Whenever Geordi LaForge gets his libido going, he makes bad choices. In this case an investigation of a ship reveals the remains of a crew member. It is first thought to be an attractive young woman. Geordi who seems to fall in love with spectres or hologram images, once again falls for a woman who may well be dead (this happens when he explore her video logs). She appears to be a high strung, whiney woman, but she is attractive. Geordi's loneliness and failure with women is well documented and here, again, he puts his heart on his sleeve. Later this woman is found by the Klingons (who were initially blamed) flying on a space shuttle. She takes refuge on the Enterprise and starts an affair with Geordi. Because she has been caught in lies, it is natural that she be put under observation. LaForge is there for her, of course. Sometimes he can be such a little boy. It isn't that he is wrong but that he becomes a loose cannon, fortunate not to completely upset the apple cart. I just couldn't get into this episode.
29 Reviews
Star Trek The Next Generation--Aquiel
Scarecrow-8827 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
While I won't sit here and take a giant dump on "Aquiel", even a Trekkie like me considers this episode not of the usual solid standard of the writing that often occurred during the successful run of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is a bit too convoluted in its mystery (although, fans of mysteries might consider this a good thing), and the "coalescent being" that has to absorb others in order to survive is a big stink of unimpressive. I do, however, admit that I enjoyed the opening part of the episode prior to Aquiel's emergence alive and well; the way Geordi once again falls hard for the Aquiel during her visual/audio communications to her sister, trying to find something that might explain what happened on the relay station so near the Klingon space. A mass of unidentifiable cellular structure fused into a metal floor from high-level phaser fire is cut and analyzed by Dr. Crusher in Sick Bay on the Enterprise. Meanwhile, a Klingon is mentioned in voice logs by Aquiel, and his DNA is located on the relay station. A monitor with missing logs links to this Klingon. A monster that transforms into whatever it absorbs, trying to mimic a possible human, whether it is Aquiel or the Klingon, could place anyone on the Enterprise (particularly Geordi) in danger of being absorbed. Oh, Aquiel has a pet dog, too, that seemingly bonds with Geordi. This pooch might not be man's best friend as so perceived. I didn't think that Renée Jones was as poor (as Aquiel) as the sentiment from this episode's detractors seem to feel, but when you get an episode named after you, there's high expectations to deliver. I actually liked how the Klingons were used as minor plot devices (instead of being involved in major far-reaching angles all the time; sometimes, Klingons become involved in minor Federation affairs), even though there's plenty of reason to suggest that the alliance between them and the Federation is quite shaky and less-than-kosher. Wayne Grace is a hoot as a very disgruntled, ornery Klingon, Governor Torak, not liking it at all that one of his officers might be accused of something criminal on board a Federation station. Toeing the line, Torak, under much angst, does force the criminal Klingon to face the music. The tension between Commander Riker and Geordi was quite fun to watch considering they have such fondness for each other, and all over a woman. Riker concerned for Geordi's welfare and emotional health, doesn't wish for him to get personally involved with Aquiel, if just because she could be responsible for murder. She claims, though, that it was self defense and that "lost time" cannot be explained (her time after the initial attack from her fellow officer on the relay station and her escape into the shuttlecraft, later found in Klingon space). It was as if her "memories were drained from her". The scene where Crusher's hand forms when a plate of the coalescent goo touches her briefly in a reckless attempt of absorption is rather bizarre (it was perhaps a bit of a forced revelation so that the mystery regarding the absorbing lifeform could be explained and discovered). A long series is bound to have black sheep, and "Aquiel" has been treated to the doormat by The Next Gen's fans (and those who made the episode especially recognized it as a failure). I wouldn't call it an episode without plenty of flaws and problems, but I've seen worse. Just watch Shades of Grey in comparison.
Geordi falls for a murder suspect, strikes out.
snarky-trek-reviews30 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Geordi finds a lost dog on a space station and names him Pooch. Worf cuts a hole in the deck plating. Crusher studies cellular residue. Geordi watches a missing girl's log entries, learns her first name. Picard plays the Gowron card with a Klingon who later produces the girl from the log entries. She quickly becomes a murder suspect but a Klingon is also implicated. The girl, Aquiel, destroys evidence but pleads her innocence so Geordi sleeps with her. Crusher discovers a changeling of sorts. Turns out the changeling might be Aquiel. She initiates a telepathic link with Geordi but Riker knows what's up. Plot twist, the changeling is the dog. Geordi offers his new girlfriend a job on the Enterprise but she declines. Watchable but forgettable.
