TNG Spoiler: "Dark Page" [hill]
HI...@widener1.mhs.harvard.edu
Review by Shawn Hill <hi...@widener1.mhs.harvard.edu>
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SPOILERS AHEAD:
Well, the promo at least made this week look interesting. And I always
am a sucker for those Lwoxana episodes. Her appearance on DS9 last year
allowed for almost the only character development Odo's ever gotten, and
she's certainly a valid foil for so many of TNG's ever-efficient,
emotionally reticent crew. A little arrogant rudeness (delivered with a
smile) is just what those too serious workaholics need.
Which is why it was so disconcerting this week to see Lwox in subdued
colors, and in such a variety of bad moods. Someone that flamboyant has
always had the capacity for grand evil--a "dark space" that must
eventually come out. Troi's interaction with Lwox was handled well, her
usual frustration and her sincere concern. Wasn't it fun to see Lwox
finally lose it and whale on Ryker? The unresolved nature of his
relationship with Deana is one of the more annoying (and dependable)
aspects of the show, and >>should<< be addressed.
I thought the symbolic gaurdians Deana had to face in navigating her
mother's mind were interesting, but these were both the most dramatic and
the least successful parts of the episode. The more it became clear just
what the nature of Lwoxana's problem was, the less interesting it got.
Why suddenly invent an heretofore unknown character (Kestra) just in
order to advance a rather tired plot? A character who's beginning,
middle and end are already taken care of. How meaningful is it really
going to be for Deana in future episodes to know that she had an older
sister who drowned? Will it ever even be mentioned again? How likely is
it that an overprotective, wealthy, diplomatically important mother like
Lwox wouldn't have had some sort of hired or automated surveillance for
her child in the 24th century?
On the plus side, however, Majel performed as competently as ever. She's
quite as convincing at being angry and overworked as she is at being the
life of the party. And it **is** in character for Lwoxana to have totally
denied and buried an earlier unpleasant event, to have re-invented her
life from scratch after something as traumatic as Kestra's death. It
also goes on to explain some of her controlling needs concerning Deana,
an only daughter who **must** be protected at all costs.
As far as the Cairrn go, they seemed like little more than an excuse to
have a psychic plot-line. It was almost interesting to learn that they
communicate in images, while Betazoids do it with words. But, can it
really be that simple? Hasn't Deana had plenty of visions before? Why
would any specie's telepathy function exclusively in verbal terms? And,
please, bumps over the ears equal psychic powers? If they needed vocal
enhancers, why did they even have throats and larynxes? And that guy
playing Mequise--if he got that >>intently focused<< look on his face
once more I was going to have to change channels.
So, performances = 8, characerization = 8, plotline = 4, aliens = 2, mood
= 7, for an overall score of 5.8. But let's say 6 and hope for better.
Like, a story that actually significantly alters, adds to or updates the
TNG universe. Finally.
Ciao,
Shawn Hill