Date: April 1, 2020

Season 3, Episodes 11 and 12

Musical Accompaniment: One hour of Punk Rock Instrumental (2017)

Interstellar News: Have someone read you a bedtime story, it can help just a little.

Favorite Quote from “The Hunted”:

Data: I do not mean to belittle your condition. I understand your dilemma. But I am curious. My program can be altered. Yours cannot?

Roga: The man I was is still inside me, but this conditioning has been imposed. Woven together with my thoughts and my feelings and my responses. How do you separate the program from the man?

Data: Without further analysis of your condition from Counselor Troi or Dr. Crusher, I cannot say. But I believe it is possible.

Data trying to be helpful and Roga asking an important question.

“The Hunted” opens with my favorite dad from Revenge of the Nerds explaining a prisoner has escaped and requests help from the Enterprise, especially since the planet is petitioning for membership to the Federation. The prisoner is a one man fighting machine who reminds me of the Winter Soldier, and his name is Danar Roga. I’m only a little shocked when we find out he was a soldier, genetically and psychologically modified, and then sent off to live in what amounts to captivity after there was no more need for soldiers.

Troi and Data believe he can be helped and rehabilitated, but Picard has no choice and tries to transport him back. Danar is damn good and sets his comrades free and then storms the capital demanding better treatment. Picard leaves them to settle their differences and to apply back when things have calmed down.

This was a great episode to highlight what happens to soldiers when they are no longer needed, because this is unfortunately not a total fictional story. Look at Vietnam, Korea, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, I could go on. We do not do enough for our Veterans. When you are used to a certain way of life it can be hard to adjust to something to different. It’s interesting, though, that I find my veteran undergraduate students to be some of the best despite their many challenges. While they may be older and have families and other responsibilities, they know how to follow orders and deadlines and I appreciate the hell out of that. Regardless of your thoughts on war, it’s important to note that not everyone comes back and if they do, they might not be the person they were before.

Now that you’ve listened to my dissertation on the military, let’s get back to the episode. I think this was a great vehicle for showing what could potentially be done to humans in the future and how a civilization might enhance their military in order to prevail over their enemies. There were some things that were off, but overall I enjoyed it for what it was. A litter of 8 puppies for this episode.

Favorite Quote from “The High Ground”:

Riker: Are you going to tell me that little boy’s a threat?

Alexana: It’s possible. That shuttle bus I told you about? The bomb was set by a teenager. In a world where children blow up children, everyone’s a threat.

Unfortunately still true today.

“The High Ground” begins on a planet that’s having some terrorism problems when a bomb goes off and Dr. Crusher, of course, goes to help. Worf and Data try their best to get her to beam back but she won’t until the local emergency medical team arrives. As everyone else is busy, one of the terrorists makes off with her using some transporter technology no one can trace.

Turns out the resistance needs a doctor because the dimensional transporters are all killing them. Finn, the leader, decides to beam aboard the Enterprise and makes off with Picard as well as some other supplies, but isn’t able to blow it up. With the help of Wesley, the away team and some Ruitan cops beam down to the resistance’s base. Picard and Dr. Crusher are freed but Finn is killed.

This was another strong episode that focused on terrorism. As someone who vividly remembers September 11, 2001, and several events before and after, terrorism is a subject that has been ingrained in my everyday life. This episode pre-dates a lot of modern day terrorism, but gets several things correct that are quite sobering. The other nice touch on this episode is seeing what the “other side” is fighting for. As with the previous episode, the “bad guys” and “good guys” aren’t so binary, it’s not so easy to tell who is really on the side of good. Also, this episode ends the SIXTH episode IN A ROW that started with the word “the”, so I’m totally giving it 6 times the word “the”. Also, I’m sure you would be disappointed if I didn’t point out the obvious Star Wars reference.

TA Out!

Date: March 31, 2020

Season 3, Episodes 9 and 10

Musical Accompaniment: The Hunt for Red October soundtrack

Interstellar News: Today was cold and rainy.

Favorite Quote from “The Vengeance Factor”:

Picard: Despite your progress, you are a divided society, and so it will remain until the Gatherers return to Acamar.

Marouk: The attempt may be futile.

