2.02 – Where Silence Has Lease
Season two continues its early struggles with Where Silence Has Lease. This episode is a clear improvement over The Child, but then again, so is nearly every other episode of the series. Where Silence Has Lease suffers from a story that just doesn’t go anywhere and has a crew that seems hopelessly inept at handling a stressful situation.
The concepts of the crew being trapped like rats in a maze, along with some of the paradoxical occurrences aboard the phantom U.S.S. Yamato, are intruiging. But these positives aren’t enough to compensate for poor writing, subpar acting and a preposterous visual effect that was used for the entity known as Nagilum.
The story is so bad, in fact, that the writers even resort to the “red shirt” syndrome. Inexplicably, Wesley is replaced at the helm, mid-episode, for a red shirt who is subsequently killed by Nagilum. By the next scene, Wesley has returned (from the loo, perhaps?) and the story continues.
To its credit, the episode does succeed at creating a measure of suspense toward the end, when Picard sets the Enterprise to auto-destruct. There is a scene in which Picard is seated in his quarters, listening to a melancholy piano (Première Gymnopédie, by Erik Satie), that really drives home the mood of imminent death. Picard’s subsequent discussion with Data about death is profound and philosophical, and presents us with the episode’s most memorable moment.
As for the characters, they continue to behave just as they did in early season one episodes like The Naked Now and Code of Honor — struggling to find themselves. For example, Pulaski is downright rude and uncivilized, Worf nearly attacks Riker on the away mission, and Riker yells at Picard in exasperation. While these kinds of character issues were excusable in the first few episodes of the series, the fact that this problem is occurring now is rather distracting. The only exception is the exchange between Picard and Riker as they abort the auto-destruct at the last moment.
Where Silence Has Lease has an interesting concept, some good mood and a fascinating discussion about death. But otherwise, it’s just too obscure and has too many issues with character and story.
Filed under: TNG Reviews
For some reason, the ending of this one, with Picard having a final chat with Nagilum, let me down. It had its moments, but there were two things that really irked me: first, I’d expect just a little more (re: any) animosity from Picard after Nagilum KILLED a member of his crew. Second… they hinted at bringing Nagilum back and never did. Star Trek’s done worse, of course (I’m looking at you, Voyager), but that kind of thing always gets to me.
Watching the Enterprise “scurry” around was interesting to watch, though.
Although I can agree with most of your comments on this episode, it is still somehow one of my all time favorites. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s another Q Who or anything but I still love it.
I can’t put my finger on it, but something about this episode gives it infinite replay value to me. I love the scene where they think they’re about to leave Nagilum. They get to the point where they should be seeing stars and Picard or Riker starts anxiously tapping their hand. Then when they realize what’s going on their attitude immediately changes to “hey wait a second here…”
And I LOVE the final Riker/Picard exchange at the end when canceling the self destruct when Riker is asked “Does the First Officer Agree/Comply?” and Riker says something similar to “yes, yes I do agree wholeheartedly so deactivate self destruct.”
Keep up the great work on the site, just now stumbled upon it!
Tyson,
Thank you very much for taking the time to visit and respond!
I definitely agree that there are elements to this episode that TNG fans can enjoy. And I think Picard’s answer to Riker, “a simple ‘yes’ would have been sufficient, Number One,” was absolutely priceless. Along with the scene in Picard’s quarters about death, that was one of the best moments of the episode — and something that stands out for the series as a whole.
I just watched this episode, and I must agree with your review on most counts. The crew’s reactions during Nagilum’s tests are frustratingly obtuse, and despite the palpable tension, much of the story is very oddly paced.
I would disagree with you concerning effect used for Nagilum’s face. I found it quite well done, and the accompanying line “I’ve gone to the trouble to look just like you” was a witty twist on the old Star Trek trope of aliens “assuming human form.” Nagilum’s distorted face, I thought, emphasized his distant, apathetic nature in a very succinct way.