The Mind's Eye

DVD, TNG S4 (The Mind's Eye)

Geordi can't even make it to Risa without being abducted by Romulans, forced to endure brainwashing techniques and programmed to assassinate a Klingon target. You have to feel sorry for him. The episode on the other hand has both moments of fascination, and a lack of strong tension, though somehow, on balance I'd still have to say it's a good story, although it chooses a thoughtful, slow-burn approach rather than ratcheting up the tension levels. To start at the beginning I'd like to know why Geordi's shuttlecraft gave him no warning whatsoever of a decloaking Romulan Warbird? You'd think it would be standard procedure, but he was on holiday, travelling to the famous pleasure planet - he even had the computer playing quiz games, so I can accept that normal operations weren't being fully observed.

The Romulan restraint chair is worth mentioning as it successfully provides the brainwashing scene with a threatening and uncomfortable mood. Even so, although La Forge's anguished face and ghastly scream to camera were effective in showing the mental horror he was experiencing I felt we could have done with seeing inside his brain for part of that, not for bloodthirsty visions, but to give it more punch and add to the atmosphere of violation. You could cite the O'Brien episode as an example of that, but this general lack of drive carried through the episode and stopped it from achieving greatness.

It could have been a simmeringly tense build-up to La Forge's deadly mission as the Commander goes about his duties, only the audience aware of his unknowing double-agent state, but it remains interesting, thoughtful, though the theatrical 'he's behind you' direction is all there is to make us wonder what will happen. The exception is during the simulation in which La Forge calmly phasers O'Brien to death in Ten Forward. When we actually see him meet the Chief in the bar on the Enterprise, it's one of the few times we really don't know what he's going to do. Why does he pour his drink on O'Brien? Maybe it's something to do with his mental processes trying to keep the Chief away?

The unfolding universe of 'TNG' is nicely implemented, with the Ferengi, Cardassians and Andorians mentioned, and the status between the Klingons, Federation and Romulans providing the crux of the story: a plot to undermine the Federation/Klingon treaty by the pointy-eared ones. The most brilliant part of all this is the mysterious scenes aboard the Warbird when Geordi's been captured. John Fleck is back again to lend his silky tones as a Romulan and, uncredited, Denise Crosby provides the voice of a mysterious female who remains in the shadows. Who could she be? Why would the Tasha Yar actress be used for a vocal performance? Why are we not allowed to see this character's face? All very stimulating questions that must have given viewers at the time a great deal of debate, but thankfully they only had to wait a couple of episodes for the answer!

There is some nice direction when La Forge proceeds towards his directive, a fish-eye lens adding an unreality to his journey. The actual attack isn't quite so well arranged - it's simply Geordi walking across the Cargo Bay while Worf, on instructions from Data tries to wrestle past a couple of Klingons. In the end Picard has time to grab the phaser and stop him from killing the Klingon governor. I'm not sure it was the most plausible explanation to offer up to someone who had just survived an assassination attempt: we think the Romulans kidnapped our officer and brainwashed him to kill you. Oh, and the Klingon Ambassador was in on it too. But Governor Vagh was quite restrained and thoughtful for one of his race. It was nice to have Picard's assistance of the Klingon High Council brought up, as well as Worf's current situation as an outcast, proving the series did have some degree of continuity and mythology to juggle as it progressed.

***