Amac Productions

This episode is wild!

I don’t even know where to start. I mean, this episode starts off seemingly reasonably boring. The Enterprise is at a Starbase to be serviced and while it’s docked, most of the crew is getting shore leave.

Seems perfectly boring enough.

Though Riker wishes to stay behind to ensure that the upgrades and those doing them are kept under a watchful eye. He doesn’t want anything happening to the ship or putting the crew in danger once they return.

While I will absolutely call Riker a freaking workaholic here, he does take a moment to head to the Holodeck to treat himself to a little R & R.

And the only thing about the entire thing on the Holodeck that creeped me out was Riker basically wondering if he could have sex with the illusion. Which – you know – I did not need. The episode would have been fine without that odd insinuation.

Especially since Riker is such a genuinely likeable and good man.

His overt flirtations sometimes feel out of character.

However, the rest of his relationship with the hologram was kind of adorable because he did just genuinely enjoy her company. Which is such an interesting thing for a male protagonist to have in the 80s or even today. He found her beautiful, but he was also interested in her mind.

She was tailored suited to him after all. Meant to adapt to his needs or interests.

Something she even did when Picard entered the Holodeck.

On the other hand, I would still prefer Riker to be with Deanna. Who wasn’t even present in this episode which just freaking sucks. I really enjoy her character and it probably would have been helpful to have an empath around when people aren’t being forthright with their intentions.

You know, like the Bynars were.

I did – appreciate their reasoning behind just not asking for help. Couldn’t change the idea that you would say no. This was far too important.

It’s that age old wisdom, ‘It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission.’

Oh well.

It’s a fun twist plot and it leaves Riker and Picard to work together alone on the ship.

While also giving us critical information about the characters.

In this episode we learn that Data is willing to let people die if it means protecting the many. He was willing to let Riker and Picard blow up with the ship because he couldn’t reach them before time ran out. And he wasn’t willing to risk anyone else.

Honestly, upon starting this show, I thought it would be terrible to put an android in charge of the ship in any capacity. However, Data has proven time and time again that he’s actually wonderful at the job.

In one episode taking Riker’s orders literally by calculating the time it would take to reach the neutral zone to give Dr. Crusher as much time as possible to find a cure so they wouldn’t leave the away team alone. Or here, he makes a difficult choice. One he clearly does not want to make.

He makes attempts to save them, but ultimately, he must decide to save the many over the two and does the right thing. The difficult thing. The thing leaders must. And I realized that the crew is also perfectly safe under his command because he does not make those decisions lightly or without heart or careful consideration. He may actually be a perfect blend of heart and reason.

It’s amazing.

Meanwhile, what we learn about Picard is that he would rather blow himself up and destroy the Enterprise that allow it to fall into the wrong hands. He is also more than willing to kill his Number One to do this as well.

And ask Riker to make this difficult sacrifice with him.

Because Starfleet has made it impossible for the captain to unilaterally make this decision.

Starfleet has many systems in place for checks and balances. Such as not allowing Riker to be able to unilaterally decide to take command of the ship. As well as the doctor being the only one able to command the captain but needing medical reasoning.

Starfleet ensures that no one is above reproach or mistakes. Allowing multiple people to reach decisions together. Especially when they affect the crew and the future of everything and everyone.

Here, the self-destruct sequence can only be activated if the first officer agrees with the captain.

I freaking love this!

Picard can’t make this choice without Riker and Riker without Picard. They must both be willing to deal this blow and understand the gravity of what they’re doing. It’s not just one person blowing it up. Thus, in case of people losing their minds or being mind-controlled as we have seen – both Picard and Riker would have to agree to this. Love it.

Love it so much.

Takes a lot of danger out of one person’s hands.

I also love Riker hesitating. He’s a young man with so much more life to live and career ambitions. He has wants. However, he knows in his heart as first officer that Picard is right and follows his lead. They weigh the risks and discuss it as long as they can. Plan as much as they can. And when it’s safe, stop the self-destruct together.

Picard is beyond willing to die for the right thing.

Riker is too, however, there’s a youth about him that Picard doesn’t have.

Picard has lived a good life. A long life and has accomplished much. He’s captain of the flagship of Starfleet. There is no higher captaincy than that.

He’s respected. He’s got a long list of accomplishments.

Riker still has a long career ahead of him. He mentioned in an earlier episode that being captain is not the only thing he wants, referring to being with Deanna as well. Something – somehow – that still hasn’t been sorted out. It’s perfectly reasonable that he does not want to blow himself up.

Plus, I think Picard would be happy to die in the line of duty.

While Riker is like that’s a long way from now before I worry about that.

I really loved this episode. I loved what it revealed not only about Starfleet but about the characters. Which is one of the things I do really enjoy about older shows. We get episodes where they just peel back layers of the characters because they can in what at first seems like a completely unremarkable episode.

It’s awesome and I can’t wait to see what the next episode holds.

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