Riker becomes romantically involved with an androgynous character.
This is an interesting episode with great themes, but as ever with Star Trek the central romance does not work.
I love the themes explored in this story. I won't go into detail because it has been done to death by other reviewers. These days it would probably be approached very differently, but at the time it was written it addressed issues usually avoided on mainstream television, particularly in such an unsubtle way. The character of Riker is typically bullish with his feelings on the matter, and Worf, after displaying some initial ignorance, shows great solidarity with his friend.
What does not work for me, as is generally the case with Star Trek, is the love story. Like in so many examples of episodic television there is insufficient time to buy into the relationship. For me love on screen only works when you see the characters go through something meaningful from which the love develops. There are some exceptions when actors have incredible on screen chemistry, but Jonathan Frakes and Melinda Culea do not. They are not bad, but there is nothing presented that makes it feel plausible to me. As with 90% of Trek couples they are in love just because the writer says they are.
I think this is where the narrative fails. I am a fan of the dynamic between the regular show characters and when any new love interest comes along I pretty much want it to fail so it does not risk the status quo. Would you want Riker to be in a permanent relationship with someone for the rest of the show (other than possibly Counsellor Troi)?
All that aside, I think the issues addressed are very worthwhile and ahead of its time, so I think it's definitely worth watching to see how 90s era Star Trek approached non-binary characters, sexuality, and state control.
Frakes and Culea do a great job with the material they have to work with. Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn also contribute well.
This is an interesting episode with great themes, but as ever with Star Trek the central romance does not work.
I love the themes explored in this story. I won't go into detail because it has been done to death by other reviewers. These days it would probably be approached very differently, but at the time it was written it addressed issues usually avoided on mainstream television, particularly in such an unsubtle way. The character of Riker is typically bullish with his feelings on the matter, and Worf, after displaying some initial ignorance, shows great solidarity with his friend.
What does not work for me, as is generally the case with Star Trek, is the love story. Like in so many examples of episodic television there is insufficient time to buy into the relationship. For me love on screen only works when you see the characters go through something meaningful from which the love develops. There are some exceptions when actors have incredible on screen chemistry, but Jonathan Frakes and Melinda Culea do not. They are not bad, but there is nothing presented that makes it feel plausible to me. As with 90% of Trek couples they are in love just because the writer says they are.
I think this is where the narrative fails. I am a fan of the dynamic between the regular show characters and when any new love interest comes along I pretty much want it to fail so it does not risk the status quo. Would you want Riker to be in a permanent relationship with someone for the rest of the show (other than possibly Counsellor Troi)?
All that aside, I think the issues addressed are very worthwhile and ahead of its time, so I think it's definitely worth watching to see how 90s era Star Trek approached non-binary characters, sexuality, and state control.
Frakes and Culea do a great job with the material they have to work with. Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn also contribute well.