Liaisons

The final season of Star Trek, the Next Generation gave us some splendid episodes and also a fair share of stinkers. Everyone knew by this stage that they would not be renewed and attempts were made to wrap up various story lines before they said their final goodbyes. There is still a great deal to be enjoyed.

As I've already stated many times, there is no accounting for taste. I REALLY LIKE THIS EPISODE. Not so much for the flummery taking place aboard ship but for the highly atmospheric mystery that embroils Captain Picard when the shuttle taking him on a diplomatic exchange mission crashes on a remote planet.

Veteran director Cliff Bole has ramped up the tension between Patrick Stewart and Canadian guest actress Barbara Williams to the extent that I really felt their uncomfortable disconnect. Skilful lighting gave the shelter built inside a crashed spacecraft an authentic look and the weather effects were convincing enough. Of course, all of this requires a considerable suspension of disbelief, especially when looking back from a era of much more advanced special effects, but I thought that these two theatrical actors were more than able to bring the script to life. Yes, I know that the final scene between them took place against a painted backdrop and that many viewers had long since worked out what was going on with the necklace but for me this episode generated the atmosphere of a classic SciFi. Story.

Guest actors Paul Eiding, Ricky D'Shon Collins and Michael Harris make an enjoyable trio of ambassadors, stretching the hospitality of the Enterprise Crew to the limits. Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn both get splendid comic turns as their long-suffering hosts but it is Cmdr Worf's barely suppressed rage that steals every scene.

Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.

Worf and Riker bro down while they put on dresses. Riker gets all SJW on Worf before complementing him. They meet up with Picard and Troi. Troi is wearing a dress too, but Picard just has on a snazzy jacket. They meet up with three aliens and then go to 10 forward for a party. Except for Picard, he and one of the aliens go for a bromantic shuttle ride.

Everyone at the party in 10 forward has a grand old time except for Worf who gets to play waiter for his alien companion. Data makes small talk with Worf and its pretty funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

Meanwhile on the shuttle, Picard and his alien brodie are having an awkward moment when the power suddenly fails and they have to crash land on a desolate planet. Communications are out and Pircard's brodie is hurt so Picard goes outside to look for help. Its noteworthy how many breathable atmospheres there are in the Star Trek universe. He's hit by a plasma discharge and rescued by a stranger.

Back on the Enterprise Worf is playing nice with his new frienemy (Geordi is too modest, I'd have said yes because its so obviously true). Troi is out and about with her new alien bestie who's never seen a child before. They make a new friend and then go get desert. Its funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

On the planet Picard awakens to find himself injured and alone with a mysterious women named Ana. She tells him that his Brodie is dead and then leaves the room for what I assume was a commercial break. Turns out she's been stranded herself for 7 years (since stardate 40812). Not to worry though, she's off to the shuttle to get a communications device.

On the Enterprise Worf is plotting a murder. Riker and Troi are quite pleased with his frustrations. Its actually pretty funny, in a Star Trek sort of way. They plan to play a game of poker.

Meanwhile Picard's new boo has destroyed the communications device with a phaser. She expresses her hopelessness, mulls over suicide, and confesses her love for Picard in an effort to get into his pants. Then she makes him dinner and starts forcing the issue while he works on a way off the planet. Its a little awkward.

Worf is still bad at poker. Not only does he lack a poker face but he keeps his chips in front of another player. The ensuing conflict is completely predictable and somewhat funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

Hooray, Picard has MacGyvered a way off the planet but his savior would rather stay and bang him out. Her desperation is palpable. No means no Ana, no means no.

Spoiler spoiler plot exposition spoiler.

Picard and his brodie head back to the Enterprise where Worf and his new bestie have been fighting in the holodeck. Homeostasis is restored and the credits roll.

Over all this episode is pretty good as a one off, but its not very memorable. Every time I rewatch TNG I forget all about this episode until it rolls around. And then I end up enjoying the B-story on the Enterprise much more than the A-story on the planet. Its not badly written by any means, its just not quite to my taste.

Verdict: Funny, in a Star Trek sort of way.

The Federation is about to open diplomatic relations with the Ilarians and three emissaries come over to the Enterprise and each take an Enterprise crew member to work on an aspect of human emotions that they don't have.

Deanna Troi gets an eager to please Ilarian who falls in love with the human concept of desserts with meals. Marina Sirtis just keeps feeding him sweets of all kinds.

Worf gets an obnoxious twit of an emissary and let's baiting a bear is less hazardous to your health than baiting a Klingon.

And Captain Picard gets to fly with a third on a shuttlecraft that is forced down and he is held by a strange woman who's warm for his form. That one is truly revealing.

Interesting storym especially the Worf part.

While "Liasons" is a pretty good episode, I should also point out that the problems that the Enterprise crew have with the Ilarians are EASY to figure out...and it makes no sense that it takes everyone so long to figure out what's happening! This is a serious weakness in an otherwise decent plot.

When the Ilarian ambassadors enter the ship, one of the ambassadors requests that Worf escort him around instead of Riker. The other is escorted by Troi and he spends most of the show eating EVERYTHING that is edible. Later, Picard is stranded on a planet and is discovered by a screwy lady who is HIGHLY reminiscent of Kathy Batesin "Misery". What do these three things have in common? See the show.

As I said, the idea in of the Ilarians is novel and interesting. I just wished it had been handled a tad differently--making it all a bit less obvious.

Enterprise hosts three ambassadors.

For me this is quite a flat episode as it has a predictable story that is not the most interesting.

There are no scenes that are particularly badly made, I just struggle to engage with the plot and characters when they are depicted as failing to see what is being done to them in this type of situation. That being said the 'Misery' tribute is relatively fun and Picard makes an interesting observation at the end.

Performances are good and so are the production values, but it is mostly lost on me and I find myself at times willing it to finish. This is probably a matter of personal taste, so others may like it.