Star Trek: The Next Generation
"Lonely Among Us"
Air date: 11/2/1987
Teleplay by D.C. Fontana
Story by Michael Halperin
Directed by Cliff Bole
Review by Jamahl Epsicokhan
The Enterprise is assigned to take two enemy species, the Anticans and Selayans, to the negotiation table in the hopes that they can join the Federation. If the Bajorans couldn't, then these guys shouldn't. They should be called the Toolboxians and the Lamerons. Someone should lock the doors on their quarters so they can't get out and commit serious crimes like murdering each other and (more importantly) annoying members of the audience.
Really, what do the two alien races have to do with anything here, except as a needless backdrop to frame a story that has nothing to do with them? The real story is about a mysterious energy pattern that starts by zapping Worf before transferring to Crusher and then the Enterprise's computer system. Eventually it kills an engineer named Singh, who would be a red-shirt if not for the fact his uniform is technically gold. Finally, it ends up in the captain, taking control of his mind and body.
The episode, exceptionally nondescript, is a strong argument for making quick analyses of potential threats. To be fair, though, I sort of liked the notion of an investigation that is not pumped up into an overblown drama, and instead shows the workings of a starship and its officers, tackling the subject of what the officers might plan as a contingency if the captain is acting under an alien influence. What's hard to swallow, though, is that the captain could exist as pure energy and survive apart from his body in an energy cloud — but, hey, it's Star Trek. One of the episode's somewhat amusing conceits is Data reading up on Sherlock Holmes and adopting the persona (complete with pipe) in his effort to solve the case. But this case has no legs.
Previous episode: Where No One Has Gone Before
Next episode: Justice
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49 comments on this post
Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 10:28am (UTC -5)
Wow, what a shambles of an episode. I could go on forever. Nothing makes sense; nobody belongs anywhere or should be doing anything they're doing. Just a bunch of stuff thrown together.
Worf saying he doesn't remember having a memory block symbolizes the episode for me.
A big plot hole is why the alien blathers on about its cries for help not being understood by the crew, when it does everything secretly and makes no real effort to just freakin' tell the crew "Hey, I'm an energy being. Get me home." - when it obviously could. Why even bother merging with Picard, if you're only eager to go home? Ugh, too many questions like this.
I guess what angers me the most is something that got better with time but that TNG never really figured out: no one in Star Fleet or the Federation knows how to make responsible, professional decisions about anything. In later episodes, I think maybe the writers just didn't completely understand how to write professional-acting officers, but here it seems like they just don't care. A self-respecting, standards-holding Federation wouldn't consider these aliens for admission in a million years. Also, it seems there really is no protocol for relieving a Captain of duty on medical grounds - he can just shout you down and ignore procedure whenever he wants to. Way to ensure the safety of the crew.
The silver lining is the acting; Patrick and Stewart and Brent Spiner do a good job here - even if Data is acting in a way that I don't think Data should ever have acted (the writers hadn't decided on how to write his character yet).
1/2 Star
Mon, Apr 16, 2012, 2:13pm (UTC -5)
...
A couple of days later I came back to my senses and realized how boring it is, in fact. The starter plot-B, with the two alien races, it's pointless and badly executed. The main plot(Lost energy-lifeform)moves at a snail pace, with no real logic to it(for many reasons as stated by Percivale above).
The only saving bits are those of intended and unintended comedy. Intended: Data as Sherlock Holmes (not his brightest moments, but much better than misterious energy shifting bodies. Unintended: "P For Picard?" -Said by Riker when Picard makes his physically impossible comeback moment; and Data's face when he finds out about the whole Sherlock Holmes mythos.
