When the Bough Breaks

Episode: s1, ep 17
A episode that tries to establish a sense of wonder early on, looks like it's going to do something interesting, then realises it's a TNG episode so ends up having meetings, moral dilemmas and a lesson.

What Happens
Riker is going to the Bridge when a child runs into him in the corridor and... wait a minute.
There hasn't been a Captain's log. I haven't been told what stardate it is. The Enterprise could be anywhere, ANYWHERE! How will I know what is going on unless Picard tells me in a voice over at the start of the episode?


Ahem... Riker is called to the bridge where he infodumps about the mythical hidden planet of Aldea. Worf notices a distortion on the viewscreen, Troi senses thousands of minds, and then (surprise, surprise) they find the hidden mythical planet of Aldea - that was a tense half a minute. The Aldeans appear on the bridge and invite an away team to discuss a deal, then Riker, Troi and Dr Crusher are magicked off the ship. It turns out that despite their leisurely, art-filled lives the Aldeans are infertile and they want some children. They propose exchanging children for tech and knowledge, Crusher is angered by this and Troi points out that humans are very attached to their offspring (like in a weird way).* A yellow beam scans the whole ship, and locks onto Wesley for a moment, then he and 6 other children are magicked away. Picard is angry about this, but has to keep the Aldeans talking because if they cloak their planet again the Enterprise might never find it. The planet's shield means that transporters and weapons won't work, and it's almost impossible to get around.

The children who have been taken to Aldea are treated with kindness and attention. Wesley is seen as the leader, presumably because he's the oldest. He argues reasonably to be allowed back home and is shocked by the Aldean's complete reliance on tech that they don't understand anymore. He uses their systems to keep an eye on the other children, who are being taught music and art and aren't complaining about the abduction, though apparently they do miss their parents. 
On a negotiation visit with Picard, Beverly is allowed to see Wesley and from him gains information about the Aldeans. It seems that the shield that protects them has stripped away their ozone layer and they've being slowly succumbing to radiation sickness, which has caused their infertility.** Wesley sneaks into the other children's rooms and organises a night-time meeting to lecture them about passive resistance, this is probably why he isn't invited to parties.
The Aldeans don't like the silent treatment and ask Picard to deal with it (seriously, they ask the people they stole the kids from to help them with discipline). Data and Riker secretly beam to the power source as Data managed to get through a fluctuation in the shield, and shut it down. The Aldeans are told that their tech has been poisoning them and the same thing will happen to the children if they stay. The Aldean leader changes his attitude from suspicion to acceptance between scenes and the children are returned.

The Boy

Wesley is one of the children taken according to whatever criteria the Aldeans use. He’s immediately identified as the leader, probably because he’s the oldest by at least 3 years, and he’s the only child who can reach a high shelf. Wesley ingratiates himself by questioning things and being surprised by the Aldeans poor knowledge of tech (this is the first time he does a normal teen thing).

When it’s clear that –nice though they are- the Aldeans aren’t going to let them go home, Wesley uses the neglected tech that he has been given full access to (these people are unprepared for children) and secretly meets with the other kids. He encourages them to adopt a strategy of passive resistance, because that’s what kids do at sleepovers in the future?

Later he is able to pass some information to his mother, in a hand off so indiscreet you assume the Aldeans just aren’t paying attention. This helps Dr Crusher identify the cause of the Aldeans' infertility, and possibly also helps with the rescue somehow, maybe?

In Space No One Cares What You Feel

One of the mothers wants to know what’s going on and what is being done to get the children back. Beverly actually tells her to pipe down, though in a roughly encouraging way. The other parents remain quiet and rational, as one does when ones child has been abducted.*** 

(See also the children's reaction in Something Is Very Wrong)

No Magic Here

Aldea is so technologically advanced that it has become mythical. While it was hard for me to get very excited about the inevitable discovery of a hidden planet I’d known about for under half a minute, Lord knows the actors and the music did their best to create a sense of wonder, which I appreciate. 

When the Aldeans first appeared it was clear to me that they had the role of Space Fey, and I got excited. However after abducting some children all the mystical and mysterious stuff was abandoned for a regular old TNG episode, which I found disappointing,

While I am a big fan of what Arthur C. Clarke said about technology and magic, as far as I can see TNG delights in undermining the magical side of things. Here is technology that is inexplicable and amazing, let us scan it and technobabble at it until all the mystery and wonder is gone.****

 

Something Is Very Wrong

As soon as the Aldeans appeared I assumed they were some kind of Space Fey and that children would disappear at some point in this episode. Also you don’t find a centuries-hidden, mythical tech planet unless they want you to.

What is up with these kids? Seriously. They’re taken away from home and family and they seem OK with it. As Star Fleet kids I guess they’re used to being sent places without consultation -and at least the natives of Aldea are kind and attentive- but still I’d expect tears or anger or fear, or some sort of child-like reaction.  

What would Gandhi do?

When they decide to take action Wesley gives the other children a social history lecture. WTF? If you are a child and you want to deter kidnappers who are not used to children the answer is to behave like horrible, little brats.

This could include: crying; screaming; complaining; making a mess, throwing things; breaking stuff; asking ‘why’ a hundred times; refusing to sleep; arguing; moodiness; sarcasm; being very particular about tiny details that do not matter; proclaiming that everything is boring; acting superior for no good reason; running all over the place; going on and on about nonsense that grown ups do not understand…

These weirdly strait-laced kids do not try any of this, if they had the Aldeans would have sent them back sharpish.

How are 7 kids meant to be the future generation of a planet? Genetically it’s a horrible idea.

Space Trumpets
The music tries really hard to convey a sense of wonder from the beginning. Riker walking down a corridor is not particularly deserving of a soundtrack that wouldn't be out of place in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. It works better with Riker's awed description of the mythical Aldea, but it's still hard for me to care much about the discovery of something I only found out about half a minute ago. Still I appreciate that the start of the episode tried to set a certain tone and it's a shame it wasn't followed through.

Staff Meetings: 2

1. Picard and Troi meet with the worried parents in the lounge to discuss what’s happening about the missing children.

2. Wesley gathers the other kidnapped children at night and explains passive resistance to them. Because when children are uncertain they often start emulating Gandhi.

Won’t Somebody Think of the Children?

I may have been quietly judging the parents on the Enterprise for taking their kids into space, but given what Beverly says I think that quiet judging was not enough.

Crusher (to other worried parents): Don't give in to fear. Now, we all knew what the risks were when we signed on, and that's the choice we made.

So presumably Star Fleet risk assessed for the possibility of crew member’s children being kidnapped by aliens. This means that each and every Star Fleet parent deemed this acceptable and decided not to leave their kids with relatives/guardians in the Federation utopia. Frankly in light of this information I feel that these parents should consider themselves lucky that their kids were taken by benevolent and loving aliens, instead of ones who use human children as food.

