PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG - Season 2 Episode 10
Comment on this post your ‘takes’ on this episode and we will read a few in our discussion!
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- A brief review (2-3 sentences) of why you like/dislike the episode
- A question for us about the episode
- A prediction of how you think we will react to a certain aspect of the episode
- A fun fact about the episode
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Comments (60)
since I'm a little younger then will wheaton, I relate to wesley the most. he lived the adventures that I dreamed of. as a boy how was constantly bullied at school, watching star trek was a nice escape. btw in the german dubbed version, anya's german voice seemed to be dubbing someone in every other episode.
AND in the German dubbed version Wesley's voice is the same Bugs Bunny has xD
I was an 8 year old boy with a life size poster of Wesley Crusher on my bedroom wall - my one true love. Although I can’t say in polite company exactly what I wished on Salia, she would have to be identified by her dental records afterwards. In retrospect, imagine if a guy turned up with some sort of airborne rohypnol coming off him. Quite dark really.
I've heard Wheaton say that apparently that was a demographic he was most popular with.
One of those ones that I skip if I rewatch TNG.
Not much to say about this episode it’s not really great though the Riker and Guinan like what others said was awesome, and the girls True Form at the end is a ghost. Also, there’s that confusing scene where the girl is talking randomly to some other much younger, much more hot woman, and then she’s randomly talking to an Ewok. You only piece together why when it’s revealed their shape shifters later in the episode, though, it’s weird that they would continue to Shapeshift even amongst themselves.
LOL @ Ewok
Welcome back to the season 2 to roller coaster, Alex and Josh. The only good scene in the entire episode takes place in Ten Forward. The “ fake” flirtation between Guinan and Riker is absolutely wonderful. Whoopi Goldberg’s and Jonathan Frakes’ comedic timing is impeccable.
Go on. Tell her more about... her eyes.
Teen high school dramas were popular at the time. I was already in my late twenties so they weren’t my cuppa tea. Neither was this episode. It had a few good bits but overall…not my cuppa tea.
Mediocre episode, but with a fun Riker / Guinan scene.
The Season 2 roller coaster ride continues! How soon will we go back uphill?
Prediction: Josh and Alex will think this one was "okay" ... not great but not super terrible.
Wesley, gazing on at Salia's natural form on the transporter pad at the end of the episode, has the oddest look on his face. "Wow, I can just imagine porking that!" or something. 🤦
I don't care for this one much. "Wesley's first crush" just isn't believable to me, both the timing and the non-human, non-available target. Anya is grossly paranoid despite her supposed wisdom. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever that Anya would be worried about an illness in sick bay when Salia and Anya are both shapeshifters and could just transform to rid themselves of any infectious danger. Riker reminds me of the father-figure type that Clark W. Griswold would be proud of. Guinan steals the show in Ten Forward. Wesley then goes on to disobey Picard's instructions to not see Salia again, because boy loins. 🙄🤦 Wesley should have had serious reprimand for that, but of course, nothing happens. Hopefully Wesley's character got a wake up call that getting to know someone takes time, and love and lust are not the same thing. This isn't the worst TNG episode, but it's in the bottom 10. It could have been done a lot better, a lot tighter.
My main problem with this story is Anya is way too paranoid and OP, and the crew is very much "it's fine". If Anya were as wise as she claims, she would object to any of the crew around Salia wearing red because something bad could happen to that person which could endanger Salia.
I agree. She's weirdly confrontational the whole time for no reason. She wants to fulfil her obligation to get Salia to where she needs to be, but it's way too much. I also didn't understand why they showed them transform in these fuzzy creatures the whole time when that wasn't their true form? Or why they thought they need to appear human in the first place and tried to make a secret out of their true form.
I'm going entirely on memory (30 years ago), but is the real form of the 'girl' a beautiful energy creature.......so the moral is that 24th century humans still have ingrained prejudice against difference in creatures? Wesley is uncomfortable/unable to continue his feelings towards her, when he realises her form is not humanoid. So, humans aren't at the stage of having outgrown their flaws (season 1).
I think he rather felt betrayed that she made it look like she was humanoid and wasn't honest about what she really is. He did get over his initial disappointment and showed up in the transporter room to say goodbye to her
After the utter high that was last episode: Wesley falls in love. Great. This too is a harbinger of what TNG has to offer: a slam back into averageness at best, bare mediocrity at worst, after a banger episode. Well Wes, be glad your girlfriend's true form wasn't the Salt vampire. But you know, good character stuff in here too.
Worf gets his shit kicked in again....poor guy
::South Park Algore Voice:: That's how you know it's super serial, errr, serious.
I know this is a big step down in terms of quality from Measure of a Man to this episode. I mean it’s a Wesley episode so you know it’s not gonna be a fan favorite. To me it’s not bad, but it is forgettable which is unfortunate because Guinan’s scenes are the best part of the episode.
There are some really funny scenes in this with Riker trying to show Wes how to woo a woman and Guinan buys into it a little too much^^ Or Worf explaining to him how Klingons lure a mate ... and males just "duck a lot" :D
I love the episode for the little lovestory between Wesley and Salia. Wil Wheaton is awesome in this episode.
