Manhunt is very nearly a complete failure. There are a just enough scenes of humor, and of course Dixon Hill, to keep it from becoming a complete misery. But just barely. From start to finish this episode is difficult to watch. And unless you are dead set on watching every episode of the series, it is in your very best interests to skip it.

For starters, the episode centers on Lwaxana Troi. Mrs. Troi may be a relatively entertaining character, but in this episode she comes across as pure annoyance, like grating your fingernails across a chalkboard. Her character is intended to be funny, but her “condition” evokes pity rather than humor. And instead of being funny, the few moments of humor are at her expense.

Picard’s excursion into the holodeck is enjoyable because of the return of Dixon Hill. The opportunity to get our characters into the garb of 1941 San Francisco is a welcome break from the 24th century. And, too, these scenes are notable because they take place in a holodeck which just happens to be functioning properly — definitely not a normal occurrence.

The subplot involving the Antedians is just plain silly. They are only there to provide a strange kind of “bizarre” mood to the episode, but they look so pathetic, that you can hardly stand looking at them whenever they are on screen. And the fact that they are assassins only adds to the absurdity (and not in a good way) of their presence in the episode.

Unless you have a very good reason to watch Manhunt, I strongly urge you to do something more constructive with your time — watching paint dry comes to mind …

Topics: Holodeck, Lwaxana Troi
Filed under: TNG Reviews