Captain’s Holiday is a fun romp that takes us out of the usual Enterprise crisis-of-the-week story and gives us at least a different setting for this installment’s crisis. There isn’t anything particularly outstanding or ground-breaking in this episode, and it does have a few missteps, but on the whole, it is both enjoyable and entertaining.

The best scenes from the episode take place on the Enterprise when the crew decides their captain needs a holiday. Between the machinations of Dr. Crusher, Riker and Troi, Picard realizes that taking a break is, in fact, a good idea. These scenes do a fantastic job of demonstrating the camaraderie and genuine caring and respect the crew feel for one another. And it makes for enjoyable, lighthearted interactions that are quite entertaining.

After Picard lands on Risa, the real plot of the episode begins to unfold. Instead of relaxing in the sun with a good book, he gets caught up in a pseudo-archaeological mystery surrounding a legendary treasure called the “Tox Uthat” — an item from the future, buried in the past, to protect it from criminals. It’s a slightly convoluted and contrived plot, but it serves its purpose of giving Picard a bit of an adventure on his holiday. The archeology elements are meant to pay homage to Indiana Jones and they work, up to a point.

Unfortunately, there are a few issues with this episode that almost become too distracting. The first, and biggest, issue is the presence of a Ferengi. Up until now, the presence of a Ferengi has spelled almost certain doom to any episode. This is no different. Sovak is a typical Ferengi. Which means he is annoying, detestable, and so cringe worthy that you want to throw your remote through the T.V. every time he is on-screen. Fortunately, he has very few scenes. But they are enough to annoy the hell out of you.

The other issue has to do with the Vorgons, the criminals who travel back in time in the hopes of obtaining the Tox Uthat from Picard. Their ploy seems plausible enough. But what isn’t plausible is how readily Picard accepts their word. Plus they just look plain silly. Picard eventually sees through their ruse in time to destroy the Tox Uthat. But the presence of the Vorgons, brief though it is, is an issue for the episode.

The last comment of note is the character of Vash. She is memorable for her questionable ethics and devotion to archaeological artifacts. And, too, she challenges Picard in many ways, however, she isn’t exacty the most engaging of characters. Had Picard not reacted favorably toward her, neither would the audience. But the fact remains, she not only challenges Picard, but she also intrigues, inspires, and seduces him. As such, Vash is a memorable character who manages to make an impression on our usually stoic captain.

Captain’s Holiday is a fun, slightly flawed episode. As long as you close your eyes whenever you see Picard’s silver speedo, you will enjoy watching it.

Topics: Ferengi, Time Travel
Filed under: TNG Reviews