‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Liaisons’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

When we meet someone new for the first time ever, we do our best to learn everything we can about them and rightfully so. Because we want to know how this person is going to fit into our lives, and the only way to do that, is to learn about what makes them tick and drives them. So, we can see if they fit the mold for what we expect a friend or prospective partner to be and what’s amazing… is that there are so many ways to do that. After all, there is conversation, which allows for us to see how we click, and this is where we can ask the burning questions on our mind. Not to mention, there are activities we can take part in that give us an idea of how we will function together, and really… regardless of what method we choose, it is the time we spend together that matters most. Since time will tell us all.
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If anything, these tried-and-true methods to making new friends and dating, have served us well. Since they do indeed provide us with the answers that we seek, and if by chance it doesn’t work out, all we lost was a little bit of time in our long and fruitful lives, and we move on accordingly. But for some, that’s not a good enough resolution. For they want to know quickly and ponder upon if there is a way to speed up the process, only to learn… there isn’t. But what if there was? What if we could figure out a way to laser focus on what we want to know about other people and anything else we were curious about? Would that be as beneficial as we think? Well, it just so happens, that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes the time to ponder upon those curiosities.

For ‘Liasons’ is a story that saw ambassadors from the world of Iyar, come aboard the Enterprise to learn about the Federation, while Captain Jean-Luc Picard would travel to their world and well… it didn’t take long for this story to inform the crew and us, that this species was… intense in nature. Since one ambassador was oft angry and eager to challenge Lieutenant Worf. While another… was eager to just enjoy the sweet spoils that the replicator could send their way. And while those odd behaviors were happening, the captain was dealing with a crisis of his own. In that, his shuttle crashed on a hostile planet, and his pilot appeared dead, and his only hope for survival, was a badly broken woman named Anna. Who had spent seven years on this rock and was hoping for salvation and love, and she thought Picard might bring all of that to her.

Which led to a bevy of conflict and frustration, since those dealing with ambassadors in some capacity hadn’t a clue what to expect or why their duties were suddenly so strange and well, a blow-up moment from Worf, one that should have cost him dearly as an officer… came to reveal that this was all… an intense, ‘learning’ event. For this somewhat strange species, didn’t understand some of our more complex emotions and decided that just indulging in pleasure and anger and love… by force if need be… would teach them great lessons. Of course, most of those acts ended poorly since Worf had to resort to blows to teach his lesson and Picard did not fall in love since that he was plunged into an over-the-top storybook scenario. But, since these beings were of another world and unaware of how human customs went, they were forgiven, and the audience was left with some valuable lessons and answers regarding those questions.

In that, yes… it would be possible to rush it all and go for broke in getting to know what you want to know about another person. But unless that is agreed upon up front, it will be a damn disaster. If anything, the chaos that came from this… taught us that we should forgo such thoughts period and just… enjoy the process as it stands. Since that allows for people to really savor the wonder of getting to know one another and keeps the thrill of discovery going. But all lessons aside this was very unique and intriguing episode. Because it really did play a fascinating game of ‘what if?’ with the Enterprise crew and allowed for us to experience a bevy of magnificent storylines and while this may be an alien of the week, one off story, it definitely sticks with you because of its creativity and how it takes the viewer to task by asking us to reflect deeply upon how we communicate with those we love and those we are curious about. Until next time.

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