3.1 — “Evolution”
Plot: In the Kavis Alpha sector to observe neutronium decay from a massive stellar explosion, the Enterprise undergoes strange technical failures and computer malfunctions that appear to threaten the safety of the ship and its crew. It seems Wesley’s science experiment has escaped from its bottle. Meanwhile, Dr. Beverly Crusher has returned to the ship, reunites with her son, and worries about his normal development as a teenager.
Thoughts: Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about. We freshen up this season with new uniforms for the featured male players, although you can still see the old collarless jumpsuits on background performers. Troi seems to be wearing a more raspberry version of her plum outfit from season two. For some reason, it really offends me today. What kind of work outfit is that? I don’t believe she would wear it to go clubbing. Sure, she looks great, but this outfit says “I am here to be eye candy, not a regular part of the crew.”
Act One begins with a closeup of Wesley’s zits. It’s how we know time has passed. Beverly Crusher is back! “I missed two inches.” That seems ineffably sad. We don’t get a sense of how Beverly’s career decisions were made, or how they make sense. I’m glad that they at least acknowledge the situation. Has Wesley been living alone all this time, raising himself and letting the ship cook for him? Does he still have separate quarters? Do computers literally raise children in the 24th century?
I found it momentarily jarring that when Crusher goes to talk to Picard alone, it’s about her son, not about the computer malfunctions that form the main plot of the episode. A few seconds later, I appreciated the choice–it seems real. These people aren’t thinking about their jobs and plot MacGuffins all the time.
No mention of Pulaski at all. Sigh.
Very bad score for this episode. Pan pipes, seriously? 351 years from now? I’m depressed.
Nothing we know about Wesley’s character is consistent with him putting that much product in his hair. I don’t buy his actions after the nanites’ escape. He’s aware of the danger to the ship, aware it’s his fault, yet he hides this information from everyone. What is he, six? He should be court-martialed. I’m afraid his only reason for temporarily concealing it is because otherwise the episode would not have been 44 minutes.
So, the plot isn’t great, basically a rehash of “Lonely Among Us” and maybe a few other early TNG episodes, with fewer crew deaths. Lacking is a strong sense of wonder or science fiction theme. I find the baseball monologue insufferable. But the episode is structured well, with a nice build. The show is not going to turn fully around at once, or with one hundred percent consistency, but it’s kind of nice to return to it.
Last season I went to a six point rating scale, in order to make room for distinctions at the bottom of the scale. I will be optimistic now, and return to the five-point rating system we used for TOS. 2.5 out of 5 Sousa marches cranked up to eleven.
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