Starship Mine

I had this on in the background between jobs one evening, and was puzzled by yet another "talkie" Star Trek episode. Female terrorists who wear makeup, a pre-Voyager Tuvok who is unarmed as a terrorist, and a lot of talking over what during Kirk and Spock's hay-day would have been a kind of James Bond action in space kind of episode, with a few fist fights, Kirk and Spock calling for help from Sulu or Scotty, and probably some bloodshed.

Instead we get another examination of personality types and interaction with the plot serving as a background for character exposition.

And that's really why Star Trek the Next Generation was such a "different" show, but really a bad one. A lot of TV throughout the years has looked at character interaction. The old Mental Hygiene films from the 40s, 50s and 60s gave didactic instrution on how to behave, have manners, keep yourself well groomed and so forth. Conventional television is actually the "fun version" of the same kind of films, and so it is that Star Trek the Next Generation offers the same thing.

And so it is that the primary focus is on how Riker, Geordi and Dr. Crusher push Data on a guest character who proves to be obnoxious. So it is that the "action" (if you want to call it that) is very much soft peddled. And so it is that we really don't get a sense of why the Enterprise is being hijacked or sabotaged in the first place by a bunch of second rate terrorists or infiltrators, the female members of which wear makeup.

Again, the plot is there to serve as a background tableau for an examination of people interacting with one another, and to serve as a lesson for the audience, in this case the "smart" audience or the more imaginative audience who like the Star Trek name brand for their entertainment.

Otherwise had this episode been written with a more conventional framework, then we would have gotten a look at the political and social framework of why the antagonists were trying to sabotage the ship. Again, it's another therapy session.

The music has a lot of soft violins and soft horns, the lighting is soft and clinical. Again, it's a hospital like feel. And yet, people kept watching, even though it was very unsatisfying. The show was not aimed at inspiring people, but aimed at instructing and catering to the therapy minded.

The whole series is like this. And during its initial run I kept taking a chance on an episode here and there. And, time and again, this broader and younger audience and therapy oriented show format is what kept pushing me away, and kept me questioning who watched this. Well, I guess now I know.

In William Shatner's documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," one of the Next Generation's writers mentioned that Patrick Stewart emphasized "the two F's" for his captain role. He wanted more fighting and.... um, effing.

Well, there is certainly more fighting in this one-- and it's a welcome relief because it seems like his character was going through yet another stretch of pedestrianism. It's nice to remind the audience that Picard wasn't just cerebral-- he was a virile leader as well.

When you throw in Brent Spiner/Data's excellent comedy in this one you know that it's a classic.

I think it's completely fair to label this "Die Hard on the Enterprise" what with it being an excuse to see Picard as a fly in the terrorists' ointment. And while these hijackers lack Alan Rickman's charisma, there are a few clever touches that make this stand out. One is the Enterprise on lockdown, stations vacated and touch screens darkened, simple lighting tricks here and there that increase the eeriness. Also, the Baryon sweep, a looming threat that heightens the stakes.

But it does come down to the bond between captain and his ship, and Patrick Stewart brings the physicality to defend it. He's pretty comfortable with a crossbow, too.

7/10

This is an enjoyable episode due to the Die Hard tribute and moments of humour.

It has a good premise of the Enterprise being emptied for the purpose of the baryon sweep and from then on it's the Enterprise command crew as hostages and Picard as the action hero.

The action is reasonably good, as it's Die Hard in a gentler Star Trek style and with the obvious budgetary constraints. Trek has always been about thinking through problems as opposed to shooting and Picard mostly uses his brain to get through everything. However there are some violent aspects that are handled well by the actors, but could have been filmed better to make them clearer.

Generally I found it quite humorous, especially towards the beginning where Picard is harassed by virtually every member of the regular cast for various reasons. This is followed up by some great small-talk related humour from Data and guest character Hutch.

Patrick Stewart is great as always, and the other cast members support well, particularly Brent Spiner and David Spielberg.

This TNG episode has the Enterprise undergoing a little maintenance while the officers and crew are doing a little R and R. What's happening to the Enterprise is that it is undergoing what they call a Baryon sweep. Some highly toxic rays are beamed into the ship to destroy any unfriendly microbes the ship picks up in outer space.

This is the time some terrorists decide to drain some unstable radioactive waste from ship's engine. They have to do it in a certain amount of time or the toxic rays will do them in.

Two things go wrong. Patrick Stewart has to quickly return to the ship for something he forgot. Secondly several of the rest of the senior staff discover something and they're taken hostage.

Two performances really make this episode. The first is Marie Marshall as the lead terrorist who is a tough and resourceful villain and equal to any male. In fact truth be told she really hasn't much use for the male of the species which she demonstrates on a few occasions.

The second is David Spielberg their genial and talkative host on the space station the crew is on. He bores to tears just about everyone with his steady stream of small talk. But Data is trying to master that art of making pleasant conversation so the two go at it. Speilberg and Brent Spiner absolutely hysterical one of the funniest moments in TNG history.

Worth watching for that alone.