THE PLOT
The Enterprise receives a distress call from a Romulan scout ship. The pilot, Sublieutenant Setal (James Sloyan), claims to be a low-level logistics officer with vital information about a forthcoming Romulan offensive. He tells Picard that the Romulans have constructed a base in the Neutral Zone, near Federation space, from which they will be in easy striking distance of several Federation outposts. He urges Picard to destroy the base now, to remove the threat before the base goes live.
But there are holes in Setal's story. He seems far too well-informed to be the low-ranking officer he claims to be. The record of his pursuit by a Romulan warbird indicates that the warbird had the opportunity to destroy him and chose not to. The decision will ultimately fall on Picard: believe Setal and proceed into the Neutral Zone, at the risk of creating an incident; or dismiss Setal's claims as the deception of a Romulan spy, at the risk of allowing the Romulans to proceed with the base - if it exists. Whatever choice he makes, if he's wrong, the result is likely to be war!
CHARACTERS
Capt. Picard: Feels an enormous weight of responsibility. This isn't the first time he's worried that his actions might lead to war, but it is the situation that's pulled him closest to the brink. He spends much of the episode gathering as much information as he can before he reaches the point of having to decide - a point that's reached after a blisteringly good scene in which he confronts Setal's string of lies and half-truths.
Data: Though no real new shadings are given to his character, Data in a sense becomes the audience's eyes for the episode, and his presence ties all the thematic strands together. Data is involved in the Henry V rehearsal of the teaser, and it is to Data that Geordi's words about the balance of instinct and intellect are directed. Data also shows compassion to Setal, recreating Romulus for him on the holodeck, which prompts Setal's decision to finally be direct with Picard.
The Enterprise receives a distress call from a Romulan scout ship. The pilot, Sublieutenant Setal (James Sloyan), claims to be a low-level logistics officer with vital information about a forthcoming Romulan offensive. He tells Picard that the Romulans have constructed a base in the Neutral Zone, near Federation space, from which they will be in easy striking distance of several Federation outposts. He urges Picard to destroy the base now, to remove the threat before the base goes live.
But there are holes in Setal's story. He seems far too well-informed to be the low-ranking officer he claims to be. The record of his pursuit by a Romulan warbird indicates that the warbird had the opportunity to destroy him and chose not to. The decision will ultimately fall on Picard: believe Setal and proceed into the Neutral Zone, at the risk of creating an incident; or dismiss Setal's claims as the deception of a Romulan spy, at the risk of allowing the Romulans to proceed with the base - if it exists. Whatever choice he makes, if he's wrong, the result is likely to be war!
CHARACTERS
Capt. Picard: Feels an enormous weight of responsibility. This isn't the first time he's worried that his actions might lead to war, but it is the situation that's pulled him closest to the brink. He spends much of the episode gathering as much information as he can before he reaches the point of having to decide - a point that's reached after a blisteringly good scene in which he confronts Setal's string of lies and half-truths.
Data: Though no real new shadings are given to his character, Data in a sense becomes the audience's eyes for the episode, and his presence ties all the thematic strands together. Data is involved in the Henry V rehearsal of the teaser, and it is to Data that Geordi's words about the balance of instinct and intellect are directed. Data also shows compassion to Setal, recreating Romulus for him on the holodeck, which prompts Setal's decision to finally be direct with Picard.
Romulan Defector of the Week: Sublieutenant Setal (James Sloyan) is in many ways a counterpart to Picard. He's thoughtful and contemplative. He has made a decision that, whether he is a defector or a spy, will cut him off from his home and family forever. He carries that burden through the episode, decrying the Federation as "a lair of cowards." When Data shows him a holodeck recreation of Romulus, he is amazed at seeing his home again for a second. Then the loss of his world hits him all the harder, and he insists Data turn the program off. Sloyan's performance is excellent, and the scene in which he and Picard confront each other is one of the best this series has presented to date.
THOUGHTS
Ronald D. Moore's second Star Trek script is a considerable improvement over his first. It also sees Next Generation hinting at an arc involving the Romulans. Following so closely after The Enemy, an episode which is heavily referenced here, it's clear that it was planned for the two episodes to tie together.
This is a taut script, even better in my opinion than The Enemy was. The base situation is essentially The Cuban Missile Crisis in space, with a Cold War enemy (possibly) establishing a base within striking distance and Picard having to find a way to navigate that dilemma to ensure that the base is removed without starting a war at the same time. The script plays with the situation very effectively. Some of the evidence Picard gathers supports Setal's claims, while other pieces of evidence oppose them. As Geordi observes, human decisions ultimately are based on a combination of the evidence we're able to gather and what our own instincts tell us - which is ultimately what Picard must do here.
One touch I like is that when Picard hears from his superiors, it is in messages sent hours previously. This is something too many Trek episodes - of all series - tend to forget: Space is very big, and by any technology, messages from a distant source will take time to reach their destination. That Picard can't simply be in constant, real-time contact with his superiors enhances both the episode's internal credibility and the sense of tension.
Moore does a good job using literary allusions, referencing Shakespeare's Henry V at several points in the episode. The manner in which these references tie into the main plot is hardly a surprise - The "twist" involving Setal's identity is telegraphed very early. But simply being able to see a plot turn coming doesn't render it a bad turn, and the use of the Shakespeare play enhances the episode's richness and texture. In addition, by presenting a fairly obvious twist that is revealed late in the episode, the script helps to disguise a more surprising twist at the very end.
In all respects, The Defector is one of the very best Trek episodes I've seen - not just of TNG, but full stop. With outstanding performances by Patrick Stewart and James Sloyan and a script that manages to be thoughtful, literate, and suspenseful all at the same time, this stands up as terrific television even more than two decades after the fact.
Overall Rating: 10/10.
Search Amazon.com for Star Trek: The Next Generation
Review Index
To receive new review updates, follow me:
On Twitter:
On Threads:
I agree with your points, especially the ones considering the Cuban missile crisis and the time delay in the transfer of messages through the vastness of space.
ReplyDelete