The Animated Series 1x16 "The Jihad"

rating: *

Memory Alpha summary

via Gutter Talk Comics

Sort of a mix between the original series episode "Journey to Babel," Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and the Next Generation episode "The Chase," "The Jihad" is a group quest that's rife with peril and betrayal.

It's another episode that's pretty series-specific otherwise, what could easily have been a defining story.  And it happens to be the first season finale.  If things had been different, and the series lasted much past a few episodes in the second season, "Jihad" might have a more significant reputation, because in a lot of ways it's almost a prototype for how later Star Trek would begin ending seasons.

Instead it's another more or less one-and-done episode with a one-and-done significant new species never seen again, and a bunch of others besides.  Sounds less impressive that way, doesn't it?  What I mean to say is, "Jihad" is a transition between what the franchise had been and what it would become.  Or almost.

Perhaps most interesting is guest voice actor David Gerrold, who is best known as screenwriter for the classic "Trouble with Tribbles" from the original series as well as "More Troubles, More Tribbles" and "Bem" from this one.

four quarter analysis
franchise * series * essential * character

notable guest-stars:
James Doohan
David Gerrold