Date: February 29, 2020

Season 1, Episodes 12 and 13

Setting the Stage: I watched both episodes, via Netflix, on Feb 29. I wrote the outline of this, but never got around to posting it, so you might get a bonus two articles today. I never got a chance to post it because I’m at Pensacon in Pensacola, FL. I got to have dinner with some good friends and, of course, made some new friends because I don’t have a shy bone in my body. The restaurant we ate at went all out in Star Trek theme and we sat in a room that had a ton of TOS stuff while they were looping TOS episodes, so it’s fitting my writing music today is the Star Trek Mega Suite.

Another day of plugging Bad Ass Moms: http://kck.st/2SimbnD and happy belated Leap Day to you all!

Favorite Quotes from “Datalore”:

Picard: All right, all right. Legitimate questions about any of this need not be asked apologetically. You feel uncomfortable about aspects of your duplicate, Data. We feel uncomfortable too, and for no logical reason. If it feels awkward to be reminded that Data is a machine, just remember that we are merely a different variety of machine. In our case, electro-chemical in nature. Let’s begin to handle this as we would do anything else.

Picard having “the talk” with Data, Riker, and La Forge

Picard: But the point of this is, whether you and it have approximately the same capabilities.

Data: We do, sir, and your referring to him as an it suggests that I, too, fit into the category of a thing.

Picard: I see your point. My apologies.

Data: Gladly accepted, sir.

A little apology goes a long way.

“Datalore” has the Enterprise heading to Data’s home planet and everyone seems more excited than him. Strangely enough the world is dead now and appears to have been for some time. Data was given the colonist’s memories but he doesn’t know why. La Forge finds an opening to a cave and the away team explores and find an underground laboratory where Data was built and assembled. They find a disassembled “Data” so they take it back to the ship for assembly.

They put together the other Data, clearly the evil twin, who calls himself “Lore”. Lore calls Data “my brother” but he wants to please humans much more than Data does, and also lies and says that Data was created first. Data and Lore discuss Dr. Soong and Lore reminds me of Brainiac with a facial tick. We find that Data was created to replace Lore because Lore was too human and unnerved the colonists. Lore puts something in Data’s drink that incapacitates Data as Lore gives a long villainous speech regarding the crystalline entity that killed the colonists and switched uniforms to go posing as Data.

Dr. Crusher is suspicious as Data had been protective of his “off” switch and Wesley hears Lore-posing-as-Data say “isn’t it” instead of the more formal speech that Data usually uses. As Riker and Wesley report to Picard, the crystal structure attacks the vessel and “Data”, who is really Lore, communicates with it in an attempt to get it on board. There’s also this great bit where everyone tells Wesley to “shut up”.

Everyone on the bridge become suspicious and Worf gets owned in the elevator. Dr. Crusher and Wesley revive Data, and I’m confused why Lore doesn’t know the entity’s name? After a brief battle, Lore is spaced and they just let the crystalline structure go off into space.

I was all into this episode until the ending, it was just so… anticlimactic. As a vessel for showing Spiner’s acting range while also having the “good vs. evil twin” episode, it was fantastic. There are a few mysteries to solve: where did Data come from, why is there another, what happened to the colonists, where did the crystal structure come from? We don’t really get answers to all of these questions, but enough to feel okay about the episode. I wish there was something more to this, but I can’t think of anything other than 6 slices of rye toast with butter and seedless blackberry jam.

Favorite Scene from “Angel One”:

 “Angel One” has the Enterprise looking for survivors of a ship that they encountered and they find a matriarchal society at the planet, so Troi is given permission to make first contact. The lead woman won’t answer if there are survivors on planet, but the away team is shown to a place to rest. There are four men who survived but are now fugitives and in hiding, it’s all very suspicious. Back on the ship, Wesley and his friends are sick after visiting the holodeck on a ski trip and he’s likely infected Picard and Worf. The Enterprise scans the planet for an element that might find the men and Riker dons an indigenous outfit. Dr. Crusher orders Picard to his quarters, Worf says he might sneeze, and La Forge is now in charge and has a go at saying “make it so”.

