Wanderlust

5.12 — “Violations”

5.12 — “Violations”

Plot: As the Enterprise plays host to a group of telepathic historians, members of the crew start to have strange rapey dreams, after which the crewperson falls into a coma. One of the Ullians seems to be behind it. Can they figure out what’s happening in time to stop him?

Thoughts: Well, of course they’re going to figure out what’s happening in time. There’s hardly any suspense on that subject. The main exercise is, how creepy and rapey can they manage to make the episode in the meanwhile? In retrospect, the title of the episode is an apt warning as to its contents.

So. How did you like the dream sequences? Me, not much (not to my taste, and rapey). Interesting that Crusher’s dream was about the death of Jack, which they hardly ever refer to. Was Riker’s flashback supposed to be based on a true event, or just a nightmare concocted by Jev? It is a weakness of the episode that it’s impossible to tell.

Isn’t it great the way the male characters had to come save Troi at the end? No, I didn’t think so either. The only other thing worth commenting on is the clothes, but I’m not well qualified for that task. I originally rated this one-and-a-half, but I”m marking it down.

1 of 5 two-tone poker chips.

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

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5 responses to “5.12 — “Violations””

  1. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Yeah. I am actually surprised the network agreed to show this on prime time tv. Deanna pretty much was raped (it’s the psychological aspect that defines it as a rape now than the physical, i.e. lack of consent, and basically she experienced psychologically it as if it happened to her). The minimization of that trauma (including involving one of her best friends as perpetrator! ) is wild, and not the first time tng has done this. Reminds me of yar and to a lesser extent k’ehleyr… female characters harmed for no particular reason, no point to make. Obviously this happens all the time in real life but on TV it bothers me. Why put viewers through watching this happen then unless perhaps the writers think it will be entertaining in its own right? It’s not. The lack of concern about her recovery displayed by her friends that bothers me even more (it could be happening offscreen but to not include it is jarring). When Geordi was brainwashed at least they ended with a scene of healing and mentioned it would take a while.

    I wish they just never filmed this one. 

    Reply
  2. Kevin Black Avatar
    Kevin Black

    Well said. It’s that woman problem that TNG amazingly still can’t seem to shake. If the female characters function mostly as instrumentalities to motivate the male characters, then it’s a small step to using them as plot points instead of people. The collateral damage is the entirety of the viewing audience.

    TNG did have one strong woman on the writitng staff at this point–Jeri Taylor. That seems to be a pattern for Trek. Before Jeri TNG had Melinda Snodgrass for about a season and a half, and TOS had Dorothy Fontana. I hope they do a better job in the new show, and in DS9, VOY, and ENT (although I’m not especially hopeful about the latter three).

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  3. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Yes. I saw one online comment “troi can’t help that she is so hot” or something along those lines. I am hoping that was intended to be humorous and just failed but worry it was serious!

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  4. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    One more thing… human memory is not laid down as a sequence of RNA molecules!  The process by which memories are formed, organized, and retrieved is a fascinating one, and the role of sleep and dreams in this process is not entirely understood but what is known is fascinating, so it is too bad that this was not delved into more in the episode (and instead the writers opted for sexploitation.)

    I do have an impression that DS9 was much more progressive in its treatment of women (if not any more sciencey), and am looking forward to it!

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  5. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    PS Looking at the credits, most of the writers were women!   Surprising.

    Reply

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