Star Trek: TNG Review - 5x13 The Masterpiece Society | Reverse Angle

The Enterprise struggles to save a colony without interfering.
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Sources:
Belanoff, Adam and Michael Piller. “The Masterpiece Society.” Star Trek: The Next Generation, created by Gene Roddenberry, Season 5, Episode 13, Paramount Television, CBS, 1992.
Columbus, Chris, director. Adventures in Babysitting. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, 1987.
Hardy, Rod, director. Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. 20th Television, 1998.
Kershner, Irvin, director. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. 20th Century Fox, 1980.

[@marshallhuffer4713]

Ron Canada also played the Klingon lawyer Ch'Pok in the DS9 episode "Rules of Engagement" and the Malon Fesek in the Voyager episode "Juggernaut". I also know him as Admiral Tucker in Seth MacFarlane's Star Trek show The Orville.

[@noahlogue]

Holy crap I didn't know that was him in DS9.

[@docbones213]

That outro music from Masterpiece Theater was way too funny to me 😂

[@eddieschwab864]

"Every plant every microorganism is part of the master plan" The river the rock the trees, sounds like whoever wrote the script for this episode must have been reading a lot of Maya Angelou...

[@jamessatter7418]

I think the issue with Troi isn't just about offspring but with she herself as both a half-Betazoid and someone who was not genetically/socially engineered to have a specific role in the Masterpiece Society.

[@viscountalpha]

The problem with this episode is that they didn't bring up Khan and how gene manipulation is forbidden because it almost destroyed their culture.

[@skyserf]

5:13 She had onions for lunch.

[@RabidNemo]

I caught up with you guys and pulled ahead there's some wacky stuff that happens the next few episodes and I'm really looking forward to your takes lol

[@snugglenuts]

I'm loving the extra touch of having the theme to PBS's _Masterpiece Theater_ play on the outtro. Very nice.

[@docbones213]

Ikr? 😂

[@skyserf]

3:14 Hey look, another experiment next to the warp core.

[@StarkRG]

At least this one wasn't an actual, literal, high-powered weapon, though.

[@TalkernateHistory]

If only this was the KC Masterpiece Society

[@noahlogue]

In HD I've started to see the screws holding down the panels. 😂

[@TheRealKaiProton]

Thats an interesting point, would the episode of played out the same if they colonists were squid aliens, like in galaxy quest? there could of being a sub plot or troi getting down and squishy with the squid leader, who was called "ZZzcccxxxyy1t"

[@donovanulrich348]

There was no prime directive violation in this episode These people understood warp travel, have similar values, and asked for help Yes your actions had alternate effects, but they asked for your intervention. Your absolved

[@russellharrell2747]

The prime directive also applies to the internal affairs of a society, even a warp capable one. That’s why the federation was supposed to be neutral during the Klingon civil war.

[@cmajors999]

I MET Ron Canada in 2019. A little standoff-ish. I saw him at a xerox copy store and slowly walked over and said, "you look most familiar. Been in Law & Order and the Hunted. And Trek directed by Levar Burton. You're Canadian, right?" He said, "No. My dad was from Canada. I'm Ron." I said, RON Canada. Right. you worked with William Friedkin. Then he nodded and left.

[@LordTalax]

I believe Ron Canada also came back to play a Jem'hadar later on. And too bad Hannah couldn't stay around, she was hot.

[@TalkernateHistory]

The thumbnail makes the "Masterpiece Society" guy look like Alan Partridge.

[@BedsitBob]

You don't die, the *instant* life support stops working.

[@saturn580]

I wish we'd actually seen some examples of how genetic tailoring had improved their society. It seems they sacrificed the human ability to improvise and adapt (some of the greatest strengths of our species) just to create a society without job applications or careers councilors. I imagine the lack of competitive pressure would also severely hinder their cultural and technological development.

[@federerfanatic]

You guys should review Person of Interest.

[@Greatermaxim]

Every movie is good with an old wise man that sets them straight. Ignoring the cliches Geordie should have included the kidlies. Tell a joke to the leader or reassure him that when his people leave and could return. They would with a better understanding of life. Though it is naturally implied.

[@BedsitBob]

How would the crew die instantly, when life support fails?

[@chriscomp20]

Clearly there is no extra atmospheric gasses on the ship, so life support is just power to the co2 converter present in each room.

[@russellharrell2747]

Wait, there’s more than just CO2 scrubbers, there’s heating/cooling, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, venting for circulation of air, sensors for tracking all that stuff, and good ol O2. But even then it takes a while for CO2 to build up to hypercarbic levels.

[@BedsitBob]

As Aaron and Martin are heading to the beam down point, of Riker, Troi and Geordi, don't they pass Hannah Bates, leaning against a wall?

[@mtgoxsucks435]

Never was a big fan of this episode either. This is one of my favorite ones of your reviews however :-) I still remember like it was yesterday the day that my mother picked me up from the space orphanage. Thanks for the nostalgia trip boys!

[@TheInfamousBob314]

Someone turned the "Swing" dial of the sequencer to zero.

