TV STAR TREK REVIEWS MARATHON

Wednesday, 7 January 2009

Star Trek: TNG 3.6 - Booby Trap

Review 137 - Episode 133 (30th Oct 1989)

The One where Geordi falls in love

I really liked this episode, with it's different threads merging into one.

The crew discover an old ship and Picard, Data and Worf go aboard. Picards enthusiasm for exploring the derelict comes across well and makes the scenes highly enjoyable.

They then find themselves trapped in the same booby (*snicker*)(sorry) that befell the other ship and only one man can get them out...

Geordi! But he's on the worst date ever! Finally, we get to acknowledge that he's not a eunuch and he has sexual interests. However, he's terrible at dating and it's only when he's in the holodeck and starts interacting with the female designer of the enterprise, Leah, that he starts to be himself. The Holodeck scenes are very interesting and it's fascinating seeing the Enterprise in dry dock being built.

They work a way out and Picard deftly pilots the ship out the asteroid field. This is a very good episode and thankfully gives Geordi some valuable screen time.

4/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 397/680

Alternate Review: Tim Lynch - http://www.tcs.informatik.uni-muenchen.de/~hwloidl/TL/tng3/booby.html

Troi Cleavage Watch

Star Trek: TNG 3.5 - The Bonding

Review 136 - Episode 132 (20th Oct 1989)

The One with the little orphan boy

Ah well, just watched 4 on the bounce, so bang goes my spreading them out idea. Bloggers being a bit buggy with the pics, so they'll get posted later.

I find it hard to believe this is Ron Moore's first episode, because it's a stinker. An officer is killed on a an away mission, leaving her son an orphan, but he's not grieving as he should. Then an entity appears as his Mom and the boy bonds with Worf kindof.

I dunno, this was just garbage to me. Maybe if I was in the right frame of mind, I'd enjoy it, but I barely tolerated this episode.

2/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 393/675
Alternate Review: Tim Lynch - http://www.tcs.informatik.uni-muenchen.de/~hwloidl/TL/tng3/bonding.html

Troi/Crusher Appreciation Society

Monday, 5 January 2009

Star Trek: TNG 3.4 - Who Watches the Watchers

Review 135 - Episode 131 (16th Oct 1989)

The One with the peeping toms.

So, I thought, fuck it. If I'm doing this, I'm doing this right. Every episode, even if it takes 20 years.

And this one was okay, the prime directive being the main angle. The Fed's are spying on a "primitive" race, but their hideout is spotted. How do they uncontaminate the planet?

Picard has the "God" role and is played well by Stewart as usual. I'm not entirely convinced by his tactics of beaming up Nuria. How does this contaminate the planet less? Also, we're talking about a group of 8 people. Would that really change the planet? If you can accept these daft things, it's okay, but Picard goading Liko into shooting him with an arrow is just stupid. He's gonna shoot you Picard!

Riker and Troi have fun roles beaming down to the planet in disguise, but once Riker is rumbled, Troi is simply collateral.

Worf is pretty much AWOL as is Geordi. Bev and Data have some technobabble, but no main scenes.

I must mention the lovely outdoor shooting. Makes the episode much fresher than a dusty set.

It's a nice premise, but it will be done better in later episodes and Picard is actually quite stupid this episode.

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 391/670

Alternate Review: Tim Lynch - http://www.tcs.informatik.uni-muenchen.de/~hwloidl/TL/tng3/watchers.html

Factoid: Crushers big coat makes it debut this episode... Nah, can't get enthusiastic for that fact.

Troi/Crusher Appreciation Society

Thursday, 1 January 2009

Star Trek: TNG 3.3 - The Survivors

Review 134 - Episode 130 (9th Oct 1989)

The One with the really powerful old guy

Slow burner this one, but not bad. A devastated planet is lifeless apart from one tiny house and garden. Why? Picard investigates.

There are some nice outdoor scenes which always gives the show a breath of fresh air. The story is decent, but the kicker comes in the twist that is well played by the actors. i don't normally hide the twist, but I didn't remember it so chances are you won't either.

