Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 3, Episode 6
Original Air Date: October 30, 1989
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| via Memory Alpha |
Curiosity killed the cat, and very nearly the Enterprise and her crew. While investigating an ancient battle cruiser, our friends become ensnared in the same trap that doomed it centuries before. Creative engineering solutions are required pronto. Geordi enlists the help of a holographic partner, a holodeck approximation of Dr. Leah Brahms, the original designer of the Enterprise's warp drive.
"Booby Trap" is a Geordi episode. Those don't come along very often. La Forge may be the most easily relatable character in the entire cast: a kind and slightly goofy guy who's also damn good at his job. Great with tech, clumsy with women - very human. I greatly admire his ability to keep a cool head in a tense situation, not so different from his Captain in that regard. But he doesn't get to take the lead too often. Far more likely, he's the sidekick in a Data story: indeed, the Watson to Data's Holmes, Pinocchio's Jiminy Cricket, Wooster's Jeeves. This time, we get to appreciate the Chief Engineer for his own desires and vulnerabilities.
And, of course, I am gradually realizing they're all good Picard stories. It's Geordi's episode but Jean-Luc still gets his badass moment to seal the deal.
Acting Notes
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| via Memory Alpha |
Susan Gibney (Brahms) was born September 11, 1961 in Manhattan Beach, California, though she grew up in Webster, New York. She went to Buffalo State College as an undergrad, then got an MFA from Yale School of Drama.
Gibney has a long history with Star Trek, though not all of it exactly successful. This is her first of two appearances as Dr. Brahms in TNG, then she had two appearances on DS9. She was considered, though not hired, for both Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine on Voyager and also the Borg Queen in First Contact.
Naturally, there is life beyond Trek and her television credits are numerous, including recurring roles on Diagnosis: Murder and Crossing Jordan plus main roles on The Fearing Mind and Happy Family.
I remember this episode because of Geordi and his poor luck with women. I liked this woman because she is a strong character.
ReplyDeletePlus, she comes back! That one's fun, too.
DeleteVague familiarity...
ReplyDeleteOkay.
DeleteThe real impact of a La Forge spotlight (I want to name him that way because it was pointed out to me at some point it’s weird to call him Geordi when no one else is called by their first name) is that, especially with “Booby Trap” it’s a spotlight for a smart character we get to see being smart (which isn’t necessarily some kind of murder or medical mystery, which is how we normally see it on TV). Essentially, Next Generation supersized the smarts of Kirk’s crew, which usually revolves around him, Spock, Bones (and sometimes Scotty). At their best Picard’s crew got to showcase their collective smarts. Even Data would assimilate into the mix rather than show off.
ReplyDeleteAll of which makes Discovery a particularly good way to watch Star Trek, especially its early second season. At this point the show really began to revel in having a roomful of smart people to draw from. The best episode of the season, “An Obol for Charon,” is of course also a good way to see this in action.
Good point, re: Geordi/La Forge. I thought of that, too, as I was writing. However, I wouldn't say he's unique among the TNG cast in that regard. I think of Deanna before Troi, Tasha before Yar, Wesley before Crusher (though that also distinguishes him from his mother, whom I think of as Doctor Crusher first). He's mostly Geordi in-story, too. I think it contributes, in some ways, to an easy familiarity one feels with the character - big part of his appeal. In fact, I would say he is referred to by rank or job more often than as La Forge. That said, there are admittedly troubling implications. Hmm. I'll need to think about that.
DeleteSupersized the smarts: I like that. It also speaks to Picard's (thoughtfully written and acted) brand of leadership. Allow your subordinates to lead with their strengths. Acknowledge all perspectives as valid, especially when they differ from your own. It's their job to make the case. It's your job to make the difficult, imperfect choice.
Again, Picard's Enterprise is a great place to work (even though Roddenberry's Star Trek wasn't always).
Also: Q’s first name? P :p
DeleteWell yes, there are all the mononyms, too: Worf, Data, Q, Guinan...
DeleteAlways enjoy your Acting Notes.
ReplyDeleteHow is your school/classes ?
Things are going well. Vermont's numbers are still low, which helps. In fact, we're increasing in-person instruction soon, beginning with the youngest kids.
DeleteHow are you?
So far so good. I am very lucky.
DeleteMy children will not let me go anywhere. They shop wipe down the food cook dinners and lunch. I have only started going back to the doctors. Very strange.
I have been pretty much house bound for the last 5 years so no big change here.
Glad to hear they're taking good care of you.
DeleteGreat episode! One of my favorites of all science fiction is any story dealing with extinct civilizations.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason I really liked this episode was how they incorporated the gravity assist with the asteroid to get out of the trap. I can easily imagine how an advanced civilization with things like impulse and warp drive would overlook such a technique.
The slingshot move is awesome!
DeleteI also enjoy the episodes where you can see the archaeology light go off above Picard's head.
The beauty of the science in this episode is the lightspeed breakaway factor which Picard gleams from Geordi via the holodeck. Kickstarting the Enterprise engines and shutting everything down to let the ship coast out of the "trap" might not be enough but its like Beach Bum says this where the gravity assist kicks in when Picard boosts the ships momentum using the asteroid! Sweet.
ReplyDeleteYup. Like I said, they're all great Picard episodes.
Delete