Sat, Apr 28, 2012, 7:59pm (UTC -5)
The Things I Didn't Like: Well, the plot was predictable almost to a fault. I didn't quite understand the ending when Picard was rescued - some mumbo jumbo involving physical patterns was all I got out of it. The music during that very same rescue scene was anemic to the point of nonexistence, like much of Season 1, and drained away all the dramatic tension. The actors could have used more emotion during that scene - during much of the episode in fact, but especially that scene - watch the transporter rescue scene from TOS's "Obsession" and you'll see that this scene pales in comparison. Guess I'm kind of spoiled with seeing Bill Shatner chewing the scenery a lot.
Things I Liked - Well, the acting was weak, but much stronger than in previous episodes. I liked the Data does Sherlock scene, even if a bit out of place. The debate between the officers whether or not to relieve Picard was pretty good either, even if not fully up to potential. And I was ok with the subplot - "Sorry, wrong species" got a bit of a laugh out of me. But you'd think the Enterprise would have assigned better security... (Repeat after me: It's only TV. ) speaking of security, first redshirt dies in this ep too.
2.5 Stars is what I'd give it.
Sun, Aug 5, 2012, 7:30am (UTC -5)
The twin Alien Species, although badly written at least looked genuinely alien, rather than merely humans with facial prosthetics, but the idea that races this backward (even without hindsight of watching later episodes) would have been considered as membership candidates is absurd.
The scenes with Crusher being possessed drag on interminably and again the acting of Sirtis and Crosby are arguably the 'weak links' in the cast. As Jammer points out, the idea the Captain can be transferred into an energy field and survive seems highly unlikely but then I guess, this is Star Trek -perhaps the writers were trying to go for another high concept?
Spiner's scenes in the holodeck as Sherlock Holmes (foreshadowing later, much more worthy outings ) are probably the highlight, but that isn't enough to sustain what is a fairly undistinguished hour. This is no 'Code of Honour' but it isn't much cop either, 1.5 stars for me
Wed, Dec 12, 2012, 3:29pm (UTC -5)
Sun, Mar 24, 2013, 8:06am (UTC -5)
I think the closest this episode gets to interesting is when it seems for a brief time as if Picard may genuinely have merged with the cloud life form thing and want to explore the galaxy. This would be dereliction of duty, of course -- but I could imagine a Picard/energy-cloud hybrid being making the choice to go on the ultimate adventure, especially in the way Picard is characterized in early season one, with lots of wanderlust. I don't know that this really works, but it's an idea that has potential. When Picard (improbably) is beamed back aboard the ship, he's lost his memory though -- and it seems likely that that was only that energy cloud thing talking through Picard.
The other interesting element is watching the crew try to figure out how they can relieve the captain of duty through official channels, which is fairly effective. This happens for a very brief time.
Otherwise, the episode is mostly devoid of interest. 1.5 stars.
Sun, Mar 24, 2013, 8:07am (UTC -5)
Sun, Jun 9, 2013, 7:41am (UTC -5)
Fri, Jul 25, 2014, 6:49am (UTC -5)
1) It created Data's fascination with Sherlock Holmes.
2) It gave us Colm Meaney's 2nd Trek appearance which would later lead to Chief O'Brien.
The rest is boring.
So, historically we need this episode in the tapestry of Star Trek making, but we don't really have to watch it. :p
Fri, Aug 15, 2014, 7:48pm (UTC -5)
A 45min cringefest. Its like watching all the worst bits of Sci-Fi all edited up and presented in one compendium of amateurish incompetence. Having seen this - its a miracle that TNG survived to improve and become quite a decent TV show in my opinion, there is certainly nothing in this episode that hints that any writing, directing or acting talent is at work here...
Tue, Nov 18, 2014, 11:33pm (UTC -5)
Other than that, the energy cloud, body snatching, and immature delegates are all elements that - on their own - would drive a terrible episode of Trek. Together, they ultimately have nothing going for them and even interfere with each other. What was the point of the two rival races? Comic relief? Good lord. It's not even the camp factor that sinks this one - it's the utter incompetence of the writing. There's no reason for this show to be THIS bad. 1-1/2 stars, and I'm probably being generous.
