Basically, the away team (including Wesley) beam down to a planet where everyone jogs everywhere they go and they all wear strips of cheesecloth wrapped strategically around their extra-fit bodies.
These people, called the Edo, are remarkably touchey-feeley and everyone (even Worf) is having a great time.
Somehow, while every other person on this planet is getting all kissy-faced, Wesley and a BUNCH OF OTHER TEENAGERS WHO APPARENTLY ARENT HORMONAL AT ALL take turns showing off their cart-wheel skills. Everything looks pretty great and Picard is just about to approve the planet for shore leave when Wesley falls in some flowers and screws it all up for everybody by suddenly and inexplicably being CONDEMNED TO DEATH.
I guess this episode really got to me when I was thirteen because I was exactly the kind of kid who, instead of making out under the bleachers (or whatever kids did--my entire education on this subject comes from 80's movies) I was more likely to be practicing my cartwheels and falling into flowers. Except I couldn't even do a cartwheel and still can't. So, mostly, I would just be falling into flowers. And then getting condemned to death for being such a ridiculous teenager.
We were similar teenagers, you and I. And I still can't do a cartwheel. I'm terrified of landing on my face.
ReplyDeleteYes! Exactly. I also can't dive.
DeleteFirst, I must say that I'm completely thrilled to have found your blog yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAs for Justice: I've been rewatching every TNG episode, one a night, for quite a while (thank you Netflix). For almost every episode, I come away appreciating something new, gleaning something I didn't when it first aired or when I watched it in repeats, or just being reminded of how great a particular episode was. Except...Justice. Yup, this one was just as lame as I remembered. Thankfully, it's one of only a tiny few that I consider duds. (And that sprinting everywhere- gah!) Great shot of Wes in the flowers there...
I'm so glad you found the blog too! And, actually, I do think there is something interesting to take away from this one. This is Picard's first major inner battle with the Prime Directive. Thanks to his hand-wringing over what to do, he would become the most Prime-Directive-Concerned captain.
DeleteI'm afraid that I am living in the past. Whenever I get a free moment, I continue what I have been doing for several years--going through each and every Star Trek series and spinoff, episode by episode, sometimes 3 or 4 a day, till I am done, and then I wait a month or two, and I do it all over again. I can't seem to stop myself. I haven't been to a convention, I have never been in a star fleet uniform, or any other character costume--even though my wife is the costumer for the college that we live near to. She's a pro, but I have never even asked her to make one for me. I might wear it if she did. Maybe not around the house, maybe just once... Unless the opportunity arises for me to go to a convention.. maybe then..
ReplyDeleteObsessed? Maybe. The thing that I get out of star trek the most is that it actually grounds me in the real world. I get a lot of peace out of watching the shows. And I just can't let it go.
I get a lot of peace out of watching the shows as well. And, as you may have seen on here, I recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by visiting my first convention. But, while there, I realized how overwhelming it could be. I've got a feeling that, from now on, I'll be enjoying my Star Trek from my couch.
DeleteI remember being quite traumatised by this episode too. I was almost the same age as Wesley (maybe a year or two younger) and I identified in the way that only a 12 year old can. Selfcentredly.
ReplyDeleteYes. Exactly!
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