Picard: But there is so much to gain and there is so little to lose by the effort. The problem affects us all. It cannot be ignored.

“The problem affects us all”, a very apropos line that hits hard in the age of Covid-19.

“The Vengeance Factor” opens and I think I’ve accidentally started The Wizard of Oz because everything is green. There are two mostly dead crew members and the ship has been picked clean, clearly the work of “the Gatherers” who are apparently known to the Federation but not to me. They once belonged to the society that lives on Acamar III so Picard gets their Sovereign to help bring them back from their endless wandering and thieving ways. One of her servants, her chef and taster, is a woman that Riker shamelessly flirts with – her name is Yuta. The Enterprise arrives at the camp of the Gatherers and are “greeted” by some cross of The Warriors and the Lost Boys from Hook. While the leaders are talking Yuta follows one of the men and kills him with her touch, okay Rogue, because of some ancient clan shit.

Brull comes aboard to take them to Chorgan so the two leaders can hash things out and he takes an instant liking to Wesley. Dr. Crusher, of course, figures out the Gatherer was murdered. They get to Chorgan’s ship and Picard beams over to assist with negotiations, which go about as you expect at first. Dr. Crusher, Riker, and Data figure out that Yuta is the last of her clan and likely going to murder Chorgan, who is now the last of his clan. Riker beams aboard just in time to try and stop Yuta who explains what happened to her, but he has to kill her… and that escalated quickly. Poor Riker. The two factions come to an agreement and Picard all but tells Riker he is due some extended shore leave.

I got a little “City on the Edge of Forever” vibe when I realized that Riker was gunning for Miss Murdering Yuta, I knew it was going to have to end badly for him. I’m sure it has to kill something inside of you, even just a small piece, to harm someone you like just a little – let alone kill them. I hated how nicely everything got wrapped up that the two factions had been trying to fix for 100 years. I mean Picard is good, but he’s just not that good. He does make for a good mediator and I can see his skills sharpening in each episode, doing a good job of putting on his counselor hat too and helping both sides come to the table to talk. I would have preferred if he just got them to start negotiating rather than having it all be wrapped up in a bow near the end, it was too neat and I like a little mess in my Trek. There was just something missing and I can’t rate this episode much more than a 4 piece Supremes Meal from Bojangles with a Sweet Tea, Fries, and Honey Mustard.

Favorite Quote from “The Defector”:

La Forge: I don’t know, Data. My gut tells me we ought to be listening to what this guy’s trying to tell us.

Data: Your gut?

La Forge: It’s just a feeling, you know? An instinct. Intuition.

Data: But those qualities would interfere with rational judgment, would they not?

La Forge: You’re right. Sometimes they do.

Data: Then why not rely strictly on the facts?

La Forge: Because you just can’t rely on the plain and simple facts. Sometimes they lie.

Data: They can lead to wrong conclusions, but they cannot lie.

La Forge forgetting that Data doesn’t actually have “guts”.

“The Defector” begins with drama two-fold; Data (and Sir Patrick Stewart in costume) acting out Shakespeare, and a Romulan scout ship asking for asylum. Setal, a Romulan, is beamed aboard and tells of a plot by the Romulans to build something in the Neutral Zone and start a war. Setal has a foul mouth and an errant thought crosses my mind: does the FCC own a Klingon or Romulan dictionary and does it charge per infraction? Would George Carlin add those words to his list?

Picard gets word from Starfleet that it’s likely going to be up to him to figure out if Setal is a spy or if he can be trusted, and later that Setal is actually Admiral Jarok… whoa! La Forge’s probe finds something questionable and, after revealing it was fatherhood that made Jarok decide peace was a worthwhile goal, they decide to enter the Neutral Zone and investigate.

When they arrive there is no base and Picard thinks they were feeding Jarok disinformation to test his loyalty. As they go to leave, they are attacked by two Romulan star ships who had been cloaked and in waiting. Tomalak is back and he absolutely brings immense gravitas to his role, even though he is on screen for all of five minutes. He believes he has Picard and the Enterprise right where he wants them and he’ll be the hero of Romulus. Picard will not surrender as he has a Klingon ship in his back pocket and it’s hard as hell for Worf not to smile the biggest shit-eating grin I have ever seen, it’s fantastic. Jarok, realizing the truth, takes the suicide pill (I thought that’s what it might be when he first took it out) but he hoped for peace and wrote a note for his wife and daughter to read at some point.

