The Perfect Mate

DVD, TNG S5 (The Perfect Mate)

The perfect mate? Perhaps, but far from the perfect episode. As an idea, it's strong, if generic, and I can imagine it being done on any sci-fi series - it was remade, even down to the spots, in 'Enterprise' Season 2 ('Precious Cargo'). That had even less care with the issues of the story than this did, and the idea isn't very well realised. Not only that, but it has echoes of 'The Empath' of 'TOS,' another story about a captive empath, and 'Second Sight' from 'DS9.' As usual, the 'DS9' version is best, with a mysterious alien that the main character is attracted to adding more science fiction ideas and providing a mystery beyond simply the woman.

With this iteration the ethics of Kamala's position as a 'gift' who has been betrothed since birth to build peace between two warring races is mentioned, but it becomes much more about Picard, and whether he can resist the perfect mate, and resist interfering in the culture, since she can become whatever any man wishes and reacts to them. That aspect of the story had potential as she is wisely chaperoned by Data who couldn't be manipulated by her charms, and shows how she can appear to Riker, in a brash, no-nonsense way, to Worf as animal-like, to Picard as an intelligent being that can talk him round on any subject, or to the rough miner aliens in Ten Forward where she fits in like some kind of cowgirl or saloon bar type.

The only core of sadness that makes much difference to us is that she has inadvertently bonded to Picard, and rather than becoming what her betrothed husband would see as perfect, she will always be stuck as Picard's perfect mate, yet she must go through with it and sacrifice her happiness to support the peace of her people. The tragedy is strong, but the episode is rather piecemeal, running around from humorous scenes of the reactions she provokes in the other men aboard, the Ferengi's inept attempts to possess her, and the serious attraction she has for Picard and his uncertainty that he shouldn't intervene. It was nice to see the Picard/Crusher breakfasts being kept up, even more so that Beverly provides a shoulder for him to lean on - and a rather trendy tea set, which I'd quite like!

This might not have been the best episode in which to bring the Ferengi back. It already had more than enough elements to draw upon, and so doesn't delve deep enough into any of them for my liking. Max Grodenchik is fine playing his second Ferengi (after 'Captain's Holiday'), looking even more like Rom with that crooked tooth poking out at the bottom, but the race were still being played as idiotic buffoons. It would take an entirely new series, 'DS9,' to turn them into a favourite top-tier race and that definitely wasn't happening here. Another familiar race, though they don't appear, get much inspiration from this episode. The Trill changed from bumpy-headed (seen last season), to take on the spots of the Kriosians seen here, and it's easy to see why, as they are alien, yet not intrusive on the eye. Ambassador Briam looks even more Trill-like when he's out of his finery in sickbay. An interesting note is that actor Michael Snyder who played the other Ferengi, Qol, was also in 'Star Trek VI.' Suitably he played Crewman Dax!

Famke Janssen could well be the template for Dax. She has the spots, she's tall and well-formed and has a wisdom beyond her looks, but also the ability to have fun. Janssen would go on to be more famous for playing Xenia in 'Goldeneye' and starring in the 'X-Men' films. There was one really weird moment when she's standing there admitting that she's a mutant to Professor X, sorry, Picard - It's like they were doing a rehearsal for the roles they'd play so many years later! She was fine as the metamorph, but I found her more creepy than anything else - that she could know and react to however you were thinking or whatever your interests were… Riker shows remarkable restraint, and the only humour comes from Data's attempts at playing chaperone which would have been fun to see more of.

At its root the idea isn't given the space to grow, either in our concern for her as a betrothed person against her will, or for the rights and responsibilities of duty. I even sensed a subconscious level of what could be called racism, though that's probably taking the reaction a bit far: Riker tells Worf not to assign the Ferengi quarters anywhere near his, which is understandable, but Kamala, when describing her character, suggests forcing her not to adapt to each man would be like telling a Vulcan to ignore logic (fair enough), or asking a Klingon to be non-violent! Surely that's only a stereotype? There must be Klingons that aren't violent all the time? It's not meant to be a slur, and it fits with the shorthand of the universe, but it did jump out at me.

Kamala's container, a glowing golden orb, like a giant, elongated egg, tethered to three energy beams, was a good effect that retained a sense of weight and shape effectively. Also, in a line of dialogue it would be easy to miss, Geordi manhandles the Ferengi away from the Ambassador asking if he's seen the dolphins yet - I think these are the dolphins, according to the Tech Manual, that are involved in ship's navigation though I don't think it was ever talked about on screen. Where was Deanna? You'd think she'd be the perfect chaperone for an empath, and somebody who would understand how she felt. That's probably why she wasn't around, it would be too easy.

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