Wil Wheaton running hot on Google Trends

Wil Wheaton is at this moment ranked 19th as a search term on Google Trends, due to his appearance at Comic-Con, and the announcement that he will be guest-starring on the popular web series The Guild. Wheaton, Felicia Day, and other Guild (and Dr. Horrible) cast members and creators performed a music video at Comic-Con that was hugely popular with the live audience.

Click here for more information from tubefilter

7.25 All Good Things... (Parts 1 and 2)

Rating: 4

Troi and Worf’s hallway kiss is interrupted by a frenetic Picard, still in his sleeping garments and convinced that he is slipping back and forth in time. In all time jumps, he is being heckled by a rag-tag group of humanoids that no one else can see. As he becomes more aware, he suspects that an anomaly in the Devron system may be the key. In the future, he seeks help from Geordi, Data, and Dr Crusher. The jumps are being caused by Q, who put Picard and humanity on trial in the first episode of the series (Encounter at Farpoint), and has been judging humanity and the Enterprise ever since. Judged as having failed the test of ‘usefulness’ by the Continuum, humanity has now been sentenced to death. But it is not the Q that will pass sentence; Picard’s creation of the anomaly will cause disruption to the beginning of human life on earth.

Comments

This episode was co-written by Ronald D Moore and Brannon Braga.

It’s a Braga script, so it has to have alternate realities or time travel, but Moore helps to ground it.

This is an ambitious and marvelous episode, filled with great lines and wonderful drama and action, marred only by the fuzzy logic of time travel.

Nits

Riker states that Starfleet tried to decommision the Enterprise, but that one of the perks of being an admiral is that you can choose your own ship, inferring that he singlehandedly was able to avert the decommission. In a military system, it seems unlikely that any one admiral could wield this much power.

Memorable Moments

•    The bridge design of the Pasteur (Beverly’s ship)

•    Picard’s wonderful delivery when he gets Worf to allow them into the Neutral Zone. Patrick Stewart jumps seamlessly from yelling to whispering, and it’s all note-perfect

•    Riker’s from-below attack on the Klingon battle cruiser

Quotable Quotes

Worf: I have always found the Black Sea at night to be a most…stimuating experience.
Troi: Worf! We were walking barefoot on the beach, with balalak music in the air, ocean breeze washing over us, stars in the sky, a full moon rising, and the most you can say is ‘stimulating’?
Worf: It was…very stimulating.

"Within a matter of minutes you have accumulated over two days worth of memories."
- Dr Crusher to Picard

"It’s time to put an end to your trek through the stars – make room for more worthy species."
- prophetic words from Q to Picard

"Q’s interest in you has always been very similar to that of a…master and his beloved pet."
- Data to Picard

Worf: You have always used your knowledge of Klingon honor and tradition to get what you want from me.
Picard: Because it always works, Worf! Your problem is, that you really do have a sense of honor, and you really do care about trust and loyalty! Don’t blame me for knowing you so well.
Worf: Very well! You may cross the border. But – only if I come with you. I am familiar with the Neutral Zone.
Picard: Terms accepted.

Picard: Q? What is going on here? Where is the anomaly?
Q: Where’s your mommy? I don’t know!

"Mr Data, you are a clever man…in any time period."
- Picard

Picard: What about my crew?
Q: The anomaly, my ship, my crew, I suppose you’re worried about your fish, too. Well, if it puts your mind at ease, you’ve saved humanity – once again.
Picard: Thank you.
Q: For what?
Picard: You had a hand in helping me get out of this.
Q: I was the one that got you into it – a directive from the Continuum. The part about the helping hand, though – was my idea.

 

7.24 Preemptive Strike

Rating: 3.5

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Cardassian ship under attack from Federation ships piloted by the Maquis. Ro Laren, having just recently rejoined the Enterprise, is chosen to infiltrate the Maquis because of her Bajoran heritage and her previous problems with Starfleet. But Ro may be torn between her allegiance to Starfleet and her growing sympathies for the anti-Cardassian cause of the Maquis. The cell leader of the Maquis becomes a father-figure to Ro and a strong bond forms; when he is killed by a Cardassian sniper, his deathbed wish is for Ro to take his place.

Comments

Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) guest stars, returning to the Enterprise after a stint in tactical training. Picard mentions to her that she is in good shape, and there appears to be some chemistry between them. Ro is certainly outwardly grateful for Picard’s support.

Nits

It makes for a great scene, but just why does Ro choose to be a pretend prostitute to talk to Picard in the bar? Couldn’t they have come up with some other way of getting close enough to have a quiet conversation?

