All you have to do is search for a phrase or key words.
Other than upswept eyebrows, no. They never had forehead appliances.
I had no idea that site even existed. Thank you, that will help next time I'm stumped.
The Royale
The Enterprise reaches a planet with a toxic atmosphere and beams up a piece of an old American space craft. Then they discover a building is on the surface in a pocket of breathable atmosphere. Riker, Worf and Data beam down and see a single revolving door. They walk through it and wind up in a recreation of an old Earth hotel...The Royale. Hijinks ensue.
I hated this episode first run so I dreaded my rewatch of it. Well, like a number of episodes I've revisited, it's not bad. It's not good, but it's a fun diversion. It's funny. It has a sad core story about the remaining stranded astronaut and everyone seems to be having a good time.
Pulaski has one scene that's less than a minute, sitting by herself in the conference room on a conference call. Why bother? Did they have a minimum number of episodes they were required to use her in?
Deanna was a little grating. "Commander Riker feels trapped!" Jesus lady.
Good to see O'Brien at the transporter controls.
I felt bad for "Texas" at the end. He lost everything and took it personally, but not angrily. He was like "damn Data, why'd you let me lose it all like that?" Probably the most emotional point of the episode.
Then there's the relatively pointless chat about Fermat's Last Theorem. The unproven equation left behind by Pierre de Fermat. In 1988 it was still unproven. About 5 years later - oops. Andrew Wiles got it done. I guess Jean-Luc missed that in his Wiki search. It still adds little to the episode, much like a number of non-sequitur 2nd season bits.
An okay low stakes episode. Not as bad as I initially thought but not one I'd rush to revisit before my eventual passing.
2/5
The Enterprise reaches a planet with a toxic atmosphere and beams up a piece of an old American space craft. Then they discover a building is on the surface in a pocket of breathable atmosphere. Riker, Worf and Data beam down and see a single revolving door. They walk through it and wind up in a recreation of an old Earth hotel...The Royale. Hijinks ensue.
I hated this episode first run so I dreaded my rewatch of it. Well, like a number of episodes I've revisited, it's not bad. It's not good, but it's a fun diversion. It's funny. It has a sad core story about the remaining stranded astronaut and everyone seems to be having a good time.
Pulaski has one scene that's less than a minute, sitting by herself in the conference room on a conference call. Why bother? Did they have a minimum number of episodes they were required to use her in?
Deanna was a little grating. "Commander Riker feels trapped!" Jesus lady.
Good to see O'Brien at the transporter controls.
I felt bad for "Texas" at the end. He lost everything and took it personally, but not angrily. He was like "damn Data, why'd you let me lose it all like that?" Probably the most emotional point of the episode.
Then there's the relatively pointless chat about Fermat's Last Theorem. The unproven equation left behind by Pierre de Fermat. In 1988 it was still unproven. About 5 years later - oops. Andrew Wiles got it done. I guess Jean-Luc missed that in his Wiki search. It still adds little to the episode, much like a number of non-sequitur 2nd season bits.
An okay low stakes episode. Not as bad as I initially thought but not one I'd rush to revisit before my eventual passing.
2/5
The Royale was whacky fun unless you were Col Ritchie. There are other books I'd rather be trapped in than that one. I enjoyed Data's antics at the dice table.
The pseudodrama with the bellboy was trite and meaningless, but it was supposed to be trite and meaningless.
I have enough trouble finding e-books from 20 years ago, no idea how Picard googled a 300 yr old one.
The pseudodrama with the bellboy was trite and meaningless, but it was supposed to be trite and meaningless.
I have enough trouble finding e-books from 20 years ago, no idea how Picard googled a 300 yr old one.
I started my own rewatch today - partly inspired by this thread. The stunt doubles for Tasha and Data in Encounter at Farpoint are hilarious. Picard's general awkwardness is also very funny. It was a lot of fun. I grew up with TNG and it felt like going back in time. I really liked seeing Tasha again. I absolutely love this show and need it back in my life.
Time Squared
Let's kick this off with...I will never ask Will Riker to make me breakfast. Not because he chose the shittiest tasting eggs in the galaxy (he's never had them?), but because he has zero idea how to cook them. Christ, this scene made me cringe. First, he apparently promised omelets, since Pulaski brings ale as a perfect companion drink because "your omelets deserve no less."