The space station where the murder took place is "relay station 47".
The space station where the murder took place is "relay station 47".
To solve a murder mystery.
russem3129 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:139 - "Aquiel" (Stardate: 46461.3) - this is the 13th episode of the 6th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
At a remote subspace relay station near the Klingon border, an Away Team discovers the supposed remains of Lt. Aquiel Uhnari, with the only one left alive was her dog (the only other person on this station was Lt. Rocha). While Geordi looks through her visual files for information on what happened, he surmises that her death was because of a Klingon attack.
But when the Klingons arrives with Aquiel, they suspect her of murder of her crewmmate.
What exactly is the truth? Find out in this episode.
Trivia note: Picard mentions again that he was Gowron's Arbitor of Succession. Geordi's failed romances throughout the previous seasons finally come to an end here.
At a remote subspace relay station near the Klingon border, an Away Team discovers the supposed remains of Lt. Aquiel Uhnari, with the only one left alive was her dog (the only other person on this station was Lt. Rocha). While Geordi looks through her visual files for information on what happened, he surmises that her death was because of a Klingon attack.
But when the Klingons arrives with Aquiel, they suspect her of murder of her crewmmate.
What exactly is the truth? Find out in this episode.
Trivia note: Picard mentions again that he was Gowron's Arbitor of Succession. Geordi's failed romances throughout the previous seasons finally come to an end here.
The Thing to watch for.
barehuntertm24 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed the episode, although my older son right away realized this was a rehashing of John Carpenter's "The Thing". Right down to the dog being the monster. All it was missing was two Norwegians trying to kill it.
A murder mystery in space
Tweekums8 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
When the Enterprise visits a remote relay station near the Klingon border there is no sign of the two person crew; the only living creature aboard the station is a dog belonging to one of the crew. Further investigation reveals that one of the crew was killed by a phaser burst that reduced the victim to a small residue on the deck plating and the station's shuttle is missing. Clearly we have a mystery to be solved
who killed whom and why? Geordi sets about investigating the personal logs of the crew; there are none from one of them but crew member Lt. Aquiel Uhnari left several; mostly in communications to her sister. Her correspondence reveals that she did not get on with her colleague, who had arrived a mere five days previously and a local Klingon commander had been harassing the station. It looks like one of these two must have killed her and the Klingon is brought on board for questioning
then there is a real surprise; the shuttle turns up with one passenger aboard; Lt. Aquiel Uhnari! Having spent hours going through her personal correspondence Geordi feels like he knows her but while he becomes friends with her others feel she could be the killer.
This is a decent enough episode with a nice mystery at its centre; while I'm sure some people will guess the identity of the real killer that would probably because they wonder why that character is there not because of any obvious evidence. In a previous episode Geordi came off as a bit creepy when it comes to romance and there are hints of that here although in this case he tells Aquiel straight out that he feels like he knows her because his investigation necessitated the watching of her personal files. The final answer to the mystery is a little disappointing as it involves major elements that couldn't reasonably be worked out until we see the results of Dr Crusher's tests late in the episode. Another weakness is the appearance of the alien killer in the final scene; the CGI blob is worse than just about any 'man in a rubber suit' monster. Overall this is an okay episode but not one of the more memorable instalments.
This is a decent enough episode with a nice mystery at its centre; while I'm sure some people will guess the identity of the real killer that would probably because they wonder why that character is there not because of any obvious evidence. In a previous episode Geordi came off as a bit creepy when it comes to romance and there are hints of that here although in this case he tells Aquiel straight out that he feels like he knows her because his investigation necessitated the watching of her personal files. The final answer to the mystery is a little disappointing as it involves major elements that couldn't reasonably be worked out until we see the results of Dr Crusher's tests late in the episode. Another weakness is the appearance of the alien killer in the final scene; the CGI blob is worse than just about any 'man in a rubber suit' monster. Overall this is an okay episode but not one of the more memorable instalments.
Imagine there no yelling
smiledaydream3 April 2022
It is out of character and obnoxious that people investigating something all yell at everyone. Bad script or bad directing? Bad cop show? When you take that away the rest of it is a good story. It was only just predictable enough meaning we were guessing was about to happen only a few seconds before it happened. That was fun. I liked Geordi's reaction to the character. I liked the behavior and reactions of that familiar species. There are the usual loose ends that one could call goofs but I call: having to write fiction on a weekly basis. One common contradiction is the idea one does not kill other life forms. Recently they defended the rights of a robot tool in the same episode that willingly killed viruses. My guess is this episode leaves a life form heading for the dumpster.
