Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 129: Man Of The People [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fans of Peter David's "Imzadi" will LOVE this episode. There's a ton of Riker/Troi interaction. A visiting "diplomat" preys on women and uses them as receptacles for his negative emotions-so that he doesn't have to carry them to peace talks. The slimebag makes a beeline for Deanna. She eventually goes psychotic and starts to age rapidly. Riker's concern for her distress is very sweet. The final scene is worth the price of admission. Watch it and work on mentally blocking the Worf/Deanna debacle forever. Love it!

I was really pleased with this episode, because Troi gets to do only counselor stuff not any real things, but she got a WONDERFUL part in the episode. I really liked the Riker-Troi parts because he REALLY cares about her and he always protects her from danger. I give the episode 10 stars,because I think Riker is HOT!!!! I have seen EVERY episode in the " Next Generation" series, I'm a really big fan!!!

In this episode, a famous negotiator uses Deanna Troi as a vessel for his negative emotions, causing her to age rapidly and behave in an extremely scary manner. This is a rare opportunity to see Troi scratch Riker, try to stab the captain, seduce a hapless young Ensign and generally acts totally nuts. The rest of the episode is fairly average, but Marina Sirtis does a great job as Crazy Troi, and it's very fun to watch since she's usually such a calm, restrained character.
This episode also has a bit of an ethical dilemma in it, if you like that sort of thing, but it isn't really discussed all that deeply and anyway it is really only something to fill time before the next Troi Goes Wacko scene.

The Enterprise rescues a freighter that was attacked by one of the warring factions of the planet Rekag-Sironi and beams aboard the Lumerian ambassador Ramid Ves Alkar and his mother Maylor. Picard will give the ambassador safe passage to the planet, where he will try to mediate the war. Alkar asks Counselor Troi to help him with the negotiations, at which point Maylor becomes very upset and dies. Alkar will not allow an autopsy to be performed, but does ask Troi to join him in the Lumerian funeral meditation. After the ceremony, Troi deteriorates physically and mentally. When a jealous Troi attacks Alcar as he prepares to beam down to Rekag-Sironi, Picard and Crusher finally make the connection. An autopsy reveals that Alcar's "mother" is only thirty years old. Picard beams down and demands an explanation from Alcar, who calmly reveals that he uses individuals such as Maylor and Troi as receptacles for his negative emotions until he uses them up and they die. When Alcar refuses to release Troi, Picard and Crusher have to come up with a way to save the Counselor.

If it were not for bad love, Deanna Troi would have no love at all. Being only half-Betazed must have some serious limitations because time after time, Troi ends up with men with major problems. Come to think of it, so does Beverly Crusher, but since the good Doctor is a mother and therefore no competition for Deanna, it is the Ship's Counselor who gets to suffer time and time again. "Man Of The People" is an average STNG episode, where once again the Federation has allowed a person who is not nice to rise to a position of power and prominence. Besides, getting to see Marina Sirtis made up to look twice as old as Lwaxana is no one's idea of fun. The comeuppance for Alcar is a retread solution from the original Star Trek, but is still a halfway decent resolution to the episode.