This episode was damn good. So much intrigue, is he a spy? is he for real? You’ve got to admit there were good reasons to think either at any point in the episode. Just when you think you’re right, another piece of the puzzle falls into place and you realize you might be wrong. Jarok is so convinced he’s right, it’s damn heartbreaking to find out it was all a trap and he fell for it. He saw the writing on the wall and thought he could stop it, but it turns out he did it all for nothing and died for what he believed in. There’s a little Shakespeare, a lot of science fiction, some pre-war battle strategy, deception, betrayal, disappointment, a bit of Game Theory, and the biggest Worf smile I have ever seen. I’m not sure there’s much more I could want, especially with my favorite Narn ambassador back at it again. A perfect 10.

TA Out!

Date: March 30, 2020

Season 3, Episodes 7 and 8

Musical Accompaniment: Vitamin String Quartet

Interstellar News: I made up a few drinks and they were tasty. I’ve missed bartending.

Favorite Quote from “The Enemy”:

Dr. Crusher: Lieutenant, I understand your feelings about the Romulans, but this is not the time or place.

Worf: If you had seen them kill your parents, you would understand, Doctor, it is always the time and place for those feelings.

Dr. Crusher: This Romulan didn’t murder your parents. And you are the only one who can save his life.

Worf: Then he will die.

Dr. Crusher being surprised at Worf for being a Klingon… silly doctor.

“The Enemy” starts with the away team of Riker, Worf, and La Forge down on Galorndon Core stuck in a nasty storm when they come across a Romulan. Just as the window to beam up is closing, La Forge is knocked down into a well-like pit and is stuck on the planet while Riker and Worf beam up with the sick Romulan.

Another Romulan vessel is looking for survivors and the Enterprise agrees to meet them and return their compatriot, as it was “just a computer error” and a “one man ship”. La Forge makes his way out and eventually to the probe that Wesley sent, just to be attacked by another Romulan named Bochra… one man ship my ass. Bochra is getting weaker from the atmosphere and La Forge finally convinces him they need to find the probe when his visor stops working, but they eventually put their differences aside to work together (cue the kumbaya music).

Back on the ship it turns out that the ONLY person on the ENTIRE ship who has the right ribosomes (or something, leave me be I learned biology from a Catholic nun) is Worf, whose parents were killed by Romulans… this should be good. He receives advice from Dr. Crusher, Riker, and Picard but still does not give in and the Romulan dies. In short order: the Romulan vessel arrives and prepares to fire, the Enterprise puts its shields up, La Forge and Bochra find the probe, the window to beam them up is closing and they can’t be beamed while shields are up, and WHAT ELSE CAN HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE? Of course Picard does what he does best and no one else dies and La Forge made a new Romulan friend.

If anyone could make you not hate your enemy, it’s La Forge. Bochra calls him defective and La Forge doesn’t even punch his face or leave him to die and winds up trusting him later to boot. Tomalak, the commander of the other Romulan ship, is played by my favorite Narn ambassador (from Babylon 5) and has such a great voice that puts command in any role he inhabits (or gravitas as one dear friend always likes to say).

While the “my enemy becomes my friend for a minute” story I could see coming a mile away, I did not see Worf refusing to be a donor. I understood it initially but each new argument, from Dr. Crusher, to Riker, to Picard the arguments were stronger and made more sense and appealed to Worf’s humanity. The problem with that line of thinking is that Worf isn’t human and, although raised by them, has his own Klingon beliefs that he sticks to. I was pleasantly surprised that a show wouldn’t force humanity to win, especially given how much was at stake for the Federation. I give a +1 for Katsulas and a +1 for Klingon stubbornness to earn this episode the 7 rings for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone.

Favorite Quote from “The Price”:

La Forge: You know, if this doesn’t work, the thought of spending the rest of my life in here is none too appealing.

Data: There is a bright side, Geordi. You will have me to talk to.

