Star Trek, the Next Generation
Jun. 11th, 2009 02:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skywaterblueWhen this show was good, it was really good. I checked disk six, season three out from Netflix because it has "Sarek" on it, a very classic episode about Spock's father. Written by Peter S. Beagle! I surprised myself, though, by watching the rest of the episodes on the disk and liking all of them.
They just don't make TV shows like TNG anymore, and it's our loss as viewers. You see, in all the episodes on the disk, nothing much happens. The Enterprise never starts a war with Romulus or saves Vulcan from getting blown up. TNG trusts that you care enough about the characters by this point in the show that it really DOES matter to you what happens to them.
That sort of confidence in the writing is pretty sexy. Maybe television should take a step back.
"Hollow Pursuits" is the one that introduces Barclay, a character who goes on to become semi-beloved. (I like Barclay. Haters to the left.) Barclay is a troubled guy on the engineering staff who obviously suffers from some social anxiety disorder.
In the modern era of autism awareness, and considering that they have a full-time counselor, it's a little weird to see the crew of the Enterprise failing to cope with Barclay. However, he's not troubled in any way that would seem odd for a utopian 24th Century; indeed, I find the thought that Barclay - social weirdo - exists and manages to have an okay career in Starfleet prior to getting posted to Enterprise pretty reassuring.
Anyway, so Geordi is being a dick to this guy, and Riker doesn't like him either. In one of his truly awesome moments in life, Picard tells them they need to try harder to fit Barclay into the group. (In one of the greatest moments ever, though, we see that Picard accidentally internalized their nickname for him, Broccoli, and calls him that by accident. Picard, being a total gentleman, has the very good sense to look completely mortified by this.)
Meanwhile, Barclay has made a holosuite program with all the senior staff where they love him, and he's become totally addicted to it. Geordi, set straight by Picard, decides to man up and become Barclay's friend and give him more responsibility. In the end, the ship almost flies itself apart because of some random plotonium. Barclay and Geordi figure it out together and save the Enterprise. Barclay gets the confidence to totally quit holoprograms. (For the moment.)
It's a sweet episode that establishes a recurring character, and Picard, Geordi, Riker and Troi all get things to do that enhances their characterization. You do end up caring for Barclay, but you can see why this episode is weird by modern standards - 'cause, um, nothing plotty happens in this.
---
Next episode on the disk is "The Most Toys", a solid but minor episode I've always liked about Data. The Enterprise is picking up a shipment of unstable plotonium from a guy who collects stuff. He wants Data, the universe's only sentient android, for his very own so he fakes a shuttlecraft explosion. The entire crew thinks Data is dead and is unsettled, but they go off on their mission. Data resists the collector in various peaceful, non-violent ways, while Geordi becomes convinced that something is wrong while the rest of the crew mourns their robot pal.
Upon reaching the Planet of the Week, the rest of the crew realizes that Geordi must be right because they have fake plotonium, not real plotonium. So they go back and track down the ship, just as Data is contemplating killing his captor. In the end, they save Data just before he can do it, but Data isn't perturbed because he doesn't feel emotions at all.
I forgot to make a screencap, though, of the first appearance of the Bajoran wormhole. (As one of Data's paintings!)
---
Unlike the other two episodes, the whole point of "Sarek" is that you want to see Mark Leonard play Spock's dad one last time. This one has a slightly more interesting plot, but they put almost no effort into it. Ambassador Sarek has to go on one last mission to make contact with some aliens who are important to the Federation for... non-compelling reasons. (World building. It ain't TNG's strong point, okay.)
If it wasn't Sarek, you would have to invest more time in explaining the new character and why Picard loved him, and why this trade mission is so important. But it is Sarek, so who cares, on to the real story which is: Sarek is totally Picard's idol. Of course he is! Picard is really excited to get to meet him, he's spent like all month preparing for this with a special shipboard concert and everything, and then he's bummed out when it appears that Sarek is too ill to actually hang out with him.
I mean, there's some plot about how the new aliens ONLY want to deal with Sarek, but you really don't care about those guys at all. In fact, you don't even meet them, that's how totally non-important they are. The important part is that you feel REALLY REALLY BADLY because Sarek is old and Picard was so excited.
It turns out that Sarek has Vulcan Alzheimer's, which causes him to lose control of his emotions completely. In order to save the treaty, Picard volunteers to mindmeld with him so that Sarek can have his control and Picard can have his emotions. Picard-as-Sarek breaks down and cries about his deceased wife and crappy relationship with his son. Sarek-as-Picard saves the day one last time. At the end, they've both learned an important lesson.
