Star Trekking is beaming down for the 7th and final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
There was some weird stuff going down in this season.
- The Enterprise gets turned into an Aztec temple.
- The crew gets devolved into strange creatures. Picard is turning into a pygmy marmoset.
- Worf and Deanna Troi start dating.
Dogs marrying cats! It was a crazy time.
Whoops! I almost forgot: Gates McFadden has to act out orgasms while Beverly gets her freak on with a ghost in space! 😳
Click here for my post about that.
There was some changes the status quo.
- Wesley Crusher quits Starfleet Academy to become a space/time spanning Traveller. (Traveller Wesley will turn up in Star Trek; Picard season 2 and the 2nd season of Star Trek: Prodigy).
- Ro Laren really hurts Capt.Picard's feelings. How bad? When she turns up in Picard season 3, he's still pissed off about it.
- Turns out warp drive is tearing up space so spaceships need to slow down.
- Worf and Deanna Troi start dating.
OK, that last one really bugs me. Here is a list of the people who thought Worf and Deanna dating was a bad idea
- Michael Dorn
- Marina Sirtis
- Everybody else
Figuring out what episode I wanted to do for the season 7 spotlight was almost as hard as it was for season 1. The 7th season wasn't as bad as season 1 but there did seem to be more lackluster episodes that didn't, as the saying goes, "spark joy".
"Preemptive Strike" gives us a rare fundemental shift for a supporting character, in this case Ro Laren's arc pulls away from Picard's mentorship and away from Starfleet.
The story is part of the seeding of the Maquis storyline that would be picked up in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and form the foundation for launching Star Trek: Yoyager.
"Parallels" was a good one, with Worf shifting through alternate realities and timelines. If there's a TNG character you want to fuck with over multiversal shenanigans, it's Worf.
"Lower Decks" gave us a "from the outside looking in" episode with a quartet of young ensigns. This would provide inspiration for the Star Trek: Lower Decks series.
But the episode I chose to go with is "Attached", written by Nick Sagan (son of Carl Sagan) and directed by the main man himself, Jonathan Frakes.
We get a really weird planet of the week which is really waist deep into raging paranoia.
And we get some quality time with Capt. Picard and Dr. Crusher.
And a potential shift in their relationship.
Spoiler: don't get your hopes up. I did say "potential".
Let's get this post underway. Engage!
Captain's log, stardate 47304.2. The Enterprise has arrived at Kesprytt Three in order to evaluate an unusual request on the part of the Kes for associate membership in the Federation.
We pick up in Picard's quarters where Jean Luc is having breakfast with Dr. Beverly Crusher who is babbling about some office romance gossip going in in sick bay.
CRUSHER: This morning she was fifteen minutes late. That's the third time this week. Jean-Luc, you don't have the slightest idea what I'm talking about, do you.
PICARD: No. I'm really sorry. I don't.
CRUSHER: I've been telling you about Nurse Ogawa and Ensign Markson for the last fifteen minutes.
PICARD: You have? I'm really sorry.
Just for the record, Ogawa and Markson are in fact up to stuff that will result in Ogawa getting pregant later in the season.
So much for 24th century birth control.
Anyway....
The conversation turns to the planet of the week, Kesprytt, which wants to 3/4 join the Federation.
The Kes are advanced and progressive and wanna be part of the big ol' brotherhood of space.
The Prytt are isolationists and don't wanna deal with nobody else on or off the planet.
So Picard and Crusher finish breakfast (she promises and/or threatens some kind of Vulcan dish for their next breakfast) and go to beam down to meet with the Kes.
Except...
They don't show up.
Where do they show up?
Picard and Crusher wake up on the hard floor of a cell.
CRUSHER: What happened?
PICARD: I don't know.
CRUSHER: The last thing I remember we were beginning to transport.
PICARD: I would assume we must be on Kesprytt. We're in some kind of prison cell. The question is, why? I can't imagine that Ambassador Mauric would have any reason to detain us.
CRUSHER: Jean-Luc. (Something on Picard's neck catches her attention.)
