Thought on 3x08 "The Price"

[Kaelef]

Just watched this. Matt McCoy is pretty unlikable, as is well documented in this thread. Until the end, however, I was convinced that his character had the ability not only to read emotions, but also to influence them. This is suggested in his scene at the bar with the Caldonian negotiator (he seems not to read the Caldonian's discomfort with management of the wormhole, but influence it). But it also would address an important question: how is it that Troi falls immediately in love with him? She openly questions the rationality of her own feelings for him, and it seems to happen with hardly a word spoken between them. His having the ability to influence emotions could've explained how our dear counselor immediately fell for Mr. Smarmy.

Did anyone else get the sense that his abilities went beyond the empathic?

 

[Herbert]

It is possible that he possessed some additional abilities but it wouldn't be the first time an otherwise mature, grounded person fell romantically for the wrong person. That's the way I look at it. Why should Troi be any exception?

As an aside, I can't watch this episode without thinking of McCoy as Lloyd Braun. "Serenity now, insanity later" lol

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I didn't get that impression. Plenty of humans can subtly direct the emotions of others without any mind control powers.

He'd just a good pickup artist and good at manipulating people, and his empathy makes him better at that.

Star Trek writers are also particularly bad at writing believable puckups. Just ask Terri Hatcher.

 

[Mojochi]

It's just manipulation. If you know enough about a person (Like what they feel) you can lead them right where you want them to go, by pushing your agenda in terms they'll find appealing. Some people are so good at it, they make you think YOU are the one coming up with it.

This episode really makes Troi look kind of pathetic, 1st for being so hard up to fall for this huckster's game, & 2nd for even being slightly influenced enough to struggle with the moral dilemma at all. They call out flimflam all the time on that ship. She should really know better. Not her proudest moment imho

One thing I did like about the episode is how well Riker comes off. He's onto the guy pretty early on, remarking about how he seems to have foreknowledge etc... The sleaze tries to dig at Riker about Troi, & Riker lobs that shit right back at him very adeptly