7-24. Preemptive Strike.

Ro Laren is assigned to infiltrate the Maquis.

THE PLOT

The demilitarized zone along the Cardassian border has been destabilized by the Maquis, the resistance group formed by Federation colonists whose worlds were repatriated to Cardassia. With many in the Federation sympathizing with the Maquis, the group has grown in numbers and in access to Starfleet weaponry.  This has in turn renewed tensions with the Cardassians.

Picard turns to Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) to infiltrate the Maquis. Her background, both as a Bajoran and as a Starfleet outsider, will make her apparent defection convincing. Ro has little difficulty ingratiating herself with the Maquis cell run by the kindly Macias (John Franklyn-Robbins). She volunteers to use her knowledge of the Enterprise's security systems to steal medical supplies, and the success of that mission gains the confidence of the entire group.

Which is when Picard proposes the next step. A convoy will be planted as a target, with intelligence spread to indicate that the ships are transporting components of biogenic weapons. The potential threat will be too great for the Maquis to send anything less than its full force to combat - allowing the Enterprise to cripple the resistance group in a single devastating blow!

It's a good plan, and with Ro's help its success is all but assured. But Ro is uncertain about betraying a group whose motives strike so close to home...

CHARACTERS

Capt. Picard: When he sees Ro overwhelmed by the effusive welcome of the full command staff, he sends an official call for her to report to the bridge to allow her an escape. He understands that while she wants to catch up with everyone, she prefers to do so "one at a time." He is very proud of her achievements, and acts as something a father figure for her in the episode - an authority figure who has nurtured her, and whom she desperately doesn't want to disappoint. He remains fiercely dedicated to duty, however.  When he sees Ro beginning to question her assignment, he does not hesitate to outline the damage to her career if she sabotages the mission.

Lt. Ro: This is very much Ro's episode, as she agrees to infiltrate the Maquis. It's easy enough to predict the story trajectory, as she bonds with the members of the Maquis cell and starts to question her assignment. It is a combination of Michelle Forbes' very good performance with writer Rene Echevarria's understanding of the character that makes the drama work as well as it does. Her final choice is extremely easy to anticipate, but her progression to that point is so convincingly played that the journey remains absorbing.

Cardassians/Maquis: As was the case in DS9's two-parter, The Maquis, we see that the Cardassians are deliberately and repeatedly violating their agreement to respect the rights of the Federation colonists. Gul Evek (Richard Poe) insists to Picard that the Cardassian government is doing all it can to stop these abuses, but his assurances ring hollow - though, to the episode's credit, so do Picard's return assurances about Starfleet's efforts to curtail the Maquis. The episode does stack the deck, in that the Maquis we meet are all clearly decent people - It would be more interesting, and ring truer, if there were a few criminals or fanatics in the mix. Still, the script makes clear that both Cardassia and Starfleet have elements who are sympathetic to the supposedly unauthorized actions of individuals, which lends some enjoyable moral complexity to the situation.

THOUGHTS

Season Seven's otherwise mediocre Journey's End concluded with Picard negotiating a settlement that allowed Federation colonists to remain in territory that a peace treaty had ceded to the Cardassians - a far from ideal solution, but the best of the bad options available. The direct fallout was saved for Deep Space 9. That series' very good 2-parter, The Maquis, showed the escalation of tensions on those colony worlds, leading to the formation of the Maquis.

Preemptive Strike bounces the Maquis thread back to TNG, as Picard attempts to deal with a Maquis that is on the rise, gaining strength and growing ever more aggressive in its fight against the Cardassians. As if conscious of picking up where Deep Space 9 left off, writer Rene Echevarria creates an episode that feels closer in tone to DS9 than to TNG - and in so doing, he manages to deliver something that I haven't seen since Lower Decks and didn't expect to see again until All Good Things: A genuinely good episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

As a writer, Echevarria has always been particularly good at character material, and he plays to that strength here. He opens the episode by focusing on Ro's return to the Enterprise, signaling that this story will center on her. He allows a couple of scenes to lay out the "big picture" issues of the Maquis conflict: The Cardassian abuses of Federation citizens, the tensions flaring up between Cardassia and Starfleet over the rise of the Maquis, and the fear that it might spark a new war between the two powers. This shows us why Picard is so focused on stopping characters we will soon see as sympathetic, while at the same time acknowledging the Cardassians' bad behavior and the legitimacy of many of the colonists' grievances.

