Ménage à Troi

If you thought the previous episode to be one of the best so far as a certain someone got his long deserved slap in the face in it, close to the season finale surely you would be anxiously hoping throughout this one that he might finally improve the series atmosphere with his permanent leave. Well, im here to advise you, not to get all worked up, because instead all that he saves the day again. Again.. Oh and the episode is not great.

"Menage a Troi"'s greatest offense is that (for the most part) it's just as much of a groaner as that wordplay in the title Lwaxana's back, she spars with Deanna about female responsibility, and that's before they're abducted (along with Riker) by a horndog Ferengi. Put simply, it's dull and the lighthearted stuff isn't funny.

. . . Until the last few minutes or so, wherein Picard summons his inner Shakespearean in a standoff with the Ferengi ship. This however is very funny because Patrick Stewart's going for broke. He completely livens up this sleepy episode. And it's no wonder that that image of him hamming it up has been co-opted into Internet meme infamy.

6/10

Its story is so straightforward and dull, and almost all of the actors who were involved in this one seem like they were just going through the motions. Even Marina Sirtis seemed way off at times. No offense to the late Majel Barrett, (who loved the Trek universe and put in a lot of work for it) but her character became annoying just after her introductory show. Now she is barely tolerable, and I'm going to need to suffer through a few more of her appearances if I'm going to finish the entirety of this series. The show's last several minutes almost redeemed the whole episode, though. I've never laughed louder at Patrick Stewart. Usually Brent Spiner must deliver the comedic relief, but Stewart demonstrated that he is capable at times.

Riker, Deanna and Lwaxana Troi are kidnapped by the Ferengi.

This is a below average episode in my opinion as the plot comes across as a bit of a farce and the characters, particularly in the main plot feel more like caricatures.

Comedy is very much in the eye of the beholder so if you are fans of the Lwaxana character you should enjoy it. The kidnap plot never seems plausible, particularly the torture scenes which come across as being played for laughs. Personally the humour mostly does not work for me until one of the final scenes where Picard takes centre stage. This resolution, although humorous, turns the Ferengi into complete non-entities.

Some of the dialogue is so flat and characterless it feels like it might have been written or thought up just prior to the footage being shot.

I prefer the subplot involving Wesley Crusher which contains some nice sci-fi details and a decent arc for the character.

The visuals I found to be a mixed bag. It has great makeup effects for the Ferengi characters, whilst at the same time putting Riker and Troi in two ridiculous costumes.

The best aspect of it is definitely the acting, as all cast members managed to make a terrible script sound professional.

What I would have expected to see in this episode is flashbacks to Deanna's youth. That youth can't have been easy. Betazoids read thoughts of other people, as Deanna's mother Lwaxana reveals. Deanna however is half human. Her father is a human. As a result, Deanna can only read emotions and not thoughts. What's it like growing up in a Betazoid school where every other school kid can read thoughts while Deanna can only read emotions ? Do teachers there watch school kids beat up other school kids, while shaking their heads at the victim ? "Your thoughts are repulsive. Now, pick up your teeth." Is that a typical Betazoid school ? How relieved was Deanna when she joined earth where everyone is stupid ? Where no one reads minds ? How much did Deanna enjoy her first human-written Mystery Thriller ? A murder and no one finds out who dunnit ? I'm not being sarcastic, here. Deanna did join Starfleet, at some point. I'd like to see how little it was she settled for, really, in comparison, when she hooked up with human William T. Riker.