Because Picard does not trust Ro, he insists that Riker accompany her on the mission by saying that he is a relative. When next we see Riker, he has been surgically altered to look like a Bajoran. We saw earlier that Ro was not immediately accepted into the Maquis until her story was checked out. Is it plausible that the Maquis would not run some kind of security check on Riker to ascertain if he truly is a relative of Ro, or can we assume that because Ro has been accepted (merely a few days ago) that the Maquis will believe anything she says without question?

Memorable Moments

•    Picard and Ro’s scene of love and confrontation: Ro, posing as a prostitute, debates whether she can fulfill the mission, and Picard threatens with a court martial, all related in whispered caresses

•    Picard’s steely look of anger and disappointment at the conclusion

Quotable Quotes

Admiral Nechayev: No Balarian canape this time, Captain?
Picard: I thought twice was pushing it a little.

"But I’ve known since I’ve first met you, that in your heart, you’re one of us."
- Macias

7.23 Emergence

Rating: 1.5

Data’s Shakespearean holodeck program is interrupted when a steam locomotive suddenly appears and almost kills the android and Captain Picard. Soon, other events point to someone or something controlling the ship.

Comments

This teleplay was written by Joe Menosky, from a story by Brannon Braga.

The episode has a great concept (that the ship itself could spawn intelligent life), but the pacing made it feel as if they were trying to stretch out a 15 minute idea into 42 minutes. There are way too many ‘cute’ holodeck scenes.

Nits

Everyone is an expert on ancient history in this episode. Picard knows much about Shakespeare, and Picard and Crusher share trivia about the Orient Express.

Memorable Moments

•    Data holding off the taxi with one hand

Quotable Quotes

"The intelligence that was formed on the Enterprise didn’t just come out of the ship’s systems. It came from us; from our mission records, personal logs, holodeck programs – our fantasies. Now, if our experiences with the Exterprise have been honorable, can’t we trust that the sum of those experiences will be the same?"
- Picard to Data

7.22 Bloodlines

Rating: 4

Damon Bok, a vengeful Ferengi who blames Picard for the murder of his son and tried to kill Picard in the episode The Battle, returns in a holographic projection. He threatens to exact revenge by murdering Picard’s son, a son Picard did not know he had.

Comments

This episode shines because Patrick Stewart is given numerous lengthy lines and scenes, and he has never been better. His subtle intonations and glances can paint a thousand words.

Ken Olandt is excellent as Picard’s son, Jason. Olandt has continued to guest star in minor roles on television (through to 2004) and to executive produce many (minor) television shows.

This is a top-notch episode from beginning to end, with crisp acting by every single cast member. It’s got drama, mystery, twists, suspense…this is the closest they have come to perfection since The Best Of Both Worlds.

Nits

In the previous episode, Firstborn, the Enterprise found the time and resources to pursue revenge for Worf alone. Here, faced with the threat of murder of a boy who might be his son, Picard immediately heads for the boy’s home planet. Does Starfleet grant Captains this much leeway – to choose their missions at their whim based on personal need?

Memorable Moments

•    The long, slow, talky, and completely brilliant scene, dialogue, and acting with Patrick Steward and Ken Olandt in the holodeck cave.

Quotable Quotes

Jason: If I’m not your son, is this person still going to want to kill me?
Picard: I doubt it.
Jason: In that case, you won’t mind my saying that I hope you’re not my father.

Picard: I found out that…Jason has a criminal record. It..it’s nothing very serious; it’s only…petty theft and so forth. But I can’t help feeling that if I had been part of his life then he wouldn’t be so troubled now.
Beverly: Maybe. But why waste time blaming yourself for not being there? Just be here for him now.

Picard: It looks as though we may have found out how to locate Bok’s ship. This could all soon be over.
Jason: You came all the way up here to tell me that?

Picard: Jason, isn’t there some way that I can be a father to you? My own father and I were estranged. He wanted me to stay at home and tend the vineyards, and I wanted to join Starfleet. And he died before we could come to terms with that. I regretted that all of my life. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you and me.
Jason: You don’t understand. I’m not anybody you’d want for a son. Trust me, if you knew, you knew anything about me, you wouldn’t be trying so hard.
Picard: You’re so wrong.
Jason: Oh, really?
(Picard nods)
Jason: Let me spell it out for you! I’ve been in trouble since I was a teenager. I lie, I steal, I use people. Eh-tha...I’m a criminal! That’s what your son is.
Picard: I know.
Jason: You do.
Picard: Oh yes. I know…all about your troubles with the Kerrin authorities.
Jason: You do.
Picard: It doesn’t make any difference, Jason. You’re still my son. And like it or not, I’m your father. I don’t know what that means…it means something. There’s some…connection.
Jason: Yeah.
Picard: But one thing is clear: you’ll never look at your hairline again in the same way.

