| "Captain's Holiday" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 19 |
| Directed by | Chip Chalmers |
| Written by | Ira Steven Behr |
| Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
| Cinematography by | Marvin Rush |
| Production code | 167 |
| Original air date | April 2, 1990 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Captain's Holiday" is the 19th episode of the third season of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , and the 67th episode of the series overall.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is talked into taking shore leave on the resort planet of Risa, where he finds himself drawn into an archeological adventure with a woman of questionable ethics (Vash, portrayed by Jennifer Hetrick) and pursued by a nefarious Ferengi (Max Grodénchik). [1]
Strongly pressured by the crew of the Enterprise, Captain Picard reluctantly agrees to take a vacation on Risa, a pleasure planet. Shortly after he arrives, he is kissed by a woman he has never met, in her attempt to fend off a Ferengi named Sovak. Sovak accuses Picard of conspiring with the woman, Vash, who has in her possession a data disc that he wants. Picard has no interest in the quarrel and returns to his room to discover two "Vorgons" who identify themselves as time-traveling police agents from the 27th century, searching for a powerful weapon called the Tox Uthat capable of stopping the fusion reactions of a star. The 27th-century scientist who invented it traveled back in time to hide it. According to their historical records, Picard will locate this object on Risa.
Picard confronts Vash about the Tox Uthat. She claims to be the former assistant of an archaeologist who discovered the location of the Uthat, gave her the disc for safekeeping, and died. Picard and Vash use the information on the disc to determine the Uthat's hiding place. When they arrive at the location where the Uthat is buried, the Vorgons appear to witness the discovery of the Uthat. Sovak then arrives with a phaser rifle and has Picard and Vash excavate the site at gunpoint for hours. However, the Uthat is not there. The Vorgons leave, confused because this doesn't line up with their historical record. Sovak, in his obsession, refuses to believe that the Uthat isn't there, throws away the rifle, and starts digging while Vash and Picard return to the resort.
After their arrival, the Enterprise returns to pick up Picard. He catches Vash attempting to sneak away from the resort and surmises that she arrived days earlier, located the Uthat, and devised a ruse to fool Sovak into thinking the Uthat was lost. She reveals the hidden Uthat and the Vorgons reappear, demanding it. When Vash suggests that the Vorgons may have ulterior motives, Picard has the Enterprise use the transporter to destroy it. The disappointed Vorgons reveal that Picard has acted just as their records said by destroying the Uthat, admit defeat, and leave. Vash and Picard have a final intimate exchange before they say goodbye to each other.
The episode was released with Star Trek: The Next Generation season three DVD box set, released in the United States on July 2, 2002. [2] This had 26 episodes of Season 3 on seven discs, with a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. [2] It was released in high-definition Blu-ray in the United States on April 30, 2013. [3]
In 2010, Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club reviewed the episode and gave it a grade of B. [4]
In 2012, Keith R.A. DeCandido of Tor.com gave the episode three out of ten. [5]
In 2016, Geek.com described Risa as a "sex planet" and noted the focus on pleasure-oriented activities. [6]
In 2018, Tom's Guide rated "Captain's Holiday" one of the 15 best episodes featuring Picard, also noting the introduction of the character Vash. [7]
CBR rated the relationship between Picard and Vash characters as the 12th best romance of Star Trek. [8]
In 2019, Higgy Pop noted "Captain's Holiday" as one of the time travel stories of the Star Trek franchise. [9]
In 2020, Vulture recommended as one of the best Star Trek episodes to watch along with Star Trek: Picard, noting: "It’s not really a good episode, but it’s fun..". [1] They note this episode's focus on Picard's adventures on a pleasure planet, where his space vacation takes a turn for an Indiana Jones type adventure.
"The Enemy" is the seventh episode of the third season of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 55th episode overall, first broadcast on November 6, 1989.
"Time Squared" is the thirteenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 39th episode overall. It originally aired on April 3, 1989, in broadcast syndication. The episode was written by Maurice Hurley from a story by Kurt Michael Bensmiller and directed by Joseph L. Scanlan.
"The Last Outpost" is the fifth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, originally aired within the United States on October 19, 1987. The episode was written by Herbert Wright, based on a story by Richard Krzemien, and directed by Richard Colla. The guest cast included Armin Shimerman, Jake Dengel and Tracey Walter. Although this was Shimerman's first appearance as a Ferengi, he had previously filmed his first appearance in an uncredited role in "Haven", but that was broadcast after "The Last Outpost". He would later gain the role of the Ferengi Quark in the main cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
"The Battle" is the ninth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and was originally aired on November 16, 1987, in broadcast syndication. The episode was written by Herbert Wright, based on a story by Larry Forrester, and directed by Rob Bowman.
"Haven" is the eleventh episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, originally aired on November 30, 1987, in broadcast syndication in the United States. Directed by Richard Compton, the story was originally created by Lan O'Kun, and developed into the final script by Tracy Tormé.
"Peak Performance" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 47th episode overall, first broadcast on July 10, 1989.
"Qpid" is the 94th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 20th episode of the fourth season.
"Rascals" is the seventh episode of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 133rd overall. It was originally released on October 30, 1992, in broadcast syndication. "Rascals" was credited to Alison Hock from a story by Ward Botsford, Diana Dru Botsford, Michael Piller, although the script was revised by several writers with Ronald D. Moore conducting the final draft. It marked the directorial debut of Adam Nimoy.
"Q-Less" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), and aired February 8, 1993.
"The Schizoid Man" is the sixth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 32nd episode overall first airing on January 23, 1989. The teleplay was written by Tracy Torme based on a story by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler, and directed by Les Landau.
"Unnatural Selection" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 33rd episode overall. It was first broadcast on January 30, 1989. It was written by John Mason and Mike Gray, and directed by Paul Lynch.
"Pen Pals" is the fifteenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 41st episode overall, it was first broadcast on May 1, 1989.
"The Survivors" is the third episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 51st episode overall, first broadcast on October 9, 1989.
"The High Ground" is the 12th episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 60th episode of the series. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, a crew member of the Federation Starfleet starship USS Enterprise-D is taken hostage by terrorists who hope Federation involvement will help them win concessions for their cause. Due to a line about Irish reunification, the episode was initially not broadcast in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
"The Defector" is the tenth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 58th episode of the series overall.
"The Price" is the eighth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 56th episode of the series overall.
"The Ensigns of Command" is the second episode of the third season of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 50th episode overall, first broadcast on October 2, 1989.
"Who Watches the Watchers" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 52nd episode overall, first broadcast on October 16, 1989.
"The Perfect Mate" is the 21st episode of the fifth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 121st overall. The episode was credited to Gary Percante and Michael Piller from a story by Percante and René Echevarria. Percante was a pseudonym of Reuben Leder, which was used by the writer in protest against re-writes. Four endings were written, with two filmed. "The Perfect Mate" was directed by Cliff Bole.
"Ménage à Troi" is the 24th episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 72nd episode of the series overall.
