This episode borrows heavily from the style of the Original Series. And while the campy stereotypes of the OS fit the characters and time period of the 60s, they seem completely out of place in TNG. The result is simply one of the worst episodes in the entire series. The plot, the conflict, the acting, the dialogue are all entirely substandard — particularly when measured against what this series will become.

That being said, there are two highlights in this episode. The first comes from an exchange between Data and Geordi in which Data continues to explore the question: What makes humans so human. The scene establishes the friendship between Data and Geordi, as well as Data’s quest to discover what is “funny.”

The second highlight comes from a brief soliloquy from Picard in which he discusses the Prime Directive. “That is, ironically, what this is all about. By our standards, the customs here, the ‘Code of Honor’ is the same kind of pompous strutting charades that endagered our own species centuries ago. We evolved out of it because no one tried to impose their own set of …” Wise words then and now.

Of course, Picard cuts off his own speech with this now immortalized exchange with Counselor Troi:

“I’m sorry this is becoming a speech.”
“You’re the Captain, sir. You’re entitled.”
“I’m not entitled to ramble on about something everyone already knows.”

It says something that the only part of this episode that anyone would recognize comes from a clip from “The Picard Song.” It was a good speech, but it was cut off in favor of a self-deprecating joke. The Captain should have been allowed to talk in one long, unbroken sentence. Or at least finish the speech. At any rate, TNG at this point is still struggling to find an identity that is distinct from the OS. And the result is truly disappointing.

Topics: Prime Directive
Filed under: TNG Reviews