111. Code of HonorFORMULA: Amok Time + Friday's Child + Requiem for Methuselah
WHY WE LIKE IT: Data's jokes. The Ligonians have an interesting culture.
WHY WE DON'T: Denise Crosby, or the script she was handed, or both - they're terrible!
REVIEW: A rather ordinary adventure, but it starts off well enough, as we meet the Ligonians, an honor-based culture that seems to resemble those of China, India, Africa and North American Natives. There are plenty of fun quirks to remind us that these are aliens (even if no prosthetic has been applied to their faces), and I find they are well played by the actors involved. It's also refreshing to see a humanoid race of black people, when so many aliens are typically either white, or some odd color like green or blue.
Picard fares rather well, figuring out the subtext of Lutan's ploy and playing into his psychology. The joke subplot keep Geordi and Data busy, and this is something that will return again and again. Though I doubt Data could ever have a slip of the tongue, it's a fun moment nonetheless. I find the Wesley subplot more worrisome, but it's still not at a point where I want to tear my hair out. Unfortunately, those are all minor moments. The central character here is Tasha, and I haven't warmed up to this character yet.
It doesn't help that Denise Crosby seems outmatched by the material (or perhaps no one can act the line "Troi, you're my friend and you tricked me!"). The character is over-aggressive to begin with, and in this back and forth with the Prime Directive, does nothing to endear herself to the audience. Everything surrounding her place in the plot is dodgy, from Riker's sudden jealousy when Lutan asks for her to show him the holodeck, to Troi's "trickery".
LESSON: Honor is something that's... relative.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: Worth watching for the interesting alien culture and the various subplots that take root in this episode. The plot isn't bad, but if you can't stand Tasha, you'll probably have problems stomaching much of the story.
Comments
Lutan sounds like the 7-Up guy from the 80s. I kept expecting him to say, "Crisp and clean with no caffeine."