Episode complete credited cast: | |||
Patrick Stewart | ... | Capt. Jean-Luc Picard | |
Jonathan Frakes | ... | Cmdr. William Riker | |
LeVar Burton | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge | |
Michael Dorn | ... | Lt. Worf | |
Gates McFadden | ... | Dr. Beverly Crusher | |
Marina Sirtis | ... | Counselor Deanna Troi | |
Brent Spiner | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Data | |
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David Selburg | ... | Dr. Syrus |
Andrew Prine | ... | Administrator Suna | |
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Gary Werntz | ... | Attendant Mavek |
Susanna Thompson | ... | Inmate Jaya | |
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Allan Dean Moore | ... | Wounded Crewmember |
Riker is gravely affected by a local's death on a covert mission on Tilonus IV, where civil strife has created total mayhem and endangers Federation colonists. From then on, he has a frustrating series of conflicting sensations, unable to tell whether his mind is running wild aboard the Enterprise getting into a crazy character in a play, or undergoing reflection therapy, a voluntary alternative to irreparable surgical synaptic reconstruction, in a Tilonian mental ward. Written by KGF Vissers
This reminds of of a piece of trivia for the movie "Manhunter". That William Petersen had to shave his head after production wrapped just to shed and completely distance himself from his character; life imitating art, given that Will Graham had to do pretty much the same in the film.
Will Riker's put in a similar position, tasked with the lead role in Beverly's play, but finding his character bleeding into reality. And Frakes bears it well, ably wearing the exhaustion and panic of a man who can't tell which way is up. It's a highly effective episode, full of turns, skilled misdirection and an actor who's up to the task.
8/10