LogFAQs > #972211264

Episode 22: Imaginary Friend

Never had one, myself.

Picard has a decent speech at the end.

Riker does his job.

La Forge tries to feed his ego a bit. Decent with children. Got a bit of backstory, too.

Worf is decent with kids, as well. Guess Alexander is a good influence.

Crusher's trying to encourage a relationship.

Glad that Troi indulges Clara. Correctly points out that it's the dad's fault for constantly moving about. Almost looks guilty when she refuses to invite Isabella.

Data continues to practice his sarcasm. Getting far better at social situations.

Guinan acts as expected.

Keiko is presumably about.

Alexander's prescence surprised, especially so soon after his last appearance, but I don't mind him.

Sutter doesn't leave much impression.

Clara's a sweet enough kid.

Isabella is proper creepy. Wonderfully menacing when she turns on Clara.

Some beautiful use of shadows for the nebula. Music wise, it's damn near silent, which makes a lot of scenes even creepier. It's a truly odd eerie feeling that doesn't seem fully intentional. Mostly only plays when Isabella's up to something. The strands suddenly appearing is pretty cool. Wandering about the room, looking for Isabella was a decently spooky scene. The constant harsh red caused by the strands is actually quite unnerving.

I appreciate that this show is on the right side of child psychology and sees imaginary friends as nothing to be concerned about. I also like the acknowledgement that a lack of stability in life, such as if you're moving around a lot, can have a detrimental effect on the mental wellbeing of children. I recognise that everyone has different circumstances, but it's hard for me to not regard such people who drag their kids everywhere instead of allowing them to put down roots as a little bit selfish. Sutter, aside from being a bit bland, really doesn't inspire much sympathy as he should be attentive enough to his kid that he shouldn't need Troi to spell it out for him. Parenthood is something far too important to just muddle through. Even though Stewart can almost always deliver a good speech, and this episode is no exception, there's an uncomfortable whiff of "adults always know best" to it, which is obviously untrue. I mean, Clara's idiot of a father thinks a bit of play is something worth going to the psychologist over. It's like he's a Dahl villain.

Has a very weird feel to it, but there's some good visuals and the story's mostly decent.

I, Borg next.