Episode Review - Relics (Next Generation, Season 6)

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

Overview – The Enterprise receives a distress call from the USS Jenolan, a transport ship that had been missing for seventy-five years. They find it on the surface of what they will learn is a Dyson sphere, a large structure built around a star. On the Jenolan they discover a pattern that has been stuck in the transporter buffer. Upon activating the transporter, they rematerialize Captain Montgomery Scott. Scotty attempts to rematerialize a fellow crewman, but his pattern had degraded too much. As the Enterprise studies the Dyson sphere, Scotty tries to adjust to living in the 24^th century. He clashes with Geordi in engineering, finds that members of the crew are disinterested in his stories of past adventures, and eventually has to accept that all of his former friends and colleagues are most likely dead. It is a crisis with the Dyson sphere that finally brings two generations together to save the ship and crew.

Score: 9/10 – This is one of the fondest tales for fans of the old series to be in the Next Generation. When word came out that Scotty was going to be brought back, fans were understandably excited. When the show aired, they were not disappointed. The story was great, the acting was wonderful, and it was a pleasant romp down memory lane. I thought the use of the transporter to bring back Scotty was not only clever but appropriate for our favorite Scotsman. The pairing of him with Geordi as a source of conflict was well done. The concept of the Dyson sphere was something the writers had been toying with, and it was the story of “Relics” that allowed them to do so. So many things about this episode are noteworthy, but I want to give a special shout out to the recreation of the Enterprise bridge from the original series. The detail that they employed, even down to the sound effects, was touching. There was a plan to have footage from previous episodes that would have had Scotty interacting with his former crew, but budget restraints sadly led to that being omitted. It was unfortunate, to say the least, but beyond that, this was and is a special event episode.

Relevance - 3 points. It’s Scotty! That has to be relevant! Besides, he refers to three classic episodes: “Elaan of Troyius”, “Wolf in the Fold”, and “The Naked Time”. Those alone could be worth the three points, but wait, there’s more! We eventually got Geordi swapping tales with Scotty, sharing a moment from “Galaxy’s Child”. Plus, we have Data in Ten Forward offering Scotty an alcoholic drink for when Scotty could not stomach the synthetic scotch he was offered. When asked what kind of drink it is, he tries to determine what it is before replying “It is green”. This is a direct reference to the original series episode “By Any Other Name”, in which Scotty gives the same answer to an alien that he had been drinking with.

Continuity – 2 points. Character continuity gets a point here as everyone acts the way that they should have. Geordi is definitely a different sort of engineer than Scotty is, and this does lead to some understandable conflict between them. Geordi has shown a similar lack of patience with other crew members that are just a bit out of their league on the Enterprise (looking at you, Barclay). I almost deducted the point for Troi giving Scotty a warm kiss on the cheek before he left at the end of the episode, but there was a deleted scene that would have established a history between the two. Still, I see Troi as being a warm and compassionate person who truly would have done that for him. Speaking of the final scene, the brief exchange of looks between Scotty and Worf was perfect. I am taking a continuity point away for the line that Scotty uses when he rematerializes on the transporter pad of the Jenolan. When he learned that it was the Enterprise that rescued him, he claimed that he knew that James T Kirk would have pulled the Enterprise out of mothballs to go looking for him. It would later be established in the film “Generations” that Kirk was lost and presumed dead, and Scotty was present when it happened. Sorry, that is a point lost for story continuity. Universe continuity does check out, so we still score two points here.

Character Development – 2 points. One of the reasons that I love this episode is that Geordi gets some much needed attention. He has great chemistry with Scotty, even though they are very different in their approach to engineering. Geordi treats his title as chief engineer as a job, Scotty treated it as a sacred calling. This put the two at odds initially, but Geordi came around to seeing Scotty for who he is. I am also counting Picard’s development here. After Geordi, Picard is the character that has the most interaction with Scotty. Their shared scene in the holodeck on the bridge of the Enterprise (no bloody A, B, C, or D) is a great one, as the two bond over lost loves (previous ships they has served on). We learn that although Picard loves the Enterprise, he misses his first command, the Stargazer.

Social Commentary – 3 points. How do you stay relevant when you become more associated with the past than the present? That is the issue tackled here. It is poignant for both those in the older generation and those in the younger. The young among us must acknowledge the wisdom and experience that comes from those that are older, while those who are older must learn that the world keeps moving right along without them. A clash and then combing of two generations is always relevant.