A breakfast ale? Okay I guess people have mimosas but still...
Well, he obviously f'ks up the omelets because be immediately transitions to making scrambled eggs.
And proceeds to burn them. The guy has a non-stick pan and all I see is an over-heated skillet with stuck eggs in the center.
You're gonna need to let that pan soak a little before you clean it, Will.
Just because he raises and lowers his bowl of egg mix doesn't mean he's a "practiced hand." I've been making eggs since I was a kid and I don't effing do that. And I don't burn the shit out of them either.
He cracks like one egg which becomes food for 6 and then decides to give Data extra before giving Worf (who's hysterical) a smallest amount because he gave out or ruined the rest.
"A cook is only as good as his ingredients" ... and his freaking skill. Lower the flame. Grease the pan. Add things like meat or veggies if you're making an omelette. Christ on a pony, this scene really snarked me off.
Foreshadowing: Pulaski is shocked to hear Riker's dad liked cooking. It's ADR but it's obvious in retrospect that they wanted her to be dumbfounded and not because of Worf's "WOMEN cook!" attitude.
"Riker's dad plooked Pulaski next time on Starrrrr Trek - The NextGen-ration!"
Okay well, yeah there's 42 more minutes left here.
Man, this one had such an amazing premise. And I realize the intention was for this to be a weirdo mystery and the following episode was supposed to be Q Who? and have Q be the one behind it all. The producers were averse to serializing, so they made it standalone and pretty much had a hasty but unconvincing explanation about the anomaly being a life form. Still not sure how Picard got thrown back in time, but okay. It was a dandy puzzle and had wonderful atmosphere but ultimately didn't go anywhere. Which, to be fair, isn't necessarily a minus. If you accept that sometimes weird shit happens in space. I guess if you liked "Where Silence Has Lease" you won't have an issue with this. This one was just executed better. But funny they both had nonsense openings. Riker on the holodeck with Worf vs Riker ruining breakfast. Also with Worf.
Pulaski get s an unnecessary "I can relieve the captain" bit that makes Troi so pissy that she walks out of sickbay minutes after Picard ordered her to stay there.
O'Brien shows up at the very end. Nice for continuity and a paycheck for Colm but no reason why he had to do that bit. Why not Troi?
I hate the shuttle craft design. This is the same year Shatner would give us a splendid update of the classic shuttle and TNG gives us this blocky little toy with no graceful angles. It literally looks like an off the shelf Playmates toy. TNG will never have attractive shuttles.
And did the hanger deck crew really need Data on the intercom giving them directions to activate the alternate tractor beam? You know, that little tiny stand up thing in the middle of the floor? Which is actually kinda stupid. This should be automated. The outside beam brings it in and another beam, mounted in the ceiling, automatically takes over. Now......if they didn't insist on having people stationed in the hanger bay when ships were docking, they could have depressurized and turned the gravity down and let inertia take care of it and then gradually turn up the gravity until the shuttle gently touched down, but okay. And I'd hate that duty. What if the force field glitches? See ya Ensign Ricky!
This one feels like a wasted premise, but I like the randomness of space in this. It was a great mystery and the cast, as always, is in top form. The Picard double scenes were pretty flawless. The Space is Dangerous motif really sells it. And frankly, I appreciate not getting an answer this time around. Space is disease and danger, wrapped in darkness and silence. As well as mystery.
Not great, but a good weirdo 43 minutes after the Tragedy of Riker's Eggs.
3.5/5
Let's kick this off with...I will never ask Will Riker to make me breakfast. Not because he chose the shittiest tasting eggs in the galaxy (he's never had them?), but because he has zero idea how to cook them. Christ, this scene made me cringe. First, he apparently promised omelets, since Pulaski brings ale as a perfect companion drink because "your omelets deserve no less."
A breakfast ale? Okay I guess people have mimosas but still...
Well, he obviously f'ks up the omelets because be immediately transitions to making scrambled eggs.
And proceeds to burn them. The guy has a non-stick pan and all I see is an over-heated skillet with stuck eggs in the center.
