Star Trek: The Measure of a Man

Episode: "The Measure of a Man"
Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2, Episode 9
Original Air Date: February 13, 1989

via Memory Alpha

Commander Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy), a cyberneticist, has come aboard the Enterprise with the intention of stealing Data away so he can dismantle him for study.  Data attempts to resign from Starfleet in order to decline the transfer order but Maddox fights it.  In a legal hearing with the JAG - Captain Philippa Luvios, another old flame of Jean Luc's - Picard argues for Data's rights as a sentient being to make his own choices.  As second-in-command, Riker is assigned to argue for Maddox, an awkward position to say the least.

"The Measure of a Man" is a popular choice for all-time best lists and has, in fact, been called TNG's first truly great episode.  It is certainly one with reach beyond Star Trek.  The parallel drawn to human slavery provides a provocative historical perspective, of course.  Additionally, the story has been referenced in real-world computer ethics academia.  Within big-franchise sci-fi, I perceive influence - from Data in general and from "The Measure of a Man" specifically - on The Clone Wars.  As I have written before (here, among several posts), the most interesting stories in that series revolve around the plight of the clone troopers themselves in their complicated relationship with the Jedi who lead them.  The issues are rarely if ever confronted as directly as they are regarding Data but the moral tension is implied throughout.  Perhaps the episode "The Deserter" relates most closely.

As for being the best so far, it's a strong candidate but not a slam dunk for me.  In "Elementary, Dear Data," I find Moriarty to be a more appealing adversary than Maddox and nothing in "The Measure of a Man" offers the same visual dazzle as the Sherlock Holmes-scape of the earlier story.  However, this week's episode presents the strongest statement yet for the moral compass of TNG - certainly compatible with TOS's but different in important ways.  With the more developed principal characters, TNG allows for a deeper exploration of the challenges for the individual in a pluralistic society.  Data's arc has, to this point, brought the most opportunities for such questions but we've seen it with others, too: Worf reconciling his Klingon identity with the life he has lived among humans, Geordi's conflicted feelings about his disability, Deanna's choice to keep her baby as well as her sense of responsibility to her family and culture, Beverly's parenting challenges and so forth.  For TOS, the moral dilemmas generally revolve around confronting the new.  In TNG, while we still get the awkward alien encounters from time to time, the more interesting stories involve our heroes' struggles with more personal matters.  While the specific threat to Data's autonomy is new in this story, the prejudices behind it are not.

Game Notes

The story opens with a poker game, the first of many over the TNG run.  These games offer important character insights and critical lessons for Data in understanding human nature.  This time, Data falls for a bluff by Riker, greatly confusing for our favorite android.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Amanda McBroom (Captain Luvois) was born August 9, 1947 in Woodland Hills, California.  While she has numerous acting credits, she is more accomplished as a musician, especially as a songwriter, particularly as the writer of "The Rose," the Bette Midler classic.  The song brought a Golden Globe award for McBroom and a Grammy for Midler:

Squid Mixes: Trinidad Sour

 
A Trinidad Sour is an unusual cocktail for the fact that it uses the bitters as the base liquor.  Bitters are, after all, potently alcoholic: 44.7% in the case of Angostura.  However, the flavor is so intense that a little bit is usually plenty.  Invented by Giuseppe Gonzalez, bartender at Brooklyn's Clover Club at the time, the Trinidad Sour calls for a full 1.5 oz of Angostura bitters.  For reference, that's approximately 16 times what I typically put in a Manhattan and I love my bitters!  Even the Gin and Bitters from last week only uses a teaspoon.  For that matter, there are only 4 ounces in a standard bottle, usually enough to last a hobbyist years.  The recipe I found on Punch also includes orgeat syrup, lemon juice and rye whiskey.

"Wow!" was my wife's initial, wide-eyed reaction.  It's definitely interesting - a bit chewy in texture, I would say.  There's an awful lot of flavors going on.  The bitters are strong and the almond, lemon and rye aren't exactly shy either.  I don't know if I'd want one again.  A major aspect of this hobby is ingredient management and that's an awful lot of bitters to devote to one drink.  My wife, though?  She was impressed, so maybe.  If so, we might need to start buying Angostura two bottles at a time.


