A slower-paced episode than last week, although it felt to me that this one should be that way as opposed to the "Are we there yet?" feeling of some earlier episodes.
So let's get the massive stupid out of the way first, because there was massive stupid.
Out-of-universe, Jonathan Frakes gets main credits billing, but NOT Marina Sirtis? That's nothing less than a slap in the face.
In-universe... I was okay when the episode revealed that Will and Deanna lost a kid to illness. It happens, even in Trek. But the kid died of an illness that could have been easily treated by a piece of technology outlawed just because it's used in the building of androids? That's not just stupid, that's boatloads of stupid. What, was the Federation afraid that a medical device was going to rise up and DESTROY ALL HUMANS?
Otherwise, I liked the episode. I still think last week's episode was way better, but this one was serviceable.
Nice touch with Riker and Troi's daughter being named after Troi's sister.
I'm pretty sure this episode establishes Commodore Oh to be Vulcan rather than Romulan, since she did a mind-meld. Either that, or this is the first instance of a Romulan performing a mind-meld.
Kinda odd that Narissa flat-out identified herself as Zhat Vash to Elnor. You'd think members of a cabal so super-secret that even the Tal Shiar only hear whispers about them would be more discrete.
Hugh's dead. Kinda figured that'd happen after he helped Picard escape, but still, hate to see him go. I know his actor and Jeri Ryan have become good friends, so I was really hoping to see Hugh and Seven in a scene together.
Seems like Agnes is turning away from the dark side, if her poisoning herself into a coma to disable her tracking device is any indication.
And Elnor just happens to find a Fenris Ranger SOS device? That better get explained.
The trailer for the next episode looks interesting. Looks like we might get some insight into the Zhat Vash conspiracy, plus Seven gets to play Borg Queen?
Posted by Guardian 2000 (Member # 743) on :
Riker let his own curable child die?
#NotMyRiker
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I like the call backs with Riker's kids with the names Kestra and Thaddeus from the Voyager episode 'Death Wish'.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Marina looks great. Jonathan looks like a husk. Guess that Betazoid phase really does a number on a man. Also, Kestra has that Troi "I'm listening but I waiting for your bullshit" look down.
I was so excited for Jurati to die. She's such a useless character. I was also convinced Raffi was gonna shoot her up with space heroin.
Agreed about wanting to see Seven & Hugh together, & about the credits bullshit.
Glad to see all these people slapping Picard around like Cher in "Moonstruck" & telling him to stop being a fuckhead.
As an aside, the only characters I've really found interesting so far are Laris, Zhaban, & Rios. Like,if I could get a series of those two with Riis & the E*Hs, I'd be set.
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
We already know Oh is a villain, but mind-raping Jurati to get her to go along with the conspiracy sure explains a lot.
She’s still frustrating to watch, but I’m starting to have a slight amount of sympathy for Jurati. Her actions are all over the place, but it’s clear she’s slowly being driven insane by Oh’s mind-meld.
I also appreciated both Riker and Troi verbally smacking Picard around. Riker knows him well enough to figure out all the important bits without Picard saying anything, and Troi straight up tells Picard what an ass he’s been (but in a much more diplomatic way, of course).
And Troi even got to state the blindingly obvious (“you’re in trouble”) for old time’s sake.
Agreed with everyone else about the credits and Hugh.
I can only assume the reason Narissa identified herself as Zhat Vash is that Elnor’s group is an equally-ancient counter-conspiracy or some such nonsense. Still seems dumb.
Concerning the “curable” illness... I interpreted it as saying not that curing the virus was illegal, but it was IMPOSSIBLE because all positronic networks were destroyed.
Overall still an enjoyable story.
Posted by Spike (Member # 322) on :
The only downside of this episode was that they killed off yet another character from the good old days.
Other than that I genuinely enjoyed the episode. This was the TNG reunion I was hoping for.
I was a bit irritated by Kestra's somewhat rude attitude towards Picard when they met but she redeemed herself quickly.
Suspension of disbelief was necessary when Kestra figured out the planet by WhatsApping her Captain friend in like two minutes.
Elnor with his slick fighting moves resembled Legolas even more in this episode. All he needs now is a dwarf alien to toss.
I took Picard asking Riker if he was ever going to ship out again as foreshadowing. My bet is that the show will culminate in a space battle with Riker saving the day.
It must've been the future what Oh showed Jurati during the mind meld, no? I guess, this will connect somehow to Discovery's third season.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
This was better, but the show’s problems remain. Looks like things are being kicked up a notch next week.
Marina Sirtis’s acting has gotten better. Watching as someone who nearly lost a child, her performance felt spot-on to me. She’s since lost her own husband, which gives added poignancy.
