‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Cost of Living’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

These days, television shows receive incredible care in the writer’s room. Because episode orders are at their shortest length in the history of the format, and that allows for writers to carefully craft the arc for the season and every emotional beat the characters are going to experience and that’s led to some phenomenal television in recent years. The kind that genuinely takes us on a wild and engrossing and moving ride and that definitely makes fans happy, especially the ones that grew up in the era of T.V. when this kind of care… didn’t always exist. For it wasn’t that long ago that T.V. shows had double the episodes and that led to some troublesome storytelling. The kind that allowed for some sub-par stories to be woven into the fabric of the finest of franchises, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Because the next episode in this series, ‘Cost of Living’, is a story that is… lost at best and that’s really due to the fact that this script was clearly rushed into production. As evidenced by the three separate competing plotlines present within this story. For there’s a plot involving parasitic microbes that are eager to feed upon an alloy present in the Enterprise’s systems and there’s the return of Lwaxana Troi and her struggles in trying to figure out whether or not she should marry an uppity prude dude and there’s also a story revolving around some struggles for Worf and Alexander, since they’re still trying to figure out how to become a family. And the first real problem that accompanies having this many plotlines in a single episode, is that the story moves around a lot, making for a confusing watch for certain. But having to shift gears pales in comparison to the real crime that this script commits.

Because it turns out… that each of these plot threads are nothing more than wasted potential. After all, the introduction of a brand-new species is a wonderful chance to tell a fascinating story of discovery. Plus, Lwaxana’s plight and struggles with responsibility are a grand opportunity to see this quirky character grow before our eyes and of course… Alexander and Worf’s experiences are timeless and could be paralleled to modern times, so that it resonates with viewers struggling with a similar situation in real time and well… the reason the word wasted was used to introduce these storylines, is because none of them are realized to their full potential. Because a rushed script equates to rushed storytelling and that means the aliens are dealt with quickly and without meaning and Alexander and Worf really don’t come to any common ground and Lwaxana’s powerful plot about growing old alone is glossed over.

If anything, it speaks volumes to the fact that each of these plot lines should have received their own episode order. Because giving those little buggers a chance to really get their tiny microbe paws into the systems could have led to a tense and powerful episode, one where it became a thrilling race against time to save them and the ship. And had Alexander and Worf’s plot thread been fleshed out into an hour-long tale, we would have been treated to a sweeping and moving story about family and how we reach common ground with blood relatives that we don’t know all that well. Plus, Lwaxana’s journey could have done a wonderful job of treating us to some thoughtful and poignant moments regarding love and what it means to find it at a later stage in our life, something that is a topic that few shows ever explore in the slightest.

But alas, that apparently wasn’t meant to be and what we get in the end is a confusing mess. One that serves to remind us just how lucky we are now from a television standpoint. But despite its flaws, there are some bright spots to be found in this tale. Such as the fact that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry turns in a powerful performance as Lwaxana, one that does allow for some loneliness and worry to shine through and the jokes in this story work to a tee and there is some measure of tension in the finale when Data is pressed into service as the sole officer aboard. But outside of those beacons of light, this is definitely a forgettable episode but thankfully… not a harmful one and now that this blasé journey has come to its close, the time has come to turn our attention to the next mission for this intrepid crew. One that challenges the nature of love in a supremely unique manner. Until next time.

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