REVIEW 2022
iamirwar26 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Let me say right off, any episode that ventured onto the Klingon home-world were always among my favourite TNG and DS9 episodes. We now find ourselves near the Klingon border where we are scheduled to deliver supplies. Unfortunately, station 47 is ignoring us. Let's get an away team over there.
Seems as though everyone has scarpered, except a lone pooch. A smudge on the deck-plate would suggest evil doing's have been going on. Okay, so we've got a mystery and a pet but what will spot make of it? It looks like it will be up to Detective La Forge to put the pieces together.
We will need our knowledge of Oneirology to work this one out. Isn't it sad that Deanna Troi is never around when a fellow telepath comes onboard.
A gripping tale for sure, but evocative of so many other Detective shows such as Murder She Wrote. However, I feel that this one ran out of legs.
I wanted more from the Klingon home-world, but their involvement has been side-lined by Geordi's strange behaviour. There are many reasons why quarantine is a good idea.
This Episodes Clue: From The Earth To The Moon (Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
Seems as though everyone has scarpered, except a lone pooch. A smudge on the deck-plate would suggest evil doing's have been going on. Okay, so we've got a mystery and a pet but what will spot make of it? It looks like it will be up to Detective La Forge to put the pieces together.
We will need our knowledge of Oneirology to work this one out. Isn't it sad that Deanna Troi is never around when a fellow telepath comes onboard.
A gripping tale for sure, but evocative of so many other Detective shows such as Murder She Wrote. However, I feel that this one ran out of legs.
I wanted more from the Klingon home-world, but their involvement has been side-lined by Geordi's strange behaviour. There are many reasons why quarantine is a good idea.
This Episodes Clue: From The Earth To The Moon (Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
The Plot Makes No Sense
Qanqor30 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is a mystery story, and I cannot dissect it without revealing the key revelations, so do not read any further if you have not seen the episode and are intending to.
So I just saw this episode for the very first time; somehow I had managed to miss it for all these years. It's pretty bad.
Someone else here did a nice job discussing many aspects of its badness, so I will not repeat them. I will instead focus on the problems with the plot, which I have not seen discussed. I find at least three plot flaws.
The least important of these involves the Klingon who boarded the station. While I actually *liked* the use of Klingons in this story as a red herring, the Klingon's actions don't really make sense. He comes on this station, finds no one around, and then, randomly takes a bunch of communications that are one of the worst macguffin's I've ever encountered: *no* mention of what they were or why they were important or what *possible* use he could have had for them. He's a Klingon, after all, not a Romulan or a Cardassian, he's unlikely to be interested in espionage. It's hard to imagine what could possibly be in the communications that could interest him. But OK, we'll suspend disbelief on this and assume there's some plausible explanation that the lazy writing couldn't be bothered to tell us about (or perhaps the broadcast I just watched cut the relevant scene). But here's the unacceptably stupid part: these are computer records, logs of data passing through this communications station. So if you "take" them, they're not *gone*, you just took a copy. For the records to be *missing*, the Klingon would have had to both steal a copy *and* then go and delete the originals. He's have to *go out of his way to leave evidence of trespass*. HUH????
But OK, the whole Klingon thing was a red herring anyway, and not essential to the main plot. So let's review said plot; with the benefit of hindsight, let's put together a time-line of what is actually supposed to have happened:
o On some remote assignment, Lt. Unpleasant-Guy gets eaten and replaced by this funky shape-shifting take-the-form-of-the-thing-you-just-ate entity. OK.
o The changeling Lt. Unpleasant-Guy gets transfered to the communication station with Lt. Geordi-Love-Interest. After a couple days, the changeling thing needs to eat someone else, so he attacks her. She manages to get to the weapons locker, grab a phaser, set it to 10, and escape in a shuttlecraft, albeit losing some memories in the process. OK.
o The changeling Lt. U-G, having no other alternatives, eats and turns into the dog. Then, the changeling dog-- get this-- for some reason manages to climb into that little access tunnel and somehow manages to pull that big heavy piece of equipment behind him to block the entrance to the tunnel. Neither the "how" nor the "why" of this makes the tiniest bit of sense.
o The Klingon guy shows up and does his preposterous steal-the-records-AND-destroy- them trick.
o The Enterprise guys show up and find this residue stuck to the floor that used to be someone. Later, it turns into Dr. Crusher's hand in order to prove it's this shape-shifting- and-replacing entity. BIG PROBLEM: Who the hell is *that*?!?!? It's *not* Lt. U-G's changeling, that became the dog!
