Parallels (7x11) November 29,1993
Worf is caught in a timey/sciency/ type thing and traveling through several different realities. In a couple of them Picard has died in the encounter with the Borg. In a couple Worf is married to Troi , the episode where Worf had spinal surgery is mentioned. This is about the only episode of this series where I thought this could have been on the original series.This is a real stand out episode.
So there are different time lines out there,interesting....
The Pegasus (7x12) January 10,1994
The episode where everything worked .....
The Opening scene is one of the best in the series to date. Picard is judging pictures for "Captain Picard Day".Riker picks up a doll and does an imitation of Picard. Picard takes an emergency transmission, the Admiral asks about the banner reading "Captain Picard Day" , he smiles and says "It's seems I am a Role Model."
The Series is one of best constructed episodes of the series. Guest Star Terry Quinn is Riker's first Captain on board The Pegasus, the ship is believed to lost, but isn't. Mystery surrounds the episode, secret cargo,Mutiny and the fact the Romulans are very interested in the area. The Cat and Mouse game that ensues is one of the best,no surprise Ronald D. Moore is the writer of the episode.
Homeward (7x13) January 17,1994
Worf's human brother played by Paul Sorvino. It has been a while since there was a Prime Directive/First Contact episode, these have been some of the most thoughful/interesting episodes of the series. The way of getting around the Directive is unique as a camp is taken to the holodeck as their planet dies and they are moved to a similar planet. I think the concept, credit to William N. Stape,Spike Steingasser and Naren Shanker as the writers. As the series is coming to an end, I realize this might be the last Prime Directive episode, I can not help but wonder why it was not used more often.
Sub Rosa (7x14) January 31,1994
The Writers have never really tried to scare us. Dr. Crusher goes home for her Grandmother's funeral. She lived on a terraformed planet that was modeled on Scotland. The head of the village tells Picard that the cornerstone of every building came from Edinburgh. Beverly ends up being haunted by an 800 year ghost that also haunted her Grandmother. This is a really enjoyable episode.
Lower Decks (7x15) February 7,1994
167 episodes in. I feel safe in saying with 11 episodes to go in the series that this is my favorite. It would fit in well in today's golden age of drama. It was sited as an influence by Russell T Davies who brought back Doctor Who about 10 years later.It has everything I am looking for, references to an earlier episode (The First Duty 5x19), it is an original concept, and leaves you with a lasting impression. In order to write about the episode and why it works, I will have give spoilers.
The Earlier episode, disciplinary action was taken against a group of cadets in the death of another cadet. Sito Jaxa,a Bajorian was one those involved, she was later assigned to The Enterprise.
The Original concept, the entire episode really takes place from the POV of these Junior Officers hoping for promotion. These are the people walking the hallways and occupying ten forward when the main characters come in.
It fits into the golden age of drama because of the plotting, everything seems to be a test for Sito, something is going on but the Junior officers don't have enough information to know the whole picture. The attempts of the officers to stick out for promotion are awkward,funny and endearing.
There is a wonderful middle section of the episode where The officers are playing poker and gossiping about the Junior Officers,meanwhile the Junior Officers are playing poker and gossiping. One of the Junior Officers shows up at the Officers game , ready to clean them out he says. I love the poker games, I wish the series had done more of them.
We get to the meat of the episode, a Cardassian has turned traitor and given the federation information, the plan is to return him to Cardassian space with a Bajorian prisoner in a beat up shuttle that Geordi and a Vulcan Jr. Officer ( yes this episode is so good, I forgot to mention we see a Vulcan!) have been making look beat up. Plotting, as I was watching it, I was wondering what they were doing. Sito Jaxa, the daring pilot from the academy will play the prisoner and afterward be sent back into federation space in an escape pod.
The Enterprise waits and searches for the pod for 30 hours, they break a treaty with the Cardassians by sending out a probe. Finally Picard makes a general announcement she is dead.The final scene has Worf who had recommended her for promotion sitting in ten forward at one end and the Junior Officers at the other end. Worf walks over. This is the only episode I have shed a tear over. It was beautifully written, the plotting was first rate, the acting by the Junior Officers was great. The Main cast at times stood aside and let the new officers act their part.
