Disaster

[TroiFan4ever]

Hopped on YouTube and watched episode 5x03 "Disaster".

When I first saw this episode years ago, I used to not like it, but now it's a dang-good episode!

I knew episode 7x19 "Genesis" wasn;t the first episode with Troi watching the bridge. Well... on the brigde O'brien put Troi in charge because out of the four people there, she was a Lieutenant Commander and nobody had a rank higher than that.

Questions:

If they were trapped on the bridge and all the doors were locked, how did Troi, Ro, and O'brien get to the Observation Lounge... ? Well, I mean, they might've had Ro open the doors for them considering that she forced open the aft turbolift doors but how?

When Beverly and Geordi were trapped in the cargobay, why don't they just find a big but flat object and block the green fire with that? I was thinking they could've used one of the containers but those things were heavier than they looked.

Okay, now, I wrongfully thought "Genesis" was the first and only episode where Troi got to sit in Picard's chair on the bridge. Now I learned there was a prior episode... in "Disaster". Are there any more episodes with Troi sitting in that seat?

[MacLeod]

from memory, the bulkheads in the turboshafts closed behind the turbolift, preventing access via the turbolifts. As for the observation lounge, it would just be a matter of either forcing the door, or it might have opened normally. As it was sealed off.

[Pauln6]

It's fun episode, but then any episode with Ro is fun plus we get Picard stuck with children. Is it just me or does Troi's approach to command bear scary parallels with NuKirk? She undertakes a high risk strategy against the evidence and common sense and succeeds through sheer luck with seconds to spare. Would you make Troi a captain?

[Canadave]

It's a decent episode. The problem is only two of the plots are really compelling (Worf and Picard), while the Troi and LaForge\Crusher plots are relatively dull. So I really like about half the episode, and spend the remaining parts waiting to get back to the stories that I'm interested in.

[MHT1138]

This is actually one of my favorite episodes. I find the Troi plot very compelling. The Geordi/Beverly plot is pretty good, the Riker/data plot was pretty unexciting. But Worf and Keiko, and Picard with the kids were fun storylines.

[Mojochi]

Troi makes mention of taking a bridge shift in the very episode where she gets promoted, and becomes a command bridge officer, "Thine Own Self". She also mentions in that episode that her desire to be a command officer began after the event in "Disaster"

Since her promotion happened only 10 episodes from the end of the series, I don't recall seeing her in command other than in "Genesis"

I really like "Disaster". It's good because it manages to pull several characters out of their comfort zone, the bridge crew, Picard & the kids, Worf & Keiko. I think that's why the Riker/Data & Geordi/Beverly stories didn't engage as well, not enough challenge, comparatively

But c'mon how could you possibly have them all be equally engaging? It's amazing that they were even able to fashion an episode that featured the entire cast so evenly, and tied it all together so well

It's one of their best ensemble episodes, & I'm usually very fond of their ensemble episodes, like this. Night Terrors, Cause & Effect, some are better than others, but I really enjoy the ensemble stuff

[Forbin]

Decent episode, but it, like many, suffered from the "We only have 5 minutes left, let's resolve the plot during the last commercial!" syndrome.

[Gary7]

^ Yeah, that ruins it for me with many TNG episodes. Thankfully there are some which aren't quite so guilty of it.

[Deckerd]

TroiFan4ever wrote:

---

Okay, now, I wrongfully thought "Genesis" was the first and only episode where Troi got to sit in Picard's chair on the bridge. Now I learned there was a prior episode... in "Disaster". Are there any more episodes with Troi sitting in that seat?

You'll notice she didn't crash it that time.

[TroiFan4ever]

Deckerd wrote:

---

You'll notice she didn't crash it that time.

What time? "Disaster" or "Genesis"?

You know, if Troi really was to blame for the D-Enterprise's destruction in Generations, Commander Riker is the real person to blame. 'Cause you wanna know why? Test-driving the Enterprise should've been part of her exam in the 7x16 episode "Thine Own Self", but no! He just wanted to see if she would tell Geordi to go kill himself!

[Forbin]

More precisely, she told a simulation of Geordi to go kill himself (which of course has no lasting emotional or philosophical effect on reality) after someone had made it clear to her that it was the only way she was going to pass the test (basically gave her the answers).

[Gary7]

I watched this episode last night and enjoyed it more than I remembered.

