Future Imperfect

DVD, TNG S4 (Future Imperfect)

Another fake reality story, not that I'm complaining, but it's been done better. The reality within a reality was much more real in 'Inquisition' ('DS9'), but the set-up here is certainly succeeds in misleading us, as the Romulans close proximity and the likelihood of their kidnapping Riker making us quick to suspect them. Tomalak makes his third appearance, though only from out of Riker's memories, but I must say the key to unravelling the mystery was very well placed for regular viewers. His 'wife' is given the name Min, and that might not spark off suspicions, but once you see her in the home recording, as Riker, you can put the clues together and recognise Minuet from the first season's '11001001'. Clever to make a part of his past that was so real to him, yet leaving the flaw that would reveal the deception, and something that must have been like the flourish of a magician's trick when viewed for the first time. A very nice touch to bring back such a character, if only we'd seen more of her.

As ever with these kinds of episodes it's great fun spotting all the differences, and to be fair some weren't far off the mark - Geordi would lose the VISOR, Data would age and Riker would sport a grey-flecked beard as Captain, though not, sadly, of the Enterprise. This time of course it isn't an alternate reality or a possible future, but an alien boy's manifestation of a feasible way to make Riker accept the situation, and the reality in a reality of the Romulan Holodeck made it a touch more convoluted. The young actor that plays Barash accomplishes the precociousness of being a Riker, with the well-meaning of a misguided and lonely alien, keeping the balance between being sympathetic, yet knowing more than he lets on. A good performance.

Nurse Ogawa is seen for the first time, a female Klingon walks the corridors of the Enterprise, and long before Nog we have a Ferengi crewmember on the bridge of a starship! There are also some nice little moments as Riker comes to terms with fatherhood, takes his son to heart, or when he realises the falsity of his surroundings and tells Admiral Picard to shut his mouth. A long way from being a classic, but an enjoyable adventure all the same.

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