You're gonna need to let that pan soak a little before you clean it, Will.
Just because he raises and lowers his bowl of egg mix doesn't mean he's a "practiced hand." I've been making eggs since I was a kid and I don't effing do that. And I don't burn the shit out of them either.
He cracks like one egg which becomes food for 6 and then decides to give Data extra before giving Worf (who's hysterical) a smallest amount because he gave out or ruined the rest.
"A cook is only as good as his ingredients" ... and his freaking skill. Lower the flame. Grease the pan. Add things like meat or veggies if you're making an omelette. Christ on a pony, this scene really snarked me off.
Foreshadowing: Pulaski is shocked to hear Riker's dad liked cooking. It's ADR but it's obvious in retrospect that they wanted her to be dumbfounded and not because of Worf's "WOMEN cook!" attitude.
"Riker's dad plooked Pulaski next time on Starrrrr Trek - The NextGen-ration!"
Okay well, yeah there's 42 more minutes left here.
Man, this one had such an amazing premise. And I realize the intention was for this to be a weirdo mystery and the following episode was supposed to be Q Who? and have Q be the one behind it all. The producers were averse to serializing, so they made it standalone and pretty much had a hasty but unconvincing explanation about the anomaly being a life form. Still not sure how Picard got thrown back in time, but okay. It was a dandy puzzle and had wonderful atmosphere but ultimately didn't go anywhere. Which, to be fair, isn't necessarily a minus. If you accept that sometimes weird shit happens in space. I guess if you liked "Where Silence Has Lease" you won't have an issue with this. This one was just executed better. But funny they both had nonsense openings. Riker on the holodeck with Worf vs Riker ruining breakfast. Also with Worf.
Pulaski get s an unnecessary "I can relieve the captain" bit that makes Troi so pissy that she walks out of sickbay minutes after Picard ordered her to stay there.
O'Brien shows up at the very end. Nice for continuity and a paycheck for Colm but no reason why he had to do that bit. Why not Troi?
I hate the shuttle craft design. This is the same year Shatner would give us a splendid update of the classic shuttle and TNG gives us this blocky little toy with no graceful angles. It literally looks like an off the shelf Playmates toy. TNG will never have attractive shuttles.
And did the hanger deck crew really need Data on the intercom giving them directions to activate the alternate tractor beam? You know, that little tiny stand up thing in the middle of the floor? Which is actually kinda stupid. This should be automated. The outside beam brings it in and another beam, mounted in the ceiling, automatically takes over. Now......if they didn't insist on having people stationed in the hanger bay when ships were docking, they could have depressurized and turned the gravity down and let inertia take care of it and then gradually turn up the gravity until the shuttle gently touched down, but okay. And I'd hate that duty. What if the force field glitches? See ya Ensign Ricky!
This one feels like a wasted premise, but I like the randomness of space in this. It was a great mystery and the cast, as always, is in top form. The Picard double scenes were pretty flawless. The Space is Dangerous motif really sells it. And frankly, I appreciate not getting an answer this time around. Space is disease and danger, wrapped in darkness and silence. As well as mystery.
Not great, but a good weirdo 43 minutes after the Tragedy of Riker's Eggs.
3.5/5
that Pulaski brings beer to breakfast is my favorite part of that scene
All I remember about this EP is the cooking of the eggs and my realization that Riker can't cook, which bodes poorly for the crew of NX-01.
"Chef's the best in Starfleet". -- Travis Mayweather
If that's the best, stick with the replicator.
"Chef's the best in Starfleet". -- Travis Mayweather
If that's the best, stick with the replicator.
Time Squared
Let's kick this off with...I will never ask Will Riker to make me breakfast. Not because he chose the shittiest tasting eggs in the galaxy (he's never had them?), but because he has zero idea how to cook them. Christ, this scene made me cringe. First, he apparently promised omelets, since Pulaski brings ale as a perfect companion drink because "your omelets deserve no less."
A breakfast ale? Okay I guess people have mimosas but still...
Well, he obviously f'ks up the omelets because be immediately transitions to making scrambled eggs.
And proceeds to burn them. The guy has a non-stick pan and all I see is an over-heated skillet with stuck eggs in the center.
