TNG Re-Watch: The Measure of a Man

Season 2, Episode 9

It's another day and another friend is watching Star Trek with me!   As you know,  I hand pick which episodes I want to watch with folks and then work around their (and my) schedule. When my friend Jason agreed to be apart of the project I looked at my upcoming shows to watch and one jumped out at me instantly!

Jason says: Stay hydrated! 

Jason estimates that he's seen roughly half of the TNG- and mainly the later seasons.  He had never seen "The Measure of a Man" before today!  How is that possible, right?  He certainly falls under the 'casual viewer' category.  Back when the show was on he'd catch the occasional episode but wasn't an avid fan.  He knows the characters and acknowledges Star Trek's cultural impact.

Now, on to the episode! We open with the very first poker game on the show.  This will become a common scene in TNG as the show evolves over the next 6 seasons and it all started right here.  It's Data's first poker game and as O'Brian says "time to pluck a pigeon".  I think this scene is written in to remind us that Data is on his journey to understand humanity and become more human.  It also establishes him as a sympathetic character right from the beginning.  I'm not sure why they chose poker for this.  I'd think that gambling would long be a thing of the past at this point. But it's not established that those chips have any real value.  I mean, they don't have money, right?  In any case, it seems a little weird to me. But maybe that's because I don't play poker and find it a little alienating.  I don't get the lingo-- like I have no idea what's happening other than looking for clues in the scene.  As Jason put it, poker comes across as "snobby" to some of us. But I think they were trying for the opposite effect-- for the scene to give us a familiar common ground upon which we can better understand the characters.  Sadly, that doesn't work for all audiences.

Moving on, the Enterprise is in orbit around the newly established Starbase 173 where one of Picard's old frenemies, Captain Phillipa Louvois, is stationed as the JAG officer.  We soon meet  Admiral Nakamura & Commander Bruce Maddox.   Maddox instantly comes across as the "bad guy" of the episode when he starts checking out Data like the bridge is a trendy gay bar.  I mean, he's obviously undressing the android with his eyes-- but we learn that this is because he wants to disassemble Data, study him, and make more androids.  And thus begins our plot-- does Data have the right to refuse such a violation or is he simply a machine and the property of Starfleet with no "human rights".  They have a hearing with Louvois as the judge, Picard defending Data and Riker prosecuting.  After compelling arguments, Data wins the right to choose.  Yay!

Starfleet was founded to seek out new
life: well, there it sits!

I'd say that the most compelling scenes are Riker's argument, Picard's argument, and the scene where Picard and Guinan chat in the ten-forward.  In a way, Riker has the easy job.  He has to prove that Data is a machine-- which he is.  He removes Data's hand, has Data admit that he was created by a human, and even turns Data off as one would flip a light switch.   Picard has the much more difficult task.  Lucky the story was written by a lawyer and the argument that Picard delivers is really good television.  He states that Riker's points are moot because we too are machines- just of a different sort.  He goes on to say that we cant prove that WE are sentient so we can't prove that Data isn't.  In the end, he uses Guinan's guidance to make the argument about slavery.  If they make more Datas-- a whole race of Datas who may be sentient we would be judged by how we treat that race.  Picard ends with "Starfleet was founded to seek out new life: well, there it sits!"  BOOM!  Mic drop!

My only problem with this episode is, yet again, the misuse of Dr. Pulaski!  The only person on board who has indicated that she doesn't think of Data as a living being is Dr. Katherine Pulaski.  She could have had a fascinating journey in this episode!  Sadly, she disappears after the poker game. :(

After we finished the episode, I asked Jason:  "How do you think this specific episode would do on TV today?  Does it hold up?  How would today's writers and producers do things differently?"  Here is his response:

J: In short.... I think yes indeed Measure of a Man holds up to TV and society's important topics today. Other than some stylistic differences (language, design, etc) I actually don't think there's much that would need to change.

Yes yes yes!  I couldn't have said it better.  This is clearly the best episode of Season 2, and one of the best episodes of Trek period.

