One Of The Worst: The Doctor Katherine Pulaski Star Trek Action Figure Fails! (My 100th Star Trek Action Figure Review!

The Good: Good conceptual accessories, Fair articulation
The Bad: Terrible sculpt, Accessory coloring, Low playability and collectibility
The Basics: Doctor Katherine Pulaski is, sadly, one of the worst Star Trek action figures Playmates ever produced, making a poor rendition of the character.


In the history of Playmates Toys's possession of the Star Trek license, there were some pretty lousy action figures. Most of the worst figures were cheap reuses of other figures' bodies with a different head plugged onto the body. Arguably, one of the worst of the line was their Doctor Katherine Pulaski action figure. A cheap reuse of a basic female body from Playmates Star Trek line, the Dr. Pulaski figure does not look like Diana Muldaur as Dr. Pulaski. And the basic body of the Doctor Pulaski figure does not even feature the character in her most-worn costume, making for a terrible figure in a crappy rendition of it.

Basics

The Star Trek 1996 Collection of action figures was a mix of Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine action figures and contained eighteen figures when it was done. It focused on alternate versions of the main cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation and supplemented the characters with memorable guest stars and aliens. This series seemed to recycle parts more and it was the series which was buoyed off the popularity of the "Tapestry" Picard action figure (reviewed here!), which was highly limited at the time. This series also contained the Doctor Katherine Pulaski figure which was a much better idea than it was execution. This is Dr. Pulaski as she appeared in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation (reviewed here!), though there were exceptionally few times she appeared in the basic Medical Officer's uniform instead of her alternate outfit with a very different cut.

Standing four and one-half inches tall, this is a poor likeness of Doctor Katherine Pulaski immortalized in plastic, from the head-sculpt to the costuming details. The character is molded with her fingers curved, but not closed, so Pulaski is able to hold most of her accessories. Pulaski's face is molded with a somewhat ridiculous smile on her face. The lips are very dark red and the light flesh tones of Pulaski lack any subtlety or shading. The figure includes Pulaski's curly hair, molded into the plastic, which makes her appear like she is wearing a helmet as opposed to having a good head of hair. The face and hair lack any sense of realistic toning. Her eyes are appropriately blue, but the pupils are white instead of black!

The paint job is mediocre. The skin tones are monolithic light tan and lack any shading or subtlety and the costume's color is not quite the right shade of blue as the uniforms from Star Trek: The Next Generation. This action figure does not look at all like Diana Muldaur as Dr. Pulaski, which makes it pretty much worthless to the fans who would actually want a Dr. Pulaski action figure.

Accessories

Doctor Katherine Pulaski comes with five accessories, plus a trading card unique to this line of figures. The accessories include a medical scanner, Starfleet monitor, medical tricorder, and medical case as well as an action base shaped like a Federation Communicator badge. The Action base is just enough to support Dr. Pulaski and is a StarFleet delta shield with a little black sticker that reads "Pulaski" to help keep it straight from the other figures. The center of the base has a peg which fits into the hole in either of the doctor's feet!

The StarFleet Monitor is an odd accessory for this action figure. While Doctor Katherine Pulaski was frequently seen using one, this is usually seen on desks around the Enterprise, not in character's hands. With the right arm movements, Pulaski may hold her desk monitor - which looks very much like the ones on the show and has a sticker to represent what is on the screen - in both hands, but she looks strange doing it.

The Medical case is essentially a big flat purse with a plastic strap which may be slung over Doctor Katherine Pulaski's shoulder. While it has the basic shape of a medical case, it is utterly lacking in the surface details and markings of a StarFleet medical kit. It is a monotonal purple plastic which is not at all what the prop looks like.

The Medical Tricorder is a similarly light-on-details accessory. The 3/4" box looks like the scanning device used by Doctor Katherine Pulaski and it fits in either of her hands, though it may be held better in Pulaski's left hand. This has the surface details of a tricorder, up to and including that the scanning wand is molded into the top of the device, but it does not do anything.

Finally, there is the Medical Scanner. Like the tricorder, it fits into either of Doctor Katherine Pulaski's hands. However, there are no surface details and it is cast in the purple plastic without coloring details, like the black grip or silver-gray proper coloring.

Unfortunately, all of these accessories are molded in a dark purple plastic that is utterly lacking in realistic coloring detail. Given that one of the accessories cannot even be held, Doctor Katherine Pulaski is over-accessorized and with the lame coloring of the accessories, it is tough to get excited about the pieces intended to accent the character.

This action figure was released when Playmates was trying to synergize with trading card collectors and the figure comes with a trading card with a gold stripe. The card features a decent upper body shot of Pulaski and the back tells the story of her experiences in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The card is very nice!

Playability

Doctor Katherine Pulaski continued the general quality of Star Trek toys from Playmates in its joints. Molded in an action pose, this is not a badly articulated version of Pulaski. Doctor Katherine Pulaski is endowed with twelve points of articulation: knees, groin socket, biceps, elbows, shoulders, neck, and waist. All of the joints, save the elbows and knees, are simple swivel joints. As a result, the neck turns left to right, for example, but the head cannot nod. Similarly, the shoulders are not ball and socket joints and only rotate. Still, Playmates dealt with this limitation by having a swivel joint in the bicep, that allows everything below to turn and offers real decent poseability!

Moreover, for use with actual play, Pulaski may bend or extend at the elbows, which offers a greater amount of movement potential making her one of the more realistic Star Trek action figures to play with (for those who actually play with these toys!).

Collectibility

Playmates mass produced the first few waves of Star Trek: The Next Generation figures, but by the time it got to this wave, some figures were seriously limited, including Pulaski. Found carded still in the $10 range, this is one of the worst investment figures Playmates created, given that it can be found dirt cheap even now. There is some added value in that Star Trek trading card collectors hunt for the figure for the trading card! There was only one release of the Pulaski figure and none of the other action figure companies bothered trying to make a rendition of the character.

That said, at least Playmates attempted to make the figures collectible. Each figure has an individual number on the bottom of her left foot. In the attempt to make them appear limited, they had numbers stamped on them, though one has to seriously wonder how limited something should be considered when there are at least 27,000 figures out there (my Pulaski is #026819!).

