| Review : |
After the last episode, a major let-down. Firstly, the Pakleds are probably the most half-baked species since the Ferengi. So, if we are to believe they are all that stupid, and equate knowledge with power (since it is clearly in short supply) we must somehow also believe that they are also capable of conning people far cleverer than themselves out of this knowledge. Since that clearly doesn't make sense, we are offered the alternative, that their language skills are the only deficiency. But since language is a means to express concepts and ideas, that makes no sense either. However you look at it, it's a ridiculous concept. With the other, they found a cheap excuse to put Picard and Wesley in the same shuttle and introduce the concept of his artificial heart at the same time. Assuming that was really necessary, then why not come up with something convincing (say that they heart cannot be replicated aboard the ship or whatever). Or do it separately, have Picard ordered back for a conference with the station admiral THEN have his heart go wrong. While some of the shuttle scenes worked, being quite well-written and handled about right, the excuse just makes Picard look vain. Why should he possibly think that having a tin heart will make him any less respeced by the crew? He may be very harsh and judgemental about his own actions (right up to murdering himself a few episodes ago) but this was all about not admitting even the SLIGHTEST weakness. OK, overall, this was rotten, but somehow the shuttle scenes worked, and it wasn't a complete disaster. Just about watchable. |