PICARD: What is it?
CRUSHER: Let me see.
PICARD: What?
(there's something sticking out of the back of his neck)
CRUSHER: It looks like an implant. It seems to be connected directly to the brainstem.
(She's got one under her hair as well)
PICARD: Some kind of coercive device?
CRUSHER: Whatever it is I doubt it's designed for our health.
(the doors open and security in dark one-piece suits with hoods enter)
PICARD: What is going on here?
CRUSHER: If you tell us why you've taken us hostage, we might be able to...
LORIN: (female) You are not hostages. You are prisoners.
PICARD: Prisoners on whose authority?
LORIN: You are being held under the authority of the Prytt Security Ministry. The charges are conspiring with the enemy.
PICARD: Enemy? You mean the Kes.
LORIN: We're not fools. We are aware of the Federation attempt to establish a military alliance with the Kes. It will not be tolerated.
PICARD: Your information is incorrect. We have no plans to enter into any...
LORIN: There is no point in trying to mislead us, Captain. The devices which have been implanted in your cerebral cortexes will soon be calibrated to your psi-wave pattern. At that time, we will be able to get all the information we need.
PICARD: And then you'll discover that we're telling the truth.
LORIN: We shall see.
OK, so the Prytt are pretty damn off putting and incalcitrant. Good to know the Kes are more open and progressive.
Yeah, about that.....
Well, we'll get there.
On the Enterprise, Riker, Data and Worf have technobabbled that Prytt did something to divert the transporter
Meanwhile, Jean Luc and Beverly are assessing their predicament.
PICARD: Beverly, the important thing during any confinement is to think positively and not give up hope. There is a way out of every box, there is a solution to every puzzle. It's just a matter of finding it.
(the guard puts a covered plate on the floor and backs out. Picard fails to stop the door closing again)
PICARD: Damn.
CRUSHER: Well, at least this means we won't starve to death.
PICARD: It means they plan on keeping us here for a while.
CRUSHER: I'm beginning to think negatively, Jean-Luc.
(she takes the cover off the plate)
CRUSHER: My tricorder!
PICARD: Does it work?
CRUSHER: Yes. Except something's been added to the main directory.
PICARD: It's a map.
CRUSHER: An escape route. That guard must be working for the Kes.
PICARD: Possibly. Or it could be part of a very carefully laid trap.
CRUSHER: If you ask me, I'd like to take my chances out there.
They open the cell door with the code inplanted in the tricorder and escape.
Back on the Enterprise, Riker, Worf and Deanna Troi are conferring with Ambassador Mauric of the Kes. Riker wants to try diplomacy to recover Picard and Crusher. But...
MAURIC: Allow me to be blunt. The Prytt are a fanatical, xenophobic people, with little regard for civilised discourse. Even if you do establish communications link with them, it will be a complete waste of time.
TROI: How long has it been since your last diplomatic contact?
MAURIC: Almost a century.
TROI: Then it's possible they may have changed over the years.
MAURIC: We have had other less formal contacts with the Prytt. Contacts we cannot discuss. But I can assure you, they have changed very little.
RIKER: With all due respect, Ambassador, I think I should try to communicate with the Prytt before I sanction the use of force.
MAURIC: Of course, Commander. In the meantime, I will continue making preparations for a rescue attempt.
RIKER: Agreed.
MAURIC: I do have one request. We believe that the Prytt obtained their information about the transport of your captain and doctor through a breach in our communications network. If I could set up a base of operations here on the Enterprise, I'd feel much more secure.
So Riker's a nice guy and says, sure, bring up your shit, we're cool.
And he does, a collection of glowing, whirling doodads. It's either a bunch of sophisticated spy equipment or Mauric is opening a Spencer's Gifts on the Enterprise.
Despite Riker being a nice guy who let him bring up his shit, Mauric is a nervous suspicious fella, all shifty eyed and warily assessing every room he walks in and every one he talks to.
Remeber the Kes are supposed to be the good guys, more open and progressive.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, RIker has found someone to talk to.
Or not.
