Star Trek: TNG 2.7 - Unnatural Selection

Review 117 - Episode 113 (Jan 30th 1989)

The One where the Pulaski gets really old

Ah, Pulaski. Pulaski, Pulaski , Pulaski. I really don't like this character. I should add that I have no problems with the actress who did a fine job in TOS (twice), but the writers have really messed up with her. I hate to keep harking on about this, but her whole "Data isn't human" obsession does my fucking box in. She cannot move beyond the fact he's an android and keeps having digs about his lack of emotions on the shuttle craft. She's a total bee-atch towards Data. This thread should have been dropped episodes ago. It's not character development, it's just a personality trait to show she's kindof like McCoy and Spock. But it doesn't work, because it's not his personality, it's his being she finds distasteful. It makes her look prejudiced and small minded. Add in the grumpiness towards Picard and her fear of transporters and we get a watered down, poorly written, crap female version of Bones. Rubbish. Bev got booted for this?

Anyway, she contracts an ageing disease (hello, haven't we been here before in TOS?) and Picard has to save her. One good thing about this episode is that Chief O'Brien get's his first real scene beyond pressing buttons. Colm Meaney is a immense actor and it's great he was given room to shine (and he's been in it from the start).

It's a rehashed TOS story about a character I have no time for. Only the B plot on board the Enterprise and scenes with the Lantree (especially the rather poignant moments when it blows up) save it for me.

2/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 334/590

Beverly Crusher Appreciation Corner

Star Trek: TNG 2.6 - The Schizoid Man

Review 116 - Episode 112 (Jan 23rd 1989)

The One where Data goes evil

Brent Spiner episode this one, as his mind is slowly taken over by Ira Graves, his "Grandfather"

I'm not sure I like Data episodes where he malfunctions or is possessed. It reminds me of when Spock used to start showing emotions when he was infected with a virus or something. The novelty and shock value decreases every time and as you know it's going to default anyway to his normal state, it just seems pointless. Of course, Spiner is such a good actor that he makes it watchable and believable, but the storyline is simply a non starter for me.

I suppose back when it was first broadcast, it was a novelty, but with all my memories of Data going weird episodes, they're a bit tiresome.

Also of note this episode is Dr Selar, the hot Vulcan doctor. This is her only appearance in TNG, but she's constantly name checked and would pop up in various other media. She's really cool and a Vulcan doctor is an interesting concept as they're all normally passionate or grumpy. Much better than Pulaski anyway.

f you're a big Data fan, it's worth a watch, but I was struggling with this.

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 332/585

Dr Selar Appreciation Corner (we'll give Bev a rest this episode):

Star Trek: TNG 2.5 - Loud as a Whisper

Review 115 - Episode 111 (Jan 9th 1989)

The One with the Deaf Ginger Guy

(editors note: I've saved a bunch of drafts, but being a bit of a technophobe, don't know how to schedule them. So the remaining reviews of Season 2 won't reflect the day they're written. Nightmare, but there you go)

Bit preachy this one. Riva is a star mediator who happens to be deaf and speaks through a chorus of 3 interpreters. They get zapped and he has to find new ways of communicating his ideas.

The whole episode is based around the concept that deaf people are capable, able and passionate people, but it's rather unsubtle in it's execution and seems to be an agenda shoehorned into a Next Gen episode. All very worthy, but is makes for a rather dull episode.

The acting of the regulars is quite good , especially Troi and Picard, but it can't disguise the fact this is boring.

2/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 329/580

Beverly Crusher Appreciation Corner

Star Trek: TNG 2.4 - The Outrageous Okona

Review 114 - Episode 110 (Dec 12th 1988)

The One with the greasy Han Solo wannabe

Not good this and only a semi interesting B plot and decent acting from the regulars saves the day. Okona is a fly by night rogue, who charms the pants of women and is a bit of a Lad. He manages to pull Teri Hatcher and 2 other women and he's only been on the ship 20 minutes. The problem is, he's not charming, funny or especially likable, but the whole cast react to him as if he's the best thing since sliced bread. The Romeo & Juliet plot twist at least shakes up the plot slightly, but it's poor fare.

Data and Guinan isn't much better, but there's a novelty in seeing Data's continuing search for humanity. He is trying to make people laugh this week and generates a comic (from the 20th Century, natch). I was getting ready to cringe at the these scenes but they're decent and rather amusing at times. The only thing I would say is that Deanna should really be involved in these moments and I suspect Guinan is going to steal a lot of lines from her. Oh yeah, Pulaski's missing. Good.

Watchable fare, but I wouldn't visit this again.

2/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 327/575

Beverly Crusher Appreciation Corner

Star Trek: TNG 2.3 - Elementary, Dear Data

Review 113 - Episode 109 (Dec 5th 1988)

The One where the Holodeck malfunctions (no.2)

Actually, that's not fair. It's not so much that the Holodeck misfires as that it takes Geordis command to the ultimate end which in turn endangers the ship and crew.

Data and Geordi decide to play as Sherlock Holmes on the Holo deck, but when they realise that Data knows every Holmes story ever, they decide to get the computer to crate an adversary for Data, Moriarty, who becomes more than a holodeck creation.