TNG Re-Watch: The Dauphin & Samaritan Snare

Season 2, Episodes 10 & 17

It's a very exciting day!!  I'm up to one of my all time favorite Star Trek episodes in my TNG re-watch and I'm watching it with my good friend, Jason!   I'm watching this one slightly out of order with the rest of the season-- as will often be the case when I have a friend watching with me.  I do my best to pair the episode with the person.  So when my friend Brendan agreed to be a part of this project I knew I needed to pick episodes that he would take advantage of his sense of humor.  We're in Season 2 and the show hasn't quiet found its legs yet.  The funny episodes that are to come (like "Rascals") are very far away.  In season 2 they were still taking themselves too seriously and playing it a little flat.  So what did I pick?  Two of the worst episodes I could think of!

"The Dauphin"

Or "Wesley's first girlfriend turns out to be a Wookie".  I remember loving this episode when I was a kid.  In hind sight, it was probably cause I had a crush on young Wil Wheaton (what gay boy in the 80's didn't, right?)  But re-watching the episode today it doesn't really hold up.
As Brendan pointed out, the cast plays it as "ridged".  As if they are afraid to move off their mark.  I think this is a problem the show had early on-- like they wanted it be taken seriously.  THIS IS A DRAMA, DAMNIT!   This same direction caused Shatner to over act in the original series.

OH SHIT! WHAT DID I KISS?

All the shape shifting moments-- especially the ones that are supposed to be scary-- are HILARIOUS!  I mean, my stomach was hurting from laughing.  The best was when Anya interrupts what we can only assume is Wesley's first kiss ever.  Anya is in monster form and Wes has a WTF reaction.  Then his new girlfriend also transforms into a Sasquatch and HIS MIND IS BLOWN!  I mean, this is seriously going to give him trust issues and probably ruin his love life forever.

Speaking of Anya, it's pretty terrible that she is set up as the episode's antagonist but in the end she's suddenly nice and gets off scott free.  I mean, Worf suddenly wants to be her pal!  She faces no repercussions for threatening to kill that guy in sickbay, for attacking a Starfleet officer, or for generally being a menace.  Nope.  "We're cool.".  WTF?

Another Brendan observation, why was the Enterprise acting as a transport ship for these people that WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT?  Maybe someone should have done some research before inviting these powerful and irrational beings onto the Federation flagship.

Brendan's more of a Star Wars fan!

After we finished the episode I asked Brendan my standard question:  "How do you think this specific episode would do on TV today?  Does it hold up?  How would today's writers and producers do things differently?"  I'll directly quote his answer below.

B: No, I don't think that would hold up at all. Far too awkward. However, I am probably wrong. Based on how teens are motivated by shows like Teen Wolf and Twilight currently, there might be a large following in that demographic for a guy who falls in love with a shape shifter. The episode would need far more danger in it though, the threat of the guardian would have to be more ominous and wesley and the future president lady would have to be pushed away from each other by the crew/guardian more. There isn't enough at stake for them. Also, Whoopie needs to be in the remake.

So there you have it.  I can't agree more.  There is potential in the story but it would be handled very differently today.  Next?


"Samaritan Snare"

Brendan had enough time to watch 2 episodes today!  For my second pick I went with "Samaritian Snare" or "Geordi gets kidnapped on a short bus".   Sorry if that's insensitive but the actors portraying the Pakleds were clearly directed to act "under developed".  It makes the episode an easy target for ridicule.

But far worse writing happens in the B plot.  I love that we learn the story of a young Picard thinking he was invulnerable and taking on 3 Nausicaans at once.  It gives us a great peak into this character and provides us with the framework for one of my favorite episodes: "Tapestry".   But Wesley is super weird in the shuttle.  Clearly he wants Picard to be a father figure-- but dude, you're talking to the Captain.  Why are you asking if he wants kids?  Or if he was ever married?  It's not like Wesley is young enough to fall under the "kids say the darndest things" category.  He's old enough to know better.  Someone re-cut that section to make Picard's reactions much more realistic. Here it is-- if you want a laugh.




