With a pilot episode one should grade the episode 2 points higher than normal.
There is something wonderfully cheesy earnest about this clunky pilot episode. One of my favorite reoccurring plot events if how almost every series regular gets a moment to discuss there defining attribute "Hi Commander Riker! I'm Wesley and this is my mom. My dad was killed by a Picard order --- let's check out these fabrics.." --- It honestly feels like a role playing game where I initiate conversation with a non-playable character "You! Tell me your life story!".
Picard --- Doesn't like kids, grumpy, lovably pompous.
Dr Crusher --- Picard got her husband killed. A beautiful mane of red hair to challenge even Aphrodite herself.
Riker ---- Dyed in the wool starfleet officer. Painfully professional. Had a lot of hot sex with Troi previous to his starfleet posting.
Tasha Yar ---- Lived on a lawless planet and was saved by starfleet.
Troi ---- Can read emotions ... ... sometimes. Had a lot of hot sex with riker previously to her starfleet posting.
Geordi ---- Is blind but can see things that normies like you and I cannot.
Data ---- This was really on the nose but he is Pinocchio. The android who wants to be a real boy.
Wesley ---- Painfully earnest and excited. A starfleet fanboy.
Worf ----- Aggressive Klingon.... More to come.
Was it contrived as hell? Yup, but it did the job of defining the characters on the show.
I loved seeing the Skants ---- I swear that Gene put them in just so he would have some ammunition to use against feminist (or just regular women) who were bummed out about women parading around half naked on TOS all the time. "I am not sexist! Everyone wears skirts in the future!"
We get an adequate plot about Zorn enslaving a sentient space animal to serve his purpose and the ultimate resolution of the enterprise freeing it. Aww!
The battle bridge seemed a bit silly ---- Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of having to move everyone from the diplomatic/exploration bridge to the battle bridge every time some dangerous situation comes up?
You really need to turn a blind eye to a lot of silly elements in this episode and appreciate it swinging for the fences and ultimately striking out but damn if they didn't try to hit a home run.
If this was any other episode I would rate it a 5 out of 10 but because it is a pilot and actually succeeded (clunky) in establishing our core characters I am giving it a 7 out 10.
There is something wonderfully cheesy earnest about this clunky pilot episode. One of my favorite reoccurring plot events if how almost every series regular gets a moment to discuss there defining attribute "Hi Commander Riker! I'm Wesley and this is my mom. My dad was killed by a Picard order --- let's check out these fabrics.." --- It honestly feels like a role playing game where I initiate conversation with a non-playable character "You! Tell me your life story!".
Picard --- Doesn't like kids, grumpy, lovably pompous.
Dr Crusher --- Picard got her husband killed. A beautiful mane of red hair to challenge even Aphrodite herself.
Riker ---- Dyed in the wool starfleet officer. Painfully professional. Had a lot of hot sex with Troi previous to his starfleet posting.
Tasha Yar ---- Lived on a lawless planet and was saved by starfleet.
Troi ---- Can read emotions ... ... sometimes. Had a lot of hot sex with riker previously to her starfleet posting.
Geordi ---- Is blind but can see things that normies like you and I cannot.
Data ---- This was really on the nose but he is Pinocchio. The android who wants to be a real boy.
Wesley ---- Painfully earnest and excited. A starfleet fanboy.
Worf ----- Aggressive Klingon.... More to come.
Was it contrived as hell? Yup, but it did the job of defining the characters on the show.
I loved seeing the Skants ---- I swear that Gene put them in just so he would have some ammunition to use against feminist (or just regular women) who were bummed out about women parading around half naked on TOS all the time. "I am not sexist! Everyone wears skirts in the future!"
We get an adequate plot about Zorn enslaving a sentient space animal to serve his purpose and the ultimate resolution of the enterprise freeing it. Aww!
The battle bridge seemed a bit silly ---- Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of having to move everyone from the diplomatic/exploration bridge to the battle bridge every time some dangerous situation comes up?
You really need to turn a blind eye to a lot of silly elements in this episode and appreciate it swinging for the fences and ultimately striking out but damn if they didn't try to hit a home run.
If this was any other episode I would rate it a 5 out of 10 but because it is a pilot and actually succeeded (clunky) in establishing our core characters I am giving it a 7 out 10.