Then the episode returns to Ro and stays almost exclusively with her until the (very effective) tag with Picard and Riker. Ro is a character particularly well-suited to the Maquis arc. Her background as a one-time prisoner of the Cardassians, someone who watched as they murdered her father, makes it a given that she sympathizes with the Maquis. Her rising Starfleet career and her respect and gratitude for Picard leave her torn. But Ro has always been led mainly by her emotions. She sees people who have genuinely been oppressed, much as her own people once were, and quickly finds herself balking at the thought of stopping them from fighting back. Through this filter, the focus becomes the decision she must make - a decision that's all but a foregone conclusion, but that still feels earned by the end.

It's not quite as sharp as the very best Trek stories: There isn't much negative shown about the Maquis; the viewer doesn't directly see that their actions might harm innocents.  Sure, Admiral Nechayev (Natalija Nogulich) talks in vague terms about their increased aggression and worries about a new war - but nothing is demonstrated to show a dark side to what is, in effect, a terrorist group. This keeps the story from being as morally complex as it should be, though it is still far above-average for the series in this respect.

Mostly, I'm just relieved to be able to give a good review to TNG's final single-part episode. After the creative death march that has been the last third of the season, it's good to remember the kind of storytelling the series is capable of.

Overall Rating: 8/10.

6-7. Rascals.

Ro and Guinan, age 12.

THE PLOT:

Picard, Guinan, Ensign Ro, and Keiko O'Brien are returning from a relaxing botanical/archaeological expedition when their shuttle is engulfed in an anomaly. The Enterprise beams the four to safety - but when they materialize, the four are transformed. Their minds remain intact, as do their memories and experiences... but they now have the bodies of twelve year olds!

Dr. Crusher pores over medical scans of the four, trying to determine what happened and how to reverse it. Meanwhile, the ship responds to a distress call from a Federation science station. It's a trap, however, and theEnterprise has soon been incapacitated by a band of renegade Ferengi, who begin beaming all able-bodied adults to the surface of the planet below to act as slave labor.

All able-bodied adults, however, does not currently include Picard and his companions, who set about making a plan to retake the ship!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Picard: Deals with the situation with even more intellectual detachment than is his norm. The 12-year-old Picard (David Tristan Birkin) hesitates to relinquish command, his first impulse being to go straight to the bridge. He does relinquish command with a nudge from Dr. Crusher, acknowledging that no one will be able to take a 12-year-old captain seriously. Even then, he ponders what he might do while waiting to grow to an adult again. Taking a sabbatical from Starfleet to focus on archaeology is tempting to him, but not enough for him to even hesitate about returning to normal once a solution has been found using the transporter.

Riker: Takes over command of the Enterprise, only to lose it to a bunch of Ferengi. That has to be a bit embarrassing for him. He deals deftly with the Ferengi, however, learning that they are not affiliated with the Ferengi government and playing along with Picard's ploy to retake the ship. The scene in which Riker bamboozles a Ferengi with Technobabble is quite funny, both as a screwball comedy nod and as a send-up of Trek Technobabble in general.

O'Brien/Keiko: It goes without saying that having his wife returned to him as an early adolescent (Caroline Junko King) makes things awkward for O'Brien. It doesn't help matters that Keiko goes into denial about the situation, trying to resume their marriage as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Only when their daughter calls for "mommy" to read her a story, then rejects the youthful Keiko for not being her mother, does Keiko realize how untenable this new situation is. Of the four, she's probably the one most eager to return to normal at the end.

