6.24 — “Second Chances”
Plot: The Enterprise returns to Nervala IV, eight years after Riker participated in the evacuation of a scientific outpost there during a previous tour of duty aboard the Potemkin. To their surprise, the away team finds… Lt. Riker, trapped there following a transporter malfunction that created two copies of the lieutenant, stranding one behind a phased distortion field on the surface.
Thoughts: This episode wins me over by avoiding two science fiction clichés. First Tom Riker (as I will call him) does not turn out to be an evil twin à la “The Enemy Within” (TOS 1.5) or “Mirror, MIrror” (TOS 2.4). Second, he does not try to murder the other Riker over jealousy/thwarted love when he has the chance, or vice versa, an act which would invalidate everything we know about Riker up to this point. While evil twin episodes can be entertaining, what we get instead feels grown-up and like serious science fiction.
How much are we a product of our experiences, and how much an expression of our inner nature? How different might you be, not just in terms of opportunity, but as a person if luck at earlier points of your life had turned out a little differently? This is an important question in a world filled with inequality, and the answer has implications for questions such as appropriateness of resource redistribution.
One great thing about this episode is that Will Riker, Tom Riker, and Deanna Troi each have distinct points of view which are honored. The events look totally different from each of their perspectives.
I’ve said it before: the transporter is bloody terrifying. Surely the replication of Riker is a scientific breakthrough which the crew should take more interest in? It’s amazing no one seems to have thought of this possibility before.
Troi clearly has a conflict of interest evaluating whether Tom Riker is fit for duty. As we’ve observed before, she’s terrible at her job, probably not even the third best counselor on the ship. As she sets aside her feelings for Tom Riker in order to pursue her career, I thought, “These characters aren’t so different.” I realize Troi can’t decide to follow Tom without leaving the show, but I still would have liked to see her do it. As long as she could keep her commission and active duty status on the new ship, of course, which is not made as clear as it should be. But why not?
All in all, an intriguing episode, worthy of revisitation. 4 out of 5 re-phasing distortion fields.
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