Mojochi wrote:

---

Troi makes mention of taking a bridge shift in the very episode where she gets promoted, and becomes a command bridge officer, "Thine Own Self". She also mentions in that episode that her desire to be a command officer began after the event in "Disaster".

It's a great call back to this episode. Sirtis did a fine job of balancing Troi's uncomfortable feelings with suddenly being thrust into the position of command and being pretty much unprepared for it. You can see her self realization so clearly. And she makes the intelligent choice of drawing upon advice from Ro and O'Brien before making a decision, rather than giving up command to someone else (taking more of an impartial position, to balance the two opposing viewpoints). Even still, you can see how she struggles with their suggestions as they're both compelling and yet quite different. Troi is uncomfortable with this and almost ashamed at how despite being a lieutenant commander, her bridge training is sorely inadequate.

She gets very lucky, though. With the containment field nearing collapse, it would have made sense to separate the saucer section. Better for some people to survive than everybody perishing. She had no idea that Riker and Data were on it. Had Data not hooked up to the system and adjusted the containment controls in time, there would have been a warp core breach.

What I'd have liked to see is that Troi realizes that containment control is not getting anywhere and that Ro's advice is the right choice. They try to initiate the saucer separation, but then O'Brien discovers that some of the circuitry involved with this is damaged. They can't separate. So, it was a losing proposition to begin with. But Data saves the day.

Mojochi wrote:

---

I really like "Disaster". It's good because it manages to pull several characters out of their comfort zone, the bridge crew, Picard & the kids, Worf & Keiko. I think that's why the Riker/Data & Geordi/Beverly stories didn't engage as well, not enough challenge, comparatively

But c'mon how could you possibly have them all be equally engaging? It's amazing that they were even able to fashion an episode that featured the entire cast so evenly, and tied it all together so well

It's one of their best ensemble episodes.

Well said.

[Noname Given]

My problem with [b]Disastyer was all the 'really' moments needed to make the plots they outlined work:

- There's actually NO ONE in main engineering when the quantum fillament hit (and remember - there were two that hit and about two minutes before the second one that really messed stuff up - but in those two minutes, not ONE enginner was in or near main engineering, or heading back there? )

- The Bridge engineering station can access certain engineering and power systems - just not the warp core system - yet can send power to engineering monitors. Yes, maybe you can have damage that speific, but still, imo, it came across as somewhat contrived.

- No one on the Bridge is concened with trying to even determine the wearabouts of Captain Picard knoing he's probably still in a Turbolift car.

- As to the Turbolift Car - wow - one of five clamps damaged and the car won't hold position. (And why is they maintain full artificial gravity in a turbolift shaft on a ship floating in space to begin with?

- Lastly (and yes probably a budgetary consideration) but, after everything and all the damage said to have occurred across the ship (to the point where everyone on the Bridge believed everyone on the Stardrive section was dead, etc; the ship is heading back for repairs under it's own power? With what happened top their Warp Core, etc; you'd think they'd end up being towed in for repairs.

[Alrik]

Sure it has it's flaws, but I have always liked Disaster. As pointed out up thread, all of the stories come together nicely. It was on last night, and I enjoyed seeing it again.

[TroiFan4ever]

Pauln6 wrote:

---

It's fun episode, but then any episode with Ro is fun plus we get Picard stuck with children. Is it just me or does Troi's approach to command bear scary parallels with NuKirk? She undertakes a high risk strategy against the evidence and common sense and succeeds through sheer luck with seconds to spare. Would you make Troi a captain?

LOL I just did! Here you go!:

Forbin wrote:

---

Decent episode, but it, like many, suffered from the "We only have 5 minutes left, let's resolve the plot during the last commercial!" syndrome.

It felt like "Genesis" was a sufferer of that. That being a reason why I didn't like it as much as I do now. But I understand it better and now I see that Data was spreadying the stuff DURING the last commercial break, causing everybody to revert back to their proper forms.

Forbin wrote:

---

More precisely, she told a simulation of Geordi to go kill himself (which of course has no lasting emotional or philosophical effect on reality) after someone had made it clear to her that it was the only way she was going to pass the test (basically gave her the answers).

Right. The real Geordi was never in this episode.

[QUOTE=Gary7;5070036]I watched this episode last night and enjoyed it more than I remembered.

I did too when I watched it on YouTube the other day.

