Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 7, Episode 16
Original Air Date: February 14, 1994
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| via Memory Alpha |
Data is stranded on Barkon IV. He'd been sent to retrieve radioactive materials from a crashed probe but evidently took a bit of a bump himself as he now has amnesia, not even remembering who he is. He stumbles into a primitive village. The locals welcome him at first but grow wary once several of them become ill soon after he arrives. The radioactive metal is the cause, of course, but Data doesn't remember enough to realize that. In the secondary narrative, Troi wants a promotion to Commander. She struggles to pass the final, engineering portion of the exam.
The A-plot is solid Trek. What happens when our high tech friends - not to mention the "highest tech" among them - encounters a pre-warp civilization, naïve to the perils such an encounter presents? It helps that Data is basically a decent guy, eager to be helpful, especially when people start to get sick.
The B-plot is a wonderful Deanna Troi story. Evidently, there was much criticism at the time for her promotion over Data and Geordi. Why? Because they're in more technical positions? Because more narrative focus has been on Data over the course of the series? Because they're men? Whatever. I grew up near Bethesda, Maryland so I knew a lot of military medical personnel growing up. People in different fields rise through the ranks for different reasons. In truth, we aren't given much in the way of specifics regarding Troi's professional credentials apart from watching her work. There's no reason to doubt she'd ticked all the necessary boxes for promotion apart from passing the exams. The boys just hadn't gotten there yet. That's on them.
One of the great pleasures of a NextGen rewatch is seeing Troi come into her own as a character - and Marina Sirtis as an actor. She's so awkward in the early going: a beautiful woman in flattering clothing. By Season 7, she's a lot more comfortable in her own skin. It's been a journey for several of the principals, to be sure, but I don't think anyone improves more over the course of the series than Deanna.
And bravo for passing the Bechdel Test in "Thine Own Self." Troi's discussion with Dr. Crusher on the bridge has nothing to do with men.
Acting Notes
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| via Memory Alpha |
Ronnie Claire Edwards played the role of Tarul, a teacher and scientist on Barkon IV. Edwards was born in Oklahoma City, February 9, 1933.
She is best known for playing Corabeth Walton Godsey on The Waltons from Seasons 3-9. She was also in the principal cast for Sara, a short-lived Geena Davis vehicle, as well as Boone and Just in Time. Films included Perfect, Nobody's Fool and The Dead Pool.
Edwards passed away in 2016.
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