The Outrageous Okona is fun, pure and simple. From the opening, irreverent shot of Okona’s backside to the final utterance of Data’s “Take my Worf, please,” this episode goes where no other episode of the series has gone before: pure fun, purely funny.

To be fair, the story itself is hardly innovative or original. But the brilliance of the episode isn’t originality, it is in how well-done, and well-written, the clichés are. Okona is simply a rogue. But his performance is perfect, charming everyone — including the transporter technician, Teri Hatcher. He throws every cliché in the book at her, she sees through him, and yet, she accepts his overtures because he is, simply, that charming, that good-looking, and that mischievously dangerous. And why not? If only we all were as successful with people as Okona.

Data is also a focus in this episode, exploring the question: what is funny? His inquiries aren’t nearly as profound as the discussions about Moriarty in Elementary, Dear Data, but they are significant all the same. As Data himself says about laughter, “there is nothing so uniquely human.” And within the context of Data’s exploration of humanity, the search for “what is funny” is very relevant. Having that journey be a part of this episode is also quite appropriate.

Okona’s story is little more than a glorified Romeo and Juliet. But it is done with such sheer fun, that it is a joy to watch — from the preposterous actions of a puny little ship locking lasers on the Enterprise to the ludicrous scene where it is revealed that Okona has been, without fanfare or glory, helping two young lovers unite across space and prejudice.

If you go into The Outrageous Okona expecting a strong sci-fi, action, or philosophical episode, you may find yourself disappointed. But if you expect nothing but a fun, lighthearted distraction, you just may be pleasantly surprised. And because this episode succeeds so well at what it set out to do — be both fun and funny — it is one of the must-see episodes of the series.

Filed under: TNG Reviews