Alright, this is it: the second-to-last episode of Trekabout where we talk about Star Trek: The Next Generation–I bet the writers have got some awesome episodes for us! So, why did they give us “Emergence” and “Preemptive Strike”? Also! Where the hell has Ro Laren been?
Longtime Listener
-Some years ago, Eric asked to be reminded, before the TNG movies, that he wanted to say something about Wesley being Picard’s illegitimate son.
You’re reminded.
Eric Brasure
-Oh yeah! Of course, now I don’t remember why…
Lev
-I definitely think that Preemptive Strike would have been better with Sito than Ro. The former would have stronger reasons to hold a grudge against both Starfleet and the Cardassians. But at least this episode actually gave Forbes something to do. She wasn’t in many episodes, and this includes stuff like Cause and Effect where she mans the helm, and Rascals. Given how popular the character was, they could have used her better.
I can’t tell you how excited I am to hear about the best series finale in Star Trek history (DS9’s finale had some wonderful stuff but there were some real narrative mistakes in there, and none of the others are even in the discussion), and then after that, the worst Star Trek movie ever made. Yes, worse than Insurrection and Nemesis, and even worse than The Final Frontier. I find Sybok to be well-developed and sympathetic, and a hell of a lot more likable than Kirk in that film. His arc works for me, unlike anything in Generations. Braga and Moore must have seemed like a dream team but they seem to be working at cross purposes here, and some isolated Moore-ish moments are undone by goofy humor and painful illogic. This is sort of the case in First Contact as well, but that has a much stronger story.
Eric Brasure
-It definitely would have made more sense for it to be Sito–I just wish they had used Ro more throughout the series. Having her suddenly pop up in the second-to-last episode was bizarre.
You’re in for a treat then–the "All Good Things…" episode is nearly 90 minutes long!
Much more to say about Star Trek: Generations… in two weeks.