Riker has entirely too much chest hair to make the outfit work, but he does it in the name of diplomacy. Yar, Troi, and Data beam over and find the male survivors while Riker stays with Mistress Beata. Ramsey, one of the survivors, identifies that the men have taken wives and have had children and have made a home on this planet and they just won’t leave. Ramsey explains how they were when they first landed and how they were dismayed at how men were treated. Riker and the Mistress have a little sexy fun time, and Trent looks super sad he didn’t get invited to the party. Back on the ship, everyone is now sick.

When the away team comes back and says the men refuse to go, Mistress Beata sentences them to death. Riker agrees to take anyone who wants to leave Angel One, except Dr. Crusher will not let anyone beam up aside from Data. Data calculates there are still 48 minutes to do something to stop the execution before they are left behind, as there’s also a Romulan threat going on in the Neutral Zone. Riker delivers a speech, I am sure in order to take up the whole, ahem, now 47 minutes Mistress Beata orders the execution until Ariel yells at her and they go off to commune about what to do. Dr. Crusher figures out the inoculation and everyone prepares for beam up, until the execution is stayed and the survivors are exiled. The away team beams back up and everyone on the Enterprise is now on the mend. 

I really like the outfits the women wear on Angel I, but aside from that there were so many things wrong with this episode. I totally understand that the writers were going for a flipped society where the men are objectified and the women are the ones who run the government but considering how I feel about our unequal society in real life, I don’t really like seeing it here either. The men’s outfits remind me of men’s figure skating, Riker is absolutely not as good as Picard at giving speeches, and the ending was not really great. Okay it’s good that no one was executed, but they were exiled for trying to change society because those in charge didn’t want things to change. All in all, I can’t go higher than pocket pairs on this one.

TA Out!

Date: February 28, 2020

Season 1, Episodes 10 and 11

Setting the Stage: I watched both episodes, via Netflix, on Feb 27. The first episode was watched over dinner and the second episode had every single fur child in attendance, and it wasn’t even dinnertime! Today’s writing music is nothing because I am in the airport and having a hard time finding my headphone, sad face! Oh, and David R. is about to miss his flight to Chicago, whoops. I’m waiting for flight one of two on the way to Pensacon in Pensacola, FL where I will get to hang with a few good friends and maybe get to meet some famous people.

Another day of plugging Bad Ass Moms. Come on, you know you want to check is out and back the project. I think you can get the e-book for as little as $10: http://kck.st/2SimbnD

Favorite Quote from “Haven”:

Troi: Stop this petty bickering, all of you! Especially you, Mother!

Troi storms out

Data: Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most intriguing.

Troi having a Bride-to-be freak out moment and Data being the amazing android he is

“Haven” has the Enterprise traveling to the planet Haven, I’m shocked. A silver box beams aboard and it talks, loudly, announcing that Troi is about to get some visitors… her mother, her groom-to-be, and his parents! There’s a tradition of genetic bonding where Troi’s father’s best friend’s son (read that seven times fast) was promised to Troi, and the Millers (no relation to the Millers from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) have come to make good on that promise. Wyatt, who looks very familiar and I realize he’s been in ALL THE STUFF, is a medical doctor who has been dreaming of a blonde woman his whole life – but he’s still happy with Troi. Troi’s mother beams up next and it’s CHRISTINE CHAPEL, well Majel Barrett same thing, along with LURCH, he’s my favorite. I love the Addams family so much.

The Enterprise and Haven notice an incoming vessel and it’s Terrellian, which is apparently not good. At the “pre-wedding party” the mothers get into an argument, as mothers do, until Picard steps in. We learn about all of the nakedness that a Betazoid ceremony has, the mothers get snippy again which leads to Troi getting super upset, yelling at everyone, and leaving to visit with Riker in the holodeck. Riker and Troi have a discussion about platonic love versus physical love when Wyatt comes in and he and Troi share a kiss.

The planet Haven wants the Enterprise to blow up the incoming vessel, but Picard wants to see if anyone is on board and also see if they can help in some way. There are 8 folks on board and one of them is the woman Wyatt has seen in his dreams!! They are all infected with the disease that wiped out their people and many others, but Wyatt is a medical doctor and he wants to help, so he beams aboard and apologizes to Troi. She is happy, and sad, but the Enterprise gets to keep their counselor.