Overview

An interesting idea for an action figure, Doctor Katherine Pulaski is a poor rendition and not worth picking up.

For other Star Trek figures from the 1996 line, please check out my reviews of:
Captain Jean-Luc Picard As Galen In "Gambit"
Elim Garak
Grand Nagus Zek
Commander Worf
Benjamin Sisko As Seen In “Crossover”
Jadzia Dax As Seen in “Blood Oath”
Jem'Hadar Soldier
Odo From “Necessary Evil”
The Hunter Of The Tosk

1.5/10

For other Star Trek figures by Playmates Toys, be sure to visit my Playmates Star Trek Figure Review Index Page!

© 2016 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Go Out Whimpering: "Shades Of Gray" Is One Of The Worst Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes!

The Good: Moments of character insight
The Bad: Acting, Horrible clip selection, Lame plot, Poor acting
The Basics: A horrible episode, "Shades of Gray" is a lame, insipid clip show that closes the second season.


A season finale is a series' best chance of having an audience the next season. It is, therefore, baffling whenever any series has a substandard season finale. It's like a government not putting money aside during a surplus year. Given "Shades Of Gray," the second season finale of Star Trek The Next Generation, it's downright amazing that there was an audience to come back for season three.

"Shades Of Gray" finds Riker wounded on an alien planet. Once he is beamed back to the Enterprise, he becomes seriously ill, unconscious and his body invaded by an alien parasite. As he dies, Dr. Pulaski and Troi attempt to find a solution to the problem. The alien invader resists all attempts to kill it until the medical team realizes that memories are affecting the growth of the creature.

The problem is that the memories that cause and thwart the spread of the parasite are a cheap excuse for a clip show. "Shades Of Gray" is a lame episode that pastes together scenes from prior episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation under the pretense that Riker is fighting for his life with them.

The problem is that none of the clips are terribly compelling. They degenerate into explosions and screams as Riker fights the creature using his memories. Even more awkward, there are clips that have moments Riker is not even in. How is he supposed to remember things like a setting before he beamed into it?

This is a poorly edited episode. The clips are poorly chosen, the bits between are poorly acted. Most of the episode is shots of panning in on Riker's head. Occasionally, we are begging for the clip just to not be looking up Riker's nose any longer.

In the long run, this episode comes closest to the dangerous point of "Worst Episode Ever" (a title which I still assert belongs to the second season episode "The Royale"). It is simplistic and it adds nothing to the series as a whole. Riker never suffers the massive psychological consequences stemming from this episode.

None of the actors do an interesting, competent job. None of the characters advance. There is no plot here. The direction is weak, the special effects are non-existent or horrible.

This is a sad exit to Dr. Pulaski. Diana Muldaur, and the character of Pulaski, deserved better. At least it wasn't her who nearly sank the show. Riker came close with this finale. Funny, he never has the opportunity again. "Shades Of Gray" marks the last episode that Riker truly moves an episode exclusively. He never has another season premiere or finale. Sure, in the third season he's still around, but it's a diminished capacity. Following "Shades Of Gray," Riker is a lost character; the writers don't know what to do with him. Well, except mess around with his head. At least the fans get better.

This episode has nothing to recommend it to non-fans of the series. In fact, it has nothing to recommend it to fans of Star Trek The Next Generation. This is the least inspired episode of the show.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

.5/10

For other Star Trek reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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Let the Games For Survival Begin! "Peak Performance" Teases The Borg Menace!

The Good: Acting, Plot, Special effects
The Bad: Uneven characterization
The Basics: In an episode better for those who are not fans of the series, Riker and Picard square off in a war games exercise.


Only a few episodes ago, the Federation encountered a new menace, the Borg. Realizing that the Borg from "Q-Who?" (reviewed here!) represent the greatest threat to Federation security ever, our heroes in the 24th Century are determined to adapt. They'll need to. The first step toward acknowledging the Borg Threat comes in "Peak Performance."

When a Zakdorn (don't worry, we haven't heard of or seen them before this episode) strategist is brought aboard the Enterprise, his mission is to conduct a series of war games between Picard and the Enterprise and Riker and the barely functional U.S.S. Hathaway. Riker assembles his crew using many of Picard's best people: Worf, Geordi and Wesley Crusher. Picard and Data set out to win the games, though Data experiences a bout of self-doubt when the Zakdorn beats him at a holographic game. Once that dilemma is solved, and it is - rather quickly -, Data returns to duty and the war games commence, though not without complications.

The only real problem, and it's a serious one, with "Peak Performance" is that none of the characters read as true in the piece. Picard makes a one-line protest to the war games in general, defending that StarFleet is not a military organization. The Zakdorn strategist Kolrami seems to only know how to surrender. And Data's self-doubt is pathetic and obvious, predicated on the idea that Data has never failed before. Now who's being naive.

But the character inconsistencies continue; Picard cites Riker as a great challenge, though Picard has had vastly more experience and an actual practical knowledge of combat tactics. Until this episode, the only known military conflicts any Enterprise officers have served in was Picard's battle with the Ferengi. Why then does Picard think Riker is a cunning strategist? Picard has been calling the shots (which there haven't been many of) in space combat on the Enterprise. That whole aspect of the episode does not "read" right.

Moreover, the doubt Data feels is distracting, especially considering he was dealt a far worse blow in "Elementary, Dear Data" (reviewed here!) and he didn't blink an eye. Wesley's duplicity in this episode works for the character, but fails on a level of common sense. He is being guarded by a security officer and still bamboozles him.

So the episode doesn't work very well in the context of the series and it's an episode by it's nature, alluding to the Borg Threat, that demands series attention in order to understand the magnitude of the activity. Without "Q-Who?," "Peak Performance" would be even more baffling.

While their characters are riddled with faults, the acting is good. Brent Spiner plays the pride-wounded Data well, adding more to the character than we've seen him do in many recent episodes. Patrick Stewart uses some range with making Picard envious of Riker's abilities.

And, at heart, the plot is a pretty solid one. It's nice to see StarFleet preparing for an invasion. It makes sense. It makes even more sense in the future of the series when we see just how far the Federation got in its preparations.

