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

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There comes a point in all of our lives, likely when we are working a gig that doesn’t quite suit us, where we find ourselves wondering… what’s the point of dealing with jobs of that low caliber? After all, they don’t bring us joy, they rarely are fun and they’re often more stress than they are worth. But oddly enough, this is a question that while important in the moment, isn’t answered until far later in life. When we come to realize that sometimes, we have to experience jobs like that, in order to properly cherish our dream job when we obtain it. Since we will relish in the fact that said dream job is full of positivity and that in turn allows one to appreciate the journey and the power of being valued in a position that offers us so much more than a check. 
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In fact, it is that latter aspect of our dream gig that truly matters most. Because when we feel valued while doing what we love, there is an incredible peace that settles within. Because we finally feel as though we belong and as though our purpose in life has been fulfilled and that also motivates us to work harder and be the best, so we will never feel anything outside of that completeness. For to lose that, would be a step backward and it would undoubtedly be terrifying. So much in fact, that we do our best to not think about it, and instead, we let creative minds help us to understand what that might look like. Since stories will help us explore that fear and reinforce our choice to stick with our path, safely, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation explores that terrifying possibility in a supremely unique way.

A feat that ‘Relics’ accomplishes by having the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise make some stunning discoveries. Such as stumbling upon a functional Dyson Sphere, one that also happens to have a Starfleet vessel ditched atop its massive surface. For the missing U.S.S. Jenolan crash landed here and she too has her own surprise waiting aboard for the away team. In that, Captain Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott trapped himself within a pattern buffer when the ship went down some seventy-plus years ago and that means he is now stuck in the 24th Century without any knowledge of the future, the fate of his friends/extended family from the NCC-1701 and NCC-1701-A and to top it all off… he’s an engineer without a ship to fix or a future to look forward to in regard to the career that gave him so much and that leads to some powerful moments for certain.

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The kind where James Doohan shines as an actor since he is able to express the panic and the fear of being shunned from everything that defined him and made him happy. Since Lieutenant Commander LaForge is quick to whisk Scotty out of Engineering because he might get in the way and Scotty himself even realizes that he is a man with nothing to his name and that particular realization, is what explores the episode’s central theme. For it makes it clear that we would indeed fall to pieces without our true calling in play and we would do anything to get it back and thankfully of course, he does. Since Captain Jean-Luc Picard realizes that Scotty needs to feel wanted and needs to have purpose and in realizing that… Scotty and Geordi are able to save the day when the Enterprise becomes trapped within the sphere. 
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But what matters more, is that this episode’s overall theme really is quite powerful and uplifting. Since it demands that we figure out our true north and hold onto it tight once we do and that’s a wonderful and powerful message to send the audience’s way and that, combined with the return to Montgomery Scott… makes this quite the delightful episode. For it really is the perfect crossover tale and it is so cool to see Scotty interact with a new Enterprise crew and this is also a fun story as well. Because James Doohan’s flawless comedic timing is on full display here and kudos to writer Ronald D. Moore for sneaking in the perfect throwback joke into this tale as well. Since Data, kinda, sorta recreates the ‘It’s Green’ scene that Scotty took part in The Original Series episode, ‘By Any Other Name’ and well… in the end, this really is one of the finest episodes that TNG has to offer.

Simply because it is so human and wonderfully nostalgic and it also holds weight, simply because it holds franchise significance as well. Since this is the last TOS/TNG crossover on the small screen. Which means that from here on out, it’s all about the 24th Century for the remainder of this series and that definitely gives one pause… because it also means that we are now in the endgame for The Next Generation and every episode from here on out will hold a different kind of power since we are gradually inching toward the end of this seven-year journey. Until next time.

To hear John speak on a more personal level about this episode, check out the ‘Relics’ centric podcast he did with Enterprising Individuals.

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