Here we are, starting the sixth season of TNG:
- First, let's finish off "Time's Arrow". Data is in the 19th century with Guinan, and Mark Twain is blabbing to a reporter about it. We cut to Riker and Crusher, now in the 19th century as well (and apparently having stolen period clothing). They determine the "greys" are killing cholera victims and absorbing their death energy for sustenance. The bellman helps Twain break into Data's hotel room. The bellman wants Twain to write his story, but Twain tells him to write it himself. We learn the bellman is Jack London. Data and Guinan arrive and find Twain. In a hospital ward, Crusher runs into the Victorian couple, but they zap out. Our heroes almost get nabbed by the cops when Data arrives in a carriage to whisk them off. There's a goofy scene with a landlady and a fake play. The full away team--along with Twain--make it to cavern where they found Data's head. The Victorian couple appear--there's a struggle--and off goes Data's head. The group runs through another vortex--including Twain but without Picard, Guinan, and one of the Victorian couple. They wind up in the same cavern in the 24th century--with Data's headless body. Back in the older cave, Guinan has been injured. 24th century Guinan refuses to tell Riker what happened back then. Troi accompanies Twain around the ship, explaining how things have changed. They debate whether to destroy the cave, but we've learned that won't work. Gerodi finds an iron filing in Data's head--Picard left it there as a message to the future, so they don't fire until they rephase the torpedos. Twain goes back to save Picard and help Guinan. The cave is blown up and the "greys" are stopped. Whew! A complicated but silly story.
These entries are getting way too long, so no more plot summaries--just my thoughts and questions.
- Barclay's back in "Realm of Fear". He's got a problem with transporters--he's never been through one. How could he possibly have gotten through Starfleet training without ever doing that? Also, there's a reference in the technobabble to the "Heisenberg Compensator". This is an in-joke used several times on Trek, based on the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. At one point, Troi relieves Barclay of his duties because of all the stress he's under--can she do that without Crusher's OK? It's not like she's a doctor. Finally, how does Barclay see the worm creature during transport--he wouldn't have working eyes (or a brain) when he's dematerialized.
- Troi picks the wrong guy (again) in "Man of the People". She gets old age makeup and becomes quite the "cougar". I love the scene with the ensign in her quarters putting on his boots--the universal sign on Trek for an intimate encounter. There's also a scene with an Ensign "Janeway". Finally, when Troi de-ages at the end, her hair immediately turns back to black--how does that work?
- We have another encounter with TOS in "Relics"--Scotty beams in after sitting in a transporter pattern buffer for 75 years. The Enterprise crew seem unimpressed and mostly ignore him--surely someone (Troi?) would be trying to help him acclimate to the new century? There is a nice callback to an alcoholic beverage that's "green". Another nice touch--at one point, Scotty goes onto the old bridge via holodeck. In the end, he's given a shuttle and heads out into space.
- The crew are having problems sleeping in "Schisms". Troi holds a group therapy session with Riker, Worf, Geordi, and an unnamed crewman who is not mentioned again. There's a wacky scene with Data giving a poetry recital that seems like it was written for Season One. The episode turns into an alien abduction story, with Riker "taken" via a poor visual effect.
- Q is back--in this case, "True Q". Olivia d'Abo guest stars as a medical honor student, and as it turns out, a member of the Q Continuum who wants a normal life. Of course, our regular Q shows up as well. I love how Picard has to act "civil" to him in front of her. Crusher gets a big part on this episode. At one point, the two Q's hang out on the outer hull. When the female Q does her tricks, I kept being reminded of Samantha on Bewitched.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is available on Netflix--more to come!