It's a decent episode that won't change the world, but kills an hour satisfactorily

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 388/665

Troi Cleavage Watch

Monday, 29 December 2008

Star Trek: TNG 3.2 - The Ensigns of Command

Review 133 - Episode 129 (2nd Oct 1989)

The One with the aliens who are not hanging around.

Wow, that was longer than I thought. Apologies for the delays in posting here, real life, yada yada.

Anyway, this is quite a lowkey episode where not a lot happens. The Sheliak are an interesting race in that they barely tolerate human life and have no compunctions with wiping the colonists off the planet. Picards growing frustration with the aliens and his final victory are made all the more sweeter by Stewart, giving some excellent acting with his body language. Wiping dust of the plaque was a lovely touch.

Data has the other plot, trying to convince the colonists they have to leave. It's okay, but sometimes the whole Data as Pinocchio angle can get overdone and repetitive at times

Decent episode, but not a lot for the regulars to do.

3/5
Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 385/660

Troi/Crusher Appreciation Society

Thursday, 13 November 2008

Star Trek: TNG 3.1 - Evolution

Review 132 - Episode 128 (25th Sept 1989)

The One with the Nanites

So, finally, here is Season 3. When I first thought about doing this Blog, I was going to start here as this feels like my TNG. It's almost a reboot of the series.

The stupid uniforms have gone to be replaced with smart collars that actually look like they could be real uniforms. There is an altered beginning and Beverly's back! For the first time, we have a stable Cast and look to the show. Add in some lovely new effect shots and actors who are comfortable with there roles and you have a great base to build on.

Couple of admin things to note as well. I'll probably only review one episode a week from now on, maybe two. I find that if I watch four in a row, then go to review them a week later I can barely remember any details. So the reviews will be longer, but less frequent (I say that now, but if I get a run going I'll probably do more in a week). I'm also going to add links to existing Trek Reviewers I used to read way back when. For TNG, it's got to be Tim Lynch, arguably the first Internet reviewer of note. I don't always agree with him, but he's worth a read and I'll add more as we go through the different seasons. Troi Cleavage Fans can rejoice as Deanna starts to wear a blue dress number this Season. I'll also add a couple of screen caps of other hotties as appropriate. It's rather nerdy, but it brightens up the Blog and makes a bad episode worth watching (and just because we're in Season 3, doesn't mean there's no bad episodes coming up. Nooooo, it certainly does not)

Anyway, this episode is basically a Wesley episode and I normally can't be doing with these. But Wil Wheaton is older now and not as whiny, so it's actually very watchable. He does still have his super smarts and and has accidentaly created a new race by accident as a school project. This would be annoying, but it actually ties in to the main plot, that being Dr Stubs is planning an experiment and has been a boy wonder like Wes. This is the man Wes could turn out like and has been in his shoes.

Beverly returns this episode and although there's no song and dance, she has missed her son and her conversation with Picard is excellent (and Guinan as well). The fact is, you would feel smothered by your mom on board a ship and it raises these questions excellently. Her scene with Wes when he turns on her for abandoning her is full of subtext and good acting on both parts.

Troi also has a big part this episode and confronts Stubs head on. It's a shame the director chose to film it in the back ground as we can't see anything, but there you go. Also, Her and Guinan co-exist in the same episode! Eureka! I think the key is Troi deals with Guest stars and Guinan the crew. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

Data has some nice scenes being the Nanites voice, but it's all very quick the way they create this conduit ib his brain. It could almost be an episode in it's self. Geordi has a few scenes that are mostly technobabble and Worf and Riker are sidelined for the most part.

This is a decent episode, but I could have lived without the baseball stuff - it really makes Trek seem so USA (which it is, but come on, make an effort). Really nice effects as well.

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 382/655

Troi/Crusher Appreciation Society

Basically, this will be whatever screen caps I think are decent of these two TNG babes from the episode that will appear here from now on. Nuff said!