7.21 Firstborn

Rating: 3

Worf is disappointed when his 13 year old son Alexander refuses to begin the process of becoming a true Klingon warrior. Captain Picard suggests exposing Alexander to more of the Klingon culture by attending a festival on a nearby colony. There, they meet a Klingon called K’Mtar, who was sent by Worf’s brother Kurn to check on Alexander’s progress. K’Mtar attempts to become a mentor to Alexander, to encourage him to take the path of a warrior. But K’Mtar also hides a secret.

Comments

James Sloyan gives an excellent performance as the Klingon K'Mtar. He would later guest-star on a number of DS9 and VOY episodes.

Unfortunately, someone decided that K’Mtar would telegraph his treachery by the way he reacts when it becomes evident that the Enterprise is going to find the Duras sisters.

Although the structure of the episode is poor, there is still a bit of emotional depth achieved when we realize we are looking at a future version of Alexander. I just think they took too long to arrive at this point.

Nits

The Klingon colony is a small village with a square, and no animals, motorized vehicles, etc. (you know the drill by now). Although I must mention that some of the outdoor sets and structures are quite different than the normal village sets.

After Worf is attacked by other Klingons, why does the Enterprise become involved in tracking down his attackers? Worf states that he must retaliate, but isn’t this really a Klingon family or ‘house’ matter? Is it really suitable for an entire starship to get involved to be commandeered for this purpose?

Is Alexander truly so concerned about avoiding the death of his father that he will kill an earlier version of himself? Surely this would be considered a most dishonorable thing to do in Klingon culture.

Memorable Moments

•    The moment when it is revealed that K'Mtar is actually a time-travelling Alexander

Quotable Quotes

"Someday, if you work hard, you will become a warrior, a Klingon warrior, and you will always feel safe, because you will know how to defend yourself. And I’ll tell you something else: if anyone ever tries to hurt your father again, you will be able to fight at his side and make sure nothing happens to him. What do you think of that?"
- K'Mtar to Alexander

"Yes. Lursa and Betor: big talk, small tips."
- Quark to Riker

"If this was real, he’d be dead by now."
- K'Mtar to Worf regarding Alexander (and, since they are on the holodeck, he could have said, "If he was photonic, he’d be home by now." J)

K’Mtar/Alexander: It is a futile struggle [for peace]; I cannot change things.
Worf: You have already changed things more than you realize.
K’Mtar/Alexander: The boy I was has not changed.
Worf: But I have. You have given me a glimpse into my son’s future. And I know now that he had his own destiny. And I believe it will be a great one.

7.20 Journey's End

Rating: 2

Wesley Crusher comes aboard the Enterprise on a vacation from Starfleet Academy, and he is bored, arrogant, and even less likable than before. Meanwhile, Picard is ordered to use force, if necessary, to move a group of native american indians from a colony on a planet that is now claimed by the Cardassians. To Wesley’s surprise, one of the native americans claims to have foretold Wesley’s coming two years ago.

Comments

This episode was written by Ronald D Moore.

Moore does a good job of researching native american culture. It’s a typical Moore script, filled with war and the threat of war

Unfortunately Will Wheaton’s efforts to appear pensive and thoughtful always come off as ‘catatonic’. His acting has not improved and perhaps even deteriorated with time; he was marginally better when he was younger. He also improves here once he needs to show (restrained) passion for the colonists.

Nits

Need I mention that the native american village on Darvon has the familiar earth tones, open square, no motorized or wheeled vehicles, no animals, etc.?

Quotable Quotes

"What you’re doing down there is wrong. These people are not some random group of colonists. They’re a unique culture with a history that pre-dates the Federation and Starfleet."
- Wesley Crusher

7.19 Genesis

Rating: 2.5

A wayward torpedo is pursued by Picard and Data in a shuttlecraft, while back on the Enterprise, Nurse Ogawa and Data’s cat, Spot, are both expectant mothers. Stranger still, Worf’s temper flares, Troi is freezing, Riker is groggy, Geordi is weak. When Worf attacks and bites Troi, it becomes obvious that some kind of viral infection may be loose on the ship.

Comments

This episode was written by Brannon Braga and directed by Gates McFadden.

Later, Braga would pen the VOY episodethreshold, using a similar concept.

The episode is aided considerably by having Data and Picard nominated to make us believe that this could really happen.

When Picard is examining the warp core, and a disfigured Barclay jumps up from below, it was the first time ever I jumped out of my skin in fear while watching NextGen.

Nits

Only on Star Trek would a humanoid (Troi) change into a lizard but keep their entire uniform on! Makes it a lot easier for the censors, anyway.

Data claims that the crew is de-evolving by using old DNA stored on introns. While it is true that introns are contained within cells, they are actually sections of RNA, and there is no evidence (at least in 2006) that they contain any residual genetic information from an earlier point in our evolution.

Data and Picard have a small disagreement about what to call the fluid in the womb of mammals. Data calls it ‘amnionic’ fluid, but Picard calls it ‘amniotic’, as do most dictionaries.

