1.1&2 — “Encounter at Farpoint”
Take her out, Number One. Let’s see what’s out there.
I have a secret. About a year ago, when we started really grooving on TOS, I watched the first six episodes of TNG, and wrote short reviews that I never posted. I gave myself the constraint that I couldn’t write more than 100 words. I still like my review of “Encounter at Farpoint,” so here it is:
100-Word Review: En route to Farpoint Station, the Enterprise with its new captain gets waylaid by Q, an all-powerful being of obscure motivation who passes the time monologuing and playing dress-up. “Solve the riddle of Farpoint Station or die!” Farpoint, mysteriously, is a rehabilitation colony for compulsive over-actors that gives Troi headaches. Cosmic jellyfish love makes it better.
It’s a mess, but a watchable mess that has yet to welch on any of its promises. High concept sci-fi would have been better than this magical hey presto, but I’m tuning in for the next one. Grade: Pass.
Other Thoughts: I can’t help noticing the callbacks to the Original Series. Q traps the Enterprise in a Tholian Web. Q himself is a reimagining of Trelane, the Squire of Gothos, complete with the scene where he puts the captain of the Enterprise on trial for being a barbarian. The entity at Farpoint Station reminds me of the Horta from “Devil in the Dark,” although it’s presented with enough of a twist to qualify as a new idea. Did you spot any others?
So! New ship, new crew. Patrick Stewart has a very interestingly-shaped head. I can listen to him talk for a long time without caring too much about the quality of the dialogue. Brent Spiner and, surprisingly, Marina Sirtis turn in impressive performances. The camera keeps catching Jonathan Frakes as Riker, however, mugging outrageously. He has all the subtlety of a brick! Does this get better?
John de Lancie as Q is interesting to watch, but after the trial, all of the Q scenes grow unbearable. What’s Q’s agenda, exactly? Does he care whether the crew of the Enterprise is barbaric? And why does this judgment depend solely on Picard? Surely the hundreds of other people on the ship might have something to say about whether or not they deserve to die for no reason. He doesn’t seem to be inclined to right wrongs on his own.
Saucer separation! Mind blown by sheer awesomeness!
Regretfully, I think they mishandled Deforest Kelley’s cameo. I just don’t believe that the character would go on to become an Admiral, let alone refuse timely retirement. McCoy turning more Southern has a precedent in “This Side of Paradise,” but I have to imagine the producers didn’t realize how jarring it would be to hear him repeatedly call Data “Boy” like an early 20th century bigot. Ugh.
I like that they don’t bother to explain Worf’s presence. There will be time for that later.
Overall, it’s a bit wobbly, but I stand by my original assessment. I like that they start out the gate with a mostly nonviolent story, clearly displaying an intention to focus on high ideas, peaceful solutions, and post-savage human potential.
I can’t help thinking that Wil Wheaton hit the nail on the head, however, in his entertaining book, Memories of the Future, Volume One. He writes that the episode “lets the audience see what it can expect from [TNG’s] first season, for better or worse: a lot of exposition and technobabble . . . some really spiffy visual effects, and a bunch of unsubtle, droning commentaries on life in the 20th century.”
How was it for you?
Leave a Reply