‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Lonely Among Us’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

For the most part, science fiction as a whole is often human centric. In that, the genre often features stories about mankind and how we’ve grown, and if by chance something alien shows up, it too feels human and familiar. Something that is likely attributed to the fact that not only do stories about our future sell far better, but also because our minds aren’t really ready to ponder upon something that is truly alien. For we’ve yet to meet one and haven’t a clue what a creature that evolved on another world might look like. So, we stick to what we know. But once in a great while, a sci-fi story comes along that offers up something that is truly alien, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation tries to pull off this feat in somewhat disappointing fashion. 
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Which is fascinating, because at first glance ‘Lonely Among Us’ seems as though it is going to offer up the usual stuff. Since the crew of the Enterprise pick up a pair of diplomatic delegations from a pair of warring worlds that want in on the Federation lifestyle. But as the ship heads toward a neutral site to begin the negotiations to potentially bring these two worlds into the Federation family, they not only have to deal with shenanigans from the delegates as they try to see what they can get away with, they also encounter something that is quite incredible. For as the ship passes by an odd galactic phenomenon, a charge of electricity hits the ship, and injures Lieutenant Worf shortly after making physical contact with the hull, and well, things get quite strange aboard the ship from there.

For it turns out that this discharge of energy is actually sentient, and those who come in contact with it seem lost and disoriented after it takes over their minds briefly, and any station or system that it ‘inhabits’, malfunctions as well and while this seems harmless enough, at one point contact costs the Assistant Chief Engineer his life. But what is amazing, is that why this intelligent burst of energy is aboard the ship, and what it wants, really isn’t explored in the slightest, even after it finds a solid home within the confines of Captain Picard. Because all the creature says it wants, is to have Picard’s body join its kind and after a little back and forth with the alien and some patience, the crew is able to save the captain and get back on course, leaving these mysterious creatures behind.

So, that’s as far as we get in regard to exploring a genuinely alien life form and that’s what brings about the disappointment, we made mention of earlier. Because that’s a waste storytelling wise. One that can clearly be attributed to the fact that the core ideas that this story wanted to accomplish got lost in the assembly process, since there are so many competing storylines in this tale. Because you have inconvenience of the warring factions fighting aboard the ship, to the point where they nearly capture Commander Riker during their ‘hunger games’, and you have the crew’s unique attempts to figure out how this alien is messing with the ship and of course there’s the whole mutiny thread when Picard is taken over by the entity and that just makes for one messy tale that doesn’t quite satisfy.

But this episode isn’t a total loss in the end. Because this is another one that allows for Brent Spiner to shine since he embraces the wonder of Sherlock Holmes in this tale. Which is handled in hilarious and quirky fashion and of course, that storytelling decision plants the seeds for future adventures with Sherlock and Holmes in the holodeck. Plus, Patrick Steward does show off his acting prowess as well since he does his thing once the alien takes over his mind and this episode also does an amazing job of showing off Michael Westmore’s skills as a special effects’ guru since the Anticans and Selay look phenomenal on screen. But outside of that, this is just an average tale of The Next Generation. One that simply exists, and one that wasted a grand opportunity and it just serves to remind us that this first season is going to be a rough ride, as the show continues to work to find its voice. Until next time.  

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