Squid on the Vine

Our most recent wine class was an Old Country-New Country comparison.  The four bottles up for examination: 

Vincent Mothe, Chablis Chardonnay 2017
Pale
Medium+ aroma, ripe pear.
Off-dry, a little sour.
My rating: 8.0

Presqu'ile Winery, Presqu'ile Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
My rating: 8.0

Bruno Colin, Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2016
Medium color, chubby legs
Delicate, buttery, cat pee aroma
Dry
My rating: 8.0

Failla, Floodgate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Medium color, chubby legs
Less delicate aroma than the Burgundy
Dry
High acidity
My rating: 8.0

I'm ready for more surgical strikes with wine, to pursue the varieties I prefer: Alsatian rielsings an vinho verdes for the whites along with the spicier reds.

Marvel Immersion Project: Silver Surfer #12-17

I'll be leaving the Silver Surfer soon.   The original solo series only ran for 18 issues.  I'll be moving on to Doctor Strange.  Before I go, a quick tribute to the man who eventually became the primary artist for the Silver Surfer series: 

via Wikipedia

John Buscema was born Giovanni Natale Buscema, December 11, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York.  Beyond The Silver Surfer,  he is best known for his work on The Avengers and over 200 stories featuring Conan the Barbarian.  He died of stomach cancer on January 10, 2002.  He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame the same year.


My Recent Reads

Silver Surfer #12
Originally Published January 1, 1970 (new decade)
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema

via Wikipedia

• Nemesis: The Abomination, summoned by a coven of witches and warlocks, led by Nigel Carruthers
• We learn that among his many talents, the Silver Surfer has healing powers.  What's more, he's willing to use this power to save his own adversaries.

Silver Surfer #13
February 1, 1970
Lee/Buscema

via Marvel Database

• Nemesis: The Doomsday Man

Silver Surfer #14
March 1, 1970
Lee/Buscema

• Crossover: Spider-Man
• We are reminded, Earth's super-hero community still isn't sure what to make of the Surfer.  Spidey sees him as a threat and picks a fight.
• In the course of the battle, the Surfer jeopardizes his own safety to rescue a boy, causing both Spidey and the ordinary human onlookers to reconsider their preconceptions. 

Silver Surfer #15
April 1, 1970
Lee/Buscema

• Crossover: The Fantastic Four
• For the second month in a row, the Surfer shares his cover with another Marvel superhero: the Human Torch this time.  Cancellation was looming.  Sales for the title probably weren't so great at this point.  Leveraging the more established characters was likely an effort to boost the appeal.
• An exploration of the Surfer's deep trust issues.

Silver Surfer #16
May 1, 1970
Lee/Buscema

• Nemesis: Mephisto
• The Surfer's least favorite demon holds Shalla Bal hostage, forcing the Surfer to attack S.H.I.E.L.D., led by Nick Fury.  I learned some interesting history about that character in researching this post.  In 1970, Fury was still white:

via Marvel Database

• When Marvel re-invented Fury for Marvel Unlimited, the character's image was patterned after Samuel L. Jackson, several years before the actor was cast in the role for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

• Meanwhile, in Marvel's main canon storyline, Nick Fury, Jr. is the original Fury's African-American son - naturally, also based on Samuel L. Jackson:

via Wikipedia

Silver Surfer #17
June 1, 1970
Lee/Buscema

• Part 2 of the Mephisto/S.H.I.E.L.D. story
• The Surfer manages to get out of his Faustian bargain, though he still makes a mess of S.H.I.E.L.D. 
• Shalla Bal slips away yet again.
• We are left with a cliffhanger and a tease: the Inhumans will be featured in the next issue.

Star Trek: A Matter of Honor

Episode: "A Matter of Honor"
Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2, Episode 8
Original Air Date: February 6, 1989

via Memory Alpha

Good galactic citizens that they are, the crew are participating in an officer exchange program.  Riker serves on the Pagh, a Klingon ship, while Mendon, a Benzite played by John Putch, is assigned to the Enterprise.  Both storylines explore the challenges and rewards of intercultural contact.

This is the best Riker development story since "11001001."  We see him as a man eager for a challenge and one with both the flexibility and the sense of humor to survive tense exchanges with his Klingon shipmates.  To this point in the series, the characteristic which best defines Riker is his sense of duty.  That quality is strongly tested in this episode as he must reconcile his responsibilities to two different captains.

