Power Play

DVD, TNG S5 (Power Play)

After one or two links to the century this season we almost get another throwback to the 22nd Century, long before 'Enterprise' was even a twinkle in Rick Berman's eye - we hear of the USS Essex, a Daedalus-class ship, and for a while there it seems a freak accident could have kept their Captain and crew's consciousness alive, but it was not to be. It would have been very informative to be able to talk to a person from that era, but it was easier to believe these were the usual energy beings, evil Organians, you might say, especially given their non-Starfleet behaviour. For all their vigorous actions against the hostages they had some kind of moral code, the leader, inhabiting Troi's body, was unwilling to see her fellow inmates die and accepted defeat rather than trying to carry out her plan and escape with the other two bodysnatchers, as I imagine they could have rushed Picard and got out of the bay before he blew the hatch. Troi also says the leader was intelligent, but then a lot of villains are. It makes you wonder what happened to the rest of their race and why they chose that moon to incarcerate the criminals.

Though there are some strong dramatic moments, there are several points that stop the episode from being as good an overall piece as it could have been. The shuttle crash could have been better (though it was fun to see seat restraints, I don't remember such things being used since perhaps 'The Galileo Seven' on 'TOS'). Keiko, Molly and O'Brien are nicely integrated into the story, but the moments with the alien inside O'Brien were belligerent without being too dangerous, not enough revulsion in there. The alternative characters came out quite well - Troi is always more disturbing than most people as a villain because she's usually so soft, benevolent and doll-like.

Brent Spiner was excellent as a violent criminal only held in check by his leader, but oozing hate from every pore, quite different from Lore in the way he held himself, and with no disguising of his moods. His moments with Worf, the tough guy on board who could easily be smashed by the android strength showed the Klingon's qualities. Data's strength was an issue for me at first - he beats the locked out helm control in frustration, but it doesn't smash, and he can't open the turbolift door, though a little later he makes up for it by smashing a wall console to pieces and he certainly shoves Worf around. I'd love to see Worf and Data fight, even though it wouldn't be fair as Worf would try his best, but Data would be victorious. Picking Picard of the ground by his throat was very Darth Vader!

Hostage situations can be tense, but I couldn't quite describe this situation in that way. It had its moments but a lot of the time was spent waiting for the crew to come up with a rescue plan or the entities discussing what to do, in Ten-Forward. The best moments were when they shockingly attempted a takeover of the bridge, then went on the run, a bit like last season's 'Brothers,' and the walk to the Cargo Bay with anxious security men hovering around them like moths to a candle. Troi and O'Brien also had an effective 'death' scene when the entities are forced from their bodies.

The story came to a somewhat inevitable end with the criminals giving up, but these were hardened, desperate people that had been trapped for five centuries, so you'd think a certain madness would come out, but they seemed to have learnt to be quite patient. I'd love the Essex to have featured in an 'Enterprise' story, but it was not to be. Alien beings taking over bodies is nothing new, but this particular set-up reminded me of 'Return To Tomorrow' from 'TOS' where three trapped consciousnesses took human forms. I wanted to learn about these people, to sympathise or be horrified by what they might do, the closest scene to achieving this being Data standing nose to nose (or forehead to chin!), with Worf, but they remained in control. It struck me that both O'Brien and Keiko have been remarkably patient when you think about the number of times either of them have been possessed by aliens or whatever. Just another day in the life of a Starfleet family I suppose.

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