PRYTT [Over Comms-audio only]: This is Prime Minister Horath's headquarters. How can I be of service?
RIKER: This is Commander William T. Riker, Federation starship Enterprise. I know this may seem an unusual way-
PRYTT [OC]: The Enterprise? You mean the ship in orbit?
RIKER: That's right.
PRYTT [OC]: Why are you on this comm. link?
RIKER: We're having trouble contacting your government directly. We had to start somewhere. If you would let me talk to your-
PRYTT [OC]: Did you get authorization for this communication from the Security Ministry?
RIKER: As I said, we're having trouble contacting you-
PRYTT [OC]: I cannot participate in an unauthorised communication. This transmission is terminated.
RIKER: Not very friendly, are they?
DATA: No, sir.
WORF: Sir, we are being hailed. It is the Prytt Security Council.
RIKER: Well, it looks like we got someone's attention. On screen.
LORIN [on monitor]: Enterprise, this is Security Minister Lorin. You will immediately cease all attempts at communication with our people.
RIKER: Minister, we've been attempting to contact someone in your government. It appears that you have detained two of our officers. We would like to discuss the situation.
LORIN [on monitor]: There is nothing to discuss. If you do not terminate these transmissions, we will be forced to take aggressive action against your ship.
(transmission ends, Mauric enters)
WORF: Their weapon systems pose no threat to the Enterprise.
RIKER: Just the same, let's keep the shields up for the time being.
WORF: Aye, sir.
MAURIC: Is there a problem, Commander?
RIKER: Our efforts with the Prytt just ran into a wall.
MAURIC: I'm sorry. But perhaps this will brighten your spirits. We have freed your Captain and doctor.
RIKER: What?
MAURIC: They were being held in prison just outside the Prytt capital. One of our operatives was able to arrange their escape.
WORF: Where are they now?
MAURIC: Well, they should be en route to the Kes border. Our operative provided them with a detailed map and instructions on where to go.
RIKER: How will you get them across the border?
MAURIC: At the moment, that information is confidential, but trust us, we do have a plan.
OK, goody, they have a plan.
As the Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men / Gang aft agley".
Or "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."
Back on the planet, Picard and Crusher have tried to follow the map on the tricorder but damn there have been obstacles.
Picard and Crusher are stuck in a cave because it's Star Trek and getting stuck in a cave is inevitable.
"Damn! It's a quarry!" - Doctor Who
"Shit! It's a desert" - Star Wars
"Fuck! It's a cave!" - Star Trek
PICARD: There's no way out of here.
CRUSHER: Maybe we took a wrong turn.
(they retrace their steps)
CRUSHER: So am I.
PICARD: What?
CRUSHER: I'm thirsty too.
PICARD: I didn't say anything about being thirsty.
CRUSHER: I heard you. You said, I'm very thirsty.
PICARD: I was thinking about it, but I didn't say anything.
CRUSHER: You were thinking it?
PICARD: The transceivers. Lorin said that they would align themselves to our psi-wave patterns.
CRUSHER: The implants must be transmitting our thoughts.
Well, it's about damn time! We're getting to the big plot device of the episode. Jean Luc and Beverly are linked with access to each other's thoughts.
Gee, I wonder if one of them is harboring secrets about the other one? This could get awkward.
Still in the cave, Beverly is scanning with the tricorder.
Man, I wanna tricorder. They can do everything!
CRUSHER: There's a ledge about thirty meters up. That should lead to another tunnel that connects up to the surface.
PICARD: Right.
(Picard starts up the rock face)
PICARD: I heard that. They were not words exactly. A sudden sense of fear. A sense of fear of heights.
CRUSHER: So much for that being a fluke.
PICARD: It was a strange sensation. Suddenly having these thoughts appear in my mind.
CRUSHER: If you sensed a fear of heights, you sensed pretty accurately.
PICARD: Come on, you've done this before. It's just like on a holodeck. One step at a time, just climbing steadily and slowly.
CRUSHER: Right.
Just to be clear, Jean Luc, the holodeck only makes things SEEM to be high.
