Interface

DVD, TNG S7 (Interface)

Continuing the theme of family is this intense and personal story for Geordi La Forge in which he learns of the disappearance of his Mother and then thinks he's found her. It was very easy to dismiss his belief she was still alive as the desperate hopes of a son who will not give up without evidence. But though he makes the decision to take matters into his own hands, against the Captain's orders, there was a positive outcome in one way. It's just that with everyone Geordi has some level of falling out, even his own Father. With Riker he dismisses the Commander's experience of losing his Mother as being completely different to his own, so although Riker tries to step beyond his duty as Geordi's superior, to be there as a friend La Forge doesn't react well. It's refreshing to see one of the 'TNG' characters refusing to give in to the logic and calm advice given by his friends and crewmates. It shows that these were not perfect people as they sometimes seem. He doesn't play along with Troi's counselling, keeping his distance, striding about the room and eventually leaving abruptly. He disobey's Picard's orders and even gets Data into trouble.

Data and Geordi's friendship is tested in this episode, but Data shows just how far he will go for his friend, and it's quite far. He risks Geordi's life at his request, he puts his own career in potential jeopardy, and he even attempts to soften any bad news he must give. To begin with he's reacting to Geordi's emotions as an emotionless android would - by reading them and commenting on them. But this time Geordi's engineering brain isn't in gear and he's shaken to his core so Data's usual behaviour doesn't work to make him feel better. So Data steps up a gear, trying hard to support his friend's hypothesis though he must ultimately admit that it's nearly impossible. His greatest act of friendship is when he doesn't stop Geordi from using the interface suit once more and returning to the damaged ship, even helping him in the interests of his safety. Data is a very good friend in this one!

The interface idea was a strong one - seeing Geordi clambering about inside a ship with normal eyes was a great way to start the episode. He's a superhero who can withstand extreme heat and cold, move hefty pieces of bulkhead and shoot phaser beams from his hand: Super Geordi! Even the real suit he wears back on the Enterprise to connect with the probe looked good and was reminiscent of the old 'TOS' environmental suits which had colourful wires and dials on them. It was a great way of putting Geordi into a completely different position, and early on I was wishing I knew what the probe really looked like, and I was given that too, via a reflection in a console. The whole setup worked really well and while the situation with Geordi's Mother wasn't quite weird enough to send chills down the spine, it was fine and made for a good story.

The real story is in Geordi having to deal with difficult problems that aren't to do with mechanical solutions - the reason he could so easily come up with a plausible idea of how his Mother's ship, the USS Hera, could have ended up on the planet that he happened to be passing. It's not so easy for him to accept the reality of life. It was nice that we got to see the real Mrs. La Forge thanks to the recorded message, as well as Dad, Dr. La Forge; always good to expand the character's by showing their families. Riker's talk was equally enlightening and the episode had a satisfying feel to it even though it was rarely exciting. It was the interactions between the characters that made it work, as so often with this series and its 'warm bath' effect where you sink into a comfortable world with people you like.

Warren Munson makes his first appearance on Trek playing an Admiral. He would go on to be Paris' Father (sort of) in 'Voyager' episode 'Persistence of Vision' (which was similar in that it was about seeing things that weren't real and dealing with parents). He mentions Deep Space 3 to Picard, as well as slipping in another mention of the Breen, which is always fun. The biggest thing is seeing Geordi as he would be without the need for the VISOR. I don't think this is the first time we saw him this way (and it wouldn't be the last, thanks to one of the best scenes in 'Star Trek: Insurrection'), but it's always fascinating and I'm sure Levar Burton enjoyed playing some scenes as his normal self. The only part the episode fails to deliver on are the consequences of Geordi's disobedience. We get a short scene where Picard sternly informs him the incident will go on his permanent record, but there's very little telling off, difficult under the circumstances I'm sure. But Geordi isn't usually the sort to go against orders so maybe Picard felt he could let him off lightly. As for Data, the issue is sidestepped with Picard saying he'll talk to him later. Data's involvement was somewhat more serious since he was the superior officer, but again, a dressing down wouldn't quite have fit with the episode's mood.

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