Aquiel Unari-The girl and the episode

[Joel_Kirk]

'Aquiel' is one of those underrated episodes, I think.

It's interesting there are fans who claim Geordi never had a relationship--granted he never had as many as some of the other characters--but yet he is able to have a little fling with the pretty lieutenant.

At first, I wondered how she was subjected to such a seemingly boring post with another officer she couldn't stand. (It turns out the officer she WAS posted with--Lt. Rocha--was an alien being). On the other hand, before I watched the entire episode, I thought she might have upset a superior officer who hit on her and was rejected.

During the epilogue, it seems like she might be getting a somewhat better posting in the future.

I personally would hate being posted at a relay station in the middle of nowhere. It was already brought out the Klingon Morag would like to harass the station officers; too, if a Borg, Klingon, or Dominion attack occurred, the chances of survival look to be slim....(Unless the Federation has starships posted in that area)...

Interestingly, the episode had some similarities with the film, The Thing....

I liked the episode; and I wouldn't mind seeing Lt.Unari show up in a novel....(Maybe working with Captain Dax aboard the Aventine)...

 

[C.E. Evans]

I don't think it's an issue that Geordi never had any love interests, it was just that they were always doomed in the end or would end with him sitting by himself in Ten-Forward wondering why it didn't work out...

The episode itself isn't exactly high on my list of favorites--well, actually it isn't on my list at all--but I do give it credit for being a Geordi story and for showing a bit of the less glamorous side of Starfleet.

 

[od0_ital]

I liked the episode and the character so much, I used her in one of my (rejected) submissions to for the Strange New Worlds writin' contests, in a story set just after ST: Insurrection to explain why Geordi had to go back to ocular implants before ST: Nemesis.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

She was very attractive, but the episode was a let down for me. It could have been good, but the twist at the end was a bit rubbish.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I liked the episode and the character so much, I used her in one of my (rejected) submissions to for the Strange New Worlds writin' contests, in a story set just after ST: Insurrection to explain why Geordi had to go back to ocular implants before ST: Nemesis.

That sounds interesting....

Would you expand on it and write it as a novel?

 

[The Grim Ghost]

I found her annoying. I also thought she seemed kind of unstable.

I love Geordi, but this episode didn't work for me. And neither did the love interest. Geordi deserves way better.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I found her annoying. I also thought she seemed kind of unstable.

I don't know.

She was on a small relay station; it can get boring and monotonous.

I love Geordi, but this episode didn't work for me. And neither did the love interest. Geordi deserves way better.

We'll see who turns up in the novels for our Chief Engineer...

 

[Michael]

Aquiel is one of those episodes I probably shouldn't like as much as I do, but I just can't help appreciating it for the Geordi story. Geordi is my second favorite TNG character and I'm really a sucker for episodes involving his love life.

Plus, I really liked the whole idea of a far-off relay station only manned by a handful of people. I always thought that would be a great premise for a new Trek series.

 

[od0_ital]

I liked the episode and the character so much, I used her in one of my (rejected) submissions to for the Strange New Worlds writin' contests, in a story set just after ST: Insurrection to explain why Geordi had to go back to ocular implants before ST: Nemesis.

That sounds interesting....

Would you expand on it and write it as a novel?

Unless you're Margaret Clark's replacement, the answer is no.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Aquiel is one of those episodes I probably shouldn't like as much as I do, but I just can't help appreciating it for the Geordi story. Geordi is my second favorite TNG character and I'm really a sucker for episodes involving his love life.

Plus, I really liked the whole idea of a far-off relay station only manned by a handful of people. I always thought that would be a great premise for a new Trek series.

I think the relay station Aquiel was stationed at was only manned by two individuals: Her and Lt. Rocha.

*shiver*

A scary assignment...

I liked the episode and the character so much, I used her in one of my (rejected) submissions to for the Strange New Worlds writin' contests, in a story set just after ST: Insurrection to explain why Geordi had to go back to ocular implants before ST: Nemesis.

That sounds interesting....

Would you expand on it and write it as a novel?

Unless you're Margaret Clark's replacement, the answer is no.

I understand...