You're gonna need to let that pan soak a little before you clean it, Will.
Just because he raises and lowers his bowl of egg mix doesn't mean he's a "practiced hand." I've been making eggs since I was a kid and I don't effing do that. And I don't burn the shit out of them either.
He cracks like one egg which becomes food for 6 and then decides to give Data extra before giving Worf (who's hysterical) a smallest amount because he gave out or ruined the rest.
"A cook is only as good as his ingredients" ... and his freaking skill. Lower the flame. Grease the pan. Add things like meat or veggies if you're making an omelette. Christ on a pony, this scene really snarked me off.
Foreshadowing: Pulaski is shocked to hear Riker's dad liked cooking. It's ADR but it's obvious in retrospect that they wanted her to be dumbfounded and not because of Worf's "WOMEN cook!" attitude.
"Riker's dad plooked Pulaski next time on Starrrrr Trek - The NextGen-ration!"
Okay well, yeah there's 42 more minutes left here.
LOL!
I sorta like this opening scene, showing the characters when not quite on duty. It also lends itself to Photoshop with some grace
(less) jokes.
Also, the 24th century got away from things like friendship. Don't blame me, they say it on screen:
PULASKI: For much of the history of mankind, the breaking of bread was a symbol of friendship and community. Something we have gotten away from in the twenty-fourth century.
Well, they stopped breaking bread if nothing else. Based on the spandex and how it can retain perspiration and smells, I hope they did away with breaking wind too!
^^this
I've not researched, but had it been a direct continuation, it would spell it outright that Troi can only sense Q when Q wants her to sense him, rendering him that much more... dangerous, for lack of word given Q's complexity. As it stands, the episode remains open-ended and with no answers - which, IMHO, elevates it as we're left to guess. I sorta like the fact that there are other unknowns in space, open-ended for the future should anyone need a hook to follow up with should ideas start to dry up. But we never got that, plus - back in the day - seasons 1 and 2 generally had been treated by fans if they had cooties and lots of other icky diseases (even if season 4-onward built on some of these things that the early seasons created as one-off ideas.) As with the neon pink crawdads from "Conspiracy", the magical mystery space tornado is another. Maybe it was one of Janeway's new enemies in the Delta quadrant or another Caretaker for all anyone's going to really care, especially as that's risking diving into small universe syndrome territory instead of going anywhere new or taking its own path instead.
And T² was executed better, even if WSHL has more atmosphere permeating, T² is stronger overall, especially with the moralplay that Picard is puffing his cranial veins over.
An atypical sense of adherence to duty, only O'Brien can touch the console or else the one attempting to do so gets cooties, I've no idea... it hurts even more since Guinan ends up doing most of the things Troi would or could do anyhow. That said, Guinan's mysterious background allows TNG's universe to expand just a little bit more as a result...
Merchandising! At least we got a Playmates model of that - which IMHO looks better like the misshapen lumps of bread dough rolls seen in season one - and that cannot be said for the Spaceballs brand Flamethrower I'd been jonesing for ever since 1987, but I digress; hate to say it but season 5 or so perfected a combination of "super-curvy swimsuit issue design" with "80s angles gone wild". Which reminds of a supertangent, how come "Timescape" on blu-ray never got the shadow detail re-applied for the smileyface? Oh well!
Why did Spock feel a need to use the intercom to ask Kirk to allow him to turn off the tractor beam in "Tomorrow is Yesterday", you'd think Kirk wouldn't need to have every last bit of minutiae reported as there is sufficient common-sense autonomy to turn the damn thing off now that the little airplane disintegrated, unless Kirk liked to keep it running or something. But I digress again.
LOL. too true. Gotta love those "smart forcefields" where they'll let anything of a certain mass pass, but not anything else. Yes, it looks cool, but don't stop and think too much into any details. Then again, it's sci-fi, we're supposed to play "Magical Tetris" to figure out how it all gets put together. Or so I'd like to think but I'm thinking too much into things...
I also had to headcanon that the ship's exterior has retractable turrets - otherwise the exterior beam facing straight down wouldn't be possible at all. Not that we needed an exterior POV shot, but you know someone in the audience would have had to (a) wonder where it came from, then hopefully (b) fathoming how it'd work as a result.
