Every Sunday my Twitch subs and I watch Star Trek in my Discord. Here are my reviews and thoughts on each of the episodes as I see it. If you're curious about a nerd's views on Star Trek episodes, please read on, I go quite in depth with some of this episodes! I've watched some Star Trek before but not all of it!
Half a Life - TNG
7.5/10
IT'S TIME FOR THE TRASHIEST MOM IN SPACE!
This episode starts with Counselor Troi's log entry. "Stardate, XXXX.... my mother is on board."
And that's it. Perfect. Lwaxana forces herself into wherever she wants to be, and doesn't really care about other's feelings on the matter. She forces herself into an important diplomatic meeting. There's a scientist of a reserved people here, who's looking for the Enterprise's help to fix their dying sun. She's like "NOPE NOW WE'RE PARTYING" in that way where she's actually trying to fuck him.
She also called Worf "Mr. Woof" and almost shoots a photon torpedo. Once again, the trashiest mom in space.
The scientist is rather a morose individual, but isn't like, against Lwaxana. He calls her "vibrant" and is receptive, going about with her whims more than anyone really should.
"Mr. Homn, spread it"
I'd rather he didn't.
This alien scientist, Timicin, is a really good actor. As they do the test on a suitable star to see if it works, and as it works, he's elated, happy he's going to save his people... and then the tragedy, the depression, as it doesn't work and the sun supernovas. Well, that sucks. Good thing we didn't test it near where anyone lives.
And then we find out the second act plot twist. Timicin is nearing 60, and when someone reaches 60, everyone throws a giant party to him, celebrating him, and then he kills himself. Holy fuck.
Lwaxana Troi is NOT handling this well.
She storms to Picard, demanding he stop this. Uh, that's their culture, it has nothing to do with him. She's going to BEAM TO THEIR PLANET. O'Brien locks his console and excuses himself. She's having a fucking panic attack, crying and freaking out. She's going through all the stages of grief here on the fucking teleporter, and we finally see a beautiful scene with the two Trois, daughter and mother, as Troi comforts her mother, and tells her how amazing she is, how brightly she burns. It's touching, and heart rending.
I guess she decides she can Fix Him though, and convince him not to return and die. I guess to become a political exile. So she fucks him lol which like, this is only going to end in tragedy, honey. It does, they have an argument, where each try to reason their point of view, but refuse to. It's hard to watch, but like, it's not like he can just leave. He'd be burdened with abandoning his people to their dying sun... Though it's not like he can help them when they're dead anyway.
This entire topic is a very dead discussion that I don't think I'm able to like, have a philosophical discussion or decide Who Is Right And Who Is Wrong. A few things rub me the wrong way, the "face death with dignity" ideal alongside the "get rid of the burdens on society" nazi rhetoric is uncomfy. I mean people living in that society would say whatever they need to justify it, of course.
This actor is amazing. He says techno babble like it's nothing, he expresses grief so well. As they're on their way back, he finds a solution to his problem. MAYBE. It will take a time that he does not have, and when he tries to request asylum, his xenophobic goverment who BARELY let him work with the Enterprise are PISSED. They refuse to accept anymore work from him. They will attack the Enterprise if it leaves with him. He has no work, no family, no home. And meanwhile, that nazi comparison from earlier? REALLY feeling apt now. And they're literally rather kill the entire planet, possibly, as their sun dies, than accept a change
to their culture. Gross. But also, isn't coming to their culture and saying its wrong and gross colonialism? This is hard to talk about.
In the end, he cannot seperate himself from his culture, and leaves. It is customany for loved ones to be there at the ending party, so Lwaxana Troi invites herself. Which is a very Lwaxana thing to do. This episode is hard to talk about. I think, for the topic, they did the best they could. It was well written, well shot, amazingly acted. But it's a little hard to watch, at the same time. I dunno how they could have tackled this topic better though, in the framework of a TV show, or in the framework of STar Trek. Though sci fi is always one of the best ways to tackle these subjects, huh?
The Host - TNG
5/10
This episode basically starts with Crusher making out with some dude in the elevator. Just, bam, Crusher has a hot new ambassador boyfriend, no build up. And then Commander Cockblock, also known as Data, comes in and ruins their fun. Thank you, Data.
Turns out this guy is a Trill! He looks nothing like the Trill, and when he returns to his room, he opens his shirt and a fucking chest burster bulges, which I guess is supposed to be the symbiot?? Yeah they uh, really did not have the Trill solidified yet, did they? This is the best Trill ftr,
We actually looked into the Trill changes. This was the ONLY Trill, until Dax would be made up two seasons later. She was GOING to look more like this guy, Odan, but a combination of prosethetics costs mixed with an exec going "dax's actor is hot, she needs to look hot, give her cheetah spots" got us the Trill design we know today.
I promise I will not to let this entire commentary be "lol retcons", but the changes I can tell so far: head ridges. secretive race no one knows much about, not been a federation member for long I guess (canonically they've been here since Kirk's time). They try to avoid teleports, as it kills the symbiot. The symbiot completely surpresses the host personality, it isn't a blend. The trill here don't mind fucking other species, unlike in DS9 where they avoid it cause others "don't quite get it". Y'know, like they don't here.
Riker and Odan take a shuttle, despite warnings it might go badly. Anyways, it goes badly, and Odan's host dies. As he dies he explains what the Trill are, parasites that survive on hosts. Riker volunteers to take on the place as a human host, which is a wild idea but okay.
Next time we see a Symbiot, it's just a normal worm. Odan appears to be a Rainbow Disco Worm.
Crusher is NOT handling this well. She basically feels like Odan died, even though he's right there, and is now her boss. I get it, it's an interesting idea. Your partner suddenly looks like your boss wtf do you do. She has a panic attack at Troi, who tries to help and talk her through it. Tells her to accept him, and his love. But I mean, girl, when will you ever have an opportunity to fuck Will Riker ever again???
She still can't handle it though, and Odan, in Riker's body, basically tried to push himself on her. Which is very uncomfy. She eventually comes around though.
The mood is kinda awkward, and the music is all over the place.
God, look at Riker. He's rejecting the host and it's not going well. This looks like a man who's been working in an ER for 48 hours straight. He does it though, he saves the day, and is put into his next host...
A WOMAN! Crusher could kiss and deal with Riker being her boyfriend, sure but a GIRL? THAT'S GOING TOO FAR! "Humans can't just keep up with things like this". Crusher, I dunno if you know this, trans women have existed for centuries. I know trans people aren't discussed often in doctor circles but bear with me here.
This episode is... eh. Easily skippable.
The Mind's Eye - TNG
9.5/10
Geordi is sitting around in a shuttle for a while and needs to relax, he has nothing to do. So he puts on some latin jams and plays trivial pursuit with the computer, which is kinda adorable and a very good Geordi moment. Then a Romulan Warbird appears in the window and he literally goes "HO!" and skills his milkshake, which is a good reaction to a Romulan warbird appearing on your view screen.
The Romulans hook Geordi up to something that puts images directly into his brain and FORCES him to watch scenes of people being tortured and other horrible things. They're LITERALLY clockwork oranging him.
Meanwhile, Klingon Politics! There's a high ranking Klingon Ambassador on board, with a VERY bumpy forhead (Klingons are like tortoises, if they're dehydrated they get pyramiding). There's some rebels in the Klingon empire, and he's getting help from Picard. He's FORCED to work with Worf, which he says is "...awkward".
Back with the Romulans, Geordi is being mind controlled using the visor. They are testing the mind control by having him kill people in a simulation. We watch Geordi straight up murder O'Brien, which is horrible. How is DS9 ever supposed to happen now?! Then he's sent back to the Enterprise, where he acts like he had the most pleasant vacation :D Oh he had such a LOVELY time~
Back in the B plot, Federation weapons have been found amongst the rebels. I love any time Humans show a backbone, Klingons are suddenly horny as fuck for them,
This episode knows what its doing. It's good at setting up suspense and worry. Geordi sees O'Brien, and menaces towards him... before accidentally spilling a drink on him. Next scene, he's looking down the barrel of a gun... but oh, he's just doing tests on it to determine how Federation rifles were found between them. The following scene, Geordi shows how the rifle was actually Romulan make with the Klingons... suddenly, it zooms into his visor, showing Romulan text on the screen.... and Geordi is... off, but still, nothing happens. The suspense is powerful.
When his Sleeper Agent Skills finally activate, it's a lot more subtle. He beams weapons down to pretend like it was the Federations trying to sneak weapons to the rebels. The Klingons call them out, and now everyone needs to figure out who the spy on the Enteprise is... oh, let's put GEORDI AS THE MAIN INVESTIGATOR ON THE PROJECT.
Geordi investigating his own crime is very interesting. He's earnestly trying to, and doing his best job... but also HE DID IT lol. He's one of four people who could do it, and the only one with no alibi.
Old Ambassador guy enjoying a meal! And OH SNAP, plot twist, THIS GUY IS IN ON IT! He gives Geordi orders to kill the other Klingon leader, to start a Klingon Federation war. Meanwhile, Geordi is feeling off, even to himself. He wakes up and sends a message to O'Brien to see if here's there. I guess he's dreamt that he murdered O'Brien a dozen times, huh?
EXTREMELY tense scene. Geordi is on his way to murder the Klingon leader... and Data is sleuthing out what's going on. Data and Worf save the day, and the Ambassador is arrested by the Klingons, and prolly immediately thrown out an airlock, considering Klingons.
And then we see Geordi grappling with what happened... he's having a therapist meeting with Troi, grappling with what he's done, as Troi works with it through him.
VERY good episode.
In Theory - TNG
4/10
This episode starts with Data and this new Ensign, Jenna, in a conversation. Jenna's ex is hounding her, and Data is like "As per your request, I will now list all the reasons you broke up with him. He did not 'do the little things'. He slurped his soup. He did not 'do the thing with his mouth' when you requested it". It's fucking hilarious. Data's been studying relationships to better connect with humans, and support his friends, and she finds it so sweet.
Data and Jenna have been hanging out a lot. THey do recitals together and go on what is essentially double dates with the only canonical couple on the ship, O'Brien and Keiko. She's very obviously rebounding on Data. She wants that data dick. He IS fully functional.
Meanwhile there's some B plot of about a Nebula they're studying I dunno. Back to Jenna and her boytoy. Data tries to seek advice after she kisses him, and asks everyone on the ship in montage format. Guinan says he has to decide himself. Geordi is like "DO NOT ASK ME ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" and I agree. Troi says to be careful, which I also agree, don't hurt her. Worf is like "do whatever you want, but if you hurt her, I will kill you". Riker says "Are you kidding me? She's hot as hell, fuck her!" And Picard is like "Once I figure out how to date women myself, I'll let you know."
I did not make any of that up.
Also, apparently, Spot got out of his room! But no one was logged as opening the door. God please don't let her be a stalker.
Data decides to give it a try. He does this in the most Data way possible. Bringing her flowers, admitting Riker suggested it and said they worked for him in the past. He then tries to hug her in a stilted awful way. I think she's a little weirded out, but tbh it'd work on me.
Meanwhile, some weird shit is on Picard's floor. I THINK this is the B plot?
So, Jenna comes over to Data's room, and he's being his usual Data Self. She brings him a gift, he analyzes it. She says he should continue what he's doing, so he does. She then gets annoyed and tries to critique him on what you should do when you're dating someone. This is my major issue with this. Like, she knows Data. They were friends. She liked him for his Data-ness before. Now, she doesn't like his data-ness. Did you really like him in the first place? I get having a crush on data, I WOULD HAVE A CRUSH ON DATA. But I would crush on Data knowing that he cannot crush on me back, and would like him for his Data-ness. It really doesn't seem that way with her. And when he reads up on how to be a better partner, and like, smiles, and is loose, she doesn't like THAT EITHER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT, WOMAN? If you don't appreciate Data, I WILL.
How romantic?
He then has a "lovers quarrel" with her, because that's what all the tropes say to do! :D Oh Data. She doesn't like it.
MEANWHILE, BACK TO THE B PLOT WITH SOME FUCKING HORROR. Things are phasing in and out of reality. A few people nearly die. Then, they hear a scream, and THIS SHOT.
THIS WOMAN, DEAD, PHASED THROUGH THE FLOOR. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS EPISODE?! WHY ARE THESE TWO PLOTS IN THE SAME EPISODE?!
This feels like a shitpost from that 8th season of TNG Twitter account. "Data goes on a date with an Ensign to try and find out what it means to love. Meanwhile, a nebula causes dimensional disturbances and murders half the Enterprise crew."
I am so checked out as Picard forces himself on the shuttle, for some reason, to do Techno Babble so that they can escape the nebula safely. They make it out, Picard almost exploding. Anyway now that that's over it's back to the A Plot. Jenna breaks up with him, the end. You had one chance to date the best TNG cast member, and you blew it, Jenna. Apparently the idea of this episode was based on people sending mail in to Leonard Nimoy, like "I am literally romantically in love with Spock. I know he feels no emotion, but I COULD MAKE HIM LOVE ME".
That's not how you relationship lol. This is also not how to A and B plot.
Redemption: Part 1 - TNG
9/10
WE'RE DOING THE PART ONE THING AGAIN? FUCK YOU.
KLINGON EPISODE! They're gonna go to the Klingons and see Gowron be ascended to the leader of the Klingon Empire. Meanwhile, Worf is going too so that he can right the wrongs of his dishonor, and get that bullshit all cleared, now that it's clear Duras was the real baddie. Picard, his Cha'dich, and Worf are interrupted by Gowron, who shows up, and said they only have a little time left, they must act fast if they're to avoid... CIVIL WAR.
Gowron also learns of what happened to Worf, and and that the council let Worf suffer so that they didn't piss of Duras. He is NOT happy, but he can't help. If he tries, that will only break the Empire. It pisses him off, but to survive, he has to.
Amazing scene. Worf is doing target practice, and Guinan comes in. "Are you sure? I practice on level 14." "Oh. I guess I can go down to that difficulty level for a while" and then she smokes him while doing her Guinan Thing. Good shit.
Worf decides he needs to do something. He requests a leave of absense, and makes his way to his brother, who isn't good with Gowron, OR Duras. He says there SHOULD be a civil war, so we can get rid of the council and put a new one in its place. "Our leaders have failed. They no longer deserve our loyalty". Damn. When did Star Trek get so woke?
Worf, however, refuses. And he forces Kurn, his brother, to back Gowron. Klingon Political episodes are so fucking fire, jesus.
As soon as Picard is about to announce Gowron as the new leader (remember, he is the arbiter of ascension), Duras' sisters show some kid they claim as Duras' son, and claim HE should be the leader. Yeah uh huh, sure. They have allies on the council though, PLUS they're working with the Romulans, and some SHADOWY ROMULAN LADY! She was ALSO in the Geordi episode earlier, oh no!
Picard is not happy that Worf is using Federation records to prove his innocence. It's a conflict of interest. But he doesn't want the Duras family in charge. Duras literally tried to kill him, a few times. He makes the files freely open, but refuses to do much more.
But then...
They INVITE PICARD DOWN, AND HE JUST... COMES? At first I was like "WTF" but he knows, if they kill him now, any justification is out the window. He also says, very VERY plainly, he sees what's going on. He will not be used as a chess piece, he's PLAYED THIS GAME. Picard, of course, still rules against them, and the civil war begins, with one last epic line from Gowron. "Do you not see what you will become if you follow them? Then go. Your blood shall paint the way to the future."
Worf is here to swoop in and offer support. Gowron will accept... but only if the Federation entervines. Will the Federation join and help the loyalists in the new Klingon civil war?
The answer is no. Even with Worf on the ship, Picard does not help, and leaves, as Gowron's ship, Worf on board, is under attack, and nearly destroyed. But KURN shows up just in time, with Worf also helping protect them. And Gowron is installed, and Picard is brought back to do one single final thing as his duty as the arbiter of succession. Worf is given back his honor. All is right.
Oh right there's still a fucking revolution. Picard still refuses to drag the Federation to war, and Worf quits, as Picard refuses to let him y'know, fight in the war. Worf just straight up quits the Federation and leaves, getting a spot on Gowron's ship. I do wish they went a different route for Worf here. Worf is like "I lived all my life around humans, but I am still a Klingon, and I feel the call of the warrior". I do wish instead he had gone "I have lived all my life aroudn humans. If Gowron were to lose, the Federation would be hurt by the following Romulan/Klingon alliance. I must protect my friends". He DOES cite the future Romulan/Klingon alliance, but that's not his reasoning. I wish it was.
Everyone comes to honor Worf as he leaves. They should have brought pain sticks. He leaves, and then we get... the stinger for the following part.
Romulan Tasha Yar. What the fuck.
SEASON FINAL THOUGHTS
Over all, amazing season, best Trek season so far. I mean, EVERY TNG season has been best Trek season so far. Honestly not that many HORRIBLE episodes? Just the Geordi one was the one real bad one off the top of my head. Can't wait for season 5, especially cause season 5 involves building up for DS9~ Gee I wonder who the new Enterprise Weapons Officer is going to be!