Data, always looking on the bright side of life.

“The Price” starts off with a reception to see the “first and only stable wormhole”, access which is now for sale by the Barzans, and that sale is being hosted by the Enterprise. The Federation, the Caldonians, the Chrysalians, and eventually the Ferengi are all interested and the bidding begins. The Ferengi and the Federation want to do more testing, but the Ferengi play dirty in the meantime and sideline the Federation negotiator so Riker and his poker skills have to take over. The two pods take off into the wormhole but are in the Delta section instead of the Gamma one, La Forge and Data leave and the Ferengi will not follow and are stuck.

Troi encounters a handsome stranger, the negotiator for the Chrysalians named Devinoni Ral, and she is instantly smitten. Turns out he’s part Betazoid too and one by one turns the others away until it’s just him and Riker. In his spare time he and Troi have lots of dinner, and by dinner I mean lots of kissing and foot rubs. There’s soft music and sappy romance and the engineering in me is so uncomfortable. At the very end of the episode, Ral uses the Ferengi situation, which he engineered, to his advantage in order to secure the wormhole, but Troi puts them all in their places just as La Forge and Data return to explain the wormhole is worthless in its current state.

I love that Troi goes from timid woman, to sex kitten, to bad ass counselor all in the span of 45 minutes. She has a scene with Dr. Crusher that shows off the worst of 1980’s workout gear but gives them some much needed “woman time” to giggle at the wonderful feeling of new relationship energy, the time when the world seems new and the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine. Troi also doesn’t run away with Ral because she’s remembered that she sits on the bridge and is an important woman with important things to do.

It’s also cool to see a wormhole and learn a little bit more of the science behind it, and the ramifications of what could happen if you don’t listen to Data and La Forge. Apparently this episode will be important when I get to Voyager as the husband tells me. The Ferengi get better with each encounter, though their first was awful and it could only go up from there. It is nice to see some other aliens and see that not everyone is a part of the Federation, but they all try to get along. This is a solid “B minus” episode.

TA Out!

Date: March 29, 2020

Season 3, Episodes 5 and 6

Musical Accompaniment: The Best of Tycho

Interstellar News: Today was also not a good day. Tomorrow doesn’t look good either.

Favorite Quote from “The Bonding”:

Picard: It is part of our life cycle that we accept the death of those we love. Jeremy must come to terms with his grief. He must not cover it or hide away from it. You see, we are mortal. Our time in this universe is finite. That is one of the truths that all human must learn.

Apparently Picard went to counseling school…

Data’s Not Really An Android: “But should not the feelings run as deep regardless of who has died?”

“The Bonding” has the away team beaming up in an emergency and the ship archeologist, Dr. Aster, is dead on arrival after a surprise bombing. Troi reports that Dr. Aster left behind a 12 year old son, Jeremy, and Picard now must notify him. Jeremy says he’s now all alone and Picard does the bravest thing I think I’ve ever seen him done – he takes his hand and tells him no one is ever alone on the Enterprise.

Troi thinks Wesley might be a good person to talk to Jeremy, but it brings up all the old feelings of Wesley’s Dad’s passing. While Jeremy is looking at old videos, his “mom” reappears in his room and wants to take him down to the planet but she disappears while they are on the transporter pad. As Troi and Jeremy arrive back at his quarters there is a replica of his old home on Earth, complete with Patches the cat, and he doesn’t want to leave. As they try to leave, Picard blocks their way and finally finds out who the Aster clone is. Picard calls Wesley in and they get the chance to clear the air. In the end, Jeremy lets Worf help him and they become family through a Klingon ceremony.

As someone who recently lost their mother and is ridiculously sad at the moment, this episode hit me right in the feels. Troi does some great grief counseling here and the show does an excellent job at showcasing how it effects all of the other characters. That’s the thing about grief, though, you never know when it’s going to pop back up. I once read this theory that grief is like a box with a button and a ball in it. At first, the ball is HUGE and hits the button on the wall at everything and you’re always sad, or mad, or something. As time passes, the ball grows smaller but it will still hit the button from time to time. It’s not a regular interval and you never know when the ball might get bigger, but the pain is still as sharp as the first day. The point remains that you should always tell those important in your life how you feel, you should keep your loved ones close, and you should always be kind because you never know when the grief will hit. I can’t rate this one because I’m not in a good frame of mind, but it was an excellent episode.

