Thine Own Self is a well balanced episode. So often, when an episode has disparate storylines, the two never seem to complement each other (think The Icarus Factor). But with Thine Own Self, both story lines not only offer something different, but also something worthwhile.

The minor story involves Troi, who gets some very real, very plausible character development. After returning from a class reunion, Troi talks to Dr. Crusher who is commanding the Enterprise. Not to worry though, this is the night watch, and very little is going on. After a brief discussion with Dr. Crusher about command, and some reflection back to her brief command in Disaster, Troi decides it is time for her to “stretch” herself a bit, too. She decides she wants to go for a promotion to Commander.

The scene in which she approaches Riker for advice and guidance is notable for its playful banter, and genuine affection demonstrated between the two characters. Riker agrees to help the counselor, but warns her: he is a very difficult evaluator. And, true to form, he’s quite strict when it comes to the one part of the test in which Troi is having difficulty: the Engineering section. In fact, following a failed attempt to prevent a warp core breach, Riker quips, “Congratulations, you just destroyed the Enterprise.”

Frustrated, but undaunted, Troi tries and fails again two more times. This leads to a tense exchange between Troi and Riker — but an exchange in which Riker gives her the direction she needs. As he says, “My first duty is to this ship.” And so Troi realizes that, in order solve the problem and pass the test, she must make the ultimate decision necessary of a Commander: order a fellow crew member to his or her death — in this case, Geordi LaForge.

She passes the test — but the lesson is well-learned. Commanding a starship is not for the faint of heart.

The primary story focuses on Data who is on a mission to a remote planet to recover radioactive material from a Federation probe (the hows and whys of the probe’s crash are never actually explained). But something has gone wrong. Data, badly damaged and malfunctioning, appears in a village of a society that is, roughly, analogous to the early Renaissance on Earth. And he’s carrying something: a case labeled “Radioactive.”

Of course, Data’s malfunctions include a loss of memory — one such that he can read the word “radioactive” but that he cannot understand it. The implications are ominous. If Data cannot warn the villagers about the danger, their lives will be in jeopardy.

A generous village magistrate and his daughter take Data in, and help him become acclimated to the community. To get some money, the magistrate suggests that Data should sell the metals inside the case. Ignorant of their danger, Data does so, ensuring that the entire community is now at risk.

What makes the village scenes enjoyable is the pseudo-Renaissance setting.  The village physician and teacher, exposes the value of science — but takes some rather unscientific approaches to her deductions.  Thus, even though no one has ever been to the mountains, she determines that Data is, in fact, an Ice Man and his super strength must be due to the need for the Ice Men to subdue the powerful beasts that live in the mountains.  She also teaches about the four elements of rock, sky, fire, and water.  It’s amusing because of the absolute sincerity with which she makes her judgments.

Things turn darker, however, once villagers start becoming ill.  And as their suspicions about Data begin to rise, the episode takes on a pseudo-monster mash vibe — complete with pickaxes, pitchforks, and the like.  The race is on for Data to find a cure and save the villagers — which he does, seemingly at the cost of his own life after he was impaled by the blacksmith.

When Data next awakens, he is back on board the Enterprise, and Commander Troi is pointing out that he must now call her, “sir.”   But real resolution comes from the title of the episode, which is reflected in Data’s ability to cure the radiation sicknes, in spite of his amnesia.  And, too, Troi’s promotion is a result of the fact that she has finally acknowledged her strengths, her weaknesses, and just what it is she wants to be as a person.

Perhaps that is why her character has been much improved of late.

Thine Own Self is fine episode.  Between Data’s monster mash and Troi’s quest to become a Commander, there is plenty to enjoy.  There are a few minor quibbles about the specifics of Data’s malfunction.  But on the whole, this episode rarely misses a beat.

Filed under: TNG Reviews