I asked Brendan his opinion on how this episode holds up as well.   Here is his response: 

B: This could probably work really well. It would need a re-write, for sure. It gives us a nice chance (though it doesnt happen in the episode) for wesley and picard to bond. It also gives the uptight captain a chance to realize he can trust and depend on his crew and that they follow him unconditionally (again, this didn't happen in the episode). Another opportunity would be to show that the crew can function on their own, or to bring out some good traits/qualities in the second in command. This kind of happens in the episode, but it feels flat. ANd also they should listen to Rolf [ed: I think he means Worf.  Unless we're doing a Muppet parody!  Not a bad idea actually].

He's totally right.  Picard comes across as an asshole here.  He's so afraid of his image that he acts like a jerk to Riker, Pulaski, and the surgeon.   He opens up to Wesley a bit but that scene also falls flat.  Clearly they haven't got his character right yet-- I can't wait for the Picard we meet later.

Also, Worf is right when he asks: "Do we have to send them our chief engineer because they have a little problem?"  Maybe they should have at least sent a security team with Geordi when he goes to board this UNKNOWN SHIP.  Then Troi says that Geordi is in danger and instead of beaming him back immediately they call him up and say "You doin ok?"  It's like Riker was left in charge and he totally messed up.  He didn't weigh the gravity of the situation correctly.  I'm sure he violated some regulations.  And then once they get Geordi back, they just let the Pakleds go.  They don't take back any stolen equipment or report them to any other authorities.  They just let them go to continue to trick, rob & pillage the galaxy.  Good job, Will!

TNG Re-Watch Season 2, Episodes 2-6 + I asked for help!

It's time for a quick check-in on my TNG project!  I've continued to plow thru season 2.  I'll post my thoughts on episodes 2-6 below.  Something very exciting is starting with the coming episodes.   I'm adding a 2nd voice to the blog!!  We all know that watching Star Trek isn't nearly as fun when you're all alone so I've asked a few friends to watch with me (even if we have to do that over Skype over a distance).  After the closing credits roll we'll chat about the show (the good, the bad & the ugly) and that conversation will certainly fuel my blog writing!

But before we get to that- we need to dig a little further into season 2.

Ep. 2 "Where Silence Has Lease"

• The highlight of this forgettable episode is Data dishing some Socratic philosophy when he said "The beginning of wisdom, is, "I do not know"".  This statement left a deep impression on a young Mike Jones and has guided me as I search for spiritual truth.  (Woah, we got deep there).  

Me at the real 221B Baker Street

Ep. 3 "Elementary, Dear Data"

• This episode also left a mark on a young Mike Jones and inspired me to read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle.  I've been a big Holmes fan ever since. :) 
• This episode asks one of the great Trek questions: "What is life?"  Is Moriarty alive?  Can the holodeck create life?  I'd say that no, it can't.  It can create a replica that is very intelligent but there is no spark of life, right?  We'll deal more with this question in "The Measure of a Man" as it applies to Data.   
• I also have to mention that the producers assumed that Holmes was in the public domain.  They quickly learned their mistake when the Doyle estate sued them.  HAHA!
• They eventually did work out something with the estate and produced a sequel episode in season 6, "Ship in a Bottle".  

Ep. 4 "The Outrageous Okona"

• William O Campbell was an early choice to play William Riker.  I can't quite imagine that after seeing this episode.  Don't get me wrong, he's a good actor- but we didn't see the kind of gravitas that Riker has to easily slip into.  
• This one is just BAD.  I mean... what is happening here?  Are we supopsed  to think this guy is trouble?  Cause he doesn't seem that way.  He comes across as a young frat boy who's thinking with his dick instead of his head.  In the end, he turns out to be a nice guy.  The end.  
• Oh, and the subplot with Data wanting to try comedy doesn't make me even crack a smile.  :(

Ep. 5 "Loud as a Whisper"

• This story's development was clearly affected by the writer's strike.  I understand the idea came from Howie Seago, the classically trained deaf actor who plays Riva.  I think it has a great bones- but ultimately it needed to be cleaned up.  
• In a scene that should have been cut, we get to see the desktop holographic emitter in Picard's ready room.  Where did that go in later seasons?   It's like he just stopped using it!   

