Wanderlust

2.14 — “The Icarus Factor”

2.14 — “The Icarus Factor”

Plot: Commander Riker receives an opportunity to transfer to the USS Aries as its Captain. This job offer comes from a surprise unwelcome source: Kyle Riker, Will’s father whom he has not seen in 15 years. Another surprise: Will’s father is a former flame of Pulaski’s. Meanwhile, Wesley notices that Lt. Worf is down in the dumps, and figures out how to cheer him up by using the Holodeck to recreate a Klingon ritual.

Thoughts: This is the first episode to 100% embrace a soap opera format, without even a semblance of a science fiction premise. I actually don’t hate it. They’ve at least committed to a format and story which is within their scope and ability to pull off. And this is a pretty good episode for Riker and Pulaski, at least, as characters. I feel like the producers hit the target they were aiming for. The fact that my rating is not higher reflects that I’m not a huge fan of soap operas, not that I think the episode was poorly done.

I like Pulaski more and more. Three husbands, “each was a good man and we’re still good friends.” She would have gone for Kyle Riker in a “hot minute.” She’s showing vulnerability and strength and a character in three dimensions (although I don’t believe for a minute that she would have just forgetten to mention to Riker that she used to be romantically involved with his dad). Sources indicate Pulaski was not popular with fans (and in her published comments Diana Muldaur does not seem nostalgic for her time on the show). I’m guessing this was more about discontent over the unceremonious dumping of Beverly Crusher’s character than deficiencies with Pulaski. With 26 years distance, and the knowledge that she is coming back, it’s easier not to fret about Beverly, and to reappraise her replacement.

I’m impressed by the grand sets put together for the Klingon ritual and the Anbo-jyutsu match. The Klingon ritual could have been cooler if they had paid to have at least one of the other Klingons speak (non-speaking extras get a lower union reimbursement). The Anbo-jyutsu match is a little ridiculous, but also totally awesome. The costumes look amazing for a TV budget. I’m not gonna hate–they really went for it! I love the scene, over the top and all, and I love the Japanese stylings of the costumes and the ring. Sadly, Memory Alpha indicates Anbo-jyustu has yet to make a return appearance in Star Trek.

I gagged over the sexism directed at Troi during this episode. I’m also pretty sure no one ever complimented McCoy by saying that empathy was his greatest medical skill.

Warp 2.5 of 6.

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Icarus_Factor

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14 responses to “2.14 — “The Icarus Factor””

  1. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Nice episode! My favorite thing was BEGONE!!! I can definitely think of moments in my life when that would have been an awesome thing to say. If only I could carry off Michael Dorn’s delivery.

    I liked the character development for Worf (although I really could have seen him receiving that surprise positively or negatively); for Data (trying on his ability to begin acting like a friend rather than just looking on in fascination at what others are doing or attempting a new specific social skill); to some extent for Giord feeling protective of his domain; some even for Pulaski (nice to see her show her feminine side — she does look natural doing it and still retains her gravitas, which is neat to see).

    I think the writers are still trying to understand Troi… how could it possibly make sense to be an empath and to see your own emotions as unimportant? You have to be able to tell what’s you and what’s someone else, and to process emotions efficiently and adeptly, to avoid having a complete nervous breakdown. She did have a nice showdown with Riker’s father, even if it retained that annoying busybody quality. I really wish crewmen could be seeking her out rather than vice versa.

    I actually found Riker’s development to be not as satisfying as some of the other characters’, primarily because so much is never explained! Why did his dad leave when he was 15? Why did his mother die? Why would he be so angry at his dad? I kind of got at the end that his dad felt the need to be better at stuff than his son so he would have “something to offer”… that was poignant, I do encounter many men not feeling confident that what they have to offer as fathers is “merely” their presence and their love and that that is enough. But it seems like the whole abandonment thing was huge and it was never explained or really explored.

    And then the final decision to stay on the Enterprise… also never really explained.

    Overall, although this episode was flawed in many ways, it is still one of my favorites so far, since it has so much character development for the crew. There is no real “outer spacey” plot, and it really doesn’t need one, and I feel like that was a bold choice for a show entitled Star Trek. I’m not sure if TOS ever did an episode that was quite this exclusively character-focused.

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  2. Kevin Black Avatar
    Kevin Black

    Something I really like about reading Randi Cohen’s takes is it makes me want to go back and watch so I can appreciate things I underappreciated the first time. I wanted some more information about Riker Sr.’s background, too–it seemed kind of cheap that they were letting him come off as a heroic or at least sympathetic character for most of the episode without presenting Will’s side of things, which makes it seem like Will is in the wrong, while it would be easy to fill in facts that would put the whole thing in a different light. However, Riker is a young man, so if he hasn’t seen his father in 15 years, we can infer that his father deserted him when he wasn’t much more than 15 himself–maybe for a career move into deep space. Who raised Will after that, or did he just fend for himself, we don’t get much indication.

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  3. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Thanks, Kev! BTW i don’t think this episode can truly qualify as soap opera without any major romantic or weirdly huge random misfortunes occurring to characters. outrageous okona or even we’ll always have paris was closer to soap opera imo. i just think this episode has fewer action/techie elements than usual.

