{"id":5987,"date":"2015-06-16T01:25:57","date_gmt":"2015-06-16T01:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/37-The-Enemy"},"modified":"2015-06-16T01:25:57","modified_gmt":"2015-06-16T01:25:57","slug":"37-the-enemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relivethemajesty.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/16\/37-the-enemy\/","title":{"rendered":"3.7 — \u201cThe Enemy\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n

3.7 — \u201cThe Enemy\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Plot:<\/strong> The Enterprise<\/em> investigates a distress\u00a0signal and finds the remains of crashed Romulan spaceship from a\u00a0secret expedition into Federation space. Complicated plot machinations leave Geordi stranded amidst electrical storms on the planet surface,\u00a0while Riker and Worf\u00a0assume custody over a Romulan prisoner aboard the Enterprise<\/em>. The prisoner will die unless he receives a blood transfusion from Worf, who is loathe to grant it. Meanwhile, Geordi finds a second Romulan on the surface,\u00a0and Picard\u00a0must defend Federation territory\u00a0against incursion by\u00a0a Romulan rescue ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thoughts:<\/strong> Light and water combine to make this planet one of the most distinctive planetscapes we have witnessed so far in Star Trek. Starting the episode suspensefully with the crew beaming down to\u00a0a planet is the kind of habit TNG should stick to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Very succinct writing. The scene between Worf and Picard where they discuss whether Worf will cooperate with the blood transfusion is played perfectly by both actors. Back in Sickbay, I\u2019m not sure there has been a better line written in TNG so far than \u201cI would rather die than pollute my body with Klingon filth.\u201d I would not say the writing on this series has been\u00a0particularly quotable\u00a0before\u00a0now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Worf letting the Romulan die is a big move. What did you think? I was impressed. Michael Piller and Rick Berman apparently wanted to remind the audience that Worf is an alien, and does not see things the way we do. I like the way the script sets up two fakes. First,\u00a0I thought Worf\u00a0would relent and give the transfusion once he learns that the Romulan doesn\u2019t want it. Then, I thought that the Picard scene would end with the “surprise” revelation that Worf has already\u00a0given the transfusion. I\u2019m impressed\u00a0by the road the writers\u00a0took. Agree or disagree, it shows that they are now ready to take risks and stand up for a vision for the show. What a difference a season makes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The scenes on the planet between Geordi and Bochra are reminiscent of Enemy Mine<\/em> (1985), or perhaps, as LeVar Burton is quoted as saying on Memory Alpha, The Defiant Ones<\/em> (1958). Yeah, I\u2019m not convinced the Romulan would believe that he wouldn\u2019t be subjected to heavy interrogation after his surrender, making it rational to choose death over rescue. In fact, given the secrecy of the mission, I’m surprised a distress\u00a0signal was used at all.\u00a0However, I can go with\u00a0these things\u00a0for the sake of the episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you recognize the voice? That\u2019s Babylon 5<\/em> (1993-1998)\u2019s G\u2019Kar (Andreas Katsulas) playing the Romulan commander who almost fires upon the Enterprise<\/em>. Apparently this character will return. Maybe in sequel episodes we\u2019ll get some kind of hint what the Romulans were up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Overall, very enjoyable, with a better version of Picard than we have usually seen. 4 out of 5 neutrino beacons.<\/p>\n\n\n

http:\/\/en.memory-alpha.wikia.com\/wiki\/The_Enemy<\/a>