Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Episode: 2.10 The Dauphin (02-20-89)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0/0/3
Notable Guest Stars:
Paddi Edwards – Anya. I don’t necessarily recognize any of her live action work, but she was the voices of Flotsam and Jetsam from my favorite Disney movie as a kid, The Little Mermaid.
Jaime Hubbard – Salia. Sadly, her career seems to have been fairly short. IMDB lists this as her first appearance, and her last was in 1995. However, it seems she found another calling in life and is a practicing psychotherapist.
Peter Neptune – Aron. Another actor with a short credit list, but a lifetime career in a completely different field. According to Wikipedia, he has become one of only 229 certified Master Sommeliers in the world. Which, having taken wine knowledge courses, I see as a great accomplishment. There is alot to learn (much to my surprise when I took the first one)
Madchen Amick – Young Anya. Ok, I was surprised by this one. I know her mostly from Riverdale as Alice Cooper but also from Gossip Girl.
Review:
The history nerd in me feels the need to mention that the term ‘dauphin’ was a term used to refer to the Prince of France who was the heir to the throne. Which makes sense, as Salia is also an heir to the throne. I never understood why the heir was called a special name, but then again, England’s heir is always the Prince of Wales so…
This episode brings us a Wesley-centered story, where the 17-year-old finally experiences his first love. Unfortunately for him, he aimed high and caught the eye of a 16-year-old ruler of a planet that has been constantly fighting. Her returning to her home planet is the only hope they have of ending the fighting, as she is the child of both sides of the fighting.
Fortunately for Wesley, the emotion is mutual, and Salia is likewise interested in him. They have one problem – Anya, Salia’s protector and governess. The woman has been caring for and training Salia from nearly birth so not only feels a great duty to her charge, but also maternal feelings. Or at least that is what Deanna senses.
Worf finds himself admiring her a little as he too feels a strong need as security officer to protect his ship. Most of the rest of the crew find Anya’s overprotectiveness of her charge a bit much. She even tells Kate to kill her patient, which understandably she takes exception to.
Watching the crew try and help Wesley talk to a girl is also amusing. Eventually he finds out that he has his own way of doing things.
Interesting Notes:
- Written by Scott Rubenstein and Leonard Mlodinow
- Directed by Rob Bowman. One day I’m going to figure out just how many episodes this man has directed because it seems almost like he does every other one.
- The morphing technique was decided on by Dan Curry who used it before on a Friday the 13th film.
Pros:
- Look, Wes gets more to do then sit around and point out things are weird. And its age-appropriate shenanigans rather then adults letting him do anything he wants.
- Geordi gets to sit down as he works. Not that others don’t, its just unusual to see someone off the bridge, working and being able to sit.
Cons:
- Nothing particularly stands out, but then the episode doesn’t exactly stand out either so *shrug*
screencap from CygnusX1
Sokorra Lewis 