I have seen this episode before but I must have been fairly young as all I can remember is the lifeform referring to people as 'bags of mostly water' and Data explaining why that's accurate. Nothing else.
Episode: s1, ep 18
Another episode with an SF concept and very little embarrassment, I think they're getting the hang of this now.
What Happens
Data thinks the drill was
controlled, which is confirmed when it attacks him. Geordi finds something inorganic flashing down a
drillhole and it’s taken to the ship’s medical lab. The computer investigates and
finds that though it should be impossible, the flashing thing is probably alive.
There is a lot of staring at screens. The director knew about the lifeforms,
but tried to cover it up for sake of the project, however Troi doesn’t think
he’s capable of murder. The life form changes, emits energy, breaks a screen and tries
to access the computer. Crusher calls for a quarantine seal, which contains it but doesn't stop it growing. Using the ship’s translator it speaks to Picard.
It is angry because the 'bags of mostly water'
have been destroying its home and slowly
killing it. It took over the drill and killed the terraformer in self-defence. It declares
war on the bags, which is very brave for a couple of Christmas lights.
Data
technobabbles and concludes that it’s a micro-brain and can communicate with
the computer faster than the crew can. When it rests they
try to beam it away, but it won’t let them. It has complete control of the
med-lab and could destroy the ship. It changes into a large crystal-thing and one of the terraformers figures out that it needs light to live. Riker turns the lights off manually, at which point the crystal begs for
its life and agrees to end the war. It is sent home to its wet sand, and says
that it doesn’t trust the bags. It claims they
are too primitive and invites them to return in 300 years.
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| LEDs are amazing! |
Does Not Compute
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| Data vs laser drill. Data wins. |
Picard orders Data and Geordi ordered to investigate the
base. They don’t pretend to be Holmes and Watson yet, that would
probably have been a distraction.
If a lifeform that is basically some fairy lights that turn into an over-sized paperweight can acces the computer faster than anyone on the ship, maybe it's time to get Data a port. He has to tap consoles and use voice commands, surely plugging him into the system would be more efficient.
Counsellor Pointless
Troi’s breathing becomes laboured jut before the terraformer
is attacked by the drill. However she doesn’t warn anyone, which means her
ability is of little use in danger.
Management Technique
Picard tells Geordi to get Data out of the drill room when
it sounds as though Data is being attacked by the malfunctioning laser drill.
What is Geordi supposed to do? He may have similar eyewear
but he isn’t Cyclops, and even if he were more lasers wouldn’t be helpful in
this situation. It doesn’t occur to Picard to beam Data away until after Geordi
has said he can’t get to him, by which point there’s no need. I suppose if
you’re going to leave any crew member stuck in a room with a murderous laser drill
Data is the most sensible choice. Still, I wonder what would have become of
Geordi if he had been able to open that door.
Awkward Moment
The whole scene on the terrafroming base has awkward
undercurrents, most of which are intentional. The friendly engineers awkwardly
apologise for the grumpy director and explain that they rarely
have guests. The terraformer who is killed/injured is intrigued by Data, and the
gleam in his eyes suggests he wants to get under his skin, or whatever Data has
instead of skin. Gruff, blond engineer isn’t as grumpy as the director, but he
isn’t particularly welcoming. Then someone gets mutilated, which will put a
dampener on socialising.
Despite this the true awkward moment is a short but weird
exchange between Troi and Riker. Troi has been assessing the terraformers pysch
profiles to see if they could be capable of murder. When Riker asks what she
thinks of the female terraformer, Troi knowingly suggests that he might do
better with her.
I find it very odd that Troi is suggesting her ex go and flirt
with a possible murder suspect.
It wins mostly because the terraforming base was intended to
have an uncomfortable atmosphere, whereas this is just another example of very
strange dialogue mixed with confusing suggestiveness, like the director didn't quite get what the writer meant. It’s especially strange
because the following scene, where Riker reassures Luisa, works well but isn’t
sexual, and then they don’t share a scene again. It all seems rather pointless.
Security Breach
Something Is Very
Wrong
The flashy micro-brain is beaten by turning the lights off.
It says it doesn’t trust the bags, but agrees to end the war it
started, as it as little other choice. When Picard suggests that
trust should be built between them the micro-brain says it’s too soon for that
and suggests the bags return in 300 years when they're less primitive.This from a life form that lives under sand.
It sounds like a trap to me. In 300 years it might have
evolved terrible crushing jaws or killbots.
I haven't included the away team's first encounter with the terraformers, though there is a lot of talking and exposition and looking at screens, so it's pretty close to being a staff meeting. However the terraformers, rather than the Enterprise crew, lead the meeting, plus someone is mutilated at the end, so that makes it too interesting to be a true staff meeting.
Staff Meetings: 4
1. Data briefs Picard in the ready room, the terraforming director
is annoyed by Data’s suggestion that the drill was controlled.
2. Crusher, Picard, Data, Geordi and Wesley (for some reason)
look at the flashy lifeform. There is a lot of staring at screens, though the
computer does most of the work here, Crusher just asks it questions.
3. The Director is accused by Picard, and it is revealed
that he knew there were lifeforms. After he leaves Troi discusses the
terraformers pysch profiles
4. Picard questions the terraforming team in the lounge.
I haven't included the away team's first encounter with the terraformers, though there is a lot of talking and exposition and looking at screens, so it's pretty close to being a staff meeting. However the terraformers, rather than the Enterprise crew, lead the meeting, plus someone is mutilated at the end, so that makes it too interesting to be a true staff meeting.
Death by Space
Misadventure
Arther Malencon, terraformer on the Velara Three base, was
badly injured by a laser drill that had been taken over by a shiny, inorganic
lifeform, he later died of his injuries.
The End
The lights are sent home. The terraforming director realises
the cruel irony that in trying to create a place for life he almost destroyed
living things. Picard declares an indefinite quarantine on the planet (because
apparently he can do that). He concludes with a log entry reflecting on the
lesson of the week.
“we are now returning to Starbase with the three surviving
terraformers. Perhaps the lesson we have learned from this near tragedy will
prevent it from happening elsewhere.”
I hope Arthur Melancon’s family never hear this log entry, I’m sure they view these events as an actual tragedy.
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| Ooo, what does this screen say? |
"...which is very brave for a couple of Christmas lights."
ReplyDeleteLol, well put :-D