As I have written before, the best window to another culture apart from language is food, both the fare on offer and the customs and rituals by which it is consumed.  Riker prepares himself for the exchange by gorging upon a wide range of Klingon delicacies at Ten Forward.



While on board the Pagh, Riker's most intimate and meaningful interactions occur in the mess hall.



The gagh is actually long brown noodles, the rokeg blood pie is turnips in pumpkin pie and the pipius claws are chicken feet.  Prop master Alan Sims picked up most of the necessary ingredients at an Asian grocery store. 

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

John Putch was born July 27, 1961 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  He is the son of Jean Stapleton of All in the Family fame, a fact which certainly didn't hurt his own Hollywood career.  After a guest appearance on Mom's show at age 12, legendary producer Norman Lear cast Putch in the recurring role of Bob Norton on One Day at a Time, appearing in 14 episodes over seven seasons.  Since the mid-'80s, Putch has been primarily a director rather than an actor, with numerous credits in both television and independent film.

Putch also played the role of Mordock in "Coming of Age."  In fact, the script pokes fun at the resemblance between the two characters.  Putch was initially flattered to be invited back.  It was only later he realized it was a cost-saving measure: they wouldn't have to redo the Benzite mask if they used the same actor again.

Bitters of the Month: Angostura

Introducing a new series for The Armchair Squid: Bitters of the Month!

Bitters are the wonderful and mysterious third leg of the traditional cocktail combo.  You start with your base liquor: whiskey, vodka, gin, etc.  Then you add your sweetener: often fruit juice, vermouth or a liqueur.  Finally, a dash or three of a concentrated elixir descended from the apothecary's cabinet.  The tiny 4 oz. bottles with the oversized labels are essential bar supplies for the professional and hobbyist alike.  They add the signature accents to such classic drinks as the Manhattan, the Old Fashioned, the Zombie, the Sazerac and many others.  Bitters collecting can be a satisfying sub-hobby in itself and it's not so complicated to make one's own.  (I don't think I'm heading in the latter direction just yet but you never know.)

We begin with the old workhorse, Angostura aromatic bitters.  The product was invented by Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a German surgeon general in Simon Bolivar's army.  Siegert first started selling it in 1824.  While the bitters were originally produced in Venezuela, the company has been based in Trinidad since 1875.  Gentian root is the primary flavoring, though the exact recipe is a closely guarded family secret.  Only one person knows the full formula.  It used to be two and they famously weren't allowed to fly together on the same plane for fear both would be killed in a crash.

To kick off the month, I feel it's important to isolate the flavor of the bitters, not always easy in the context of a cocktail and tasting the stuff straight is too overpowering.  I think the best way to manage it is with a Gin and Bitters (read here).  Gin is a particularly nice liquor, in my experience, for enhancing rather than hiding or diluting other flavors.

My wife and I sensed the following characteristics in Angostura bitters:

• Orange peel aroma with floral hints.  To me, it was almost as if I'd licked the outside of an orange.
• Wood.
• Warm like cinnamon.

We'll move on to a particularly bitters-heavy cocktail next week.


Whiskey Battles: George Dickel vs. Jim Beam

With our current $20-30 range champion rye, George Dickel, on sale this month, it was a good time to pit it against the ranking challenger, Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition.  I have decided the Manhattan Test is the only one we really need to determine a winner moving forward as it's the most likely way we'll both consume rye.  The results...

Mixed.  My wife preferred the Manhattan with George Dickel but I preferred the Jim Beam.  The difference to my mind: the Dickel is more bitter, the Beam more fruity.   At full price, the Jim Beam is $2 cheaper.  However, the customer is always right.  So, while I don't think my wife would turn up her nose at a Manhattan made with Jim Beam, there can only be one winner.

Decision: George Dickel

Marvel Immersion Project: Silver Surfer #5-11

via Marvel Database

The Silver Surfer was conceived as a different kind of superhero, or at least quite different from the sort who usually appeared in Marvel comic books.  He was out to save the world, and not merely one supervillain at a time.  He saw humankind as a threat to itself: war, prejudice, crime, etc.  He was trapped on Earth but rather than lashing out in resentment, he took the opportunity to learn more and appointed himself world protector, albeit a misunderstood and under-appreciated one.

