The Next Phase

DVD, TNG S5 (The Next Phase)

Could this be the beginning of the Romulans solid-gold run? I'm talking about the fact that in 'DS9' and 'Voyager' you can be almost guaranteed that if they appear you're in for a great ride, but in the early seasons of 'TNG' their contribution was, shall we say, mixed. With this episode they were shown to be as devious as ever, introducing a new technology, the interphase device, one that even Starfleet would consider putting into action for its benefits could be almost as important as warp travel or the transporter: the ability to travel through any physical object. See 'The Pegasus' for more…

Geordi and Ro was a new and untried pairing and created a good counterpoint of belief and deduction, showing both as valid. I love the final scene between them as Ro admits she is now giving serious thought to the afterlife where before she was a sceptic. It's not too heavy on such facets, although it showed the path 'DS9' would travel when it finally arrived the following season, but more importantly it closes out the episode with a good joke and a friendly laugh between the two.

There is much to enjoy, but right away I should point out that if Chief O'Brien had been manning the Transporter instead of that old woman (whom I felt I recognised), he wouldn't have let it happen. I can only assume Meaney was off making films at this point, otherwise he surely would have been in a lot more episodes in readiness for his impending promotion to 'Main Character in a Star Trek Series.' In the early scenes on the Romulan vessel my eyes were wide open, drinking in every detail I could about the crew and the environment - it's so rare to have the opportunity to see the inside of one of their ships. It wasn't the best view, being all burnt up and strewn with debris, but the import of the danger, and what could happen if the core blew, was very well played.

It's quite surreal to see the Borg Queen and Kira's Dad in the same scenes together, both playing Romulans and otherwise known as Susanna Thompson and Thomas Kopache. Their scorpion-like nature was clear, even after the Enterprise had saved them they were duplicitous enough to allow it to be destroyed - it was in their nature, as Chakotay might have observed. I thought at first the Romulans might be more suspicious of the accident, assuming Starfleet wanted the device and that was the reason for leaving with part of it, but they knew they didn't know, if you know what I mean and the Enterprise crew were quick to help them in every way they could, so it wasn't an issue.

The brilliance of the episode is in the remarkable effects work that hold up to this day - the brilliant chase through the Enterprise's crew quarters as a Romulan goes after Ro. He looked the way all members of his race should: shifty, but smart, and angular in his bearing, radiating intelligent malice especially when we don't know he's phased like them. A good thing then, that none of his colleagues sat in the chair as he was so moodily frowning into camera, or his dignity and his cover would have been compromised most severely!

The excellence of the visuals; people running through walls, or, in the best scene, an actual fight happening in the midst of a couple's quiet dinner together, performed the necessary sleight of hand so that attention wasn't drawn to the inconsistencies that abounded: the phased people can pass through matter, yet walk on the deck without falling through. Their hands pass through everything unless it's necessary for the story. So Ensign Ro touches her former chair and console lovingly, if lightly, and the Romulan sits in one on the bridge. When the Romulan's phased phaser (a mind-boggling concept!), is overloaded Ro and Geordi run for cover and dive behind a table, but we've already seen the beam go through Riker's head and other things, so there would be no protection except in distance from the flashpoint. But as I said, you forgive those things because the story is so good.

Perhaps the feeling of imminent danger could have been increased. What I mean is that once we see the unfortunate Romulan falling out of the ship and spinning away for a terrible and lonely death from starvation, I imagine, we know that the boundary of the edge of the ship means death if crossed. It would have been good to see one of them almost fall out and make it clear in dialogue that if the Enterprise speeds off they'll be left behind, or if there had been a scene of almost falling down a turbolift shaft it would have been even better.

The episode works so well because it goes beyond the stunts. However spectacular effects are they are enhanced by good performances and by a connection with the persons involved. We care what happens to Geordi and Ro, enjoying their freedom to listen in on private conversations about them, and experiencing their joy at the sentiments their friends express. The shot in the turbolift when Picard and Riker are on the way to the memorial service is a strong visual example, David Carson showing his credentials as a good director once again - no wonder he was chosen to direct their first film. The scene features Picard talking about the first time he met Geordi, while the man himself stands in the background, then it flips to Riker while Ro listens in on that side. We never did get to hear what Riker was going to say, but you could see her death hit him harder than we might have expected. At least we had the pleasure of hearing the famous Riker trombone in action again!

I wonder if Ro was the best character to choose? It only struck me that while she was having all this exposure, the main female characters don't have a lot to do. I suppose they wanted the religious culture aspect of the Bajorans, but I might have preferred another of the main cast, partly because Ro can seem a little too cheeky for a Starfleet officer. I'd love to see what they could do with an episode like this in a new series or film. I imagine the effects work would be comparative child's play and they could come up with all kinds of dramatic angles and intricate action set-pieces. For its time it was an impressive display that got the important things right: friendship is never stronger than in near-death situations, and the novelty of learning what would happen after the event would fascinate anyone. Thankfully Data's celebratory memorial service made Geordi very happy. Some moments reminded me of other episodes: Kirk phasing in and out of space in 'The Tholian Web' and Captain Janeway's apparent death in 'Coda.'

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