Series: Star Trek:TNG
Episode: 3.07 The Enemy (11-6-1989)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0/1/22.5
Notable Guest Stars:
John Snyder – Bochra. He would appear again as a guest star in a season 5 episode.
Andreas Katsualas – Tomalak. He regularly appeared on Babylon 5 as Ambassador G’Kar.
Review:
This episode begins with Geordi, Worf and Will going down to the planet in search for survivors once the Enterprise hears a distress call. The planet is unhospitable, but seems to have a breathable atmosphere. Geordi gets lost in a hole in the ground, finds a new frenemy, and battles radiation problems. Picard meanwhile gets to play chicken with the Romulans.
This episode seemed awfully familiar to me, and I realized why about two thirds of the way through the episode. The concept of this episode was used for an Enterprise episode where Trip Tucker and an Alien both crash on a planet. Its episode 2.13 for the series, so I’ll bring this episode up again then.But the basic elements of the story are the same. The details are different enough, I suppose.
While looking the Enterprise episode up, the Wikipedia linked to the 1985 film “Enemy Mine” as a inspiration. Since this episode (The Enemy) was filmed in 1989, its possible it too is influenced by the science fiction film.
The episode has two parts. Part A is the action adventure of Geordi and Bocra, and Part B is the moral journey of Worf when it comes to donating to help a Romulan. There is a moment when I thought Picard was going to force him to donate, but he doesn’t.
Interesting Notes:
- Written by David Kemper and Michael Piller.
- Directed by David Carson
- I’m noticing a lot of different hair styles then from the previous episode. I’m assuming that this episode was filmed after a break. Particularly obvious is Beverly Crusher, whose hair has grown several inches.
Pros:
- Geordi gets to show off his creative problem solving
- Development of Romulans.
- Picard does not force Worf to donate. Body autonomy is important.
Cons:
- I was hoping that Worf would choose to donate on his own. However, perhaps its true to character that he held his ground.
- Why are they going the opposite way at the end of the episode? Isn’t Enterprise supposed to be escorting the ship back to the Neutral Zone.
- The idea that the Romulans kill “defective” children. I know that the Romulans are supposed to be portrayed as war-mongerers and the bad guys, but I feel this is worse then all that.
Screencap via Cygnusx1.net
Sokorra Lewis 