LogFAQs > #970227986

Episode 15: Pen Pals

Well, I was right, but we also have Data and the episode is actually alright.

Picard likes horseriding, but doesn't like pets. I find his "oops" towards Data a little bit of an understated reaction, given his character. Has unerring faith in the prime directive, until he actually hears the cry for help. Then, empathy takes over and he risks his professional life to do the right thing. In that regard, this is a slightly better repeat of his arc in Symbiosis. His gestures to Riker are utterly hilarious.

Riker is quite encouraging towards Wesley. An absolute flirt who doesn't miss a beat, even when a snotty kid is accidentally cockblocking him.

La Forge shares the moral argument that leaving the Dremans to die is wrong.

Worf does not like mess. Shares Picard's view on the prime directive.

Troi offers an interesting idea in empathising too much with animals. I can believe Lwaxana and a cat becoming mortal enemies.

Data is getting a rebellious streak in him. There's a clear irony to his character, in that by uncomplicatedly wanting to help Sarjenka, even breaking the law to do so, he proves himself more moral, empathetic and straight up human, than actual humans. Its easy to regard his relationship with Sarjenka as stemming from a shared innocence, but, considering his willingness to keep his actions a secret until the last possible moment, I think he's far more astute and shrewd than he's given credit for. Instead, I think it comes from his uncomplicated nature. It's natural for him to treat the girl as just another person, instead of the patronising manner Troi tries on her.

Wesley goes through another standard "believe in yourself" stock plot. It's harmless and Wheaton is entertaining enough, but it's not particularly interesting.

Pulaski talks a lot of sense. This is really the first time she's properly worked as a female McCoy, since she provides the more moral, empathic side to the Prime Directive argument. Except, she arguably works a little better, as McCoy was often a victim of being saddled with the losing side in TOS, whereas there's no real doubt that Pulaski is in the right here.

O'Brien is wonderfully snarky. His napping conversation is a highlight.

Not much to say about the guest stars, except that Sarjenka is adorable and that Davies' actor must be suffering whiplash from the 180 from smarmy shit stirrer to completely reasonable.

The script is pretty much on fire here. The debate over the prime directive is a fantastic scene, but all the other stuff, like Picard and Riker's comedy bits are all kind of great, too. Even the advice to Wesley, standard, though it is, is conveyed in a completely confident manner. After a few episodes that suffered from rewrites and the writers' strike, its nice to have a well made, if somewhat simple, episode.

The prime directive is kind of a moral abomination, isn't it? I mean, this is the ultimate litmus test for whether you have a sound ethical philosophy: are you prohibited from helping a desperate child? Fortunately, after empathy and common sense win out, the crew have no real problem with performing a blatantly illegal rescue. (Which is a strange phrase when you think about it). Picard himself can't seem to decide between brushing off the apparent conflict as a bit of a joke ("oops" and his hand signs) or being irritated as fuck that he's even in this situation. I don't have much further to add, except to repeat the same thing I always mention in these prime directive stories: there is a vast gulf of difference between helping out a people in need and completely dominating their culture with your own.

The Wesley plot is harmless and the Data plot is pretty great. Overall, a good episode.

I've been looking forward to this one. Even outside of this topic, I've heard that Q Who is a fantastic episode.