Time Squared

[Qonundrum]

I forgot to mention: there's just one thing that has always struck me as a jarring note in this episode. In the intro, when Riker is preparing eggs, Worf makes a comment about human females being the primary meal-preparers, and Riker agrees.

Even in the 80s, and due to TNG being so progressive, I thought that sounded off. Now, even more so. But, it's a minor quibble.

Which is bizarre as while he states it is his current understanding, who the heck is educating him and pointing out the historical data is from well over four centuries ago to his timeline. As with Tom Paris and others, being fixated on solely the mid-20th century has a few drawbacks (just what is it with the 1960s, did they all attend a party and someone spiked the drinks?)

A minor script polishing would take care of anything while being true to Roddenberry's idealizing combined with showing things from 24th century perspective since nobody in the cabin gaffed or chortled at what happened in the past since their whole civilization had moved on (hence the progressiveism you allude to?) Or 1980s' idea of what being progressive is is a lot different. Meaning nobody would chortle, but a softer segue between characters, keeping in mind it is Dr Pulaski who gets the line about how human society strayed from that form of family structure. So it was progressive and trying to be true to the time and place the crew were on (24th century with human Pulaski describing to non-human Worf how humans were and how they improved since). If they were 20th century people, there's no doubt everyone would be cross at Worf, which ultimately accomplishes very little. Pulaski edified Worf with some deftness, he learned, they all moved onward.

Worf also said "I don't understand their humor either" in "The Naked Now". As with any number of comments from Lwaxana Troi in her episodes, it's a sort of "speciesist" attitude and until we meet other species from outer space that, unlike Diana and Steven and Barbara and Brian, aren't hot but want us humans on the grill but are actually real...

But a TV show made by humans for humans using allegory and metaphor, Worf was the 20th century caricature for that scene.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

It's one of my favorites! The idea of seeing future events before they happened is something of a sci-fi staple and is well-applied, even though we're left to guess what the mystery tornado thing is or wants or why...

...which might be deliberate and the (fan theory?) that Q behind it, on reflection, makes more sense that it's not addressed on screen because saying too much could backfire and seem hokey. But adds highly probable circumstantial evidence that Q is constantly testing them but without use grandiose theatrics to announce his presence! Which is a partial shame as I adore grandiose theatrics... Troi can sense Q nearby if close, or said she could early on but since season one she's never said a peep while realizing everyone else would have figured it out. Or did a deal with him so she plays poker face, now there's a fun novel to sew up canon for Peter David to write... But Troi being mum aside, maybe the Q figured out how not to be noticed by telepathic beings, which falls back into her not saying a peep.

It's a lovely excursion into Picard's mindset as well as getting some tidbits out of the crew and the sense of mystery and worry over what they're about to stumble across are palpable and intriguing, without being overbearing or out of proportion.


Evolution is another top tier episode as a whole (IMHO). It starts out the season rightly enough, proving at the very start we're watching something radically different yet is the same show. still has sci-fi concepts, takes a dramatic turn that for now has balance, and looks so much more lush - even the beige hotel in space has more of a panache. And it only gets better. At least for the episode after its introduction where some major and majorly cool action we'd expect from an exploratory show with a flagship happens, and throughout the next couple of seasons... I'm surprised the newly sentient nanites didn't kill Dr Stubbs, or "Stubby" as they doubtlessly nicknamed him (something TNG would not do but Orville might), but then we'd get a third of the story devoted to "Nanites are like children"/"Yes but when the child throws a tantrum you don't kill it even though it tried to kill you" exchange like from ST : TMP...

Times Squared and Evolution are two of my favourite episodes despite not being great fan favourites.

After Disco I joked that the corrupted version of Control was all Wesley's fault because those nanites are out there and they did evolve on a planet all by themselves and somehow got absorbed by Control