The character's creators never intended him as a Christ figure per se.  However, there is no mistaking the more spiritual aspects of the Surfer saga, including some Biblical parallels whether intentional or otherwise.  According to the origin story, the Silver Surfer attained his powers through an act of self-sacrifice in protecting his own home world.  The Surfer battles Mephisto, clearly a Satan character, to defend the world and also his own soul.  Twice in this week's stretch, an "enemy" is not merely defeated but redeemed.

My Recent Reads

Silver Surfer #5
Originally Published April 1, 1969
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Howard Purcell

via Marvel Database

• Villain: The Stranger, who first appeared in X-Men #11.
• Ill-fated new friend, only appearance: Al B. Harper

Silver Surfer #6
June 1, 1966
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Syd Shores

• A time travel narrative.  The Surfer goes to the future where Earth, Zenn-La, indeed the known universe stands in ruins, all having fallen to a monstrous tyrant known as The Overlord.

Silver Surfer #7
August 1, 1969
Lee/Purcell

• A descendant of Frankenstein is up to the family's usual tricks, trying to generate life.
• He creates a double of the Surfer, then commands him to battle the original.
• Important recurring theme: drawing strength from compassion.  Frankenstein's assistant, Borgo, turns against the mad scientist and kills him.

Silver Surfer #8
September 1, 1969 (note the switch to monthly issues)
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema

Flying Dutchman via Marvel Database

• Mephisto enlists the ghost of the Flying Dutchman to help him capture the Surfer's soul
• Part 1 of 2.  There's a note at the end of the issue indicating the switch to monthly release came rather abruptly.  As such, the transition from the first half to the second isn't the smoothest.

Silver Surfer #9
October 1, 1969
Lee/Buscema

• Part 2 of 2.
• Not surprisingly, the Surfer's soul remains his own by story's end.  More surprising is the fact that the Dutchman gets a measure of redemption, too, courtesy of a "tear of forgiveness" shed by the Surfer.

Silver Surfer #10
November 1, 1969
Lee/Buscema

• Yarro Gort, a powerful man on Zenn-La, attempts to win over Shalla-Bal by taking her to Earth and showing her the Surfer has taken up with someone else.
• Seeking to learn more about humankind, the Surfer goes to a war-torn, unnamed South American country where he quickly gets caught up in the drama on the streets.
• He is helped by a woman named Donna Maria Perez.  He later saves her life and she kisses him in gratitude, giving Shalla-Bal the wrong idea.

Silver Surfer #11
December 1, 1969
Lee/Buscema

• The Yarro Gort/Donna Maria Perez story concludes.
• Gort dies and Shalla-Bal is wounded.  The Surfer must send her back to Zenn-La, alone, in order to save her.

Star Trek: Unnatural Selection

Episode: "Unnatural Selection"
Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2, Episode 7
Original Air Date: January 30, 1989

via Memory Alpha

Our friends encounter a Starfleet supply ship, upon which all aboard have died from rapid aging.  Scientists at Gagarin IV, the supply ship's last port of call, appear doomed to the same.  The scientists, resigned to their own fate, are more concerned about the future of their genetically-engineered children, who seem unaffected by whatever is causing the aging in the adults.

Aging and death again.

"Unnatural Selection" is a Pulaski story.  In the teaser, Picard expresses his concern to Troi that the doctor's obvious dedication to the medical work may occasionally cloud her judgment.  Throughout the story, we observe the tension between captain and doctor.  By episode's end, they both seem to have gained a greater appreciation for one another. 

via Memory Alpha

This is not an especially memorable episode though there is one meaningful development for the long-term: the emergence of Transporter Chief O'Brien (Colm Meany).  Meany played the recurring character from the beginning of the series but this is the first time he is given a title or even a name.  I'll have more on Meany soon.  Suffice to say for now: his overall Trek appearance tally is exceeded only by Michael Dorn's.

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Patricia Smith played the role of Dr. Sara Kingsley, the lead scientist on Gagarin IV.  She was born February 20, 1930 in New Haven, Connecticut.  She had film credits early in her career in The Bachelor Party and The Spirit of St. Louis, both released in 1957.  However, most of her work was guest appearances on television, including Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive and Hawaii Five-O.  She did have a principal role on The Debbie Reynolds Show as Debbie's sister, Charlotte, and a recurring one on the Bob Newhart Show.

Smith died of heart failure in 2011, age 80.