From: rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin)
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Quality of Life -- I liked it. SPOILERS***
Organization: School of Statistics, University of Minnesota
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 20:53:18 GMT

In article <168A6121D9.YANJUNA@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu>, YANJUNA@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu writes:
|>    SPOILERS for Quality of Life:



|>     Well, I am going to list things I liked:
|> 1) Data: Yes, he was insubordinate, BUT...
|> As Picard has pointed out, this was the most human decision that he's ever made

Perhaps.  But I hate what I'm going to do - Comparing old Trek vs. new
Trek.  I've always been one that believes each should live on its own
merits _without_ assistance from the other.  I don't object to crossovers,
only what I'm about to do.  :-)

Data "got away" with it because it was a "human action."  I don't mind
insubordination, but one has to pay the price anyways, whether it's
physical, mental or financial.  In Trek Classic, the magic between the
characters was clearly exceptional.  There is a good symbiosis in TNG
also.  However, when kirk utters "Lock him up" and then watches Spock
being led away, for example, the viewer can feel the anguish and at
least some sort of pain and conflict.  Spock "got away with it" too,
but the same balance isn't there.

Only a mild comparison, but it's one of the things I liked about old Trek
which seems to be increasing in my observations lately.  Those sudden
"surprise" turns are what made the characters immortal.  When you can 
empathize with the agony a character is facing, then they've done an
excellent job with it.  I found I had little concern for Geordi and
Picard.  I also found I had no interest in the conflict between Data
and Riker.

|>     Data is learning and moving forward!  You're getting character
|> development!  Wasn't lack of character development cited many times as one
|> of the flaws of the show?

It didn't really provide much insight, though it was interesting.

|> 2) You wanted character conflicts.  Well, you got them, didn't you?  (Riker
|> vs. Data)  Didn't you like it?

There were no hard decisions made.  It all worked out lucky in the end
because an idea which I was half yelling at the television :-) just
happened to work out and everything came out "OK."

|> 3)  They are finally beginning to develop Crusher's character.  Not only is
|> she getting a sense of humor, but also learning to fight as well !!

I've always thought Crusher was under-used.  That character could be a
wonderful confusion.  A Chief Medical Officer who handles a phaser like
a pro and is scheming and conniving?  In reality, Crusher _could_ be one
of the most interesting and entertaining characters on the show...

|>    While I do share some misgivings about the fall in quality of TNG in
|> the 5th and 6th seasons, this episode was NOT one of them.

It was a reasonable episode.  It didn't pain me to watch it, nor was
I chuckling or laughing hysterically at the inane silliness and stupidity
(like we were with Iron Eagle III immediately after :-).  I got my hour of
entertainment from it, and that's all I really ask (usually).

-- 
// Robert J. Granvin                                         rjg@stat.umn.edu
// School of Statistics - University of Minnesota        System Administrator
// ``One of the `right' people.''
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current