The Masterpiece Society is an example of how TNG seems to have hit a plateau in Season 5. By all accounts, this is an episode that is competently written, directed and acted. And yet, it falls flat, unremarkable, nondescript.

The Masterpiece Society is a story about a colony of isolated, genetically engineered humans whose planet is facing the impending crisis of a passing stellar core fragment. The Enterprise is on the scene to avert the danger of the stellar fragment, but the Enterprise (and her crew) represent a threat that is just as dangerous.

The Moab IV colony is so exquisitely designed that its citizens are perfectly integrated with each other, as well as their biosphere. The very arrival of an Away Team upsets the delicate balance. And the cultural contamination from the crew result in tremors through the society that are far more destructive than those resulting from the passing fragment. LaForge’s collaboration with Hannah Bates, a scientist, inspires her dreams of life beyond the biosphere. And Troi has an intimate relationship with the administrator of the colony, an effeminate man by the name of Aaron Conor. (So much for the Prime Directive, eh?)

As a result, Conor is caught between the separatist urgings of Bates, and the protective warnings of Martin Benbeck, the colony’s designated spokesperson for its founding principles. With these many interwoven layers, playing on themes of freedom, individuality, the power of choice, and the Prime Directive, the episode had the potential to be, well, a masterpiece.

It isn’t.

And, actually, the episode barely manages to distinguish itself as either profound or memorable.

The main problem is one of character. None of the characters, including the principle crew members, are particularly compelling. In fact they are about as bland as the society of Moab IV. And the worst part is that this problem is a growing one for TNG as a series. After the wildly successful Season 3 – 4 transitions of The Best of Both Worlds and Family, and the Klingon-based episodes of Reunion and Redemption, character growth has, essentially, stagnated. And, as such, the series is beginning to run out of the momentum.

Troi’s tryst with Conor, while indicative of the imperfection of humanity, is unforgivable considering how little impact it has on her character. Had this mistake been part of a developing arc for Troi, then it makes sense. Otherwise, it’s almost entirely pointless. It certainly is pointless to Troi’s character. And it doesn’t impact the episode very much, either.

Likewise, LaForge’s discussions about his VISOR are absolutely nothing new. And instead of him forging a truly constructive relationship with a female (finally), his relationship with Hannah is left as confrontational as it is collaborative. In essence, while LaForge inspires her to leave the cocoon of her colony, her presence does nothing for LaForge’s character. And, ultimately, we’re watching for the main characters, not the guests-of-the-week.

Ultimately, a couple of dozen colonists seek asylum on the Enterprise. Their “defection” means that their former society is now in shambles. And it may, in fact, completely fall apart. Picard and Conor and Riker have a few discussions about how the Enterprise was responsible for potentially destroying the society. But if the Enterprise had *not* intervened, the society would have definitely been destroyed. Essentially, there is nothing to even debate.

There are no glaring errors, but The Masterpiece Society just doesn’t truly succeed as either a profound or dramatic episode. And it is only incidentally entertaining.

Topics: Prime Directive
Filed under: TNG Reviews