All in all, this is a very accessible episode for fans of television in general. It tells a story and it has a habit of telling it well here, even if the characters don't make much sense in the long run.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

5.5/10

For other Star Trek reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2011, 2007, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.




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A Guilty Pleasure With Aliens On Star Trek The Next Generation, "The Emissary" Lives Up!

The Good: Acting, Character, Sense of Humor, COSTUMES, Special effects, Plot
The Bad: Nitpicks, minor melodrama moments
The Basics: A great episode, "The Emissary" features Worf and his first love interest in the series. A welcome development.


In a sequence that is, no doubt, intended to be funny in "The Dauphin" (reviewed here!), an earlier second season Star Trek The Next Generation episode, Worf reveals that Klingon mating begins with yelling, then throwing heavy objects at the male. Michael Dorn, who plays Worf, delivers the lines well, but it seems contrived in that episode and the humor falls flat. Enter "The Emissary," where Worf has the chance to illustrate and, in the process, create something much more meaningful.

"The Emissary" finds the Enterprise picking up a small high warp tube that contains a lifeform. That lifeform happens to be Klingon Special Emissary K'Ehleyr. K'Ehleyr is a unique individual (at least until Star Trek: Voyager came along later and tried to capitalize on her popularity with a similar character): half human, half Klingon. As well, it seems she and Worf have a bit of a history. The stoic and conservative Worf fell in love with K'Ehleyr and wanted to be married with her. K'Ehleyr is not the marrying type and they parted ways. Enter K'Ehleyr now, years later, for a dangerous mission. It seems some Klingons were put in suspended animation at the height of Klingon/Federation discord and a ship full of angry Klingons is about to awaken and go on a killing spree. K'Ehleyr's job is to safeguard Federation lives at any cost.

"The Emissary" is probably not a perfect episode. It's a wonderful piece of work and because I have, for years, been blown away by Suzie Plakson's performance as K'Ehleyr. She creates a character that is vibrant, exciting and original. Suzie appeared earlier in the season as the Vulcan Dr. Selar in "The Schizoid Man" (reviewed here!). As a credit to her acting ability she creates distinctly different characters. K'Ehleyr is a character that has depth and backstory and she steals every scene she's in.

The plot works well. The reason for that is that it effectively balances a Worf love story with an interesting tale that has real menace to it. The writers used a plausible technique for allowing hostile Klingons to be utilized with the Klingon sleeper ship. And given the state of Klingon intelligence, there's a legitimate question of how and where the T'Ong will materialize.

Michael Dorn, as well, gives a great acting performance. Here he's given the chance to give range to Worf, who has had a tendency to be underused in the series thus far. Dorn uses more than just his voice here; his talent is revealed in facial expressions, eye movements and subtle body language, especially in the love scene.

"The Emissary" is basically a chance to reveal the sensitive, emotive side to Worf and it works as that. Worf is a character that has always had intrigue and layers. Given the opportunity to see his attempt to love and grow in that way, it's a welcome thing.

This is an episode that is essential to the fan of Klingons or Star Trek The Next Generation. But for people who are not fans of Star Trek? I don't know how much this episode would have to offer, save the easy eye candy of Suzie Plakson as the wonderful K'Ehleyr. Well, for a change, that's enough. Fortunately, this episode backs up the sight with substance.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

9/10

For other Star Trek episode, season and film reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.




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A Future Throwback To The Past: "Up The Long Ladder" Is Surprisingly Good!

The Good: Moments of humor, Science, Acting
The Bad: Stereotypes, Character
The Basics: An episode involving farmers and clones leaves the Enterprise in a double bind, but the viewer laughing and thinking.


One of the most obscure episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation is a the second season episode "Up the Long Ladder." Why this one almost never received attention is a bit of a mystery, especially considering that it has one of the most solid science fiction plots of any Star Trek The Next Generation episode.

"Up the Long Ladder" finds the Enterprise rescuing a group of colonists who have abandoned technology and become farmers and adopted a traditional lifestyle. When the Enterprise rescues the settlers and their livestock, they are clued in to the existence of a sister ship that colonized a nearby planet. The Enterprise visits that other planet to discover a thriving colony of clones. Unfortunately, after so many generations, they need an infusing of new DNA. To that end, they turn on the Enterprise crewmembers that show up.

Part of the problem with the episode is the ethical half of it. "Up the Long Ladder" hinges on the idea that the Enterprise crew is revolted by the idea of donating DNA and having themselves cloned. Does it truly matter? By the time of Star Trek The Next Generation, it seems far-fetched. The crew of the Enterprise aids other cultures having medical problems, why would the donation of DNA be so heinous an idea to them? It makes little sense, though the inhabitants of that planet try to get the genetic material by force. But after that . . . Come on!

Also not terribly realistic are the character elements portrayed in this episode. While Picard shows some good character development by laughing in an awkward situation, it comes too soon in the series. He goes back to his usual stern demeanor the next week, so why does this twist come here? It seems out of place, though not so much in the episode as in the entire series. Riker's womanizing in "Up the Long Ladder" seems more a throwback to James Kirk of Star Trek than William Riker of Star Trek The Next Generation.

But outside that, the episode succeeds. There are moments that the usually deadpan 24th Century folk are confronted with basically hillbillies in space and the scenes are funny. I mean actually funny, as opposed to "here's a moment of humor in a serious episode" funny. The sequences are actually humorous.

And yes, the episode takes an abrupt shift from comedy to drama, but it concludes with an effective blending of the two. The science half is excellent, describing realistically a legitimate theoretical cloning issue without sounding like a biology lesson. It's a nice effect and this episode pulls it off well by using good guest actors.

In fact, all of the guest actors here pull off their jobs quite convincingly. While the words on the script are often standard or outright bland, the actors and actresses infuse the characters with life and vitality. It's a nice effect and it works in the episode's favor.

So who would like "Up the Long Ladder?" I think anyone who likes science fiction. This is a definite science fiction episode. Those who don't like science fiction won't be grabbed by this one. Everyone else will find this a great combination of science and fiction, doing what science fiction does best.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

5.5/10

For other Star Trek episode and movies reviews, please visit my index page for an organized listing!