 

[USS Avenger]

I remember watching this episode with my wife a few years back and as soon as Aquiel appeared on screen she was started telling me how it was "Lexie". I had no idea what she was talking about until she told me that the actress played Lexie on Days of our Lives which was the soap opera she watched. So the next time it was on she called me into the room and sure enough Aquiel was on screen. So if you want to see more Aquiel watch Days of our Lives. Then again, I would advise against it that show is bloody awful, I ran away after 5 minutes.

 

[Danny99]

The episode is just horrible.

Love stories on Trek are rarely good episodes, just look at ENT's T'Pol/Tucker relationship or VOY's Chakotay/Seven relationship.

They don't give character's more depth; they just make them look like idiots.

And it doesn't surprise me the actress was from soaps; it explains her acting ability.

 

[Bones2]

Love stories on Trek are rarely good episodes, just look at ENT's T'Pol/Tucker relationship or VOY's Chakotay/Seven relationship.

What about Kira/Odo and Tom/B'Elanna? I think it also relies on how good the characters themselves are to begin with.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Love stories on Trek are rarely good episodes, just look at ENT's T'Pol/Tucker relationship or VOY's Chakotay/Seven relationship.

What about Kira/Odo and Tom/B'Elanna? I think it also relies on how good the characters themselves are to begin with.

I want to add 'For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky;' which is a good McCoy episode (even though he wants to drop lovely Natira when he finds out he is cured)....

 

[Pauln6]

I dislike 'aliens of the week', so Unari loses out there. McCoy didn't completely dump Natira. In the TMP novelisation he spent his time off 'studying' the Fabrini and he returns to see Natira in the TMP era novel Deus Ex Machina.

 

[Danny99]

Love stories on Trek are rarely good episodes, just look at ENT's T'Pol/Tucker relationship or VOY's Chakotay/Seven relationship.

What about Kira/Odo and Tom/B'Elanna? I think it also relies on how good the characters themselves are to begin with.

Let me rephrase my point.

The romances that Bones brings up were woven into story arcs and were actually well written.

I know Aquiel was a stand alone, but it was just a horrible written and acted episode, as were the romances I mentioned.

If it's done well, it can be palatable to my tastes.

 

[DarKush]

I liked the character and the actress, Renee Jones, so much that I borrowed Aquiel for my fanfic. If TPTB didn't see any further use for her, I thought I could give her a new lease on life. I thought the episode "Aquiel" could've been better, but I would've liked to see Aquiel stay on the ship perhaps for a while or at least have it intimated that Geordi and her had a relationship. I never cared for the idea of Geordi pining away for Leah Brahms, a married woman. And that thing he had for her hologram was lame.

I think she was a troubled woman, but I don't think that made her toxic. A lot of troubled people are involved in relationships. It made her stand out from the perfect TNG cast in a way similar to Ro and Barclay that left something of an impression. Perhaps helping Aquiel with her demons might've opened up more possibilities to explore Geordi's character more too. I think its a shame that the writers essentially made the man a eunuch.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I liked the character and the actress, Renee Jones, so much that I borrowed Aquiel for my fanfic. If TPTB didn't see any further use for her, I thought I could give her a new lease on life. I thought the episode "Aquiel" could've been better, but I would've liked to see Aquiel stay on the ship perhaps for a while or at least have it intimated that Geordi and her had a relationship. I never cared for the idea of Geordi pining away for Leah Brahms, a married woman. And that thing he had for her hologram was lame.

I think she was a troubled woman, but I don't think that made her toxic. A lot of troubled people are involved in relationships. It made her stand out from the perfect TNG cast in a way similar to Ro and Barclay that left something of an impression. Perhaps helping Aquiel with her demons might've opened up more possibilities to explore Geordi's character more too. I think its a shame that the writers essentially made the man a eunuch.

Geordi is a character I would like to focus on in a novel someday; I do have a character I would like to 'romantically entangle' him with. (There are plot points, but I won't 'break it down' until my current Trek project is done and moves through the submission process accordingly).

 

[DarKush]

JK,

Good luck on that project. I would like to read it. It's high time that Geordi had more spot light and a romantic relationship.

 

[FormerLurker]

Aquiel was TNG's riff on the classic noir thriller "Laura."