, Mendon discovers a method to remove the organism.

The Klingon crew also discovers the organism eating away at their hull. Kargan concludes that it must be a new Federation weapon, noting that the ''Enterprise'' had heavilythoroughly scanned the area during their rendezvous, and orders the ''Pagh'' to cloak and prepare to attack the ''Enterprise''. Riker is unable to convince Kargan to stand down, even after the ''Enterprise'' sends a message with instructions for removing the organism. Suspicious of the radio silence, the ''Enterprise'' raises its shields. Seemingly accepting his fate, Riker convinces Kargan to close to a distance of 40,000 kilometers before attacking the ''Enterprise''. He activates the transponder he got from Worf and tricks Kargan into taking it. The ''Enterprise'' locks onto the transponder signal and waits for the ''Pagh'' to get within 40,000 kilometers, the range of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s transporters. Kargan is beamed to the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s bridge and draws his disruptor but Worf fires first and stuns him. Riker assumes command of the ''Pagh'', decloaks, and demands that the ''Enterprise'' surrender, which Picard agrees to, disgracing Kargan further. The ''Enterprise'' cleans the organism from the Klingon ship, and Kargan is returned. Riker allows Kargan to hit him and order him off the ship to allow the Klingon to regain some of his dignity before the ''Pagh'' departs.

Makeup supervisor Michael Westmore was nominated for an Emmy for this episode.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nemecek|first=Larry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VTifVpk6cekC&pg=PT117&dq=STAR+TREK:%3A+THE+NEXT+GENERATION+Unnatural+Selection+Emmy&hlpg=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFtsz4jZfvAhVIRDABHY5NCOIQ6AEwAnoECAMQAg#v=onepage&q=STAR%20TREK:%20THE%20NEXT%20GENERATION%20Unnatural%20Selection%20Emmy&f=falsePT117|title=The Next Generation Companion: Star Trek The Next Generation|date=2012-09-25|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4711-0679-8|language=en}}</ref>

In 2011, Tor.com said that this episode "set the tone" for Klingon themed episodes, and praised both the performance and character arcs for both Riker and Mendon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2011/09/08/star-trek-the-next-generation-rewatch-qa-matter-of-honorq/|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: “A Matter of Honor”|lastname="DeCandido|first=Keith R. A.|date=2011-09-08|website=Tor.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-20}}<"/ref>

''[[Den of Geek]]'' says, in their 2013 review of this episode, "Competent, engaging, full of heart, humour and character interplay. The scene with Riker and Picard down at the shooting range is fantastic, ...".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation/26007/revisiting-star-trek-tng-a-matter-of-honor/|title=Revisiting Star Trek TNG: A Matter Of Honor |website=[[Den of Geek]]|languagedate=en June 14, 2013|access-date=2019-07-20January 28, 2022}}</ref>

Zack Handlen, writing for [[the A.V. Club]] in 2010, gave the episode an A–A−. Handlen praised the episode's brevity, and called Riker's taking over the ''Pagh'' as "a cheer-worthy twist," stating, "it wouldn't have worked if it didn't feel earned."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |last=Handlen |first=Zack |url=https://tvwww.avclub.com/star-trek-the-next-generation-unnatural-selection-1798165283 |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Unnatural Selection"/"Matter Of Honor"/"The Measure Of A Man"|last=Handlen|first=Zack |website=TV[[The A.V. Club|language=en-US]] |access-date=20192021-07-20}}</ref>

{{reflistReflist}}

* {{IMDb episode|0708670}}

[[Category:Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 2) episodes]]