5.15 Power Play

Rating: 3.5

The transponder signal of a long-lost Starfleet vessel attracts an Enterprise away team to an uninhabited moon to investigate. Severe storms cause their shuttle to crash land, but O’Brien beams down to help. The away team beams out safely, but not before three of them (Data, O’Brien, and Troi) are ‘haunted’ by beings that take hostages in ten-forward. The beings say they are the spirits of crewmembers of the Starship Essex, but are they, or is this a deception?

Comments

A well-paced, good little mystery, with better-than-average acting, especially by Marina Sirtis as Troi/Schumer.

Patrick Stewart goes a little way into the Shatner area here when he has to act like he is being choked by Data. He’s still recovering from fake choking as they go to the break!

Nits

If Troi/Schumer really wants to get her demands met before Picard attempts a rescue, perhaps it would be better if she actually states the demands, rather than vaguely saying that all he needs to know is that they want to rest.

Memorable Moments

•    It’s memorable – and upsetting – watching O’Brien terrorize his own wife and child.

•    Watching the beings leave the bodies of Data, Troi, and O’Brien – well-coordinated collapsing in dim light.

•    Nice to see that ending close-up of Molly the Baby too!

Quotable Quotes

"I can’t locate the source of the damn signal, it’s bouncing around more than we are."
- Riker

Picard: If LaForge and Ro can attempt a rescue in short order let them proceed, if they can’t, I will provide you with another opportunity: wait for it.
Riker: Yes, sir.

Worf: Then you believe they may be telling the truth.
Picard: Not for one moment.