2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Geordi trips the lights fantastic, October 11, 2004
This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 155: Interface [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The Enterprise is dispatched to a gas giant where the science vessel Raman was sent to gather atmospheric samples. The Raman was supposed to descend briefly into the troposphere, gather samples and then return to a safe orbit, but never resurfaced and doesn't respond to hails. Traditional communication methods won't penetrate the interference generated by the thick atmospheres on the planet, but conveniently, the crew has configured a probe that is connected to a body suit worn by Geordi LaForge via a focused particle beam - so Geordi can direct the probe with his thoughts as it descends to the Raman and determines the fate of the crew. Not only does Geordi direct the probe by impulses from his brain, he also gets feedback from the probe.
While Geordi does some practice runs, Picard must inform him that the USS Hera has vanished. His mother (portrayed by Madge Sinclair) is the ships captain and is assumed lost with the rest of her crew. No debris, no sign of foul play, but the Federation seems determined to write the Hera and its crew off as dead, not missing. They don't seem concerned that they may have been sucked into a wormhole, abducted, pirated or tractor-beamed away - just assumed dead. Makes you want to volunteer for a deep space mission right now, doesn't it?
Geordi refuses to accept that his mother is dead until he sees a body or at least some wreckage. Everyone behaves as though Geordi is the irrational one. Even Geordi's father (Ben Vereen) is planning a private funeral.
Geordi suits up to inspect the Raman, finding the entire crew of 7 dead, sprawled on the floor. As he is about to leave, he sees his mother standing there - she tells him that she's ok, but he needs to send the Raman lower into the atmosphere to save the Hera. Geordi is promptly sent to Counselor Troi for evaluation - because even though stranger things have happened to this ship and its crew, they think Geordi must be nuts - it's the only logical explanation, right?
Geordi even comes up with a plausible theory of how the Hera, last seen 300 light years from the gas giant, has ended up coincedentally under the Raman. Picard is inclined to dismiss Geordi's possible, yet highly unlikely theory out of hand - and the crew doesn't even wonder what it was that killed the crew of the Raman - they just want to retrieve the ship to harvest the data the crew collected and to give the crew a proper burial.
Is Geordi really bonkers, or is it the whole crew that has lost their minds? An entire star ship has vanished and Geordi seems to be the only one in Starfleet who thinks the Hera may still be intact and her crew still alive. Somehow, Geordi dodges a court martial by openly defying the captains orders and using the body suit (at risk to his own safety) to guide the probe once again in the hopes of finding his mother and rescuing her. Data proves his friendship to Geordi by assisting him, setting the android up for a court martial of his own.
The characters seem less in character than normal and things that should be followed-up on, aren't. There are some intriguing concepts in this story, but this is far from one of the best episodes.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Geordi defies Picard's orders!, July 3, 2000
This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 155: Interface [VHS] (VHS Tape)
After learning that his mother may be alive on another starship, Geordi uses a risky interface procedure to try and contact his mother. But when his life is in danger, he finds no sign of her and Picard orders him not to interface with that ship's computer. However, Geordi defies and and Data helps Geordi interface again, where he fially finds his mother. But is his mother actually there?
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent concepts, August 6, 2002
This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 155: Interface [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Geordi is the test user of a new interface system that allows him to operate a probe remotely and immerse himself in its virtual environment. The Enterprise is sent to investigate the disappearance of a scientific research vessel, the Ramaan, and finds it deep in the atmosphere of a gas giant. Geordi takes the probe into the Ramaan to learn what happened. Everything is proceeding according to plan, until Geordi sees the image of his mother. Her ship recently vanished without a trace and everyone else has given her up for dead. So why has she now appeared on the Ramaan asking for Geordi's help? Is his mother really there? Are Geordi's grief and guilt making him hallucinate? Or is there something else going on?
Levar Burton does a really good job in this episode. He conveys Geordi's growing obsession with his mother's disappearance and his determination to rescue her no matter the consequences very well. It's a pity the character of Geordi was so regularly underused; we learn more about him and his family in this episode than in perhaps any other. The idea of the interface and all its possibilities, plus the eventual denoument of the situation with the Ramaan, are really interesting ideas. This episode has both strong science fiction and good drama to it. Watch out for the scene where Riker talks of his own grief over his mother's death.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