[@OakCityGamers]

It’s how advanced humans are. They can never fall down. Get hurt. Fart while they do it. And then…. Have a weird pee stream in the morning. It’s always perfect. That’s not a real story. I swear! I guess technically this is suggestive breeding more than genetic engineering… or a mix of the both. That kid was an android!!!! YES!!!!! Like many plots. I can’t rewatch this. Now that you’ve pointedly explained the issues I alway saw. But wouldn’t admit. Lol! Worth it. Thanks again guys! Great episode!

[@OakCityGamers]

And pillars are nothing without GROUNDATIONS! The grounds for foundation. Or the foundation of the grounds!

[@SwayRod836]

If they made a similar episode in Nu Trek, Kurtzman would just copy the plot of Gattaca. Then there would have been a scene where the ship flies sideways through an asteroid field but way too fast!!

[@BedsitBob]

Could you review the Star Trek Continues episode, What Ships Are For? I'm curious what you think of the moral arguments.

[@reaverofjillsandwiches]

I love how picard who has nothing wrong with him feels he can judge genetic engineering. I'd love for genetic engineering to be a thing that way maybe I could see normally. Or I could develop space powers like Khan whatever.

[@Magmaster13]

What's ironic is that the federation banned it and Deanna and Riker's son died because they couldn't use it to cure his disease.

[@reaverofjillsandwiches]

@@Magmaster13 That never happened in Star Trek. Nu Trek maybe, but no one cares about Nu Trek.

[@Magmaster13]

@@reaverofjillsandwiches Yes it was really dumb

[@sebastianshaw4031]

Wesley Crusher repulsive beam👍

[@ShumaniTatankaOwachi]

Another Troi episode, but not horrible.

[@mikeluit3027]

I might be quibbling a little here...just didn't get into the episode as much...C. Good review though. Interesting topic, but not quite B-ish territory.

[@dycedargselderbrother5353]

Fantasy and sci-fi universes tend to have elements that characters strongly object to for reasons that aren't sufficiently explained and that are similar to uncontroversial aspects. In Trek it's genetic engineering. It's hard to see how tech is used to augment every other aspect of life but to suddenly draw a hard line when it comes to that. And no one does it on the down low? I know there are arguments against it, but Trek just goes the "it's bad because it's bad" route. I mean, which is more "defying nature" or whatever the concern is: genetically modifying Geordi's eyes (before birth) so that he has normal human vision or giving him a super radar thingie that sees through walls or whatever? Surprised with the B- rating given the normally tough standards. I'd expect this one to be in C- territory or less. This one was always a snoozer for me.

[@ardra2581]

The reason for Star Trek's aversion to genetic engineering basically boils down to the 3rd world war where augments like Khan took over Earth and caused a lot of damage and then genetic engineering was outlawed, so it's more of a Federation thing than a star trek thing. It's explained more in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and the accompanying TOS episode.

[@dmclegg66]

That society was doomed either way they couldn't adpt if you can't change you die.

[@carldagroundskeeper]

I know it's just a plot device but I wonder if it would just be better if starfleet and the federation would just stop pretending they give a shit about the prime directive. Just seems like everyone and their brother thumbs their nose at it whenever they get the chance lol

[@damonledford180]

Homie was an mouth overactor before this time is was all eyebrows lol

[@darvon906]

What the hell is that word salad.

[@asahearts1]

The part about their society falling apart if enough people leave is interesting. To me, the idea that anyone would think it's ok to force someone to remain so their -cult- society can go on is just insane and completely alien. But recently I've come to realize about 2/3 of people are collectivist so I'm in the minority.

[@PR--un4ub]

After I saw "collectivist" in your comment, I visited your channel to see your subscriptions; I was not surprised. Wrong franchise for you.

[@asahearts1]

@@PR--un4ub Nope, I like TNG. I have since I was a kid lol. Just because I disagree with the way they lay out society doesn't mean the show is bad, or at least not bad in an "I'm laughing at you, not with you" kinda way. I liked every Star Trek series until Enterprise. I guess I would just expect more self-awareness in the "current year." Blaming someone for getting raped by an alien and laughing about them getting pregnant from it is not ok in the 21st century. I finally stopped when they let a species die of a preventable disease because their existence was "holding back" another species who were being treated extremely well. After Enterprise it just got worse. Mostly because starships are depicted as being run by children. I don't think the most Communist of show creators from the older series would like the way things are going.

[@mrwess1927]

😅 you got it half right, selfishness creeps in and it becomes communal for you to share with them and it is to each their own with their own things and not share with you.

[@charlesvan13]

This doesn't deserve a B-. It's a pointless and boring episode. The society doesn't even appear any different than star fleet, except their love of abortion.

[@Z0nK89]

every movie is better with a pycotic military dude ... just think about a romantic comady and booom! rocket launcher bouth are loosing an arm or a leg and an eye totaly new plot! can thay still love each other now that thay are f up? xD

[@dycedargselderbrother5353]

That's basically the plot of Terminator. Kyle loves Sarah so much he travels back in time to meet her but a psycho robot stands in the way of their love.

[@Z0nK89]

@@dycedargselderbrother5353 i see what you mean but... and yes i liked that one