6.21 Frame of Mind

Rating: 2.5

On route to Tilonus 4 to work undercover and free hostages, Riker rehearses the role of an insane man accused of murder for Beverly’s play. He begins to suffer headaches, to feel people are staring at him and to see a new crewmember on board, observing him. When he completes the play and takes his final bow, he finds that he is not on board the Enterprise, but instead is being held captive on Tilonus, where a doctor is attempting to convince him that his life in Starfleet is merely a delusion. But is he on Tilonus? Or he is merely hallucinating the scenes of torture?

Comments

This episode was written by Brannon  Braga.

The story combines elements of the episodes Chain of Command (where Picard is held prisoner and tortured) and Future Imperfect, where an alien being creates a fantasy world for himself and Riker. However, it falls short, lacking the clever twists of Future Imperfect and Picard’s acting in Chain of Command.

Riker gets ‘A’ for effort as he extends himself in the role of a crazy man.

Nits

After Riker performs the play and attacks a lieutenant, Crusher examines him in sick bay. He is still agitated and believes that he was injected with drugs, but Crusher checks him out, simply tells him that he is fine so he should feel fine, and sends him on his way. How about asking that he stay in sick bay for 24 hours of observation?

Riker shoots himself with a phaser to prove it isn’t real. How about aiming it at a wall?

Keep in mind that most of what happens in this episode is in Riker’s head, so it becomes impossible to nitpick it.

Quotable Quotes

"This could be a sign that you’re a real actor!"
-Troi to Riker