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| "Lonely Among Us" | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 18 2005, 11:47 AM (302 Views) | |
| Fesarius | Jul 18 2005, 11:47 AM Post #1 |
Admiral
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Lonely Among Us - July 15, 2005 Stardate 41249.3. Two major planets from the Beta Renner system are being orbited. Aliens from each of the worlds are hopeful for admission to the Federation, and delegates representing both species are brought on board Enterprise, which will bring them to a planet code-named Parliament for talks. The species are the Anticans and the Selay, and they abhor each other. Each of the life forms have a passion for hatred toward each other's customs, gods, and economic systems. During a routine maintenance check, Worf is wounded by the sensor maintenance equipment. Geordi reports the medical emergency to Sickbay. The injury to Worf is described as having been caused by an energy flow. This flow is also listed as sensor feedback. In Sickbay, Worf needs to be restrained, as he becomes quite agitated. Geordi refers to the energy flow as resembling a 'glow' of sorts. One of the alien species (the Anticans?) think it barbaric that the Enterprise crew eats replicated (rather than genuine) meat. While treating Worf in Sickbay, Crusher is affected by the same energy glow that injured him earlier. The intensity seems less, as she does not appear to be injured in the conventional sense. But something has definitely occurred which could not be described as normal. We see Wesley studying the dilithium crystal theories of Dr. Channing. Dr. Crusher is interested in learning about these theories, and Wesley notes with surprise that his mother has never shown interest in warp theory before. Dr. Crusher asks to use a science station, and Picard suggests she use science station two. While she is using the station, the entity leaves her body. The science station, warp drive circuitry, and controls for transporter room six all malfunction at virtually the same time. Picard is puzzled, and mentions that the Enterprise has been out of space dock for a very short time. He asks Data what the chances are of these malfunctions occurring at the same time, to which Data responds that such a possibility is virtually impossible. Dr. Crusher then asks what she is doing on the Bridge. There is a fabulous angle of the Enterprise at this point, as the camera's movement appears to be traveling faster than the ship's speed. The camera moves from the back of the ship to the front (both the camera and the ship are moving forward, at different speeds). Then we cut to a shot of the conference (briefing) room looking inward from outside of the ship, and our view is of those sitting around the conference table. Picard and a few others suspect that the Ferengi could somehow be behind what is happening to the crew. The possibility of the Ferengi having taken a bribe from either the Anticans or the Selay is suggested, since the Ferengi have had dealings with both in the past. We are introduced to Mr. Singh, who is referred to as the Assistant Chief Engineer. Wesley continues to discuss Channing's theories with his mother; however, she now has no recollection of ever having had the initial conversation with him. Mr. Singh is attacked by the energy flow. Worf discovers his body, and reports that Singh is dead. Stardate 41249.4. Picard orders an immediate investigation into the death of Assistant Chief Engineer Singh. Yar questions the Selay about their whereabouts during Mr. Singh's death. Troi is allowed to attempt hypnosis on Dr. Crusher as a means to understand what happened to her. This episode marks the first instance whereby Data refers to (and states) the credo of Holmes, that whatever remains must be the truth. Picard is the next crewman to be invaded by the energy flow. Geordi is fairly certain that he saw the entity invade Picard's body, but the Captain says that he is fine. Picard orders a course change of 925 Mark 37. This heading has them doubling back on their original course. At this point Riker and Troi begin to suspect the odd behavior of the Captain. The Anticans and the Selay almost come to blows in the corridor, with the Chief (O'Brien) in the middle of the altercation. Riker, Data, Troi, and Crusher confer regarding the Captain's behavior. Nothing dangerous is yet evident, although caution is suggested. By the end of the discussion, the four agree that something must be done, and that the ball is in Riker's court. Riker and Troi approach Picard in his Ready Room. Riker suggests that Picard has been invaded, and that he is a danger to the ship and its crew. The Captain orders psychiatric examinations for Riker, Troi, and Crusher. It is interesting that Crusher is asked to undergo an examination as well, as she did not approach Picard at this time. When Riker and Troi stall following the order given by Picard, the Captain asks them if security ought to be called in order to escort them to Sickbay. When the Anticans and the Selay are playing 'hide and seek' in the corridor, Yar is called to restore order. Riker suspects that the 'cloud' is now sharing the mind of Picard. Picard announces to the Bridge crew that a sentient being was taken away by the Enterprise when it initially passed through the cloud. This is the reason he gives for the ship doubling back on its course back toward the entity. Data surmises that Picard is planning to use the transporter to transform himself into a combined energy pattern of our life forms so that he can become one with the entity. After Picard announces that he is resigning from this command and from Starfleet, Dr. Crusher relieves him from command. Blue energy beams invade the Bridge. The energy bolts are quite effective visually, and it appears that everyone on the Bridge is either attacked or probed by these energy bolts. Picard goes to the transporter room, and transports himself--in energy form only--into the cloud. We are informed that he is there for at least one hour in this form. Troi realizes that the joining between Picard and the cloud was not possible, and that Picard is out there somewhere, all alone. Picard enters the ship's circuitry, and as a clue