Meanwhile, I am left totally wondering if the reason I love "Noel" in the West Wing so much is because there is a very similar 'breakdown in a classical concert' in this episode.
---
"Menage a Troi". This episode is universally crapped on, but rewatching it, I really liked it. What happens in this episode: Troi's mom, Ambassador Lwaxana is on board following a trade mission. While there, some Ferengi guy falls in love with her/becomes convinced he can use her telepathy to make money. When Lwaxana somehow convinces Deanna and then later Riker to come down to Betazed for a picnic on the estate, they all get kidnapped.
This episode features Riker beating a guy at chess and making a computer code out of musical notes. Oh, and Picard's big rescue gambit involves having to pretend to be a bad Shakespearean actor and wooing Lwaxana with sonnets.
It's difficult to believe that in two episodes, Picard gets assimilated. HARSH.
They just don't make TV shows like TNG anymore, and it's our loss as viewers. You see, in all the episodes on the disk, nothing much happens. The Enterprise never starts a war with Romulus or saves Vulcan from getting blown up. TNG trusts that you care enough about the characters by this point in the show that it really DOES matter to you what happens to them.
That sort of confidence in the writing is pretty sexy. Maybe television should take a step back.
"Hollow Pursuits" is the one that introduces Barclay, a character who goes on to become semi-beloved. (I like Barclay. Haters to the left.) Barclay is a troubled guy on the engineering staff who obviously suffers from some social anxiety disorder.
In the modern era of autism awareness, and considering that they have a full-time counselor, it's a little weird to see the crew of the Enterprise failing to cope with Barclay. However, he's not troubled in any way that would seem odd for a utopian 24th Century; indeed, I find the thought that Barclay - social weirdo - exists and manages to have an okay career in Starfleet prior to getting posted to Enterprise pretty reassuring.
Anyway, so Geordi is being a dick to this guy, and Riker doesn't like him either. In one of his truly awesome moments in life, Picard tells them they need to try harder to fit Barclay into the group. (In one of the greatest moments ever, though, we see that Picard accidentally internalized their nickname for him, Broccoli, and calls him that by accident. Picard, being a total gentleman, has the very good sense to look completely mortified by this.)
Meanwhile, Barclay has made a holosuite program with all the senior staff where they love him, and he's become totally addicted to it. Geordi, set straight by Picard, decides to man up and become Barclay's friend and give him more responsibility. In the end, the ship almost flies itself apart because of some random plotonium. Barclay and Geordi figure it out together and save the Enterprise. Barclay gets the confidence to totally quit holoprograms. (For the moment.)
It's a sweet episode that establishes a recurring character, and Picard, Geordi, Riker and Troi all get things to do that enhances their characterization. You do end up caring for Barclay, but you can see why this episode is weird by modern standards - 'cause, um, nothing plotty happens in this.
---
Next episode on the disk is "The Most Toys", a solid but minor episode I've always liked about Data. The Enterprise is picking up a shipment of unstable plotonium from a guy who collects stuff. He wants Data, the universe's only sentient android, for his very own so he fakes a shuttlecraft explosion. The entire crew thinks Data is dead and is unsettled, but they go off on their mission. Data resists the collector in various peaceful, non-violent ways, while Geordi becomes convinced that something is wrong while the rest of the crew mourns their robot pal.
Upon reaching the Planet of the Week, the rest of the crew realizes that Geordi must be right because they have fake plotonium, not real plotonium. So they go back and track down the ship, just as Data is contemplating killing his captor. In the end, they save Data just before he can do it, but Data isn't perturbed because he doesn't feel emotions at all.
I forgot to make a screencap, though, of the first appearance of the Bajoran wormhole. (As one of Data's paintings!)
---
Unlike the other two episodes, the whole point of "Sarek" is that you want to see Mark Leonard play Spock's dad one last time. This one has a slightly more interesting plot, but they put almost no effort into it. Ambassador Sarek has to go on one last mission to make contact with some aliens who are important to the Federation for... non-compelling reasons. (World building. It ain't TNG's strong point, okay.)
If it wasn't Sarek, you would have to invest more time in explaining the new character and why Picard loved him, and why this trade mission is so important. But it is Sarek, so who cares, on to the real story which is: Sarek is totally Picard's idol. Of course he is! Picard is really excited to get to meet him, he's spent like all month preparing for this with a special shipboard concert and everything, and then he's bummed out when it appears that Sarek is too ill to actually hang out with him.
I mean, there's some plot about how the new aliens ONLY want to deal with Sarek, but you really don't care about those guys at all. In fact, you don't even meet them, that's how totally non-important they are. The important part is that you feel REALLY REALLY BADLY because Sarek is old and Picard was so excited.
