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Star Trek Next 96: Half a Life [VHS]

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Up until this point in the history of STNG the arrival of Lwaxana Troi invariably signaled a comic relief episode, "Menage a Troi" (episode 72) being far and away the best of the bunch. But in "Half a Life" (Story by Ted Roberts & Peter Allan Fields, Teleplay by Peter Allan Fields, Aired May 6, 1991) things take a serious turn, to the betterment of the character and of actress Majel Barrett, who finally gets to do something more dramatic than be the voice of the Enterprise computer.

Aboard the Enterprise is a scientist named Timicin who falls for Lwaxana's fabled charms. For forty years Timicin, played pitch perfectly by David Ogden Stiers, has been trying to find a way to revive the dying sun of his planet. However, his grand attempt to restore the sun through the use of carefully programmed photon torpedoes fails horribly. Lwaxana offers the appropriate encouragement, that a future attempt will certainly succeed. But then Timicin drops a little bombshell. On his planet when a person reaches the age of 60 they celebrate "The Resolution," a sacred ceremony where they say farewell to their friends and family before committing suicide. Lwaxana argues that Timicin should reject this horrific custom, and when the scientist suddenly sees how his failed experiment might work those two forces compel him to seek asylum on the Enterprise. However, then when Timicin hears from his heartbroken family, he has second thoughts about his decision.

I usually have trouble with alien cultures that have achieved scientific miracles but still retain some barbaric aberration as a defining cultural element, but Barrett and Stiers give "Half A Life" such gravity and depth you cannot help but be impressed. It is an excellent episode, even if both of the main characters are guest stars. Besides, this episode does not sink into predictability. But the most important thing remains the maturity of Lwaxana's character. There are still the comic overtones (she keeps talking about "Mr. Woof") but certainly she is now a much more rounded character. About time--and there is much better to come.