– I figure that for $120 Canadian a shot, I might as well start reviewing these badboys and making it seem like Paramount isn’t totally cleaning out my bank account at will.
For those who don’t know, I’m pretty much a diehard Trek fan, but only as far as TNG. Once Gene Roddenberry died, the evil tandem of Braga/Berman pretty much lost my viewing dollars with DS9 and Voyager, and it’s only recently that I’ve started watching a Trek series on a regular basis again, with Enterprise. Watching TNG slowly fade near the end of the run was pretty painful to see, but not as painful as watching ANY episode of Voyager. But hey, being the sucker that I am, I’ve bought all 5 season sets of the TNG so far, with another couple of hundred likely to be dropped in December. So on Thursday I finally got around to watching “Best of Both Worlds” (which I had been holding off watching again until I got both the 3rd and 4th season sets), and on the same disc as part two, there’s also the excellent “Family” and “Brothers” episodes. Pretty soon, I was two discs into season 4, and by Saturday morning I was ¾ of the way through the entire season. So I figured hell, if I’m investing 20 hours of viewing time in this thing, might as well write a review. And you know what? Watching the entirety of season 4 again reminded me of the reasons why I loved Next Gen so much, and made me want to watch season 5 right after.
The Film
Star Trek: The Next Generation’s fourth season begins with the resolution of one of the greatest cliffhangers in TV history, as Capt. Picard has been captured by the Borg and is acting as their spokesperson, although not by his will. You may ask yourself why a species whose entire strategy revolves around hitting their target with wave after wave of mindless drones until they surrender would suddenly use spokespeople, but then that would probably reduce the drama somewhat. The fourth season, from there, focuses on the crew and their lives outside of just being Starfleet officers. It’s all about the character development, and you can pretty much call this year “Everyone on the ship except for Geordi LaForge gets laid”. And that includes the android. Whereas the first three seasons were about a show trying to find its own look and direction outside of the original Star Trek universe, this season saw a more confident group of writers experimenting with what a sci-fi show could do and say, as well as building a bigger storyline, foreshadowing the serial nature of Deep Space Nine, about Worf’s family problems and how they related to a Klingon civil war and the Romulans’ involvement therein. Generally speaking, when you ask casual fans of the show what their favorite episodes and memories of the show were, many of them will come from this season, which I consider the best of the entire 7-year run of the show. Episodes are, in PROPER order (as opposed to broadcast order)
Disc One:
– The Best of Both Worlds, Part Two. As noted, this is the season premiere and picks up with acting Captain Riker and obnoxious bitch Commander Shelby (who Peter David later revived and turned into a likeable person for the “New Frontier” books) trying to destroy a Borg ship that’s housing Locutus (the evil name for the kidnapped Picard). This one had a lot of intrigue among fans, as far as cliffhangers go, because no one was exactly sure if they were gonna kill off Picard or what. With the Enterprise’s initial plan turning into a failure, the body count grows as the Borg get closer to Earth, leaving a trail of dead ships in their wake. In the end, only good old Star Trek technobabble can save the day. Sadly, Wesley Crusher was not among the victims of the Borg. Overall, a bit of the letdown from the season finale, but still among the best episodes of the show. Sex count: None, although Picard is mentally raped by the Borg.
– Family. With the Enterprise in dry dock for repair, Picard visits his estranged brother and nephew on Earth, Wesley longs to meet his father, and Worf goes through the embarrassment of having his Russian (and human, obviously) adoptive parents visiting the ship. Much like most of the season, this is one of those episodes where the only crisis is internal, and that makes for a remarkably strong episode that is among my favorites to watch, mainly for Patrick Stewart flexing his acting muscles as a man broken down by the enemy and desperately needing to get away for a while. Sex count: None.
– Brothers. Aka “Brent Spiner’s Dream Episode”, as he gets to play three different roles and act wildly eccentric in two of them. Boring galactic crisis du jour: A little kid is sick and needs to be rushed to a Starbase. BORING. The real meat of the episode is Data getting recalled home by a homing beacon implanted years ago by the not-quite-dead Noonian Soong, the man who created him. However, the same homing beacon is also implanted in Data’s evil twin, Lore, and wackiness ensues. Brent Spiner plays all three roles, of course, making for some rather obvious camera tricks. This episode is historic for introducing the “emotion chip”, a throwaway plot device that turned up once more in the sixth season, and then finally returned for good in the TNG movie “Generations”, as Data finally got to feel like a real live boy. Sex count: None.