Bernd’s review says that they may be rushing the final three eps and dumping a whole load of stuff there, suggesting the producers fail to understand how to pace a modern serialised TV show. He could be right. Three eps to go and we seem to still be missing large pieces of the puzzle. There is a link between Oh and the Romulans but she herself may not be one. So is there a conspiracy between all of Starfleet or just a faction? Why did the synths revolt? How did Maddox accomplish what he did? And are we EVER going to see an ACTUAL. PROPER. STARFLEET STARSHIP?!
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
I’m guessing/hoping that Riker’s line about still being listed as Starfleet Reserve is foreshadowing, combined with Picard asking him if he ever plans to go back into space. So he’ll bring the last-minute surprise reinforcements with actual starships that help win the battle.
The only problem with this scenario is that it’s the exact same plot twist in Disco season two. (Assuming my guess is accurate.)
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Oh, heck, it’ll probably be the Discovery that comes to the rescue, just wait and see.
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lee: And are we EVER going to see an ACTUAL. PROPER. STARFLEET STARSHIP?!
The fact that they made new 2399 phasers and phaser rifles gives me hope that we’ll actually see a Starfleet crew on a Starfleet vessel.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Yeah, I saw that. The rifle, it’s the one Seven takes from Rios’ arsenal. There’s enough of the old FC-era look in there to make it a reasonable bet it’s Starfleet issue - now surplus, if Rios has them? Or maybe he helped himself to the replicator pattern before he quit...
The pistol, now, that’s quite a radical departure. It could just be a pistol likewise created for Rios’s arsenal. The security guards on Mars in 2385 did have what looked like snub-nosed pistol phasers but it wasn’t clear to see; it could be one of these, I guess. Again, if so, it’s likely Starfleet surplus if it’s Rios’s.
Of course, there’s one thing we’re wilfully overlooking, it’s that if we do see any modern SF vessels they’ll either be one of Eaves’s latter-day abominations, or a blatantly-recycled DSC-era ship (or both!).
EDIT:
Now one knows what one’s looking at, its obvious it’s the same phaser.
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
Just the fact that they made these phasers instead of just using DSC phasers for this short scene makes me think that they will be getting more use later, by actual 2399 Starfleet officers.
As for Starfleet vessels, I sincerely hope that they don’t just reuse DSC ships. They made a bunch of new Romulan ships, so I’m hopeful we’ll get something new on the Starfleet side. And at this point I’m just giving up on hoping they won’t be designed by Eaves.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
quote:Originally posted by MinutiaeMan: I’m guessing/hoping that Riker’s line about still being listed as Starfleet Reserve is foreshadowing,
maybe. I know Starfleet isn't a full on military, but the real US military does have an inactive reserve. There's active and inactive reserve. Active does the usual 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year you've heard of. Inactive just means there's a slim to none chance they can recall you. How that works in Starfleet, no clue.
According to IMDb Frakes is only listed for this episode and doesn't appear any other TNG actors are expected to return which feels like a disappointment.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
It is possible that they could have done more with them - and beyond, bringing back LaForge & Worf too - while keeping it a secret; after all, they’re not plagued with leaks like Doctor Who’s production always has been. But then why announce Riker & Troi were appearing all those months ago at all? And presumably if the whole gang were coming back at some point, then Isa Briones wouldn’t have put that photo on her Insta of Dorn & Burton visiting the Nepenthe set...
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Bernd’s latest article shows that phaser pistol is the one that Seven uses to try to rescue Icheb. Which means it’s certainly a 2380s model - so possibly superseded by “now.”
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Anything's possible. I noticed in the Picard trailer giving away Riker being in an episode the dialog was slightly altered. IIRC, in the trailer it was Troi calling for Riker instead of Kestra in the episode. Making sure the audience knew Riker and Troi would be in to help build some hype and interest. Of course you can't help but want to know what became of the rest of the Enterprise crew.
I just hope if something like Captain Worf shows up to save Picard, and we finally see a Starfleet vessel, they don't give it away at all.
Posted by Guardian 2000 (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by MinutiaeMan: Concerning the “curable” illness... I interpreted it as saying not that curing the virus was illegal, but it was IMPOSSIBLE because all positronic networks were destroyed.
In "Life Support" Bashir had the capability to replace portions of Bariel's brain (even all of it after having already replaced some) with positronic implants. While one could argue these were parts from Earth or some other central manufacturing facility that were kept on-hand, that hardly seems likely.
That these were life-saving bits of kit should've made them on par with biomimetic gel . . . a controlled substance. An outright ban and destruction makes no sense, but even if they did that . . . well, I don't know all the particulars in Nepenthe, but it sounds to me like a replicator, the pattern/plans, and an EMH could do the job well enough. Riker would have access to all three.
Instead, we're supposed to believe that the guy who personally invaded a planet for love would sit back and say 'whoa, that's illegal, sorry kid'?
I think not.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Can I just say, boo to losing Hugh. and Marina’s acting saved the day. She was great!!
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
and Marina’s acting saved the day. She was great!!