Guinan/Ensign Ro: The young Ro (Megan Parlen) and Guinan (Isis J. Jones) make an entertaining pair, and their scenes are my favorites in the episode. Ro reacts to this situation as she does to just about everything: with outrage. Something altered her body without her consent, which she views as a violation. Guinan looks at the situation in a healthier way. She's a kid again, so she might as well have fun and play. She stubbornly sticks with Ro, refusing to allow the Bajoran the luxury of brooding alone. She coaxes Ro into actually letting herself be a child for probably for the first time in her life, given the state of her actual childhood, in scenes that are the most natural-seeming of the episode.


THOUGHTS

I was dreading Rascals. I've rarely been fond of child-centered episodes of Trek in the first place, and after Season Five's overload of them, I was gritting my teeth when this one came up in rotation. Child actors are brought in to playact the parts of the regulars. Wonderful. There's a return appearance by Worf's irritating son. Even better. And Ferengi too? A perfect storm of crap!

So it was actually a very pleasant surprise that the episode ended up being fairly enjoyable. 

Don't get me wrong: Rascals is not very good Star Trek. The plot progression is obvious, with both the situation and its resolution depending on Technobabble involving anomalies and transporters. The Ferengi were always weak when used as villains, and it begs a huge suspension of disbelief that they can so easily take over theEnterprise, only to be so easily defeated themselves thereafter. 

But the episode moves along briskly. The first half even has some intelligent writing, as we see the impact of this situation on the four. I liked that each of the four had a different response. Picard intellectualizes it, and comes around to thinking of alternative paths for himself if it can't be reversed. Keiko's situation is the worst, as all of her life's major aspects - marriage, motherhood, and career - are unavailable to her in this state. Meanwhile, Ro and Guinan are the least affected - Guinan, because of her general outlook on life and the perspective granted by such a long lifespan; Ro, being given the chance at a childhood that life denied her the first time around.

It's all surface-level, with any serious exploration of these issues curtailed by the Ferengi plot in the second half. Still, Rascals has a handful of charming moments, including a lovely little tag between the adult Guinan and the child Ro, and it's never actually unenjoyable. It's certainly a lesser episode. But to my surprise, it is a highly watchable one.


Overall Rating: 5/10.

Previous Episode: True Q
Next Episode: A Fistful of Datas 


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5-24. The Next Phase

Geordi and Ro, ghosts on the Enterprise.

THE PLOT

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Romulan ship that has suffered a massive explosion. Riker, Geordi, Worf, and Ensign Ro beam over to render aid. Finding that a generator needs replaced, Geordi beams back with Ensign Ro to replicate it... only to vanish, apparently killed in a transporter accident.

But Ro and Geordi are not dead. They are on the Enterprise, able to see and hear everything going on around them. They can't be seen, however, nor can they interact with their shipmates. Shadowing Data when he takes a shuttlecraft to the Romulan ship, Geordi is able to put together the pieces linking their current state to the original Romulan explosion. But they also discover imminent danger to the Enterprise - with no apparent way to warn the crew of the danger!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Picard: On the way to the memorial service, he reflects on the first time he met Geordi. He recalls the young LaForge's enthusiasm and the way in which he acted upon an offhand comment about a shuttle's efficiency, and how that was the moment he knew he wanted Geordi on his ship.

Riker: On the Romulan ship, he takes command of the situation almost instantly. He and his people assess the situation quickly and start completing the needed tasks right away. He does shift his priorities from the emergency to Geordi and Ro when they disappear, but returns his focus to saving the ship as soon as it is apparent there is nothing to be done. He works well with the Romulan science officer, but also heeds Worf's concerns about security when the Romulans ask for a Starfleet computer to replace their own.

Data: Once the immediate crisis is past, he requests permission to conduct a memorial service for Geordi, whom he considers his best friend. He talks to Worf about why this is important to him: "I never knew what a friend was, until I met Geordi. He spoke to me as though I were human. He treated me no differently from anyone else. He accepted me for what I am. And that, I have learned, is friendship."

