Episode Review - The Host (Next Generation, Season 4)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Episode Review – The Host (Next Generation, Season 4)

Overview – Doctor Crusher has fallen in love with Odan, a Trill ambassador who is being sent to Peliar Zel to mediate a dispute between inhabitants of two of its moons. Unbeknown to anyone on the Enterprise, Odan is a joined Trill who possesses a symbiont that makes the true character of Odan. When Odan is injured in an attack by a radical faction, the true nature of the host and symbiont is revealed. Because the host body is dying, a new host must be found. Riker volunteers to serve as the new host, and when Odan is transplanted to him, he still professes feelings for Beverly. As the negotiations continue, Riker/Odan struggles with the new arrangement and Beverly wrestles with the conflicting feelings for her lover who now inhabits the body of her friend.

Score: 7/10 – “The Host” introduces us to the Trill, a species that will become important to Deep Space Nine in a few years. The Trill are very different from what they will be when we meet Jadzia Dax, but more on that later. What this story is about is the concept of love surviving a great and significant change. Does Beverly love the soul that is Odan, or is it that which is on the outside as important as what is in the inside? It is nice to give Doctor Crusher a romance (although in the real-life story of filming of the episode, it is interesting that her first love story came when the actress was in the late stages of a real-life pregnancy), and the idea of changing the outer appearance of her partner to someone who she has a great romance with is refreshing. The ending gives us yet another twist as the new host to take on the Odan symbiont is female, which proves to be too much of a change for Beverly. The basic story is fairly routine and more character-driven than anything else. There is a little bit of action, and it is interesting to see Riker and Crusher in a romantic situation. Overall, a good, but not great, episode.

Relevance – 1 point. Pretty much the only part of this episode that is relevant to the franchise as a whole is the introduction of the Trill. As a species that is symbiotic, it is quite interesting to see its origins, even though by the time we next see them they will be very different in look and details.

Continuity – 1 point. Character continuity is good here. We have never seen Beverly involved romantically before, but this one really puts her through some rigors. She is understandably conflicted when she is faced with her lover inhabiting Riker’s body. For story continuity and universe continuity, I am sadly forced to deduct their points. I get that when a show creates a new alien species, it may undergo some great changes if and when the producers decide to further develop them. If this was the only time that we see the Trill, things would have been different. However, that is not the case. For story continuity, there is the issue of nobody on the Enterprise (and presumably the Federation) knowing about the true symbiotic nature of the Trill. In DS9, however, we know that Benjamin Sisko knew about it from his association with Curzon Dax. Universe continuity takes a hit with a change in the outward appearance of the Trill, from forehead ridges to spots. I get that the species will change as the producers go from a one-and-done alien of the week to a central character, but there is little in common with the physical appearance of the host bodies. There is also the idea that the Trill is mix of the host and symbiont, being highlighted in the different personalities of Jadzia and Ezri Dax. In this episode, the symbiont seems to have full control. Riker, as the host, is still fully Odan, not a mix of Odan and Riker. I debated where to deduct this point, seeing as how in the pilot episode for DS9 is where we see the changes. I chose to deduct from this episode as it is the only time we see Trill like this, and the Trill story in DS9 as a series is consistent.

Character Development – 2 points. While Riker does get a bit of attention here, it is mostly in the fact that he volunteers to become the temporary host for Odan. Everything he does after that is Odan, not Riker. For Beverly, it is about time that she gets some romance in her life. Again, it is funny that it happens when actress Gates McFadden is feeling the absolutely least romantic with her being in the final trimester of her pregnancy. One aspect about Crusher here that has created a bit of controversy is that she rejects Odan when the symbiont is transferred to a female host. I’ll talk about that more in the Social Commentary section, but for now it suffices me to say that she shows us that there is a limit as to what she can accept in the appearance of her lover. The most significant part of this revelation is that she is completely honest about it. She does not make excuses for it nor does she try to rationalize it. She simply accepts her limitations.

Social Commentary – 2 points. Many fans criticized this episode for having a homophobic theme to it. They feel that Crusher should have accepted Odan in her female host, and the fact that she couldn’t shows intolerance and homophobia. I would disagree with that opinion. This is not homophobia, but it should be seen as being true to oneself. Let me take the criticism from a different perspective. According to the detractors Beverly should have been willing to develop romantic feelings with Odan regardless of Odan’s outward appearance. By that logic, everyone should be pansexual, falling in love with the soul regardless of the gender of the love interest. Should a person who is homosexual be expected to be attracted to someone of the opposite gender if they are attracted to the soul of the person? Some would say that in doing so it denies who they are. So why would the same not be true of those with a heterosexual orientation? Beverly Crusher is heterosexual. She admits that maybe at some time in the future people will not have those limitations, but I think that for the time being, we have to accept that for most of us there is no denying that the outward appearance does play a part in our romantic attractions. Perhaps the most important aspect of this lesson is that we should be honest with our feelings. It’s not a perfect commentary, but our world is not perfect. Facing those imperfections is the first step in overcoming them.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. A point scored for the concept of a symbiotic sentient species. The Trill is a great addition to the Star Trek pantheon. The look of the symbiont, which was one aspect that did not change too much, is quite different and at the time was quite cool.

