Allegiance (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Plot

Captain Picard is taken from his bed on the Enterprise by an unknown device after a mission ends successfully. He wakes up in a cell with two others: Cadet Haro from Bolarus IX, who attends Starfleet Academy, and philosopher Kova Tholl from Mizar II. A fourth prisoner, the violent Esoqq from Chalnoth, joins them later. The cell has basic beds and facilities, and a dispenser provides only bland, rubbery disks for food.

Esoqq cannot eat these and moves toward Tholl as if to consume him, but Picard talks him out of it for the moment. Picard tries to find a common reason for their abduction but discovers none. He gets Haro and Esoqq to work on breaking the lock on the single door. Their first attempt triggers a stun beam, but they eventually override it and defeat the door's security, only to find a solid wall behind it.

Back on the Enterprise, a duplicate of Picard has assumed his role. This double orders the ship to postpone a scheduled meeting with another vessel and proceed slowly toward a nearby pulsar. Along the way, the double behaves oddly: he starts a romance with Dr. Crusher and leads the crew in singing "Heart of Oak," the Royal Navy's official march, in Ten Forward.

The senior crew grows suspicious. When they reach the pulsar, the double commands the ship to move closer, risking lethal radiation exposure. Commander Riker and the rest of the bridge crew refuse to obey, effectively removing the duplicate from command on grounds of unfitness.

Did You Know?

• In 2018, Popular Mechanics highlighted 'Allegiance' as one of the best Captain Picard episodes, and as recommended viewing for audiences to prepare for a new television series based on that character, Star Trek: Picard.
• In 2017, Syfy rated the Chalnoth featured in this episode, one of the top 11 most bizarre aliens of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• The episode was released with Star Trek: The Next Generation season three DVD box set, released in the United States on July 2, 2002, and in high-definition Blu-ray on April 30, 2013.