that he has done this, leaves the letter 'P' on one of the consoles. Data, under the orders of Riker, successfully beams energy (Picard) back to the transporter pad. We learn through Yar that one of the Anticans wants a reptile broiled, and it turns out to be one of the Selay's delegates. Picard informs Riker that he needs sleep due to his ordeal, and in a rather funny concluding segment, we see that Picard has delegated the chore of cleaning up the mess between the Anticans and the Selay to Riker. Notable lines: "Neither seem like very promising Federation candidates, sir." (Yar). "Sir, my sensors are picking up an unusual energy object ahead." (Data). Whatever this object is, it is traveling at warp speed. When they get closer to the object, it resembles a cloud. "Simple, Geordi. Our Captain wants his junior officers to learn, learn, learn." (Worf). The line is in response to Geordi wanting to know why Worf is aiding with a routine maintenance check. "Sir, it is changing shape." (Data). When I first heard this line, I thought of the miletus cloud and of Kirk's experience with a similar entity in Obsession. "Oh, yes. The helm's located on the Bridge." (Crusher). An alien seems to be speaking for Beverley at this point. Dr. Crusher then goes to the Bridge, and when she walks over toward Geordi, she tells him that where he is seated is where the helm is located. "A temporary mental aberration." (Crusher). This is Dr. Crusher's explanation of Worf's condition, and it is not satisfactory according to Picard. "Intriguing, Doctor. What does helm control have to do with medical cross-checks?" (Data). The question is relevant, as something or someone is obviously leading Crusher astray. "Sir, subspace radio is out." (Data). "If the Enterprise were really this fragile, sir, she never would have left space dock. Therefore her system's failures are not endemic to the ship, but are the result of the actions of an unknown adversary." (Data). "The immortal Sherlock Holmes would have an interesting view of our mystery, I believe." (Picard). "But I'm afraid we're going to have to find our solution ... without history's greatest consulting detective." (Riker). Data seems very intrigued by the Sherlock Holmes references and related correspondence between Picard and Riker. "Lieutenant Worf, sir. I just found Mr. Singh. He's dead." (Worf). "We can learn something from non-disclosure?" "Indubitably, my good woman." (Yar and Data). Data's response is delivered with pipe in hand. Thus begins Data's fascination with Sherlock Holmes. "As Holmes would have pointed out, during the time in question, something was afoot." (Data). Yar is understandably unfamiliar with the term 'afoot,' and questions Data about it. "It's elementary, my dear Riker ... sir." (Data). "I feel someone else. There's someone else who's there ... not ... not alone." (Crusher). "Your hypnotism revealed another form of duality." (Picard). "I believe something invaded them." (Troi). "Data. Let's proceed without the pipe." (Picard). Although a nice touch, Picard must have been somewhat distracted. Riker smiles when Data is shown smoking the pipe. "A mere change of direction hardly justifies mutiny." (Data). This line indicates that the concern of some of the senior officers is not lost on Data. "I just feel that the Captain has become ... dangerous." (Troi). "Please. Are you Jean-Luc?" "He is here." (Crusher and Picard). "Soon we'll both be home." (Picard). "A resignation from this command and from Starfleet has been appropriately recorded." "I refuse to allow this sir." (Picard and Riker). "Captain Picard, you are now relieved of duty. I judge you to be disabled and mentally incapacitated." (Crusher). "Mr. LaForge. It's time to set a course for Parliament. Warp eight." (Riker). Geordi and others are visibly concerned that Riker appears to be abandoning the effort to save Picard. "What are you talking about, Data? Is this still Sherlock Holmes?" "Indubitably, sir. Indubitably." (Picard and Data). |
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| Franko | Jul 18 2005, 10:29 PM Post #2 |
Shower Moderator
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Ya, this is one of those early first season episodes that I kind of always liked. There's an interesting soundtrack score that's kind of cool in this ep; it's most noticeable when Beverly is wandering around on the bridge. Patrick Stewart actually plays through this script really well. The sideshow with the almost comical aliens they're transporting nicely offsets the real story; the mysterious entity bouncing through the ship. I like the fact that the alien entity wasn't meant to be malicious; it even apologizes for the "accidental" demise of Mr. Singh. Just once, they had to do an episode like this and I liked the way it came off. Some may find it pedantic but I think it's got a little bit of charm. As a side note, this was the first time that the concept of "hypnosis" was used in a Star Trek episode. Curiously, it wasn't really used again. (maybe later or in another series) Apparantly, some people find the application of "hypnosis" in psychology to be a little mysterious or intimidating. Not that I blame them. I'm not sure I would want to be hypnotized without certain safeguards. Not a classic, but a decent B episode. |
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| Fesarius | Jul 19 2005, 08:30 AM Post #3 |
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Admiral
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Franko, I had difficulty discerning between the Anticans and the Selay. I thought the actions of Dr. Crusher were quite good in the beginning, esp. the interaction between she and her son. And when she first asks why she is on the Bridge after the entity has left her body--that was quite eerie. And Worf's response to Geordi about the Captain wanting his junior officers to 'learn, learn learn'--LOL. It's interesting seeing how they are fleshing out the characters in the early going. A few years ago, our local museum had a Trek display. All series that had aired were fairly well-represented, and for TNG, there was a figure of either an Antican or a Selay on display! They were much creepier standing about two feet away from you....