Memorable Moments

•    Worf bites Troi and blinds Crusher with a venomous spray from his mouth, but that is topped by Troi as an amphibian

•    Picard’s raised eyebrows when Data identifies the specific hominid into which Riker has evolved

•    Most of Picard and Data’s scenes of discovery when they re-board the ship after the catastrophe

Quotable Quotes

"Captain, I believe the crew is de-evolving."
- Data

Data: I feel I must inform you, sir…you have also been infected by the Intron virus.
Picard: How long before I begin to change?
Data: According to my calculations, within the next twelve hours, you will begin to exhibit the first signs of your eventual transformation.
Picard: And what will that be?
Data: I believe you will also de-evolve into an earlier form of primate, possibly similar to a lemur or pygmy marmoset.

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?

7.17 Masks

Rating: 1.5

While investigating a rogue comet, a sensor distortion briefly engulfs the Enterprise. Afterward, a strange sculpture appears in Troi’s quarters, and the computer system and minds of the crew are infused with a series of mysterious symbols. Further investigation of the comet reveals a hidden structure that begins to morph the ship and its system into the artifacts of an ancient culture. The structure communicates through Data in the form of multiple personalities. When Data dons a mask and takes the form of the evil Queen Masaka, Picard sees no alternative but to don the mask of the Queen’s nemesis, Korgano, and attempt to convince Masaka to let them go.

Comments

This episode was written by Joe Menosky and directed by Robert Wiemer.

Menosky is usually one of my favorite writers, and this ambitious fantasy gets points only for effort and imagination, because it does not work on any level.

Nits

Picard says, "I would like to know Masaka, speak with her" – yet all Data has said so far is "Masaka is waking". He has not stated that Masaka is female.

Even for Star Trek, it’s an unusually massive stretch to believe that Geordi could figure out how to communicate the exact crytpogram to an alien computer that will create a temple.

Memorable Moments

•    Robert Wiemer always manages to mix in a few atypical camera shots, such as when the camera pulls back from above to reveal Data at the fire, looking up in fear.

Quotable Quotes

"I am yours. Every part of me is yours."
- Data to Troi/Masaka

"Well, Data, you never may become fully, human, but you’ve had an experience that trancends the human condition. You’ve been – an entire civilization!"
- Picard

7.16 Thine Own Self

Rating: 2.5

While Beverly is commanding the Enterprise on the ‘night shift’, Data’s mission to recover contaminated materials from Barkon 4 goes awry when his presence becomes known to the pre-warp Barkonians.

Comments

There’s not enough of a story about Data to fill up the entire episode, so we also get the story of Troi studying to become a bridge officer.

Any dramatic impact of this episode is lessened because, first, Data is an android, so he could have gained limited emotional impact from his experiences, and second, he has forgotten everything that happened anyway! I thought that Data was a strange choice for the writers to send down to the planet, and that the decision to have him forget everything was not needed.

Nits

I don’t follow this whole ‘night watch’ concept. Why is this considered dead time? Do attacking aliens also sleep in this supposed night time? And do all the other tribulations that the Enterprise crews encounter (like holodeck malfunctions, etc.) take a break at this time?

Barkon 4 provides yet another example of a generic pre-warp culture with a town square, and no motorized vehicles of any kind. (Obviously, there is only one reusable ‘pre-warp town’ set).

Troi decides she wants to test to be a commander, and a few hours later, she is taking the test. Wouldn’t the study period for moving up in rank take a few days or weeks at a minimum?

Why does Data move ever so slowly when he is going to dump the antidote in the town well? Of course, he is caught in the act.

Memorable Moments

•    Troi sacrificing Geordi’s life to save the ship (in a holodeck simulation, but it’s still a dramatic moment)

•    Data’s skin getting ripped off

Quotable Quotes

Data; Where is your mother?
Gia: She died about a year ago. Father said she…she went to a beautiful place…where everything is peaceful, and everyone loves each other. And no one ever gets sick. Do you think there’s really a place like that?
Data: (looking up at the night sky) Yes. I do.

7.15 Lower Decks

Rating: 3

As a number of ensigns compete for promotions on board the Enterprise, one of them – a Bajoran female named Sito Jaxa – is asked to volunteer for a dangerous mission to escort a Cardassian spy.

Comments

This episode was written by Rene Echevarria.

This is a moving, well-written story focused around Ensign Seto (Shannon Fill), a Bajoran who, along with Wesley Crusher, originally featured in the episode The First Duty as one of the cadets who covered up the death of a colleague while performing a daredevil stunt.

Alexander Enberg (the Vulcan Ensign Taurik) later returned in a number of VOY episodes as Ensign Vorik.