Ep. 6 "The Schizoid Man"

• Clearly, Data is the original hipster.  He grew an ugly beard back in 1989!  
• This episode is another example of the writers not using Pulaski very well-- AT ALL.  Why didn't she go to the planet?  Why did they write a silly "medical emergency" that pulled her out of most of the episode?  

OK--- now that I have those out of the way I'm ready to dive into some collaboration!!  

TNG Re-Watch: "The Child" vs "The Child"

"The Child" script was originally written in 1977 by Jaron Summers & Jon Povillfor for a planned TV series called Star Trek: Phase II.  Paramount passed on that series and the script for the pilot episode was redeveloped into Star Trek: The Motion Picture.  Years later (1988) when the producers  Star Trek The Next Generation were facing a writer's strike they dug up those old Phase II scripts to see if any of them could be re-written for TNG.  They found the original story for "The Child" and Maurice Hurley was asked to adapt it for TNG.  According to Memory Alpha he never read that original script but based his on the story.

Fast forward to 2012!  Star Trek fans have taken matters into their own hands and are making top quality fan films.  One such group is the Cawley Entertainment Company who first called their fan series Star Trek: New Voyages but later changed it to Star Trek Phase II (confused yet?).  They seem to be picking up where the original series left off and decide to produce their own version of "The Child" using that original 1977 script!

Today I watched both versions of "The Child".  The TNG version is available on Netflix of course.  And you can watch the Phase II version (and all of their fan episodes) on Youtube.  I actually watched them both twice and I have some thoughts on how they compare to one another.

First let's look at the one that was made in 1988.  "The Child" is the first episode of season 2 and had to do more than tell the story of the week.  It also needed to introduce a new ship's doctor (Dr. Katherine Pulaski) the new bartender, (Guinan), a new set (a bar for the new bartender: Ten Forward), and a newly promoted Chief Engineer (Laforge)!  They also have to explain why the old ship doctor's son is remaining onboard unsupervised.  I'll write more about this doctor dilemma in another entry.   But my point is that none of this has much to do with the core storyline so it gets a little lost.

All that aside, the A plot is very straightforward.  An alien entity enters the ship and flies around, unseen by the crew.  It hovers over a sleeping crewman and eventually enters Counselor Troi's quarters.  It crawls under her shiny bedsheets and impregnates her.  To be clear- it doesn't act as the father but rather impregnates itself in the Counselor.   The fetus quickly grows, is born, continues to quickly grow and ends up looking like a 4 year old who Troi names Ian after her father.  In the end we learn that this alien wanted to learn all about humans so it decided to try living as one-- being born and goes thru our life process.  The only complication is that the Enterprise is carrying some highly dangerous technobable which reacted to the alien's presence by endangering the entire crew.  So the alien had to end its experiment early by dying.  See?  It's a neat tidy little story.  Of course the episode has a B plot too.  Young Wesley Crusher is faced with the choice of doing what is expected of him and join is mother at Starfleet Medical or go with his gut and stay on the show ship.  Luckily there is a new bartender on board who is GREAT at giving out advice!  Guinnan helps him decide to stay. All in all, it's not a terrible episode.  It's just a little cluttered.

There is one very uncomfortable scene that I have to mention.  The senior staff is all gathered around the conference table discussing the situation of Deanna's immaculate pregnancy.   Some staff members, Worf for one, wants the fetus aborted immediately because it is a security risk.  Others make an argument for the baby to live.  None of them think to ask Deanna-- the woman who's body they're talking about-- the mother of the fetus that is INSIDE HER BODY what her choice is.  It's a ridiculous scene that would never be written today.

At first glance, the Phase II version of "The Child" seems to be a lot more straight forward.  We don't need to deal with a new doctor on board or sit thru any long scenes were a bartender gives out advice to a teenager.   We get right to the alien entering the ship and impregnating someone.  Now in the original script this was to be Lt. Ilea, the new Deltan navigator who we ended up meeting in Star Trek The Motion Picture.  It makes perfect sense that in the TNG version the alien chooses Troi as her character was based on Ilea in several ways.  Anyway, in the Phase II production they introduced a new Deltan  officer Isel.

