S1E04 Code of Honor

Season 1 Episode 4: Code of Honor

Watchability: Skip
Short Answer: This an entirely forgettable "Prime Directive" episode.
Notables: None.

This episode is a perfect example of a throwaway episode. It does serve to introduce a plot device that is often used in the show. Starfleet has a "Prime Directive" which essentially says that they should not interfere in the laws of any race that is "less advanced". This is roughly defined as any race that has yet to develop Warp Drive (faster-than-light travel). The stated reason being that they might alter the evolution of an alien race.

It's a nice notion, and at times provides and explanation for why the Enterprise doesn't use it's often superior technology to get out of dodge. In those cases, the crew is forced to really examine the allegory set up by the "alien" culture. For this episode, I don't really see a lot that it brings to the table. For that I would say skip it.

Side Note: For those who have seen it, I was struck by an odd sub-thread in the episode. To recap, the plot of the episode, the leader of this planet captures Tasha Yar and claims her as a mate. In order to get out of this situation, she has to fight his previous wife. At several times throughout the episode, different people either hint or outright speculate that maybe she wanted to be kidnapped. At one point she says something like "I admit that I am a little attracted to strong men, but no one wants to be kidnapped!" For a show that is fairly progressive, it seemed completely out of place. By the third or fourth time it came up, it just seemed comical that no one on the ship believed her.