So just who's remains did the Enterprise guys find? And what happened to it? Geordi has already asserted that even the set-on-10 phaser couldn't have done that, unless it was fired for like 30 seconds, which would not be self-defense. Nobody argued that point. Lt. G-L-I's only possible motive here would be self-defense; it's established that she was being attacked (her memory draining), and she fled in the shuttlecraft. There would have been no need to flee if she had stood there for 30 seconds annihilating-- who? Remind me again who that was supposed to be? Again, the shape-shifter guy wasn't annihilated, he became the dog.
When someone can give me a plausible explanation of who the remains were and how they got that way, I'll give this episode a higher rating.
So I just saw this episode for the very first time; somehow I had managed to miss it for all these years. It's pretty bad.
Someone else here did a nice job discussing many aspects of its badness, so I will not repeat them. I will instead focus on the problems with the plot, which I have not seen discussed. I find at least three plot flaws.
The least important of these involves the Klingon who boarded the station. While I actually *liked* the use of Klingons in this story as a red herring, the Klingon's actions don't really make sense. He comes on this station, finds no one around, and then, randomly takes a bunch of communications that are one of the worst macguffin's I've ever encountered: *no* mention of what they were or why they were important or what *possible* use he could have had for them. He's a Klingon, after all, not a Romulan or a Cardassian, he's unlikely to be interested in espionage. It's hard to imagine what could possibly be in the communications that could interest him. But OK, we'll suspend disbelief on this and assume there's some plausible explanation that the lazy writing couldn't be bothered to tell us about (or perhaps the broadcast I just watched cut the relevant scene). But here's the unacceptably stupid part: these are computer records, logs of data passing through this communications station. So if you "take" them, they're not *gone*, you just took a copy. For the records to be *missing*, the Klingon would have had to both steal a copy *and* then go and delete the originals. He's have to *go out of his way to leave evidence of trespass*. HUH????
But OK, the whole Klingon thing was a red herring anyway, and not essential to the main plot. So let's review said plot; with the benefit of hindsight, let's put together a time-line of what is actually supposed to have happened:
o On some remote assignment, Lt. Unpleasant-Guy gets eaten and replaced by this funky shape-shifting take-the-form-of-the-thing-you-just-ate entity. OK.
o The changeling Lt. Unpleasant-Guy gets transfered to the communication station with Lt. Geordi-Love-Interest. After a couple days, the changeling thing needs to eat someone else, so he attacks her. She manages to get to the weapons locker, grab a phaser, set it to 10, and escape in a shuttlecraft, albeit losing some memories in the process. OK.
o The changeling Lt. U-G, having no other alternatives, eats and turns into the dog. Then, the changeling dog-- get this-- for some reason manages to climb into that little access tunnel and somehow manages to pull that big heavy piece of equipment behind him to block the entrance to the tunnel. Neither the "how" nor the "why" of this makes the tiniest bit of sense.
o The Klingon guy shows up and does his preposterous steal-the-records-AND-destroy- them trick.
o The Enterprise guys show up and find this residue stuck to the floor that used to be someone. Later, it turns into Dr. Crusher's hand in order to prove it's this shape-shifting- and-replacing entity. BIG PROBLEM: Who the hell is *that*?!?!? It's *not* Lt. U-G's changeling, that became the dog!
So just who's remains did the Enterprise guys find? And what happened to it? Geordi has already asserted that even the set-on-10 phaser couldn't have done that, unless it was fired for like 30 seconds, which would not be self-defense. Nobody argued that point. Lt. G-L-I's only possible motive here would be self-defense; it's established that she was being attacked (her memory draining), and she fled in the shuttlecraft. There would have been no need to flee if she had stood there for 30 seconds annihilating-- who? Remind me again who that was supposed to be? Again, the shape-shifter guy wasn't annihilated, he became the dog.
When someone can give me a plausible explanation of who the remains were and how they got that way, I'll give this episode a higher rating.
