Review that episode!

[Paradise City]

This is Wheaton in top form as we visit the Academy with Wesley under a cloud. One of his team had been killed doing some graduation flying thing under very dubious circumstances and there's an inquiry underway. Meanwhile Picard is eager to bat for his boy as he orders his team to do their own digging but much to his dismay, it's wrongdoing he discovers and WC is right in the thick of it.

Lots of good stuff here, everything from the grief of a bereaved father, to Picard chastising Wesley in such a way that their relationship barely survives, to McNeill doing his thing as charismatic team leader. Wesley struggles on multiple fronts. Very easy to do this stuff in a kitsch hackneyed coming-of-age kinda way - but this episode is well executed with strong performances.

Suddenly Human

 

[locutus101]

This is Wheaton in top form as we visit the Academy with Wesley under a cloud. One of his team had been killed doing some graduation flying thing under very dubious circumstances and there's an inquiry underway. Meanwhile Picard is eager to bat for his boy as he orders his team to do their own digging but much to his dismay, it's wrongdoing he discovers and WC is right in the thick of it.

Lots of good stuff here, everything from the grief of a bereaved father, to Picard chastising Wesley in such a way that their relationship barely survives, to McNeill doing his thing as charismatic team leader. Wesley struggles on multiple fronts. Very easy to do this stuff in a kitsch hackneyed coming-of-age kinda way - but this episode is well executed with strong performances.

Suddenly Human

I am sorry but this isn't the plot for Ensign Ro.

 

[Paradise City]

I am sorry but this isn't the plot for Ensign Ro.

Yes, I've had some connection problems here and missed those other posts.

OK then, strong episode despite yet ANOTHER iffy Admiral in the form of Admiral Sniffles. Admiral Sniffles springs the disgraced Ensign Ro from the clink apparently to help our heroes get to the bottom of a bajoran terrorist attack on the Feds. But as usual, all-is-not-as-it-seems! We see the Bajorans for the first time, we see ex-con Ensign Ro for the first time, we get bags of intrigue, high politics and a heavy moral dilemma for Ro to chew on.

Michelle Forbes, as Ro is excellent and she's not afraid to butt heads with our heroes. She's had a tortured history and is defiant under the stigma over some misconduct that killed people back in the day which is what sent her to the slammer in the first place. However she's got streetwise hardwired into her DNA and this is exactly the gal Picard needs to tag for his team. For me, Ro Laren is actually what Wesley Crusher should've been.

Suddenly Human

 

[2takesfrakes]

Jono's - who's nearing young adulthood - has been raised by aliens. Unconscious, with their training ship in ruins, he and his alien comrades are discovered by the Enterprise. Being the only Human amongst them, and reticent to interact with the Enterprise crew, Jono's onboard presence thus begins one misunderstanding after another. Resultantly, our favourite Federation do-gooders feel it incumbent upon themselves to 'rescue' Jono from the aliens he considers kin.

Good Intentions pave the way to hell and that's just what happens, here, in this episode. It's not bad. It's really not a bad show, but it would've been a lot better had Picard, Bev and Troi not been so obtuse, which is necessary in order to have the story, to begin with. It's almost kind of like Tarzan being first discovered by the English, who try to force him back into society.

Where No One Has Gone Before

 

[locutus101]

Some pompous ass who's specialty seems to be making up technobabble that's indigestible EVEN to the people that normally thrive on it. Comes on board and sends Enterprise at the other end of the universe, wherever that is. Turns out it's not actually this nincompoop that did this exploit, it's some big fore-headed fat-handed alien who becomes transparent from time to time, and looks at Wesley like some kind of perv. Turns out he's not interested in Wesley that way but thinks he's a promising candidate for something, whatever that is. After a few delusions affect most of the crew: Picard talks to his long dead mother calling her "Maman", one of the rare French words he seems able to pronounce correctly. Anyway, the alien who's apparently sick manages to get enterprise back to its place of origin. Did I mention that the alien is so smug that he makes you want to headbutt him in spite of his apparent advantage? Watchable.

