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

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One particular plot line that has become quite the cliché in storytelling… is the ‘body snatching’ plot. Wherein some kind of external force is able to take over a beloved character or characters and make them do their bidding for a time until someone else rescues the hero (or heroes) from a horrific fate and well, it’s cliché simply because… stories that make use of it do nothing to update it. For that description really is how these stories go time and time again, and you know exactly how it is going to end and you’re often bored because of that. But once in a while you run into a book or movie or show that tries to do something slightly new with this concept, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was able to spice this particular cliché up quite nicely.

Which is a wonderful thing since the overall plot of ‘The Game’ resembles more of the same. Since a compromised Commander Riker brings a mysterious, mind controlling game aboard to brainwash and control the crew for an alien entity, and of course… the senior staff and Picard turn evil and work hard to make preparations to infect the rest of Federation with this game for reasons unknown. And of course, it is up to a pair of unlikely heroes in Cadet Wesley Crusher (who swung by for a quick hello) and Ensign Robin Lefler (played by Ashley Judd) to save the ship from a horrific fate, which they do and of course all is well once the effects of the game are neutralized by Data. But what makes this by the numbers plot actually work and suck you in are a couple of key elements that really were lovely twists to inject into this type of story.

Such as the fact that Lieutenant Commander Data is sidelined early on when the trouble begins and more or less becomes an afterthought until the end of the story. And that matters because he is the only person aboard that would be immune to the effects of a game that manipulates the human brain and by having him go down, not only is the most likely hero of the story eliminated from the equation… but the tension is brought to a whole new level. Because by the end of this tale, when Wesley and Robin are the only crew members left of sound mind and body, there’s a real sense of danger and dread surrounding them. One that is exacerbated by the fact that Robin and Wesley are eventually ‘assimilated’ by the game and everything horrible thing it stands for. Which really does make it seem for a moment as though the bad guys are going to win and that’s just something you don’t see in the STU or stories in this vein all that often and that really was a refreshing turn for this story to take.

Plus, the fact that Commander Riker appears unaffected by this game when he returns to the Enterprise, really leads one to believe that perhaps something else is going to happen in this story. And it isn’t until he tries to get Geordi to play the game that you worry about him and the fate of the ship. Also, the acting is top notch in this tale as well… and that is important because the only way to sell the tension is by having the actors bring their A game and it really is quite impressive to watch the cast transform from the fun-loving crew we know through and through into mindless and determined zombies that want nothing more than to please their evil alien overlord. And that really just speaks to how well this cast worked together back in the day and how talented each and every one of them are. But make no mistake about it, while there are some bright spots to be found in this episode, it is still at its heart… a run of the mill body invasion story.

One that doesn’t break any new ground in the trope, outside of using a game to control minds instead of some kind of parasite, alongside a touch of misdirection. Which makes this one an enjoyable if not somewhat forgettable tale, thanks to the fact that season five is rife with top notch, fan favorite episodes. But having Wesley Crusher back aboard the Enterprise and having his surrogate and real family become something evil and sinister, does suck you in and does leave you eager to see how they’re going to out of this mess and well… it’s not a bad thing at all that this kind of fluffy episode hit at this point in the season. So that our minds are clear and ready to handle the incredible awesomeness that is about to be sent our way, since the next set of episodes… features the arrival/return of a franchise legend. Until next time. 

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