This episode was goofy and fun, but the pacing was a little strange. I absolutely loved Mrs. Troi, Majel Barrett is hysterical and that is the role for her. It’s certainly a good way to keep the viewers wondering if they are going to lose a main character, but we all knew something was going to happen. I did like the suspense leading up to the reveal of the survivors on the Terellian vessel, but I knew if there was anyone on the ship it was going to be the woman from the drawings. I think Riker acted like a child who couldn’t have cake and ice cream for dessert and he was super pouty. Given that he hasn’t shown an ounce of affection for her and he knows what it takes to be a starship captain he’s gotta get a handle on his jealously, it’s just not healthy. All that and I give this episode a 7 course meal, complete with your favorite dessert.

Favorite Quote from “The Big Goodbye”:

Picard: This is Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the USS Enterprise. Aaaaard klaxon leeeeesss blag blan ar’nik ka’nik. Aaaaard krasulaaa. Rassss trassss trasulaaaah.

Jaradan: You have honored us with your words of greeting. A new day dawns between us.

Many thanks to chakoteya.net for the spelling of the Jarada greeting

 “The Big Goodbye” starts with Picard learning a new language that is super complex, but it’s necessary to secure an alliance with a new group. Troi encourages Picard to use the new and upgraded holodeck to give himself a break, so he heads to 1940’s San Francisco as a Private Investigator. After a few minutes he heads back out and is totally thrilled. He calls a meeting of the senior staff to gush about his experience and then, oh yeah, the Jarada.

Picard invites Dr. Crusher and Historian Whalen along and Data, being Data, decides to invite himself. The men go in first all decked out in pinstripe suits of the era, and of course Picard gets arrested right away and is tickled pink at the experience. While they are in the holodeck the Jarada probe and scan the ship and a malfunction occurs, with Dr. Crusher barely making it inside. The bridge realizes something is wrong and sends La Forge and Wesley to work on the problem.

Back in the holodeck everyone is jazzed up as they head to Picard’s office to check out the digs and then head out. Unfortunately, there’s a man with a gun and he shoots Whalen… which isn’t supposed to happen! Dr. Crusher is threatened next so Picard does some quick thinking to keep them all alive. Wesley thinks he’s figured something out and the holodeck crew is transported somewhere snowy and then back to the P.I.’s office. The door opens back out into the Enterprise and two of them men try to leave, but disappear as only the crew of the Enterprise can leave the holodeck experience. Picard and the group come back in time for Picard to speak in the insect language and the Federation makes a new friend.

This episode gives us a bunch of life lessons. One is that technology always screws up, so you should have backups for your backups. Two is that the young people are almost always better with newer technology, almost. Three is that when the captain takes a minute to find some joy, shit is going to hit the fan and someone will likely almost die. Poor Picard, the man just can’t get a break. I enjoyed the role play and how everyone got so into it, including Data who just wanted to be involved. He’s really like a puppy, and he’s adorable (and from South America, heh). I have NO IDEA why Wesley was the one to try and fix the issue, especially since it could have erased the captain, but whatever. Using the holodeck as a plot device seems a fun way to do something you couldn’t usually do out in space or in time, but overall nothing to write home about. This episode earns a 6 out of 7 out of 8 out of 9. Try that math on for size.

TA Out!

Date: February 27, 2020

Season 1, Episodes 8 and 9

Setting the Stage: I watched the first episode on Tuesday and the second episode on Wednesday. Wednesday was a loooooong day of workshop, lunch meeting, office hours, teaching, being a faculty advisor, and then a dinner meeting. Obviously Professor Zoom was in my lap for the whole episode. I’m still watching on Netflix, though both yesterday and today it recommend Deep Space Nine instead. Clearly they are not respecting the order, though at least DS9 is after TNG, so there’s that. Today’s writing music is more Star Wars instrumental, because I love mixing fandoms in my life. Party on dudes!

I also want to keep plugging the Kickstarter Bad Ass Moms for a few more days because it’s a really cool project and there are SO MANY BUNDLES. I mean look at ALL THE BUNDLES: http://kck.st/2SimbnD

Favorite Quote from “The Battle”:

Bok: We have heard that you use females. Clothed females. Most interesting.

Riker: They are that, sir.

Kazago: And the android was mentioned too. What is its price? We should like to purchase it.

Picard: He is not for sale. Commander Data is, um, is, um…

Riker: Is second-hand merchandise. You wouldn’t want him.

Data: Second-hand, sir? Oh, of course. A human joke.