The End

The Enterprise restores Aldea’s ozone layer and Crusher has cured them, so they’ll be healthy and visible from now on. Wesley brings in the smallest child, who gives a very uncomfortable Picard a hug, leading to much sniggering on the bridge. It is pretty funny.

* I guess other races don't agree with dragging their kids with them on dangerous space missions. Weird humans. 
** Is this about environmentalism? You know, I think this might be about environmentalism.
*** These people have the same parental reactions as Rory and Amy from Doctor Who
**** I appreciate that other people will see this differently, but this is my take on it. I suspect this is part of the reason why I generally prefer fantasy to hard science fiction.

Too Short A Season

Episode: s1, ep 16
A good episode with both an interesting SF concept and an emotional core that works, no wonder there isn't a B-plot. The regular character are pushed into the background by Admiral Jameson, even though many of them haven't been given any decent plots yet.

What Happens

A Federation ambassador and embassy staff have been kidnapped by terrorists. Karnas, the leader of the planet, says that the terrorists will only speak to Admiral Jameson, who was a hot-shot negotiator there 45 years before. The Enterprise collects the Admiral, who is old (but not too old to pull rank) and in a chair because he suffers from a degenerative disease.

Dr. Crusher is suspicious about the outdated medical records she’s been given, and

Suspicion grows when Jamieson walks across the bridge. There’s no cure for his illness and this kind of recovery should be impossible. It turns out the Admiral secretly visited reclusive aliens who have rejuvenation techniques. The process was very painful and he was meant to take the drugs over 2 years, but when he heard about the assignment he took two doses at once. He had secured an extra dose for his wife too, but he didn’t tell her about it, so she’s unsurprisingly angry at his selfish presumption.

Over the episode Jameson gets fitter and younger. He talks with Karnas over a secure channel, it’s clear that they have a history. There are no terrorists, Karnas has brought Jameson there to exact his revenge. Eventually Jameson tells Picard that his big negotiation 45 years ago was actually a deal to give weapons to Karnas. In order to balance things out Jameson he also gave weapons to Karnas’s rivals, a 40 year civil war ensued.

Jameson impetuously decides to lead an away mission to rescue the hostages, just as he did before. He’s relying on old information and the incursion leads to a fire fight and a swift retreat. Karnas is angry and demands to see Jameson, who’s de-aging is now very painful. Jameson is beamed down with his wife and Picard. At first Karnas doubts it’s him, and once he’s convinced he doesn’t want to kill him anymore as its clear living is agony. A few minutes later Jamieson is dead anyway.

Management Technique

As soon as Jameson arrives on the Enterprise he makes it clear to Picard that Star Fleet his put him in charge of the negotiation and rescue mission.

Later (when he’s younger) Jameson leads some of the crew on an away mission, but Picard uses his position as Captain to go with them. Overconfidence, impetuousness and 45 year-old information are the failing of the severely botched mission. Data attempts to correct Jameso, without success. If it weren’t for some barrels and crates that someone had conveniently left in the tunnels under the city, the whole away team might have been killed or injured. As it was Jameson’s medical issues meant that they had to beam back.

Girl Talk

Troi and Crusher talk to Anne Jameson about the situation. She is angry and upset about what her husband has done. It doesn’t quite pass the Bechdel test since they’re talking about the Admiral. Still, I think this is the first time female crew have been shown having a casual conversation (even if it is partly work-related). Crusher points out that Jamieson isn’t truly young again and his condition is very unstable.

The Prime Directive is a Harsh Mistress

45 years earlier Jameson, desperate to rescue hostages, gave Karnas advanced weapons. His own version of the Prime Directive states that he should also give the same weapons to Karnas’s enemies. However it seems that where the Prime Directive is concerned two wrongs do not make a right.

No Magic Here

Aliens have techniques that can de-age people, really? Oh, I’m sure that’s all science, even though Crusher can’t figure it out and the process is veiled in mystery and secrets. Jameson’s changes are rapid and unstable because he took 2 doses at once, but the fact is he starts out an ill-looking 85 and goes down to a healthy-looking mid-20s. Tis not natural.

In Space No One Cares What You Feel

Jameson not only fails to consult Anne about getting the rejuvenation treatment he actively hides it from her, even though she's been caring for him in his illness. He obtains a second dose meant for her, without her permission, then he uses it for himself anyway. No wonder she's angry and hurt and let down, he's deceived her and chased after youth leaving her behind. He's not Admiral of their marriage; though I get the impression that he was away with Star Fleet a lot during their younger days. It's not a career path that promotes good family life.

Having said this it's clear he's devoted to her, and his last words to her are fairly touching.

Future Prejudice

People are fairly rude about Jameson’s age. He’s only 85 (which shouldn’t be that old in the future, I mean just look at how life spans have increased in rich countries in the last century and none of them are close to the utopia the Federation is meant to be), though his illness has left him weakened and unable to walk.

Karnas tells him time hasn’t been kind – though since he secretly hates him that’s not a surprise. Later Riker points out that Jameson could’ve been dead by now, which is not a tactful thing to say to an Admiral.

Jameson does look rather ravaged when he first appears, but that’s because he’s clearly a young man wearing old-man makeup. It’s obvious that a younger version of Jameson will appear later on (though I initially assumed there would be flashbacks). At one point the work of the makeup artists is displayed in a series of images showing how Jameson de-ages.

Staff Meetings: 5

1. Admiral Jameson is questioned by the bridge crew about the planet and the hostage situation.

2. Crusher reveals her suspicions to Picard regarding Jameson’s health, the medical files are out of date.

3. Crusher tells Picard that it’s impossible for Jameson to walk as there’s no cure for his illness.

4. Crusher briefs Picard about Jameson’s blood results, there are strange substances in there.

5. Jameson tells Picard what really happened 45 years ago.

Death by Space Misadventure

Jameson dies, though it is by his own pride and folly, though he is in part trying to atone for past misdeeds. He is buried on the planet where he contributed to decades of civil war, for reasons that are far from clear.

The End

Karnas's plans for revenge are abandoned when he sees what Jameson has done to himself. Jameson dies in his wife's arms and has some touching last words for her. Karnas agrees to release the hostages and be cooperative, he's all out of opportunities for revenge and extortion.

The episode ends with Picard musing on the futility of the quest for youth and the rewards of age and wisdom. It seems that we are meant to learn another lesson.

Doctor Who - Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

This was a fun episode, with cool stuff and craziness, that got kinda dark at the end there.