– Suddenly Human. This was the second episode broadcast in 1990, but the fourth produced, and one of the weakest of the season. Again, no big crisis to face. The Enterprise finds a Talerian ship drifting in space, manned by Backstreet Boys. One of them happens to be human, so they take him on board and wouldn’t you know, he bonds with Picard, and pretty soon his “real” dad is sending angry messages at the ship demanding his return. Rather hum-drum stuff, to be sure. Sex count: None, unless you believe the allegations of abuse by the medical staff.
Disc Two:
– Remember Me. A rather more cerebral episode, as Dr. Crusher gets trapped in a warp bubble while thinking about how people in her life keep dying, and discovers that the crew seems to be disappearing before her eyes. Notable for the return of the Traveler, and Wesley saving the day again. Despite that, I rather enjoy this episode and the puzzle it presents. Sex count: None.
– Legacy. Another stinker, as we meet Tasha Yar’s family and the crew gets involved in a civil war. Sex count: None.
– Reunion. The start of the seasons-long storyline involving Worf and his problems on the Klingon homeworld, as his wife K’Ehleyr returns with his son. Whoops. Can a Klingon warrior be a tactical officer AND a daddy? Sounds like a sitcom pilot, but once the plot turns to possible Romulan conspiracies while Picard is forced to mediate a contest between Duras and Gowron for the Klingon leadership, things pick up, and when K’Ehleyr ends up dead as a result of Duras being a sore loser, you know the shit is gonna hit the fan. Sex count: Much like Magnum PI, Worf gets it on with the babe, and she gets stabbed to death. I guess Klingons don’t like calling the next day, either.
– Future Imperfect. More mindgames, as Riker wakes up from an away mission 20 years in the future, as Captain of the Enterprise. But things are not what they seem, and his kid is more annoying than Wesley. Sex count: None.
Disc Three:
– Final Mission. Rejoice, for Wesley Crusher is banished to the Academy and we only have to put up with one more episode where he saves the day. Picard and Wesley fly down for a routine mission, but get stranded on a desert planet where once again Wesley has to save Picard’s life. I don’t know how the guy survived once he left the show. Sex count: None.
– The Loss. Marina Sirtis gets to flex her overacting muscles as a silly plot involving two-dimensional things surrounding the Enterprise acts as an excuse for Troi to lose her empathic powers. Troi apparently gets a wicked case of interstellar PMS, bitching out anyone within earshot and generally acting like a huge snot. Sadly, by the end of the show her powers were restored and she was back to making valuable observations, like “I sense great anger” or “How do YOU feel about that?”. But I guess everyone had character development shows written into their contract or something. In the end, the ship is saved from being sucked into a giant cosmic vagina and everyone forgives her for being such a bitch. Sex count: None, although god knows Troi sounded like she could have used some.
– Data’s Day. One of the most fun episodes of the season, again thanks to Brent Spiner, as Data relates a day in the life of an android: Helping O’Brien and Keiko prepare for their wedding, stealing the show in a dance number with Crusher, and learning the proper way to smile while doing the waltz. There’s of course the requisite tacked-on crisis in the background, but it’s all about the wedding in this one, and Data episodes are almost always good stuff. Sex count: Well, I’d HOPE O’Brien could take it to the hole on his wedding night.
– The Wounded. Two historic first appearances here: The Cardassians appear for the first time, and lazy Star Trek writers swipe a plot from “Moby Dick” for the first time. I didn’t even remember watching this one the first time, but it’s a REAL good one, as a renegade starship Captain goes on a headhunting run against the Cardassians who killed his family years before. Is he a hero or a vigilante? Sadly it becomes a bit too cut-and-dried by the end, but you’re wondering which way Picard is gonna lean for most of the episode. Sex count: None.
