TNG – The Game

Plot – The teaser is one of those scenes where I feel like I am intruding on something I really shouldn’t be seeing. Riker is down on Risa and enjoying some sexy fun time with one of the inhabitants and is playing ‘if you don’t give me my communicator, I will chase you around like a sexual predator.’ I wasn’t sure whether to squirm or laugh but it certainly sets the tone for this goofy episode because it is full of laughter and madness.

Essentially this is a game that offers a sexual reward for completing a fairly simple task. No wonder everybody on Risa is playing it. If there was an app on your phone that presented a strategy game that tickled your g-spot every time you solved a problem, I think it would be all the rage in an instant. Of course, this does mean we have to suffer an entire episode of watching people walking around as though they are cumming in their pants but when has Star Trek ever shied away from that kind of sexual insanity.

The idea that the flagship of Starfleet was almost brought down by a silly game to a point where there was almost widespread distribution amongst the Federation is hilarious. Imagine if this was where they chose to end TNG, with everybody under the thrall of this temptress?

Character – Without a doubt Troi’s sexual experience with her chocolate sundae is the scene where I identified with her more than any other. Indeed, I pretty much know this scene word for word and have quoted it whilst eating dessert with guests. She makes her pudding an experience, which is exactly what it should be. What I’m saying is that Troi should only be brought in to discuss desserts, which is clearly her forte, and leave the psychobabble behind. She’s missed her calling.

Wesley looks ridiculously handsome these days. His first appearance made my heart flutter a little. Wil Wheaton has matured into a fine young actor at this point and he lights the screen up whenever he appears. Pairing Wheaton with Judd is great sign of how far he has come because when you compare it to his other romance episode it is streets ahead in terms of chemistry and warmth. The scenes between Wesley and Picard have a lovely warmness to them because their relationship has been explored in great depth in the first four seasons of this show. It might come as a shock to say this but it is probably the most well explored relationship on this show, and the most surprising (wait for The First Duty). DS9 (and Voyager to a lesser extent) have many examples of relationships evolving over time but TNG generally made a template of their regular cast and stuck to it. Picard was initially hostile towards Wesley, afraid to be near him because of his involvement in his father’s death and his clear attraction to his mother. Ultimately a paternal relationship grew, after some awkward hiccups, and at this point they are comfortable within a father/son or at least mentor/mentee relationship. It’s beautiful to watch, bolstered by all the work done previously.

Evil zombie Riker, Troi and Crusher exhibit more character than they usually do. I’m kidding and actually as evil versions of their characters go they are fairly forgettable. I cannot tell any difference between blank eyed zombie Gates McFadden and her regular acting.

Performance – Ashley Judd, star of some fairly successful movies in the 90s and early 2000s, turns up in the role of Robin Lefler, a character who is written to fulfil one purpose only (to be a love interest for Wesley) but actually turns out to be a charming addition to the Enterprise crew and somebody I would have loved to have seen more of as the show continued. Judd struggles a little with making the technobabble sounding naturalistic but whenever she is asked to simply play a character scene, she is excellent, and very likable. ‘Is it true what they say about your birthmark?’ is a terrific line and makes me smile every time.

Production – The chase around the Ship when everybody is after Wesley is one of those ridiculously exciting action sequences that Trek pulls off every now and again. Everything is on point here; the direction is full of suspense and excitement; the music is adding dynamism and Wil Wheaton truly acts as if this is a terrifying situation to be trapped in. TNG often lacks this kind of kinetic action and it’s bizarre that a sequence this good should be wasted on a fluffy episode but I’m pleased nonetheless because the climax is very memorable.

Worst moment – I cannot believe they have O’Brien just standing in the transporter room waiting for people to embark and disembark. What a waste of his talents.

Spare me the thought of Wesley walking in on Beverley having an orgasm whilst playing the game. Later he shares a an awkward turbolift with Nurse Ogawa who is having sexual prolapses.

I wish they hadn’t done that – ‘One piece of good news – we’re to rendezvous with a shuttle carrying Wesley Crusher!’ – Picard sure knows how to brighten your day. If I were Riker, I’d say the next time you have good news for me, keep it to yourself.

The solution to the episode is so blink and you’ll miss it that it is the equivalent of ‘and with one bound they were free.’ From enslaving the entire Federation to captured criminal in five seconds flat. Poor Titania.

A reason to watch this episode again – Just to hear Worf admit that he made a cake. The Game falls under the genre of ‘goofy episode’ and falls in the same bracket as Rascals, Spock’s Brain, Threshold, One Little Ship and Bound. Each season has many spaces to fill so amongst the earnest episodes and the hard-hitting episodes you find these goofballs, with insane premises and very easy to mock because the implausibility but actually a great deal of fun if you switch the logical part of your brain and go with them. The Game cannot be taken seriously (even though it is presented so at times) and should definitely be taken with a huge pinch of salt but if you can relax a little then it actually winds up being a really engaging, if daft piece. Wesley’s return is enjoyable, so is his relationship with Lefler and the way they investigate this strange game that is capturing everybody’s attention is played out with some great lines and dynamic action. Pure entertainment and there is nothing wrong with that every once and a while. Of course, Wesley saved the day…what did you expect?

***1/2 out of *****

Clue for tomorrow's episode: