I fucking LOVE this season. There…I said it. Even as a “TOS first” kind of guy….this is just really good stuff. It’s currently the most consistently good season of Star Trek ever. Even the much-applauded SNW had stinkers like “Serene Squall” and forgettable blandness like “Lift Us Up” but so far PIC has been very good-to-excellent week after week, at least by my tastes.
Let’s start with the performances. Geordi’s moment with Datalore was brilliant by LeVar Burton. Welcome back to acting, friend. Crusher and Picard’s scenes were well performed and poignant. Jack Crusher’s stuff by Speleers has improved dramatically since episode 2. Even Vadic, who was infuriatingly over-the-top earlier was brilliant in this episode.
Was this as purely awesome as “Imposters?” No. Was it as tense and poignant as “No Win Scenario?” Close, but no. Was it as nostalgic and fun as “The Bounty?” No. But, it was well-balanced, well-paced and massively entertaining, again considering that this is primarily a bottle episode.
Tuvok!
Love it. 9/10…given freely without shame.