The alien impregnates itself into Isel, grows very quickly, is born, and quickly grows to be a kid who Isel names Irska.   That's about where the similarities end.  Irska's white blood cell count is strangely high.  Also a strange alien cylinder appears outside the ship.  A week later Irska has worked her way into the hearts of the crew.  The alien cylinder beams some techobable into the ship which will kill everyone.  Luckily Irska can cure everyone with her awesome white blood cells.  But as soon as she does the cylinder attacks the ship with an energy beam!  It damages an impulse engine and guess what!  The wonder child comes to the rescue again! This is all in the first half of the episode.   The cylinder goes on to affect the hull of the Enterprise-- seen as another attack.  To be honest I got bored.  The plot is really bogged down in what I'm sure is supposed to be mystery- but I felt a little ahead of the script.  I mean, obviously the kid has the answer. Obviously the cylinder and the kid are connected.  In the end Irska had to "die" to save the ship.  The cylinder was helping her to experience all stages of her race's prior development so she could evolve.

In conclusion Hurley simplified the story to its core for TNG.  Ian went thru a life cycle just like Irska did.  But he did it because he was curious.  Not because he had to evolve.  The "curious cat" is a much more enjoyable premise.  At its core- that is the difference in these two scripts.  So I say that despite it's flaws, the TNG version of "The Child" is much better than the Phase II production of the original script.  What do you think?

 

TNG Rewatch Update #2 (The Rest of Season 1)

Last May I started a re-watch of all of Star Trek The Next Generation starting at the beginning with the pilot episode and working my way thru.  My goal at that time was to document my journey on You Tube.  Check out this update from August for more info on that part of the journey.

Shortly after I wrote that "update" blog entry I basically abandoned the project.  I watched all of Seasons 1 & 2.  I was way behind on recording the YouTube videos at that point and I just lost steam on the whole thing.  But now I'm picking it back up.  I'm not sure that I'll make more You-Tube videos, but I certainly want to blog about my re-watch.

I really don't want to go thru this journey alone!  I want to watch the show with friends (either in person or via skype) so I have a sounding board to discuss the show.

So like I said, even though I stopped blogging (and video blogging) I did keep watching & taking notes.  So here are some quick thoughts on the rest of Season 1:

Season 1 (Continued)

"Hide and Q"

• I think this is the first time the writers tip their hats to the fact that Patrick Stewart is a classically trained Shakespearean actor.  Also I love that Shakespeare has survived into the 24th century.  I mean, we've been reading and performing this man's words for 500 years, it stands to reason that we'd still be reading in another 300 years. 
• We see a glimpse of Wesley as an adult-- but they didn't quite get this right.  They cast a kind of hunky model/actor and Wil Wheaton didn't really grow up to look like that. Don't get me wrong- he's still super cute. :) 
• Worf almost has sex on the bridge.  We can't ignore that. 

"Haven"

• We see Riker watching "TV" in his quarters.  Well, kind of-- he's watching a hologram of 2 women playing harps.  Is this some kind of 24th century porn? 
• Welcome aboard, Lwaxana Troi!!!  This is one of my favorite characters.  Sadly, she's kind of a bitch in this episode.  I'm glad they figure her out later. 

"The Big Goodbye"

• This is 1st Dixon Hill episode and it's on my list of the top 10 Picard episodes.  We learn that he enjoys reading a good pulp detective novel! 
• They all have that weird "we don't remember the 20th century" disease again.  Phrases like "City Block" "Automobiles" are very confusing to our heroes.  Again, the writers drop this later- thank God. 
• Again-- why is Wesley Crusher in charge of saving Picard? It's like he's a magical boy! 
• They tease a possible Beverly/Jean Luc romance-- this is another season 1 problem.  Not that it goes away entirely later-- but when she comes back in season 3 it's like she hit a reset button on her emotions, right? 

