Starship Mine

DVD, TNG S6 (Starship Mine)

An empty ship defended by one man: Captain Picard. He earned his keep this time, fighting and climbing and dashing round his beloved Enterprise to foil the terrorist's plan, but in the best tradition of Captain Kirk, he didn't forget to use his head - as Kirk mixed substances together to give him the upper hand against the Gorn, so Picard uses knowledge to create a mix that sets off a minor explosion, knocking his captors off balance. The terrorists were a mixed bunch of old and new faces, or faces that would become familiar, Tim Russ the most obvious example in the days before Tuvok or even his stint on the bridge of the Enterprise-B or playing another terrorist of the Klingon variety in 'DS9.' Even though he was just another guest character on this episode I thought he'd be in it more, but once he's knocked out by Picard (in what appears to be a Vulcan neck pinch if ever I saw one! How does that work?), he's left to be eaten up by the baryon wave. He has the same haircut as Tuvok so it's a bit weird to see him with human ears.

Another regular is Patricia Tallman who gets a more visible role as one of the terrorists, from her usual background roles as a stuntwoman - is that mop of red hair a wig or was it actually hers? Most of the aliens in this looked a bit standard, as if Michael Westmore had had an off day or been uninspired, except for Pomet whose long face and multiple nostrils did look different and made me wonder if he was a member of the same race as the rogues from 'DS9' episode 'A Simple Investigation.' I didn't feel the Kelsey had much of a personality and neither did Neil who was always snivelling and looking sheepish under her glare. The other guy that chases Picard through the Jefferies tubes didn't seem very bright as the baryon wave moved so slowly that he must have had time to scrabble away from it, but instead seems frozen to the spot. He still found time to scream as he died so he must have moved his head back!

The other side of the story, set on Arkaria in a beautiful matte painting (though it did seem to show the same time of day whenever it was used), was initially full of comedy. The crew's greatest trial at that point is surviving the reception of the voluble Commander Hutchinson, who's expertise in the art of small talk inspires Data to great efforts of mimicry and imitation to the merriment of his friends: first Hutchinson irritates everyone with his incessant chatter, then Data begins copying him, and it was dream for them to bring the two together! The family feeling of this group of characters is vibrantly felt in any group scene. Deanna with Will when they're taken hostage, the group having a good laugh at Data during the reception, and later when Picard's concerned for his saddle there's some banter that wouldn't have looked out of place closing out a 'TOS' episode.

Hutchinson prevented any moment on the planet from being boring, but it was a surprise that he died from the weapon's blast when La Forge survived. Maybe it was the age difference or Hutch had medical complications that were exacerbated by the blast (or maybe he was vulnerable without his partner, Starsky), but though he was over-friendly I quite liked him. Glenn Morshower was another familiar face who played more than one role in Trek. Worf gets off a good smirk (which is about all he does get to do in the episode), when he asks to be excused from Hutch's reception, then Geordi can't be, as Worf asked first, but I'll bet when it came down to it he wished he had been there with his friends.

The early part of the episode brings heart to the story, as Picard walks his empty ship, fondly gazing around at her, almost as if this were the last time he'd see her. That may have been intentional as the Enterprise could have been under grave threat had the trilithium gone off. In reality though, I doubt anyone expected the ship to suffer any meaningful damage (not until they got to the films!), so the risk isn't as high as the story makes out. It becomes more of a drama to see what Picard will do next after convincing them he's Mot the barber, then running around taking them out one by one. It doesn't have the same level of action and suspense that, for instance, 'Macrocosm' gave Janeway in 'Voyager,' but there's a distinct draw in seeing Picard going about like a modern Robin Hood in his green shirt and crossbow. Where did the combadge come from though, I ask? I'm pretty sure Picard wasn't carrying one, but they find one in the Jefferies tube anyway.

Seeing the Enterprise totally empty, and only partially lighted isn't something that happens every day, and Picard's action man side has been proven before, but I don't think the episode quite lives up to the reputation of an all-out actioner and B-story of the reception tails off once the crew have been taken hostage. They (and Picard) always look so suspicious when they're trying to be inconspicuous, and any self respecting baddie would spot that they were planning something a mile off - I didn't think it was wise of Beverly to pull Geordi's VISOR up to her ear to block out the sound, but she must have been dazed by the noise.

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