Geordi: Refuses to accept, or even consider, that he and Ro are "dead." He is certain that there is a more rational explanation for their intangible state and sets about investigating - largely by shadowing Data's own investigation.

Ensign Ro: In contrast to Geordi, Ro is very quick to believe that they are dead and that they need to make peace with their pasts in order to move on. It ties in all too well with the traditional Bajoran beliefs of her upbringing. One of a few nice writing touches is that Ro never actually believed in those teachings - but experiencing something so close to them makes her wonder if her dismissal of her people's superstition was arrogant. Overall, this episode gives the most relaxed and purely naturalistic characterization of Ro this season, and results in Michelle Forbes' most appealing performance of the year.


THOUGHTS

"Written by Ronald D. Moore" has become the most welcome set of words I can think of when watching a TNG episode. Season Five has had more than its share of episodes that seemed to be just filling slots. Moore is a writer who rarely just fills a slot. His episodes are almost always characterized by their well-structured plots, with plenty of dramatic momentum mixed in with short but highly effective character moments.

The Next Phase isn't quite up there with Moore's excellent Klingon episodes, but it's still a good show. The story moves at a brisk pace, with the stakes raising continuously. At the same time, the characters are given moments that show their depth: Data, wanting to conduct a memorial service and discussing his friendship with Geordi; Worf, feeling that death is not a time to mourn because, for Klingons, dying in the line of duty is the highest honor; Riker, wanting to speak about Ro Laren (and the episode wisely withholding from us what he planned to say). And these aren't even the episode's focal characters! Moore knows the TNG regulars, and so they never come across as plot puppets in his episodes.

The Next Phase is a particularly well-shot episode. David Carson, who directed a couple of the best episodes of Season Three, makes good use of lighting and camera angles to emphasize the unreality of Geordi and Ro's situation. Look particularly at the camera angle on Geordi when he announces his rejection of Ro's "spirit" theory before walking through a bulkhead to get away from her. There's just enough of an effect to accent the drama and show a hint of unreality, but not so much as to distract. Also well-staged is the reveal of the "phased" Romulan (presumably the captain) late in the episode.

A good script which is well-shot, well-staged, and well-acted. The Next Phase has good character scenes, a strong story, and plenty of dramatic momentum. In short: A good show.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: I Borg

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5-14. Conundrum

Picard, disoriented after losing his memory.

THE PLOT

After encountering an unknown alien vessel, the Enterprise is subject to an intense scan - one which leaves the entire crew with no memories. The crew members do retain their skills and knowledge of how to use the ship's systems, however. As Geordi and Data bring the ship back under control, they are able to access a crew roster and some mission logs.

The roster informs them of their identities, adding in a "Commander MacDuff" (Erich Anderson) as First Officer, with Riker as Second Officer. The mission logs inform them that they are at war with a race known as the Lyssians, on a mission to destroy the Lyssian command center. Troi instinctively feels that these orders are wrong. But with all other personal information wiped, there is no evidence against the war or the mission... leaving the Enterprise transformed into a weapon of destruction!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Picard: Even without his memory, his basic nature remains intact. When Worf and Riker begin to question who should be in charge, Picard points out that the primary concern must be getting control of the ship and assessing their situation. As Worf, taking command, declares that they must make the ship "battle ready," Picard counters that it would be best to access the ship's logs to find out the context of their current dilemma.

Riker: He seems to be instinctively loyal to Picard. He counts the pips on Picard's uniform and declares him to be their leader, and does not seem pleased when Worf tries to assume command. He also shows good quality as a planner and strategist, acting as an anchor on Ro's desire for instant action. This episode once again brings Riker's womanizing to the fore, as he romances both Ro and Troi with clear enjoyment.

Worf: His aggressive Klingon instincts lead him to immediately push for command. He points to his decoration as evidence of his command status. Then he takes the captain's chair as his own, simply assuming that it's his by right. Michael Dorn is terrific in these scenes, and I wouldn't have minded one bit if the writers had ditched the (frankly silly) "war" plot and instead made the power struggle between Worf and Picard the focus. With the various regulars having to take sides, such an episode might have been a lot more interesting than simply watching the crew react to the Outside Influence of the Week.

