ST:TNG Binge Watch Season 6, Part VIII

6:22 Suspicions – Dr. Crusher indulges her hobby interest in shielding technology (uh-huh) to host a bunch of alien scientists on the Enterprise (okay) to examine the theories of a Ferengi physicist (why not); then the whole thing becomes a whodunit (sure) which hinges on an unknown-but-probably-should-have-been-known element of alien physiology (naturally).

Actually, what this episode shows clearly is that the single-character-trait of most Star Trek aliens could never had led them to a level of technology comparable to the Federation.  Are ALL Ferengi conniving and short-sighted?  Are ALL Klingons ferocious and testosterone-addled?  If so, how could either species have ever gotten past the Iron Age?

(Learned: A medical officer relieved of duty cannot access medical records… but apparently can launch a shuttlecraft just fine.)

6:23 Rightful Heir – One thing I really like about DS9 is that it shows a reasonable, civilized, almost-human culture to have religious traditions.  In TNG, the only member of the regular cast to do so (not counting all those benighted alien civilizations of the week) is Worf, because those irrational Klingons, am I right?  I mean, maybe THEY could believe in the prophesied return of a savior figure, but humans have moved beyond that…

6:24 Second Chances – Oops! An Enterprise mission back to a planet where Commander (then Lieutenant Commander) Riker was the last person out of a solar-flared planetary base years ago reveals that a bizarre transporter reflection had left a second version of Riker trapped in the base for lo these many years… a Riker who’s still in deep love with Deanna, and who bristles at taking orders from the “lucky” version of himself.

I would have liked a bit more hair and beard on the “Crusoe” Riker initially to help sell it, but my main complaint is with the resolution — it doesn’t resolve.  There’s been resentment building up between the Rikers, so that you know one’s gonna have to save the life of the other (because that’s how these things happen), but that scene just ends up kinda flat: a catwalk gives out, one has to grab the hand of the other and haul him up.  There’s no emotional depth, no moment of crisis that they share that makes them realize that their connection is deeper than their differences… Nope, the box is checked, and Riker^a leaves to take another post.  (At least Riker^a shows up again on DS9 to continue his story, but it’s not a story that justifies the setup.)