#11 for Top 12 Picard Episodes of Star Trek TNG

Gambit (parts 1+2)

Picard dies from time to time, and that is how this 2-part story begins. Riker becomes obsessed with finding the people responsible and making them pay. Star Fleet command puts the Enterprise on detached duty, so Riker and company can investigate.

While looking at a location known for Romulan artifacts, Riker and company encounter a band of robbers. Riker is captured and taken aboard the enemy ship. There he discovers several things. First, he has been implanted with a pain device to ensure his cooperation. Second, the group is looking for artifacts in order to collect some kind of reward, paid when they have found three of a certain design. Third, Captain Picard is actually alive and posing as an archeologist named Galen.

We might talk about other parts of this episode when we do the list for the rest of the crew, but for now we will just mention that Data has to command the Enterprise, and that he has to give Worf a dressing down for not fulfilling the role of First Officer. We want to focus on Captain Jean Luc Picard.

Picard does a great job of thinking on his feet and creating a believable cover story when he is captured. He also puts together a plan once Riker is added to the equation. Picard creates a false role of Riker as a brash and impulsive officer who has been in trouble with Star Fleet many times. Picard also uses Riker to alienate himself from the ship's captain.

Life gets more complicated when Riker returns to the Enterprise through a little manipulation and has to stage a mutiny. He is able to convince the crew to stand with him, and formulates a plan to not only deal with the problem he is facing with the smugglers, but also with the bigger problem of the episode.

THIS LAST BIT IS ALL SPOILERS! DON'T READ UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN THE EPISODE!

So all of this smuggling has been to collect an ancient Vulcan artifact that was created right at the time when the Vulcans turned to logic and away from emotion. The device turns violent emotions against anyone attacking the bearer of the device-killing them. Picard using his understanding of the Vulcan artifacts to realize that purging himself of violent emotions will protect him from the device. This moment shows just how amazing of a man Jean Luc Picard is.