Let's Watch - Star Trek: The Next Generation [159. Dark Page - Ft. Dan]

There's a hole in my psyche, dear Liza, dear Liza.
This "podcast" series is a run through and break down of every single Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. From "Encounter at Farpoint" to "All Good Things...", this series is going to look at each and every one of the 178 episodes of the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series that ran from 1987 to 1994. Engage!
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[@Eyetrauma]

The wolf thing is definitely kinda weird: I also understood that Lwaxana’s daughter drowned but if you recall, she calls Worf “Mr. Wolf” when she has that breakdown around Riker, implying that she was already thinking about wolves before Troi Inception’ed her. It almost feels like a leftover plot point from an earlier draft. Wait hold on, is the wolf a reference to the dog that the girl was chasing? Symbolically that doesn’t really fit, since the dog was just kinda there, it’s not like it bit her face off or something. Also, have we ever seen a Betazoid that isn’t somehow compromised? The Tin Man guy felt like his telepathy was a curse.

[@leeannasloan5346]

All problems aside, and I do mean major problems within the episode, I thought Majel did an excellent job. I really like her character and I was drawn to the story because of how heartbreaking the performance was. I do wish marina would have brought more feeling to this episode, she seemed kind of distant even though she was suppose to be equally upset...

[@thepenskyfile]

She did seem flat, I'm annoyed I didn't mention this in the podcast. I think Sirtis was trying to give room for Majel to "act" but it came off as detached.

[@leeannasloan5346]

The Pensky File, detached is absolutely the right word to describe marina in this episode. The one time some overacting from Troi may have worked..so many problems with this episode but still something about Majel draws me into the story. I would give it a 3.

[@bmaze35640]

After a random rewatch, Deanna shows that she can actually be a counselor. It would have been cool to really have made the final 15 minutes the whole episode. I guess they had to bring in this race to stress Lwaxana out and get them to have the flashback together. But y’all are right. They should have gotten to the point of the plot a whole lot sooner. But the final 15 minutes shows a lot of growth for Deanna and Lwaxana.

[@carlathompson9308]

i got the impression the little girl reminded her of her little girl and that caused her to breakdown, not so much the increased psychic activity. I personally liked lwaxna , I liked Deanna to but Deanna was so dull and uniteresting at times and needed to lighten up. lwaxana is colorful fun, though over bearing she truly loves her daughter . I don't think that Deanna ever really appreciated her enough and her doting and well intentions even if she was over bearing at times.. at least not till this episode. Deanna , I think sees her moms perspective on her overbearingness, wanting her to marry and smother. Lwaxana lost half her family!!

[@reyjusuf]

I think Kirsten Dunst did well in her scenes. Probably the best child actor guest star in TNG

[@BorgTube47]

Where's Sean & Tana? :) I rather enjoyed this one. I like Lwaxana best when she shows her sad / melancholic side. Adds more range to her character. First time Troi and her mom have a 'real' relationship in terms of talking and empathy. It would have been cool to have seen Troi's sister grown up and visiting the Enterprise. Come to think of it, very few of the characters have siblings. Riker, Beverly, Geordi, Wes. Data's the one with the most reoccurring 'brother.' Picard has one, and he punched him. Worf has a half-brother. And they yelled at each other on the holodeck. Siblings. That's where conflicts are in the 24th century. Please add the poll!

[@thepenskyfile]

Poll added!

[@thepenskyfile]

Sean and Tana should hopefully be back for one last TNG trek...

[@peterrogers8706]

Although I did appreciate the direction of character they did with Lwaxana, the plot details shown here are dodgy. The slow dialogue of Maques brings the story to a grinding halt at times and the warped camera angles and dreamy state was all too reminiscent of Phantasms. Still, I consider this episode (along with Half A Life) as more bearable than most Lwaxana episodes.

[@aukrest]

Ah! I've fallen behind on the podcast but I'm going to be doing some catch up now. This was a good podcast, mirrored a lot of the thoughts that I had on this episode. Like both of you guys I was supremely bored until the ending which was really good for the character of Lwaxana even though I never cared for her before.

[@thepenskyfile]

Welcome back!

[@RadioFarSide]

This is lifted directly from one of the last episodes of MASH, with Hawkeye's chickens on the bus. Would have made a good 30 min show (done right). MASH did a much better job with it, though.