I want to credit the writers of this gem René Echevarria who wrote the teleplay of the story by Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias. Last,but not least, the actress Shannon Fill, I was interested to find out what else she had done. Her IMDB page is small, a few TV roles between 1992-95. I did see a signed card of hers from a star trek convention, so I know she has attended a few of those. I hope her life as she passed out of acting has been a good one. She enchanted for two episodes.
Thine Own Self (7x16) February 14,1994
2 plot lines here. One is Troi has decided she wants to become a Bridge Officer. The other Data appears in a village with a briefcase of Radioactive material. He has no memory and the villagers get sick. Interesting episode. It keeps up a really good stream of high quality work.
Masks (7x17) February 21,1994
This is a really strange interesting episode. Picard gets to be an archaeologist of a sort. The Enterprise is slowly taken over by what look like Aztec symbols.I really don't want to write that much about it as it complex, and it is hard to talk about without going into the spoiler zone. I am really becoming disappointed the series is widing down. They just now are figuring out how to write. Yes, a massive Brent Spiner overacting performance once Data begins to experience multiple personalities.
Eye of the Beholder (7x18) February 28,1994
The episode begins with a suicide and somewhere in the middle Troi and Worf spend the night together. It is a psychological episode. The suicide is handled well by the writers. This is maybe the most adult episode of the series. Again the show is going out on a high note. This season is making me miss the series, which even with last season being as good as it was I did not think it was possible.
Genesis (7x19) March 19,1994
The episode is not as epic as previous episodes, but interesting none the less as the crew is returning to primate stages. This is a heavy make up episode.
Journey's End (7x20) March 28,1994
Another very strong episode. There is so much going on here. Wesley Crusher returns and is disillusioned with Star Fleet Academy. Much of the plot involves a new treaty with the Cardassians involved Native Americans being relocated by the Federation.Also The Traveler reappears. The Title I think deals with the end of Wesley on the show. He doesn't died, but spoilers are involved.
Worf is caught in a timey/sciency/ type thing and traveling through several different realities. In a couple of them Picard has died in the encounter with the Borg. In a couple Worf is married to Troi , the episode where Worf had spinal surgery is mentioned. This is about the only episode of this series where I thought this could have been on the original series.This is a real stand out episode.
So there are different time lines out there,interesting....
The Pegasus (7x12) January 10,1994
The episode where everything worked .....
The Opening scene is one of the best in the series to date. Picard is judging pictures for "Captain Picard Day".Riker picks up a doll and does an imitation of Picard. Picard takes an emergency transmission, the Admiral asks about the banner reading "Captain Picard Day" , he smiles and says "It's seems I am a Role Model."
The Series is one of best constructed episodes of the series. Guest Star Terry Quinn is Riker's first Captain on board The Pegasus, the ship is believed to lost, but isn't. Mystery surrounds the episode, secret cargo,Mutiny and the fact the Romulans are very interested in the area. The Cat and Mouse game that ensues is one of the best,no surprise Ronald D. Moore is the writer of the episode.
Homeward (7x13) January 17,1994
Worf's human brother played by Paul Sorvino. It has been a while since there was a Prime Directive/First Contact episode, these have been some of the most thoughful/interesting episodes of the series. The way of getting around the Directive is unique as a camp is taken to the holodeck as their planet dies and they are moved to a similar planet. I think the concept, credit to William N. Stape,Spike Steingasser and Naren Shanker as the writers. As the series is coming to an end, I realize this might be the last Prime Directive episode, I can not help but wonder why it was not used more often.
Sub Rosa (7x14) January 31,1994
The Writers have never really tried to scare us. Dr. Crusher goes home for her Grandmother's funeral. She lived on a terraformed planet that was modeled on Scotland. The head of the village tells Picard that the cornerstone of every building came from Edinburgh. Beverly ends up being haunted by an 800 year ghost that also haunted her Grandmother. This is a really enjoyable episode.