So, no, "Lonely" isn't utterly unwatchable. But that's only because it's surrounded by some absolute trash by comparison. "The Naked Now", "The Last Outpost", and "Code of Honor" come before it while "Justice" comes right after. All four are legit contenders for the worst episode of TNG and would rightfully be at the bottom of probably the whole franchise.
Mon, Dec 29, 2014, 10:54pm (UTC -5)
1 star.
Thu, Jul 30, 2015, 3:10pm (UTC -5)
Sun, Aug 9, 2015, 1:39pm (UTC -5)
The B-story with the warring factions serves no purpose but to provide an amusing denouement, and added to the overall slow pace of the episode makes it a bit of a grind to watch. The increasingly common left-field comic moment comes with Data's Sherlock Holmes impersonation - but again it feels out of place and contrived. 1 star.
Tue, Sep 22, 2015, 7:50pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Feb 9, 2016, 10:44am (UTC -5)
I guess because they look like earth animals they are not to be taken seriously? Funny how Gene looked at things back then.
Sun, Mar 27, 2016, 1:59pm (UTC -5)
Wed, Sep 7, 2016, 3:26pm (UTC -5)
It is only 3 minutes in and we are back to the ludicrous looking down your noses at aliens because they are so primitive they fight each other.
Jonathan ( I can't actually act for toffee) Frakes scoffs he never understood violence when studying earth history. For goodness sake not this 'wack-a-doodle' utopian drivel again .
As to the plot of this one-it is a hotch potch of Journey to Babel,several episodes of Space 1999 and Mutiny on the Bounty.
It is a wonder this show wasn't cancelled
Mon, Jan 16, 2017, 6:16pm (UTC -5)
-The Selayan design. There not humans in funny clothing or with stuff glued to their head. Apparently their one of the few Aliens Roddenberry allowed to have face covering makeup.
-Worfs face when the thing zapped him.
Things I didn't like
-The Anticans design, and their annoying amount of screentime.
-Wesley's sweater
-Picard is pretty much beamed into space but survives because he fused with an energy being. I think
-Ultimately the Ambassador plot is useless and only used for padding.
5 out of 10
Sat, Mar 4, 2017, 1:12am (UTC -5)
Sat, Aug 19, 2017, 8:41am (UTC -5)
Y'all know how we often bemoan the fact that Troi really has no purpose? That most of the things she observes are things that are perfectly obvious to any half-awake person?
Well, I point you to this episode. Picard has beamed off the ship as an energy thingie, and Riker says he's lost and "We need to get to Parliament," then orders the ship to leave. He is eager to abandon the Captain in the energy cloud! But then Deanna senses the Captain and suggests they may be able to get him back!
Riker responds, "As WHAT? He's just energy now!" (I'm paraphrasing.)
So now we know why Riker stays as first officer all those years, and why Deanna has a purpose. Without her, Picard would have been a cloud critter for the rest of the series. And Riker never accepts a promotion because he is wracked with guilt over almost having condemned his captain to a permanent existence as a lightbulb.
That was fun. lol
@Percivale
"A self-respecting, standards-holding Federation wouldn't consider these aliens for admission in a million years."
I was thinking the same, but in relation to the "Justice" aliens and the "Code of Honor" ones. Why would the Federation ever consider intercourse with aliens who think it's fine to execute someone for a trivial offense, or aliens who think kidnapping is fine and dandy?
You know, I'm all for respecting the beliefs of others, but not when those beliefs are stupid.
@William B
"When Picard (improbably) is beamed back aboard the ship, he's lost his memory though"
The way they talk in the transporter room, I thought they rematerialized Picard from the pattern left on his first beam-out, so the Picard that rematerialized was simply a copy of the pre-energy Picard. We know they use a similar function of the transporter in later episodes and series, but maybe they hadn't quite figured out how to phrase it yet?
@Troy
"I did like the dog and snake aliens in this one."