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  4. Kevin Black Avatar
    Kevin Black

    Long-lost father shows up, wants to fight Riker while wearing a pastiche Tron/Might Morphin’ Power Rangers costume. Riker has to decide whether to leave his friends behind to pursue his career. Wesley plans a surprise party to help Worf appreciate the importance of his heritage and recognize the supports offered by his friends. Riker’s dad confronts Pulaksi, his long-lost love. I think these are soap opera plots! Even though TOS never did this, I still think it is true to the spirit of TOS because TOS was not afraid to change things up and try out a lot of different genres and techniques for telling good stories.

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  5. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Have you watched any soap operas, Kev? Just curious. I actually have in my misspent youth and to me these are maybe teen afterschool special plot elements but not soap opera. too uplifting. soap opera requires young foolish love not two mature adults dealing with former romantic feelings. Cheating, amnesia, identical twins and mistaken identity, blackmail, car crashes, jealousy, forbidden love… these are the major “legal” soap opera plot elements. also nothing is ever resolved.

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  6. Kevin Black Avatar
    Kevin Black

    I used to watch Days of Our Lives during summer vacations back in grade school!

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  7. Kevin Black Avatar
    Kevin Black

    Like sands through the hourglass…

    Reply
  8. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Hahahaha!  I concede that you have access to some germane evidence on this topic, Counsel!

    I had the impression (although generally not a Riker fan) that he had a genuine beef with his dad, just annoying that his character never gets to voice exactly what the beef is.  I would hope that the majority of males in the future would be allowed to have feelings other than anger and to discuss them in words.

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  9. R. Alex Reutter Avatar
    R. Alex Reutter

    Why doesn’t Picard want to talk about why they’re stopping at Starbase Montgomery??  Oh!  Riker is being offered his own command, though even from the start, he doesn’t seem too sure.  We all know he’s on the show for the duration, but given Denise Crosby’s departure the year before, was there actual doubt at the time about whether he’d stay?  

    So Riker doesn’t like his dad… I like the fact that this follows on his musings in the previous episode.  It’s also fun that Pulaski was close to his father, but it would have been nice if she had mentioned this during the egg breakfast scene.  I agree with Riker’s attitude when he confronts Pulaski about her not having mentioned it.

    I like the fact that Worf is brooding in Ten Forward, so Geordi and Data can enter while Riker’s dad is still there, thus “continuing the scene” in a fashion.  Great use of Data for comedy here, because it’s not overly broad.  

    I like the fact that Worf goes to Riker immediately after this.  Nice scene.

    No, actually, Riker’s dork dad, there are lots of manuals on parenthood, and lots of other parents out there to ask for advice.  They don’t all help, and you still screw up a lot, but you don’t have to “just wing it”.

    Pulaski puts Deanna and Riker’s dork dad together.  This might be Deanna’s finest scene to date.  She does exactly what Lwaxana would do.

    Everyone seems to assume that Riker will go, including Picard.  I really like the fact that everyone has their own reasons for thinking he’ll go, or wanting him to go, and Riker dealing with various expectations.

    There’s a weird cut here from Wesley, Data, and Geordi to Riker and Pulaski and then back to the trio.  

    Yay!  Klingon ascension!  Great use for the holodeck.  

    So both Worf and the Riker boys have a barbaric custom to help them work through their feelings.  The Anbo-jyutsu match is weak in comparison to Worf’s ascension ritual (though it’s really weird that Riker isn’t present at the ritual, since he and Worf are buddies and Riker is the most Klingon-friendly person on board), and Riker’s dork dad is still a jerk, even if they manage a measure of rapprochement.  Riker, don’t feed the troll!

    Incredibly odd ending, for Picard to announce that Riker is leaving and then Riker immediately reneges.  Why was that necessary?  Seems pointless.

    All in all, good episode, as Riker’s refusal to leave the Enterprise becomes one of the great recurring themes, though they didn’t quite give us enough sense of Riker having grown to the point where he would stay; frankly, at this point we would rather have seen him not take the promotion simply because his dad wants him to take it and it turns out to have been the right thing to do.  Sometimes you do the right thing for the wrong reasons.

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  10. R. Alex Reutter Avatar
    R. Alex Reutter

    Great point about the character development for Data this episode, Randi.  He felt like a real person.

    I’m sorry to disagree about the Anbo-jyutsu match, Kevin.  It’s a little too “American Gladiators”.

    Reply
  11. Kevin Black Avatar
    Kevin Black

    I like a good cheese sandwich occasionally! What makes it is that the art department especially, but also lighting and choreography, really showed up instead of phoning it in or acting embarrassed that they were asked to do it.

    Reply
  12. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Too true re: American Gladiators.  I can tell you have acting experience, Kev, I always find it interesting how you notice different aspects of production quality.

    Agreed, Riker’s dad is totally a dork.

    And, I like the parenting summary!  I actually have gotten some great advice from my daughter’s day care teacher.  There is something to be said for years of experience handling a variety of children.  It tends to give you a perspective that one does not have as the parent of only one child.

    cheers,

    Randi

    Reply
  13. R. Alex Reutter Avatar
    R. Alex Reutter

    Yes!  Ideally there’s a collaborative relationship with the teacher, who has seen lots of children and has some idea of what is “normal” behavior in the population, and the parent, who has some idea of what is “normal” behavior in their child.  Each learns from the other so that the child gets the support they need to learn and grow.

    Kevin, that’s a good point.  The actors and designers could totally have phoned the match in, but it looked good for what it was.  Perhaps the writers let us down a bit with the comment about it being the “ultimate” martial art.  There’s no reason it can’t simply be the one dork dad preferred, though of course, in his mind that would make it the best…

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  14. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    totally agree on both counts

    Reply

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