The Icarus Factor

DVD, TNG S2 (The Icarus Factor)

That was a nice shot to end with: all the bridge officers in view, the status of family reaffirmed thanks to two personal stories carrying the episode. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Roddenberry's ideas of 'perfect' humanity throughout most of this episode. It seems fathers and sons still have the same problems of relating even in the 24th Century. Not that it mattered - the perfection was never a reality as much as Gene wanted, it was just that the characters tend to be more altruistic and selfless in their daily lives. Sometimes they can seem a touch arrogant and self-satisfied when driving home the point, but that's necessary, or it was at that time, because people weren't as familiar with the style of Trek as they would be now that so many episodes have passed under the bridge.

The pace hasn't changed in recent episodes - Season Two has been slower even than Season One in many episodes - so I can't say I welcomed this as a change of pace. I did enjoy seeing the shipboard people problems that must occur all the time, except we don't always know about them because we're dealing with more interesting things, like aliens or planets. The Tholians did score a mention, but they weren't involved in a story until almost fifteen years later, so it was no good pricking up your ears if you were watching back in 1988!

Something that does get addressed, if only in passing, is the bond between Troi and Riker. It hasn't really been important since last season's 'Haven', but it shows they still care. In Riker's illustrious career he passed up on many captaincies, and I'm not sure if this one was the first or second. Either way, he eventually got the girl, and then had the centre seat, so he got the best of both worlds. Worf's crazy, pain-loving antics are further explored with was a humourous line to that B-story to balance the serious A, and O'Brien is again coming to the fore as a friendly face everyone talks to. In his own small way, he's a bit like an Irish Guinan, only without the advice. Guinan herself hasn't appeared as much in the last few episodes, and it's safe to say that O'Brien has taken the crown for most recurring character so far.

The Anbo-Jitsu looked like fun, and had a lightsaber-baiting impression. I'm not sure it surpasses all martial arts as seemed to be implied, as the armour was quite cumbersome, and if anything, it recalled the lirpa battle from 'Amok Time' more than the precision of hand to hand combat. Always interesting to meet family of main characters, and it's only a shame Kyle wasn't used again. He gave us a window into Riker's past and some reconciliation to cheer us up.

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