Rank – Lieutenant (14 points). “The Host” is a good showcase of Beverly Crusher that introduces a soon to be significant alien species in the franchise. Having said that, DS9 develops the Trill far more than this episode does, and in doing so makes some significant changes that were established in this episode. Doctor Crusher fans will not want to miss this episode, while those who find canon discrepancies to be infuriating may want to avoid it. If you do miss this episode, you will miss out on an above-average episode, which might be OK. I enjoyed it, but I get how others might take issue with the abrupt changes between now and DS9.

If you would like to read other reviews from the Next Generation, click this link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do. 

Episode Review - Sub Rosa (Next Generation, Season 7)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – The Enterprise is in orbit around Caldos Colony so that Doctor Crusher can attend the funeral of her grandmother. At the funeral, a mysterious stranger lays a flower on the grave, and Beverly is intrigued. As she sorts through her grandmother’s home and belongings she discovers a candle that she remembers her grandmother having, a family heirloom whose flame is never extinguished. When a man named Quint, the caregiver of Felisa Howard, arrives and blows out the candle, he implores Beverly to get rid of the candle. He claims that it is haunted and brings nothing but trouble. After dismissing Quint, Doctor Crusher discovers that her grandmother had a much younger lover named Ronin. Before long, she meets Ronin, who claims to be a spirit that has been involved with the women of her family for eight centuries. Beverly finds herself falling for Ronin, and begins a love affair with him. As she decides to resign from Starfleet and stay on Caldos, she starts to learn that there is far more to Ronin than originally believed.

Score: 5/10 – I had a hard time scoring this episode. There is a lot going for it, but ultimately I found the episode lacking overall. It is definitely a different story for Star Trek, using science fiction as a background for a story that has elements of ghost stories, love stories, and thrillers woven together. I cannot fault Gates McFadden for the short comings of the episode, as she gives us one of her strongest performances. I likewise cannot fault director Johnathan Frakes, as he gives us some great views and scenes. Duncan Regehr (who will go on to play Shakar in DS9) gives a bit of an over-the-top performance as Ronin, and looks like he came straight out of a Harlequin Romance novel. The story is a bit odd, as the formidable Doctor Crusher, in essence, falls in love with a lamp. While I appreciate that all parties gave it their all in this episode, I think that the overall story was a bit of a dud. This is the final season of TNG, and in retrospect the writing staff seemed to be coming up short with compelling storylines for the characters. While I commend all those involved with this story for giving us the best they could with the material that was provided and trying something unique, it just didn’t seem like more than a mediocre story at best.

Relevance - 1 point. A point is scored for showing us Doctor Crusher’s grandmother. Back in Season 1’s “The Arsenal of Freedom”, Beverly tells Picard about the influence that her grandmother had on her in becoming a healer.

Continuity – 1 point. Universe continuity scores a point here. Character and story continuity, however, do not. For the story, it is said that Felisa Howard is over one hundred years old at the time of her death, but according to the her gravestone, her birth year was listed as 2291, which would make her closer to being 79 years old. Details people! Character continuity focusses on Doctor Crusher. I think my biggest hang-up with this episode is that Beverly acts in such an unlikely fashion. She has always been a character of strong conviction and sense of duty, and yet she falls easily to Ronin’s charm and seduction. Again, I just didn’t buy it. She quickly throws everything else away to stay on the colony and live the rest of her life with Ronin, and her actions seemed more like the sappy love-sick teenager type than the strong, fierce woman that we have come to know over the last seven years.

Character Development – 2 points. A pair of points scored for the attention to Doctor Crusher. We see her come back to her roots (figuratively, at least) as she mourns the loss of the woman who inspired her to become a healer. The loss of her grandmother is acute, and yet she handles it with great dignity. This is not surprising, but it is nice to see her as a character come full circle from what was established way back in the first season. We also see her lose control as she falls for the enigmatic Ronin. While her actions may seem out of character, we do see a different side of her.

