2.15 Pen Pals

Rating: 2.5

A series of dead and dieing planets have been destroyed by a natural mystery. Wanting to test his ability to command, Riker asks Wesley Crusher to assemble a team of scientists to solve the mystery. In the meantime, Data makes secret contact with an alien child.

Comments

Picard loves horse riding. For his holodeck ride, he chooses an Arabian breed with English tack.

Troi doesn’t like riding. Apparently, Betazoids get too involved in the emotions of the beast.

Although the long shot of the horseback rider is probably a stunt double, the quick shot of Picard riding up to Data is real, and demonstrates his ability to ride. This ability was later combined with William Shatner’s riding skill so they could mount up together in the movieStar Trek: Generations.

This episode provides a link in the slowly evolving arc of Data’s growing humanity, although because he is a machine, there isn’t very much they can do with the character. Except for DS9, Star Trek has never been about drastic changes in character arcs.

The sub-plot of Wesley tackling the challenges of command is handled fairly intelligently.

Picard seems almost bored out of his wits, or terribly constipated, whenever he tries to decide about how the Prime Directive should be applied. And other than providing these kinds of tepid arguments, it should be noted that the Prime Directive is a lousy rule to make if you want a really exciting television show – which is why the many flavors of Trek have disregarded it when it is convenient to do so.

The episode contains a lot of flowery dialogue laced with metaphor (see quote below); do we really need to compare a teenager to a sword to discuss whether he is ready to command? Does it really help to clarify the issues?

Nits

It seems terribly out of character for Data to make contact with an alien, a pure violation of the Prime Directive, and then to continue that contact secretly for eight weeks.

During the staff discussion about whether they should help the people of Drema IV avert planetary disaster, Geordi says maybe they are meant to interfer. Riker angrily states, "Well, that takes care of fate." Why would Riker or anyone assume that the Enterprise is not part of what is meant to happen? They are not time traveling (and even if they were, they could still be part of fate).

And speaking of ‘out of character’ characters, why does Troi insist on making threatening movements toward the alien girl in an attempt to escort her off the bridge, even after the girl has stated, "Just stay away from me!"? Troi’s movements are really scary. Does this seem like the behavior of a therapist?

Memorable Moments

•    My two year old daughter woke up in the middle of the night while I was watching this episode. She really liked all the external shots of the ship circling the planet, and when Data touches the wall of the alien’s home to reveal the world outside, she thought it was magic. I had a strong feeling she felt the same way about beaming in and out.

Quotable Quotes

Pulaski: He is a boy, not a sword!
Picard: …who will one day become a man. And to expand the metaphor will need a fine edge that won’t dull at the first touch of resistance.