Loud as a Whisper

I wanted to write a positive review because I feel like some of the other reviews are done by robots, focusing on things that don't match, and they're missing the point, which is how to achieve communication between people and the confidence to overcome our own issues to take a step towards someone else. This is one of the many episodes that carry positive values and make us think about how we can do or be better. Even if those episodes are sometimes long and are stretching a single idea over 45 minutes, I'll take it anytime over the drama that we find in most sci-fi series nowadays.

This is "the disability" episode, and it is rather good. I have attended lectures done by deaf-mute professors that are verbalized by interpreters. Such people are vital for understanding, for both the mute person and for people who do not understand ASL or other sign language, similarly to Riva's Chorus. The b-plot is about La Forge being able to possibly have eyes, literal eyes. Ultimately both decide to accept themselves for who they are and Riva uses his own victimization to advance peace.

The least interesting episode until this point, due to being so long, drawn out, and slow-paced. A full 27 minutes passed before ANYTHING of consequence occurred.

There are a number of good things in this episode. For one, it has one of the best vaporizations of the whole Star Trek franchise. And to top it off, one of the people who was vaporized was Marnie Mossman, Q's (John DeLancey's) wife.

The issue here, is that we have a federation negotiator who has developed a unique way of communication. But unfortunately he is a little bit too self-confident, confidence that gets knocked down when something unexpected happens.

But an amazing thing occurs at that time, the negotiator is shown as a real person, Who can still do his job even with the handicap he is given back after the incident. But what is most important is that it takes Troy and Data to show this man that he can still do what he needs to do.

After all, this is one of the men that helped negotiate the peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. If he has Worf's respect, then his reputation for 100% success has been wholly deserved. This episode shows that even the most successful people can have reversals set up on them but that they can still function and do what they need to do even in the midst of that. One of the most difficult things to deal with is Deafness, this man was born deaf and mute, but he developed a chorus that allowed him to communicate. In a way, this man was carting around a miniature royal court. Well, we have seen through history that even Royals are human beings and have their own difficulties.

The man who had boarded the enterprise was blustery and confident, the man left standing on the hilltop at the end of the episode was to same man, he had taken his disadvantage and turned it into an advantage.

The Enterprise is tasked with picking up a legendary Federation negotiator, Riva, to help settle a centuries-old conflict on Solais V. But they are shocked to find that Riva is deaf and communicates through three empathic associates known as the chorus. When tragedy strikes, it falls to Troi to help resolve the situation.

An interesting, if somewhat gimmicky, episode that highlights physical disability through both Riva and Geordi. The romantic subplot is highly predictable (just how high were the hormones on the Enterprise in season two?) but the story is handled sensitively and Seago's performance deserves praise also. A pity the warring aliens didn't look good in dodgy makeup and Muldaur's still really bad as Pulaski but otherwise, this is more like it.