Couple of things. Geordi is really surly in this episode, storming out the Holodeck without explaining why he's so miffed. Data also rushes off without saying anything. These are dramatic exits, but I don't think they are really in character. Also, Pulaski is so fucking annoying with her whole "Data isn't human" obsession. I mean, if she was indifferent to him, fair enough, but she follows hims and eavesdrop on his conversations. She's a stalker really. Sooner she leaves the better.

The whole concept of Moriarty becoming a real person is interesting and opens up a whole can of worms which is never really explored as the idea that every creation of the Holodeck could ultimately be sentient eventually and you have a situation where they are creating life instead of amusement. Moriarty would come back in a few seasons in a cracker, but here he simply allows Picard to win.

I've never really been a big fan of Holodeck episodes. It seems to be whichever genre that writer is interested in can get crowbarred into the series by setting it in the Holodeck. And the Holodeck is still incredibly unsafe. I can't believe people really use it and the fatality rate must be through the roof all over starfleet. But I like Data and Geordi's friendship blossoming and the change of scene is good for the show and actors.

3/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 325/570

Beverly Crusher Appreciation Corner

Star Trek: TNG 2.2 - Where Silence Has Lease

Review 112 - Episode 108 (Nov 28th 1988)

The One with the black cloud in Space

Very similar to a TOS episode whose name escapes me, this has the crew enter a hole in space where they are put into stressful fear situations and ultimately told that half of them will die by a creature known as Nagilum.

Lets get the bad bit's out the way. Pulaski's constant referral to Data as a limited android is beyond boring and annoying and this is only her 2nd episode. We get it, she's old school and has strange prejudices towards certain technology (like McCoy and transporters), but she's coming across as stupid here. I remember now why I dislike her so. There's also not much happening in this episode, with the Romulan ship appearing, then the Yamato, which I've always liked as a cool concept of a sister ship (before Galaxy class ships were 10 a penny). Riker and Worf investigating it was interesting, though Worf is really all over the shop, from the opening savage Klingon to total confusion and panic over the 2 bridges. I liked the scene at the start which was a nice set up that had nothing to do with the episode and was good looking

Picard sitting in his quarters as he waits for the ship to explode is cool looking, but nothing really comes of the whole self destruct sequence and the creatures reasons for letting them go are vague and confusing.

It's watchable, but feels too much like filler at times.

3/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 322/565

Beverly Crusher Appreciation Corner

Star Trek: TNG 2.1 - The Child

Review 111 - Episode 107 (Nov 21st 1988)

The One with the Star Child

So, Season 2 and there have been some big changes, which are more interesting than this episode.

The first big change is that Dr Crusher has left and Dr Pulaski is now on board. Apparently, the writers wanted to shake things up and decided to bring in a Dr McCoy type character who would be more grumpy and not so familial with the crew. This was a mistake. Beverly's character was weak at times and her relationship seemed to be solely as a mother and potential attraction with Picard. But dammit, she created a different dynamic on the ship and I would want to be treated by her before any of the other Docs. And frankly, she was a MILF and this new Doctor is not. The fact we know that Pulaski lasts one season and Crusher is back for Season 3 means it's probably going to be hard to invest in her as a character, but she didn't really annoy me this episode, it's just that Bev had to go for her to come on board. And why is nobody bothered by Beverly's leaving? Surely Picard would have mixed feelings about it?

Anyhoo, Guinan makes her first appearance as does Ten Forward. This set is excellent, the lighting especially and it's a mystery why every starship doesn't have something similar in later series. Guinan's relationship is very mysterious and she comes across okay as a sage but we never really find out WHY she's so important to Picard. Surely these dialogues could have been assigned to Bev or Troi? In many ways, Guinan devalues their characters slightly as Picard seeks her opinion over there's. But that's for the future (and my memory is hazy) Her scene with Wesley is nice (though his acting is suspect at times here - he's not quite unannoying yet) and at least raises the issue of Beverly.

Worf now has head security officer rank and gets the yellow uniform as does Geordi who is now Chief engineer. It was a sensible move for the writers and gives his character more to do, but I think they always struggled with him at times beyond being a nice guy. Riker is sporting his beard and the uniforms may have been tweaked slightly (this could be my imagination) but Troi is now wearing her purple jump suit and her hair is less severely styled. Sadly, TCW is on hold as her betazoid assets have been put away, but don't worry Troi fans, they pop up again in the next costume change (where the writers appear to decide that if Troi is going to get dodgy storylines for the next few years, she may as well have a bit of sex appeal to pull in the punters, IMO)

The story is a never-used TOS script and it shows its age. Troi is impregnated by a light and gives birth at exceptionally quick rate. The annoying wee bastard gives of a radiation that threatens a deadly component the Ship is transporting (which is quite interesting but really doesn't join well with the A story). He tops himself and turns into a light and leaves. Nobody really comes across as believable in this episode and the reactions to the child are bizarre, plus all the characters seem to have reversed into early season 1 mode with Picard being cold and aloof. Pretty dire and I fell asleep for 5 minutes watching it, so tells it's own tale.

2/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 319/560

Troi Cleavage Watch is on hold for the rest of the season, so for Season 2 It's going to be Beverly Crusher Appreciation Corner (or BCAC) from now on. It was such a bone headed move to ship her out, so there's going to be picture down here every episode. Why? To remind you how good she is dumbass!