Up the Long Ladder
- Episode aired May 20, 1989
- TV-PG
- 45m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
An antiquated distress signal leads to two lost 22nd century Earth colonies, each facing doom in different ways, one by fire, the other by prolonged cloning.An antiquated distress signal leads to two lost 22nd century Earth colonies, each facing doom in different ways, one by fire, the other by prolonged cloning.An antiquated distress signal leads to two lost 22nd century Earth colonies, each facing doom in different ways, one by fire, the other by prolonged cloning.
Wil Wheaton
- Wesley Crusher
- (credit only)
Jon DeVries
- Prime Minister Granger
- (as Jon de Vries)
Majel Barrett
- Enterprise Computer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Dexter Clay
- Operations Division Officer
- (uncredited)
Tim McCormack
- Ensign Bennett
- (uncredited)
Richard Sarstedt
- Command Division Officer
- (uncredited)
Lainie Sims
- Bringloidi Colonist
- (uncredited)
Michael Stanhope
- Bringloidi Colonist
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhile filming the scene where Picard, Riker and Worf investigate the fire in the cargo bay set by the Irish settlers so they could cook, Patrick Stewart found the dialogue so hilarious that he started laughing uncontrollably, and forced himself to turn his back to the camera to continue. With cameras still rolling, Jonathan Frakes approached him in-character as Riker, and Stewart, still laughing, turned back around and improvised the line about bowing to the absurd.
- GoofsIf the Bringloidi have a primitive agrarian culture complete with spinning wheels and domesticated animals, they would appear not to be able to send a distress call to Earth; however, this is a way of life by choice. As their ancestors launched from Earth in 2123, together with the technologically versed Mariposan colonists, it stands to reason that they would at least have had or borrowed a distress beacon for the event of an emergency.
- Quotes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Sometimes, Number One... you just have to... bow to the absurd.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shades of Gray (1989)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
Featured review
Yeah It's Offensive
When it comes to TNG's dubious portrayals of various peoples i think this episode is far worse than Code Of Honor. The Space Irish are one leprachaun away from being perfect stereotypes, and they're played by English actors to boot.
Another problem with the episode is that TNG already did the "advanced society can't reproduce" thing in season 1. Honestly the way the series kept repeating itself in the first two seasons is bizarre.
On the plus side, the scenes between Worf and Pulaski are wonderful. Another great scene with her in it is when she and Riker find out about the clones. The way that's handled is understandable but still disturbing. Oh, and Brenna Odell is wonderful - one of the few people to really put Picard in his place.
Another problem with the episode is that TNG already did the "advanced society can't reproduce" thing in season 1. Honestly the way the series kept repeating itself in the first two seasons is bizarre.
On the plus side, the scenes between Worf and Pulaski are wonderful. Another great scene with her in it is when she and Riker find out about the clones. The way that's handled is understandable but still disturbing. Oh, and Brenna Odell is wonderful - one of the few people to really put Picard in his place.
helpful•1420
- anarchistica
- Mar 30, 2020
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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