From: kevin@csd-d-2.Stanford.EDU (Kevin Ernst Duckworth)
Subject: Rascals:  Kanamorites have missed the point again...
Originator: kevin@csd-d-2.Stanford.EDU
Organization: /usr/lib/news/organizatoin
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 21:16:15 GMT

     Alright, various posters have fired photon barrages at _Rascals_,
saying stuff like "Worf's a wimp" or "Birds of Brey are no match" or
"I'm sick of the transporter malfunctions" or "Alexander is in it"
or "get rid of these children" or "the Ferengi aren't that stupid"
or "Keiko doesn't look like old Keiko" or "the uniforms shouldn't have
shrunk with the humans" or "immortality at your command" or "this is
worse than Cost of Living" or more of the same old, same old complaints.

     Weeeellllll, have you got something coming.
     You Kanamorites have missed the point.  In fact, you were *so*
wrapped up in the tech part of the show, you COMPLETELY lost out on
what was the best multi-actor-for-one-character show I have ever seen,
*including* _Big_, which was a great film but didn't convince me that
the young Josh was anything like Tom Hank's portrayal.  Here you had
*four* actors who matched characters with well-documented figures.  
If you watch again with a SLIGHTLY open mind you will not find more
than a single step out of character for any of the four.  Fantastic 
preparation on all counts, everywhere, right to the bit where old
Picard was boyishly showing off the archaeological things he had
found...perfect lead in.  And Ro/Guinan?  I could see Goldberg and
Forbes on my screen, right there.  Obviously, if you Kanamorites
could not, then you were guilty of the same thing everyone else was:
lookism.  Prejudices against those who look a certain way.  Like
children.
     I dare anyone to find fault or annoyance in Alexander's character
in this episode.
     The point you have missed?  This show was not die-hard sci-fi.
It was about interaction.  Did anyone else see the Keiko/Miles scene
except me?  I had my doubts at first, but when she grabbed him by the
uniform, I said, "that's Keiko!"  How could you miss the repercussions
that this scene brought up?  (besides the crass and hopefully TIC hymen
question).  I mean, Miles' reaction was one of pure lookism.  Try 
thinking about *this* scene next time instead of the fish scene.
     Interaction.  "You were a jumper, weren't you?"  Beverly's insight
on the possibilities of Picard living a second, yet painless, childhood.
Picard's thoughts on trying something else besides Starfleet for a while.
Old Guinan and young Ro, coloring.  Laren capturing a little, just a 
little, of what she had so painfully missed as a child.  And Picard,
throwing a temper tantrum, reminding me of another superior ruse he had
put on for a Ferengi when showing his "love" for Lwaxana.
     I laughed a lot during this show.  The Ferengi as idiots?  Hey, they
weren't on a mission; they were bounty hunters of a sort.  They should 
have been played as fools, beacuse anyone who tries to sell the E to
the Romulans *is*.  The E not firing?  I wouldn't fire on a Klingon 
ship and risk an "incident", even if unprovoked.  Better to find out 
"what the hell is going on" instead of "shoot now, ask later", you Kirks.
Self destruct?  Forget it, with that many people on board.  Alexander?
If you don't like an episode just because he's in it, then you can go 
to hell in my book, cause your prejudices are more than I can understand.
*Especially* when they gave him something good to do.
     And if you don't like children, then at least give 'em the benefit
of the doubt, like Picard did in Disaster.

     Maybe, you Kanamorites who didn't like this one on the basis of
tech merit alone should not have watched this one.  You should read the
reviews and find out which episodes are more like "Arena" of TOS
or BOBW, with a lot of shootouts and real serious Sci-Fi than something
like _rascals_.  Because this show wasn't about sci-fi.  It was about
people.  About interaction during times of hardship, and of turning 
those hardships to one's advantage.  Not about Dr. Who style stuff.
If the idea that Star Trek is not die-hard sci-fi offends you, then
stop watching and get out of here.  Constructive criticisms, like the
ones Tim Lynch gives, are a hell of alot better than not being able to
accept the show for what it is and what it is not.  The uniform thing
I didn't buy, or Worf's lousy aim.  But the characters, and the excellent
dialogue, I did.  If you can't, then you are drama-impaired.  Next time
you watch, take a look behind all the plot devices, all the FX, and see
what's out there.  If you can leave your Kanamorism behind, maybe you
will see what all the rest of us liked and will always like about TNG.
The people.  The interaction.  The humanity.

     I give Rascals a 9.  It redefines TNG humor to a higher level.
And I think it is an honor that they named it after our newsgroup.
It made me laugh, and made me think.  For all those going into this not
having seen the show, don't expect the trailer, or Cost of Living, or
a "children episode", just experience it.  And you'll have a lot more
open mind to it.  Kanamorism rest in hell.

						Just my $20,000.02
						Kevin Duckworth

Make my day, Kanamorites.