LOL
4/5 for me. It's a fresh premise, one that "Cause and Effect" almost one-ups (more on that down the road), and has a great moral quandary for our dear captain of, indeed, a unique and very personal kind.
I've a soft spot for this one. It's attempting to do the "fish out of water" trope, a la Star Trek IV. Not as successfully, but part of me likes how they're playing it straight. (Thank Hurley for that, Torme had his name removed because of the rewrites and removal of the comedic bent. Then again, the original draft is surely out there and to get a feel of how Torme was trying to do "Fish Out of Water - The Next Generation" might have been really good. Especially as it's not taking the easy route that TVH had.)
The reveal of the astronaut's fate is pretty strong. What precedes it is a mixed bag, I'll admit, if not too slowly paced. Great opening and mystery leading to the landing party going down...
^^this
The scene feels too much like an aside for no reason and then Riker is quick to state what they will do if they're stuck there for months, despite Pulaski's certainty - and I don't disbelieve her abilities... her scene does feel shoehorned in.
On the plus side, she gets this gem later on:
TROI: I don't believe this dialogue. Did humans really talk like that?
Best triple entendre ever as the line reflects (a) the cheesy novel on a dark and stormy night, (b) how 20th century people are known to talk, and (c) an interesting attempt to present a window to the past in a serious way. Troi would work just as well living today and having to read an original Shakespeare cursive manuscript, for the same reason - the gulf of centuries and the change in verbal communication structure.
Like a piece of stone you water chia seeds on, it all grows on you over time. Ditto for earlobe hair except that isn't as pretty.
Texas is almost a form of holodeck character, pre-Minuet.
It was a lovely thought at the time.
Up next, Pi reaches a final digit, rendering x number of TOS and TNG episodes inaccurate as a result. Drat.
Definitely is filler. Even with the season truncated to 22 episodes, there's room to get one or two fillers in. It's better than the Okona one and by some measure, I've rewatched it a few times, it has some interesting ideas, but even as a fan of Tracy Torme's work, this eppy is not a go-to favorite. 2.5~3 for me.
Looks on Etsy for a Colm Meany chia pet
same with Far Point, doesn't a snowball go flying out of the holodeck and hit Picard's uniform?
I can't agree with the rating for The Royale - I love that episode! Time Squared is fantastic too. Man, I love season 2....my favourite. While the overall consistent quality improved in later years, the show took less risks and found a comfortable groove where it stayed. Season 2 has all sorts of weird stuff going on, notably the whole "space can be bizarre, unknown and dangerous, and sometimes weird things happen that we can't explain" vibe (Time Squared being a great example)
Season 1 has a lot of this as well.
Totally fair and that's awesome. These are just my impressions and my preferences.
I agree, the first two and three years really did swing for the fences in ways that the final four didn't. Experimentation was all over the place. This one sits where it sits this time around, but give me a little grace.
I did enjoy it more now than I did in '89.Yes and once we're pas the first third, I felt the initial season really did start to find it's voice.
"Will Riker's dad comes aboard for cliche family soap opera and Worf is cranky about puberty on tonight's Starrrrrr Trek the Next Gen-ration!"
The Icarus Factor
Okay let's chew this one up and spit it out. Riker is offered his own command, which is a nice natural progression. Maybe a bit quick for the series, but it's the second time in his career so why not? He's a good officer.
His dad, Kyle, comes onboard to give him a briefing, but he's really there to clear the air. Riker wants none of it. They've been estranged for 15 years. I guess Enterprise first officers just can't get along with their dad's.
Plot twist: Pulaski and Kyle have romantic history! What a coinkydink!
Meanwhile Geordi is snarked about a Starfleet inspection checking out a glitch somewhere. Data suggests a solution but let's let the humans fumble with it because we needed this GNDN plot. Really, it barely registers and just fills airtime. Because in the end "Data was right." Shocking that.
Most interestingly, Worf is cranky. First to Wes (no surprise) and then Data. Turns out this is Worf's anniversary of his day of ascension and has no Klingon pals to celebrate with.
Journey to Babel and Amok Time in one!
Anywho...