The last outpost

 

[Paradise City]

It's a very first season-esque episode this one. This is a replay of the tried and tested TOS model of having two powers of equal stature in a prideful contest whilst some enlightened superbeing-third party intervenes and our heroes have to pass his test and then our heroes spare the enemy in an act of clemency which then impresses the superbeing.

Lots of chit-chat at the start as our heroes think they are being stitched up by the Ferengi. Data gets his fingers trapped in some toy, insults France which is a big no-no with the boss-man. Picard rebuffs Worf's gung-ho approach in favour of "options". And then the penny drops that it's the planet that's behind the energy draining field afterall. So there's your twist. After a brief period of trying to bluff the Ferengi, off everyone goes to the planet to sort everything out.

The Ferengi are portrayed as vicious clown-pirates rather than the conniving clown-merchants that they come to be . They move in a laboured slow motion performance artsy kinda way whilst sneering chunks of clunky dialogue. Naturally they are no match for Data and Rikers stunning oratory and of course having won that little test, Riker gallantly spares the Ferengi . The superbeing suitably impressed by all of this, releases both ships.

Sins of the Father

 

[locutus101]

Kurn, Worf's brother, although he doesn't know it yet, comes on board as part of an exchange program between humans and Klingons. He takes his role as number one seriously and runs a hard ship. He's only forgiving with one person, worf, who finds that insulting. Anyway, he's come to ask worf to defend their honor because their father is accused of being a traitor and so worf goes down the planet with Picard as his surrogate fighter. Turns out the deck is stacked because they all know that the real traitor is the father of Duras, who's one hell of a sob! Worf must accept dishonor in spite of being innocent and Duras must be left alone. For political reasons. Entertaining.

The High Ground

 

[Hugo Rune]

Dr Crusher reviews her (and the Feds) self righteous attitudes in a middling Northern Ireland allegory. Nowhere near as inflammatory as the networks originally thought nor as thoughful as the writers hoped.

Force of Nature

 

[locutus101]

Warp speed is destroying the galaxy! That's what one gifted scientist has discovered but Starfleet and geordi in particular won't believe her. She has to die to convince them. A metaphor (or is it an allegory?) on pollution and how it's bad, and all that... Good intentions but poor execution.

Second Chances

 

[Paradise City]

A good little episode. Riker finds his double, lol, who was unknowingly formed by a transporter accident whilst beaming up from a planet a number of years ago. Frakes plays this new Castaway Riker well and is sufficiently distinct from the hero we know and love to make this episode convincing. Troi is in a crosshairs as the Castaway Riker is the Riker is that pines for her still, but ultimately refuses him as this is essentially the same Riker that gave her the heave-ho for his career back in the day. The two Rikers are of course not happy with each other and there's a bit of rivalry and tension between them until just before the end when the newly minted Lt 'Tom' Riker departs for pastures anew.
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11001001

 

[locutus101]

We meet the bynars, strange twins people whose lives seem to be dedicated to computer work .They create a computer generated woman that seduces both Picard and Riker and distracts them while they put their plan of bringing Enterprise to their homeworld who's dying of computer failure into motion. TNG take on computer nerds. Not very flattering.

A matter of honor

 

[2takesfrakes]

Riker is tender with the ladies ... and tough with the guys! Especially if they're Klingon, as he finds himself a part of an Officer Exchange onboard a Bird of Prey, for cultural and tactical reasons. Except for the Bem-like character, Mendon the Benzite, this episode is a surprisingly strong one - and a Fan Favourite.

Rascals

 

[Paradise City]

In many ways a horrific but also a strangely entertaining episode. Picard, Keiko, Ro and Guinan get turned into teeny boopers, lol through the tried and tested device of a "transporter accident" whilst a bunch of Ferengi-clowns take the Enterprise at a canter and enslave the crew. This episode is by no means as bad as the plot suggests and the teenagers act out their parts well which carries the episode. I would've liked to see more of the young Picard order the grown-ups about with a vehemence. But alas, they took the episode in an another direction.