Nits

When Taurik informs Geordi that he has discovered a possible way to increase warp drive efficiency, and that he has other ideas for improvements, why is Geordi so dismissive and slightly annoyed? Shouldn’t this kind of research and enthusiasm be treasured and nurtured?

During the ensigns card game, Ben has a King, Jack, Ten, Eight, and one card face down. Lavelle has two pairs showing, and one card face down. Even the most beginning poker player knows that there is no possible way that Ben can beat Lavelle, no matter what their respective hole cards are. Yet Ben makes a big point of anteing up, claiming that he knows Lavelle is bluffing, and Ben wins the hand! Meanwhile, the supposedly uber-intelligent Vulcan Taurik pulls out of the hand, stating some astronomically low odds chance that he can win. Taurik has Five, Four, Two, and One showing, and he knows what his hole card is, so either he has no chance of winning (he doesn’t have the straight) or he does have it, and he’s got a very good chance of winning.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard’s almost mean-spirited verbal ‘dressing down’ of Ensign Seto (this is not only a fantastic scene, but is atypical of normal NextGen scripting)

•    Simultaneous poker games (nice editing, and, again, atypical of NextGen)

Quotable Quotes

"If you are unhappy sharing quarters with me, then you should put in for a new room assignment…just in case you’re not promoted."
- Taurik to Lavelle

Taurik: He’s convinced Commander Riker doesn’t like him.
Ben: Why? Did you crash the ship into something?

Seto: One thing I don’t understand: doesn’t Geek-Tal mean ‘to the death’?
Worf: You speak Klingon.
Seto: Sir, is there really such a thing as a Geek-Tal challenge?
Worf: No. There is not. But perhaps next time you are judged unfairly, it will not take so many bruises for you to protest.

7.14 Sub Rosa

Rating: 2

The Enterprise visits Caldos, a world terraformed in the likeness of the Scottish highlands, to attend the memorial service of Beverly Crusher’s grandmother. A mysterious man leaves a red camilla on her grave, and it is later revealed that he was her lover. He is a ‘ghost’, a lover to a long succession of women in Crusher’s family, able to take corporeal form from time to time, and dependent on the flame from a special heirloom candle, passed down from generation to generation.

Comments

This episode was written by Brannan Braga, from a story by Jeri Taylor, and is directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Unfortunately, after the dismal failures of every other Trek episode featuring Irish or Scottish charicatures (for example, the NextGen episode Up the Long Ladder, or the VOY episode spirit folk, I got the creeps early on when a character started spouting off in a supposed Scottish accent.

One of the gravestones in the cemetary bears the name ‘McFly’, which could be a tribute to the Back to the Future movie trilogy.

Nits

Beverly asks Troi to accompany her to the house, and Troi agrees. Together, they walk out of scene. In the next scene, as Picard talks to the governor, Troi appears in the background, talking to a villager. Did she change her mind?

Early on in the piece, a man who knew Crusher’s grandmother and appeared to have some knowledge of what befell her bursts into the house without knocking and, when confronted by Crusher, proceeds to aggressively yell at her that she should douse the candle. Of course, faced with this assault, Crusher kicks him out. If he really wanted to share some knowledge, why would he take such an adversarial approach? Why not attempt to make friends first, then sit down and in calmer tones, impart his knowledge? I know why: because he is following the goofy script, and it would be a short show if he didn’t!

Memorable Moments

•    Crusher’s weird solo sex scenes

Quotable Quotes

"I’m not seeing anybody. I met someone, that’s all."
- Crusher to Troi

7.13 Homeward

Rating: 2.5

A distress call from Worf’s half-brother, Nikolai Rozhenko, leads the Enterprise to Boral, a planet devastated by atmospheric dissipation. Rozhenko, who was observing the planet’s native inhabitants from a hidden observation post, could not bear to watch them die, so he transported them beneath the surface and set up a deflector shield to protect them. Picard, interested only in following the Prime Directive and not interfering with any pre-warp civilizations, orders Roshenko to abandon the planet and doom its inhabitants, but Rozhenko figures out a way to clandestinely beam the inhabitants into a holodeck recreation of the caves.

Comments

It’s nice to see Michael Dorn without his Klingon makeup.

Paul Sorvino guest-stars as Worf’s half-brother, Nikolai Rozhenko. And Dobara is played by Penny Johnson, who would later appear in numerous DS9 episodes as Cassidy Yates.

Nits

If you check my review of the episodesCode of Honor,Justice,Angel One,Symbiosis, and Pen Pals, you’ll see I am of the opinion that the Prime Directive is an extremely flawed concept that causes any number of problems when used as a plot device (and, unfortunately, it has been used and re-used many times). In short, the Prime Directive states that there should be no interference with pre-warp civilizations. So let me get this straight as it applies to this episode. Because the Boralans are a pre-warp civilization, Starfleet should simply watch them die as their planet self-destructs. But, if the Boralans had developed warp drive (but, for some reason their fleet of ships were disabled or otherwise unavailable), Starfleet would rescue them without a second thought. Does it seem fair to maintain such a strong prejudice toward pre-warp civilizations? Who benefits from this?