That thought had never occurred to me. (Okay, now I have something new to think about. ;)) Seriously, good point.  |
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| captain_proton_au | Jul 20 2005, 08:20 AM Post #4 |
A Robot in Disguise
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I thought this one stinks |
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| captain_proton_au | Jul 20 2005, 09:07 AM Post #5 |
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A Robot in Disguise
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The episode that is, not the review |
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| Fesarius | Jul 20 2005, 09:46 AM Post #6 |
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Admiral
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| Fesarius | Oct 4 2007, 09:56 PM Post #7 |
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Admiral
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We watched this one a couple of nights ago. (This is the early episode I alluded to in another thread.) I won't go into a point-by-point analysis, but I did like this one a lot (again). The Anticans and the Selay are quite well made up. (One of the alien species sounded like Darth Vader--LOL.)
Franko, Didn't you think that it might have been one of the species that they're transporting? I know I did. One of the things that I liked about this episode was the misdirection that the viewer experiences regarding the alien life form that is moving from character to character. The pseudo-mutinous gathering (Riker and Crusher) is a bit daring, but they really were between a rock and a hard place. I must try to find out what the special effects cost in this one. The effect that occurred with around fifteen or twenty minutes to go (on the Bridge) must have cost a bundle, but I really don't know. As I mentioned in a previous post, a few years ago, when we visited our local museum, there was a Star Trek exhibit. In it, one of these aliens was represented (as well as several other first and second season species). I suppose these seasons were rather well-represented because they (TPTB that created the figures for the exhibit) had much more time to develop and fine-tune their 'artifacts.' Anyway, the make-up on all of the species was quite convincing (both in the episode and in the exhibit). Oh, and I miss Yar. She knows she shouldn't have left the show. I wish she had stuck it out for at least one more season; I'm guessing she would have been there for the seven-year run had she done that. Here is the effect I'm speaking of in the episode: 
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| Franko | Oct 4 2007, 10:52 PM Post #8 |
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Shower Moderator
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Good stuff, Fes. I actually never really thought that the "entity" was malicious, even from the beginning. Still like the soundtrack. Did you know that the first time I saw this ep was on Halloween night? One of my local TV stations used to replay TNG episodes again at midnite during the first couple of seasons. Capped off a very enjoyable Halloween evening; so I guess maybe that's why I have a nostalgic thing for this episode. |
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| Fesarius | Oct 5 2007, 09:57 AM Post #9 |
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Admiral
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Franko, I'm still keeping an ear out for that music we discussed before (that which is similar to the crescendo in Where No Man Has Gone Before and The Lights of Zetar).
Coolness. I'm already planning our Halloween film and t.v. episode viewing for late October. We will be watching Phantom of the Megaplex tonight--not too scary, but a fun Disney film for the children and their parents. And required viewing includes the original House On Haunted Hill (1959). 
I seem to have nostalgia for Trek and Halloween.
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| Franko | Oct 5 2007, 09:12 PM Post #10 |
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Shower Moderator
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:lol: What classic horror film from that era would be complete without Vincent Price ? |
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| Fesarius | Oct 5 2007, 09:50 PM Post #11 |
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Admiral
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^^^ Franko, I love Vincent Price. I've seen many of his films, and I esp. love those that were Poe-themed. I also liked the Dr. Phibes trilogy. BTW, did you know that the original House On Haunted Hill had some gadgets (skeletons and pullies) that were actually used in some theaters during the climactic skeleton/acid scene? From what I've read, a skeleton was hoisted up and it moved over the audiences back in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I would love to have been there at one of those showings. |
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