Social Commentary – 1 point. I have heard that it is unwise to begin a new romantic relationship after suffering a great loss. I suppose one could use this episode as an example of this. Beverly falls hard and fast for Ronin, and she almost pays for it. OK, that is a bit of a stretch, but it does touch on that subject, if ever so lightly.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. I have to score a point for the names on some of the headstones in the cemetery. Two in particular stand out. Next time you watch this episode, look for the tombstones of Vader and McFly (and yes, they were intentional references to Star Wars and Back to the Future). What I do not know is if those two specific names were used with their Trek connection in mind. In the movie Back to the Future, Marty McFly disguises himself in a haz-mat suit to convince his younger father to ask out the woman that will eventually become Marty’s mother to the dance. Marty introduces himself as Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan. I also want to score a point for some of the guest stars. I already mentioned Duncan Regehr would become Shakar in DS9, where he would become the love interest for another strong female main character (Major Kira). Michael Keenan is Governor Maturin, and he will go on to star in both Voyager and DS9. Finally there is one of my favorite character actors, Ellen Albertini Dow, who played Felisa Howard. Ellen, who played a woman who lived past a hundred years, died at the ripe old age of 101. She was basically the sweet yet spunky old lady in almost every movie and TV show from the 80s onward, including Sister Act, the Wedding Singer, and Wedding Crashers.

Rank – Lieutenant (12 points). The audience seems to be split on this episode. Women tend to like it more than men. Some classify it as their guilty pleasure, while others see it as being at the bottom of the barrel. I will take the middle of the road on this one. If you want to have a look at this episode, it isn’t horrible, just a bit weird. If you would rather skip it as you are binge-watching the seventh season, I totally understand it. I myself only watch it when I am going through episode by episode or if I am writing a review on it (which is now done).

If you would like to read other reviews from the Next Generation, click this link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do. 

Why I Love the Next Generation

Celebrating the five full decades of Star Trek should be a yearlong event, so I thought I would spread the love of all things Trek. Previously in this series I wrote about why I love the Original Series. Next up, Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise D and my Five Reasons for why I love the Next Generation!

It’s hard to imagine that TNG is almost 30 years old. For me, this is the series that I grew up with. I remember the excitement of hearing about a new Star Trek series, and in 1987 we began a seven year journey that furthered the story and ideology of creator Gene Roddenberry. Sadly, it was during the height of TNG that we would lose Gene, but he was able to see a renaissance of the franchise that has carried it forward for decades to come. So, in continuation of my reasons for loving all things Trek, I give you my Five Reasons for loving what became not only a worthy successor to the Original series, but arguably the most successful series in the franchise.

1.     Familiar, yet new – Whenever there is a sequel to a popular series, fans are anxious because they want to see that which is familiar, but not have it be a blatant copycat of the original. TNG achieved this in grand style. The ship is still the Enterprise with a familiar approach to the design, but is now the flagship and much sleeker. While Kirk and Picard are definitely different as captains, there is a familiarity in Riker’s charm and swagger that reminds us of good ol’ James T. Even the uniforms are familiar yet updated, with the same basic colors (red, gold, and blue), just a bit of switching (how many of you were originally concerned that all captains now wore red shirts!). It brought us a sense that yes, this is Star Trek, but it is also something new and exciting.

2.     Star Trek became cool in mainstream – The Original Series was cancelled after three years (and we were lucky to get the third season) due to low ratings. While you will get no argument from me that Star Trek was and continues to be influential, the franchise really jumped into the mainstream midway through the Next Generation. TNG became a ratings juggernaut, which was impressive for a syndicated series. Soon, it was beating out all comers, including the traditional powerhouse Monday Night Football. When it ended its seven year run (which became the unofficial bar for all future series to meet), it went out on top. Many thought it could have gone on for a few more, but people were hoping to turn it into a successful film franchise. TNG helped a lot in making it cool to be a Trekkie. I can think of no bigger endorsement for Star Trek than to have Whoopi Goldberg request to be a part of the show. To have an Oscar-winning A-lister Hollywood want to be a large part of the franchise says something, and she was not alone.

3.     A strong main cast and the characters they played – I love the original crew, but the show revolved around the triad of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy for the most part. On TNG, an equally diverse cast spread the love a little more evenly. We had stories dedicated to each of the main crew, and the actors who played them were solid. Gates McFadden gave the compassionate Dr. Crusher a level of strength that helped her character grow. Levar Burton brought a level of vulnerability and eagerness to Geordi. Michael Dorn brought depth and respect to our favourite Klingon, Worf. Marina Sirtis gave Troi a fierce conviction. Johnathan Frakes brought a sense of professionalism and charm to Riker. Arguably the strongest actors were Brent Spiner, whose portrayal of Data required such great discipline, and Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard, taking the leadership role to a new realm. Many of these fine actors brought their theatre training as one of their assets, and after watching an episode like “Frame of Mind”, “Brothers”, or “The Inner Light”, we can see just how great an asset it was.

