3.3 — “The Survivors”

3.3 — “The Survivors”

Plot: The Enterprise responds to a distress call but arrives too late: Delta Rana IV has been devastated, all structures destroyed, and there are no reminants of its 11,000 inhabitants. But wait, there is a house, and it has two survivors. Rishon and Kevin Oxbridge are an elderly couple, botanists, originally from the aquatic city New Martim Vaz in Earth’s Atlantic Ocean.[1]  The Oxbridges have no explanation as to why they were spared from destruction, and insist they want to continue living on the planet without interference. Shortly after their visit, Troi is infected with persistent singing noise in her head, and the aggressor ship that destroyed the planet returns to attack the Enterprise.

Thoughts: This is where I start believing that TNG has become a different show. Thank Crom and all the Elder Gods! It only took 51 episodes. We have crew members at risk, action, tough choices with consequences, principles at stake, and a real space battle. What show am I watching? Most importantly, a new story variation in which I honestly didn’t know how the show would be resolved over 30 minutes into the episode. The plot is satisfying enough that I want to put in a spoiler warning: don’t read past this point until you’ve watched it.

Kevin Oxbridge’s Douwd is a new variation on the omnipotent space douches Star Trek is famous for. He is a pacifist, in love with a human, for whom he has renounced his powers. This is a better take on the character of Flint from TOS 3.19, “Requiem for Methuselah.” What are the limitations on his power? He can recreate Rishon, but apparently not well enough for her to exist outside of the simple constructed environment on Rana IV, or even outside Kevin’s presence. This is the grieving process of an immortal. How long might it last?

The Quaker-like vow to not use his power for harm is a good twist for a being without limits. The choice to forswear mischief seems more likely than the choice to play dress-up in Earth military costumes and taunt Picard like Q. I get the idea Kevin could squash Q like a bug, but he would probably choose not to do it.

Genocide of a race of 50 billion Husnocks across the galaxy in a thoughtless instant is a despicable crime, even if the Husnocks are described as “a species of hideous intelligence who knew only aggression and destruction”.[2]  That’s kind of a racist way to describe a whole intelligent species. Do you mean, they’re like the Klingons that Kirk meets in TOS 1.26, “Errand of Mercy?” But Kevin still feels bad about it, and seems to recognize the enormity of the crime. It’s Picard who wants to shrug it off. 

Kevin Oxbridge is one of only a small handful of Kevins in Star Trek canon, according to Memory Alpha. I do have this guy, however: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Kevin_Riley

There could be lots of conversations about this episode. I filled up a whole page of notes. How refreshing! I note for the record that Troi has a new, highly accessorized turquoise dress. Garish lipstick shades are part of the costume plot for this season. I love seeing the crew outside, in outdoor light. The upside-down foot trap is a kick. It feels odd that Crusher does not ask for permission before beginning a physical scan of the Oxbridges. Norms appear to have changed in the 24th century around protocols for collecting personal medical information (this change was also in evidence in the 23rd century).

One thing that occurs to me is that no one ever seems to show an appropriate level of shock, or grief, for things that happen in Star Trek. Maybe this is a problem of 1980s and 90s television in general. The death of 11,000 colonists, leaving Rishon and Kevin stranded alone on the planet, seems like a more significant and traumatic event than any character acknowledges.

4 out of 5 music box waltzes.

[1] This part is not important, but still makes for a cool detail. According to Memory Alpha, the city of New Martim Vaz is never mentioned again in Star Trek.

[2] I am indebted, as usual, to Chrissie’s Transcripts: http://www.chakoteya.net/NextGen/151.htm

http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/The_Survivors_(episode)