Category: tv reviews

Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 208: Quality of Life

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.09 Quality of Life (11/16/1992)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0/3/38

Notable Guest Stars:
Ellen Bry (Farallon) – Her more recurrent roles include The Amazing Spider-Man, and St. Elsewhere.

Review:

This episode is interesting, though not the ones I would watch over again.  In it, Data discovers that the Exocomps, a computerized tool created by Dr. Farallon to help assist her in repairs and upgrades to her mining technology, has shown possible signs of life.

From a characterization perspective, its important for Data.  In this episode he seeks to find others like him who started life out as a mechanical yet have life. They never state in the episode whether they officially decide the exocomps are living, but at least he changes Farallon’s mind about treatment.

I honestly don’t have much comments to make on this one, so it’s a very short review.

Interesting Notes:

  • Written by Naren Shankar
  • Directed by Jonathan Frakes
  • LeVar Burton’s beard was being grown for his wedding so Geordi was able to have one for several episodes.  Apparently the production team figured Geordi was better cleanshaven, but I don’t think it matters either way.

Pros

  • Data characterization
  • The idea of AI developing out of super-learning computers.

Cons:

  • While I love Data, this season has been fairly Data heavy. Could we have some characterization development for another character?

Screencap via CygnusX1.net

Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 207: Fistful of Datas

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.08 Fistful of Datas (11/09/1992)
Rating: 5/5
Redshirt Status: 0/3/38

Notable Guest Stars:
John Pyper-Ferguson (Eli Hollander)- Ferguson guest starred on several US TV series over the years, but he also starred in “Hamilton’s Quest, a Canadian TV series.  Probably most notable to more recent audiences is his turn on Battlestar Galatica and its offshoots.
Joy Garret (Annie Meyers)- She was most known for her role on Days of Our Lives (Jo Johnson) which she was concurrently playing at the time of this episode. This was one of her last performances before she died suddenly of liver failure in 1993.

Review:

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Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 206: Rascals

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.07 Rascals (10/30/1992)
Rating: 3.9/5
Redshirt Status: 0/3/38

Notable Guest Stars:
David Tristan Birkin (Jean-Luc Picard) – Birkin had previously played Rene Picard, Picard’s young nephew, in season 4’s “Family”. He still acts, but his main focus is in photography focused on topics related to war and the aftereffects.
Megan Parlen (Ro Laren) – She appeared on the NBC series Hangtime.  She now focuses on documentary work, including one on the return from Iraq.  She also continued to do voice work.
Caroline Junk King (Keiko O’Brien)- King currently works as a animation director and artist in Japan.
Isis Carmen Jones (Guinan) – You may recognize her from appearing as the younger Delores in Sister Act, which also was released in 1992. Those are her only two credits on IMDB.
Hana Hatae  (Molly O’Brien) – She would continue to play the part of Molly for the next few years, however this is her only appearance on TNG.
Mike Gomez (Lurin)- Gomez has appeared several times on TNG, including as a Ferengi Daimon in “the Last Outpost”.  He has also appeared in the classic The Big Lebowski.
Tracey Walter (Berik)- Walter often appears as sidekicks in his roles, and has quite a few well known credits.  Highlights include Death to Smotchie, Matilda, City Slickers and The Silence of the Lambs
Michael Snyeder Morta)- Snyder has appeared in Star Trek several times, including as the Crewman Dax that Chekov prematurely blames for the boots.  He also just the previous season played a Ferengi named Qol.
Brian Bonsall (Alexander Rozhenko)- Bonsall gets to act here on his own without Michael Dorn or Marina Sirtis.

Review:

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Posted in rant, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 205: True Q

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.06 True Q (11/02/1992)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0/3/38

Notable Guest Stars:
Olivia d’Abo (Amanda Rogers) – d’Abo might be recognized as Karen Arnold, the character she played for seven years on the Wonder Years. Which oddly enough, I don’t think I’ve watched other then clips.  Might have to do that one of these days.
John de Lancie (Q) – He’s back, back again.  Still causing trouble, still judging humanity.

Review:

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Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 204: Schisms

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.05 Schisms (10/19/1992)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 1/3/38

Notable Guest Stars:
Lanei Chapman (Sariel Rager) – A reoccuring Star Trek actress as Rager, this is the final appearance of the character. She then starred in a short lived series Space:Above and Beyond.
Ken Thorley  (Mot) – Thorley was a character actor, and appeared as more then one minor character on the series.
Tyce Bune (Lt. Edward Hagler) – I am honestly not sure what to say about his list of credits but I felt he should be on here since he plays a character who is a plot point.  His career became rather un-family friendly after his appearance on Star Trek.

Review:

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Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews, Women of history

The Rewatch 203: Relics

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.04 Relics (10/12/1992)
Rating: 5/5
Redshirt Status: 1/2/37

Notable Guest Stars:
James Doohan (Montgomery Scott)-  He’s Mongomery Scott.  Need I say more!