© 2011, 2008, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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A Lame Captive, A Genuine Prison: "Samaritan Snare"

The Good: Acting in the Picard/Wesley plot, Character in the Picard/Wesley plot
The Bad: The supposed A-plot Geordi story
The Basics: An interesting, well acted Picard/Crusher story is underexposed by a Geordi hostage situation that never is compelling in "Samaritan Snare."


"Samaritan Snare" remains one of Star Trek The Next Generation episodes that does little based on its title and that whole plot line; it's a "Geordi gets the crap kicked out of him" episode. The b-plot is a far more meaningful and lasting.

This episode finds the Enterprise, minus Picard, encountering the rejects of the galaxy, known as the Pakleds. They have stolen their technology from various sources and upon encountering the Enterprise, they are broken down and need an engineer. Geordi goes over to their ship where he is promptly kidnaped and held hostage for technical aid. Meanwhile, Picard is headed to a starbase to have a new heart put in and Wesley Crusher is stuck in the same shuttlecraft on his way to StarFleet testing.

The b-plot, with Picard and Wesley is the real gem of this episode. It puts two characters who are very uncomfortable with one another in a tight situation where they are forced to interact together. Picard and Wesley have always had an uncomfortable relationship and this episode puts them in a long ride with one another. And when they are forced together, the episode works. It does something and it does something well. It has a real human element that works quite well.

The problem, then, is the amount of time and energy that the first plot is given. It's hard to care that Geordi is captured by a bunch of idiots when Captain Picard is dying. Go figure. And the villains aren't too terribly compelling. They are a bunch of simpletons capturing the least compelling character in the cast. It's a huge mistake as far as attempting to keep an episode interesting. There's no real threat from the Pakleds and it's hard to care about Geordi in this situation because he's been dealt a bad script.

That's not to say that the acting is bad. LeVar Burton does a great job, but he's playing with a poor hand. Conversely, Wil Wheaton and Patrick Stewart do a great job playing off one another as Crusher and Picard. They infuse genuine talent to a plot that could have been poorly paced and deadly dull. Instead, they breath life into the episode that was otherwise lifeless.

Unfortunately, even their talent isn't enough to save this poor episode. Too much attention and effort is placed in the wrong place: the Geordi hostage episode. And we know how that one will end, which further slows the episode down. And this is a belabored episode for too long.

While this sets up future episodes with Picard and Wesley Crusher, this episode is hard to swallow for anyone who is not a fan of Star Trek The Next Generation.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

4.5/10

For other Star Trek franchise reviews, please visit my index page for an organized listing of them!

© 2011, 2008, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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A Dilemma Too Soon, With Questionable Resolve: "The Icarus Factor" Lists.

The Good: Exploring Riker's character well, Acting, Attempts at character
The Bad: Utter lack of real plot, Pacing
The Basics: The demise of the Riker character is presided over by father issues and distracted from by John Tesh as a Klingon in “The Icarus Factor.”


Commander William T. Riker is a cat that's hard to write for. At least, that appears to be what happened on Star Trek The Next Generation. The first season, the story was Picard and Riker's. The second season, it's mostly still Riker and Picard, but Riker is in decline. Data and Worf from this point in the series will grow as characters and gain more airtime; Riker has one season finale and it's the second season's. "The Icarus Factor" is part of the reason Riker's character begins to disappear following the second season.

"The Icarus Factor" finds Commander Riker offered his own command. And arriving to help facilitate that transition is . . . Kyle Riker, William's father. The Rikers have issues between themselves; Kyle abandoned his son following his wife's death. William resents his father and refuses to forgive him for his past. In a b-plot, Worf celebrates his anniversary of his Age of Ascension (a coming of age rite in Klingon life). After several scenes of buildup, the Klingon undergoes a ceremony where he is stabbed with painsticks in front of his friends. Ooh, exciting.

One of the most successful things that "The Icarus Factor" does it bridge the a and b plots using Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldar). She had a past relationship with Kyle Riker and her friendship with Worf has been something that has been building in the series since her arrival. Pulaski serves as a good commentator for the human condition. She is the human element that we are able to relate with, probably because in the 24th Century, she is considered a conservative. She effectively negotiates the Riker/Riker relationship and explores Klingon culture in the Worf plot.

The strength of this episode is that it takes on the Riker character in a meaningful way. All along, we have known that Riker's ambition is to be a starship captain. Now, what he wants most is set right in his lap. And Jonathan Frakes rises to the occasion. His self-doubt and ambition collide and the writing in relation to his issues with his father and how the command and father issues collide is expert. It's finessed well with Frakes infusing Riker with facial expressions and body language that perfectly evokes the controlled rage he has for his father.

The problem is that the episode comes too quickly in the series. Riker's greatest ambition is satisfied by episode 40! Whose idea was that? Whoever it was made a huge mistake. Why? Riker's attainment of a command position could have been an excellent give and take over the years as he struggled to prove himself to StarFleet. Here, StarFleet says "You're ready" and Riker reacts as he does. I suppose it doesn't ruin the episode to know that Riker, naturally, does not take the job. He's there the other five and a half seasons. His reason is that he feels at home on the Enterprise and he believes the Enterprise is where he can learn best. So, why then does he not spend the rest of the series looking to Picard more as a mentor? The writers drop the ball.

Or maybe they don't; perhaps this is the point the writers realized that Riker's potential was seriously limited. The character came to the series fairly well developed, he had his ambitions, he had a past relationship, he was a man of action. And here, in the most philosophical Riker episode to date ("Hide and Q" hardly counts), a full third of his character is put to rest. Lacking the ambition for command, Riker's character begins to wither.

It seems appropriate, then, that the b-plot in this episode is a Worf story. It also is appropriate that it's not the best Worf story. Most of it takes time with Wesley trying to figure out why Worf is walking around acting perturbed. When it is finally revealed that Worf is simply sulking about not being around other Klingons on his anniversary, it seems anticlimactic. And once that happens, all Worf has to do is get stabbed with painsticks? Oooh. Who cares?