Troi: Instantly knows that there is something wrong with the war situation described in the ship's computer. She can't quite articulate it to Riker, but she recognizes even before Picard does that their "mission" doesn't fit with who they are. Even without her memories, Riker remains familiar to her, and she is drawn to him for comfort - but not so much so as to provoke an actual confrontation with Ro, even when Riker provides evidence that they do (or did) have a relationship. When memories are restored, she takes pleasure in conspiring with Ro to completely confuse a somewhat chagrined William Riker.

Ensign Ro: Feels an immediate compulsion to do something, anything. Without the resentment caused by her background, however, she responds quite well to Riker's rational approach - to coordinate before taking action. The two complement each other, and it's no surprise when the memory-wiped Ro and Riker decide to explore their mutual attraction.


THOUGHTS

The episode opens with Troi beating Data at chess... which is the single most ridiculous scene in the entire episode, given that Data would have to be undergoing a significant malfunction for this to be even possible. But it does allow writer Barry Schkolnick to plant a major theme up-front: The idea that everything doesn't simply come down to facts and strategy, but also to instinct. First Troi, then Picard feel an instinct that their orders are wrong in some way. That instinct leads them to question the war path on which they've been placed, even faced with the orders planted into the Enterprise computers. Because Picard's instincts tell him that something is wrong with this situation, and his crew feel an instinctive trust in him, disaster is averted.

Conundrum is an episode that's fun to watch almost in spite of itself. The first half is far better than the second half, as we get a chance to watch these characters we know so well trying to figure out who they are and what they're doing. The scenes with Worf simply assuming command are extremely funny, particularly Worf's expressions as his command gradually slips away under the weight of Picard's repeated sensible suggestions. Also fun is the Riker material, with the triangle involving him, Ro, and Troi making for some amusing bits and setting up an amusing ending.

Unfortunately, the actual plot doesn't make a whole lot of sense. A race locked in a stalemate war with an enemy whose technology is more than 100 years behind that of Starfleet is able to: (1) effortlessly lock up the Enterprise's systems; (2) wipe the memories of the entire crew (including Data, who was not susceptible to the last Enterprise mind-wipe); and (3) selectively erase computer records while at the same time planting false ones. If they can do all that to a ship their enemies are no match for... Well, then it rather stands to reason that their enemy should be no match for them to start with!

Still, Conundrum zips along at a fast pace. There's just enough humor throughout to keep things engaging, while the second half offers some action set pieces that are far above-average for a single-part TNG episode. It may be pure nonsense with holes you could fly a starship through, but it's very enjoyable nonsense.

Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: The Masterpiece Society

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5-05. Disaster

Data gets zapped.

THE PLOT

The Enterprise is struck by a quantum filament, which leaves the ship crippled, its power reserves unstable. Reading a hull breach, automated protocols go into effect. Bulkheads seal off the bridge from the rest of the ship, leaving those on the bridge trapped. With the ranking bridge officer dead, Troi finds herself in command, with O'Brien as her sole support and Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) all too clearly seeing her as unsuited to command.

As Troi, O'Brien, and Ensign Ro begin re-establishing power to the bridge, we look in our other regulars. Picard is caught in a turbo-lift with three children - a nightmare scenario for him. Dr. Crusher and Geordi are stuck in a cargo bay, where a plasma fire threatens to set off chemicals being stored there. Riker and Data attempt to get through to Engineering using a service shaft. But their route is blocked by an electrical charge, leading them to drastic action. And in Ten-Forward, which Worf has converted into a makeshift sickbay, the pregnant Keiko (Rosalind Chao) begins going into labor...


