Well, I promised myself that I would try to get caught up to you guys during this thanksgiving holiday and I did something I would probably only do with DS9 and the Occupation Arc: watch 6 episodes in one sitting. I don’t think I’ve been that devoted to Trek in a long time, but I digress.
Contagion
I love this episode and always have. We see Picard’s first hobby appear for the first time, and that is one of the best hooks in Trek teaser lore. Seeing the Yomato blown up like that was really cool, yet somehow terrifying. One of TNG’s great strengths is the whole mystery aspect to the show, and it was full of it here. You have the showdown with the Romulans (Better used here than Neutral Zone), Picard, Data, and Worf on the surface discovering the gateway, and just the weirdness of it all. I also loved Geordi in the turbolift.
I think if I have only one minor complaint about this episode, it’s that the solution is a tad bit too obvious (And we were going back to season 1 quality in competency, which isn’t good) upon looking at the entire episode as a whole. With a virus, one of the first things you do is shut down the system, yet it took them so long to come to that. Of course you have to suspend logic for story and the mystery so this was only minor but it is one thing I scratch my head about lately whenever I see this show. Still, it’s one of my favorites from the season.
The Royale
Many people don’t like this episode, but I thought it was hella cool. I mean it’s an interesting concept to be trapped in a bad novel and at the time it was pretty unique. However, what saves this episode for me is the end when Riker, Data and Worf turn into the foreign investors. I love Riker’s reactions to everything, and Data with the dice was great. Also, the blues score really helped the scene immensely.
Time Squared
This episode is weird and I mean that in a good way. It was interesting seeing Picard, who usually takes a more diplomatic, logical explaination to everything, feel so useless with his double lying right there in front of him. Also, the stuff between Pulaski and Troi was great too. However, I didn’t really like the fact that future Picard was stuck in one loop. I mean if his body clock matches up with the event, than wouldn’t that give him the ability to make decisions and maybe even take a different choice. Also, there was talk about the other Picard’s reactions to our Picard and I wish I saw this episode sooner because it was an interesting debate. It would have been much better if both picards had there own mechanisms in tacked. It would have made a much better ending IMO.
The Icarus Factor
I guess this episode is a guilty pleasure for me, since most others don’t like it too much. I love this episode even though the stuff between Kyle and Will was clichéd. It was just fun seeing them fight, and then seeing Worf go through the anniversary was the highlight of the episode. Loved Worf’s “Be Gone” scene in Ten Forward.
Pen Pals
I think this episode gets better with age. Yes Sarjinka is still ugly looking and I’ve seen photos of Nikki Cox to ask the question what have the Trek writers done to her, but I enjoyed what this episode was about. It was about the Prime Directive and how far do we go until we start playing gods. The philosophical debate, as only TNG could do it, was great again. As for the B-plot with Wesley, I could take it or leave it. I appreciate the fact that Wes was really starting to just be a teenager and not all smart and everything like he was in Season 1. Maybe that is why I like him. As for Picard and Mr. Ed, that was a cute horse. Patrick Stewart really does wear it well.
Q Who?
What can I say about Q Who that hasn’t already been said. There’s been so much episodes about the Borg in Trek lore, yet the early ones like this one and Best of Both Worlds make the Borg scary while the other ones make them lose a bit of luster. This was just an awesome episode, and my second favorite in the season in between Measure of a Man and Contagion that I’ve seen in this Journey thread.
I hope to watch more Tonight (Post thanksgiving) and still plan on starting Season 3 this weekend. Wait for me.