4.     Story telling ahead of its time – Ask anyone for their top 10 favorite Trek episodes, and there will most likely be some real gems from TNG. “The Inner Light”, “Yesterday’s Enterprise”, “Relics”, “The Measure of a Man”, “The Offspring”, “The Drumhead”, and the list goes on. And let’s not forget the classic “The Best of Both Worlds” that kept audiences trembling with anticipation for an entire summer, desperate to know the fate of Picard in what is arguably one of the best cliffhangers of all time. Yes, there were some duds (looking at you, Code of Honor), but we had a good mix of wonderful tales that kept us coming back each week. We dealt with the death of beloved crew member in “Skin of Evil”, tackled themes such as sexual identity, torture, terrorism, and what constitutes life. The stories also, and appropriately, brought us the odd tip of the hat to the original crew, with episodes like “Sarek” and “Unification”. Suffice it to say, the stories were more often than not very well told.

5.     It has to be Q – From the first to the last episode, Q has been there. John de Lancie appeared in eight separate episodes and each one were memorable. OK, so “Hide and Q” may not have been the best episode (it was one of de Lancie’s least favourite), but we did see Wesley get the point! All bad puns aside, Q was often one of the highlights of the season. We had the silly fun Q stories (Deja Q and Q-Pid), the serious tales (Q Who and True Q), and the truly philosophical (Tapestry). And while the crew were ultimately frustrated by this omnipotent rascal, we the audience were delighted. I particularly thought that the pilot and series finale being the ultimate bookend to the introduction to Q was perfect for the series. Q was a perfect foil for Picard and gave us some great moments. Whether it was his banter with the crew (“Growl for me micro-brain! Show me you still care!”), introducing us to the Borg, trading verbal barbs with Guinan (likely my second most favourite guest character) or teaching Picard about the value of a life lived without regret, Q was always a welcome visitor to the show.

So there you go, my Top 5 reasons as to why I love the Next Generation. I have many others, and I am sure that you have your own Top 5 list. Please feel free to share the reasons you love Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D. If you want to know what my Top Ten favorite TNG episodes are, check out this link.

Episode Review - The High Ground (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 3)

Episode Overview – The Enterprise is called to provide assistance to the planet Rutia IV, where the government is heavily threatened by internal terrorism. The terrorists have begun using a new form of experimental transporter technology with deadly consequences. Soon, Dr. Crusher is kidnapped and becomes personally involved.

Episode Score – 6/10. The episode is solid but not revolutionary (pardon the pun). Its main message: terrorism is bad. Not very revelatory. Many of the writers and producers of the show were not fans of it. I do think that it is a good vehicle to give Dr. Crusher’s character a bit of depth.

Relevance – 0 points. This story is a stand-alone episode that really does not connect much to other episodes. It is worthwhile to watch it, but if you are streamlining your episode viewing to only watching key episodes, then this one is likely not to make the final cut.

Continuity – 3 points. Character continuity scores a point as everyone does what they are expected to do. This ranges from the continued personal attachment between Picard and Beverly to Worf always managing to go down first in a fire fight. Universe continuity gets a check from me as it is typical for the Federation to provide medical aid while attempting to stay out of an internal conflict. Storyline continuity scores a point as nothing that happens goes against what has been previously established.

Character Development – 2 points. As far as character development goes, this is a big time Dr. Crusher episode. I have always liked how Beverly has a true caregiver’s heart, and she easily makes connections with the people around her. This is tested as she forms a bond with her captors, especially Finn, the terrorist leader. Picard, Wes, and Riker also get some good moments, but this is pretty much a Beverly Crusher episode. 

Social Commentary – 2 points. I am writing this review in 2016, over 25 years after this episode first aired. I also am writing this on the day that 50 people were killed in Orlando Florida, in what is believed to have been done by a domestic terrorist. At the time of its original airing, Ireland and the UK would not allow the episode to be shown due to IRA terrorism and how the episode could be interpreted as being sympathetic to terrorist activities. I wonder how this episode would be received today by people watching it for the first time. With radical terrorist groups getting a lot of media attention today, the concept of using terrorism to achieve political change is very relevant, as is the notion of humanizing the terrorists. What I am not sure is as relevant is the idea that terrorism should be glorified, as some may claim happens to an extent in this episode. While I am not wanting to use the case of Finn and his followers as an analogy to such horrific groups such as ISIS, I do think we can learn some valuable lessons from this episode as we try to reach out to those who feel disenfranchised in our society.

Cool Factor – 1 point. I think the dimensional shift inverters are pretty cool, and it would have been nice to see something more come from this.

Rank – Lieutenant (14 points). Overall an average episode. I like how Beverly gets the spotlight and a chance to shine. Gates McFadden shows some good acting chops here. Like many early TNG episodes, this one is pretty much self-contained. For those that are only wanting to watch what are considered essential episodes, I would recommend it only for the die-hard Doctor Crusher fans.