Wesley (the BOY!) figures it out and organizes a party (great touch - Data obviously knows what it is and is testing Wes when the kid comes back with the answer). Wes, Data, Geordi, Pulaski and O'Brien join. Deanna once again shows she's a shitty friend and leaves Worf at the door of the holodeck because she can't hide her disgust. First she laughs at Data's beard and now this. No wonder Pulaksi is her only friend this season.
Oddly, Riker and Picard seem to know absolutely nothing about this.
Worf undergoes the pain ceremony and is grateful to his friends. He should be thanking Wes for being a nosy git. I kid, Wes was concerned and he's a solid friend here. I like him this week.
We'll see more of Pulaski bonding with Worf later, so this is a nice start.
Oddly, that was the best of the three plots and isn't even the main thrust.
We get to Riker vs Riker which is seen as bitchy short spats with little explanation (which is totally Will's fault). Kyle does have a great line:
RIKER: I've been on my own since I was fifteen. I can take care of myself.
KYLE: Please, spare me the pain of your childhood. I hung in for thirteen years. If that wasn't enough, it's just too bad.
Damn that's cold. Was Will that hard to deal with? I mean, the math isn't mathing but whatever.
So, how do they settle it? With an out of nowhere Ambo-Jitsu match.
What the actual frak?
There was no mention of this being a part of their history. Nothing about always competing in sports, just one oblique reference to Kyle not letting Will catch a stupid fish. Maybe if they omitted the whole Geordi's Engine Issue story, they'd have had more time for the Fighting Rikers. I feel like they wanted an action beat. Not necessary with a well written script.
And the whole thing is resolved super quick. 15 years of anger cured by a 2 minute speech by Kyle explaining why he couldn't talk to Will when Will's mom died.
15 years? Not even a freaking subspace recorded message? And the fight was hugely cheesy. "Hey you cheated!" "Now we can talk!"
Finally, Picard is ready to warp out of orbit telling everyone Will accepted command of the Ares and they can go. But - SURPRISE! - Will walks on the bridge and says "just kidding!"
Picard looks foolish here. He didn't know until JUST THEN that Riker turned it down? Okay...
I appreciate the focus on character, I love these guys. I've said it before. Got some great background on Pulaski and her three marriages (all ended amicably). But this is just melodrama and not that interesting. I mean, it's a nice expansion on what Riker said when he was destroying the eggs last week. And a good follow up to Pulaski's dumbfounded question about his dad enjoying cooking. But since his dad left when Riker was like 15, how much of it did he get from him?
Best line of the week goes to O'Brien when Pulaski and Kyle greet each other with a kiss:
RIKER: They know each other.
O'BRIEN: No kidding. I know her too, but we don't do that.
That's how we do humor. Colm is a treasure.
Then there's this oddity:
PICARD: That is an understatement, Number One. The last time I saw Commander Flaherty, he spoke forty languages. As I recall, among the more exotic were Romulan, Klingon, Giamon, Stroyerian.
RIKER: He speaks forty languages?
PICARD: He has this unique ability of instantaneously interpreting and extrapolating any verbal communication that he hears.
Jeez, they need to send this guy everywhere to program the UT. He can figure out new tongues just by hearing them. Does he have a Babel Fish in his ear? And at this point, is Klingon that exotic?
2.5 / 5 - 2.5 for the Worf story. The rest....meh.
The Icarus Factor
Okay let's chew this one up and spit it out. Riker is offered his own command, which is a nice natural progression. Maybe a bit quick for the series, but it's the second time in his career so why not? He's a good officer.
His dad, Kyle, comes onboard to give him a briefing, but he's really there to clear the air. Riker wants none of it. They've been estranged for 15 years. I guess Enterprise first officers just can't get along with their dad's.
Plot twist: Pulaski and Kyle have romantic history! What a coinkydink!
Meanwhile Geordi is snarked about a Starfleet inspection checking out a glitch somewhere. Data suggests a solution but let's let the humans fumble with it because we needed this GNDN plot. Really, it barely registers and just fills airtime. Because in the end "Data was right." Shocking that.
Most interestingly, Worf is cranky. First to Wes (no surprise) and then Data. Turns out this is Worf's anniversary of his day of ascension and has no Klingon pals to celebrate with.
