LogFAQs > #970554426

Episode 7: The Enemy

Another La Forge episode? Surprising. And the Romulans again.

Picard errs on the side of diplomacy, but still has utter contempt for Tomolak. I love that he simultaneously respects Worf's decision and yet is utterly furious at him for making it. His speech about trust is a good show for him.

Riker is appropriately irritable towards everyone, even Picard, when he loses La Forge. Manages to be a pretty threatening presence over the Romulan survivor. Probably the most respectful and understanding towards Worf's decision, even if he does try to convince him to let go of his grudge.

This is much better version of La Forge than the last. We get to see how his visor enhances his resourcefulness and how he's able to be simultaneously sarcastic, irreverent and yet remarkably compassionate towards Bochra. He even has pride in Wesley and all of these play to Burton's strengths, since he has a natural energy that suits this characterisation far better than creepy incel does.

Worf is taken in an interesting direction. His reasons for not saving the Romulan are little more than bigotry and bile and I feel the episode does a pretty good job of letting us understand his motivations, without condoning them. Ultimately, his right to choose is respected. I think I would have preferred an argument along the lines of bodily autonomy or something, since he does veer towards the unlikeable. I also question how honourable the decision is and whether its actually a good choice for his character, but the dilemma is handled well, so, I won't hold it against the episode. Besides, the brief moment when it looks like he might have sympathy for the survivor, only to all but get spat at, is fantastic.

The way Crusher was overly happy when first discussing the issue with Worf makes me wonder if she already knew what the answer would be and was trying to sweeten things over. Yet she seems genuinely shocked when Worf refused and it doesn't look like a failed plan situation, so, I actually don't know.

Troi helpfully tells us that the shifty guys might be shifty. Apparently, she was meant to have a more substantial role with La Forge, but it got cut. Frankly, she'd probably be better with Worf, since her counselling abilities could have been put to good use.

Don't remember much of interest from Data. I think he just does his job.

Wesley gets to be something of a wunderkind again, but there's nothing insufferable, so, I'll let him off.

O'Brien can't do his job because of ghosts.

The Romulans themselves are kind of a problem. Originally, the idea seemed to be that they were morally equivalent to the Federation at worst, but here they've kind of become moustache twirlers. Tomalak is overly smarmy and while he makes a valid point about weighing one life against a territory, its happening whilst he's feigning ignorance about a second Romulan on the planet, so, any equivalence is lost. Bochra fairs better as he becomes more friendly with La Forge, but he's still far too needlessly antagonistic at the start, for it to be a graceful transition.

The shots on the planet are great. The lighting is superb and the camera keeps close to convey a claustrophobic feel. The whole thing feels dark and even filthy, at times. Some of the dramatic zoom ins on Picard are a little overdone. I'm not sure the last VFX effect was correct. Surely, the Enterprise should be following the Romulan ship.

Discovering that your enemy is just as alive and valid as you is a good message and the two plots complement each other well in showing that, with Worf's refusal almost causing a war and La Forge's compassion preventing one. The problem is that the Romulans are coded as inherently wrong. Bochra makes a disparaging comment about disability, so, we can see how evil his society is. Tomolak is almost always lying and threatens to make the first move in a useless war. They've lost a dimension compared to TOS.

Decent and I like the new direction for La Forge. Not sure Worf and the Romulans are going the correct way, though.

Looking at The Price, tomorrow.