It turns out that Sarek has Vulcan Alzheimer's, which causes him to lose control of his emotions completely. In order to save the treaty, Picard volunteers to mindmeld with him so that Sarek can have his control and Picard can have his emotions. Picard-as-Sarek breaks down and cries about his deceased wife and crappy relationship with his son. Sarek-as-Picard saves the day one last time. At the end, they've both learned an important lesson.
Meanwhile, I am left totally wondering if the reason I love "Noel" in the West Wing so much is because there is a very similar 'breakdown in a classical concert' in this episode.
---
"Menage a Troi". This episode is universally crapped on, but rewatching it, I really liked it. What happens in this episode: Troi's mom, Ambassador Lwaxana is on board following a trade mission. While there, some Ferengi guy falls in love with her/becomes convinced he can use her telepathy to make money. When Lwaxana somehow convinces Deanna and then later Riker to come down to Betazed for a picnic on the estate, they all get kidnapped.
This episode features Riker beating a guy at chess and making a computer code out of musical notes. Oh, and Picard's big rescue gambit involves having to pretend to be a bad Shakespearean actor and wooing Lwaxana with sonnets.
It's difficult to believe that in two episodes, Picard gets assimilated. HARSH.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 02:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 02:14 pm (UTC)I only noticed this upon rewatching myself. ZOMG Peter S. Beagle. They didn't just get great guest stars but great guest writers on this show. If I could figure out how to write a TNG/Last Unicorn crossover without involving the holodeck, I so would.
I'm pro-Barclay myself. Aw, Reg. Which is why I kind of dig the fact Voyager brought him back (complete with his faithful therapist Deanna Troi) to use his things for holoprogramms, imaginary friends and engineering skills for the greater good. Does he qualify as a forerunner of the fanboys-save-the-day plot from Galaxy Quest? I think he does.
Picard's accidental "Broccoli" moment and his reaction is a totally great moment, yes.:)
The Most Toys: liked it for all the reasons you name, and always found it fascinating that Data at the end lies about having pulled the trigger. Because honestly, I don't think it would have had any negative consequences for him if he had told the truth, and he knew that (he was after all held prisoner, and the collector had repeatly killed other people to enforce that imprisonment), but he evidently didn't want the others to know.
Sarek is totally Picard's idol. Of course he is!
:) Picard fanboys Sarek, Sisko fanboys Kirk. Go figure. (I don't think Janeway fangirled any previous Trek character in particular, but then I haven't seen every Voyager ep, and am even less in a position to know whom Archer might have fanboyed. Zefram Cochrane?)
And oh yes, the non-appearing aliens of the week: as blatant an "this is just a pretense to get the plot going" as it gets.
Meanwhile, I am left totally wondering if the reason I love "Noel" in the West Wing so much is because there is a very similar 'breakdown in a classical concert' in this episode.
Now that you mention it, I wonder whether the Sorkin totally stole it from this episode. Which would make for very delicious irony, since it's Josh it happens to, with his confrontation with a Trekkie upcoming. More seriously, Mark Lenard plays that moment with the one tear really really well.
Menage a Troi: I love Lwaxana Troi, so I really like this one as well. (I did avoid it this time around because I didn't want to get teary on Majel Barret's account.) "You said you didn't want to hear anymore about my other lovers" cracks me up every time, as does Picard's bad romantic extempore. Did you recognize Max Grodenchik as the Ferengi doctor? Also, this episode introduces oomox.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 08:37 pm (UTC)Does he qualify as a forerunner of the fanboys-save-the-day plot from Galaxy Quest? I think he does.
Yes! There's a bit of LINDA in there too.
(I don't think Janeway fangirled any previous Trek character in particular, but then I haven't seen every Voyager ep, and am even less in a position to know whom Archer might have fanboyed. Zefram Cochrane?)
She has that Leonardo di Vinci program, but you're correct. Archer is in the unique position of all the captains because yes, his idol is Cochrane but his father worked with the man so there's every chance Archer actually did meet him when young.
Yeah, I noticed that Rom's actor was the more stable Ferengi. Heh.
More seriously, Mark Lenard plays that moment with the one tear really really well.
It's true, but it's also the one bit of the episode where I had to restrain myself from laughing because ... the single solitary tear is just such a television trope.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 03:41 am (UTC)...Archer totally got left out. And now lost his beagle!
Not just a television trope. Joss does it with Emma Frost in AXM #14, too, just before she puts the telepathic whammy on everyone else.