CHARACTERS

Capt. Picard: Has somehow been roped into giving a tour of the ship to the winners of the school science fair (I sense a certain meddling counsellor's hand in this). He is clearly uncomfortable, and neither he nor the children seem likely to be having a very good time. Once the disaster hits, he switches into command mode. By simply being himself, he is able to not only save himself and the children, but also bond with them. Very standard stuff, which Patrick Stewart nevertheless manages to bring to life by really hitting on the pain Picard is in as a result of a broken ankle.

Riker: Once again shows confidence and pragmatism in a command role. When Data reports that the bridge has been sealed off, he decides that they must assume that the bridge crew are dead, then makes gaining control of Engineering into their top priority. With no access to sickbay, he puts Worf in charge of converting Ten-Forward into a temporary sickbay, then takes Data to help get him to Engineering.

Troi: When O'Brien points out that she is the senior officer on the bridge, she gets an utter deer-in-the-headlights look, then instantly starts fishing for suggestions from O'Brien and Ro. O'Brien is supportive of Troi's command, while Ro clearly feels that the counsellor is not qualified. Troi gradually gains confidence in listening to suggestions from both O'Brien and Ro while making the final decision about which path to take. Still, she admits at the end that she doesn't feel "cut out for command."

Data: His body is able to absorb a considerable charge without being irreparably damaged. His head is also detachable, so that he is able to assist Riker even after sustaining damage.

O'Brien: Cut off from Keiko and with no way to check on her safety, O'Brien focuses on his job. He retains a level head throughout, dealing with each new task as it comes. Still, he refuses to believe that the people in the drive section (which would include Keiko) could be dead, and in an episode of a less optimistic show, O'Brien's insistence on inaction might have had a very different outcome.

Ensign Ro: The episode presents her as the inverse of O'Brien, reacting more emotionally and more driven to do something (anything) to act on the situation. In one respect, though, she's actually more like Riker. Faced with a situation in which the entire ship might be destroyed, she makes the same pragmatic call: That they simply can't assume that people in the other part of the ship are still alive. She would rather save the saucer section and the hundreds of lives that go along with it, rather than risk having the entire ship destroyed. The episode largely presents her in a negative light. Still, as Troi notes, Ro "easily could have been right," and the character does stay on the right side of the line of insubordination. She may dislike Troi being in command, but she sticks to voicing her opinions, obeying Troi's orders when they are given.


ZAP THE REDSHIRT!

When we open the episode with two never-before-seen crew members on the bridge, I knew it was only a matter of time before at least one of them would be dog food. The script's need to put Troi in charge means that the honor goes to Lt. Monroe (Jana Marie Hupp), who has the con when the disaster strikes. We see just enough of Monroe to register that she's very competent. After the first impact, she manages to warn the ship to brace for a second impact. Then her station literally blows up in her face, killing her and sending us into the credits.


THOUGHTS

Star Trek tackles the Irwin Allen disaster movie formula - with surprisingly enjoyable results!

Disaster is a very well-made episode. The cast are divided into different parts of the ship, and each area has its own distinctive look and lighting scheme. By giving each character set and each situation its own feel, it makes cutting between all these strands flow much better than might have been the case. Director Gabrielle Beaumont deserves credit for handling the visual aspect of the show so well.

The Irwin Allen formula is pretty well adhered to. A disaster affects different but connected characters, grouped in different but connected settings. As they attempt to deal with their situations, crises continue to pile up. There's even a bit with a character giving birth near the climax! If you were to mix in a few celebrity cameos and up the on-screen body count, this would fit right in with Allen's 1970's output.

One benefit of this formula is that it not only is easily adapted to a large ensemble - It's literally made for this purpose. As a result, this is a rare TNG episode in which every regular gets something to do. It's nice to see every member of the cast get some good scenes within the same episode, and the performances are strong across the board.

That's not to say I'd want episodes like this one to become a regular fixture of any of the Star Trek series. One time is fun; more than that would quickly become lazy and tedious. But as a one-off, I found Disaster to be a very enjoyable change of pace for the show.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Silicon Avatar

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5-03. Ensign Ro

Guinan befriends the prickly Ensign Ro.

