New uniforms, new credit sequence and Doctor Crusher returned to us but was Season 3 of The Next Generation really as good as we remember? Some of that enthusiasm may have have been generated by relief that the series had not been cancelled but the 1990's also heralded an era of considerably more stability behind the scenes. Senior Trekker will continue to score every episode with a 5.
If the Hunted was a Vietnam episode then the High Ground was definitely "Breakfast in Belfast". The controversy over the "United Ireland" remarks blinded everyone in the UK to its other qualities (or lack of) for a long time and it was even denied a television release until certain scenes were expunged. An awful lot of people on both sides suffered and died during the Troubles and American commentary, much less American money, was extremely unhelpful to those who gave up so much to try to bring them to an end. Of course, the World has turned and no-one, least of all the majority of Brits, would be surprised if Star Trek didn't actually get its projection about the unification of Ireland right in this case.
So what does the High Ground look like today?
The depiction of a hostage situation where, despite being bound for a number of hours, the victim is barely dishevelled and expresses the need for neither a drink of water or a bathroom is frankly risible. The rapport between Beverley Crusher and her kidnapper is also pretty insulting to anyone who has found themselves in that situation and the plot point about cellular decay being caused by the sub-standard transporter is confusing, so say the least. The weary Police Inspector describing terrorists attacking school buses could have been lifted straight out of Tel Aviv but the intention of the participants to show that there is more than one side to such conflicts is clearly expressed.
A flawed attempt at a message episode but, nevertheless, still a challenging watch.
If the Hunted was a Vietnam episode then the High Ground was definitely "Breakfast in Belfast". The controversy over the "United Ireland" remarks blinded everyone in the UK to its other qualities (or lack of) for a long time and it was even denied a television release until certain scenes were expunged. An awful lot of people on both sides suffered and died during the Troubles and American commentary, much less American money, was extremely unhelpful to those who gave up so much to try to bring them to an end. Of course, the World has turned and no-one, least of all the majority of Brits, would be surprised if Star Trek didn't actually get its projection about the unification of Ireland right in this case.
So what does the High Ground look like today?
The depiction of a hostage situation where, despite being bound for a number of hours, the victim is barely dishevelled and expresses the need for neither a drink of water or a bathroom is frankly risible. The rapport between Beverley Crusher and her kidnapper is also pretty insulting to anyone who has found themselves in that situation and the plot point about cellular decay being caused by the sub-standard transporter is confusing, so say the least. The weary Police Inspector describing terrorists attacking school buses could have been lifted straight out of Tel Aviv but the intention of the participants to show that there is more than one side to such conflicts is clearly expressed.
A flawed attempt at a message episode but, nevertheless, still a challenging watch.