If you have ever seen the interior dimensions of the holodeck when it is portrayed as the ‘grid’, you’ll know it is not that big. So is it believable that a group of people could be led around the holodeck on a journey through caves and not be aware that they were in a confined space? For another discussion of this nit, see the review for the episode Ship in a Bottle.

Why doesn’t Worf volunteer to go back and search for the missing chronicle scroll? This would have ensured that Vorin did not have a chance to see any holodeck technology.

At the end, why does Worf take the Chronicles? Don’t they hold extreme significance to the Boralans?

Memorable Moments

•    Vorin’s death by suicide: I was so sure they were going to tie up this loose plot point with a neat thread.

Quotable Quotes

Troi: I know things must look very strange to you, but everything’s going to be alright. No one’s going to hurt you. We’re friends of Nikolai and Worf. Don’t be afraid.
Vorin: Nikolai?
Troi: Yes. He’s my friend. That means you are too. I promise, I won’t hurt you.
Vorin: Please! Help me! [pause] Where am I?

7.12 The Pegasus

Rating: 3

Picard’s reluctant attendance to spend a day with children as part of ‘Captain Picard Day’ is alleviated by an urgent change in mission from Starfleet. They join with Admiral Eric Pressman, Riker’s former commanding officer, to locate a long-missing ship, the Pegasus, before the Romulans find it. But Pressman, and Riker along with him, hide a dangerous secret about the nature of their mission.

Comments

This episode was written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Levar Burton.

This is a solid drama based on chain of command and allegiances, typical of the scripts of Ron Moore.

Smart NextGen writers can always produce an above-par episode by writing some strong dialogue for Patrick Stewart.

A sidenote: It’s nice that they paid some tribute to the great Native American Crazy Horse by naming a ship after him.

Nits

It has been 12 long years since the Pegasus was lost. Rather than mourn the loss of the ship, why didn’t Pressman simply recreate the device? Surely the same notes and specs used to create the first device could be used again.

Memorable Moments

•    Riker imitating Picard

•    Picard grilling Riker on the events of the Pegasus mutiny. It’s amazing to see how Picard uses intonation, dramatic pauses, and variances in tempo and tone to make his questions more dramatic.

•    Picard yanking Riker out of the brig

Quotable Quotes

Picard: The judge-advocate also believes that the surviving officers are deliberately withholding vital information from this inquiry. Further investigation is recommended. Will, there was no further investigation! This report was classified and then it was quietly buried! Why?
Riker: I suggest you take this up with Admiral Pressm-
Picard: (yelling) I’m taking this up with you, Will! The judge-advocate thought that you were participating in a conspiracy to cover up the truth! Now what the hell is going on here, Will? Why did that mutiny happen? Why is Pressman so determined to find your ship 12 years later?
Riker: I’ve said all I can. I’m under direct orders from Admiral Pressman not to discuss this…sir.
Picard: Very well…He’s an admiral, I’m a captain, I cannot force you to disobey his orders, therefore…I will have to remain in the dark on this mission. And I will just have to trust that you will not let Pressman put this ship at unnecessary risk. And if I find that that trust has been misplaced then I will have to re-evaluate the command structure of this ship…Dismissed.

Pressman: I have a lot of friends at Starfleet Command, Captain.
Picard: You’re going to need them.

7.11 Parallels

Rating: 2.5

Worf returns alone via shuttlecraft after winning a batleth tournament, and, after an unexpected birthday party, begins to experience unusual changes in his environment. People appear and disappear, memories fade, and his first place tournament trophy suddenly becomes a ninth place one.

Comments

Once again, writer Brannon Braga seems unable to come up with any script ideas that are not based on some type of alternative dream, timeline, or reality. Doesn’t anything interesting ever happen in real time on his version of the Enterprise? Still, there are enough nice touches here and more of an emphasis on character development than usual.

Nits

It seemed lenient of Dr Crusher to allow Worf to remain on duty, even after he has admitted to being conflicted about his recent memories. Sure enough, soon after that, he ends up endangering the ship by zoning out as the Cardassian ship attacks.

When Worf hails the Enterprise, his is pleased to hear Picard answer. This confirms that he is back in his own reality. But why is Picard answering hails?

Memorable Moments

•    Troi kneeling on the bed, giving husband Worf a neck massage

•    Worf looking good in red

Quotable Quotes

"Because it is my birthday, I assumed that you or one of the others would try to mount an unexpected social gathering."
- Worf

Troi: That would make my mother your stepmother.
Worf: I had not considered that…it is a risk I am willing to take.