Amy and Rory seem to be find now (lord knows how long it's been since the near-divorce of last episode), though apparently neither of them is capable of changing a lightbulb. So Rory's dad is accidentally take on a ride in the TARDIS. Rory and Amy had good dialogue and worked well with the other characters, as well as being useful in the context of the story.

Rory's dad is great. Well acted and well written and sort of the opposite of Jackie Tyler. That the mad adventure on a dinosaur infested spaceship inspires him to leave his comfort zone in more mundane ways is great. Here's someone who benefitted from his TARDIS adventure.

The Indian Space Agency was good. Their thinking made a lot of sense, even if it was the main source of peril in the episode.

I like Mitchell and Webb, so it was a nice surprise to hear them as the voices of the robots, though I didn't realise it was them straight away. Their characters were amusing at first, but were clearly only written with one joke. Nice though it was to have them on Doctor Who, I felt like they could have done with more, though there wasn't room for that in this episode.

Having dinosaurs and Nefertiti on a space ship was fun, and Nefertiti's character was great.* Though could we have some episodes in historical periods soon, as there's a lot of space and planet stuff, let us not forget the what the first letter in TARDIS stands for.

The villain was suitably nasty and for human reasons, not just another monster. The critique on capitalism is fair enough, it's probably good for kids to hear that. He was so menacing I could barely tell he was also Argus Filch from Harry Potter (Filch tries for menacing, but is a bit too pathetic).

The ending was darker than I expected. I didn't take issue with it personally (death to greed and all that, emotionally it felt OK to me), but I can see that it doesn't fit with the way the Doctor is portrayed in other episodes. That said, I guess Solomon's fate was sealed by decisions he'd made, whereas the Doctor doesn't punish creatures for their inherent nature.

A good episode generally, with plenty to laugh at. Only to be expected from a super-sized Snakes on a Plane reference.



* Being an Ancient History geek here.
Nefertiti was married to Amenhotep IV, but he changed his name early in his reign to Akhenaten and started worshipping a floating sundisk called the Aten, and upset a lot of people by ignoring traditional Egyptian religion. He changed traditional art too by commissioning a lot of carvings of him, Nefertiti and their daughters in close family scenes. These carvings are probably why Nefertiti is the most recognisable Egyptian Queen. If any pharoah was being influenced by aliens/supernatural I'm sure it would be him, so it was a shame he was dismissed so quickly.

11001001

I can actually remember seeing this episode as a repeat on BBC2 when I was a kid.* I remember the bits with Minuet and the holodeck, I remember that blondes don't go with jazz (is this why I don't like jazz?), and Geordi helping Data to paint, but not much else.

Episode: s1, ep 15

Another pretty good episode where Riker turns on the charm (that's 2 in a row). There's little to fault in the SF concept, though it does seem a bit dated now, and the power of the holodeck is further explored.

What Happens

The Enterprise is at a starbase to get an upgrade from some little, purple-headed aliens. Riker is told to take time off and seems confused by the concept, so he bothers everyone else while they prepare for their own free time. The aliens enhance the holodeck and suggest Riker gives it a go. He creates a setting and a woman, then plays some jazz trombone in holo-New Orleans. Riker is fascinated by lifelike, holo-woman, Minuet. She's an intellectual curiosity as well as having beauty and charm. Picard arrives and is also fascinated by her, though more from a tech point of view. He asks a lot of questions about her programming and the holodeck enhancements. Riker seems fine with having Picard there, even though he’s definitely a third wheel.

Something goes wrong in Engineering, Wesley (who has been watching aliens work on the bridge – for some reason) alerts Data. Unable to get hold of Riker or Picard, Data evacuates the ship and sends it away from the starbase before it explodes. The ship seems to it fix itself and zooms away, it's been stolen.

The holodeck is completely sealed off, and Picard and Riker have no idea what’s going on. When Picard leaves the holodeck he sees the red alert lights in the corridor, so he and Riker investigate. They set the ship to auto-destruct, because they can’t let it fall into the hands of others (even helpful, purple-headed aliens who were so polite before). They find the aliens in a lifeless pile on the bridge as the Enterprise arrives at the computer-based planet, which also seems to be broken.

They go to Minuet for answers (she’s smarter than the av-er-age holodeck programme). The planet was damaged and the aliens were dying, so they needed to use the Enterprise, the biggest mobile computer available, as an external drive. The planet crashed because the Enterprise was late for the upgrade, so they kept Riker (and Picard) on the ship using Minuet so that someone could reboot the planet if they were too late. Picard and Riker find the data and restore the files, the Bynars come back to life.

Despite being out of practice Picard takes ship back to base without stalling it once. Riker returns to the holodeck, but Minuet has gone.

Fringlish

Picard and Minuet speak French, something about Paris.

Picard is as intrigued by Minuet as Riker, though his interest is more intellectual curiosity about the programme. Being very self-aware Minuet explains that she accessed the ship’s language programmes/files when she heard Jean-Luc’s name. Picard continues to hang around as a third wheel, Riker doesn’t seem to mind. They keep talking about how advanced she is, as though she isn’t there. It seems rude to me, it is certainly not romantic.

Riker: lover, adventurer, middle-management

I’m not impressed with his flirting, part of the time he talks to her like a person, but then he goes on about how she’s not real, to her face. I guess since she’s a holodeck character, and intended to be a diversion, it’s no surprise she reacts positively to Riker.

Riker likes to play jazz trombone, though the holo-musicians don’t seem that impressed with his skills, they aren't there to compliment him.

Does Not Compute

In a short scene after the Enterprise has been stolen Data experiences doubt. He wonders if what happened is somehow his responsibility. When Geordi tries to comfort him by saying he can’t live on the bridge Data points out that that isn’t true. He says he was negligent and seems to be close to feeling guilty.

Admittedly this scene is here to give Picard and Riker time to get to the transporter room so they can beam to the bridge, but it also gives a nice insight into Data’s thinking and some of the questions facing him in his quest for humanity.

The Boy

Wesley is on the bridge, intensely watching the aliens work. Both Riker then Picard leave the bridge to him (for some reason). I suspect it’s mostly because Wesley is already there, so it’s a good way to keep him from being underfoot. Following orders Wesley watches the aliens slowly, and with more intensity.

Wesley (from the bridge) tells Data there’s a problem in Engineering. When it turns out the ship must be abandoned and cast adrift Data instructs Wesley to set speed and course in order to keep the Enterprise away from inhabited worlds. This emergency auto-pilot procedure seems like the kind of thing that shouldn’t be left to an acting-Ensign. It’s only a plot necessity, but Wesley’s Mary-Sue role is just part of the show now.

Klingon Warrior

Tasha, Worf and some other crew members are going to play sports. Worf takes an unrelenting attitude to winning. Tasha says to Riker “Believe it or not, Worf is developing a sense of humour”, which seems very patronising. He’s not Data, there’s no requirement for him to develop a sense of humour, he probably already has one, maybe it’s just different.