Unfortunately, it's not enough to keep me into it. Both plots seem to have awkwardly simple resolutions for the magnitudes of the problems experienced. Moreover, the pace is often so slow in this episode that it exaggerates the insignificance of the conflicts.

Not terribly accessible to those who aren't fans of the show and certainly not earthshattering for those of us who are.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

4.5/10

For other Star Trek franchise reviews, please visit my index page here!

© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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A Virus Worth Coming Back To: "Contagion" Works Surprisingly Well!

The Good: Acting, Plot, Character, Effects, Pacing
The Bad: Minor Details, Simple Resolution
The Basics: In a surprisingly good episode from the second season, Picard discovers an ancient civilization and a threat to the Federation as the Enterprise collapses.


Star Trek Deep Space Nine tried to differentiate itself as often as possible from Star Trek The Next Generation. It did everything it could to make a more adult, clever and dangerous show than Star Trek The Next Generation. There were, of course, lapses. There were things Star Trek Deep Space Nine used from the earlier series, but always with good reason and in the attempt of expanding the Trek universe. "Contagion" is one such episode; Deep Space Nine alludes to it in the fourth season episode "To The Death.”

"Contagion" finds the U.S.S. Enterprise responding to a distress call from the Galaxy-class vessel U.S.S. Yamato. Launched at about the same time as the Enterprise, the Yamato is trapped in the Romulan Neutral Zone suffering from a catastrophic systems failure. The Enterprise arrives just in time to witness its complete destruction. Shortly thereafter, the Enterprise begins to experience systems difficulties (an out of control turbolift, problems with the power systems, transporter difficulties, etc.). Picard reviews the logs of the Yamato's captain long enough to determine it is worthwhile for him to assume his mission. So the Enterprise is going on a hunt for a mythical planet in the Romulan Neutral Zone. And as the Enterprise breaks down, Picard, Data and Worf become stranded. And, of course, the Romulans show up!

"Contagion" is one of Star Trek The Next Generation's second season's surprise hits. While "Measure Of A Man" (reviewed here!) is a philosophical masterpiece and pretty much a guaranteed grand slam in the Trek universe, "Contagion" does what it does very differently and with much more quiet grace. What "Measure Of A Man" did for philosophical drama, "Contagion" does for suspense. "Contagion" very effectively, consistently, keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat wondering what will come next. The nice thing about it is that it creates a suspense/adventure episode that is intelligent. This episode is not about a lot of things exploding or fast movements, it's an archaeological expedition and it works quite well as a suspense with the Enterprise failure and encroachment into the Neutral Zone aspects.

The writers of this episode very cleverly tie the external threat - the Romulans - to an internal threat - the potential destruction of the Enterprise through its systems simply degrading. The two elements very effectively create a compelling race against time. As well, the idea of the mythical Iconians is intriguing and the effect of their technology throughout the episode makes for more than just a convenient plot device. Here is Star Trek The Next Generation at its best dispelling the ethnocentrism that the Federation is the center of the universe and that it could never fall.

Part of what makes "Contagion" successful is that the actors all perform in this one. Stewart plays Picard in an awkward place torn between his own passion and the welfare of his ship. For the first time, we see Picard truly excited about an alien planet and his love of archaeology is introduced. What allows the viewer to buy this unquestionably is the way Patrick Stewart brings it in. He quietly brings enthusiasm into his voice and his body language changes as he becomes intrigued with the mystery on the alien world.

Frakes and Dorn give excellent supporting performances as Riker and Worf. And here we see Brent Spiner playing a wounded Data. It's a refreshing acting use of Spiner and given the opportunity, the actor does not waste it. Data's failure in this episode is played out as quite different from his suffering in "The Naked Now" or "Justice." Indeed, Spiner plays the malfunctioning Data in a way that pulls at the heartstrings of the viewer; we fear for his character, so masterful is Spiner's performance.

So, what prevents this from being a perfect episode? Mostly just the resolution. Data inadvertently brings about the episode's final solution and it seems almost too obvious, something that any one of us using computers today would have thought of when there is a computer problem. That is frustrating when the rest of the episode works so well.

But, it is enough to keep it from perfection. Fortunately, when Star Trek Deep Space Nine revisits the Iconian revelation from "Contagion," it manages to pull off something even better.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

9/10

For other Star Trek episode and DVD set reviews, please be sure to visit my index page!

© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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An Unfortunate Necessary Evil Episode That Replays: "The Dauphin" Is All Right.

The Good: Good acting, Good character development
The Bad: Awkward special effects, Repetitive, Nature of episode
The Basics: A competent love story with Wesley Crusher, "The Dauphin" suffers for special effects and replayability.


If the video (or new DVD) of "The Dauphin" was to be true to itself, the video would replay itself five times after each viewing. Allow me to backtrack: back when the second season of Star Trek The Next Generation originally aired, there was a writer's strike midseason. "The Dauphin" had aired before the strike and while the Industry was frozen, reruns were played. "The Dauphin" became the most played episode of Star Trek The Next Generation that year. For a over a month, "The Dauphin" and "Elementary, Dear Data" were replayed. Over and over again. A month of this episode. So it's somewhat understandable that even now, years later, it's difficult to watch this episode given how many times, as a youth, I saw it.

"The Dauphin" is the somewhat necessary story of Wesley Crusher's first love. I mean, no one expected him to be a eunuch, right? So, when a visiting planetary ruler appears on the ship, Wesley is immediately smitten with her. It's a pretty convenient relationship in that regard; she's his age, she's been isolated from social contact and she digs guys with brains. Wesley and Salia begin a relationship, against the express wishes of Salia's guardian, Anya. Anya, it is soon revealed, has the ability to change her shape in order to protect her waifish charge. The episode continues as a pretty typical "love story of the week for an hour drama" episode. Which means, we know in the end Wesley and Salia part ways.

Oh, it's not like I just gave away the universe; I said she was a planetary ruler. Actually, Salia is on her way to take her assignment as a planetary ruler. But as a general rule, planetary rulers and ensigns (or Commanders, if we recall "Angel One") don't truly form long term relationships. In fact, Star Trek: The Next Generation was notoriously bad, even for episodic television, at creating relationships with the characters. Over the seven years of the series, Data and Picard emerge as the most emotionally connected characters (rewatch the series, including the movies and try to beat that concept down!). Romance does not last in this incarnation of Star Trek.

