TNG - The Icarus Factor

Plot – Let’s meet the family is a sub-genre of Trek that crops up every so often on each of the shows and gives us a brief glimpse into the childhood and domestic life of our regulars away from their work. Even Trek shows where you might think that would be impossible (like Voyager, where most family are exposed via dreams, flashbacks, etc) indulge.

Character – I’m pleased that Riker is offered the Captain’s chair this early in his run because he has already proven to have all the leadership qualities necessary to run his own Ship. By the end of the seven-year run it seems absurd that he is still the First Officer on the Enterprise when the Captain’s chair is pulled out for him on so many occasions. I would have really liked to have gotten under his skin and found out why he was avoiding Command. It’s touched upon in The Best of Both Worlds but never really brought up again. However, forcing him to have a long hard look at his career in season two is a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the character and see how far he has come in such a short space of time. The Riker of season one was a bit one-note and something of a womanising career officer. In season two he is much more relaxed, looks far less officious and has a much more interesting relationship with the crew (especially Picard who he has developed a lovely rapport with). Speaking as somebody who has his own daddy issues, I can entirely empathise with Riker in this episode. I wouldn’t want my dad turning up at my work, hanging out with my friends and casting opinions on my career options either. If I had a chance to knock seven shades of hell out of him in a safe setting I would do it also. In true style Riker finds that he cannot admit his feelings until he is doing something truly stupid and aggressive and finally gets a chance to tell his father that he wishes he had died instead of his mother during their fight together. There’s a suggestion that Will might have only made it because his father challenged him so much. That his ambition has been fuelled for his desire to please the man. And he hates him for that. It’s a very well-reasoned character journey he goes on.

Ahh Pulaski. I know Diana Muldaur’s experience on the show wasn’t an altogether pleasant one but I really like this argumentative character because she is so different from the norm on the Enterprise. She adds an extra level of spice to a show that is far too nicey nice at times. The first time we see her in this episode she is propping up the bar, clutching a drink and walks straight up to Riker’s dad and snogs his face off. She’s not your typical TNG character, for sure. I love an older female character who completely knows who she is and just goes for it. She cuts off Kyle when he tries to flirt with her and admits that she has been married three times. What a babe. She is willing to prescribe all the drugs in the world to make someone better but nothing works better than Pulaski’s Chicken Soup.

Wesley is sweet for wanting to help out a moody Worf but he’s a little too saccharine at times. Wil Wheaton doesn’t seem entirely comfortable in that stiff uniform and has trouble looking natural in some scenes.

There’s a lovely moment between Troi and Pulaski when they discuss the daft conflict that the two men they desire are indulging in. I’m not sure if what they are saying about gender stereotypes is accurate, but I like that they admit that men behaving badly is what attracts them to them so much.

Performance – Mitchell Ryan doesn’t disappoint as Riker’s father, a tough performance to give because he has to convincing portray a man that created somebody as testosterone fuelled as William T Riker. It strikes me as very realistic that these two men, who are both proud of each other’s accomplishments, cannot find a way to communicate that to each other. They have a competitive past and neither one of them can get over that. They are pretty similar and neither of them wants to admit it.

Production – Trust the coming of age ceremony for Klingons to involve lots of pain and torture and no cake. The sequence where Worf is observed by his friends revealing his feelings and being tortured is very well directed. It makes me wish they would turn the lights down a bit on the Enterprise because these scenes are far more atmospheric than anything else.

I can’t tell if the anbu-kitsu scene is deeply embarrassing or not. It feels like the actors have cobbled together a game one afternoon that they thought would be a fun idea but in practice the idea of a combat sport where you are blinded actually makes a lot of good sense. The bright red plastic armour on the other hand, is mortifying. And the cod Japanese.

Best moment – Data trying to tell Worf that he is loved is downright hilarious, and Worf’s response even more so (‘Be gone! Sir…’).

Picard and Riker. It’s astonishing to think that these are the same characters that butted heads so awkwardly in Encounter at Farpoint. I love the moment when Picard spells out Riker’s career options; the glamour of being the First Officer of the Enterprise or the chance to be the Captain of a much more insignificant ship that will nevertheless be his. There’s no ego in what Picard is telling him and he is highly complimentary in his assessment of Riker’s abilities. Whilst I am always crying out for more conflict on TNG, the mutual respect between these two is hugely endearing.

Worst moment – Riker does behave a bit like a moony teenager for much of the first half of the episode. I get it. I would be the same. But spending half an episode staring off distance moodily and storming out of rooms does not a First Officer make.

Troi’s very pushy form of counselling that isn’t asked for in the first place is precisely the kind of in your face therapy that people try and avoid. Even if she is saying what is obvious, it takes some nerve to walk up to somebody and openly criticise them.

I wish they hadn’t done that – Riker’s decision is dealt with far too quickly. And the reason he gives too vague. Motivated self-interest? What the hell does that mean?

A reason to watch this episode again – There’s a feeling of a daytime soap about this episode (right down to the corny music) but that doesn’t detract from the fact that The Icarus Factor is a revealing episode, and one that paints in some background for both Riker and Worf effectively. We’re at that point in the second season where the characters are starting to gel rather nicely and while both the script and the performances can be a little mannered at times, both can impress in moments too.

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

Clue for tomorrow's episode: