Cost of Living

Watching this episode for the first time when it was first released, it quickly became a favorite of mine. It seemed different than other episodes with Lwaxana Troi, and for me, I think I know why.

I recently read that Rod Roddenberry identified this episode as one Majel Barrett very much enjoyed filming, especially working with Brian Bonsall, as Worf's son. Their interaction and quick bond is evident of this.

It is also true Majel's husband Gene Roddenberry passed a mere 4 months before this episode was filmed. I sensed a very genuine and real delivery when Lwaxana was educating Alexander on relationships. I could see Lwaxana's vulnerability, and throughout the episode, her humor, care and advocacy for herself and others.

While Majel put a lot of herself into every episode of this character, this one hit closer to home.

What was the point of this episode? I must've stopped and started this watching this one on Netflix about 6 times because I couldn't watch more than a few minutes of it in a row.

Lwaxana Troi episode at its worst. Cross it with another episode of Worf and his son at loggerheads, mix in some hippy scenes on the holodeck and you have this one.

The primary plot of Lwaxana Troi's upcoming nuptials and her interference in Worf and Alexander's relationship is irritating. Even more so when you think of one of the DS9 episodes LT appears in. She does not learn her own lessons.

The secondary plot of the Enterprise suffering mysterious malfunctions due to another infection from space dust is quite repetitive

Only thing that has it going for it is a couple of scenes with Micheal Dorn as Worf

Perhaps the worst episode of the 5th season.

The Enterprise is in crisis. Some kind of metallic rot is setting in after they destroy an asteroid headed for collision with a planet. But the real crisis is Marina Sirtis's mother is back on board and looking to get married. To a man she's not met, but has exchanged interplanetary dating profiles. Nice to see computer dating so advanced in several centuries.

Majel Barrett is always fun as mother Troi. She injects herself in the middle of Deanna's counseling sessions with Worf and his son Alexander. Stripped of all the futuristic trappings it's the story of a widowed father trying to raise a son. Hard enough for humans, Klingons are a whole other experience.

There are some nice scenes with Barrett and Brian Bonsall as young Alexander. Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn seem at a loss here as Barrett is the one who really connects with the lad. She also finds maybe she doesn't want to get remarried especially after seeing what a drip her proposed new husband is.

Not a great episode, but a more relaxed one and vastly entertaining.

Troi's Mother is absolutely insufferable. Is she supposed to be funny? I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would write a character like her; and the stories containing her character are ridiculously stupid. I honestly dislike the Troi character too, but she's nowhere near as repulsive as her Mother. Mama Troi just bulldozes over everyone, pushing her agenda and never listens to anything anyone says. She appears to be dumber than a bag of hammers, completely narcissistic and has no regard for anyone else's feelings or needs. What is even more incomprehensible is the way everyone just lets her have her way all the time with no accountability or repercussions. This episode also contains the unfortunate child of Worf. I like the idea of Worf having a son, but Alexander's character is poorly written and poorly acted. Unless you are masochistic, skip this episode.