The Chase

DVD, TNG S6 (The Chase)

A controversial episode that rather stomps on the Christian view that we were created by God and instead reveals it was all done by a humanoid race that wanted their memory to continue into the distant future. It might have been easier to create a monument or something, but the extreme time difference is supposed to be reason enough for them to think their civilisation wouldn't survive. Although it is so evolution-based, it does at least give a credible reason (beyond low budget or difficulty to create non-humanoids) that so many Trek species look human and have two arms, two legs and a head. I don't remember this major revelation ever being mentioned again, so maybe the writers thought twice about it or had no idea how to use this information, letting it lie rather than be accused of courting controversy. Not that Trek is ever far from science-based secularist views, but rarely does it state so unequivocally its point of view.

Taken as fiction, as Trek should be, it was an entertaining diversion away from the usual stories, making full use of starship power and the ability to dash about the galaxy without responsibility. It was also ably directed by Jonathan Frakes, though without any special plaudits in that regard, except the dynamic pulling back as Picard exits the bridge towards camera, which felt like a shot out of one of the films. Professor Galen was a throughly interesting man, mainly because of the hold he had over his former student, Picard, and it was a tragedy to lose him so soon. He held strong views not normally expressed, about the Federation being a dull and bloated empire and sounding as if he would be quite happy for it to fall, as all empires do eventually. On the other side of the coin the episode is about the races coming together, though the message of peace and cooperation is lost upon all but Picard and the Romulan leader who share a memorable conversation which ends the episode optimistically: that above the heads of all those squabbling and warlike races that hadn't even considered the value of the message that they all had common descent, perhaps one day there could be peace between all nations, an allegory for our own world, I expect.

We have another insight into Picard's backgrounds and regrets, the paths not taken and his absolute love of archeology so that he almost becomes Indiana Picard, except for the responsibilities of his ship and crew. It doesn't stop him from a compromise, taking them along on the mystery tour and diplomatically getting the Cardassians and Klingons to work together. The cast held some interest, Linda Thorson as Gul Ocett, who is the first female Cardassian ever seen (meaning, like the back room of the Runabout in 'Timescape,' that they showed the female Cardassian makeup for the first time on this series, and not 'DS9' as might have been expected), creating a link to 'The Avengers.' And to find out that the Founders were responsible for all creation was simply bizarre - I'm joking of course, but Salome Jens who played the ancient humanoid (somehow projected out of the tricorder without it showing a beam - I didn't even know it could do that!) would become much better known as the Female Changeling, leader of Odo's people. John Cothran Jr. who was Nu'Daq, the Klingon Captain impressed by Data's physical powers would go on to play another in the Mirror Universe story 'Crossover' on 'DS9.' The Klingons had different names however, so they weren't the counterparts of each other, disappointingly.

Other little things I enjoyed were seeing Beverly's tea set again, though some confusion now reigns over who owns it - I couldn't be sure if they were in her quarters or Picard's. Either way, their sups together have become most regular, and really should have continued into the film series. Galen mentioned Deep Space Four; although Deep Space Nine was clearly the ninth starbase of the range it's good to hear others spoken of. What each consists of isn't clear since they're obviously not going to be Cardassian-made like DS9. It was also fun to see Maurice Roeves as the Romulan Captain, his angular face bugged me for all of the few minutes he was part of the story, as to where I'd seen him before - he was in 'The Last of The Mohicans,' the Daniel Day Lewis film. As much as I liked the Yridians being part of it we didn't actually get to see any (nor the mentioned Vulcans) which could have made for an even more momentous final scene, though having all those aliens together was historic, the set looked pretty fake, possibly undermining the moment a little. I also felt the Yridian ship went out with a whimper, the effect not cutting it, but as a whole it was a good adventure story.

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