The Ferengi being their usual strange selves and Riker quick with the sass. It also reminds me of a great scene from Blues Brothers

“The Battle” begins with the Enterprise and a Ferengi vessel meeting, at the behest of the Ferengi no less, but they’ve been radio silent for three days. Picard is suffering from a headache which is apparently not something that is common anymore. Three Ferengi beam aboard as Picard’s old ship, the Stargazer is brought to them in order to honor the “Hero of Maxia”. Years ago an unidentified vessel, which we are now told was a Ferengi ship, refused to open communications and fired on the Stargazer and Picard was adept enough to have a maneuver named after him. The Ferengi are offering the vessel for free and out of “friendship”, they are much more controlled this episode and much less monkey-like than the last time we saw them.

Turns out one of the Ferengi is doing something to Picard’s mind. Data uncovers a recording of Picard “admitting” to shooting first without provocation, but that’s found out to be a fake. Picard is tricked into setting the Stargazer free from the tractor beam and then he beams aboard and is met by Bok. Bok’s only son was on that unidentified vessel from 9 years ago and Bok has been planning his revenge. Bok leaves the mind control sphere and beams off, just as Picard thinks he’s back trying to fight the enemy ship, when really he’s thinking about firing on the Enterprise. The other Ferengi report to Riker that they don’t want to be involved, but they have relieved Bok of his command. Riker helps Picard to destroy the sphere and we get to see Picard’s stunt double before everyone walks away as if nothing had happened.

I enjoyed this episode for the roller coaster it was. Wes comes up with a way to do something that Data seems interested in but he also gets a dressing down from Picard, and rightly so. Dr. Crusher is concerned about “just a headache” because she understands the implications. The crew that explores the Stargazer are like kids who have discovered an old GameBoy while Picard is reminiscent and thinking of his old ship fondly, or as much as he can with his head being toyed with. The other Ferengi stay true to their character by putting profit above all else, but show a little bit more when they give Riker the heads up about it, as if to say “we’re not really all that bad, and we’re also a bit sorry our captain was an idiot”. All in all a solid episode with only a few down spots, so that earns this episode an 8 piece band.

Favorite Quote from “Hide and Q”:

Data: Sir, how is it that the Q can handle time and space so well, and us so badly?

Picard: Perhaps some day we will discover that space and time are simpler than the human equation.

Picard with the ever amazing answers

“Hide and Q” sees the Enterprise heading toward a medical emergency when Q interferes, no matter how many times they explain they are trying to help others. Q takes everyone but Picard off the bridge and onto a class M planet with twin moons while Picard is left on the Enterprise alone, that is until Yar is put in “the penalty box”. The Q are intrigued by humans, but Q wants to focus on Riker this time. Picard and Q make a wager and suddenly the whole bridge is on the planet and are under attack. Worf gets owned, Wesley gets stabbed, and Riker has been given the power of the Q, so he fixes everyone and beams them back with a smug expression on his face. Picard makes Riker promise not to give in to the power of the Q.

Now at the medical emergency they find a dead child, but Riker keeps his promise (though he doesn’t like it). Q, who likes to change costumes frequently and does so enough that Picard even mentions it, shows up to tempt Riker. Riker starts to give everyone on the bridge the things they want most: Wesley to be 10 years older, Data wants to be human, Worf wants a Klingon female, and La Forge his sight – but they all refuse, they know the cost is too high. Riker understands what a fool he was, as Picard knew he would, and refuses the power. This means Q loses the bet and is whisked away.

I really want them to use Worf more often, I am so intrigued by him. When he gets his drink from Q he makes amazing eye contact, purposefully empties the drink, and throws away the glass, all while growling menacingly at Q… it’s fantastic. Also, I’m pretty sure Worf admits to being both kinky (he does slap the female Klingon) and either asexual or possibly purposefully celibate (“This is sex. But I have no place for it in my life now.”) in this episode and I’m living for all of it.

It’s great that Riker knows what everyone’s deepest desire is, you can only know that if you spend time getting to know those under your command. It takes him a while and a lot of nudging by Picard, but he eventually gets there. However, there’s a lot of beaming back and forth, Yar is almost completely forgotten, and the guy who plays Riker just can’t banter with the best of them like Sir Patrick Stewart. This episode earns a 6 dollar foot-long, take that Subway!

TA Out!