Favorite Quote from “Booby Trap”:

Picard: It is exactly as they left it, Number One. In the bottle.

The ship in the bottle.

Good Lord, didn’t anybody here build ships in bottles when they were boys?

Worf: I did not play with toys.

Data: I was never a boy.

Ask a stupid question…

“Booby Trap” starts off with the Enterprise receiving a 1000 year old distress signal. Picard wants to beam over to the ship, he’s super excited it’s something he played with as a boy, so he heads over with Worf and Data. There are some power dips happening all over the Enterprise and Guinan proves a bartender can really be a good counselor. I should know, I’ve been both a bartender and a counselor. They find an old data storage device and it plays a message from the old captain, but they beam back after. As they are about to leave there is a large drop in energy and radiation heading at them. Picard believes they may have fallen into a 1000 year old booby trap.

Everyone divides up to try and tackle the problem. La Forge goes to the holodeck and learns from  Dr. Leah Brahms who helped develop the warp drive, Dr. Crusher is setting up contingency plans for radiation sickness, Data and Riker found more information on the old ship, but they don’t make a lot of progress. La Forge and Brahms come up with a plan to turn the ship over to her, ahem, the computer. La Forge figures out something else with only 12 minutes left. Picard takes the helm, the plan works, and they blow up the field so no one else gets caught.

The episode starts out awkward with Lieutenant Awkward La Forge and his holodeck “date” and continues to be awkward with La Forge falling for the computer-generated Brahms and kissing her, sigh. Also, WHY IS HE NOT WORKING WITH HIS ENGINEERING TEAM? I teach engineering students I know they mostly hate teamwork, but are forced to do it anyway because that’s how things get done in the real world. You need the diversity of perspective, location, upbringing, and knowledge to make something better or to create something new. La Forge has access to Starfleet’s best and brightest but because he goes at it alone because there was probably not a budget for a big team meeting, oh and because we have to show the hot guest star. I’m not sold on that part, which was a big part, of the episode. I love the idea of a booby trap, but it would have been better if everyone was involved or the whole of engineering saved the day. Oh well, at least I know more about La Forge and Guinan for that matter. 4 blue stars for this episode.

TA Out!

Date: March 28, 2020

Season 3, Episodes 3 and 4

Musical Accompaniment: Ultimate Soundtrack Compilation Mix by Hans Zimmer

Interstellar News: Today was not a good day.

Favorite Quote from “The Survivors”:

Kevin: Is the love of a woman worth the destruction of an entire species? This is the sin I tried so hard to keep you from learning now. Why I wanted to chase you from Rana.

Picard: We’re not qualified to be your judges. We have no law to fit your crime.

*from Picard’s log* We leave behind a being of extraordinary power and conscience. I am not certain if he should be praised or condemned. Only that he should be left alone.

An absolute heartbreak, for all involved.

Worf’s One-Two Punch: “Sir. May I say your attempt to hold the away team at bay with a non-functioning weapon was an act of unmitigated gall.” “I admire gall.”

“The Survivors” starts with Troi in a swank new teal colored outfit and the Enterprise trying to respond to a distress signal that came from a now-barren planet aside from two lifeforms. The away team beams down and it’s just two old people, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge, who are very much in love with each other. Data is entranced by a music box and Troi can hear it, in fact she can’t stop the waltz from playing in her head. The Uxbridge’s do not want to leave, however, and do not want any help.

There are a few battles with a spaceship of unknown origin, but Picard thinks there is some tomfoolery going on so he beams down with Worf. I think there’s something going on with the tea, but it turns out it’s Kevin who is to blame. After much back and forth, Kevin tells the truth of who he is and what happened and it’s damned heartbreaking. It gets worse the more I hear, but he eventually helps out Troi and beams back to live in solitude with the memory of his wife. The Enterprise departs and I’m left wondering if they’ve quarantined the planet based on his last line.

