LogFAQs > #973307679

Episode 7: Dark Page

Now here's a part of Lwaxana I wasn't expecting.

Picard's itching to get out of that conversation and takes the first chance he can. Bit of a scare when Troi suggests telepathy and needs Crusher's go ahead. Won't allow Troi to give up hope.

Riker's amused by the insults and annoyances flying about. Gets an earful from Lwaxana and is more than a bit flustered.

La Forge gets on well with children.

Worf doesn't like telepaths, which is a tactless thing to say.

Crusher does her job, but it's nice to see her involved a lot.

Troi greets her mother a bit more warmly than usual, though she doesn't have the most pleased of looks over the husband business. Dead inside as she walks down the corridor. Immediate concern over her mother's health. Friendly, but awkward and uncomfortable, during Maques' session. Angered from worry at her mother's refusal to listen. Despondent when she's comatose. Can't convince herself the dog's not dangerous and runs like buggery. Breaks her a bit to leave her dad. It's justified by the sheer worry hampering her thoughts, but she's a bit too impressed by Crusher and Data's obvious suggestions. Nostalgic and melancholic as she goes through old items. Begins to break down as she tries to help Lwaxana heal.

Data shows concern for Lwaxana. Puts his dream studies to good use.

I don't know what Picard's impatient over, that was one of Lwaxana's more interesting speeches. Life of the party and interfering mother, as always. Interesting to see a more sober side to her after that moment in the lift. Glorious meltdown at Riker. Actually a bit scary when she's screaming at Troi. Heartbreaking, her sobs and tears. Barret does excellently portraying someone too scared to heal.

Maques is yet another of Troi's potential boyfriends and precisely as boring as the rest of the crop. Smiling like a damn psychopath does him no favours. Decent spokesperson for his species' gimmick, though and at least he's a fundamentally decent sort.

Some slight horror vibes with Lwaxana's reactions in the cold open. Like the modulations in the Cairn's voices. A lot of ambient sound to make Lwaxana's health scares all the more unsettling. That randomer in the lift exists purely to make telepathic conversations even more awkward. Like a slasher movie when they're sleeping in sickbay. Delightfully creepy romp, that first foray into Lwaxana's mind.

Since her heart to heart with Odo, it's become clear that Lwaxana's general energy is a cover for a lot of deep seated issues. The low self esteem was all but outright stated, but I suspected a more general sense of depression was at play. Turns out I was nearly there. I tragically know from experience that the true impact of trauma can remain hidden for a frighteningly long time and I equally know all too well just how terrifying the idea of allowing yourself to heal can be. Because of the endless, seemingly futile attempts to "solve the problem", the mind does enter a weird shutdown state. Rarely a full blown coma, but, still, problem solving ability, emotional control, simply having mental energy, anything vital to living, but not immediately relevant to the issue at hand goes out the window. I actually thought for a moment that Lwaxana might have general depression. No obvious event necessarily causing it, it's just how her mind is wired. Regardless, it is extraordinarily difficult for someone to resolve an emotional problem of this magnitude completely by themselves. It requires an emotional answer that can only really be facilitated by a trusted loved one. Of course, Troi is able to provide that and the two only become closer for it.

Lwaxana really is at her best when serious and her daughter gets an excellent Troi episode out of the bargain, too.

If I've got time, one, maybe two if there's little to say, reviews tomorrow. In Tenerife all week, though, so, I wouldn't get too Attached, since I'll likely have better things to do. I'll try to bump it to avoid purging.