| "A Matter of Perspective" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 14 |
| Directed by | Cliff Bole |
| Written by | Ed Zuckerman |
| Featured music | Ron Jones |
| Cinematography by | Marvin Rush |
| Production code | 162 |
| Original air date | February 12, 1990 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"A Matter of Perspective" is the 14th episode of the third season of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), and the 62nd episode of the series overall. It was inspired by Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film Rashomon. The 45-minute episode was broadcast on February 12, 1990 on television. It was written by Ed Zuckerman.[1]
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Commander Riker is accused of murdering a scientist and faces an extradition hearing aboard the Enterprise,[2] where everyone's version of what transpired is re-created in the holodeck. Meanwhile, the ship is damaged by a mysterious radiation that the rest of crew works to resolve.
The episode involves themes of subjectivity in perception and memory, as well as the principle of presumed innocence in legal proceedings.[3] This follows in the tradition of Star Trek episodes that examine law and justice.