From: thogek@cco.caltech.edu (Thomas G. Kiefer)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: Rascals--can they make anything worse? <Spoilers!>
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:16:07 GMT
Organization: Nope, just me.
NNTP-Posting-Host: coil.caltech.edu

"Rascals" spoilers everywhere...


In article <1992Nov8.013738.13232@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> am001b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Shark) writes:
[insane babble deleted]

>1) yet another transporter malfunction.... yeah, I think we have already
>filled the quota for one season, get some new ideas!

Waitaminute.  *What* transporter malfunction(s)?  Maybe I'm confused
(common occurrance), but while there have been a flurry of transporter-
related plot elements lately, I haven't noticed any transporter
*malfunctions*.

In "Realm of Fear", Barklay noticed something weird in the transporter
matter stream, and managed to guess that it was the missing (presumed
dead) crew of the lost ship.  There was no malfunction.

In "Relics", Captain Scott programmed a loop into the transporter buffer
program to hold him in a sort of stasis for (hopefully) as long as it
would take for someone to find the ship.  That's defintely no malfunction;
that's impressive transporter manipulation!

And here, in "Rascals", O'Brian couldn't get decent transporter locks on
the endangered four because of an energy field -- presumably caused by the
shuttle's entry into some kind of field that was undetectable by shuttle
or Enterprise until the shuttle triggered the energy.  Then, when he did
get them, the transporter missed certain RVN sequences of their
reconstruction DNA, which were supposedly masked by the energy field.
I think the commercials called that a malfunction, but I don't think so;
it's interference.

So, what did I miss?  Where are the *malfunctions*?  (Even if you count
the one in "Rascals", it's the only one this season.)

There have been a few too many transporter-based plot crises, though, if
that's what you meant.


>2) Picard's initial trip to the bridge was pathetic, even Data hesitated to
>follow orders.  For a star fleet captain he should know better.  (It takes a
>doctor to smack him around a little first).

Picard doesn't like admitting -- to anyone or to himself -- that something
is very wrong with himself.  It's a stubbornness we've seen before
(remember, for example, his resistance to getting that heart operation in
"Samaritan Snare"?) and is totally in character for Picard.


>3) Guinan's perfect lip-synching reminded me of some classic Bruce Lee films
>I've seen (you know, "Ha Ha, now you die!" is the only line, repeated over
>and over again).  Her scene with Ro induced regurgatory processes.

Does anyone know for sure (credits?) if Guinan was lip synched?  It sure
seemed like it, especially in certain scenes.  Her scenes with Ro were
fairly real, and appeciated by those who wanted to see some development of
the "What do we do if we're stuck like this" question.  


>4) Riker's slow response to the attack.  When he commanded the Enterprise in
>BOBW, he performed flawlessly.  Here, against only two Klingon war-birds, he
>did not respond until after the first dozen shots.  He only got one phaser
>shot against the ships before the Enterprise was taken.

This was my main problem with the episode, and the only point on which I
agree with you here.


>5) The shields had not yet failed before the Ferengi took over.  What
>happened to the last 13% of the shields that were remaining?

I don't recall clearly, but how much time between when 13% was announced
and when Ferengi began beaming over?  Could the 13% have been pounded
away (or failed) in that time?


>6) Initially, the Ferengi were intelligent enough (read: lucky) to secure
>the ship.  BUT...after that, they were the most imbiclic creatures to have
>ever discovered space travel.  The Ferengi learning the controls from Riker
>had no idea that Riker was snowing him the whole time.

They obviously had a cunningly-laid plan coming in, but once in, felt
assured that they were in control (pretty happy with themselves, as Ro
guessed), and so were more lax, and didn't know much about the Enterprise,
anyway (probably didn't know about those access crawlways at all,
underestimated Riker and the "kids'" stubbornness, didn't know that one of
those kids onboard was the captain...).

And how would the Ferengi know Riker was snowing him?  He likely didn't
know *anything* about Federation computers or terminology, and had to
assume that Riker wouldn't risk his son or the other kids...


>7) Another question:  why can't Picard simply regain computer access? 
>Doesn't that imply a lack of authority on the ship if the captain can't even
>get control of command functions?

Computer access (dis)connection was accomplished via voice command.
Notice that Picard is now in a twelve-year-old body, whose twelve-year-old
voice (distinctly different from that of the Patrick Stewart Picard) would
probably not be recognized by the computer.


>8) The complete act at the end of the Picard/Riker meeting.  I was moved to
>tears...of laughter.  There was no way that the Ferengi watching this
>"reunion" could not help but see that something was up.  (see number 6)

Uh-huh.  I'm sure that all Ferengi are experts on human behavior nuances
and human father-son relationships.  Not.


>9) A car that comes in, hits you, and leaves.  Do you report that there was
>a car moving by remote control, implying there is somebody free?  No, you
>leave your post and follow it.

Depends on if you're a responsible officer in your group, or a greedy
opportunist who would rather have and figure out this little wonder for
yourself.  Which sounds more (stereo)typically Ferengi-like?

Besides, how would he know if it was remote-controlled, or automatic?
(Like some kind of pre-programmed message/object carrier?)


>10) Why didn't Riker take out the lone Ferengi on the bridge?  After all the
>others were captured, Picard (or somebody) said that there were only two
>left...one of which was in the ready room.  The Ferengi "learning" was
>totally lost.  It would have been simple.

Then what would he do if other Ferengi came to the bridge to report, the
Ferengi captain came out of the ready room onto the bridge, any of the
Ferengi called (via communcator) this one for information/update/help,...?
I think it would have been too dangerous unless he could account for the
other Ferengi as well, which he could not, and hoped that Picard would.


>Now for the "good" points.

Well, at least you saw *some*...

>1) the commercials showed more imagination and creativity.

I guess that depends on what you're looking for...

>2) the scene between Miles and Keiko was well done, in my opinion.  I
>personally felt the same way he did, mainly that intellectually Miles knew
>it was his wife, but emotionally couldn't accept that fact.

Yup.  Also: "Not you!  I! Want! Mommy!!"  That hurt.

>3) Alexander finally had a good show.

Yup.  Alexander, in his first non-annoying role...

-- 
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====> Thomas Kiefer <===> thogek@cco.caltech.edu <====
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