Lower Decks (7x15) February 7,1994
167 episodes in. I feel safe in saying with 11 episodes to go in the series that this is my favorite. It would fit in well in today's golden age of drama. It was sited as an influence by Russell T Davies who brought back Doctor Who about 10 years later.It has everything I am looking for, references to an earlier episode (The First Duty 5x19), it is an original concept, and leaves you with a lasting impression. In order to write about the episode and why it works, I will have give spoilers.
The Earlier episode, disciplinary action was taken against a group of cadets in the death of another cadet. Sito Jaxa,a Bajorian was one those involved, she was later assigned to The Enterprise.
The Original concept, the entire episode really takes place from the POV of these Junior Officers hoping for promotion. These are the people walking the hallways and occupying ten forward when the main characters come in.
It fits into the golden age of drama because of the plotting, everything seems to be a test for Sito, something is going on but the Junior officers don't have enough information to know the whole picture. The attempts of the officers to stick out for promotion are awkward,funny and endearing.
There is a wonderful middle section of the episode where The officers are playing poker and gossiping about the Junior Officers,meanwhile the Junior Officers are playing poker and gossiping. One of the Junior Officers shows up at the Officers game , ready to clean them out he says. I love the poker games, I wish the series had done more of them.
We get to the meat of the episode, a Cardassian has turned traitor and given the federation information, the plan is to return him to Cardassian space with a Bajorian prisoner in a beat up shuttle that Geordi and a Vulcan Jr. Officer ( yes this episode is so good, I forgot to mention we see a Vulcan!) have been making look beat up. Plotting, as I was watching it, I was wondering what they were doing. Sito Jaxa, the daring pilot from the academy will play the prisoner and afterward be sent back into federation space in an escape pod.
The Enterprise waits and searches for the pod for 30 hours, they break a treaty with the Cardassians by sending out a probe. Finally Picard makes a general announcement she is dead.The final scene has Worf who had recommended her for promotion sitting in ten forward at one end and the Junior Officers at the other end. Worf walks over. This is the only episode I have shed a tear over. It was beautifully written, the plotting was first rate, the acting by the Junior Officers was great. The Main cast at times stood aside and let the new officers act their part.
I want to credit the writers of this gem René Echevarria who wrote the teleplay of the story by Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias. Last,but not least, the actress Shannon Fill, I was interested to find out what else she had done. Her IMDB page is small, a few TV roles between 1992-95. I did see a signed card of hers from a star trek convention, so I know she has attended a few of those. I hope her life as she passed out of acting has been a good one. She enchanted for two episodes.
Thine Own Self (7x16) February 14,1994
2 plot lines here. One is Troi has decided she wants to become a Bridge Officer. The other Data appears in a village with a briefcase of Radioactive material. He has no memory and the villagers get sick. Interesting episode. It keeps up a really good stream of high quality work.
Masks (7x17) February 21,1994
This is a really strange interesting episode. Picard gets to be an archaeologist of a sort. The Enterprise is slowly taken over by what look like Aztec symbols.I really don't want to write that much about it as it complex, and it is hard to talk about without going into the spoiler zone. I am really becoming disappointed the series is widing down. They just now are figuring out how to write. Yes, a massive Brent Spiner overacting performance once Data begins to experience multiple personalities.
Eye of the Beholder (7x18) February 28,1994
The episode begins with a suicide and somewhere in the middle Troi and Worf spend the night together. It is a psychological episode. The suicide is handled well by the writers. This is maybe the most adult episode of the series. Again the show is going out on a high note. This season is making me miss the series, which even with last season being as good as it was I did not think it was possible.
Genesis (7x19) March 19,1994
The episode is not as epic as previous episodes, but interesting none the less as the crew is returning to primate stages. This is a heavy make up episode.
Journey's End (7x20) March 28,1994
Another very strong episode. There is so much going on here. Wesley Crusher returns and is disillusioned with Star Fleet Academy. Much of the plot involves a new treaty with the Cardassians involved Native Americans being relocated by the Federation.Also The Traveler reappears. The Title I think deals with the end of Wesley on the show. He doesn't died, but spoilers are involved.
Great blog! Brings back so many memories of writing for the show!
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