I'm not a fan. It's campy and it doesn't really seem like Wesley's MO. Wheaton himself is fine in this.
Lesson learned: before cashing in your V-card, make sure she's not a sasquatch.
Mmm… Chocalate More chocalate please,
"Then go to her door. Beg like a human." Worf teaching young men how to simp before it was cool. (It's not cool. Don't ever do it. Shame on you.)
"I dream of a galaxy where your eyes are the stars and the universe worships the night." I'll have to remember that line.
Just be weary of high pedestals!
Oh boy. A Wesley teen romance isn’t a bad idea for a story, but the shoehorning in of the shapeshifting monsters was kinda silly. Plus, did Starfleet really send the Enterprise out to carry this princess without telling them “hey, she’s a shimmering energy-based shapeshifter, not a human girl?” Trivia note: the actress playing the protector, Anya, was also the voice of Gozer in Ghostbusters (1984)
The first time I saw "Ghostbusters" (the first one) and heard that booming, echoing voice, I knew it was the same actress who played that character in this 'Trek episode. Her voice is unmistakable, and memorable.
Oh to be a teenage shapeshifter in love!!! 😻 it makes me all gooey just thinking about it…🧡
Frakes and Goldberg's chemistry in the mock flirting scene is amazing.
I like this episode, but most of my affection for “Wesley” has to do with my liking and respecting adult Will Wheaton.
I think Wesley gets a bad rap that he doesn't usually deserve (but sometimes he does!). The character suffers from usually-lackluster writing. This episode does him no favors.
Yeah, I know: a Wesley episode 😄 As someone who tended to like Wesley more than most, I have a slight soft spot for this one, though, and Wheaton's performance holds up, with he and Jaime Hubbard having good chemistry. The most memorable scene has to be Riker's and Guinan's OTT flirting, though 👍 Trivia: the word "dauphin" refers to the crown prince in ancient French royalty, which is roughiy analagous to Salia's role as a young leader of her people.
Not a bad episode. Wesley's first love is not who she seems to be.
Season Two. Such a contradiction. Such highs like Measure of a Man and Matter of Honor. And then episodes like Unnatural Selection and this one that seem left over from S1.
uhmmm no comment
I personally enjoy this episode much, much more than I did when I was younger. I can see you guys not loving this one, especially after Measure of a Man - but I think that some of the crew interactions kind of teaching Wesley about how to approach women might save it a bit for you! Especially Worf. ❤️
Wesley finally gets something to do besides steer the ship. He was becoming another Sulu.
Wesley Crusher has no lady game, and he has no fencing game.
Oh boy...your Favorite! Another Wesley Ep. His first real Crush and Kiss(lucky boy). Problem she is a being of light & Energy and can shape shift into anything or anyone! (is that a problem?) I can think of a few people she could change into although she is a Cutie...LOL. I'll say you may just like this one, maybe not as much as Coming of Age. That's it! 😁🖖
If they had wanted to make this episode more interesting, they could have had Wesley making out with Salia in the same form that Anya took in sick bay. Perhaps they could have bonded over a bowl of gagh!
This one is really in the shadow of the prior episode and the next few as well. I’d forgotten about it completely, found it enjoyable but not of any great consequence. I liked the guest stars performances.
I barely remember this one except for the bits where Wesley gets advice. Question: What are your predictions for the love/dating lives of the main bridge crew through the rest of the series.
This episode is a reminder to people that Star Trek is supposed to appeal to all ages. It gets it’s fair share of criticism but as a kid watching it. I thought it was cool to have a Wesley centered episode.
Wesley is 'just one of the guys' whose loins make him say and do stupid things, like not following orders.
Damnit Wesley, what have we said about falling in love with shapeshifters. Guinan was right, shut up.
Hoping for some pops for the alien designs 😅
I actually enjoyed and liked this episode! Wesley has grown on me as a character and is going through some natural changes. The Holodeck scenes were fascinating. And some of the character side stories were interesting.. Worf talking about the mating call while Riker and Guinan engaged in that conversation. The best part was Guinan telling Wesley “shut up, kid!” 😂
*ch..ch..ch..ch...changes!
Wesley - a child prodigy, brilliant engineer, now also a Crusher of hearts. BTW did you know that Roddenberry's middle name was Wesley? Probably just a coincidence...
That was indeed how the character was named. I confirmed that in person at a convention. talking with Wil himself.
I don't know which is harder to get through, a Wesley Boy Genius episode or a Wesley in Love episode, but I've always loved the Riker and Guinan flirting scene, Whoopi seems to play so well off literally every character.
That's the only real enjoyable part of this episode. Wheaton's facial expressions alone during it are gold.
So Wesley has his first kiss and gets hilarious dating advice from Worf along with more wise words from Guinan. The episode isn't everyone's cup of tea but I kind of like it. In my rankings I have it listed as “Enjoyable”.
And for the record, according to Dictionary.com the title is pronounced "DAW-fin".