*Note: This was posted in reverse order with the next episode. This aired before Conspiracy*
Series: Star Trek The Next Generation
Episode: 1.24 We’ll Always Have Paris. (05-2-88)
Rating: 3.7/5
Redshirt Status: 0/4
Notable Guest Stars:
Michelle Phillips – Jenice Manheim. You may know her more for her music career then her acting career.
Rod Loomis – Paul Manheim. He appeared in Bill & Ted as Sigmund Freud. Which I find easier to notice now because I recently watched Bill & Ted to celebrate the third film coming out.
Review:
This episode has two plot lines. The main plot line is that Paul Manheim has found evidence of time manipulation. The Enterprise crew of course has to figure out what is going on, only to find out that Manheim’s team has been killed, and he is the last survivor other then his wife.
Plot two, the lighter of the two plots, is that Jenice Manheim is a former girlfriend of Picard. I kept seeing Imzadi parallels thanks to the book Imzadi (Peter David), which isn’t canon anymore by a long shot but still. Two lovers were meant to meet somewhere, and the dashing Starfleet officer leaves his love behind to ship out. Only this one ends differently with Jenice staying with her husband who she loves, and Picard staying with his ship.They share a fond farewell, but both know they are better for it.
I honestly don’t have much to say about this episode. I like the inclusion of the holodeck, and the backstory for Picard. I also like the fact that they point out that no one sees Data as just a machine (like the alien from the previous episode). Data thinks he is disposable, but that is not Picard’s thoughts at all. Overall it was neutral though. Its not an episode that leaves an impression unless you are there specifically for character moments for Picard and Data. So I’m going to give it a 3.7.
With the influence of the Imzadi backstory, I have to wonder if Picard and Riker talked about what was going on and Riker felt his own story playing out in a way.
Interesting Notes:
- Written by Deborah Dean Davis and Hanna Louise Shearer.
- Directed by Robert Becker
- Title references Casablanca (as does the Blue Parrot Café). A classic film I still have yet to see.
Pros:
- Data getting to save the day
Cons:
- Not really a amazing episode. Kind of dull.
Sokorra Lewis 