Who Watches The Watchers ( episode ) The " Enterprise " must undo the damage when a primitive civilization discovers a Federation observation team and concludes that the Starfleet personnel are gods . Summary . Teaser . The observation post is studying Mintakan s , proto - Vulcan humanoid s at the Bronze Age level , from behind a holographic wall . When contacted en route , Dr . Barron informs the they only have 3 hours of battery backup remaining . However , during the status report , there is a large explosion , resulting in power failure , injuries , and the transmission failing . Captain Picard orders that the " Enterprise " increase speed to warp nine . Act One . When the " Enterprise " arrives , and the away team begins repairs , flashing lights from behind the failed holographic wall draw the attention of two Mintakans , Liko and Oji . Before the holographic generator can be repaired , Liko manages to get a glimpse of the inside . When noticed by Data , he accidentally touches one of the electrically charged walls , and falls off . Dr . Crusher , acting upon instinct , goes down , scans him with her tricorder and gets him beam ed to sickbay . Oji is amazed when she sees them disappear into thin air . Only now is the holographic generator repaired successfully . Dr . Crusher , after defending her decision to violate the Prime Directive in this manner ( Liko had already seen inside ) , performs a short - term memory wipe , a technique of Dr . Pulaski . When Dr . Barron awakens in the next bed , he is informed of the situation : one of the scientists , Dr . , is still down there . Liko sees Picard explaining this , and giving several orders before Dr . Crusher re - sedates him . When Liko is beamed down to the planet , he does in fact remember everything . He explains to Oji about his experience , convinced that the beings of legend saved him , and knew the name of one : " the Picard " . Act Two . In a meeting in the " Enterprise " s observation lounge , Data explains that Mintaka III exhibits karst topography , notably sinkholes and cavern s . He explains that the rock strata also contains a thallium compound which interferes with ship ' s sensor s , making it difficult to locate Palmer ' s life sign s . Crusher underlies the importance of finding Palmer , as he is badly injured and suggests sending an away team down to locate him . Troi notes that their presence must not interfere with the natural development of the Mintakans and Picard agrees , noting that cultural contamination " must " be prevented . Commander Riker tells the captain he has a suggestion . Riker and Troi beam down to Mintaka III , and once they arrive in the town , they hear that Liko ' s story is continuing around . Nuria is one of the major skeptics . Riker and Troi attempt to convince them it was a dream , but to no avail . Then Dr . Palmer is brought in , and Liko is convinced it will please the Picard . Riker reports that " we have a problem . " Act Three . When Riker reports this , Dr . Barron is adamant that Palmer should be beamed aboard , since the cultural damage has been done . Picard will look for an opportunity , but refuses to do it immediately or drastically . The town concludes that Palmer should be kept safe to please the Picard , and he will be bound in case he was hiding from the Picard . Troi attempts to distract many members by claiming that " another servant of the Picard " is headed for the caves , while Riker binds the lone , elderly guard Fento and escapes with Palmer . He manages to beam back to the ship before he can be caught by Hali . Troi , however , is captured . Liko suggests they harm Troi to hold off the Picard ' s anger . Nuria refuses to until they have have at least tried to find Riker and Palmer , noting that with Riker carrying Palmer , they couldn ' t have gotten far . Meanwhile , on the ship , Dr . Barron suggests that Picard " show them a sign " . He refuses , citing again the Prime Directive , and all of the damage he would do , over Barron ' s objections that the Prime Directive has already been violated and the damage has already been done . Picard states that he cannot " " impose a set of commandments on these people . " " Instead , he believes that he can convince Nuria that " the Picard " is not magical , simply very advanced . When Nuria is alone , Picard alone transports her aboard . Upon hearing Picard state his name to her , she cries out and bows in reverence . Act Four . Picard tells Nuria to get up , and tries to talk her out of her superstitions . When it does not work , he shows her the ship , the view of her world , and continues to explain to her the fact he is only natural , using technology which evolved over many centuries , comparing it to some of the technological advances of her era , such as building huts , weaving cloth , or shooting a bow and arrow . She appears to understand , but then asks Picard to return her people to life who are long dead . Since there seems to be nothing else he can do to convince her , Picard brings her into sickbay when Dr . Mary Warren is dying . Nuria watches her die , and then finally understands : she couldn ' t be saved ; his power does have limits . Picard ' s people are remarkable , but not supreme beings . Meanwhile , on the planet , a storm frightens Liko , one out of season and quite intense . Believing the Picard has sent it , and without Nuria to question his actions , he prepares to sacrifice Troi , feeling he has no choice . Act Five . Troi attempts to dissuade him by casting doubt as to whether the Picard actually wants him to sacrifice her , and Liko prays to the Picard for guidance . Just in time , Picard returns with Nuria , who attempts to persuade Liko that Picard is mortal , and not " The Overseer " , or God . Liko , however , will not believe it . He begs for Picard to restore his dead wife , but Picard again tries to explain this is impossible . In a desperate attempt to demonstrate Picard ' s supreme nature Liko aims his bow and threatens to shoot him . Nuria attempts to stand in between Liko and Picard , but Picard gently moves her out of the way , encouraging him to indeed shoot if that is the only way he will be convinced that he is truly mortal . Liko shoots , just as Oji pushes him , and the arrow injures Picard seriously in the shoulder , for all to witness . Only now , as Nuria shows him Picard ' s red blood , does Liko believe in Picard ' s mortality . He shows them the observation post , and explains their presence , their desire for research , and the Prime Directive . Liko shows a firm understanding . Nuria sees progress for her people on a grand scale . After accepting a tapestry from a Mintakan boy , exchanging good will , he departs the planet . Memorable quotes . " " Mintakan emotions are quite interesting . Like the Vulcans , they have highly ordered minds . A very sensible people . For example , Mintakan women precede their mates . It ' s a signal to other women . " " " " ' This man ' s taken , get your own ' ? " " " " Not precisely . More like ' if you want his services , I ' m the one you have to negotiate with . " ' " " " What kind of services ? " " " " All kinds . " " " " They are a sensible race . " " " " I believe I have seen the Overseer . He is called ' The Picard . " ' " " " Picard ! " " " " Damn ! " " " " Well doctor , your next task is clear . " " " " The Mintakans are beginning to believe in a God and the one they ' ve chosen . . . is you . " " " " Dr . Barron , I cannot , I " will not " impose a set of commandments on these people ! " " " " Do not kneel before me . " " " " You do not wish it ? " " " " I do not deserve it . " " " " Look at me . . . feel the warmth of my hand , the rhythm of my pulse . I ' m not a supreme being . I ' m flesh and blood , like you . " " " " Not like me . " " " " Like you . Different in appearance , yes , but we are both living beings . We are born , we grow , we live . . . and we die . In all the ways that matter , we are alike . " " " " Perhaps one day , my people will travel above the skies . . . " " " " Of that , I have absolutely no doubt . " " " " Horrifying . . . Dr . Barron , your report describes how rational these people are . Millennia ago , they abandoned their belief in the supernatural . Now you are asking me to sabotage that achievement , to send them back into the dark ages of superstition and ignorance and fear ? No ! " " " " Are you sure this is what he wants ? That ' s the problem with believing in a supreme being : trying to determine what he wants . " " " " If you believe that I am a supreme being , then you cannot hurt me . If , however , I am telling the truth , that I am " mortal " , you will kill me . If , however , my death is the only evidence you will believe , then shoot ! " " " " I wish you good journeys , Picard . Remember my people . " " " " Always . " " Links and references . References . 13th century ; anthropology ; away team ; battery ; bow and arrow ; brain ; Bronze Age ; cave ; cavern ; cultural contamination ; delirium ; duck blind ; extended family ; Federation ; fertility ; flood ; fusion reactor ; gag ; gigawatt ; ghost ; holy war ; hornbuck ; inquisition ; Karst topography ; lysosome ; memory wipe ; Mintaka III ; Mintakan s ; Mintakan flood victims ; Mintakan tapestry ; non - corporeal species ; norep ; number one ; observation team ; Oji ' s mother ; ; phaser bank ; Prime Directive ; memory wipe ; outpost ; Proto - Vulcan humanoid ; Pulaski , Katherine ; record keeper ; river ; sinkhole ; ; star ; subcutaneous communicator ; subspace relay station ; sundial ; thallium ; tricordrazine ; Vulcan s ; Vulcan ( planet ) ; zenith