It's great to see how many people love this show and what it's meant to them. For those considering watching for the first time, maybe it will help to know that Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse are two of my favorite shows of all time. And even though I'm re-watching The Expanse right now, and it couldn't be more different than TNG, I can truly say that The Next Generation is still enjoyable, even watching it back-to-back with The Expanse.
Episode 4: Code of Honor
The Enterprise travels to Ligon II to obtain a rare vaccine needed to avert a plague on another planet. The Logonian leader kidnaps Tasha as part of the traditions of his planet. Eventually she is forced to fight a battle to the death with the wife of the leader in order to gain her freedom and the vaccine.
I don't even know what to think about this episode. As I was watching, I asked myself what the writers were going for. What was this episode about? What were they trying to get across? And why oh why did they feel it important to have Natasha not once, but twice, admit that she found her captor attractive? Yeah, this one wasn't great. When the credits rolled, I found myself shaking my head in confusion.
Episode 5: The Last Outpost
A Ferengi vessel steals an energy unit from a Federation base and the Enterprise pursues. Both ships are rendered immobile as they pass an unknown solar system. Believing each other responsible for the immobility, they discuss surrender. Meanwhile, an Enterprise probe discovers that a force-field on the nearby planet is actually responsible and a joint expedition of Ferengi and Federation personnel, beam down to explore. They encounter a mysterious being known as Portal who presents them a test.
The Next Generation crew is straight up a No Fucks Given crew. This episode opens with the Ferengi turning on the Enterprise and blasting it. Twice. And how does Picard handle it? Cool as a cucumber, just watching the Ferengi ship as if he were watching a pot of water boil, waiting to put his macaroni in. Picard's back-and-forth with the Ferengi on the communicator was good. Knowing nothing about that race from this show, I felt the episode did an overall really good job introducing them. But my favorite part of the episode was when Picard was visiting Beverly. Their ship was low on power, and I assume oxygen running out as well. We see Beverly checking in on children in the darkness of the ship, then we have this exchange:
Picard: "Where's Wesley?"
Beverly: "He's in our quarters. I was tempted to give him a sedative"
Picard: "You shouldn't.
Beverly: "I know, but he's my son. I love him."
Picard: "He has the right to meet death awake."
Beverly: "Is that a male perspective?"
Picard: "Rubbish."
I was distracted by supper so I wasn't sure what was going on with the old man they found on the planet who challenged them to a fight, and wasn't entirely sure who he was. But I loved him challenging Riker to a fight, and Worf stepping forward: "No! For battle, come to me!" Worf's delivery there was aces. He got that deep growl in his voice, and I was like, "Dayum. I wouldn't want to fight that."
My only question so far: what is up with Picard not liking children, or rather, being uncomfortable around them? They brought that up episode 1, and have shown him be snappy with Wesley in another episode. I'm curious if there is something more there, or what was up with that.
