The Enterprise is in deep space, farther out than any other Federation vessel. Which is why it is so startling to discover a Starfleet shuttlecraft out there, with one life sign aboard and no power. Even more startling is what they find when they bring the shuttle aboard.
The shuttle is apparently from the Enterprise herself - Shuttlecraft 5, which is still in the docking bay. The shuttle has sustained damage consistent with an antimatter explosion, and Geordi determines that it has come from six hours in the future.
Most startling of all is the shuttle's sole passenger: Jean-Luc Picard!
CHARACTERS
Capt. Picard: As Riker points out, one of Picard's great strengths is his ability to gather and evaluate information and then commit to one, decisive action. In this case, he is given foreknowledge that his decision will be the wrong one. "Future Picard" made that decision, and Enterprise was destroyed. Unable to communicate with "Future Picard," our captain is frustrated by not knowing what is coming. This leads to him second-guessing his own decisions until the critical one arrives.
Riker: Very well-used here, as we see a couple of quiet scenes between Picard and Riker which show him having evolved into a truly fine first officer. He understands Picard's dilemma, and advises him to set aside his own instincts and wait. As Riker observed in a much worse episode, an important part of any battle is knowing when not to fight. He understands the truth Picard is fighting against: That the only thing any of them can do until the critical moment arises is "sit down, shut up, and wait."
Troi: "Stay with (the other Picard), Counsellor. He'll be able to communicate with you before anyone else." This critical role left to her, Troi interprets the command as only she could: She stalks out of sickbay in a huff less than two minutes later. This doesn't end up doing any harm, but neither do Troi's supposed communication abilities end up doing any good. She's basically about as useless as usual.
Dr. Pulaski: In a somewhat bizarre character turn, she seizes on Picard being grumpy to suggest to Troi that it may be necessary to relieve him of command. Eh? He's not chewing on the plasterboard, Doc - He's just being crotchety in the middle of a stressful situation. A good thing Pulaski wasn't around in early Season One, when "grumpy" was Picard's default setting (Grumpy, With a Chance of Unconditional Surrender). Just as viewers were probably getting used to her, particularly with her Data-bullying far in the past, this throwaway moment seems to have been designed to turn a whole bunch of viewers off the character all over again.
THOUGHTS
Time Squared is an intriguing episode. The characters spend much of the episode facing a vital decision, one in which the wrong choice will lead to disaster. They know this moment is coming, but they have no idea what the decision might be or what leads up to it. They are left to stay alert, to wait, and to do nothing. It's only a fragile hope that they even can escape the fate of "future Picard." As our Picard observes to Riker, it may well be that "there are no turns on this road," and that they will be caught in an endless cycle of destruction, Picard being shot back in time, six hours of worry and waiting, and destruction all over again.
It is, as Riker states, a vision of hell. In basic concept, it's worthy of Jean Paul Sartre, as anything the characters do to evade their fate could easily be the very thing that seals it. There is potential for a truly great episode here.
Time Squared is not a truly great episode. It is a good one. The core concept, the excellent performance by Patrick Stewart, and the outstanding Picard/Riker interplay provide enough that's memorable that the concept isn't squandered. However, the episode is not so successful at building tension during what should be a tortuous waiting period for the crew.
There is a sense of wheel-spinning. Troi is ordered to stay with "future Picard," to see what information she can gain from impressions of him. This provides potential for Troi to actually be useful for a change... but nothing ever comes of it. Dr. Pulaski muses about possibly needing to relieve Picard of command. Given that Picard has done nothing to warrant such musing at this point, this seems to come out of nowhere. It could work for the episode if Pulaski was on the bridge when Picard wavers on a routine decision later in the episode. But since she's not on the bridge at that point, there's never any real chance of her making good on her threat. Other than raising the worry that Picard will find his dilemma paralyzing, this is another moment that goes nowhere.
With filler replacing tension for much of the middle, Time Squared doesn't reach its full potential. However, Patrick Stewart has never been better, and it is an outstanding premise. The first and last thirds of the episode are very good. Despite the weak midsection, this remains an above-average episode, deserving of a solid score.
Rating: 7/10.
Previous Episode: The Royale
Next Episode: The Icarus Factor
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