12 Most Beloved Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes

The Enterprise gets trapped in a time loop where it's destroyed at the end of every cycle in an episode featuring subtle nuances, intriguing clues, and a foreboding atmosphere.

Cause and Effect is a perfectly executed high concept science fiction mystery. It plays with details in order to create a tense atmosphere where something feels amiss. For example, there's a poker game that begins as a light character moment, but near the end, it turns eerie when they are able to predict what cards will come up next. Another instance is how Dr. Crusher always breaks the vase in her room in varying ways even when she tries to avoid doing it after getting a premonition.

These subtle differences in each reiteration keeps things fresh despite us basically watching the same scenes again and again. Jonathan Frakes displays his talent behind the lens by shooting similar moments at differing angles adding a sense of unease to the familiar.

Finally, the solution to the puzzle is inspired. As the crew become more aware that they are trapped in a time loop, they figure out they can send a short message to the next iteration before the Enterprise gets destroyed thus giving themselves a better chance at succedding. To see them receiving the message and working diligently to decipher the meaning gives the climax a sense of satisfaction since their survival is the direct result of their effort and ingenuity.

Cause and Effect may be light on moral philosophies and fresh character insight but it’s technically perfect with an engrossing plot that stands up to scrutiny no matter how many times you loop it on TV.