Product Details

• Actors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden
• Directors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: May 28, 1996
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303993672
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #460,675 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

When the Enterprise encounters a cluster of nearly invisible two-dimensional creatures, the ship is pulled inexplicably through space. While Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) is being consulted about the nature of the phenomenon, she suddenly discovers that she has completely lost her empathic abilities.

Troi attempts to continue her duties, but finds she cannot be effective without access to the emotions of others. Despite efforts by crew members to reassure her, she submits her resignation to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart). Meanwhile, it's discovered that the Enterprise is being pulled toward a cosmic string fragment-the equivalent of a small black hole-and, if the ship cannot break free in time, it will be torn apart by immense gravitational forces.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For fans of the Counselor Troi, April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 84: The Loss [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This episode is about when Counselor Troi loses her emphatic powers that is a part of her Betazoid heritage. This causes her great anguish and pain and makes her question whether she is capable of being a counselor still. Meanwhile, the ship encounters a strange new life form and must cope with the problems that it brings. If you are a fan of Troi, then this is definitely for you!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars One of the Weaker NG Episodes, July 5, 2000

By 

Alan L Seals - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 84: The Loss [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I would recommend this episode only if you are a BIG fan of Troi or this is one of the only episodes you have yet to collect and you want the complete collection.

It attempts to show how Troi reacts when she loses her biggest assest, her emphathic powers. To me, she reacts more like a spoiled brat than a Starfleet Officer. She soon turns in her resignation as she feels she can no longer do her job effectively. In the end, of course, she regains her powers.

Besides making a marginal character look about as shallow as possible, the storyline that accompanies it is weak too. This makes my list of one of the five worst episodes of the best TV series in history

3.0 out of 5 stars Great acting by Sirtris, poor actions by Troi, August 25, 2005

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 84: The Loss [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Enterprise enters an area of space with unusual properties and Counselor Troi and several other members of the crew suffer from severe headaches. All appear to recover, but Troi discovers that she has lost her empathic abilities. Suddenly forced to interact with humans without the advantage of knowing their feelings, Troi is frightened and lashes out at everyone.

While Troi is engaging in her fits of feeling sorry for herself, Data and Geordi discover that the Enterprise is in a swarm of two dimensional creatures that are heading towards a cosmic string. The gravitational field of the string is strong enough to destroy the Enterprise and they find themselves unable to extricate themselves from the swarm. Right before the Enterprise would have been destroyed, a way is found to leave the swarm and avoid destruction. Once the Enterprise is away from the creatures, Troi's empathic abilities return.

While this episode demonstrates some of the best acting that Marina Sirtris does in the series, I found Troi's actions extremely distasteful. She is a Star Fleet officer and the Enterprise is in danger of being destroyed. To wallow in self-pity and lash out at others at a time like that is inexcusable. When her friends and fellow officers try to help her, she yells at them and tries to blame Dr. Crusher for her problems. Those are actions that would not be tolerated aboard a vessel like the Enterprise.