3.19 Captain’s Holiday

Rating: 3

An overstressed Picard is coerced into taking a week holiday on Risa, the pleasure planet. But his quiet book-reading is interrupted, first by young women interested in giving massages, and then by an aggressive Ferengi, two alien time-travelers, and an exciting woman of dubious character.

Comments

Here is another chance for Picard to assert himself on an ‘away’ mission, while Riker stays back on the ship.

Riker’s advice to Picard is to buy a Horga’hn – which Picard later learns is an invitation that he wishes to indulge in something called ‘jamaharon’.

Max Grodenchik plays the Ferengi ‘Sovak’ here; later, he plays the Ferengi ‘Rom’ on DS9. He plays this Ferengi quite differently, kind of like Rom’s evil twin brother.

Nits

You say Gemerians, and I say Jemerians…Riker’s log calls these aliens ‘Gemerians’ with a hard ‘g’ sound, but Troi pronounces it with as ‘j’.

When Vash and Picard are sharing a sleeping bag, talking, and facing toward each other, the angle alternates between both of their heads at the same level, and Picard’s head being well over Vash.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard is great while being incorrigible to the crew, and he is charming in his scenes with Vash.

Quotable Quotes

Riker: Sir, congratulations!
Picard: About what?
Riker: The trade agreement.
Picard: Ugh.

Vash: (after kissing Picard) Welcome to Risa!
Picard: A simple handshake would have sufficed.

Risan woman: The Horga’hn is for a friend, someone close to you.
Picard: That’s right.
Risan woman: Someone you love.
Picard: I wouldn’t go that far.

"She’s a greedy, unscrupulous woman – a perfect mate for a Ferengi."
- Sovak