Amazon.com
Ambassadors from the planet Iyaar arrive on the ship as part of a cultural exchange and throw everyone--particularly Worf and Troi--into a tizzy. As Worf, Michael Dorn shines in a role where he's got to repress his violent side, as the Iyaaran he is assigned to show around becomes more and more demanding, temperamental, and rude. Acting polite in diplomatic situations is just not his cup of tea, but it's very funny watching him try. Troi has a different problem. She has to teach her diplomat about eating for pleasure instead of just for nourishment, and the overabundance of chocolate and cake that results almost turns her off of dessert for good. Meanwhile, Picard has left on a shuttle to visit the planet Iyaar, but an energy disruption field forces him and his Iyaaran pilot to crash-land on the nearest M-class planet. The pilot dies and Picard meets Ana, a survivor from an earlier crash who falls instantly and obsessively in love with him, to the point where she nearly rapes him. Not to give anything away, but the mission of the Iyaarans is to learn more about strange human emotions firsthand, just as it was the mission of the writers to examine basic human emotions from an alien perspective. A fun episode, but not very deep.
--Andy Spletzer
From the Back Cover
While the
Enterprise welcomes two Iyaaran ambassadors, Picard (Patrick Stewart) prepares to depart for their planet as part of a cultural exchange. Worf (Michael Dorn) and Troi (Marina Sirtis) are chosen to serve as guides for the two ambassadors. Worf finds the assignment distasteful, but Troi seems to relish it.
During the trip to Iyaar, a malfunction causes Picard's shuttle to crash on an unknown plent. He is unhurt, but the Iyaaran shuttle pilot receives a concussion. When Picard goes for help, he his knocked unconscious and awakens to find an attractive woman caring for him. Before long she professes her love and Picard becomes suspicious. Could these liaisons be more dangerous than they appear?