Ethics

 

[locutus101]

Beverly, one of the most irritating self-righteous twit of the show, hates a woman for giving Worf his only way out of his ordeal other than suicide. Frankly when Q turned her into a barking dog it was one of the most enjoyable moments concerning her character, if not the only enjoyable moment...

Encounter At Farpoint.

 

[Paradise City]

Steady fare to bed in the series and get it underway. We met our heroes of course, we met the devilish Q, we've got the planet of the week, an alien of the week, the FX are impressive for the time and after a suitable period of drama, suspense and action, the crew defeat villainy and successfully crack the quandary that they had been presented with. And of course Kelley has his brief cameo as the cantankerous Admiral McCoy.

Time Squared

 

[GeordiFan]

One of my more favorite episodes of the first two seasons, the Enterprise encounters a shuttle craft with a future Picard on board. Mean while they attempt to avoid a disaster even though the don't know what the disaster is going to be, and before you know it they are caught over top a big vortex.

The Arsenal of Freedom

 

[locutus101]

War is bad. That is the lesson that we're given in this episode where a planet of merchants of sophisticated weaponry have gone extinct presumably because of their "intelligent" weapons turning on them. After trying to fend off the weapons and trying talk the ghost like hologram of the deceased merchant into stopping the very efficient demonstration. Picard has the idea of going along with the program and telling it that he's buying his stuff. The demonstration ends. All is well that ends well! They're laying it on a little thick for my taste. Barely average.

Haven

 

[2takesfrakes]

A personal favourite! Vulcans, apparently, are not the only Space Race who has arranged marriages from early childhood. The Betazoids do that, too, as we get to find out in this charming, little episode. Wyatt's the Man that Dee's supposed to marry and when he realises that he lucked out with a smokin' hottie, he decides to follow through with the marriage plans - to Riker's chagrin! Wyatt is pleased, but he couldn't help noticing that Dee's not the woman who's been haunting his dreams, all his life. Does that woman even exist? So, he ends up having a conversation with Lwaxana - of all people - who's on hand for the wedding, and she puts his mind at rest.

Meanwhile, below the Enterprise is a pleasure planet that's ruled by a Sultry, Swiss Miss. She is panick-stricken because a UFO packed with people who went and caught an incurable STD is on its way to land on her unspoilt beaches. She demands that Jean-Luc protect her, because she's too young and hot to die. Picard's carefully measured assurances offer her little comfort. Then, it's suddenly revealed that Wyatt's dream woman is onboard the UFO - she's tall, blonde & scantily clad. Will he beam himself over and let her give him an incurable STD, because he hates himself? OR ... will he marry Dee, who's blissfully unaware? It's a no-brainer, I know, but ... I do hope Wyatt makes the right choice.

Shades of Grey

 

[locutus101]

One of the Worst episodes of the entire franchise. Not only is it a clip show but it's not even a good or an average one. Forgettable.

The Big Goodbye

 

[Paradise City]

This is a somewhat forced attempt to showcase the new toy that is the holodeck. The plot is cobbled together almost as an afterthought. It's also a first in a legion of holodeck-goes-bad episodes. The set design that is 1940's America is of a high standard particularily for the time though and I get a great kick out of Data saying he's from South America to a bemused ensemble of synthetic San Fran hoodlums. Of course, the holodeck malfunctions, the compulsory "20th century expert" Whalen takes a slug and our heroes are held hostage by a gangster and his torturous supervillain repartee. But alls well that ends well, as the gangster is tricked to leave the holodeck where he obliging evaporates in a very slow and theatrical way letting Picard out just in the nick of time to deliver a very precise greeting of what suspiciously sounds like very ad-hoc jibberish to a very cranky, demanding insect species who seem appeased by all of this.

I do quite like the episode and some of the dialogue is funny. The '40s production values are good. But don't expect a decent plot or anything.

We'll Always Have Paris