The Masterpiece Society
As this story plays out, one begins to wonder why
it takes our crew until the very last scene to mention
the Prime Directive.
Riker says it shouldn't apply, because today's colony is human.
Picard isn't so sure, because in the Prime Directive lies
the fall-back Starfleet template for respecting the colony's
wishes.... if this divided colony is at all congruent in
knowing its own wishes.
The story has some bigger fundamental problems.
First and foremost is the ridiculous idea that genes are
responsible for individual personality, choice of vocation,
place in society, becoming an individual "masterpiece", etc., etc.
It is in fact a fantasy based on 20th century limitations in
understanding humanity to think all that will flow smoothly
if only the genes are made ideal from the start. Lots.
A colony established in the 22nd century and attempting to run
on this premise for 200 years would likely be a complete
unbalanced disaster long before the Enterprise comes to visit.
This eats into the story's believability big time. I laugh.
And besides, what kind of society is perfect by existing
in a bubble, with no chance for growth, and no way of
dealing with external issues?
Secondly, this colony that supposedly controls breeding
to a very careful extent proves the exact opposite.
Why wouldn't Aaron Connor already be in a relationship
with someone genetically chosen for him, long before he meets Troi?
In fact, no one from this colony is ever shown to be in any kind
of relationship at all with fellow colonists - we learn of no couples,
no families, no social circles of friends.
This aspect is completely ignored in the story, and would
go a long way into making the colony feel populated with
3-dimensional characters instead of cardboard cut-outs.
Even regarding the scientist character who we can all easily root for,
where are her ties to the colony, her family, her friends?
Leaving should not be quite such a cut-and-dry decision for her.
As it stands, the Enterprise
once more ends up visiting a collection of 2-dimension people
that all seem far too "wet" in their idealism and perfection,
a problem that crops up all too often on this show,
and even
the ninth feature film "Insurrection"
feels at times like it is struggling to avoid falling into
the same trap.
So once again, here we have the Prime Directive trying to
protect lack of growth and lack of human learning. It's useless
here. If this were reality, it would be far more obvious
than this genetic fantasy can make out.
It's also pretty silly for those traditionalists in the colony to expect
others to contort themselves into painful behaviours just to maintain
the very silly core mistake at the heart of their colony.
Let them instead wake up to the need to confront that core mistake,
and build a colony that can grow and interact with the outside world.
Something in the episode's favour is the production value gained from
seeing many of our crew actually going down to a planet that is truly
worth visiting. This is no small feat, considering how many near-total
shipboard shows come both before and after this one. A bit of fresh air.
It is bizarre that, in the final scene, the story seems to
be trying to make a case that perhaps the Prime Directive should apply
even to human colonies. Lots. It's time to chuck the damn thing.
Picard and his crew shouldn't need to become contortionists for idiots either.
Picard's actual behaviour in dealing with the colony
is in fact good though, and fair in balancing their
divided wishes. I don't mind his introspection at the end,
but I think he should finish with more pride and less doubt.
The set-up of the colony contains the primary mistake;
subsequent correct actions that naturally dismantle that set-up
should not be apologized for.
But it's nice that we have the example of this episode
over which to clarify our thoughts on these issues:
a pleasant episode that [stay confident guys!] goes the right way in the end.
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