Gambit, Part I

DVD, TNG S7 (Gambit, Part I)

Sometimes I watch an episode that I've been ambivalent about before, and because my expectations are lowered I notice a lot more and get a lot more enjoyment out of it than expected. Does it make it a good episode or is it all to do with preconceptions? Regardless, I've never thought much of the 'Gambit' two-parter (the fact it gives away that it's going to be a cliffhanger ending by having 'Part I' in the title doesn't help), but whether that's because Part II is terrible or I thought it sounded better than it turned out to be, I couldn't say. This time I liked it more, but even now I notice how it slows significantly once we get aboard the rogue ship, artificially expanded to become a two-part story when it might have been more of a roller-coaster ride condensed into one episode.

The early part remains very good with a teaser that keeps us guessing, masterfully keeping Picard out of the picture until the last possible moment in the episode, and showing the main cast out of uniform and working as a team to find their missing Captain. They don't entirely work as rough, tough, scum and villains, but they make a humorous stab at it. The bar was very 'Star Wars,' but with the Trek twist of having some of those lesser known aliens around: as well as the mouse-like Yridian which stupidly tries to barter with Riker on the Enterprise and gets shoved against a bulkhead for his trouble, I thought I noticed both an Antican and a Nausicaan. The fish-like barman was a good design, although he appeared to have slime under his eyes, unless that was a reaction to Troi's dazzling beauty that could reduce even a hefty old scoundrel to tears of joy…

Riker has a lot of good stuff to do, but it's Data that stood out for me because he has to take over from the Commander as Acting Captain. With both the Captain and second in command kidnapped it looks like Data could be next, and I wonder if the Enterprise has enough officers to cope. That brings me to the absence of Crusher in the episode. Did she stay behind at the alien bar for some shore leave, or was she so overwhelmed with grief at the apparent death of Jean-Luc that she couldn't be seen in public - her mysterious non-appearance at the briefing scene of Data's was conspicuous. It's a thrill to see the android in command, although his presence seemed to have an effect on those serving under him - unless Ensign Giusti at conn always sounds like a computer! Data does a good job as a leader and makes me wish we could have a series set in the future many years after the Enterprise-D and -E are dead and gone, with Data as a proper Captain.

Riker's scenes had a lot of weight to them (and I'm not being facetious), with the most affecting being his moroseness in his quarters and the admission to Troi that he wants the pain and anger until he can bring those who killed the Captain to justice (half expected him to shout "I need my pain!" like in 'Star Trek V'!). I appreciated that it was made clear, despite his bitterness at the Captain's fate, that it wasn't revenge he was after, but justice for the man's memory so that he could grieve in peace, knowing he'd done all he could for Picard. Troi's outburst at his selfish ambition to ignore the crew's needs and focus on tracking down the perpetrators was the strongest moment of the episode. In the past we've occasionally seen Troi get too over-emotional, but here her true feelings were pitched just right. One of the things missing from the episode (apart from Beverly) were similar reactions from the other characters, but I suppose most are quite stoic and would grieve in their own way. I just didn't feel the mood of the Captain's death came across strongly enough, even though it could be said to be a waste of time because Picard was alive, it's never a waste of time to show how characters are affected.

The episode has some good moments, but they tend to be before the rogue ship and its space pirates show up, not counting the exciting phaser battle with people leaping over rocks and short, sharp bursts whizzing through the air - who says phasers are slow and boring without energy 'bullets'? The situation on the ship is entertaining, particularly the moment Picard gets to let out all the tension he's built up over the years serving with a First Officer that won't let him beam down to planets, by punching Riker to the floor and savagely kicking him on the way out! Ironically this episode sees the 24th Century regulation of the First Officer telling the Captain to stay behind abused once again - this time Data tries it out only for Riker to refuse, and then he gets himself captured. It was handy Baran didn't want Riker dead, but was happy to cart him around in case he became useful, but if the need arose I'm sure Picard would have stepped in as he did to save the outpost with a flash of genius that didn't betray his true allegiance, yet saved lives. On the other hand you'd think the Captain of the flagship would be very well known throughout the Quadrant, and maybe even Riker. A bit dangerous that Picard as Galen (another nice nod to continuity, and Picard's archeological mentor), makes the connection between Riker and the Enterprise because Baran could just check up on the internet and find out who was Captain of that ship. His wi-fi must have been up the spout.

I wasn't sold on the cliffhanger, it felt like it was there to be the expected shock ending, though we're pretty sure the Enterprise is only going to be disabled so it has no power as a dramatic moment. I also felt the guy in charge of the Starfleet outpost, whom Riker tries to order about, looked too similar to Geordi's Dad in the previous episode. But if it's aliens you want you needn't look much further than this episode. On top of the bar-full of lumbering rogues, we get the stunt casting of Robin Curtis (Saavik Mk II in 'Star Trek III' and 'IV'), who is fine as an offshoot of her previous character, this time a Romulan. It was interesting to hear about the offshoot race from the Romulans, although that could get complicated. An offshoot of an offshoot of a… The command codes Riker uses to 'deactivate' the Enterprise shields was another cool nod to the old films. Slightly more of Caitlin Brown (Vekor)'s face could be seen in 'DS9' episode 'The Passenger,' (though not much more), the default episode and character I associate her with, and Bruce Gray had also appeared in that series and was reprising his role of Admiral Chekote in a nice touch (and a confusing one for anyone with 'Voyager' on the mind).

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