7.18 Eye of the Beholder

Rating: 2

Lt Kwan commits suicide by jumping into the plasma flow of the warp core. Why did this officer, who up to this point had been successful and positive, take his own life? When Counselor Troi investigates, she also begins to be overwhelmed by suicide-inducing feelings of anger, rage, and depression.

Comments

The teleplay was written by Rene Echevarria, from a story by Brannon Braga. Most of what transpires in the episode is, unbeknownst to us, happening solely within Troi’s mind.

I have mentioned this before, most recently after viewing Parallels: Braga always seems to write about alternative reality. He doesn’t seem to think anything of interest happens in the real world. The problem is, I think, that for Braga, all of Trek is non-real, but for fans who live and breathe it, we see a difference between Troi’s imaginings and what ‘actually’ happens to her.

Nits

Ensign Nara doesn’t seem upset enough for someone who just recently found out that their lover has commited suicide.

After the first incident where Troi feels strong emotions while near Kwan’s workstation, Riker asks if it’s possible that some kind of empathic echo remains. Troi says, "I don’t see how." Not much later, after the second incident, Crusher suggests that perhaps Troi is seeing events through Kwan’s eyes. Troi says, "It’s possible, but I don’t see how it could have happened." For an empath, her mind seems to be very closed to possibilities in this episode.

Memorable Moments

•    Troi and Worf’s unexpected romantic moments, and Troi giggling when Worf almost yells in frustration in reply to Crusher’s interrupting hail (I should have known this was going to be all in Troi’s mind and too good to be true)

Quotable Quotes

"Something must have happened to him, Counselor…something terrible, because it’s not like Dan to take his own life."
- Ensign Nara
(Yeah, because he’s never taken his own life before)

Worf: I mean, I would never want to come between you and someone you are involved with…or, had ever been involved with.
Riker: Is there someone in particular that you’re talking about?
Worf: No. Is there someone in particular you would rather I not be involved with?