Okay then, why should you watch this episode? It's a pretty genuine portrayal of young love and it's a fun episode to watch when you want to be taken back to the excitement and naïveté of a first love. In fact, the writing on this episode is pretty sharp as far as catching concepts on romance and accepting young love for the potentials it actually has.

Even more than the rampant nostalgia and sentimentality of the episode, the actors are doing a good job on this one. Wil Wheaton delivers as Wesley Crusher here making it seem like he truly is clueless as to how women work and what they are. Whoopi Goldberg's cameo is refreshing and genuine and her delivery of her lines is expert, creating a sage in Guinan away from the comedian, Goldberg. In fact, one of the most delicious scenes of the season is a Guinan/Riker flirting scene in "The Dauphin."

But the real gem of the episode is Jamie Hubbard as Salia. Wheaton gives a performance that would not have been convincing had it not been for the brainy, simple beauty portrayed by Jamie Hubbard. The two work quite well together in this one. Wheaton and Hubbard have genuine on-screen chemistry and that goes a long way to making the viewer believe in the connection of their characters.

Outside of the acting, the character development is well done. Wesley Crusher matures a necessary step and it feels appropriate how this episode goes.

Unfortunately, midway through the episode, Wesley goes on a witless quest to understand what love is and in the process interviews everyone. Worf gives a bit that introduces us to Klingon love, but it's not as funny as it is as written. Especially when you've seen the episode five times (or more!).

As well, the special effects in this episode distract from the movement of the episode in their quality. Maybe the effects department was going on strike over their lack of computer special effects on this show (there's a morph here that was done as a make-up and lens effect and it's so dated now that it made me wish for the Star Trek 60s morph using fading), but despite the complicated nature of creating the effects in this episode, not a one stands up as realistic or, to beat a dead horse, special.

But, in the end, this is not an effects episode, it's a love story and it does what it needs to do on that front and it does it in a way that clearly delineates it from, say, a Riker love story. This one is accessible to all audiences and worth your time, just maybe not five times it.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

6/10

For other Star Trek franchise reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2007, 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.




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Perfection, Or Close Enough, In A Morality Play: "The Measure Of A Man"

The Good: Excellent character development, Strong moral play, Acting, Theme
The Bad: Moments of heavyhandedness
The Basics: Despite some annoying Picard moments, "The Measure Of A Man" remains as one of the best, most interesting morality plays this series did.


When I first wrote a review for the Star Trek The Next Generation episode, "The Measure Of A Man," I was surprised to find no one had beaten me to it. In fact, I was shocked because some of the obscure episodes of Star Trek Deep Space Nine had reviews (and not just by me!), but this rather popular episode of Star Trek The Next Generation did not. Go figure. Now, I remain surprised that this episode is not reviewed by more people, that it is not hailed in these turbulent times as a cultural milestone that illustrates how far we have fallen from our ideals.

"The Measure Of A Man" finds the Enterprise visiting a new starbase near the Romulan Neutral Zone where Captain Picard is reunited with an old adversary of his, Captain Phillipa Louvois, the woman who prosecuted Picard when he lost his last command, the U.S.S. Stargazer. After establishing their awkward relationship, Commander Bruce Maddox appears and demands Data. It turns out he is a cyberneticist studying Noonien Soong, Data's creator. He wants to disassemble Data and build more Soong-type androids. Data, not trusting Maddox's skill, resigns from StarFleet only to be told he can't; he has been deemed property. What ensues then is a legal battle where the question of whether Data is property or a sentient life form begins. When Data's identity as an individual is threatened, Picard steps up to his defense and Commander Riker is compelled by Louvois to take the prosecution's role.

I always took it as Gospel that "The Measure Of A Man" was a perfect episode. I remember, vaguely, the very first time I watched it, being blown away by the message of the episode. It's a powerful one. "The Measure Of A Man" operates on the premise that the only reason to replicate someone is to create a slave race. Bummer, especially for Data. In fact, one of the most noteworthy moments of the episode is a quiet scene between Picard and the mysterious Guinan (played by Whoopi Goldberg) who puts the concept together for Picard and the audience. It's poignant and it's terrifying in its implications, that even in the future, the dominant culture would enslave others who might have as much identity and ability as themselves.

The legal battle rivals moments from such classic shows as L.A. Law and The Practice. Here, we see Commander Riker deliver a courtroom display of evidence that is instantly damaging to Picard's defense of the android. This is high drama and the idea that the fight is not so much over an individual, but a race is compelling.

And it's a great theme and a necessary one. And it is delivered well. Brent Spiner plays perfectly the emotionless Data who frames the legal arguments both for and against him. Spiner must deliver lines with clarity and without any real affect, including some about his character's prior intimacies and there is never a moment in this episode where his facade slips. We never see a hint of Spiner in Data.

He is pulled at by a surprisingly passionate Picard who is played with grace and depth by Patrick Stewart this time around in a way we are not used to seeing him play the captain. But it works. Stewart has dramatic intensity and it works perfectly in this role as he is an expert at emoting. Stewart has a way of softening his features to emote and here he makes his face gentle and caring in a way he seldom does on Star Trek The Next Generation. Yet, he makes the viewer believe completely that this is within his character.

Almost on the same level is Jonathan Frakes, playing Commander Riker, whose tormented position in this role forces him to prosecute Data and present the counterargument. That his character comes across as tortured while presenting his powerful argument is a credit to Frakes, whose acting saves this portion of the episode. In fact, Frakes is forced to make some of the most unenviable arguments and he humanizes his character by making it difficult on Riker. Indeed, one of the best performances Frakes gives is when he - as Riker - leans down and whispers to Data before illustrating how much of a machine the android is.

But upon rewatching this classic recently, I was frustrated by how much airtime was spent with Picard and Louvois. Moreover, some of Picard's lines to Louvois are distracting; he talks down to her at times like I never have heard him talk down to his own officers. And she is his equal! It's frustrating to hear Picard say things that border on sexism (i.e. reminding Louvois to do her job in the trial) that seem unnecessary.

