Television Review: Ensign Ro (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S5X03, 1991)

Ensign Ro (S05E03)

Airdate: 7 October 1991

Written by: Matthew Piller
Directed by: Les Landau

Running Time: 46 minutes

Star Trek: The Next Generation entered a period of exceptional quality during its fifth season, a trajectory that began with a flourish and was thoroughly maintained in its third instalment. Ensign Ro proved to be far more than just another episode; it acted as a valuable founding bloc for the remarkable quality of storytelling that would define the remainder of the series. This instalment achieved a dual significance, serving not only to introduce a memorable recurring character but also to unveil one of the most iconic and memorable alien races to grace Star Trek's Golden Age: the Bajorans.

The narrative arc initiates with the USS Enterprise-D receiving a distress call from a Federation colony named Solarion IV. Situated perilously close to the volatile Cardassian border, the colony is under attack, sparking a diplomatic firestorm. The responsibility for this aggression is swiftly claimed by the "Bajora," an organisation purporting to represent the Bajoran people. The Bajoran homeworld has been conquered and occupied by the Cardassians for forty years. This brutal occupation has forced millions of Bajorans to flee, turning them into refugees drifting through the cosmos, desperate for a return to their homeland. The terrorists issue a demand that the Federation assist them in reclaiming what was stolen.

Once the survivors of the attack are brought to safety, Captain Jean-Luc Picard meets with Admiral Kennelly (Cliff Potts). Kennelly entrusts Picard with a delicate and morally ambiguous task: locate the mysterious leader of the Bajoran extremists, Orta, and offer him amnesty alongside a promise that the Federation will discreetly aid his people. To facilitate this, Kennelly dispatches a special advisor to the Enterprise in the form of Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes). Ro is a Bajoran serving in Starfleet, yet she is far from a model officer. Her past includes a stint in the brig for refusing a direct order that indirectly resulted in the deaths of eight fellow officers, marking her as a liability to the fleet command.

Upon her arrival, Ro is met with immediate hostility from the crew, who view her with suspicion and disdain. However, she makes no effort to win their hearts and minds; her prickly demeanour is a defensive shield rather than a desire for camaraderie. The only individual who establishes a true connection with her is Guinan. This bond is pivotal, as Guinan later advocates for Ro's inclusion in Picard's inner circle, describing her as a friend who understands the weight of their shared history.

The Enterprise travels to the Valo system, where a significant population of Bajoran refugees has established a settlement. They speak to the leader, Keeve Falor (Scott Marlowe), who agrees to facilitate a meeting with Orta in exchange for essential humanitarian aid such as blankets and medical supplies for his people. When they finally encounter Orta (Jeffrey Hayenga), he vehemently denies that his people were responsible for the attack on Solarion IV. It is only later that Ro reveals a startling truth: she had been on a secret mission on behalf of Admiral Kennelly to arm the Bajorans, a transaction that effectively meant returning them to refugee camps against their will.

Orta is eventually convinced to return to his people. However, his ship is intercepted by two Cardassian cruisers shortly after being followed by the Enterprise. Picard quickly deduces that Kennelly’s true objective was to sacrifice Orta to the Cardassians, a calculated move motivated by a desire to preserve the peace and secure the border at any cost. Kennelly confirms this treachery and orders the Enterprise to stand down and leave Orta's vessel to its fate. Picard obeys the order, and the Cardassians subsequently destroy the ship. Yet, the episode delivers a shocking twist: Picard reveals that the ship was actually empty. Anticipating such treachery, Picard had taken precautions, essentially making Kennelly appear as a fool to the Cardassians who fell for the false flag attack on Solarion IV.

Ro has, through her prickly exterior and undeniable competence, won the admiration of Picard. He offers her the opportunity to become a permanent part of his crew, which she accepts. The terms of her acceptance are specific and telling: she demands the right to wear her Bajoran earrings, a concession previously denied to her by Riker due to Starfleet regulations regarding dress codes.

Ensign Ro was written by Michael Piller, a writer who famously infused the series with grounded realism. The episode is celebrated for introducing the Bajorans, a humanoid alien race. What distinguishes them from other spacefaring civilisations is their status as an occupied nation forced to fight for survival. Piller, by his own admission, was inspired by real-world geopolitical strife, specifically modelling the Bajoran plight on the suffering of the Kurds and Palestinians during the Gulf War and the ongoing Middle East conflict. This narrative choice proved crucial, paving the way for the spin-off series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which is deeply rooted in the politics of the Bajoran home world.

Another significant introduction is that of Ensign Ro herself. Although she would only be a recurring character in TNG, her impact was substantial. This was largely due to the stellar performance of Michelle Forbes, a relatively young actress at the start of her career who would go on to have many memorable roles in television. Ro is depicted not as a perfect Starfleet officer, but as a character with a distinct streak of rebelliousness and attitude. Her disdain for authority and her hostility toward fellow officers represent a refreshing departure from the interpersonal harmony that Gene Roddenberry envisioned for the future of humanity.

Nevertheless, the episode, like much of TNG by that point, had clearly strayed from Roddenberry's constraining utopian formula. It moved the franchise into darker, more realistic territory, populated by incompetent and morally compromised figures like Admiral Kennelly. The storytelling went even darker with the revelation of Ro's backstory—specifically, her description of seeing her own father tortured by Cardassians as a child. This detail serves to establish the Cardassians as the more frighteningly evil villains, surpassing the traditional adversaries of the Romulans or Klingons in terms of cruelty and emotional impact.

Ultimately, the episode has benefited immensely from the very good direction provided by Les Landau, who guided these complex narratives with a steady hand. Ensign Ro is a testament to the evolution of Star Trek from a simplistic space opera into a nuanced examination of war, terrorism, and the resilience of the human spirit.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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