Cool Stuff – 3 points. You cannot help but score a point for the recreation of the original Enterprise bridge. That is still one of the best things in all of Star Trek for me. I also am scoring a point for the Dyson sphere. While I remain skeptical that such a structure could ever be constructed, it is pretty cool to see. Plus, the fancy flying of the Enterprise as they try to escape the sphere is cool. Finally, a point scored for James Montgomery Scott himself. If nothing else, this is a really cool thing about this episode.

Rank – Admiral (22 points). Honestly, I have never met someone who actually disliked this episode. They may not have seen its merit the way most fans do, but not to the point of hating it. If there are any out there that do, please don’t tell me. I may have to ask that your fan club membership be revoked for not fully appreciating how wonderful this episode is. It is how you do nostalgia properly, and it gave us one last adventure with James Doohan in his defining role.

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 - Aquiel (Next Generation, Season 6)

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

Overview – The Enterprise arrives at a distant communication relay station to find it deserted, with the sole exception of one of the officer’s pet dog being found alive on the station. One of the missing officers, Aquiel Uhnari, is eventually found, and she soon becomes romantically involved with Geordi La Forge. Unfortunately, she also become a prime suspect in a murder investigation.

Score: 4/10 – OK, this may not be a particularly bad episode, but it is definitely weak. Once again, the writers try to give La Forge someone to be in love with. The poor engineer has had less luck in love than the android, so another attempt is made. The problem is that his love interest, Lieutenant Uhnari, is not really a good match for him. The relationship seems to have been forced. The character herself is feisty and has some potential, and she is portrayed well Renee Jones. I just don’t see how the two can get together so quickly, especially given the circumstances and their conflicting personalities. Normally, a person like Aquiel would seem to irritate Geordi more than attract him. The chemistry between the two was lacking. What saves this episode is an interesting murder mystery. It seems that the obvious suspects, Aquiel and an overly nosey Klingon named Morag, are innocent. Doctor Crusher eventually discovers that there is a coalescent organism that can take the likeness of the lifeforms it feeds on. The twist at the end, the fact that it was (SPOILER ALERT!!!!) the dog was a bit of a surprise. The idea of the coalescent organism is neat, the execution of it (both literally and figuratively) however was lacking. Even in the 90s and TNG, special effects should have given us a better look to the ultimate body snatcher.

Is this a potential threat, or an ugly bean bag chair?

Relevance – 0 points. I watched this episode a few days before writing this review. I really cannot see anything that connects it to anything else in Star Trek. This is not a weakness to the story (as I already pointed out, there were plenty of those to go around), but rather it leaves the casual viewer with not much of a reason to watch this episode. It doesn’t give you much insight into anything that has happened before, and if you miss it you don’t miss out on anything else to come.

Continuity - 2 points. Here we can score some points for this episode. Nothing contradicts the establish Trek universe, nor do we see confliction within the telling of the story, so two points are scored here. I will deduct the point for character continuity. I get the Geordi is lonely, and he is always on the lookout for romance. He has a soft spot for the damsel in distress, but Aquiel just does not seem to be his type. I am not convinced that she would have been attracted to La Forge, and Geordi likely would have been long turned off by her attitude. I believe that they created the character of Aquiel with the intent to make her a recurring one if she and Geordi hit it off well. I don’t think they did, so we never saw her again.

Character Development – 1 point. Geordi gets some much-needed attention, but this does not do him much good. He gets the girl for a bit, just to find out she might be a killer. It is nice to see him in some action (not talking about the romance part, either) as he takes on the coalescent organism at the end, but there is really little that advances his character.

Social Commentary – 0 points. Scratching my head here. Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly? Don’t get involved with a murder suspect? Don’t turn your back on your girlfriend’s dog when there is a coalescent organism lurking around? Honestly, I cannot think of anything that really gives good commentary on today’s world.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. I will score a point for the idea of the coalescent organism. While the graphics left a lot to be desired, the concept was cool. It was neat seeing the remnants of the organism take the form of Crusher’s hand. I will also score a point for the Canar stones that telepathically link two people. Just don’t confuse your canar with your kanar.

Rank – Ensign (9 points). This episode was a swing and a miss for an otherwise great season of TNG. Geordi does deserve better, both in love and in stories.

Here's your killer!

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.