Me too! They made me laugh! I wish we'd seen more of them. Especially the doggy-faces. Did anyone notice that the doggies were very similar to the castle guards from King's Quest VI? That came out in 1992, so maybe they copied Star Trek?
Wed, Sep 27, 2017, 1:39am (UTC -5)
The thing that most annoyed me was that ending. They went for a lighthearted moment at the end, but for some reason it had to involve the murder of a peace delegate. I mean, what? "Oh, someone got murdered, but I just feel tired. I'll let you handle it Number One." And there's Yar yucking it up to Riker. It's just a completely bizarre note to end on.
Wed, Nov 22, 2017, 7:56pm (UTC -5)
Episode One: "Prudence and Prejudice"
Goals of episode: 1. Give viewers a little snapshot of Alpha Quadrant/Federation. 2. Show how the crew handles conflict and diplomacy. 3. Have the crew examine their prejudices.
Synopsis: The Enterprise is sent to ferry delegates from Antica and Selay, two planets in the same solar system, to a peace conference on the planet Parliament.
The solar system lies near Federation space but is also near a part of space where the Ferengi have recently become more active, so it's strategically located.
The two planets fought a war more than 100 years ago when the Anticans achieved space flight and landed on the more primitive Selay. Since then, the Selay have also achieved space flight but are still behind the Anticans in technology. They've had a cold peace for almost 80 years but a new war is threatening to break out.
It's crucial to the Federation to make sure a firm peace is established so the Ferengi can't exploit a conflict so close to Federation space. (We can learn all that in briefing early in the episode with Data).
Here's where it gets interesting. The Anticans are very humanoid looking and get along great with Terrans, sharing many of the same attributes, culture and food. There's informal talk they'd like to join the Federation, and the Enterprise crew thinks that's a grand idea. The Selay are reptilian. They are aloof and demanding and eat disgusting things (to us). Also, Troi can't read them. She can only "feel a presence." They have no interest in joining the Federation and have only reluctantly agreed to the conference out of desperation because they are also practical.
Each side is accusing the other of acquiring weapons from the Ferengi to mount an offensive attack and the Selay say the Antacins are courting the Federation as well.
Troi, Riker and Picard have an initial meeting with both groups and have positive impression of the Anticans. The Selay meeting doesn't go as well. Troi meets with them alone a second time. Right after the second Selay meeting, Troi falls mysteriously ill.
Dr. Crusher believes she's picked up a type of venom from the Selay, which the Antacins subtly encourage. They even hint the venom was transmitted on purpose. After talking with the Anticins, Beverly administers a treatment but it has the opposite effect and sends Troi into shock.
(And that's our B-plot: Beverly frantically trying to save Troi's life and her guilt at making her worse, not better).
Meanwhile, hostilities mount between the Antacins and the Selay, and an Antacin is found dead and appears to have been killed by a Selay weapon. Tasha and Worf are assigned to security.
As the episode progresses, the Selay look more and more guilty and the Atacins make more inroads with everyone but Worf. He sees the Selay as noble and honest and admires their stark philosophy.
Eventually, a Ferengi vessel attacks the Enterprise, and it turns out it was a rogue Antacin delegate (and arms dealer) who has been working with the Ferengi to incite a new war. He sent coordinates to the Ferengi ship and was caught by one of the Selay. He attacked the Selay, who killed him in self-defense. The Anacin is also the one who infected Troi, and they also learn he learned the ability to block empathic probing from the Selay. (Worf is the one who figures all this out, with the help of Data).
Crusher almost loses Troi during the Ferengi attack, but the Selay leader helps her figure out the right antidote (using some of his own blood). The Ferengi attack is repulsed.
The Selay demand to turn back from Parliament because of the human prejudice, while the Antacin leader begs them to reconsider. They decide to work together toward a peaceful resolution on their own without Federation help or Ferengi interference.