At the end of the day, though, this is one of the few times I'm willing to sweep a complaint under the rug for an episode that deserves to be watched. A must for anyone who likes courtroom drama, existentialist questions and a fine debate. "The Measure Of A Man" is a worthwhile intellectual endeavor that is more fun than sitting in a philosophy class.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

9.5/10

For other Star Trek franchise movie and episode reviews, please visit the index page here!

© 2011, 2008, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Exchanges In Officers Are "A Matter Of Honor"

The Good: Acting, Plot, Character, Effects
The Bad: Minor production stuff
The Basics: A solid Klingon episode, “A Matter Of Honor” puts Riker on a Klingon ship with a crisis he's actually forced to solve using his own skills.


Star Trek The Next Generation tries several things that Star Trek never did. One of them is that there come several officer exchange programs. The first of these is "A Matter of Honor." The reason this episode is probably so successful is that it is simply the first attempt at such an episode. The basic idea of Star Trek The Next Generation is to explore various cultures (or aspects of our culture or world under the guise of alien races) and the direct way to do this is to force a character into another culture fully. This episode finds Riker aboard a Klingon ship and a new alien officer aboard the Enterprise.

Commander Riker decides, under the clever manipulation of Picard, to take a job on a Klingon starship. This leads Riker to learn as much about Klingons as he can. When Riker leaves, the Enterprise takes on a Benzite ensign. While Riker begins to learn the joys and hazards of working on the Klingon ship (fear of assassination, eating Klingon food), the Benzite officer attempts to make a difference on the Enterprise. In the process, the poor Benzite, who Wesley befriends, offends every major officer, especially Worf. Riker's attempts at integration are going well, until a microbiotic colony threatens the Klingon ship and the Klingon captain assumes it is a new weapon from the Federation.

What works is that Jonathan Frakes performs well as Riker. He fleshes Riker out as an adventurous, risk-taking man who is interesting to watch. And in this episode, Frakes plays that off well, keeping Riker interesting and layered. In fact, the episode is strengthened by Frakes' facial expressions and body language. Frakes is given the rare chance to use his boyish charm and present that through the character in a way that strengthens the idea of Riker's persona. Frakes wisely dishes it out among the Klingons, who are revealed in this episode to have some genuine love of live (food, women, etc.).

One of the unfortunate aspects of this episode in the Riker plot is that Riker takes on Klingons in physical combat. At this point in Star Trek The Next Generation, we know a few things about Klingons. They are strong and they have bony, armored bodies. So, when Riker is punching around the second officer of the Pagh, it's a more than a little hard to suspend our disbelief. Riker illustrates no pain over punching around a Klingon. This is especially bothersome when one takes into account the massive armor Klingons wear. Having scene the props used in this episode up close, it's hard to imagine even brushing the Klingon suits with a fake punch and not hurting one's hand! To suspend our disbelief to believe that Riker's hands are somehow stronger than armor is ridiculous.

Outside that, the episode is pretty much a success. The Benzite plot works out fine, though in the larger context of the series, it's a failure; the Benzites are replaced by the Bolians, who have the same racial profile of demanding perfection and wanting efficiency. The Bolians require less make-up. It's easy to see why the Benzites were replaced with something less prosthetic heavy, but it's somewhat disappointing that they were never mentioned again. The Benzite in this episode and "Coming of Age" (reviewed here!) are memorable enough.

The special effects with the Klingon Bird of Prey are excellent. This is the first time the vehicles from Star Trek III: The Search For Spock are prominently featured in Star Trek The Next Generation and the effects hold up quite well, even by today's standards.

More than "Heart of Glory" (reviewed here!), this is an excellent primer on Klingon culture. Here we learn a thing or two about Klingons and their society and at the same time, they are fleshed out as a very real people. Instead of being monolithic adversaries, here we are shown their ability to have fun in scenes in the Pagh's mess hall. Unlike the mindless killers of Star Trek, these Klingons have character, a desire to succeed and an ability to joke. Using Riker as the exchange officer allows the viewer to appreciate some of the nuance and depth of that exploration as he is a pretty adventurous character.

More than anything, though, this is a well-written episode. It has a solid plot, a clear growth of characterization, and an interesting sense of movement. This is a great episode to get introduced to Star Trek The Next Generation. Very accessible for non-fans of the series.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

7/10

For other Star Trek reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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Revenge Of The Malicious Hole In Space! "Time Squared" Is An Interesting Science Fiction Episode!

The Good: Good acting, Interesting enough plot, Special effects
The Bad: Pointless belaboring of science, Lack of genuine character development
The Basics: A fair episode, "Time Squared" is a science-heavy episode that explores a Picard that arrives in the past after the Enterprise has been destroyed.


"Time Squared" is an episode that can be somewhat annoying to the fans of Star Trek The Next Generation who actually read TV Guide; every now and then, TV Guide lists an episode of Star Trek The Next Generation called "Time To The Second." Alas, there is no lost episode of Next Generation, For some reason, TV Guide calls "Time Squared" by that other title. Go figure.

"Time Squared" finds the Enterprise flying through space when it encounters a shuttlecraft. The crew is surprised to realize that the shuttlecraft is one of the Enterprise's own and it also appears that the vessel is still aboard the starship. They bring the shuttlecraft aboard (next to its counterpart) and open it up to discover . . . Captain Picard is aboard. Picard (our regular Picard) is baffled by the presence of the duplicate and strangely disturbed by the man. As the Enterprise crew works to determine where this came from, Picard becomes reclusive. The crew discovers that the Enterprise, a few hours in the future, will be destroyed. And the episode then goes from there, trying to piece together how and why Picard left the Enterprise before it was destroyed.

The problem is that the alternate Picard is not conscious. He becomes more awake and more aware the closer to the time of the Enterprise's destruction. In the process, the Enterprise encounters a big hole in space that seems to be the cause of the destruction. The amount of time belaboring the scientific anomaly is incredible and distracting. That is to say that outside the anomaly, this episode isn't terribly much.

