For some reason I had it in my head that I didn't care for this episode, so I haven't watched it since I was a kid. Boy was I my memory wrong! This is a Fantastic episode that I would put up against any drama currently on television. It is an extraordinarily well-told story with twists, and is wonderfully acted by all involved.A Federation colony has been destroyed by Bajoran terrorists, and Admiral Dickweed wants the Enterprise crew to find them and bring them back. Furthermore, he has arranged for Ro Laren to be released from prison to help on the mission. Ro Laren is Bajoran, is serving time for her conduct on an away mission that cost many lives, and Admiral Dickweed insists that she is uniquely qualified to help. Picard objects, Dickweed pulls rank.
But what's really going on here is Ensign Ro (she quickly teaches Picard that the first name is the family name) is secretly supposed to offer the terrorist, Orta, weapons and ships to fight the Cardassians with in exchange for no more attacks on the Federation. But after Ro learns that Orta didn't do the attack in the first place, she doesn't extend the deal. Keep in mind that all of this is going on behind Picard's back, and he is furious that she is involved in the first place, let alone that she beamed down six hours earlier than the rest of the party and took over negotiations on her own.
So she's sulking in her quarters (where she's been confined) when she is visited by Guinan, who has taken a particular interest in Ro, in the mysterious fashion in which Guinan typically conducts herself. She marches Ro straight into Picard's ready room and puts pressure on him to listen to her. Only Guinan can ignore Picard's orders and challenge him in this manner, and he knows that when she does push back on him, she is always right. So he listens, and comes up with a dramatic plan.See, what's really, really going on here is the weapons offer was just supposed to be a trap to get Orta out of hiding so that the Cardassians could kill him. So Picard brings along an empty Bajoran vessel, pretends that Orta and his crew are in it, and lets the Cardassians destroy it. He then confronts Admiral Dickweed on screen in front of the entire bridge crew about his actions, and lets him in on the fact that he's been duped by the Cardassians altogether. It was them that destroyed the Federation colony to begin with, and blamed it on the Bajoran terrorists in order to get Star Fleet to do some dirty work for them.
This episode has everything. Mot the barber is hilarious. Ensign Ro is believable in her brooding and abrasive ways, especially after she describes seeing her father tortured to death. Riker is perfectly protective of his crew. Guinan's character is utilized as the perfect bridge-builder. Picard outsmarts everyone, and the smug manner in which he deals with both the Cardassian and the Admiral is just delicious. Plus, we get some real eye-opening discussion about how the Prime Directive affects real people. The refugee camp of Bajorans that the crew visits could sure use some interference to sway things their way against a clear injustice. They have been banished from their homeland, and are unwelcome wherever they go. But the Federation is at peace with the Cardassians, and refuses to tell them how to run their affairs. The dressing down of Picard by the refugee camp leader is very thought-provoking, and leaves him speechless.
Also there is the coming together of Ro and Picard. In the end, he encourages her to stay in Star Fleet, and says that she may be a great officer some day. I like that he encourages here, but doesn't give her anything. It would be too easy for him to say that he knows of an opening on the Enterprise and offer her that post, but he doesn't make her any promises. Instead he makes it clear that she has a lot of work ahead of her. But I do think we'll be seeing more of Ensign Ro. This is just a Fantastic episode! I feel like this is an episode of Trek that a Trek fan can truly be proud of. If a person had never seen an episode, I think "Ensign Ro" would be a good episode to start them with.Published October 3, 2018
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