From: rccarm00@mik.uky.edu (ron c carman)
Subject: Re: Lynch's Spoiler Review: "Man of the People"
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
X-Path: rccarm00
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1992 03:55:47 GMT

Timothy W. Lynch writes:

>WARNING:  The following post contains spoilers regarding this week's TNG 
>offering, "Man of the People".  Those not wishing to be exposed to spoiler 
>elements prematurely are advised to keep clear.

>Ecch.
   
   I'll second that.


>First, let me shake you of the belief that I liked nothing about the show.  
>There were a few things I thought were interesting.  For example:
>
>--At least in the one scene with Picard planetside, Chip Lucia (Alkar) was 
>very effective in playing someone completely conscienceless and virtually 
>emotionless.  That one scene was somewhat shocking.
>
>--The climax was harsh; every bit as harsh as it deserved to be.  I found 
>that particularly effective.

   One point I'd like to add here.  Worf's character was well done,
what little we saw of him.  The scene where the ambassador is dying
I thought was particularly apt.  He stands and watches the Ambassador
die, then calls Sickbay and notifies them of the fact.  Very much
on target.

>Actually, I should amend that point above just a bit.  Everyone was flat and 
>lifeless except Troi.  Unfortunately, *she* was over-the-top and in major 
>"screaming ninny" mode.  I don't know where the decision was made that a show 
>turning Troi into the bride of Frankenstein and letting her occasionally run 
>around in skimpy outfits was somehow a great dramatic idea, but I completely 
>disagree.

   I'd take this a bit further, and say that basically *any* episode
centering around one character is going to be at least disappointing,
and (if the character in question isn't Data or Picard :-) ) will
probably be downright bad.  MotP definitely falls into the later
category...

>Then, there's "dishonest", which is a word I very rarely use for TNG.  I 
>think the show wasn't truthful in setting itself up.  From all appearances, 
>both in the preview and throughout the episode itself, the focus of the show 
>was usually on rapid-aging problems.  Whoops; but both TOS and TNG have 
>already *had* a rapid-aging show; we shouldn't repeat that blatantly. 

   The whole age-the-characters rapidly plot seems to have gotten
rather tired and aged itself... :)
 
>That's really about it.  I'm hoping this was the season's "Cost of Living", 
>and that it's now out of the way *early*.  Given the major problems that both 
>this and "Time's Arrow, Part II" had, though, I'm starting to get worried 
>about the season to come.  Let's hope.

   Heartily seconded.  Given the advance info on upcoming episodes, however,
the acting may have to be *absolutely* fabulous to save the stories...

>Plot:  3.  The what?
>Plot Handling:  3.  Were we actually supposed to, well, *care* what happened
>      here?
>Characterization:  2.  A bit up for Alkar's one really good scene, but 
>      everybody else was just going through the motions.
>
>TOTAL:  3.  Not a good sign at *all* here, folks...

   I think you're being a bit generous there.. I'd give this one
a 2 at *most*.  

RC Carman

--
/=======================================================================\ 
|     Ron C. Carman          || 'What you want is irrelevant.           |
| rccarm00@mik.uky.edu       ||  What you have chosen is at hand.'      |
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