Disc Four:
– Devil’s Due. Another Brent-and-Patrick special, as they desperately try to under-act each other against the backdrop of a flim-flam story — a woman comes to a planet claiming to be a devil named Ardra, enforcing a deal made with the natives 1000 years before, and bringing 24th century magic tricks to back up her claim. A trial is set, with Data as judge and Picard as lawyer, and some classic low-key acting from Spiner results. As a story, nothing great, but the Ardra character is suitably over-the-top and everyone is into the fun. Sex count: None, although Ardra uses some pretty skimpy outfits to seduce Picard.
– Clues. This is another one I didn’t recall seeing the first time, and it’s a really solid one. The ship passes through a wormhole and they’re knocked out for 30 seconds or is it more? The only person who knows for sure is Data, and he’s strangely silent on the matter. A great little detective story, and the prologue with Dixon Hill provides Whoopi Goldberg and Patrick Stewart with their chance to have some fun with their characters. Sex count: None.
– First Contact. Not to be confused with the eighth movie, this is the story of Area 51, told from the viewpoint of the aliens. Sort of. Riker is stranded on a prospective Federation world while doing recon work, and Picard decides to initiate first contact a little early. Things go downhill from there as Riker’s bizarre appendages (with FIVE fingers!) threaten to set off mass hysteria among the locals. Sex count: Riker the Man-Whore gets it on with guest alien Bebe Neuwirth in order to escape the hospital.
– Galaxy’s Child. Two major plotlines in this one, as the Enterprise accidentally kills a giant space bug, only to discover that her offspring thinks that Enterprise is mama. One of the funnier moments for Picard results, as they refer to the child as “Junior”, causing Data to wonder if that is going to be the official designation for the creature. Picard’s emphatic “NO!” is great for a laugh. In the other thread, Geordi is delighted to learn that his holo-fantasy, Dr. Leah Brahms, is coming on-board for real. Sadly, she turns out to be both a bitch, and married, and it’s back to Braille porn for him. Sex count: LaForge? Yeah right.
Disc Five:
– Night Terrors. Major creepy one here, as the Enterprise gets stuck in the middle of space after finding another ship filled with dead bodies and paranoid personal logs. Soon they too find that sleep seems to be eluding them, and things start going bump in the night until everyone on the ship is ready to go insane. Particularly Troi. Check out the Dolby 5.1 on this one, as Riker hears things coming out the right rear speaker while entering his cabin. Sex count: None, although Riker finds snakes in his bed, and god knows he’s never been picky before.
– Identity Crisis. The episode that signaled the rise to power of Brannon Braga as a writer and doomed us all. Geordi meets an old crewmate to investigate disappearing people on a planet they visited years before, and pretty soon they discover themselves glowing in the dark more frequently than is probably healthy. A weird and creepy episode, to be sure. Sex count: None, although all the aliens were naked so maybe Geordi scored while on the planet.
– The Nth Degree. Geek hero Barkley returns, as the writers swipe “Flowers for Algernon” and update it for Star Trek. Hit with a flash of light from a probe, Barkley suddenly finds himself with a 1500 IQ and some REALLY good pickup lines. He uses his newfound powers to link up with the ship itself rather than score with all the female crewmembers. Some people have no priorities. Sex count: None, although Troi deliberately ducked the question when a jealous Riker asked if Barkley’s “rather good” pass attempt worked.
– QPid. Hands down one of the funniest episodes of the series, as Picard’s part-time lover and full-time con artist Vash returns, and a grateful Q decides to send everyone to Sherwood Forest to thank Picard for saving his life last time he stopped by. Michael Dorn steals the show as an uncomfortable Worf (“Sir, I must protest I am NOT a merry man!”) while Picard fits right in as Robin Hood. Swashbuckling follows. Sex count: Vash gets around, as she does the nasty with Picard to start and leaves with Q at the end.
Disc Six:
– The Drumhead. This time we steal from every courtroom drama of the past 20 years, as a routine investigation involving a Klingon guest’s possible sabotage turns into a kangaroo court intended to prove Picard has been consorting with the Romulans. As an episode it’s not bad, although once Picard goes into his speech about tramping on freedoms you might as well have the American flag waving in the background. Sex count: None.