Ends with staff meeting where Picard praises Worf for his prudence and admonishes himself and the others for letting their prejudices against a reptilian life form cloud their judgment and they must do better next time. (And in the B plot, Beverly goes through same thing making assumptions about Troi's medical condition).
With any luck, that paints a little picture of the political and cultural climate in the Federation, reinforces the Ferengi threat (such as it is), gives us some character growth and maybe gives you two species you might could bring back again.
I'll do Episode 2 later.
Tue, Nov 28, 2017, 3:52pm (UTC -5)
I enjoyed seeing the sensor maintenance room aboard the ship, the two junior officers Worf and Geordie, Dr Crusher’s nifty medical helmet, seeing the crew debate relieving the captain of command, the far out blue electric bridge scene when the crew try stopping Picard but are rendered absolutely helpless, possessed Picard’s chilling order to Crusher to run tests on those concerned about his odd behavior, Picard just tossing aside the results after the tests were performed The makeup for the Anticans And selay was really impressive especially for 1987, the Selay snaring Riker roaming the corridors
Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 5:31pm (UTC -5)
The 2 warring alien factions being transported were your standard stock adversaries -- definitely cliche. The half human / half feline species was hilarious. And then Riker gets lassoed by the half human / salamander species -- just seemed to come across as random bizarre events tossed into the episode as a somewhat amusing B-plot that doesn't go anywhere.
Data starts acting like Sherlock Holmes with a fascination for being a detective -- pretty funny stuff here given some of the crew's reactions to him -- another random bit of humor but it obviously blossoms into something bigger later on.
The important part about Crusher/Riker sensing Picard is not himself and trying to go about relieving him was well conceived but one has to wonder how it could be carried out if Picard responds as he did -- demanding the mutineers get medical check-ups. I guess force would have to be used...
Liked the idea that the energy being is sentient and the Enterprise ripped one of them away on its first pass through and that it leads to opening up a whole bunch of possibilities for Picard. Decent sci-fi here, albeit not explored in depth because of wasting time on transporting the cliche aliens.
2 stars for "Lonely Among Us" -- slow-paced for the most part, at times boring, but business picked up when the alien energy being invades Picard. Would have been a better pure sci-fi episode but for the nonsense with the 2 alien species going to Parliament -- this is where better writing is needed. Definitely some implausibility thrown in with Picard existing as energy with the mysterious cloud phenomenon. But it's TNG S1 growing into a certain type of episode, not an awful start, but could have easily been better.
Sat, May 19, 2018, 2:42pm (UTC -5)
Thu, Jan 17, 2019, 4:16pm (UTC -5)
There were some good bits, like when Picard freezes everybody on the bridge and Riker keeps shouting for someone to restrain the captain. It looked a bit goofy, but kind of a believable goofy.
Fri, Jan 18, 2019, 4:08am (UTC -5)
2 stars. mostly because the aliens were interesting enough to prevent the silliness completely ruining the episode.
Thu, Feb 14, 2019, 6:00pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Mar 22, 2019, 4:41pm (UTC -5)
So why don't they fly over or below it? Or make a turn. It sounds odd to not taking into account even the slightest risk, when it's so simple to avoid. Similar to how planes avoid storms. Is that really what they teach students in their academy? Is that how they educate their captains and head staff? Then how did humanity survive for so long in space?
Another major issue I have is about how the crew deals with mind controlled captain situation. They know that something's going on and suspect it to take control over people. Geordi even spots this energy emerging with Picard with his own eyes (not really), leading to Picard making irrational decisions, further risking the wellbeing of the ship and its crew.
What exactly more proof do you need to take actions? Why doesn't Riker execute his plan to temporary unseat Picard, due to his odd behaviour and recent events? There seems to be a consens along the officers to do such.
I just don't buy it.
