LogFAQs > #972207507

Episode 20: Cost of Living

Two characters I did not expect to see together.

Picard's a bit grim when the first plan fails, but he quickly goes into problem solving mode. Still sick of Lwaxana, but hopeful he can finally get rid of her.

Riker's enjoying himself far too much.

La Forge does his job. One of the more stressful tasks of his career.

Worf's quite astute. That is bribery. Couldn't be less thrilled with Lwaxana. Even with the obvious troubles, this is probably his best performance as a dad. Has the right reaction to the clown bubble. Is Worf's full name just Worf or is it Worf Rozhenko? Worf Rozhenko-Mogh? Shows remarkable restraint during the laughing hour. Still doesn't like baths.

Troi mightve been sweet to Alexander, but i still get the impression her heart was not remotely in that session. Wouldn't exactly call the contract the most brilliant moment of her career. Her sarcasm over Her mother's basically a PTSD trigger at this stage. Correct about how dodgy the relationship seems. She's not wrong that Alexander needs to learn responsibility. Acquires an apple so she can better be a bitch to her mother in delivering those messages.

Data certainly has a reaction to the arrival of the bridegroom.

Lwaxana's somehow found a new low in her bewildering quest to get hitched. Sees through Troi's nonsense immediately and she and Alexander make for strange, but not unwelcome friends. I don't comprehend how she finds whatever the fuck that simulation is entertaining. I want to believe its entirely for Alexander's benefit, but knowing her, she probably does enjoy it unironically. Decent wisdom about variety. Understandable reaction to the dress. Truly brilliant scene about being alone. That said, it's hard for me to accept that any character played by Majel Barret would ever need to compromise. Rocking up naked to her wedding is wonderfully whimsical.

Alexander's as astute as his dad. The proposed contract would be quite unfair. How old is this kid meant to be? Sorting out laundry shouldn't be too much of an ask once you're capable of being in school. Has fun in the simulation, somehow. Actually like the lad this time around, though I'm still not sure I'm particularly looking forward to his next appearance. Him and Troi sharing a "ha" was actually pretty funny.

Campio and Erko manage to be the incarnate death of romance. Even his voice and cadence manage to be the ultimate soporific. Never gonna complain about seeing Tony Jay.

Jumping right into the action again. Couple of beautiful Enterprise shots at the start. Particularly like the dust one. A few quick cuts between scenes when Lwaxana first shows up, presumably because Troi's so traumatised by this stage that she's disassociating. At first, I felt that the simulation was something of a theme park if it were based on a particularly vapid and condescending Cbeebies show, with some light Wonka thrown in, but then the exotic dancer rocks up and I'm left incapable of knowing what to make of it. Kind of cool seeing the holodeck start to fall apart, especially with the juggler going through the motions in the background. The metal parasite plot is sort of just there. Blatantly filling time.

Not an awful lesson to suggest that kids and adults alike both need to have fun in their lives, but I can't get past this all starting because of a refusal to sort laundry. Not a big ask and, more importantly, it does not justify immediately running to the child psychologist (since that's what Troi is today). Even then, Troi is suddenly incapable of properly connecting with children and Worf is still a bit of a bumbling dad. Neither is a turn I particularly want to see from these characters (Troi always seems to skirt around unlikeability whenever her mother is about). The parasite plot is nothing and the resolution is hilariously rushed (like whiplash going into the wedding scene), so, while there are a few individual good moments, only the parts directly involving Lwaxana's life ever really sing. And I still have no idea what to make of the simulation world.

Stuff with Lwaxana is alright, but it just sort of there overall.

Lwaxana may not have found The Perfect Mate, but it won't stop me from checking it out.