4.5 — “Remember Me”
Plot: Beverly Crusher greets an old friend who is visiting the Enterprise, but soon finds her world spinning out of control when he disappears from the ship, along with all mention of him in the ships’ logs, and the memories of everyone who ever encountered him. Can Beverly figure out what is going on before her whole world slips through her fingers?
Thoughts: I agree with Randi’s comment that Season Four so far is as much an improvement over Season Three as Season Three was over the first two seasons. The measure of this is a Beverly Crusher episode which is pretty darn good! It’s possible that this is the most female character-centered episode we have seen in the series so far (except for the Laxwana episodes?).
Gates McFadden just is not the strongest member of the cast. I don’t always believe her as the doctor, but at least she is a likable screen presence. It bugs me that her hair and makeup usually looks like it was designed for a fashion magazine shoot instead of a work day. This doesn’t seem to connect with the character. But any minor wavers in Gates’ performance can’t wreck this solid mystery episode fulll of pathos and high concept alternate reality bubbles.
Crusher’s experience in this episode (inhabiting one reality and remembering a different one) must be similar to how Guinan felt in “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” The episode concept is a great way to explore her insecurities about her position on the ship, her relationship with Wesley, and the sense of loss she still carries from the death of her husband. This resonates. I have never liked the character more.
Even more refreshingly, she isn’t made a victim. Although Wesley, Geordi, and the Traveler work hard to save her, it’s made clear that she can’t be rescued by them unless she first uses reason and courage to save herself. She does, and it’s her moment to shine. So, credit where credit is due.
I also love these lines: “The univserse is a spheroid region seven hundred and five meters in diameter.” And, “If there’s nothing wrong with me, maybe there’s something wrong with the universe.” Says every person with schizophrenia ever!
If I have to nitpick, I would say that better use could have been made of The Traveler, who looks as if he has developed a nutrition deficiency since his last appearance in TNG 1.6, “Where No One Has Gone Before.”
Memory Alpha has this very nerdy observation: “When Dr. Crusher is pulled into the static warp bubble, she is not wearing her coat. While in the bubble, she puts on the coat. However, when she returns from the bubble, she is still wearing the coat from the bubble. Thus, it can be assumed the bubble contained a physical reality and not simply a manifestation of Crusher’s thoughts.” http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Remember_Me
At this point, I’m waiting for a shoe to drop. There have to be bad episodes coming.
This is the 79th episode of TNG, which equals the number of episodes produced in TOS. Just 99 more to go.
4 out of 5 sentences cut off in mid-conversation.
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