‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Samaritan Snare’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One would think, that as a new television show continues along and begins to find its footing, that every single episode it offers up would be better than the last. But alas, that is simply not the case. For it takes years for a television series to find its voice and its direction and that is an unfortunate fact that applies to Star Trek: The Next Generation as well. Because despite season two’s far better offerings storytelling wise, there were still some stories that simply didn’t resonate with the audience or offered up odd moments and odd plots and sadly, the next episode in this storied saga reminds of us this unfortunate fact since it was a touch sub-par.
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Because ‘Samaritan Snare’ is a story that is quite frankly all over the place. For not only does this particular tale feature competing plotlines that switch back and forth too often, there are characters in this story who simply aren’t themselves and that makes for a jarring experience to say the least. Especially when it comes to Captain Picard. Because he’s just a straight up jerk in this tale, and his crankiness here is attributed to the fact that he needs his artificial heart replaced and for some reason, Jean-Luc Picard, the epitome of balance and understanding; seems to believe that revealing any weakness to his crew would be a mistake. Which is just out of place for this character and the weirdness doesn’t end there.

For once he and young Wesley Crusher are aboard shuttle Einstein, Picard suddenly becomes the Captain we know and love. And he’s now happy to break bread with Wesley and treat him like a man and he even goes so far as to open up about his affliction and how it happened. Which in turn sets the stage for a very important episode down the line. But in the here and the now, this is the stuff we crave when it comes to Jean-Luc, and while it is beautiful to watch him be the dynamic and thoughtful captain, we so love, everything that happens in this segment of the story is lacking gravity. Largely because he was just so mean to Wesley, ten minutes before offering him a sandwich and also because this segment is so incredibly rushed.

Because there is the other plot line happening at the same time, wherein the Enterprise responds to a nearby distress call, and what they find when they arrive is unsettling for certain. For they more or less run into a ship full of malicious scavengers, who love to play dumb and innocent in order to steal technology, or people that will benefit them and their future. Which is why they go above and beyond to steal Geordi. But while that seems pretty straightforward and tough to mess up, what makes this plot so cumbersome and irritating is the sheer fact that the crew straight up insults these beings on a regular basis. Which really is out of place since this is the 24th Century, where all are respected and welcome and well, this plotline and Picard’s would have benefitted greatly from being two separate episodes, so that they could have received proper care in the writer’s room. 

But alas, what is done is done and this is what we are left with. So, really, it is best we celebrate the good parts of this tale. Because it was quite nice to see Riker and the senior staff work out a lovely plan to rescue Geordi, one that didn’t bring any harm to anyone since that is something we’ve come to expect from this series and this franchise. Plus, it was also quite lovely to learn about how Picard lost his heart and what kind of a man he was in his youth and that really does get one excited to re-watch ‘Tapestry’. But outside of that, meh. But thankfully this one is done, and we can move onto bigger and better TNG stories. For we are in fact, closing in on the season two finale and once we get out of year two, nothing but outright wonders await us. We just have to slog through some of the mess, a little longer. Until next time.

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