I think the issue is that this suggests that Klingons in general don’t have a sense of humour and that this is a flaw (even though Vulcans are killjoys and no one comments on that). Also I know that Klingons do have a sense of humour, it’s just that Worf is a fairly humourless individual. This probably explains (and is caused by) the way he seems out of place with both humans and Klingons.

Management Technique

Riker must cough (not even discreetly) at Picard, twice, prompting him to thank and congratulate the crew. 

Apparently prior to this posting Picard was Captain of a lighthouse.

Continuity

It turns out there is some. Two episodes ago, at the end of Datalore, Picard said something about being late for a computer refit.

The aliens correct the deviation caused by a previous probe, which presumably relates to the events of The Big Goodbye.

Planet Of… The Computer

We learn -in the corridor of exposition- that the androgyne-paired Bynars are the first lifeforms to merge themselves with computers. They almost think in binary and are entirely reliant on the main computer that runs their planet. The Enterprise is taken to their planet (which we never see), by the time it arrives the Bynars on the ship are dying and the main computer on the planet is off, meaning the whole race could soon be extinct.

This plot probably seemed brilliantly technical back in the late-80s. Nowadays one can only wonder why the silly aliens didn’t back their planet up sooner? A crash is always an option, regardless of what operating system you use, especially when your hard drive is orbiting a sun. They might not have had the resources for something like the Enterprise, but surely investing in some kind of mobile computer or remote storage makes sense when your entire species relies on it. Also if you need someone else to restore your data without you, don’t give it a filename that only means something to you (see episode title).

Space Trumpets

As the Enterprise drifts out of space dock and is supposedly cast adrift the music swells and is meant to summon strong emotion.

Something Is Very Wrong

Minuet being friendly and charming to Picard is fine. Her getting panicky when he tries to leave the holodeck just gives the game away.

The End

Despite  being out of practice Picard pilots the Enterprise back to the starbase, making you wonder how necessary all those other folk who hang around the bridge really are? The crew return, Tasha takes the Bynars to the base to await a hearing, which they fully expected. Riker returns to the holodeck and cannot find Minuet, the enhancement was meant as a distraction only, she cannot be recreated. Picard sympathises with Riker over the loss of his fictional woman.

* I'm too young to have watched the original airing, unless BBC2 was years behind showing Next Gen.

Angel One

Episode: s1, ep14
A genderswap planet with a bit of thought put into it,* a plot that's no more nonsensical than those that surround it, and Riker wears a hilarious outfit.

What Happens

The Enterprise goes to Angel One in search of survivors from the Odin, a Federation freighter wrecked seven years earlier. Angel One is similar to mid-20th Century Earth (of course it is), however the females of the species are bigger, more aggressive (and more deadly?) than the males. Some contact has already been made with this planet and due to unspecified strategic value, relations must remain excellent. An away team meets with the leaders of the planet, who are evasive and unwelcoming. The away team discover that the 4 survivors from the Odin are fugitives. Riker dons a hilarious outfit and meets with the leader, Beata; they end up sleeping together. The rest of the away team meet lead survivor Ramsey, who refuses to leave his new home, his family or his fight for equal gender rights.

Meanwhile on the ship, Wesley and an East Asian kid play in holodeck snow then catch a virus (which sounds a lot like the flu). It quickly spreads through the ship, mutating regularly and filling sickbay past capacity. Picard catches it and Crusher sends him to quarters, leaving Geordi to enjoy his moment in the big chair.

The away team find Riker and Beata après l’amour. The whole fugitive movement is caught because one of the council members is secretly Ramsey’s wife and she's followed to their hiding place. Beata sentences the rebels to death, unless Star Fleet removes them. Riker argues against execution, and wants to take everyone away, but can’t because the Enterprise is a plague ship with hardly any functioning crew left. Data is sent back because he won’t get sick. Before the execution Riker makes a speech about change and revolution, and Beata downgrades the sentence to transportation. The entire rebel movement will be sent to an inhospitable, distant landscape where surviving will distract them from troublemaking (they’d better learn Waltzing Matilda).

Crusher realises the virus is spread by smell and this means she can make an inoculation just in time.

Also, there’s something about a load of Romulan ships massing in the neutral zone which means the Enterprise should leave asap. We never actually see any of this, it’s just mentioned in dialogue, so the viewer is not encouraged to give a damn.

Riker: lover, adventurer, middle-management

Riker finally lives up to his ladies’ man reputation.

He’s invited to meet with Beata, who sends him the traditional one-nipple-on-display garb of Angel Oneian men. It’s obvious where this is going, and Riker’s outfit means it’s suitably hilarious. Beata’s a bit of a chauvinist towards her own males, but Riker doesn’t seem to mind. Riker is hairy, tall and decisive (and the only organic male on the away team). She is apparently seduced by his manliness, since few/none of the males on her world have these qualities (if these are things she’s looking for then surely the women on her world could provide, but for some reason this possibility isn’t mentioned). The seduction is uncomfortable and weird, but this is what I expected.

Riker and Beata have sex for fun, there is no suggestion of love or a relationship and neither changes their minds or values as a result. Riker quickly argues against her use of execution and Beata doesn't change her mind about men or her principles about their place in her society. She’s against the rebels’ talk of gender equality, and even after she accepts Riker’s argument that change it is a-coming, she acts only to minimise that change.

 

Counsellor Pointless

Troi senses some deception from the Mistresses, and concern, but it is conflicted so she can’t tell what it’s about. Riker senses paranoia, despite just being only human and not magic.

Does Not Compute
Data is sent back to the Enterprise the evening before the execution because he can't get sick (despite the events of The Naked Now). Also he has to take the Enterprise away to deal with something about Romulans and the Neutral Zone that's apparently very urgent, or whatever. Data doesn't leave and the next morning he figures out that Riker has 48 minutes to solve everything and get back on the Enterprise. Apparently Data couldn't give Riker this info earlier, which is a bit unfair - Flash Gordon got 14 hours warning and a declaration of love.

Planet Of… Gender switch

I have ambiguous feelings about this planet.

The Good

The concept is done with proper worldbuilding. The men of Angel One are naturally smaller and weaker than the women, which means that a reversal of Earth-like gender politics makes sense. I was impressed with the casting, which ensured fairly tall actresses and short actors. I especially liked Trent (played by Leonard John Crofoot) who is the only named servant/functionary. He’s physically short and is shown doing effeminate things (like using perfume), but he plays this naturally so it doesn’t come across as totally camp. He’s also capable and works efficiently, calmly and quietly in the background of the episode (much like a 1920s maid).