This IS high.
Well, Picard and Crusher extricate themselves from the cave to a lightly wooded countryside.
PICARD: One of us is hungry.
CRUSHER: That would be me.
PICARD: Do you mind thinking of something else. You're making me hungry.
CRUSHER: What do you want me to think about?
PICARD: Something other than a large bowl of vegetable soup.
CRUSHER: My grandmother used to make it, with peas, carrots and--
PICARD: Beverly!
CRUSHER: I'm sorry.
PICARD: I am not being unreasonable.
CRUSHER: I didn't say that you were. I may have thought it, but there's a difference.
Jean Luc and Beverly try to test the limits of this link but are overcome with overwhelming pain and nausea when they move too far apart.
So they are stuck with each other, physically and mentally.
Which gives Beverly an unexpected insight into Jean Luc's command process.
CRUSHER: I'm not sure whether we should go over this hill or that one. The topography on this map is a little vague.
PICARD: Let me see.
(Picard studies the tricorder intensely, then looks out into this distance.
PICARD: (with great confidence) This way.
CRUSHER: You don't really know, do you?
PICARD: What?
CRUSHER: I mean, you're acting like you know exactly which way to go, but you're only guessing. Do you do this all the time?
PICARD: No, but there are times when it is necessary for a captain to give the appearance of confidence.
(they walk on a little way then he looks at her)
CRUSHER: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist.
PICARD: I'm beginning to realise that you seem to always have some acerbic remark on the tip of your tongue.
Back on the Enterprise, Riker and Worf enter Spencer's Gifts... I mean, Mauric's quarters.
RIKER: Is something wrong?
MAURIC: Have a seat. Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher didn't show up at the designated rendezvous point.
RIKER: Do you know what happened to them?
MAURIC: No. We have no idea what happened to them. We find it strange that your officers should follow the escape plan so precisely and then fail to make the crucial rendezvous with our operatives.
WORF: It is possible they have been recaptured.
MAURIC: Our sources would have informed us instantly if that had happened. Of course, if they weren't captured, if they simply made a different rendezvous, we might not ever know about it.
RIKER: A different rendezvous? I'm not sure I know what you mean.
MAURIC: Of course not. How could you know if your Captain and Doctor were meeting secretly with the Prytt? Meeting in order to set up a military alliance with the Federation.
RIKER: What?
MAURIC: It was a clever scheme. First, you pretend to lose your officers during transport, then you ask us for help and get us to expose several of our undercover operatives in the process. But what you didn't expect was for us to get your people out of prison so quickly. They needed more time. They needed more time to plot the destruction of the Kes with their new Prytt friends.
RIKER: This is ridiculous. You're beginning to see conspiracies everywhere. We were invited here by the Kes. Why would we ally ourselves with the Prytt?
MAURIC: Indeed, why?
RIKER: You can believe what you like. We're going to find our people with or without your help.
MAURIC: Then I believe it's time for us to be leaving the Enterprise.
RIKER: Fine. Make sure you take all this junk with you.
This has got to be one of my Top 5 best lines from Riker: "Make sure you take all this junk with you."
Back on the planet, night has fallen while Picard and Crusher have set up a campfire.
Like a rugged woodsman, Picard rubbed sticks together to make fire!
Or Beverly used the "fire app" on the tricorder.
Tricorders can do anything.
Except find food.
PICARD: No luck?
CRUSHER: I'm beginning to think there's not a single thing on this planet we can eat.
PICARD: Well, by this time tomorrow we could be back on the Enterprise and you can plant yourself in front of a replicator with a knife and fork.
CRUSHER: Remember that Vulcan dish I promised you for breakfast? I was just--- You hate having breakfast with me!
PICARD: That's not true.
CRUSHER: Yes, it is. When I said breakfast, I heard you say, I hate that.
PICARD: That's not quite what I meant.
CRUSHER: Well, then what did you mean?
PICARD: It's just that I don't like...
CRUSHER: What I've been choosing for breakfast recently.
PICARD: You see, I think that breakfast should be a simple meal and recently you've been ordering these elaborate things.
