4.22 Half a Life

Rating: 3

The sun of an alien world is slowly dieing. A scientist named Timicin has arranged for the Enterprise to aid him in experiments to restore the sun to its full strength. While on board, he is aggressively wooed by Deanna Troi’s spirited mother Lwaxana. He’s not disinterested, but resists her charms, as he is only a few days away from the ‘resolution’. At age 60, all people on his planet are willingly put to death to avoid any senility and expensive medical costs that would drain the rest of society. At about the same age herself, and in love with Timicin, Lwaxana thinks it’s a horrific custom, and convinces him to resist. But pressure from the government, and from his daughter, convince him to stay with tradition and end his life.

Comments

This episode is unique in that it allows two guest stars to be the leads.

Many would consider the episode overly talky, but it is refreshing to see a show that isn’t afraid to discuss issues without worrying about cleavage or action. In this instance, the episode could almost be considered too preachy…except for the resolution, which not only gives meaning and depth to the episode, but expands Lwaxana’s character immensely.

The basic idea of forced death is explored again, less deeply but perhaps more cleverly, in the VOY episode emanations.

Timicin is played by David Ogden Stiers, well-known for many roles but perhaps most familiar as Major Winchester on Mash.

Michelle Forbes, who plays Timicin’s bizarrely coiffured and always agitated daughter Dara, returns in season 5 to play the more conventionally coiffured and always agitated Bajoran, Ensign Ro Laren.

Nits

Maybe this is just a normal conflict with family burial plots, but Timicin’s daughter Dara says she is upset about where her father will die, and fears she will not be able to lay at rest with him and her mother. But wait…if she (the daughter) is going to be buried with her parents, then why isn’t her mother buried with her parents instead of with her husband? I know, it sounds like one of those lateral thinking puzzles, so I’ll stop.

Memorable Moments

•    The ending, when Lwaxana joins Timicin in the transporter room to accompany him to his resolution. Very moving and unexpected.

Quotable Quotes

"Personal log, Star Date 4565.2: My mother is on board."
- Deanna Troi (this one line of dialogue serves well to open the episode)

"Please madam, that is a torpedo launch initiater! And I am Worf, I am not Woof."
- Worf defending his console and name

Lwaxana: Mr Hom is my valet. He doesn’t say much.
Geordi (aside): How can he?