There’s the sense of a realistic society with conflicting viewpoints. Beata is a traditionalist, but isn’t shown to be a manhater (an improvement on fictional matriarchal societies that have only one idea, man=bad). She feels that men are naturally less capable and is rather patronising about them.** Ariel on the other hand has joined her alien husband’s movement and works secretly -but apparently not very stealthily- for the cause of gender equality. She is shown in a supportive role, which is probably odd for a woman on her world.

The Bad

And yet there are niggles. The Mistresses (yes, that is their title) who run the planet are all pretty and under a certain age. Addressing gender roles is good, but heaven forbid we have to see any ordinary-looking women or ones over 45. Hell, Ramsey even makes it clear that this is the deal when he says that he and the other survivors liked the planet at first because the women are all “tall and strong and lovely”.

The women in this episode are basically men, but with dresses and shiny hair and lady parts. It’s not in any way a depiction of a society run by the fairer sex, it’s just swapped which gender is the fairer sex. 

Picard’s infodump log states that it’s “an unusual matriarchal society where the female is as aggressively dominant as the male gender was on Earth hundreds of years ago.” The fact that matriarchies are unusual is disheartening, it’s such a novelty that Troi feels compelled to eagerly point out that her planet has female leaders too. Also I’m going to be charitable and believe Picard’s statement that domination of one gender is no longer an issue on Earth.

The Prime Directive is a Harsh Mistress

I could make some bad Mistress puns here, but I shall refrain.

Riker explains that it’s fine for Star Fleet to make contact with pre-warp worlds, but they aren’t allowed to interfere in their domestic affairs. This is apparently very seductive talk.

The Prime Directive doesn’t stop Star Fleet from hoping that Angel One could eventually join the Federation, showing that they’re definitely not above grooming juvenile civilisations. Picard mentions something about the planet’s strategic position, so it’s not as though their oh-so-important values are the only factors at play here.

It turns out that the Prime Directive only applies to Star Fleet personnel. Federation citizens who aren’t the crew of starships (but still travel about the galaxy) don’t have to take a blind bit of notice and Star Fleet can’t do a thing about it. If it’s a loophole it seems careless, if it’s an ideological choice it doesn’t seem like the Federation.

Security Breach

So, still no quarantine procedures then? Despite the events of The Naked Now. I realise Crusher doesn’t know how it’s being spread (except that it isn’t person-to-person) but surely that’s all the more reason to lock down areas of the ship.

Staff Meetings: 1

The away team check if their room is secure then discuss the situation on Angel One, especially the lack of welcome.

Future Fashion

Riker wears the outfit of a traditional Angel Onese male.

It's about respect, not flirting.

The End

Picard returns to the bridge though he hasn’t fully recovered. Riker says they have to go to the neutral zone to deal with the Romulans, that we never see and don’t really care about. Picard tries to say ‘engage’ but his voice has gone, it’s pretty funny. Riker grins and says it instead. 

Picard vs. snowball

* When this episode began I feared it'd be like the Women of Lemnos section from Jason and the Argonauts (or that Amazonian episode of Futurama). Or that it was going to be another matriarchal society that would confirm various stereotypes about women and eventually some man-haters would be taught the error of their ways (possibly due to falling in love, or penises, or something). Luckily we get something more thoughtful than I feared, though it's far from perfect.

** Something feels a bit familiar here, what can it be?

Doctor Who - Asylum of the Daleks

I was in a good mood on Saturday evening.
The reason for my good mood was that Doctor Who had returned and the episode had been good fun.

I had been worried about a few things, but they didn't happen.
I didn't have to remember things that happened a year ago. I didn't find myself full of questions and wondering where this was going.

There was humour, and running away from stuff, and it worked emotionally. There was a new take on the Daleks (who I think are vastly overused) that actually worked pretty well. The new girl seems good, though I'm intrigued about how she'll be introduced.

The main thing I didn't like was the issues between Amy and Rory, which felt unnecessary. I'm told their marital issues make more sense after you see Pond Life. (Dear TV, it would be nice to see some more nuance in how characters deal with relationship issues.)



I was confused by the way the title of the show was put into the dialogue. Not just once or twice, as a sneaky reference, or a naturally occurring question. Characters repeat it over and over again, for no reason.
This started with the blue head guy last series. The twist with the Daleks asking the question worked well. Until the whole Parliament of Daleks repeated it over and over, rather than simply exterminating the strange intruder. Then the Doctor twirls around the TARDIS saying it to himself, and I don't know why. The repetitive shouting of the question makes the characters sound like rude Brits trying to buy booze from foreigners.
I assume "Doctor Who?" is going to be particularly significant, but the effect is so unsubtle that  I wonder if it's all a double bluff or smokescreen for something else. Frankly when I come home from work at the end of the week I don't want to think like this about the title of a programme.

Datalore

Episode: s1, ep 13
It turns out androids can have evil twins too. We discover more about Data's origins and he meets a troublesome family member in an entertaining, if rather predictable, episode.
The crystal entity that appears actually has a sensible descriptor instead of a weird alien name, so it makes sense for me to stick with that rather than calling it the giant crystal space tree.

What Happens

The Enterprise is in the Omicron* Theta star system and returns to Data's home planet, which is now completely lifeless. Data was found 26 years earlier with the memories of the dead colonists hurriedly stored inside him. An away team returns to the place of Data’s ‘birth’ and discovers a shiny science facility hidden inside some rocks. This is where Data was created by Dr Noonien Soong, the Federation’s foremost robotics expert, who disappeared in disgrace years ago when he failed to prove his theories. Looks like he had the last laugh, except that he’s presumably been dead for years. In a storage area the team find an android in pieces. It's taken back to Enterprise where Chief Engineer Argyll leads a team to assemble it. Data confidentially shows Dr Crusher his off-switch, so that his circuitry may be examined by the assembly team.

The awakened android is called Lore, he is Data’s brother. Lore was made first, but he was too human-like, so Data was made with flaws. Lore is able to lie, make jokes and use contractions, despite this Data seems to trust him. Lore says that a life-eating crystal entity attacked the planet and destroyed all the organic lifeforms. There are questions among the crew as to how much Lore, and Data, can be trusted.

Lore drugs Data, switches him off and swaps places with him. Lore is friends with the crystal entity and leads it to the Enterprise; whilst pretending to be Data, he suggests a plan to scare it off that will actually leave the ship vulnerable. Wesley realises something is up, but makes a pig's ear out of reporting it and loses all credibility. He convinces his mother to revive the real Data. Data confronts Lore and they fight before Data and Wesley manage to transport Lore away.

