Who Watches The Watchers? is very good episode that successfully explores the law, and philosophy, behind the Prime Directive. Indeed, it succeeds where other episodes, such as Pen Pals, have failed.

The episode sets up moral dilemmas at nearly every turn. When a Mintakan is injured, Dr. Crusher beams him aboard the Enterprise‘s sickbay to save his life. Should she have done so or should she have left him to die? Should she modify his memory or not? After he returns to his planet, he begins telling his people about the things he saw on the Enterprise. Should Picard endorse a nascent religion and give it guidelines or should he interfere even further in the hopes of dispelling such a belief? Should the Federation have been there observing in the first place?

The brilliance of the episode is in how the crew handles each dilemma and each challenge. They do so completely within character and within the universe — and yet they also bend the letter of the law in order to preserve the spirit of it. Strictly speaking, Dr. Crusher should not have saved the Mintakan. Nor should Troi and Riker have beamed down to the planet. Nor should Picard have beamed Nuria aboard the Enterprise. And yet, they are all strictly within the overall premise of minimizing the cultural contamination of the Mintakans.

The climax of the episode shows Picard acting on his own words. Early on, he tells one of the scientists that they must all be prepared to give their lives for the Prime Directive. And he does just that. Picard gambles his own life to prove that he is not a god. It’s a sign of the maturity of this series that not only does Picard take that gamble, but that he actually pays a price for it, too.

This episode demonstrates some of the best elements of TNG: moral dilemmas, high-interest concepts, and great acting, particularly from Picard. His speech in refusing to accept the Mintakans degeneration into religion is a vintage performance.

Who Watches the Watchers? is an all-round enjoyable episode that, while not outstanding, is very, very good.

Topics: Prime Directive
Filed under: TNG Reviews