Attached is a remarkable episode — if you can get past the contrivances. The dialogue is fairly solid, as are the character interactions. And those interactions lead to some genuine character development. But, you do have to accept the underlying premise. Otherwise, the episode can become quite silly.

The Enterprise has been called to Kesprytt III to hear a petition for membership into the Federation. What makes the petition unusual is that the planet is not yet unified. The vast majority of the planet is controlled by the Kes, the faction petitioning for Federation membership. The rest is controlled by the Prytt, a xenophobic group that has shunned formal contact with even their neighbors, the Kes, for over a century.

Attached begins with another breakfast between Picard and Dr. Crusher. It’s fun to see these two characters in a less formal, more intimate setting. They have a genuine friendship, and the performances have a chemistry that does an excellent job of portraying the closeness of their relationship.

But when Picard and Dr. Crusher attempt to beam down to the planet to meet with the Kes ambassador, something goes wrong. Their transport is intercepted by the Prytt and are held captive. While in captivity, the backs of their necks are implanted with a psi-wave device that, once calibrated, will supposedly allow the Prytt to read their minds. But no sooner are they captured then some operative gives Dr. Crusher her tricorder , complete with access codes and escape map.

And here you have the contrivances: the planet of Kesprytt, the psi-wave devices, the escape attempt. They are all done to bring about having Picard and Dr. Crusher alone together, in a situation in which they begin to read each other’s thoughts. I think the episode handles the setup fairly well, but it’s still a lot to swallow.

The result, however, is that Dr. Crusher and Picard must begin to confront their feelings for one another. It starts with their current friendship. They would both prefer a more simple meal than what they’ve been preparing, but neither one was willing to admit it. What makes it work is that the revelation is quite plausible. These things happen all the time.

But it doesn’t end there. Over a campfire, Dr. Crusher learns the truth about Picard’s feelings for her. He once loved her — even as his friend best friend, Jack, became her husband. He never acted on his feelings, felt guilty about them, and had intended them to forever remain secret. The scene itself is well written and well paced. It comes across as intimate and sincere. And irrevocable. Picard and Dr. Crusher will never have quite the same relationship after this night.

When they are finally rescued and returned to the ship, Picard asks Dr. Crusher if she would be willing to explore their feelings for one another. I don’t have a problem with her choosing not to explore the feelings, but I do think it was a mistake for her to say that they should “be afraid” of their feelings. For an episode that spent so much time and care in establishing the truth of emotions, and the intimacy of sharing emotions, it’s a mistake to assign such a categorically negative connotation to them.

As for the subplot with Riker’s attempts to rescue the captain … it’s serviceable. It was good to see Riker take charge without being petulant. But the bickering between the Kes and the Prytt, accompanied by the sheer paranoia of the Kes, wasn’t very compelling at all.

Attached is a good episode for its exploration of the relationship — past, present, and future — between Picard and Dr. Crusher. But the contrivances necessary to reach that point may stretch suspension of disbelief a bit too far. And, too, the supporting minor plot doesn’t help matters.

Filed under: TNG Reviews