From: "bernie wong" <bernie.wong@canrem.com>
Subject: "A Fistful of Datas" review
Reply-To: "bernie wong" <bernie.wong@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 15 Nov 92 15:35:28 EST

Following include a spoiler-filled review on "A Fistful of Datas"

Spoilers ahead!

I'm a warning ya!

Last chance...


First impressions -- an OK episode.  Around the range of "Rascals" which
I gave a 6.  We'll see how it comes out in the end.

This time I've decided not to section things off by pluses and minuses,
but rather list them all off in as consistant an order as I can do.

- I liked the reference to past episodes.  First off the bat, we see
Picard practicing his recorder/flute from "Time's Arrow".  I notced
Geordi had whiskers when he came in to Picard's quarters and was pleased
to hear Data mention it too, saying "Are you attempting to grow another
beard".  The last beard we saw was in "The Outcast".  And of course
there was "Ode to Spot" stuck into Bev's "Breakfast" play.

- I absolutely understand the idea of having Data used as a computer
backup, but not why things were screwed up.  Data experienced an energy
surge after they experimented with secondary systems starting with
gravity.  One would have to assume that the second he tried to access
gravity, all secondary systems were failing.  Why something did not
screw up with PRIMARY systems is beyond me.

- I understand how Data could have screwed up Bev's play and Picard's
music, but not how it affected the Holodeck.  If anything, some of
Data's holodeck character should have been brought up.  IT was explained
later on in the episode that they screwups could be because of the
data-retrieving system (no pun intended).  So why the computer started
bringing up images of Data is beyond me.  And then having them have the
POWERS of Data!?  Only in a holodeck...

- I didn't like how the holodeck safeguards were turned off.  Again, the
problem was with the data-retrieving system.  I think the safeguards
would only be off if Data dealt with programs that had them off.

- Now either because of Stewart's directing, or because it was a
holodeck but anyways I didn't like how the bar sequence was obviously
repeated.

- Alexander sucks at talking to the computer.  :-)  (Computer:
freeze......... program.........  Go back........ to.......)

- I didn't know Troi could smoke!

- Geordi missed in replacing the isolinear chip back into the PADD.  :-)
One plus though is obviously we got to see the inards of a PADD!  :-)

- I didn't like Worf's forcefield.  The idea was cocky to begin with!
Who would have thought that a COMMUNICATOR badge had enough juice in it
to make a forcefield?  Sheesh.  If that were the case, more Feds should
be mointing those on their belts to delfect PHASER shots!  Also, the
field only lasted 9 seconds... :-)

GRADE SYSTEM
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Concept - 5.5.  I liked having Data rigged up to a computer but I
didn't like how the Holodeck was so severely screwed up.  And of course,
how the computer didn't respond...  Sigh...  The computer responded when
Picard asked to indentify his music!

Plot handling - 6.  The result was an OK episode that I really liked
Troi in.  What I didn't get was how Troi could fend off all those
gunslingers at the end.  That "Father" was gunless, but there were at
least three more snipers.

Ooomph - 6.5.  It got me moving some points, but Alexander's acting
didn't make it much better.

Acting - 7.  Spiner was great, Dorn was great, Sirtis was great.
Bonsall was not.

Result - 5.  Not as good as Rascals IMHO which was slightly more
entertaining.  Next week's episode looks awesome!!!


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jason Wong
Calling from Markham, Ontario CANADA.  It's not cold though!  :-)
INTERNET E-MAIL: bernie.wong@canrem.com


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