Does Not Compute

There’s a lot I didn’t know about Data. I’d assumed he was created by Star Fleet Science on a main Federation world, though I knew his creator died and assumed that was the reason androids aren’t common and few people understand how they work. I hadn’t realised that Data had joined Star Fleet voluntarily and gone through the Academy like an ordinary recruit, I’d assumed he was built to do that. I also had no idea he had the memories of 411 people, in that case you’d think humanity wouldn’t be such a mystery to him and his social skills would be better.

It turns out Data and Lore are the result of fringe science and were built by a spurned genius. Lore was the first to be built, but he was too human. He has all these bad personality traits like deception, ambition, arrogance and creepiness. Lore was unassembled and Data was made to be odd and robotic, because that made everyone feel better. It’s perhaps not surprising that Lore is an angry robot and hates organic people, he’s been the victim of hypocrisy and (like Father Cavil in BSG) feels he’s not been allowed to access his full potential.**

What is the big deal with contractions? Why are they an indicator of humanity? Why is Lore more advanced because he is able to use them? They are just a linguistic tool, with usage that varies between languages. In French they are mandatory; does this mean Data cannot speak correct French? I would guess that this whole thing was simply a way of making Data sound more robot-like, then it got turned into a plot-point for this episode.
Wait, so Data can be drugged? I know he was built with intentional flaws, but that seems like a silly one to include. 

The Boy

Early on there is some fairly sickening praise for Wesley from both Data and Lore, at least Lore is being sarcastic. When Geordi shows Lore the helm Wesley primly explains that “You will find that there are many rules on starships that must be learnt.” He is almost exactly like one of those girls you hope will be taken down a peg or two in an Enid Blyton boarding school book.

Riker asks Wesley to discreetly look in on Data after he makes an odd transmission; because checking on suspicious crew members is exactly the job for a socially-awkward 15 year old who has the lowest possible rank. Wesley discovers a deactivated android on the floor and another, who claims to be Data, explaining that he was attacked. Then Wesley says something monumentally stupid (see Awkward Moment).

Later Wesley has good reason to suspect ‘Data’, but instead of following the rules he was going on about earlier and making a calm report, he contradicts the Captain, shouts, and basically throws a tantrum. Would it have been so hard to take Picard aside, or get his mum to help explain things? Instead he claims he’s being oppressed because of his age, and gets himself and Beverly thrown off the bridge (if I were Beverly I’d be soo embarrassed). Having said that Wesley was asked to keep an eye on Data earlier on, so it seems strange he's totally ignored now. Or it would be strange on a ship that had coherent security procedures. On the Enterprise that's just how it goes.
He convinces Beverly to revive the real Data and together they go and confront Lore. Wesley probably shouldn’t be there since Lore mockingly threatens to kill him and actually shoots at Beverly. At the last Wesley helps to save the day (at least someone else gets to share his limelight) by activating the transporter when Data tells him to.

Awkward Moment

Wesley is sent to discreetly check on Data, so he wanders right in and asks questions. Lore (disguised as Data) explains that his brother attacked him and had to be deactivated. Lore's facial twitch gives him away, but ‘Data’ says he was imitating his brother. Now if there’s one thing we are meant to know it’s that Wesley is very smart.

WESLEY: … If you'd said we've been using the sensors, instead of we have, I might have suspected you were Lore.
LORE: Yes. I do use language more formally than Lore.

If Wesley doesn’t suspect anything then he is an idiot and this was a very pointless and inane thing to say. If he does suspect something this was a monumentally stupid and dangerous thing to say, as he has immediately alerted the deceptive android to his suspicions.

I suspect this bit is just set up for later when Wesley hears Lore mutter ‘isn’t’ and knows his true identity. Still, it’s really clumsily done.

Space Trumpets

The music suggests poignancy as Data looks out at the planet he came from, though Data himself isn’t particularly fussed one way or the other.

Ominous synth music accompanies Lore’s first line and reappears regularly to punctuate his words and actions. If Lore appears to be doing something innocuous the Ominous Synth will play so that we are in no doubt that Lore is both creepy and evil.

Security Breach

When you find a gas-filled storage container in a hidden underground lab why would you just open it without trying to figure out what the gas was and what was being stored?

It must be difficult to be a senior security officer on the Enterprise. You’re just trying to do your job, but everyone gives you funny looks for being suspicious and trigger-happy, and they refuse to take your suggestions. Tasha questions how much they can trust Data now that Lore is around, and everyone looks at her like she suggested mounting his head on a spike (though if you were going to do that to any crew member Data would be the least horrific choice). Picard actually sticks up for her and points out that it’s a perfectly sensible question from the Chief of Security.

Picard wants to keep an eye on Lore, so presumably he’s suspicious of him. Despite this no one devises any way of testing Lore’s identity or monitoring him from a distance. His movements aren't restricted and he’s even shown the helm and the ship’s computer. Are all visiting relatives allowed to poke about the ship?

Staff Meetings: 3

1. A briefing about the discovery of the other android. Everyone is awkward and euphemistic when talking about assembly and parts, but Picard points out that they have no need to be.

2. Picard and Data discuss Lore, and Data’s loyalty. Picard refers to Lore as ‘it’ which is problematic for Data.

3. The bridge crew discuss the crystal entity and how much they can trust Lore, and Data.

The End

Lore has been hurriedly transported away by Data and Wesley to a location unknown. Tasha, Riker, Picard and an injured Dr Crusher come in. Lore's giant, sparkly pal moves away, because it gets bored or something. Picard gruffly reprimands Data for some minor irritation, so we know that all is back to normal.
Riker and Picard say something about a computer refit and speculate on Data's humanity versus his stability. Another rare episode which doesn't end with an order to 'engage'.

* Omicron or Όμικρον is a great Greek letter, it means short (or small) 'o'. It's name sounds pretty different to the other letters in the Greek alphabet. There are plenty of repetitive sounds: beta, zeta, eta & theta; epsilon & upsilon; xi, phi, chi & psi. 

Also when you learn the Greek alphabet in blocks of 4 you get to nu, xi, omicron, pi. I don't know what Omicron Pie is, but it sounds intriguing and delicious.***

 ** Though Cavill had more right to complain as he was stuck in a crappy human body.

*** I did a short course in Ancient Greek when I was in Sixth Form College, mostly because I thought it'd help me get into university. Except I then forgot to put it on my uni application form

Knowing a little bit of Ancient Greek means I can read Greek letters, so I can slowly sound out Greek words and understand only those that share a root with English. It's a remarkably impractical skill.

The Big Goodbye

Episode: s1, ep 12
This is the first episode where we see the potential and the danger of the holodeck, there is dressing up, including hats, so overall I'm happy.

