Encountering a hole in space unlike anything in Starfleet records, Picard decides to stop to investigate. It is not a traditional black hole. It gives off no readings of any kind. Data observes that it seems to be the absence of everything. When they move closer to the phenomenon, it suddenly moves - swallowing them up in it.
Attempts to navigate back out of the phenomenon fail, as the Enterprise appears to be literally going around in circles. They are confronted with puzzles - an attack by a Romulan vessel, the sudden appearance of a Starfleet vessel. Picard gradually realizes that this is all the work of an intelligence, and that he and his crew are rats in a maze, in some being's cosmic laboratory. What will be the price of release?
CHARACTERS
Capt. Picard: We get a good example of Picard's command style, as he prods Worf to tell him about the old Klingon legend, observing that the ship functions best when his officers share their thoughts and observations. He likes to listen to the recommendations of everyone on his staff, then make his decision, as opposed to just going by seat-of-the-pants instinct. Later, when given an opportunity to escape the phenomenon if he leaves Riker and Worf behind, Picard passes it up. With the Enterprise in no imminent danger, he will not sacrifice lives in exchange for a chance of escape.
Riker: This episode shows Riker's value in being able to snap some of the others out when they get stuck in one frame of mind, particularly when fueled by adrenaline. When Worf is in combat mode, both in the simulation and in the false starship, Riker barks orders at him to get him to re-establish his self-discipline. Later, he does something similar for Picard. When the Enterprise finally is free of the phenomenon, Picard runs the ship's self-destruct to the last second, not certain that they truly have escaped. When the countdown gets close to the end, Riker urgently whispers, "Captain!" - which seems to break Picard out of his spell, prompting him to stop the countdown.
Worf: His training involves holodeck programs that look like a cross between Dagobah and Dungeons & Dragons. When he really gets into the fight, he can lose some of his sense of perspective, requiring Riker to bark orders at him, addressing him as "lieutenant," to snap him out of it. He reacts to the hole in space with fear, as it evokes memories of old Klingon legends.
Dr. Pulaski: "Starfleet has you registered as alive; I suppose I'll have to accep that," she says to Data, continuing the least appealing aspect of Pulaski's character - her discomfort with, and denigration of, Data. We see her refer to Data as, "it," questioning whether Data is capable of properly performing a very basic function of his station, and generally reacting to him with palpable discomfort. Diana Muldaur does an excellent job with what she's given to play, and she conveys the character's discomfort with Data superbly. I just question who thought it was a good idea to introduce a new regular who was, effectively, a racist (How is being uncomfortable with Data because he's a machine different from, say, being uncomfortable with Geordi because he's black? Or blind, for that matter?).
If the thought was to establish a Spock/McCoy relationship, it's a complete misfire. Data would never think of being in any way rude to a fellow officer, while Spock not only gave as good as he got but usually managed to give a bit better. It was usually clear that both Spock and McCoy enjoyed their verbal sparring and that each was actually very fond of the other. Here, with Data simply sitting and taking it for the most part, and clearly not enjoying it, the result is very different. Pulaski isn't sparring with an equal. She is simply coming across as a bully. Not a good way to make an audience like or accept a new character.
ZAP THE REDSHIRT!
After Riker and Worf beam over to the construct ship, one of the bridge stations is taken over by Crewman Haskell (Charles Douglass). When the alien behind the hole in space decides he wants to experiment with death, guess who ends up obliging him?
THOUGHTS
Now this is more like it! This episode presents the Enterprise with a genuinely unknown and alien situation. The bulk of the running time sees Picard and his crew exploring this phenomenon. First they investigate it from the outside. Once they are inside, they attempt to escape, continuing to use the tools at their disposal. This all shows the regulars in an excellent light. They behave with intelligence and professionalism, which makes the impenetrable nature of this hole in space all the more mysterious and alien, because they react in a way that seems convincing.
The effects work in Season Two is definitely more impressive than in Season One. Whether that's because visual effects capabilities grew between 1987 and 1988, or because the effects team simply figured out what worked and what didn't, or some combination of the above... Who can say? But this is an episode that looks good, with effects that help to sell a tight script.
My only question is why this wasn't the season premiere. It's a vastly stronger episode than The Child, and Pulaski's introduction could have been worked in quite painlessly. It certainly would have started the new season off on a much stronger note.
Rating: 7/10.
Previous Episode: The Child
Next Episode: Elementary, Dear Data
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