The La Sirena crew beam down to Freecloud to search for Bruce Maddox, but their latest recruit has a very different agenda.

I had an absolute blast with this episode, which has throwbacks to many classic Trek capers, while also acknowledging that tonally it’s all over the Quadrant. Opening with what must be the most gruesome scene you’ve ever seen in Star Trek (TV or movie) we later get comedy moments of Picard as an outrageous Frenchman, followed by multiple cold blooded murder. It’s a curious mix that jars, but just about keeps the wheels on the cart as it’s running downhill.

It was a delight to see Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine appear at the end of last week’s show, and she doesn’t disappoint in her new role as ‘Seven the ex-Borg Fenris Ranger from the Delta Quadrant.’ She has some great scenes with Stewart, discussing how they’ve tried to be human again post-Assimilation, but you can ever truly recover?

Michelle Hurd’s Raffi plays a subsidiary role this week, hoping to make amends with her estranged son, but it’s a painful reunion and he can’t move on from his abandonment. She may be his mother, boasting that she’s clean and sober now, but he doesn’t want her in his life or that of his family. It’s heartbreaking stuff.

Down on that old sci-fi chestnut of a space casino, Picard and his crew plot how they’re going to trade Seven for the captured Bruce Maddox (now played by John Ales rather than The Measure of a Man’s Brian Brophy). He’s being held by the diva-like Bjayzl (24’s Necar Zedagan) a butcher of Borg with whom Seven has history. Elnor’s naïveté provides some comic relief, as does Rios’ flamboyant ‘Facer’, with feathered hat, but what were they thinking making Picard a beret and eye-patch wearing comedy Frenchman with ze redeeculous accent? Why? He’s of French descent and lives in France? Did he think this was a good disguise?

Alison Pill’s Jurati continues to intrigue. There’s far more going on here than we’ve been led to believe – whatever was she told by Starfleet? – keeping her character something of an enigma and setting up some difficult conversations. And it all ends with the delivery of the next clue – time to go to the Borg Artefact and rescue Soji.

Verdict: Jonathan Frakes has great fun keeping up the pace in this caper that has some very dark moments and murky morality. You might enjoy it more while it’s happening than in reflection afterwards, but anyone who thinks the show was dragging its heels should be impressed. 8/10

Nick Joy