Gambit, Part I

This first of two part episode has Patrick Stewart allegedly killed in a barroom brawl. When Jonathan Frakes goes hunting for the killers, he's captured by them and to his relief, but surprise sees Stewart among a gang of thieves where his knowledge of archaeology is coming in handy for the gang.

Naturally Riker does not give Picard away. Richard Lynch is in charge and as usual playing one of his top flight villain characters. He's got a control device that enforces obedience.

Top flight villain in one of TNG's topflight episodes.

It's an easy 8 stars. But what would it take to get this great two-parter to an Indiana Jones level ? Plot: Riker and Picard infiltrate a pirate ship to find an ancient relic, a super weapon. You might think the plot could be improved. Relics don't sound too exciting. However, really it boils down to the characters. When Indiana Jones sees an egg-shaped relic, and his eyes go crazy, you believe it. Because he is a scientist. You could have, for that reason, sent Data on that archeology trip. But Data doesn't care enough. Picture Star Trek: Voyager's holographic Doctor in that role. Plus, Voyager's Doctor looks great when he gets tossed around. When someone fiddles with his programming. I say, make a whole Indiana Jones-like Star Trek show featuring the Doctor, getting tossed around by several pirate syndicates. --- Search "Trek Greenspace" on Google Play Books and join my Star Trek Voyager Sequel Fan Project!

This is an agreeably interesting and complex story, with a few twists and a surprising ending that Makes An Important Point. Plotting-wise, it's almost (but not quite) worthy of Roy Huggins. (Huggins was never one to Make Important Points.) You can discover these for yourself. This review will focus on the acting.

The various Star Trek series have never been strong on casting. Any of them is lucky to have one really fine actor in the regular cast. (DS9 has two, but out of respect for the other actors, I won't name them.) I'm inclined to say that TNG doesn't have //any//. In "Gambit", we see two of them at their worst.

Frakes and Sirtis are arguing over who's more upset at Pickard's apparent death. They raise their voices as if they're trying to be heard at the back of a stadium with a non-functioning PA system. They wildly over-emote in an manner more like a high school production of a Shakespeare tragedy.

It's some of the worst "acting" I've ever seen in an American TV series. (The absolute worst is Martin Landau's death scene in the "Bonanza" episode "The Gift".) Peter Lauritson, the director, must have been in a rush, or didn't care that Frakes and Sirtis broke one of the most-basic of acting rules -- restrain yourself. You have no where to go from "all out". Frakes and Sirtis are cringe-worthy without the saving grace of risibility.

While this isn't quite as good as most two-part episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", it is pretty good and a nice change of pace. It begins with the crew believing that Captain Picard has been killed. However, he's actually hanging out with a band of space pirates and is pretending to be a scum-bag named Galen. I assume it's because he's anxious to discover their wicked plans regarding some artifact, though perhaps this was just Picard's mid- life crisis. Regardless, later Riker is captured by the pirates and to avoid being killed, he pretends to be a horrible Starfleet officer--one who is quick to betray the Enterprise to save his own butt. Where is it all going?

This episode is slightly better than the follow-up--mostly because the next episode ends poorly. And, if you do decide to watch, look quickly for Sabrina La Beauf (of "The Cosby Show") in a small role as Ensign Gisuti.

'Gambit' doesn't sit on the shelf of TNG's prestigious episodes, but there's a b-movie quality that really adds some charm. I feel like this is a tip of the hat to "The Search for Spock", between that cold-open bar scene and guest starring Robin Curtis. And if you can get past he occasional misstep of soap-opera dialogue, there's the benefit of Data in the captain's chair.

Not bad at all, and an amusing change-up.

7/10