Revisiting ST-TNG...
- Thread starter Warped9
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Frame of Mind is alright but not one of Brannon's better episodes--I didn't care for the whole "it was all in his head" ending and psychobabble but there were some creepy moments especially the end when he starts tearing down the stage.
I agree. If I based this strictly on the idea and whether I felt engaged by it then I'd have rated it no more than a 3. But I felt they did some interesting things to make us doubt what we were seeing along with Riker and Frakes does good work with what he's given.
Part of TNG's problem in seasons 5-7 is the absense of Ron Jones's music. Jay Chattaway replaced him and I find most of his scores in seasons 5-7 very dreary. Star Trek should have evocative music. Trite and dull music is just as distracting as overly bombastic and melodramatic music.
Frame of Mind is always hard for me to watch.
It reminds me of the kind of dreams I'd have when running a really high fever.
It reminds me of the kind of dreams I'd have when running a really high fever.
Maybe they kept making tweaks over the course of a few billion years? In any event, the episode doesn't come out and state that the aliens are the Preservers, although Ron Moore (co-credited with Joe Menosky for the story) seems to think they could be the same, according to the TNG companion. The Preservers are only brought up in a single episode of TOS, anyways, and a rather bland one at that. Not worth getting hung up about, especially considering how fast and loose TOS was with continuity. When is it supposed to take place, again? The 22nd, er, 23rd, er, whatever century? Even The Making of Star Trek can't get it straight, offering both options!
^^ I worded my post clumsily. I didn't mean to imply that it should have gelled with TOS' idea of the Preservers, but that it seemed that the Preservers seeded already formed species and cultures across vast parts of the galaxy much more recently within some hundreds to thousands of years.
But what I really disliked about TNG's idea is that it came across as a simplistic explanation for all the humanoids. We already know why there are so many humanoids in the Trek universe because it's fiction and it's easier to use actors rather than trying to regularly depict something unconventional. It's a conceit that we shrug off for the purpose of enjoying the story.
One can disagree, of course, but it just didn't sit well with me.
But what I really disliked about TNG's idea is that it came across as a simplistic explanation for all the humanoids. We already know why there are so many humanoids in the Trek universe because it's fiction and it's easier to use actors rather than trying to regularly depict something unconventional. It's a conceit that we shrug off for the purpose of enjoying the story.
One can disagree, of course, but it just didn't sit well with me.
"Suspicions" **
Crusher investigates the deaths of two scientists.
Excuse me, but WTF! is Crusher doing being involved with science involving subspace sheilding and metaphasic whatever? No hint of this previously and now she’s into this stuff? And not only that, but she gets to conveniently invite scientists aboard what is supposed to be a deep space exploratory vessel? Hookay…
I do credit the idea of showing us scientists from races that have traditionally been depicted in more one-note ways, specifically Ferengis and Klingons. I mean, there have to be some right? But Crusher’s involvement in all of this just strains credibility. I also have to say Crusher’s omniscient narrative got on my nerves. Why is she and not Worf investigating the Ferengi scientist’s death? At the end Crusher looks like she knows some hand-to-hand, but then she kills the one guy who is solid eveidence of her suspicions. Hookay…
This whole exercise feels pasted together just to give Crusher some spotlight. Oh, and technobabble galore. I think there’s an okay story in here, but I don’t think it’s well executed. In fact I think it’s quite sloppy.
Crusher investigates the deaths of two scientists.
Excuse me, but WTF! is Crusher doing being involved with science involving subspace sheilding and metaphasic whatever? No hint of this previously and now she’s into this stuff? And not only that, but she gets to conveniently invite scientists aboard what is supposed to be a deep space exploratory vessel? Hookay…
I do credit the idea of showing us scientists from races that have traditionally been depicted in more one-note ways, specifically Ferengis and Klingons. I mean, there have to be some right? But Crusher’s involvement in all of this just strains credibility. I also have to say Crusher’s omniscient narrative got on my nerves. Why is she and not Worf investigating the Ferengi scientist’s death? At the end Crusher looks like she knows some hand-to-hand, but then she kills the one guy who is solid eveidence of her suspicions. Hookay… This whole exercise feels pasted together just to give Crusher some spotlight. Oh, and technobabble galore. I think there’s an okay story in here, but I don’t think it’s well executed. In fact I think it’s quite sloppy.
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There are some mystery shows I can watch over and over again even though I know the secret but can enjoy it any way since they are so good and you can pick up on stuff rewatching you didn't catch or appreciate the first time i.e. Clues, Night Terrors, The Survivors etc.
Then there are some that I really only enjoyed that first time and isn't as satisfying the second or third time through--that describes Suspicions. It is an enjoyable show, I liked the twist on a Ferengi scientist, Bev getting the spotlight and the flashback technique of telling the story to Guinan.
I'd give it 3 stars out of 4. I also like how they bring back the metaphasic shielding down the road in a nice bit of continuity.
Then there are some that I really only enjoyed that first time and isn't as satisfying the second or third time through--that describes Suspicions. It is an enjoyable show, I liked the twist on a Ferengi scientist, Bev getting the spotlight and the flashback technique of telling the story to Guinan.
I'd give it 3 stars out of 4. I also like how they bring back the metaphasic shielding down the road in a nice bit of continuity.
I never thought that a Ferengi scientist is a oddity. Ferengi obviously seek out profit, and think that more profit leads to them getting to Ferengi heaven. I guess a scientist could develop theories for profit, or be an inventor and sell his/her works for profit. I think in the end, the mode of economic activity doesn't matter, as long as it's profitable.
"Suspicions" **
Crusher investigates the deaths of two scientists.
Excuse me, but WTF! is Crusher doing being involved with science involving subspace sheilding and metaphasic whatever? No hint of this previously and now she’s into this stuff? And not only that, but she gets to conveniently invite scientists aboard what is supposed to be a deep space exploratory vessel? Hookay…
This whole exercise feels pasted together just to give Crusher some spotlight. Oh, and technobabble galore. I think there’s an okay story in here, but I don’t think it’s well executed. In fact I think it’s quite sloppy.
It's weak as far as Crusher eps go. The highlight to me is seeing Guinan's near omniscient wisdom.
Yup, best thing about Suspicions. I liked the Takaran alien concept too. The worst thing is the insane amount of credibility stretching it does with Crusher's character/interests as we've grown to know them over the series to date.
Re: Frame of Mind: I've always been fond of this. Funky vibe.
"Rightful Heir" ****
Worf's beliefs are tested when Kahless the Unforgettable returns as promised after 1500 years.
In truth I'm tempted to give this a 5 rating because I generally like how it's done. I like its idea: what is faith, what does it take to have it and how powerful is an idea? Using Worf's crisis of faith and the idea of Kahless' return is really a stand-in for anything that someone might believe in. One thing I really liked in this episode is how rare it is to see Klingons not depicted in their usual comic opera manner. If anything I'm a little disappointed that Kahless was not really followed up in any subsequent episode or series, to my knowledge anyway.
Worf's beliefs are tested when Kahless the Unforgettable returns as promised after 1500 years.
In truth I'm tempted to give this a 5 rating because I generally like how it's done. I like its idea: what is faith, what does it take to have it and how powerful is an idea? Using Worf's crisis of faith and the idea of Kahless' return is really a stand-in for anything that someone might believe in. One thing I really liked in this episode is how rare it is to see Klingons not depicted in their usual comic opera manner. If anything I'm a little disappointed that Kahless was not really followed up in any subsequent episode or series, to my knowledge anyway.
By this point in the show I was bored with Klingon shows and this did drag. I'd only give it 2.5 stars
He was directly mentioned once in DS9, but only as a throwaway line.
The Enterprise hasn't been shown to be a deep space exploratory vessel in quite some time, though, has it? You brought up some errant dialogue from "Encounter at Farpoint" implying this earlier, but everything else since has much more clearly established the mission of the Enterprise-D to be more in line with that of Kirk's ship. Which is to say, the exploration of new worlds, but also resupplying Federation colonies, mediating diplomatic disputes, and the like. I've said this before, but I think it's worth stating again: you're hung up on that early premise, which was barely established, and I think it's inhibiting your ability to enjoy the series a little bit.
That said, "Suspicions" is still a pretty average outing.
On the subject of Kahless, he's brought up more than once in dialogue on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but never seen again.
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