Lanei Chapman(Sariel Rager)-  Chapman has been a reoccuring minor character on the series, appearing in two episodes in season 4, and two episodes in season 6.  Oddly enough the episode Geordi references in this episode was one of the episodes where Rager appeared.

Erick Weiss (Ensign Kane) – This is Weiss’ second appearance on TNG, but not his last for the series.

Review:

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Posted in rant, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 202: Man of the People

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 6.03 Man of the People (10/5/92)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 1/1/36 (resurrections tally 2)

Notable Guest Stars:
Chip Luca (Ves Alkar)- Luca is a reoccuring Star Trek Actor, with one of his final roles being on ENT.  He also appears in Voyager.
George D. Wallace (Simmons) – As well as being a WWII vetran, Wallace starred in Broadway plays and musicals.  He also appeared in Gunsmoke and other popular westerns.
Lucy Boryer (Janeway)- She is best known for her time on Doogie Howser, MD.

Review:

Well, it didn’t take long before I had an episode I disliked. To be fair to this episode, it was made quickly as a fill gap solution when the next episode had to be delayed, so perhaps it didn’t have the time to be developed.

I’m just tired of storylines where women are victims of subservice.  There are three women in this episode who are victimized by Alkar.  He forces his will on these women.  I understand that this is supposed to be a new take on the Dorian Gray story,  but it comes off as another form of rape. These women loose their autonomy, their minds, and their lives. 

My uncomfortablness with how they went about this is also enforced by the fact that Alkar victimizes only women.  He had a male attendant, but somehow, Ihe’s not to be seen when Alkar needs a emotional bag holder. It wouldn’t make it much better (it would still seem a bit like a rape analogy) but it wouldn’t seem so targeted at women.

That being said, Marina Sirtis did an excellent job with what she was given.  Its also interesting to compare her aging make-ups to her actual person now.  She certainly has aged better then they would allow for.  But then so did Picard in “The Inner Light.”

Basically 90s aging make-up was not quite accurate.  But that’s okay.

Interesting Notes:

  • Written by several Staff writers, then polished and woven together by Frank Abatemarco
  • Directed by Winrich Kolbe
  • According to IMDB, this episode was made in a rush to fill the space as originally they meant to film Relics, but scheduling issues pushed the filming back.
  • This episode has a Janeway, but not “Janeway.”  She’s off being a commander or Captain elsewhere in the Federation.
  • This episode was inspired by “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde.

Pros

  • Deanna episode!
  • Imzadi content
  • Alkar gets  his comeuppance.

Cons:

  • Why do so many episodes for Deanna involve her being a disposal unit for people’s emotions/assaults
  • “Receptacles”.  Yeah, I’m as disgusted as Picard at that terminology. Also I would have felt better if it wasn’t just women he was victimizing. 

Screencap via CygnusX1.net

Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Star Wars, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 200: Time’s Arrow (1 & 2)

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 5.26/6.01 Time’s Arrow (6/1/1992)
Rating: 5/5
Redshirt Status: 0/1/35

Notable Guest Stars:
James Hardin (Sameul Clemens)- Hardin is a long-term character actor, with credits spanning from the 1960s well into the 1990s.  He will appear in other episodes within the franchise. His most known role may be that of Deep Throat on the X-files.  He is also the father of Melora Hardin, who may be more well known.
Michael Aron (Jack London) – According to IMDB, Aron had a short career from 1989 to 1998.  He has appeared in later roles, usually playing himself.  Since 1998 he has been running Mojotown, a multimedia Agency, as well as the Mojotown Project which is a charity that provides creative services to other charities.
Marc Alaimo (Frederick La Rouque) – Marc Alaimo is a reoccuring Star Trek actor, and this is not his first appearance on TNG. His main role on the franchise will be Gul Dukot in DS9
Alexander Enberg (Young Reporter) –  While not a major player in this episode, he does continue to play an ongoing role in Star Trek as Vorik in Voyager.  He also happens to be Jeri Taylor’s son, so creativity must run in the family.

Review:

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Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 199: The Inner Light

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: TNG
Episode: 5.25 The Inner Light (6/1/1992)
Rating: 5/5
Redshirt Status: 0/1/35

Notable Guest Stars:
Margot Rose (Eline)- Rose has a varied career, working both as an actor and as a musician. She has appeared on several popular TV shows as a guest star.
Richard Riehle (Batai) – You may recognize Riehle as the grandfather on Ground For Life.  He has also appeared on TNG before and will appear in Trek again on Voyager and ENT
Scott Jaeck (Ressik Administrator)- Jaeck is a reoccuring star Trek actor, and will return for Voyager.
Jennifer Nash (Meribor)- She played guest roles on many series in the 1990s to the 2010s.  I could not find a credit after 2009.  As a side note, her brother Marcus got to portray Picard in a flashback sequence.
Daniel Stewart (Batai, son of Kamin) – Speaking of family involvement, Daniel Stewart is the son of Patrick Stewart.  He is still actively in acting, with recent roles including a regular appearance on the TV series Blunt Talk (Which also included his father in the staring role) and Silent Witness.

Review:

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