What Happens:
The Enterprise is to make contact with an insect-like race who are very strict about protocol. Picard must address them flawlessly in their own language, otherwise the consequences will be dire. He grows weary of rehearsing so Troi sets up his favourite programme on the newly upgraded holodeck. Picard enters a programme set in 1940s San Francisco, based on the world of fictional gumshoe Dixon Hill, and is amazed by the level of detail. He invites Beverly, and fiction expert Whalen, to join him on his next trip and Data tags along.
The insect-race scan the Enterprise with something that causes a holodeck malfunction and traps the players inside. Riker must stall the impatient and hostile aliens while Geordi and Wesley try to fix the problem and release the Captain.
In the programme the crew members enjoy playing at being in 1940s America. In Dixon Hill's office they are confronted by a trigger-happy crook and a chatty mob boss who discusses ethics with them, for some reason. Whalen is shot and is actually dying, but the programme continues to run, the holodeck can't be opened from inside either. Picard tries to talk to the holodeck characters about the holodeck, which causes confusion. Wesley finally fixes the problem and the doors open. Whalen is rushed to sick bay and Picard goes to the bridge to successfully greet the aliens.


Picard Likes Old Stuff
Picard is a great fan of the Dixon Hill crime stories, and has been ever since he was a child.
When he first goes into the holodeck he acts as though he's never used one before -he doesn't dress up at all- even though this is apparently his favourite programme.
Within the programme Picard's main ally is Dixon's cop friend. At the end of the episode they share a goodbye scene (see episode title), after seeing the holodeck door the cop is concerned about how real he and his family are. It feels like this is meant to be a poignant scene, but since the viewers know the cop (and his family who we never see) aren't real from the start, it's very hard to care. It's a strange choice for the emotional core of the episode and doesn't work.

Does Not Compute

The first rule of trilby club...

Data is intrigued by Picard’s description of Dixon Hill, especially after Geordi compares the character to Sherlock Holmes. (I don’t know why he’s supposed to be without emotions, most of what he says is motivated by curiosity. It’s probably like how Vulcans aren’t supposed to have emotions either, but yet they’re all smug.)

He joins the Captain and Whalen in the holodeck and plays the comic-relief as he quotes 1940s US slang (or at least colourful approximations of it) and the holodeck characters comment on how weird he looks. This is another opportunity for Data to wear a costume and a funny hat, and do amusing voices.

The Boy

Wesley has studied all the technical manuals for the holodeck, that’s how much fun he is. He offers to go with Riker to help Geordi with the malfunctioning holodeck. At first Riker wants to leave Wesley on the bridge (because his presence is so vital there?). Troi points out that Wesley’s mother is stuck too, so Riker relents. Wesley fiddles with the holodeck controls and has a solution, refreshingly Riker tells him to skip the technobabble. Wesley can try it, but apparently everyone inside could vanish if the programme aborts. Riker orders him to do it and -surprise, surprise- it works, albeit with a momentary interlude in an arctic storm.

Counselor Pointless
I think that Troi is also Picard's secretary. It actually explains why she has a chair next to him on the bridge, why she accompanies him to planets and meetings, and why she knows what his favourite holodeck program is and gets it ready for him.
So much suddenly makes more sense now.

Random Crew Members

Whelan is a fiction expert, as such he's a vital person to have on a star ship. He explains occasional things about the holodeck setting, and wanders around touching stuff.

It's no surprise that he gets shot, he had redshirt written all over him.

Holodeck Malfunction
This is the first holodeck-based episode and shows from the start how dangerous they are. Why no one designed them so that holo-bullets can't actually kill living people is beyond me.
After Whelan is shot Picard tries to explain about the holodeck, and the 'other world' beyond it, to the holodeck characters. Telling the guy pointing a gun at you that he isn't real is not a good move.
I don't understand how holodecks work. When the door opens at the end the characters can see it, even though there's no sign that it was visible to any characters earlier. After his first visit Picard has holo-lipstick on his face (prompting surprised looks from random crew members). At the end two characters actually manage to go out into the corridor, where they disintegrate from the feet up.
While investigating the malfunction Wesley claims that those inside could vanish if the programme is aborted. This makes no sense. Aborting the programme would just leave the real people, and since it’s not a transporter there’s nowhere they can go. Wesley doesn't even say that they'd die, which might make sense in VR that was interacting directly with their bodies or brains. He just claims that they'll vanish - to Narnia for all we know. It’s almost as though someone felt the stakes needed to be raised even more for all of 46 seconds.

Awkward Moment

There are 2 very weird moments between Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher.

1. In a staff meeting Beverly lingers over wiping the holo-lipstick from Picard's cheek. He asks her to come with him to the holodeck next time, and for a moment it's a date. Then he says he'll bring Whalen along, because apparently Picard has utterly failed to notice the sexual tension while she was stroking his face. Her expression and tone make it clear that she is disappointed it isn't just the two of them.

2. Picard is clearly impressed by Beverly's 1940s outfit, stop-in-your-tracks impressed. He says she 'wears it well'. They stand looking at each other for just a bit too long. Beverly asks to see Dixon's office and when Whalen and Data say they'll come along both she and Picard looked annoyed that the moment-killers are tagging along.

Whatever is going on here is weird. There's been no suggestion of tenderness between these characters before. In fact Picard has been dismissive of Beverly at times (in fairness he's like that with a lot of the crew) and treats her as nothing more than the wife of an old friend. The only previous time Crusher and Picard seemed to have anything physical between them was a strange scene in The Naked Now. Crusher catches the crazy-drunk infection and offers herself to Picard for a bit before presumably getting a hold of herself and returning to sickbay to find a cure. There was no chemistry in that scene and I assumed it was just Crusher succumbing to the illness.*

Staff Meetings: 1

In a meeting that’s supposed to be about the insect-people Picard spends most of the time raving about the holodecks and confusing people with references to weird, old Earth stuff, like automobiles. Then there is some brief infodumping about the insect-people situation.

Also Wesley is there, for some reason - meanwhile all the real Ensigns, who went through the Academy and actually spend their time working, loiter in the corridors with crowbars and lead piping.

WTF?

Death by Space Misadventure

Whelan is shot. He lies on the holodeck-created floor as he loses blood and his pulse gets weaker. He’s dying by the time Data carries him to sickbay. The assumption seems to be that he survives, but no actual information is given.

If he died then Picard’s light-hearted “It was a nice place to visit ... but I wouldn't want to die there” line is in terrible bad taste.

The End

Picard successfully communicates with the insect-people, all is well and further contact can be established, everyone applauds. Data starts describing the holodeck adventure in typical noir voiceover style, and Picard stops him in that amiable-grump way of his.

* I didn't mention it previously because the whole Data/Tasha train wreck blew it out of the water, though Crusher does partially unzip her top.

Haven

As this is the 25th anniversary month I'm going to be doing Next Gen episode posts more regularly throughout September, probably around three times a week.
My plan is to finish series 1 in the Anniversary week at the end of the month.