But I just love how she overcame that. And so did Troi, and that's why she wanted and did get her promotion to a full-fledged Commander in "Thine own Self"... now if only Troi's storyline dominated that episode instead of Data's.
It still bugs me because first of all, Data was already given his own whole episode to himself in "Masks" and Data's storyline was kind of boring in "Thine own Self" anyhow.

She gets very lucky, though. With the containment field nearing collapse, it would have made sense to separate the saucer section. Better for some people to survive than everybody perishing. She had no idea that Riker and Data were on it. Had Data not hooked up to the system and adjusted the containment controls in time, there would have been a warp core breach.

Given her Betazoid powers, I highly doubt that she was unaware of Data and Riker being were in the drive section of the ship.

What I'd have liked to see is that Troi realizes that containment control is not getting anywhere and that Ro's advice is the right choice. They try to initiate the saucer separation, but then O'Brien discovers that some of the circuitry involved with this is damaged. They can't separate. So, it was a losing proposition to begin with. But Data saves the day.

Yeah, Troi was too busy having that "Oh, I'm in charge and whatever I say goes whether you agree or not!" attitude. I don't blame Ro for her attitude in trying to tell Troi that but they both need their foots shoved up their rears! Ro's because she needs to learn how to respect authority, and Troi's because Ro was trying to tell her the best way out of the problem but just wouldn't listen!

Mojochi wrote:

---

I really like "Disaster". It's good because it manages to pull several characters out of their comfort zone, the bridge crew, Picard & the kids, Worf & Keiko. I think that's why the Riker/Data & Geordi/Beverly stories didn't engage as well, not enough challenge, comparatively

I liked the Beverly and Geordi storyline with the two of them being trapped in the cargobay. I wonder though...
Did either of them have phasers? If so, they could've blasted the door open!

If only there was a shuttlecraft. When the green fire was released, they could've taken cover in there if only there was one.

But c'mon how could you possibly have them all be equally engaging? It's amazing that they were even able to fashion an episode that featured the entire cast so evenly, and tied it all together so well

Some times, you just need the right writers...

I second that.

Noname Given wrote:

---

My problem with [b]Disaster was all the 'really' moments needed to make the plots they outlined work:

Well said. Same here!

- There's actually NO ONE in main engineering when the quantum fillament hit (and remember - there were two that hit and about two minutes before the second one that really messed stuff up - but in those two minutes, not ONE enginner was in or near main engineering, or heading back there? )

Uh huh! And had Main Engineering not been abandoned...
That probably would NEVER had happened or the situation would've been under control when the quantum fillament DID hit.

- The Bridge engineering station can access certain engineering and power systems - just not the warp core system - yet can send power to engineering monitors. Yes, maybe you can have damage that speific, but still, imo, it came across as somewhat contrived.

Ro was more concerned with *something* I forget what being overheaded. If it did overheat, the Enterprise would blow up so she transfered the power to the aft engineering station to give herself the ability to prevent that from occuring.

- No one on the Bridge is concened with trying to even determine the wearabouts of Captain Picard knoing he's probably still in a Turbolift car.

Perhaps you missed Troi, after the opener, trying to contact Picard (or was she trying to contact other crew?) and several others but to no avail for unknown reasons why the quantum... whatever would effect communications. Ro and O'brien knew it wasn't any use so they didn't bother.

- As to the Turbolift Car - wow - one of five clamps damaged and the car won't hold position. (And why is they maintain full artificial gravity in a turbolift shaft on a ship floating in space to begin with?

I think you just answered your own question. The turbolift car must be so fragile that if one clamp is broke, then it is at risk of falling. It is probable for some elevators in buildings to have the same problem.

- Lastly (and yes probably a budgetary consideration) but, after everything and all the damage said to have occurred across the ship (to the point where everyone on the Bridge believed everyone on the Stardrive section was dead, etc; the ship is heading back for repairs under it's own power? With what happened top their Warp Core, etc; you'd think they'd end up being towed in for repairs.

They were all probably lucky that the Warp Core was one of the only things operational during that... well, disaster!

Alrik wrote:

---

Sure it has it's flaws, but I have always liked Disaster. As pointed out up thread, all of the stories come together nicely. It was on last night, and I enjoyed seeing it again.

Yeah, I tried to watch it when it was on last night. I stayed up until it came on. I could only keep the volume but so high for an obvious reason. I tried to watch it but I turned off the TV during the second commercial break because I wanted to go to bed and I had already seen it.