This episode had me intrigued the whole time. Why is there just one tiny patch of green on the planet? What’s up with Rishon acting all weird? She’s super adamant about making tea for everyone. What’s up with Kevin being crotchety? I mean I get he’s old, but still. What’s up with that enemy vessel? Why is Troi hearing the music? I totally get why it’s driving her mad, I get that way when I can’t sleep. Each time I had a question, there was a bit of an answer but then that led to a new question. Picard had a hunch and it turned out to be right, but the answer was sobering. Kevin was the ultimate pacifist but even he, in a moment of grief, turned to violence with a mere thought. It’s a powerful reminder that there are some actions we cannot take back and it is prudent to think about things before we do them. Picard realizes there’s nothing he can do and that Kevin has suffered enough. I like this episode for very different reasons than I have previous episodes, it’s just good and I can’t quite put my finger on why Kevin’s truth makes me go from dislike to complete sympathy to absolute horror all in the span of five minutes. I rate this episode as “The Avengers #9“.

Favorite Quote from “Who Watches the Watchers”:

Picard: Look at me. Feel the warmth of my hand, the rhythm of my pulse. I’m not a supreme being. I’m flesh and blood, like you.

Nuria: Not like me.

Picard: Like you. Different in appearance, yes. But we are both living beings. We are born, we grow, we live and we die. In all the ways that matter, we are alike.

In all the ways that matter, we are alike. SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK PICARD! Maybe sign it, make a meme out of it, have it translated by Data for all to see and hear and read and know.

“Who Watches the Watchers” starts off with the Enterprise en route to Mitaka III to assist three anthropologists who are blind observing a Vulcan-like culture when something in their reactor explodes, two are knocked out and one is tossed outside of the observation space. The away team beams down but not before a local father and daughter find the station and the father is hurt. As they were responsible and Dr. Crusher is, well, a doctor, she beams the father up to take care of him and tries to wipe his memory. Unfortunately he has seen Picard and thinks he is god.

Troi and Riker beam down undercover, but I wonder why they aren’t searching where the third guy fell? They run into the villagers debating if “the Picard” is real, when two others have found Palmer. Troi tries to lure the villagers away but Riker is caught trying to escape so he runs, with Palmer on his back, to a safe space to beam them up. While Riker is able to get away Troi is captured and is in danger of being hurt.

Picard beams Nuria aboard to help her understand he is not a god. Picard gives an excellent example to Nuria but she still doesn’t understand until she sees one of the anthropologists die and realizes Picard has limits too. On the planet Troi is deemed responsible to the disappearance of Nuria, but Picard and Nuria help them to understand Picard is just a man and they have not totally busted the Prime Directive wide open.

So I was not expecting the Trek writers to take such a hard stab at organized religion. There is one set of dialog in particular that really ripped into it:

Riker: And are you saying that this belief will eventually become a religion?

Barron: It’s inevitable. And without guidance, that religion could degenerate into inquisitions, holy wars, chaos.

Picard: Horrifying. Dr. Barron, your report describes how rational these people are. Millennia ago, they abandoned their belief in the supernatural. Now you are asking me to sabotage that achievement, to send them back into the Dark Ages of superstition and ignorance and fear? No! We will find some way to undo the damage we’ve caused.

Who gave Barron a job as an anthropologist?

I completely agree with Picard’s outrage at the suggestion he should issue a moral code for those on the planet, but I do not agree with his disdain, his shock, or Dr. Barron for that matter. My personal feelings on the matter aside, I’m not here to preach one way or another, but religion can be useful for those that believe in it and follow its tenets. Some need more guidance than others and having a higher power and set of rules to believe in are necessary for some. For others, it is not, but I cannot imagine there are no religions in the 24th century. We saw examples in the 23rd century, as I mentioned above, so did they just all of a sudden die out? I mean isn’t there a damn chapel on the ship?

Anyway, I didn’t expect to write a dissertation on organized religion just there, but I like that this episode highlights just what could go wrong. I think it was wrapped up a little too well and the suspense was artificial as I knew no one was going to die (well, poor Warren). There are better examples of how to deal with the Prime Directive and this just wasn’t up to snuff. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it which earns this episode Number 5 from The Umbrella Academy (the comic, not the TV series).

TA Out!