Sat, Jun 1, 2019, 10:02pm (UTC -5)
All in all a pretty forgettable and dull episode. And what was with the ending? "Sir, one of the aliens was just brutally murdered, but that can wait, after all what's more important than mooning over the captain?" And why does Denise Crosby always sound like a teenage girl on the verge of blushing? *except in those moments where she's yelling about how mad she is. Sheesh.*
Sat, Jun 8, 2019, 11:56pm (UTC -5)
Sat, Jul 13, 2019, 10:19am (UTC -5)
The aliens were great and the ending, with Picard passing off his duties to Riker in the wake of the alien-eating crisis, was amusing.
It (mostly) didn't bore me and was a very ensemble episode, with all the characters playing a role and being better defined.
The ep seems to be about the challnge of understanding each other. It's about how isolated, by our differences, we can be from one another - we get a lot of references to differences: Klingons are different, the aliens are different from each other and from us, we're a mystery to each other, mystery, mystery, etc. Wesley's so delighted when mom shows an interest in his interests.
Our energy alien understands everything better once he gets inside. Maybe the Anticans will understand the Selay better once they eat one.
Solid ep.
Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 8:01pm (UTC -5)
And the captain being 'too busy' to entertain Crusher and Rikers medical examination whilst having his feet up on the ready room desk.
Completely ludicrous, but strangely watchable
Sat, Mar 28, 2020, 6:56am (UTC -5)
And no-one caught on. Unbelievable.
I have difficulty in taking seriously a planet named Parliament. As world-building, that is weak.
Does Riker, calling him “history’s greatest consulting detective”, think Sherlock Holmes was a real person ?!?!?!?!? The folk on the Enterprise D may be far superior to us in technology, but they seem to have a rather tenuous grasp of the distinction between history & fiction.
Wes has no fashion sense whatsoever - that jumper looks like a sack.
And now, Bev has de-aliened and is talking normally to Wes. Leaving the alien to kill Singh. Every silver lining has a cloud. Why does Singh die of the alien, when Bev & JLP, who are also human beings, do not ?
How many Assistant Chief Engineers are there on the Enterprise anyway ?
Data as Sherlock Holmes is cringe-inducing. Thank goodness for Babylon 5.
Data , meet garbage compactor. If only.
Troi may be only half-Betazoid, but if she can sense a disturbance in the Force from other aliens, why not from this one ?
Darth Palpacard’s Force Lightning display was fun.
Not more than 1 and a half stars, I think. Intermittently amusing, but a thing of shreds and patches.
And now...the Eloi - sorry, Edosians.
Sat, Mar 28, 2020, 9:18pm (UTC -5)
The episode is slow and boring. There’s not much going on and it takes the crew far too long to act when they realize Picard has been possessed. Shouldn’t there be some Starfleet regulation that allows for this scenario? Instead, Riker, Crusher and Troi tiptoe around the issue and allow themselves to be manipulated by an obviously possessed Picard.
The conclusion is also puzzling. Once Picard beams off the ship, shouldn’t he just be gone? How is it that they’re able to reconstitute his body from energy? It doesn’t make sense.
The subplot featuring alien delegates who antagonize one another to the point of hunting each other around darkened corridors is pointless. It also leads one to wonder why they’re being considered for membership in the Federation in the first place.
Overall, forgettable.
🖖🤟
Sun, May 31, 2020, 4:06am (UTC -5)
The first time I summoned enough enthusiasm to attempt a viewing, about five months ago, something else must have distracted me, because I remembered nothing but the "live meat" storyline.
With lowered expectations, I tried again, and I amazed myself by actually liking it. A lot. It's a mystery that develops slowly, it's true, but I found the connection between the system malfunctions and trances overtaking key people to be interesting. I liked the fact that the possessive force jumped around and became difficult to analyze.
The ridiculous fluffy and reptilian aliens who were once nothing more than incredibly annoying in my earlier perspective, now were recognizably important to the plot. The writers put them in to be a drain on the crew's mental and emotional resources at a time when a real crisis is developing. They were silly, nay disgusting, but introduced just the right amount of noise allowing a creeping menace to grow unimpeded.
Data's first embrace of Sherlock Holmes is noteworthy.