CRUSHER: Coffee and croissants, that's all you really want, isn't it? Coffee and croissants. Well why didn't you just say so?
PICARD: I didn't think it was important. You don't like those elaborate meals either.
CRUSHER: No, I usually prefer something simple myself but I thought you might enjoy more variety. Well, I guess it's coffee and croissants for both of us from now on.
BOTH: I love firelight.
PICARD: There's something about the flame, the smell of the smoke. It's always seemed to me to be intoxicating, somehow.
CRUSHER: I remember when Jack and I took Wesley on his first camping trip to Balfour Lake. Wesley kept throwing manta leaves in the fire, watching them pop. Jack kept telling him....
(Crusher pauses for a second)
CRUSHER: What? Jean-Luc, I heard you. Don't push it away. When I said Jack and I, I felt this sudden wave of something. I didn't know you felt that way.
PICARD: Didn't you?
CRUSHER: I guess I always knew that there was an attraction between us right from the start, but I never knew how strongly you felt. Why didn't you ever tell me you were in love with me?
Let's take a minute here to process this.
Going all the way back to season 1, we knew something was down between these two.
Every time Picard and Crusher were in some mortal danger, Bevery would say "Before it's too late, I need to tell you something..."
Then the danger would pass and the "something" never got said.
Fans speculated for YEARS on what Beverly's secret was.
"Jean Luc, Wesley is your son."
Or something big like that.
So what we get here is there is a secret in the Picard/Crusher relationship but it's Jean Luc's.
Back on the Enterpise, Riker has had it up to here with Mauric's paranoia and Lorinn's obstinance so he beams her ass to the observation lounge to force a meeting between the two sides.
LORIN: I should have known that anyone willing to deal with the Kes would be capable of such an outrage.
RIKER: I'm sorry to resort to such drastic measures, Minister, but you left me little choice.
MAURIC: Don't pretend the two of you are enemies. It's too late for charades.
LORIN: If that is an attempt to hide your military alliance with the Federation, you needn't bother. I already know far more than you can imagine.
RIKER: Let's all just sit down and try to talk about what's happened to Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher.
LORIN: I will not sit at a table with him.
MAURIC: No more than I would sit with her.
RIKER: All right then, we'll stand. The important thing is that we start talking.
LORIN: I am not authorised to talk with a Kes official.
RIKER: All right then, you talk to me. Where are my officers?
MAURIC: As if you don't already know.
Geez! These guys!
On the planet, Picard and Crusher are being chased and fired at by soldiers.
Back on the Enterprise, Riker has had enough with Mauric and Lorin bickering.
RIKER: That's it! I can see that diplomacy is not going to get us anywhere today, and I do not have time for to negotiate. So let's put all of our cards on the table. You're concerned the Kes are going to be admitted to the Federation.
LORIN: Correct.
RIKER: As First Officer of the Enterprise I think I can promise you that's not going to happen. The Kes will be denied membership.
MAURIC: You have no authority to make that decision.
RIKER: They will also listen to the reports of the Captain of the Enterprise and his First Officer. And I can tell you right now the First Officer's report will go something like this. Kesprytt, a deeply troubled world with social, political, and military problems they have yet to resolve. The Kes, while a friendly and democratic people, are driven by suspicion, deviousness, and paranoia. It is the opinion of this officer they are not ready for membership. Now, the matter of our missing officers.
LORIN: They are still charged with spying, Commander. I have heard nothing here which would alter that.
RIKER: Then maybe you should consider this. If anything happens to them, Starfleet is going to want a full investigation, which means more starships will be coming to Kesprytt and those ships are going to want answers which puts your country under a very large and very uncomfortable microscope. Remember how unhappy you were when we contacted just one of your people without authorisation? Well, just think of what it'll be like.
- Ten starships asking questions, contacting hundreds of your people.
- Massive sensor sweeps.
- They may even start sending down away teams.
All because you wouldn't help me find my missing officers.
Back on the planet, Picard and Crusher have made it to the Kes/Prytt border which is blocked by a force field.
