Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 4, Episode 13
Original Air Date: February 4, 1991
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| via Memory Alpha |
Our heroes respond to a distress call on Ventax II. Ardra, a devil-like deity figure, has taken control of the planet and, in turn, manages to ensnare the Enterprise as well. Picard believes Ardra is an impostor and sets out to prove it.
The episode is both praised and criticized for echoing The Original Series. Kirk and company encounter a godlike con artist in "Who Mourns for Adonis," for instance. The similarity is not coincidental. The story for "Devil's Due" was originally intended for Star Trek: Phase II, a never-launched sequel series in the late '70s. This is not the greatest episode, especially after two such strong ones, but I rather like seeing Picard work his way through a Kirk story. Plus the courtroom scenes are genuinely fun, especially the interplay between Picard and Data, who is chosen by both sides as a neutral arbiter.
It certainly doesn't hurt that Marta DuBois is glamorously beautiful.
Acting Notes
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| via Magnum, PI Wiki |
Marta DuBois played the role of Ardra. She was born December 15, 1952 in David, Chiriqui, Panama. Most of her acting work was in television. She was the female lead in the TV movie series McBride and also had a recurring role on Magnum, P.I. In addition to Trek, her guest appearances include The A-Team, L.A. Law and Matlock.
DuBois passed away in 2018 of a brain aneurysm.
Oh yes, I remember this one and thought it a bit...stupid. Like you, I like how Picard handles the situation but it is not a strong episode.
ReplyDeleteNot my favorite but not terrible either.
DeleteI always enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely fun moments.
DeleteHated this episode! Yes, I'm reading more into this story that there actually was but I just couldn't buy into a supposedly intelligent population falling victim to such a scam.
ReplyDeleteWell low and behold November 2016 happens, then four years where we have a megalomaniac as POTUS, then a violent insurrection at the Capitol. All that forced me to reconsider the plausibility of Devil's Due.
Haha! Good point.
DeleteI don't remember this episode at all. Maybe it's one I haven't seen! Too bad it isn't a good one, lol.
ReplyDeleteIt is not especially memorable.
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