LogFAQs > #969418168

Episode 7: Justice

Doing a lot of remakes of TOS episodes. I can sort of see why. It has been 20 years and you probably want to court old fans as much as possible, but overt familiarity can be hard to watch, especially when it's yet another edenic planet.

Since he's such a grump, the simple act of maybe allowing shore leave is remarkably heartwarming coming from Picard. Impatient at the mysteriousness of "god". Staring out the window, brooding, while his voice over plays is a fantastic scene for Stewart. I liked his refusal to consider the cold equations and his resolute decision to save Wesley no matter what.

Riker has a healthy sex drive. Very enthused about the space swingers. Quite eager to engage Worf in discussion on his sex life. Typically protective of Wesley. More confident in his command, it seems.

La Forge doesn't get too much, but at least he's sane enough to appreciate free love.

Yar is more relaxed than she's ever been and surprisingly, given her backstory, just as happy to enjoy Edo. Is her comment of "any hat" supposed to imply bisexuality?

Worf gets to be delightfully socially awkward. Dorn has some great timing for his lines. Actually a bit of a sweetheart, wanting a Klingon woman and being afraid of breaking his partners. I do like that the idea of sex between different species isn't even an issue.

Crusher has some great moments of barely restraining her panic over Wesley under a professional demeanour. Sweet that she's the one to suggest shore leave.

Troi can barely bite her tongue when she sees Riker getting cosy with the others. Sweet with Rivan.

Data does tend to babble, but he's forgiven because its often funny. A little bit worried when "god" tries to exchange with him. Has a great scene with Picard.

Wesley probably shouldn't be in this sort of story. Not because he fucks up (it was inevitably going to be someone), but because he can't work on a sex planet. He's too young for it to avoid feeling icky, yet too old to make his apparent sexless existence seem plausible. You could make this type of character be potentially compelling, without being problematic, but it takes great care. Also, at his age (14 or thereabouts, right?), i would've been more concerned about the property damage than whether i was injured. Little unsympathetic, there. His awkwardness at the start was great, though. And at least we know Starfleet never lie. Never seen a teenager be that naive.

The natives are standard childlike, paradise people who run everywhere and want for nothing. Well, there are two things that make them slightly interesting. First, the focus on free love is a great removal from the bizarre anti sex themes that usually pollute religion and religious themed stories. Second, Liator sarcastically referring to his people as undeveloped compared to Picard's was more intelligent than these type of characters are usually allowed to be. Theiss has hit his limit in costume design. The clothes did nothing for me.

The area that the characters literally run around in is quite nice and makes a semi believable paradise. "god" is another fantastic spaceship design. A lot of meandering in both plots.

The problem with adopting a TOS story is that you are very likely to adopt all the ethical issues along with it. The episode makes a play for more nuance by allowing Liator some snark and having Picard wring his hands over what the right thing to do is, but it doesn't change the patronising native fetishism. Actually using the word Eden says it all. There's also the small matter of allowing "god" to continue ruling the Edo. Vaal was ambiguous enough that he could seem to be a natural part of his planet's ecosystem, but this is explicitly an alien entity that gets away with everything because its too technologically advanced to be fought. Its protection is completely dominating their society. A bit of sexism with how Crusher is treated, too. It's one thing to respect mothers (or any parent of guardian), it's quite another to almost fetishise motherhood, and Data's comment about the strength of emotions does just that.

On a positive note, compared to Code of Honor, which portrayed the prime directive as an absolute law that allowed the Enterprise crew to be treated as fools, this episode does criticise it a bit. And, at least, they avoid falling into imperialism (uprooting the new colony can even be seen as an attack on that idea). The final point about moral absolutism being unjust is truly great. I just wish it was in a better episode.

Marginally better than TOS's attempts, but that's not exactly high praise.

How are people finding my reviews/thoughts, by the way? Am I being overly generous or overly critical in general?

Regardless, The Battle starts tomorrow.