– Half a Life. The Enterprise helps an alien scientist formulate a way to revive a star by shooting a torpedo into it, but things are complicated twice over: Once by the arrival of Lwaxana Troi, as she sets her sights on the poor scientist, and once by the fact that on his homeworld you’re expected to commit suicide at age 60 in order to control the population and he’s 59 and 351 days old. A preachy “respect the elderly” episode which is nevertheless hilarious whenever Majel Barrett is on-screen as Troi’s horny mother. Sex count: Lwaxana beds the scientist, but he dies at the end. Lot of that going around.
– The Host. First appearance of the Trill, as Beverly Crusher has a torrid love affair with a visiting ambassador, only to discover that in fact there’s more in his pants than she bargained for. An entire second creature, in fact, which lives inside him as a symbiote. When the host body dies, Riker has to take over in order to save a delicate negotiation, until a new host can arrive. Sex count: Beverly does it with the ambassador several times, and again when Riker is acting as the host! Oddly enough, in real life she was 7 months pregnant while shooting his show. No wonder.
– The Mind’s Eye. LaForge, while on the way to Risa the pleasure planet and GUARANTEED sex, gets kidnapped by the Romulans and programmed to kill a Klingon diplomat instead, as they steal from “The Manchurian Candidate”. Only well-timed technobabble allows Data to figure out what’s going on, although it’s pretty neat to see Geordi efficiently solving his own crime, completely unaware that he’s looking for himself. And in the shadows, the first menacing appearance of Sela, as her face isn’t shown yet. Sex count: None, although Geordi has implanted memories of getting laid on Risa. If only the Romulans had programmed him with better pickup lines.
Disc Seven:
– In Theory. The first ep directed by Patrick Stewart sees Data bringing new meaning to “love machine”, as he gets involved in a relationship with a female crewmember, and once again gets to play it WAY over the top. His pillow talk is something to behold, as is Picard’s skillful avoidance of giving advice to Data. The lame crisis in the background involves a nebula punching holes in the Enterprise, but Data putting the moves on a woman with mechanical precision is worth the price of admission on this one. Sex count: Data presumably makes sweet android love down by the fire, as backed up by his admission in “Star Trek: First Contact” that he had sex 7 years before the movie takes place.
– Redemption, Part One. The season wraps up with Worf trying to win back his family’s honor via the new Klingon leader, Gowron, and a little old-fashioned extortion. As Worf struggles to figure out if he’s a Klingon or a Starfleet officer first, we meet evil Romulan Sela who looks suspiciously like Tasha Yar. TO BE CONTINUED! Sex count: Everyone is too busy trying to kill each other to have sex.
Overall, I think season four is the best of the bunch and really defined the entire Star Trek franchise for years to come. Enterprise in particular feels like something crafted during the fourth season of TNG, with a blend of humor and adventure. Unfortunately, TNG pretty much peaked with the fourth season and never really reached those heights again.
The Video:
As good as 10 year old TV material is gonna look. Unfortunately one side-effect of the super high resolution of DVD is that the cheap green-screen and CGI effects look incredibly cheesy and fake when viewed on such high-quality media. Other than that, colors are bright, the picture is noise-free and without compression artifacts for the most part, and contract is always good — the black of space is a good solid black. No complaints here at all.
The Audio:
Kudos to Paramount for the excellent job of remixing everything in full 5.1. This is the treatment that the show needed all along — surrounds are used for everything from space battles to mysterious noises in the background to music. The subwoofer rumbles throughout the shows to represent the ever-present engines of the ship. Dialogue is crisp and clear and the sound is aggressive without being overpowering. I’d say this is a better sound mix than many movies I’ve heard on DVD. Great job on this season, and all the others.
The Extras:
This kind of depends on where you bought the set from. Future Shop here in Canada offers a special 8-disc set, which includes a bonus disc that has two extra featurettes on it. The standard extras comprise about 90 minutes of featurettes and interviews about the fourth season, covering everything from guest stars to major plot points to writing problems to designing props and backgrounds. As I noted, the bonus DVD includes another 20 minutes of stuff, covering ship designs and Gates McFadden’s pregnancy. While a commentary track would have been nice on a few of the episodes, the featurettes pretty much cover everything you’d need to know about the behind-the-scenes stuff and are a satisfying addition to the season.
Ratings:
The Film: *****
The Video: ***1/2
The Audio: *****
The Extras: ***
