[For my daily workout, I'm pedaling on a recumbent exercise bike while watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. I'm posting my reviews here.]
(202.0 pounds, and yeah, I cycled twice in one day, desperate to fight off that weight gain. Sigh.)
This is a curious juxtaposition of episodes, showing what can go wrong and go well with Star Trek.
“Home Soil” is a standard ham-fisted screw-up in the tradition of the original series: an intelligent species of LEDs gets pissed off when humans encroach on their habitat and the crew of the Enterprise has to figure how to communicate with them. I seem to remember an episode called “Devil in the Dark” that was essentially the same premise, but that one had the luxury of being cheesy in the Sixties when everything was cheesy. This cheesy version is just, well, embarrassing.
The more they try to be like the original series, the more spectacularly they fail. Despite all our good memories of the 60s Star Trek, we should probably remember that most of those episodes were really, really bad. I’m pretty sure that I’m a fan of them at all because I read the James Blish adaptations first, and James Blish could spin D.C. Fontana over his head in the writing department like some kind of professional wrestler.
Anyway, “Home Soil” is just one of those episodes dragged twenty years into the future, blinking and confused at the change in style.
My grade: D-
On the other hand, we have “Coming of Age.” Though not mind-blowing science fiction by any means, this has something “Home Soil” lacks: humanity. The people we see here, even weaselly Remmick, express something close to human feelings and concerns. Wesley faces his greatest fear during his Starfleet Academy exam, and Picard realizes some of the things that he finds rewarding about commanding the Enterprise. There are moments here of real growth (or at least reflection) for the characters.
It’s no “Family,” but it’s better than most of the first season. Plus, it sets up “Conspiracy,” an episode I love.
My grade: B-
David Gerrold has written that Star Trek is the McDonald’s of science fiction: fast and sometimes satisfying, but probably not very good for you. I tend to agree with him. Here, then, “Coming of Age” is a good order of french fries, and “Home Soil” is a Filet-o-Fish sandwich.
I agree… although I think I’d score “Home Soil” a D+/C-, you ugly bag of mostly water.
“Coming of Age” was one of the best episodes of season 1.
…are you eating Doritos while you are on the bike? (like I do when I watch Star Trek) Because that can skew your results.
No, but I’m eating a can of Crisco each time. Is that a problem?
I don’t think so…crisco isn’t made out of anything that can be digested…it’s like that movie “The Stuff”