Journey to Babel and Amok Time in one!
Anywho...
Wesley (the BOY!) figures it out and organizes a party (great touch - Data obviously knows what it is and is testing Wes when the kid comes back with the answer). Wes, Data, Geordi, Pulaski and O'Brien join. Deanna once again shows she's a shitty friend and leaves Worf at the door of the holodeck because she can't hide her disgust. First she laughs at Data's beard and now this. No wonder Pulaksi is her only friend this season.
Oddly, Riker and Picard seem to know absolutely nothing about this.
Worf undergoes the pain ceremony and is grateful to his friends. He should be thanking Wes for being a nosy git. I kid, Wes was concerned and he's a solid friend here. I like him this week.
We'll see more of Pulaski bonding with Worf later, so this is a nice start.
Oddly, that was the best of the three plots and isn't even the main thrust.
We get to Riker vs Riker which is seen as bitchy short spats with little explanation (which is totally Will's fault). Kyle does have a great line:
RIKER: I've been on my own since I was fifteen. I can take care of myself.
KYLE: Please, spare me the pain of your childhood. I hung in for thirteen years. If that wasn't enough, it's just too bad.
Damn that's cold. Was Will that hard to deal with? I mean, the math isn't mathing but whatever.
So, how do they settle it? With an out of nowhere Ambo-Jitsu match.
What the actual frak?
There was no mention of this being a part of their history. Nothing about always competing in sports, just one oblique reference to Kyle not letting Will catch a stupid fish. Maybe if they omitted the whole Geordi's Engine Issue story, they'd have had more time for the Fighting Rikers. I feel like they wanted an action beat. Not necessary with a well written script.
And the whole thing is resolved super quick. 15 years of anger cured by a 2 minute speech by Kyle explaining why he couldn't talk to Will when Will's mom died.
15 years? Not even a freaking subspace recorded message? And the fight was hugely cheesy. "Hey you cheated!" "Now we can talk!"
Finally, Picard is ready to warp out of orbit telling everyone Will accepted command of the Ares and they can go. But - SURPRISE! - Will walks on the bridge and says "just kidding!"
Picard looks foolish here. He didn't know until JUST THEN that Riker turned it down? Okay...
I appreciate the focus on character, I love these guys. I've said it before. Got some great background on Pulaski and her three marriages (all ended amicably). But this is just melodrama and not that interesting. I mean, it's a nice expansion on what Riker said when he was destroying the eggs last week. And a good follow up to Pulaski's dumbfounded question about his dad enjoying cooking. But since his dad left when Riker was like 15, how much of it did he get from him?
Best line of the week goes to O'Brien when Pulaski and Kyle greet each other with a kiss:
RIKER: They know each other.
O'BRIEN: No kidding. I know her too, but we don't do that.
That's how we do humor. Colm is a treasure.
Then there's this oddity:
PICARD: That is an understatement, Number One. The last time I saw Commander Flaherty, he spoke forty languages. As I recall, among the more exotic were Romulan, Klingon, Giamon, Stroyerian.
RIKER: He speaks forty languages?
PICARD: He has this unique ability of instantaneously interpreting and extrapolating any verbal communication that he hears.
Jeez, they need to send this guy everywhere to program the UT. He can figure out new tongues just by hearing them. Does he have a Babel Fish in his ear? And at this point, is Klingon that exotic?
2.5 / 5 - 2.5 for the Worf story. The rest....meh.
Yeah, this one's pretty fair. You hit the high points properly. It's a Trek episode where if there's nothing else on. I'd leave it playing but otherwise change the channel. I wasn't feeling particularly attached to it after it ended the first time, and if I'd been asked details about it a year later I'd remember far less than what I just read.
"Tell me about The Icarus Factor."
"Which one was that again?"
(sigh) "The one with Riker's father."
"Oh, yeah, Riker's father. Riker's father, Riker's father...didn't they do judo with padded sticks?"
"Yes, and what else?"
"Was Pulaski in this one?"
"She was."
"Oh, ummm...I know! Riker has a beard."
It's just not that memorable for me. It's not bad. It's not great.
I'll give it a C
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