"Datalore"

• Love the introduction of Lore-- any chance to let Brent Spiner stretch is acting muscles a bit. :)

"Angel One"

• This episode has Roddenberry written all over it!  They visit a planet where THE WOMEN ARE IN CHARGE!  "Whaaaa??"  I feel like this episode would never work on television today- but in the 80's (the 9 to 5 era) it was a valid topic.  The writers go a step farther by making the women the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigots.  
• I'm sad they made Jonathan Franks wear that outfit.  Dont' get me wrong- he's a handsome man but that was NOT flattering !

"11001001"

• Minuet is supposed to be AMAZING-- and maybe in 1988 she was.  But now we look back at her thru time and she doesn't compare to the complexity of holographic characters like The Doctor from Voyager.  
• This episode taught me that computer use a binary language of 1's and 0's.  Thanks, Star Trek! 

"Too Short a Season"

• Can we talk about these Admiral uniforms?  I mean... really, what were they thinking?  
• The highlight of this episode to me is Marsha Hunt's performance as Anne.  Every second she's on the screen you can tell that she's old hollywood-- a real pro. 

"When the Bough Breaks"

• The writers decided to face the problem of having kids on board a starship head on-- with a kidnapping!  What turned out was a thought provoking episode.  These kids aren't held for ransom but rather given the chance to develop their natural skills- like art or music- to the point of being a master in their field.  The only problem is they must do it in the isolation of a hidden planet-- cut off from the rest of the galaxy.  So what's more important, the fulfillment  of your self potential or a life surrounded by family and an unlimited number of potential friends (i.e. being a part of society).  I side with the kids-- what's the use of being a master musician if you're all alone with your weirdo kidnappers? 

"Home Soil"

• A TNG take on the TOS episode "Devil in the Dark".  If you ask me (and I guess you did if you're reading this) the original is better.  
• Director Mandel is clearly a James Bond Villain! lol

"Coming of Age"

• An odd transitional story-- basically it serves to introduce Quinn & Remmick who we'll see again in Conspiracy.  Oh, and they tease the idea of taking Wesley off the show and sending him to the Academy.  But he says! 

"Heart of Glory"

• The #1 thing I took away from this episode (other than they still haven't figured out how to write Klingons) is the Klingon death yell!!  Why didn't we see that in Star Trek VI?? 

"The Arsenal of Freedom"

• I LOVED this episode as a kid because it's exciting and was fun to play in the back yard.  Watching it as an adult I still like it- as far as season 1 episodes go. 

"Symbiosis"

• Featuring guest stars known for Star Trek II-- Judson Scott as Sobi & Merritt Butrick as T'Jon!
• This episode suffers from what I call "bonk bonk on the head syndrome".  They really hit us over the head with the anti drug message-- almost as if they had to do a PSA to make the network happy.  
• This is also the episode where you can see Tasha Yar waving goodbye in the background! The cargo bay was last scene Denise Crosby filmed before she left the show. 

"Skin of Evil"

• "Lt. Yar is down".  Those words still send chills thru me.  I remember when I was a kid and watched this episode for the first time I cried all thru her funeral scene,
• The Tasha Yar Problem: It's been said  that they knew someone wouldn't finish the 1st season but why Tasha?  Why didn't they convince Denise to stay??  Her character had so much potential! They just really wrote her poorly.  You know, today she'd be more like Starbuck  from the BSG reboot. 
• On the bright side, it's nice to see a death finally mean something.  I mean, how many times did Scotty die or Bones and they were just magically brought back to life by an alien?  Also, the writers basically "red shirted" a main character.  It really brought more weight to the episode than if Ensign No Name had died.  

"We'll Always Have Paris"

• When I was a kid I had no idea this episode title was referencing Casablanca.  So when I would hear it used pop culture I just assumed they were making a Star Trek reference. lol 

"Conspiracy"

• Here is an episode that I don't think has held up very well.  I remember loving it originally- but now it seems over the top and stiff.  
• Of course the special effects are outdated by today's standards but at the time the death of the main alien in the end gave me nightmares!  

"The Neutral Zone"

• It's like they wanted to bring a few members of the studio audience into the show!  All kidding aside, not a terrible episode about how human culture has evolved in the Trek timeline from the 20th century to the 24th.  Although I feel like these people should have mentioned the eugenics wars, right?