The music by Ron Jones foreshadows BoBW.
More importantly, I have come to think that this really is the FIRST episode to display characteristics seen in the best of TNG outings:
1) Crew interactions in which little oddities in behavior in one character are noted, but nonetheless shrugged off by another 2) characters meeting behind closed doors to discuss the growing mystery and its ramifications ....'wouldn't that be mutiny?'
3) REAL RAPPORT between all members of the major cast!
This is all fascinating to watch amidst conditions of near complete chaos. Picard's possession is the real treat. He's so good at throwing the medical examination back at Beverly and Riker, and then hunches over to look out the readyroom window.
So many things happening in this episode! Picard is Capt. Queeg, but unlike Queeg, he succeeds.
I love it when Picard says to Geordi, who has just announced that the helm is broken "Malfunctioning? You're wrong. Look again" and then orders an illogical 180 and claps, causing Geordi some chagrin. "You have a problem with that heading lieutenant?" At this point the camera switches to Troi, who is nauseated, and questions the action. Then even Data asks why. "Counsellor, Do you believe a ship captain should explain every order?" Great scenes. Great television
7/9.
Sat, Jul 4, 2020, 2:58am (UTC -5)
Sun, Oct 25, 2020, 9:03pm (UTC -5)
This episode has problems... the talk of going against the Captain is intriguing, but after concern among the senior staff of Picard’s strange behavior, Crusher asks Picard point blank if he’s Picard and he says “I am here”.
If I were Bevs, you would have to lock my big ass in the brig before I’d let that fly.
Sun, Oct 25, 2020, 9:16pm (UTC -5)
Sat, Feb 13, 2021, 4:38am (UTC -5)
Mutiny/relieving Captain of command was never done well in TOS. The competency hearing in “The Deadly Years” was an absolute disaster. Why, oh why, would they even consider doing that again?
This episode has two things going for it,
1. Data smoking,
https://youtu.be/TGZ3QQf9-6A?t=7
2. An early description of turning shit into meat that plays just about as well as it did on Discovery,
https://youtu.be/k8N7XuxThdQ?t=33
Sickening. Barbaric. Yes, @Ivanov, I’m talking about Wesley’s sweater :)
@Rahul, I have to say that I was a bit disturbed to see you say in the “Code of Honor” thread that that episode reminded you of "Elaan of Troyius”. If any TNG episode reminds me of Elaan, it is “Lonely”.
I agree with @Tornado, this is the weakest episode so far. Though, as @Troy says, the aliens are better than the usual. But even so, 2 stars. Barely.
RIP Mister Singh.
Sun, Feb 14, 2021, 2:47pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Jun 1, 2021, 2:35am (UTC -5)
1.5 stars, for trying...
Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 6:53pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 6:54pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Oct 8, 2021, 1:16am (UTC -5)
Mon, Dec 20, 2021, 1:51pm (UTC -5)
Rest was quite poor.
Sun, Jul 3, 2022, 10:17am (UTC -5)
))‘We no longer enslave animals for food.’((
Weird formulation.
Does that mean that the Federation does not tolerate any form of animal husbandry? Including the holding of *dairy* animals? Is holding a milch cow a form of "slavery?" What about holding riding horses?
Capt. Pike still rides horses ("The Cage"). Is "Tango" Pike's "slave" (even if not for food - rather, for mere pleasure; is that less worthy of condemnation?)? Animals destined for slaughter are, as a rule, not our "slaves."
What about Kirk's request that the protein loaves served on Thanksgiving ("Charlie X") be made to look and taste like real turkey meat? How would any crewmember even *know* what turkey meat looked or tasted like, if the Federation had long ago banned animal husbandry "for food?"
Kirk also eats pastrami on rye ("The City on the Edge of Forever"), while buying Spock vegetables.
All too difficult to reconcile with established canon!
Sun, Apr 9, 2023, 1:12am (UTC -5)
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