CRUSHER: I think I can use the tricorder to set up a multiphase pulse. That should weaken the field enough to let us through.
PICARD: No, no. The modulation frequency is in the upper harmonic range.
CRUSHER: Right.
PICARD: They're coming.
CRUSHER: I'm working as fast as I can.
(a hole appears and Beverly pushes Picard through, then it closes and the soldiers arrive)
TROOPER: Minister, we have the human female. The male is standing in Kes territory.
Nice upending of the usual cliche of the man making the noble sacrifice to save the woman.
But Lorin, seeing Riker's point, gives coordinates for Picard and Crusher to be beamed up.
Back on the ship, Riker briefs the returning Captain and Doctor.
RIKER: Mauric is determined to take his protest to the Federation Council, but I don't think he'll get very far.
PICARD: I tend to agree, Number One.
(Picard and Crusher glance at each other then laugh)
RIKER: Did I miss something?
PICARD: Of course. Of course. You're absolutely right.
So we're having fun with the mental link to fuck with Riker? I'm all for that.
Now I have enjoyed this episode so far with Riker's dealing with conflicting paranoia while Beverly and Jean Luc have been bonding a most unique and intimate way.
But this is where things go off the rails for me.
We end where we began, Picard's quarters, after dinner. There's candlelight and damn! Bevery is dressed in this slinky dress that's just... just... Damn!
CRUSHER: Don't get me wrong, Jean-Luc, but I'm glad we're not joined at the hip anymore.
PICARD: So, were you getting tired of my company?
CRUSHER: Just tired of bumping into you every thirty seconds. I was beginning to feel as if you were part of my uniform.
PICARD: (a toast) To freedom.
CRUSHER: Freedom. Penny for your thoughts?
PICARD: I was just thinking that as distracting as it was, I was beginning to get used to hearing your thoughts and I find that I miss it.
CRUSHER: So do I. It was very intimate. You know, last night I couldn't sleep.
PICARD: Oh?
CRUSHER: I was awake for several hours. And thanks to the implants, I got to hear some very interesting dreams of yours.
PICARD: A man can't be held responsible for what his mind does while he's asleep.
CRUSHER: What about when he's awake?
PICARD: So now that we've had this unique experience, what do we do?
CRUSHER: What do you mean?
PICARD: You know exactly what I mean.
CRUSHER: No, I don't. The implant's been removed, remember?
PICARD: Now that we know how each of us feels, perhaps we should not be afraid to explore those feelings.
(she kisses his cheek)
CRUSHER: Or perhaps we should be afraid. I think I should be going now.
(Picard opens the door for her)
CRUSHER: Goodnight.
PICARD: Goodnight.
(in the corridor, Beverly waits for a few moments before walking off. Picard also waits for a few moments before blowing out the candles)
No.
No!
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
What the hell,people!
I know it's the nature of episodic television to preserve the status quo at all costs but damn it, this is TNG's final season. If we were going to finally advance Jean Luc and Beverly from awkward side glances to actually being two mature and presumably horny adults, THIS was the time to do it.
In the series finale "All Good Things", we get a time jump to the future. Jean Luc and Beverly do get together, get married and get divorced. (So maybe Beverly's right to be cautious?)
In season 3 of Star Trek: Picard, we find out that Jean Luc and Beverly did get together and she became pregnant. (Seriously, what is the deal with 24th century birth control?)
But back to this episode...
I found it extremely frustrating when Beverly says "Or perhaps we should be afraid. I think I should be going now." It wasn't just because Beverly was looking so fine.
I really felt that TNG had a chance to do something bold and meaningful with these two, something that the fans really wanted.
Instead of pairing up Worf and Troi.
Really! What was up with that?
________________________________
That is seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation but I am not done with TNG. I want to go back and review some other aspects of the series. Like some spotlights on 2 parters or reviewing Lwaxana Troi episodes, things like that.
But as this is the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, some attention must be paid to the original series.
So we're off the 1960's for a series of posts on the O.G. Star Trek starting next week.
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