Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 131: Schisms [VHS]

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

 

 

I love this episode because it combines your classic UFO abduction stories with Star Trek, to create a unique and exciting episode. Another thing I like about this episode is that it's probably the erriest one, especially (in my opinion, anyway) in the scene where the abductees recreate the alien craft on the holodeck. Star Trek fans will definitly get their money's worth!

I was searching for this episode for over a year. "Askme.com" gave me the title/episode number, and "Amazon.com" to purchase it. This was one of my favorite "Trek/NG". It was a haunting episode which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I've been around since Kirk. It's worthy of any collection.

The Enterprise is busy mapping the Amagosa Diaspora when several of the crewmembers report unsettling visions to Counselor Troi. When she gathers Riker, La Forge and Worf on the holodeck, they are able to reconstruct an examination table that looks like something from a torture chamber. Meanwhile, in Cargo Bay 4 an area of subspace instability has suddenly appeared, and, as we all know, there are no coincidences in space...

The mystery part of "Schisms" is certainly an intriguing set-up, but the payoff is less than stellar. The scene when Dr. Crusher informs Riker than his arm is a teeny bit shorter because it had been amputated and reattached is where I start to lose it with this episode. What I do like about this episode, besides Troi getting to do her job with the bridge crew rather than some unknown person brought in just for a particular story, is that the ending is not a clean resolution. "Schisms" is certainly one of the darker STNG stories.

This episode is a rather pointless exploration of alien abduction theories. All the suspense is contrived, and the episode never really goes anywhere, nor does it do anyhting experimental. It just sets up a situation, never resolves it, and never goes back to it later in the series. For UFO conspiracy buffs only, unless you're a completist.

Well, it's all in "Schisms" if you want to know. It's definitely darker, eerier, and more psychologically unnerving (Probably what most teenagers want nowadays) compared to other episodes. Fortunately, it isn't as gross as say, "Conspiracy". Plot: Some of our heroes are having trouble sleeping, especially Riker. Not only that, people are having strange reactions with seeing certain objects (Worf with scissors, Riker with the conn panel, etc.) Well, Troi (who, as pointed out, is actually doing her job) brings everyone to the holodeck and tries to recreate the disturbing thoughts into something more concrete. After some statements, they come up with what appears to be chair for a deranged dentist or barber :) Well, in cargo hold 4, there's an energy disruption beginning to take over the ship to the point of destroying the beloved Enterprise. After some very intelligent guessing, the conclusion is that some crew members are being teleported to a different subspace dimension and being operated on (a real comforting thought for those who are in need of sleep soon) and the disruption is related somehow. Well, I won't ruin the ending, but I can say this, I wish there had been some follow up on the subject in a later episode. Overall, an eerie but somewhat enjoyable episode (sort of a Halloween night frightner to watch at home).