From: wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez)
Subject: Re: Lynch's Spoiler Review: "The First Duty"
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 92 19:47:26 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park, College of Engineering
Keywords: TNG, Wesley, Academy
Originator: wombat@pepsi.eng.umd.edu

In article <1992Apr9.013255.18014@cco.caltech.edu> tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez) writes:
>>In article <1992Apr7.001430.13295@cco.caltech.edu> tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>
>"The First Duty" spoilers:
>

>
>[Bev]
>
>>(Along 
>>>similar lines, her reaction to hearing of Wes's accident seemed very right as
>>>well; knowing it rationally, but falling apart deep down anyway.)
>
>>I don't know about that scene.  I could see what she was *trying* to do, but
>>I think she did too much of it.  I was getting apathy from her when that was
>>clearly not intended.  
>
>I didn't get apathy; I got shock.  She walled herself away, 'cos she had
>no idea what to do otherwise.

Didn't work for me.  She was trying to equate non-acting with shock, and she
failed, methinks.

> 
>>>(Incidentally, Wes's choice could have been made much easier, and *wasn't*.  
>>>Picard could well have pointed out that even if Picard *did* speak and was 
>>>contradicted, Wes would be working under a cloud of suspicion for years if 
>>>not decades after graduating, and he damn sure wouldn't be able to serve 
>>>within a kiloparsec of the Enterprise.  
>
>>I doubt this, Picard would have forgiven him, regardless of what he said.  
>
>Had he continued to stonewall and *let* an innocent boy be blamed?  No way.

Well, there was evidence to suggest that it was Josh's fault, and seeing as
how he's dead, I don't think Wes has any more loyalty to him.  The crime there
would be in letting his *family* go on believing that Josh was totally at
fault.

>I rather suspect Picard would have gone to Brand just after the hearing.
>Even if he'd let Wes actually get away with it, he'd NEVER have spoken to 
>him again.

Oh, really?  He may not have spoken to him for a while, but it's very
difficult to stay mad at someone indefinately.  It's much easier to forgive,
and eventually, he would forgive him.  Wes acted out of fear.  I've had
friends who have done things that I find absolutely despicable, yet more often
than not, they do it because they're scared.  Abandoning them for their 
actions doesn't do either of us any good.

> 
>>>Most of the guest cast were good.  My main objection here is to Richard Fancy
>>>as Satelk--he made a truly miserable, and *dull*, Vulcan.  I think this was 
>>>an acting (or maybe directing?) problem more than one of the writing; his 
>>>actual questions seemed to be fairly short and to the point.  His demeanor 
>>>and tone of voice, however, screamed anything BUT Vulcan to me.  Not a good 
>>>choice.   
>
>>I thought he did a decent job for the tact that he chose.  I don't assume that
>>all Vulcans are going to be unemotional.  
>
>Nor do I.  I do assume, however, they they will all *try* to be logical and
>unemotional;

Why?  You assume they all *want* to act that way.  Maybe hanging around humans
has made him change his mind in regard to that silly custom, anyway.

>>And Wheaton has always done a nice job with the material
>>he's been given.  
>
>Always?  Hmm.  Can we settle on "often"?  :-)

Definately.  I just caught "The Child" for the first time since it originally
aired. Check out the stupiest, goofiest grin on Wes' face at the end of
that!  Sheesh!

>
>>>--I'm trying to figure out exactly what school "the game against Minsk" 
>>>referred to.  Is there another campus for the Academy, or is this a 
>>>completely different *type* of school?  Any ideas?
>
>>Well, the military acedemies now play against normal colleges nowadays, I 
>>don't see why this would change.
>
>But what kind of "normal colleges" are we talking about in that century?
>That's what I'm curious about.

Why would they be any different than today's, just updated for the careers that
are now available.


-- 
Jose Gonzalez
                       Spock- "In your own way, you are as stubborn as another
                               captain of the Enterprise I once knew."
                       Picard-"Then I'm in good company, sir."  
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