New uniforms, new credit sequence and Doctor Crusher returned to us but was Season 3 of The Next Generation really as good as we remember? Some of that enthusiasm may have have been generated by relief that the series had not been cancelled but the 1990's also heralded an era of considerably more stability behind the scenes. Senior Trekker will continue to score every episode with a 5.
It's alleged that Patrick Stewart asked that the Captain had more exciting away missions and romantic incidents (although he didn't use the word "romantic") and so here the writers gave him both. An absolutely first class Indiana Jones style mystery for him to get carried away in is just the antidote the character needs to all that serious Captaining stuff.
Some of the innuendo around the Horga'hn (fertility symbol) and Jamaharon (basically, free love) is a bit stale after thirty years and Riker's leering insinuations are probably actionable but no-one minded at the time. This was the first episode in which we visited the Pleasure Planet Risa and, if it does look a bit too much like a somewhat toned-down Playboy Mansion for today's taste, we did at least get to see some scantily clad young MEN in the background.
We also saw two more important firsts. The fantastic Max Grodenchik, whose consummate portrayal of Ferengi characters has added so much to the Star Trek universe over the years and Jennifer Hetrick who, despite limiting her screen appearances, made an indelible impression as the perpetually scheming Vash.
It's alleged that Patrick Stewart asked that the Captain had more exciting away missions and romantic incidents (although he didn't use the word "romantic") and so here the writers gave him both. An absolutely first class Indiana Jones style mystery for him to get carried away in is just the antidote the character needs to all that serious Captaining stuff.
Some of the innuendo around the Horga'hn (fertility symbol) and Jamaharon (basically, free love) is a bit stale after thirty years and Riker's leering insinuations are probably actionable but no-one minded at the time. This was the first episode in which we visited the Pleasure Planet Risa and, if it does look a bit too much like a somewhat toned-down Playboy Mansion for today's taste, we did at least get to see some scantily clad young MEN in the background.
We also saw two more important firsts. The fantastic Max Grodenchik, whose consummate portrayal of Ferengi characters has added so much to the Star Trek universe over the years and Jennifer Hetrick who, despite limiting her screen appearances, made an indelible impression as the perpetually scheming Vash.