Data: I am not privy to the exact details of when, where or how your first coupling took place. I could investigate it.
Worf: No, that is alright.

7.10 Inheritance

Rating: 2.5

When the planet Atrea 4 is in danger of destruction due to solidification of the molten core, two Etrian scientists board the Enterprise to discuss strategies for averting a planet-wide disaster. One, a human female named Dr. Juliana Tainer, appears to know Data, although he has no memory of her. Surpringly, she claims to be Dr Noonian Soong’s wife and Data’s ‘mother’. Their reaquaintance and friendship proceeds well until Tainer reveals that she purposely abandoned Data on Omicron Theta, fearing that he would turn evil like his brother Lore.

Comments

Strangely, this is the second show in a row where an alien planet is in an environmental-type danger, and a male and female from that planet board the Enterprise to explain the situation.

There’s a nice reference to Data’s daughter Lal, seen in the entertaining third season episode The Offspring.

When debating whether or not to tell Dr Tainer that she is an android, would there be any advantage to creating a hologram of her, and then tell the hologram to see what her reaction might be? A variation on this technique seemed to work pretty well with Leah Brahms in the episode Booby Trap.

Nits

When Data and Dr Tainer beam down to the cave for the final time, Tainer steps onto the transporter wearing shoes with heels. When she materalizes in the cave, her heels have disappeared and her shoes are flat.

When the rocks under Dr. Tainer collapse in the cave, Data looks around, then squints in a distinctively non-android way. I think it was a little slip-up on his part that the director didn’t notice.

Bladerunner aside, surely an android would know it was an android. I mean, wouldn’t your forehead get itchy one day, and you scratch it, and a panel opens with blinking lights, and you say, "Hey! What’s that?"

I’m surprised that the decision on whether or not to tell Dr Tainer that she is an android rests solely with Data. Wouldn’t this be a decision that should be made by her doctor? And are there any laws regarding disclosure to a patient that must be followed here?

Memorable Moments

•    Brent Spiner does a great job of adding tiny subtle comic movements to his character (like when his mother assumes that Troi is Data’s lover), without appearing to move outside the boundaries of being an android. Spiner also does a fantastic job of playing his own father, Noonian Soong, all fitted out with some very nice ageing makeup. He presents the character with a different voice and look. There is little similarly between Soong and Data. It certainly gives you more appreciation for how restrained Spiner has to be in the Data role.

Quotable Quotes

"Well, the one thing that we couldn’t anticipate was that you didn’t seem to mind about being, um…naked. Some of the colonists objected to having an anatomically correct android running around without any clothes on. Oh, we asked you to dress. But you didn’t feel it was necessary because you didn’t suffer from the elements! We actually had to write a modesty subroutine to get you to keep your clothes on!"
- Dr. Tainer

"I do not know for certain, but I believe it is during my creative endeavors that I come closest to experiencing what it must be like to be human."
- Data

7.09 Force of Nature

Rating: 2.5

The disappeance of a medical transport ship in an area of space known as the Hekaras corridor leads the Enterprise to an alien civilization that believes warp drive has the potential to destabilize vast regions of space.

Comments

In Phastasms, Data tells Worf that Spot prefers Feline Supplement 25. In this episode, Data orders Feline Supplement 221 from the replicator and Spots digs in greedily. It’s not really a nit, just an observation; Spot may very well have changed her mind since then.

Nits

I’m not going to try to work out the numbers here, but suffice it to say that there are ‘issues’ with the Enterprise being able to transport the crew of the Flemming while maintaining warp speed. There just isn’t time.

Picard asks Worf, "Is everyone off the Flemming?" Worf replies, "The last of the crew has beamed aboard, sir." Why the long-winded answer from the usually succinct Worf? Wouldn’t a simple, "Yes, sir" have conveyed the same information?

Memorable Moments

•    Sarova’s beautiful subspace rift

Quotable Quotes

Geordi: I’ve got an idea. How ‘bout a phaser; a low stun setting at just the right moment might do the trick.
Data: Geordi! I cannot stun my cat!

Riker: Data, what if we forced an EPS discharge through the impulse reactor. Would that be enough to get us out of here?
Data: I do not believe so, sir. And the resulting explosion would likely destroy the saucer section in the process.
(Got any other great ideas, Riker?)

7.08 Attached

Rating: 3

When Crusher and Picard beam down to negotiate entry into the Federation with the Kes people, they are hijacked and captured by the Kes’ xenophobic rivals on the same planet, the Prit.

Comments

Out of nowhere, NextGen pushes Picard and Crusher’s character arc to deal with the simmering feelings they have had for years. Although nothing is resolved, the direction, tension, and dialogue is mature and effective.

This episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Nits

When Picard enters the cave and finds the temperature hot, he removes his jacket and casually tosses it away. This is a huge mistake when on an away mission, especially since later he and Crusher will end up having to sleep overnight in the open air.

Ahhh…it’s so great to see Picard and Crusher join the select ranks of Those Who Can Outrun Fireballs!

Picard says, "The transceivers…Loren said they would align themselves to our psi-wave patterns." How does he know the Prit security minister’s name? He met her, but she never said it.

When Picard and Crusher emerge from the cave, they carry on a jaunty and very loud banter, while walking upright and making lots of eye contact with each other. Wouldn’t it be more prudent to keep low and quiet, and constantly look around? After all, they are fugitives on an alien world!

After measuring that the border is 2 kilometers away, a unknown amount of time passes while Picard and Crusher move toward the border. In the next scene, they have stopped for the night to make a campfire. Exactly how long is it taking them to walk 2 kilometers? Even if the terrain was extremely rough, they should have been able to do it in a couple of hours. Then Beverly says she is going to go to sleep because they have a lot of ground to cover!

Virtually every campire that ever burns anywhere in a movie or television scene will have a few sticks over the top, but is obviously being fed by a concentrated gas or other combustible from underneath…and Picard and Beverly’s campfire is no exception.

When Beverly walks away from Picard to go to sleep by the fire, it appears that she gets far enough away to make them both nauseus…yet they have no side effects this time.

When Beverly lays down to sleep, she puts her head just a few inches from the wood fire. Generally,wood fires throw a steady stream of sparks out and these could easily ignite her hair or clothes (of course, this fire seems to be burning completely spark – and smoke – free). Picard then lies down and puts his head even closer. Based on the size of the fire, his head should be almost burning at this point.

Memorable Moments

•    The beginnings of desire as expressed by Picard to Beverly after he spends some time reading her thoughts

•    The entire Picard/Crusher campfire dialogue scene is a beautiful thing, as is their final scene together

Quotable Quotes

Crusher: Well…think about Earth. What if one of the old nation-states – say Australia – had decided not to join the world government in 2150. (Crusher, sounding an ominous warning about Australia’s future?)

Riker: This is ridiculous. You’re beginning to see conspiracies everywhere. We were invited here by the Kes. Why would we align ourselves with the Prit?
Ambassador Morek: Indeed! Why?
Riker: Ahh. You can believe what you’d like. We’re going to find our people with or without your help!
Ambassador Morek: Then I believe it is time for us to be leaving the Enterprise.
Riker: Fine. Make sure you take all this junk with you.

Crusher (to Picard): Why didn’t you ever tell me you were in love with me?

Picard: So now that we’ve had this unique experience what do we do?
Crusher: What do you mean?
Picard: You know exactly what I mean.
Crusher: No, I don’t. The implants have been removed, remember?
Picard: Now that we know how each of us feels, perhaps we should not be afraid to explore those feelings.
Crusher: Or perhaps we should be afraid.

7.07 Dark Page

Rating: 2

Deanna Troi’s mother, Lwaxana, boards the Enterprise to facilitate communication with the Cairn, a race of telepaths. But her telepathic work appears at first to be causing problems with specialized areas of her brain.

Comments

Majel Barrett guest-stars in her recurring role as Lwaxana Troi.

One of the ongoing highlight of watching NextGen is the periodic appearance of famous female actresses when they were still children. This time, it’s Kirsten Dunst.

Norman Large (Maques) has appeared in a number of NextGen and DS9 episodes. In this role, he looks a bit like Gary Busey.

Marina Sirtis’s acting has improved throughout the series. Here, with her mother’s health threatened, she is understated, concerned, and effective. Director Les Landau also adds a large number of extreme closeups of Deanna’s face. Unfortunately, Majel Barrett’s role is a difficult one and she’s way outside her range, coming off as no better than a second-rate soap opera star, which takes away from the success of the episode. She’s much better suited to lighter themes, but I give her credit for trying.

The final of season of NextGen has often turned to exploration of the inner workings of the mind. Geordi channels the thoughts of a probe in Interface. Picard and Geordi walk through Data’s dream in Phastasms. And now, Deanna explores Lwaxana’s mind in an effort to reveal the cause of her mother’s trauma.

Nits

How is Maques just able to walk into sickbay? Do these telepaths have the ability to break locks? And that brings up a security issue: how do you stop a telepath from accessing someone’s mind? Doors don’t stop brain waves.

Wolves don’t really attack humans…but I suppose this is happening inside a mind, so anything is possible.

Memorable Moments

•    All of Deanna Troi’s dramatic moments are well-played and tear-evoking.

Quotable Quotes

Maques: Your mother told me of your need.
Troi: Need?
Maques: Husband. You need a husband. I need a wife.