UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S1E22 - Symbiosis
Added 2023-12-15 00:31:24 +0000 UTC
Comments
This has always felt like a very unusual episode to me. It almost feels like bits of a S3 and a S1 episode smashed together. There's some very S1 stuff like the obvious Riker having no beard and Yar being there, Wesley being so naive about something basic like drug addiction, some of the VFX are very S1, and some of the writing feels very early TNG, not to mention that MS Paint black blotch painting out the sun🤣. But a lot of the production value, Picard moralizing over the prime directive while trying to navigate this sociopolitical situation between these 2 societies, and Crusher's passion to alleviate suffering and the rules be damned. All that feels like it would be right at home later in the series IMO. One of the more memorable aspects of the episode was Merritt Butrick and Judson Scott reuniting here from TWOK. Sad that Merritt died less than a year after this episode aired, but at least they tried to help him out giving him the work. As far as the prime directive, they were still figuring out how that worked by this point, and it's more clearly defined later on. Usually whether a species has developed warp or some other interstellar travel is the criteria for whether you can even contact them, since if they can travel the galaxy they'll end up finding alien life themselves. Despite having transporters I doubt these guys have warp, since T'Jon said he's done 26 trips in 7 years, or once every 3 months. At even warp 1, the round trip should be less than an hour. Still there were 2 similar but distinct species that evolved in that system, so perhaps their already having discovered alien life made an exception. When Picard rescued the crew of the Sanction he was merely responding to a distress call. The PD doesn't prevent offering aid. You simply can't take action with the intent of influencing the society one way or another. When Picard told Data to have the coils replicated, he knew the freighters were vital, but he didn't know why or what the cargo was or what the relationship between the planets was. If the Enterprise were never there, everyone and everything on the freighter would be lost, and even if they sent one of the others, there's no guarantee that there was another shipment ready, and the Ornarans would have nothing to pay with anyway. By the time they figured that out, the withdrawal would have passed. Picard saving those 4 and the medicine delayed that, but he never intended to. He let them figure out what to do with the drugs themselves. Giving them the coils would be deliberately propping up a system that's none of the federation's business. Because both parties requested it, he probably could have given them the coils under the PD, but he's also not obligated to help either. He did say in this case the PD prohibits him from helping, and maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like he was just saying that to get them off the ship. I think as long as both parties are willing he could have helped, but withholding the coils is the closest he can get to doing what Beverly wanted under the rules. Obviously Picard saying "I don't care" what direction they go in doesn't have near the same emotional impact of Kirk's "let's get the hell out of here", but it pretty effectively shows how done with this whole mess he is. I agree with a lot of comments that it makes no sense that this other planet would have ZERO industry besides manufacturing the drug. So many secondary industries would be needed for that. On the other end if the Ornarans can't even maintain their own freighters that are VITAL to getting the drug, how are they running a whole economy producing consumer goods for TWO PLANETS. Their behavior at the start is very in keeping with long term drug addiction, but again, how does their planet function at all? As for the whole "just say no" talk with Wesley, I think it makes perfect sense that Wes wouldn't know about this stuff in the environment he grew up in, and Tasha is the obvious choice to tell him about drug addiction given her past. I think the problem is the dialogue feels so fake and forced that it comes across like an anti drug campaign you'd play to 3rd graders. It's all in the execution of the scene that it falls flat IMO. Symbiosis has a lot of potential, and it's much better than some of the early stinkers in this season, but there are also a lot of rough edges in the story that never got ironed out. The final result is middling IMO.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-06-29 21:48:25 +0000 UTCdid you guys catch Tasha waving at 42:14?? The production of this episode finished after the next episode, so she was literally waving goodbye!
Ee'char
2024-01-03 17:38:47 +0000 UTCIn teenage slang it did, but teenagers weren't writing for Star Trek. For adults, awesome still meant "causing a state of awe."
James H
2023-12-26 00:59:22 +0000 UTCThe Onarans being so lackadaisical about their rescue seems right. But shouldn’t the Brekkians want off the dying freighter?
Philbot
2023-12-16 22:06:02 +0000 UTCA mostly boring episode with yet another wonky interpretation of the Prime Directive. At least Picard is consistent with his hyper rigid interpretation of it. (I guess it's only OK to violate if Wesley is in danger, though)
Nerd's Gold
2023-12-16 05:19:47 +0000 UTClol cute
Derek Orr
2023-12-15 19:59:53 +0000 UTC...Never mind, I looked it up. Now I remember.
Joe Concepts
2023-12-15 19:35:19 +0000 UTCI've got to go look that up. I've watched most of the newer shows. I guess I missed it.
Joe Concepts
2023-12-15 19:32:26 +0000 UTCI mean, they did eventually address the Felicium Crisis in the modern series...not that I really watch them.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-15 19:28:27 +0000 UTCFunny to hear Riker using 'awesome' in the archaic sense of meaning "shocking" or "amazing", since by the late 80s it basically only meant "good."
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-15 17:59:15 +0000 UTCShould've thought of this for the patron takes, but there should've been a sequel where they return and there's a horrible civil war once the addicts recover and find out what's been happening. Then Starfleet blames Picard.
Joe Concepts
2023-12-15 15:11:37 +0000 UTCDrugs are bad Wesley mkay
AzoriusMage
2023-12-15 12:58:34 +0000 UTCI could hear everyone screaming David at you
AzoriusMage
2023-12-15 12:40:17 +0000 UTCI mean, if this was Nutrek, they would think the 3rd planet in the system is "right there" and would treat it as such.
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-15 04:28:02 +0000 UTCMerritt Butrick and Judson Scott - an ST2TWOK reunion!
Collin Freeman
2023-12-15 04:05:19 +0000 UTC27:44 you guys got it!!
Jovet
2023-12-15 03:49:48 +0000 UTCI'm pretty sure there's going to be quite the discussion after that one.
KatWithAttitude
2023-12-15 03:13:22 +0000 UTCSuch a long burn on the Merritt Butrick recognition....the tension was killing me...
StonyD
2023-12-15 02:11:29 +0000 UTCwesley crusher: the reason why Filisium was a drug problem in the 80's.
Prof Moff
2023-12-15 01:50:42 +0000 UTCSPACE CRACK!
Steven Johnson
2023-12-15 01:20:43 +0000 UTCOh common Josh, really?! There goes my sleep again... 😉
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-15 00:55:37 +0000 UTCThese last couple episodes are some of the most memorable in S1; Symbiosis, Skin of Evil, Conspiracy, the Neutral Zone. Excited to see them coming up! Can't wait to see what yall think about them. Love watchin Trek w/yall!
Lucas Herr
2023-12-15 00:46:31 +0000 UTCIt's half midnight, do I go to bed or watch this .. I'm watching this ☺️
SinocTheHodgeheg
2023-12-15 00:41:14 +0000 UTCI believe it is next
Josh (Target Audience)
2023-12-15 00:40:07 +0000 UTCHey early drop! Nice
James Bottas
2023-12-15 00:36:33 +0000 UTC“Skin of Evil” must be coming up
Rich Cirivilleri
2023-12-15 00:33:39 +0000 UTC