Forgot to add the last time: though Unification is not as good as Sarek (despite having more plot and Leonard Nimoy), the scene where Data is all "so, having mindmelded with his father will make you get along with Ambassador Spock totally well, right?" and Picard is all "err, no" cracks me up because Patrick Stewart makes you feel the dots when he says "Sarek and Spock..." and leaves it at that.
On a completely different note: while surfing, I came upon an lj where someone just watched s4 of West Wing and is full of Toby love and Andrea Wyatt condemnation, on the note of "how can she say no to him, the cold woman, when he's so adorable and just needs someone to love him completly and really tried? She's evil and doesn't deserve him". Now obviously I missed all the debates, but did fans at the time actually think Toby would be happy in a regular-style marriage? (I.e. that when they tried this the last time around, it was all Andi's fault that it didn't work?) Or that Toby would be happy, full stop, all the time if he just got regular cuddles. I mean, Toby? With the rage at injustices of the world and the sadness really really ingrained?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 06:19 am (UTC)Unification is the next disk or two - I can't wait, I'm actually really excited to see it again.
You have to admit, the way Andy finally turns him down in the house is hard to watch. It breaks me inside each time.
Not that I agree with that perspective though: I think what makes Toby a cold bastard isn't that he doesn't love them, it's that he doesn't love them ENOUGH to sacrifice for them. (IE: repeated scenes in s7 where people remind him he has young children and it's a poor idea to go to jail on principles when you have kids.)
Was it a common thought? I don't know, but I do know a lot of people thought Toby was genuine in his desire to restart their marriage and help with the kids. And I do think the writing supports that when it didn't happen, it made him just that much more remote and difficult to deal with.
It's hard to say, really. That house scene is one of the true biting moments in fiction. If she felt that way deep inside (and you know she must, that outburst didn't just come out of nowhere) why have children with him? And we don't really know where Sorkin would have taken it as opposed to Wells - if you assume Sorkin wouldn't have had Toby abandon them after the kidnapping, when he seems to really embrace fatherhood, than maybe that reading is correct.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 04:03 am (UTC)At least he met Mirror!Tuvok when posing as Mirror!Sisko. (Which reminds me, weren't there a couple of mirrorverse novels touted a couple of years ago as the first official ST tie-ins with same-sex relationships, featuring Mirror!Janeway battling it out with the Intendant for supremacy? (Figures they'd start with the mirrorverse. Oh, ST.)
House scene in s4 finale: oh, it's an incredibly painful scene; arguably the worst thing to happen to Toby with the Bartlet confrontation in s7 tying as second worst. (Err, in ways of direct human interaction. The death of his brother probably also qualifies for worst, but he wasn't around when that happened.) But I don't think you can mix Doylist and Watsonian arguments. If we're arguing from within the universe, then whether or not Sorkin would have taken the fallout from this elsewhere instead of letting Andy and the twins mostly disappear from the scene is immaterial. (Otherwise, you could just as well argue that Sorkin wouldn't have let Donna quit her job with Josh and work for the Russell campaign, and use this to say Donna is too co-dependent on Josh when actual events prove this not to be the case.)
Anyway, back to Toby: to me one of the many things which make the scene so painful is that he feels absolutely sincere, committed and what have you... but if she had said yes, I'm not sure it would really have made a difference in the long term because I don't believe children are the solution to solving marriage problems. And clearly here we have a couple who love each other dearly (and I think it's mutual), have tried to live with each other... and it didn't work. (As a non-marriage, i.e. they don't live together but see each other on a regular basis, it does seem to work in s4 and if the s7 halloween episode is anything to go by later on.)
no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 04:59 am (UTC)Eh, you know how I feel about the Sorkin versus Wells split. I accept them as canon, but they're two different versions of the same timeline to me. Like, say, Ultimate X-Men versus Astonishing. Different universes, different interpretations of the same characters.
I'll be honest, my feeling on Toby and Andy is ultimately that Andy used sperm and they never really got back together. I don't see their interaction as romantic so much as ex-lovers who have children together. I do think they love each other, I just don't think they're together in a sexual/romantic way.
The way I see it, there isn't enough of a real statement about what's going on there that makes that reading more canonical than not. I don't know.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 10:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 10:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 01:19 am (UTC)TNG always did comedy well, and gently.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 02:09 pm (UTC)I've been mainlining DS9 for the past few months but I've caught a few TNG episodes during a marathon and I'd forgotten how much I love it. It's cheese but it's primo cheese, you know?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-14 11:24 pm (UTC)Very well put! For all the things that TNG didn't get quite right, the one thing they excelled at was writing character driven TV with likeable and believably characters that both writers and viewers cared about. Man, I miss that in newer shows.
(I was linked here by, uhm,
no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 07:34 am (UTC)Glad you stopped by!