THE PLOT

When a Federation colony is attacked by a Bajoran separatist group, Picard is assigned to find the leader of the group and stop him from conducting further attacks, using any means at his disposal. For the purpose of this mission, he is assigned a Bajoran officer: Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes), who was disgraced after an incident that left several other officers dead years prior.

Though neither Picard nor Riker particularly want Ro on their ship, Starfleet's orders are firm. And it isn't long before Ro proves useful, steering them toward a helpful Bajoran contact and assisting Picard in negotiating with him for information. Shortly after, however, it becomes clear that Ro has her own separate agenda - one that may put the Enterprise crew in jeopardy!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Picard: Though he is resistant to the order to accept Ro on his ship, he does treat her fairly. He is up-front with her about the crew's reaction to her assignment, but (unlike Riker) he is not unnecessarily harsh. He listens to her suggestions about who to contact within the Bajoran camps, even when Ro is less than fully professional in giving her opinions. It is only when she actually appears to live down to her reputation, going against Picard's orders, that he shuts her out. Even then, his faith in Guinan quickly overcomes his stubbornness, giving him the small push he needs to listen.

Riker: Shadows of Hollow Pursuits, as Riker treats Ro harshly from the instant she arrives. He makes no secret of not wanting her on the ship. Picard supports him in demanding the highest level of performance, but Riker's attitude differs from Picard's in that he refuses to give Ro a chance. Her reputation is such that he is against her before he has even laid eyes on her - which I actually find worse than his behavior with Barclay, who at least was genuinely guilty of sustained substandard work.

Guinan: Sees Ro sitting alone at a table in Ten-Forward, rebuffing any attempts by the others to talk. This intrigues Guinan. She approaches Ro, brushes aside her attempts to push her away, and effectively forces her friendship onto the defensive Bajoran. When she pierces Ro's defenses just enough to see that there's a basically decent person underneath, Guinan declares Ro to be her friend - itself enough of an endorsement for Picard to listen to Ro against his own inclination.

Ensign Ro: The first of several appearances by Michelle Forbes as the brittle Bajoran ensign. Forbes is a solid television actress with a strong presence, and she and Michael Piller's script manage the difficult balancing act of establishing the character and giving her a central role without seeming to "hog the limelight" from the regulars. Ro has an interesting backstory, and her bitterness makes a refreshing change from the tight-knit and highly social regulars. Forbes keeps the character sympathetic even while being antagonistic. Her physical performance is particularly well-judged, with Ro's bearing (crossed arms, maintaining a physical distance from others) conveying a person who is constantly on the defensive, ready to react against threats real or perceived.


THOUGHTS

The Cardassians made a strong first impression in The Wounded, their debut episode. This builds on that, establishing the backstory of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Watching this episode, I could actually see the backstory for Deep Space 9 falling into place - which makes sense, given that Deep Space 9 would debut only a little more than a year after this.

It's fun, with the benefit of hindsight, to watch the pieces of the first (best) TNG-era spinoff fall into place. But Ensign Ro is also a good episode on its own. Michael Piller and Rick Berman craft an episode that works both as an introduction a new recurring character and as a self-contained story. There are enough character moments to showcase Ro's backstory, and Michelle Forbes makes the most of the opportunities in the script. At the same time, the story moves along quite briskly, building considerable momentum by the episode's midpoint.

Introducing a new character to an established series is always difficult. Many series fall into the trap of overselling the new addition at the expense of the regulars. That trap is largely avoided. Even though most of the ensemble is relegated to the background for this episode, strong roles are written for Picard and Riker. It is also key that while Ro is crucial to the successful outcome of the mission, she doesn't "save the ship while the stupid adults flail about helplessly." Instead, she goes to Picard with additional information to which he has not been privy, and he is able to handle the situation from there with his accustomed competence. Ro is shown to be resourceful and intelligent, but this is done without diminishing Picard.

In short, another good episode. Three shows in, Season Five is off to a very promising start!


Overall Rating: 8/10.

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