Episode: s1, ep 11
This is the first time we meet Lwaxana Troi, so the episode is amusing, and even the other stuff in the episode is fine, with the exception of Riker's moodiness.

What Happens

Creepiest Box Ever

The Enterprise is orbiting relaxation planet Haven when a creepy talking box beams in with a message (and jewels) for Troi, it's time for her arranged marriage. Riker is unhappy about this but Deanna points out that his career is the most important thing to him. Apparently genetic matching is a Betazoid tradition, which doesn't explain why Troi is engaged to a human man, whose father was friends with her human father. In fact Troi's flamboyant mother, Lwaxana, is very disdainful of the repressed, human Millers, so the Betazoid side of all this is largely underrepresented. Wyatt Miller (Deanna's fiance) is a nice, young doctor and both he and Deanna are willing to see the arrangement through. Wyatt's dreams of a blonde woman he had assumed was Deanna are dismissed as a childish fantasy. There is a terribly awkward pre-wedding meal with sniping future in-laws and a grumpy ex, Deanna is unsurprisingly angered by all this.

Meanwhile a mysterious ship approaches Haven, ignoring all security measures. The Haven leader asks the Enterprise for defensive help. The ship turns out to be Tarrelian, a race thought to have been made extinct by illness. The disaster was self-inflicted by the foolish species getting into an arms race with biological weapons.* Tarrelians have a reputation for spreading their illness to other species and Haven is obviously concerned that the plague rats don't get onto the planet. Picard refuses to fire on the ship, even though it ignores all hails, and stops it with a tractor beam only at the very last moment. The Tarellians appear on the viewscreen and the woman from Wyatt's dreams is there. 

The 8 people on the ship travelled to Haven hoping for a cure, or a hospice, but when they see Wyatt is real they are convinced he will heal them. Captain's daughter Arianna has been dreaming about him all her life. Wyatt is confused by this at first, but eventually he beams over to the Tarellian ship to be with Arianna and help heal her people. His parents are obviously distressed by this, they cannot see him again, but Deanna understands and wishes him well.

Guest Star

Majel Barrett plays Lwaxana Troi for the first time and is magnificent. 

It's not clear whether all Betazed women are like this, or whether she's eccentric even for a her own species, it doesn't matter. She is the centre of every scene she's in with her effortless superiority, high-spirits and mischief.
She immediately treats Picard like a bellhop and I can see why the characters find her outspokenness annoying, but given how stuffy this show can be she's a refreshing and amusing change for the audience.

Armin Shimmerman is face of the creepy message box, which I totally didn't realise until the internet told me. My defence is that he doesn't pull those sorts of expressions in the other roles I've seen him in, plus it's a good makeup job. It's nothing to do with the fact that my facial recognition is so bad I've been confused by actors having different hair or playing camp roles.

Riker: lover, adventurer, middle-management

Riker becomes petulant about Deanna’s arranged marriage even though it’s clear that he put his career ahead of their relationship before, and apparently has no intention of actually winning her back now. Deanna is upfront about her history with Riker and Wyatt is very calm about it, even though Riker is much bigger than he is. After Wyatt is out of the picture Riker doesn’t try to get Deanna back, meaning all he does in this episode is empty posturing. In fact in the not-actually-a-love-triangle Riker comes off badly as he behaves like a sulky child.

Counsellor Pointless

This is the first Troi-heavy episode. It’s a chance to see the Counsellor as more than the pretty lady who follows the Captain around and uses her extra (but far from impressive) powers to aid communication, or whatever it is she does.

Unfortunately the episode doesn’t exactly make her look good (this isn’t the Good Troi Episode). Character development is a positive. We see more of the compassionate, optimistic woman that everyone on the Enterprise seems to like, but to be frank I still can’t see why she’s a key officer or has a chair on the bridge.

I think a large part of the problem is that she is entirely overshadowed by her mother, then again so is everyone else. Lwaxana despairs of Deanna’s lack of telepathic ability - something that would be so useful for her job I’m surprised that Deanna doesn’t even try to master it. Much though Deanna goes on about human emotions being confusing to her (which now sounds like an excuse) it seems she isn’t much cop as a Betazoid either. Her lack of telepathic ability must make her seem like someone with learning difficulties to her mother’s people.

Awkward Moment

The entire pre-wedding dinner scene is so hilariously awkward. But it’s actually written that way (rather than being unintentionally awkward due to weird dialogue) making it a very successful scene.

Troi and Wyatt are trying to get to know one another and celebrate their upcoming wedding. Data circles the event ‘like a buzzard’ intrigued by the petty bickering. Riker grumps at the edge of the proceedings and leaves as soon as possible. Wyatt and Dr Crusher geek out about Tarellian plague and agree to consult each other about medical stuff. Lwaxana and Mrs Miller disagree about the ceremony and snipe at each other throughout, Lwaxana wins by scaring Mrs Miller with a plant-like ‘pet’ then pointing out that Mr Miller is attracted to her. Picard’s attempts at jocularity are ignored. Deanna eventually storms out.

Lwaxana’s companion, the tall, mute Mr Homn, gets drunk then bangs a gong repeatedly, lending an already awkward scene a disjointed and irritating rhythm. In the context it is a job well done.

Staff Meetings: 2

1. Troi talks to Picard about her arranged marriage

2. The crew discusses (and info-dumps about) the Tarellian situation.

No Magic Here

Haven is a planet famous for beauty and relaxation and with a reputation for mystical healing powers, though these are never tested in the episode.

Luxwana isn’t just empathic like her daughter (who is able to roughly tell when people are lying and what their emotions are, except for when it’s confusing, which seems to be most of the time) she’s a full telepath. She can communicate by thought, and knows what people are thinking, as well as their moods, though there isn’t much detail about how she experiences this or what limits her abilities.

Wyatt and Ariana have been dreaming about each other for years. Wyatt assumed she was Troi contacting him, then assumes she was a powerful dream or fantasy. When he discovers she’s real he asks Lwaxana to explain, and the answer seems to be the cosmic connectedness of all things.

Future Fashion

Tarrelians wear boob curtains. It’s an interesting choice. 

They aren't just for the young either.

 

Death by Space Misadventure

All Tarellians except the 8 on this ship are dead, and at least 3 of these are related. So although they aren’t entirely extinct I’d say their species won’t last more than a generation.

The End

The Millers leave and Mr Miller graciously tells Deanna to keep the wedding gifts. Lwaxana leaves after pointing out that Picard is attracted to her and hitting on Riker. Picard (like a stereotypical Queen Victoria) is not amused.

* Is this a reference to the Cold War? You know I think it might be a reference to the Cold War.