But it tries to be and that gets some points. The relationship between Picard and the alternate Picard is an odd one; Picard becomes moody and angry at his other self, believing that the alternate lacks his values. He seems very troubled by the duplicate and that part tries to read as real. Why does it fail? I think it fails because every opportunity to expand on that, to delve into the meat of Picard's difficulties with himself, the show shifts to a scientific explanation or a medical review. It loses the momentum for character development at every turn.

What saves the episode from obscurity and the trashcan is the acting. Patrick Stewart goes all out as both himself and his duplicate. His facial expressions and mute horror in the eyes that Stewart portrays is amazing. He performs here and he makes an uncertain character position much more believable.

The special effect of the malicious hole in space (is it an entity? Is it a spacial phenomenon? Who knows?) is pretty unique. It looks good and it adds believability to the episode.

And the plot, despite being a bit tech heavy, is paced in a way that is enough keep the viewer interested. For a second season of Star Trek The Next Generation episode, sometimes that's the most you can hope for.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

7/10

For other Star Trek franchise reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2011, 2007, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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Worst Episode Ever! Anything But Royal In "The Royale"

The Good: I wish there was at least one (it’s fun to see Sam Anderson in a different role?)
The Bad: PLOT, Utter lack of purpose, character development or acting talent
The Basics: In the darkest hour - of quality - of Star Trek The Next Generation, "The Roayle" puts three crew members in a casino in space.


On The Simpsons, Comic Book Guy is frequently seen lamenting, "Worst Episode Ever!" Had he seen the episode "The Royale" of Star Trek The Next Generation, I'm certain he would make the same complaint.

Even worse than the lackluster season two finale, "The Royale" has Riker, Data and Worf exploring a strange region of space that appears to be an interstellar casino. Yup, that's the story. Apparently, an old NASA ship ended up in an alien region of space where the pilots were inadvertently killed by the aliens. The aliens, who we only encounter in human form, felt remorse and constructed the casino as a memorial based on a book the pilot had in his possession.

That's it, that's the story.

Unfortunately, the episode is bogged down in peripheral characters, drawn on from the novel. They are all lame types, caricatures and stereotypes all. The thought here is that the novel the aliens are basing the memorial casino on was real bad. Just plain horrible. It's a piece of crap dime store novel.

Unfortunately, this is addressed in the episode, but does not improve it. While the characters - especially Picard and Troi in a gruesome scene of reading the novel - acknowledge the quality of the novel, it does not help the characters in the casino. They are listless, the actors are giving uninspired performances, and instead of being a parody of crappy paperback novels, this episode becomes one.

"The Royale" tries to tell the story of an angry bellboy, a mobster, a Southern gambler and a naive woman in a casino/hotel where Data, Riker and Worf end up. It attempts to be a parody of the just plain awful writing of such novels and in the process, produces something just as bad. In some ways, the writing got the experience too right; rather than openly being a parody, the episode mirrors the lame plot twists and outrageous happenings of crappy mobster novels.

And I have the feeling the actors knew how bad this was; Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner and Michael Dorn all seem unexcited about their roles. None of them give their best performances, none of them have any vitality to them. And that, in addition to the other things that are wrong with this episode, further detracts from the episode. Their uninspired performances suck out the feeling of menace that could have existed.

As it is, "The Royale" has nothing at all to recommend it. It is, truly, the worst episode of Star Trek The Next Generation ever produced and is not worth the time of the fans of the show, nor anyone else.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

0/10

For other Star Trek franchise reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.




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A Bad Idea Made Better: "Unnatural Selection."

The Good: Acting, Quasi-sensible plot, Characters
The Bad: Recycled plot, Unconvincing make-up
The Basics: When Dr. Pulaski begins to age rapidly, the rushes to find a reason, the viewer tries to stay awake.


In one of the closer calls as to recommend or not a second season Star Trek The Next Generation episode, "Unnatural Selection" actually came down to a split decision and I ended up opting not to recommend it. Is it an all right episode? Sure. Is it something to write home about, no. It's probably a hair's width below average.

"Unnatural Selection" takes a cue from Star Trek's "The Deadly Years" (reviewed here!) and decides to explore the nature of aging. In this instance, Dr. Katherine Pulaski begins to age significantly while investigating an outbreak of rapid aging from a dead starship and then a genetic research center. After taking every possible precaution to attempt to discover the cause, Pulaski exposes herself to a genetically engineered youth and soon after begins to age rapidly.

So, it's fairly obvious to us, the viewer, who is the cause of this affliction and the rest of the episode is spent attempting to determine how or why the genetically enhanced youth are causing this malaise. Is it enough to keep us in our seats? Probably, but certainly not on the edge of them.

This episode suffers from being occasionally obvious - from the solution to the problem to the naming of the genetic research center Darwin Station. Similarly, the make-up is unconvincing and too often, the viewer finds themself thinking, "Well, Diana Muldaur must have hated having all that put on" or "I can still tell it's Diana Muldaur" instead of actually believing the changes in Dr. Pulaski.

However, "Unnatural Selection" has both a more sensible cause and a more reasonable resolution to the aging problem than "The Deadly Years" ever did. In fact, the science of this episode is often fun to watch and intriguing to listen to, if not wholly plausible. This is one of the episodes that very effectively balances the human aspect with the scientific.

Part of the way that balance is maintained is through the use of Pulaski and her foil Data. I know I've said in previous reviews that the Pulaski/Data relationship is detrimental to the series in that it attempts to recreate a Spock/McCoy relationship that is out of place in the new environment. In this episode, the bitter quips are gone, the two are operating in a stalemate derived from sensibility. This is less of an adversarial foil relationship and more a "these are opposite sides of the same coin" experience.

And the actors, especially Diana Muldaur and Brent Spiner, come out in this episode with strength. Diana Muldaur, especially, makes the whole experience plausible and her character strength is enhanced only by the actress performing with great delivery and charisma.

In the end, however, all of the character development that is exposed or developed in this episode turns on a simple trick and that leaves us ultimately unfulfilled. This episode is quite accessible to those who are not fans of Star Trek The Next Generation but is unlikely to be enjoyable to anyone who doesn't like science fiction. At best, a nice way to spend a Saturday night.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

4.5/10

For other Star Trek movie and episode reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2010, 2008, 2002 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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