"Only now, I'm out here in space - and there's nowhere to run."
classicsoncall25 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
A lieutenant assigned to a Federation relay station is missing and presumed dead due to cellular residue left behind on the station, while a shuttlecraft and another Federation lieutenant assigned there have also disappeared. What looks like a possible Klingon attack is proven wrong when Klingon Governor Torak (Wayne Grace) beams aboard the Enterprise with Lieutenant Aquiel Uhnari (Renée Jones) at his side, to the astonishment of the crew. I thought it was really cool the way Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) played the Gowron card when Torak became belligerent and initially refused to help investigate the possibility of Klingon involvement on the relay station. Very subtle and with much self-satisfaction, the Captain got his intention across without ever raising his voice.
Of course, it seems whenever it comes to Commander LaForge's (LeVar Burton) love life, there will always arise some obstacle to prevent a romance from happening. Infatuated by Uhnari's video transmissions to her sister from the relay station's logs, Geordi is even more transfixed by her presence on the Enterprise, and doesn't want to believe that she may have been instrumental in the death of her partner Roche. Bad blood between them had been evident, although Roche's record as an officer was exemplary, while hers was spotty with instances of belligerence and insubordination. What turns the entire episode around was Dr. Crusher's (Gates McFadden) discovery of a possible 'coalescent' inadvertently brought to the relay station that needed a host body to survive. The appearance of a hand that emerged from Crusher's DNA sample was just the creepiest thing.
Well, I didn't think there could be an alien creature even dumber than the Horta from 'The Devil in the Dark' episode from the original series, but Next Generation topped it here when Aquiel's dog Maura turned into that oversized blob of an alien that took over the canine's body. With the mystery solved and the alien threat removed, the story ended as abruptly as some of the other unsatisfying episodes of the series. As for Geordi, well, I guess his love life will just have to wait.
Of course, it seems whenever it comes to Commander LaForge's (LeVar Burton) love life, there will always arise some obstacle to prevent a romance from happening. Infatuated by Uhnari's video transmissions to her sister from the relay station's logs, Geordi is even more transfixed by her presence on the Enterprise, and doesn't want to believe that she may have been instrumental in the death of her partner Roche. Bad blood between them had been evident, although Roche's record as an officer was exemplary, while hers was spotty with instances of belligerence and insubordination. What turns the entire episode around was Dr. Crusher's (Gates McFadden) discovery of a possible 'coalescent' inadvertently brought to the relay station that needed a host body to survive. The appearance of a hand that emerged from Crusher's DNA sample was just the creepiest thing.
Well, I didn't think there could be an alien creature even dumber than the Horta from 'The Devil in the Dark' episode from the original series, but Next Generation topped it here when Aquiel's dog Maura turned into that oversized blob of an alien that took over the canine's body. With the mystery solved and the alien threat removed, the story ended as abruptly as some of the other unsatisfying episodes of the series. As for Geordi, well, I guess his love life will just have to wait.
Once again, Geordi's libido makes him seem pathetic and a bit creepy.
planktonrules29 November 2014
According to IMDb, the person who wrote this particular episode apparently later regretted it. I appreciate their candor--and agree that it's a pretty awful episode--mostly because of how Geordi is portrayed in this very creepy show.
Geordi is part of a team investigating what happened at a remote relay station. The two people who SHOULD be there aren't. One appears to be a pile of goo and they have no idea what's become of the other. To get a better idea, Geordi looks through Lt. Uhnari's personal logs, though conveniently (and with no real explanation) parts of the files are missing. The logs are often very personal and LaForge takes WAY too much delight into listening to this missing woman's thoughts. It's very much reminiscent of how he pathetically fell for his holo version of Dr. Leah Brahms and once again Geordi LaForge is just plain pathetic and creepy. It gets worse, however, once they locate the Lieutenant, as LaForge does NOT behave professionally but more like a lovesick teen.
Because of the unprofessional and creepy way LaForge behaves throughout the show, it's clearly a bad episode. Now the solution to the killing and disappearance does seem kind of interesting, though the 'creature' looks more like a gigantic turd...and that made me laugh. Overall, a pretty terrible outing.
Geordi is part of a team investigating what happened at a remote relay station. The two people who SHOULD be there aren't. One appears to be a pile of goo and they have no idea what's become of the other. To get a better idea, Geordi looks through Lt. Uhnari's personal logs, though conveniently (and with no real explanation) parts of the files are missing. The logs are often very personal and LaForge takes WAY too much delight into listening to this missing woman's thoughts. It's very much reminiscent of how he pathetically fell for his holo version of Dr. Leah Brahms and once again Geordi LaForge is just plain pathetic and creepy. It gets worse, however, once they locate the Lieutenant, as LaForge does NOT behave professionally but more like a lovesick teen.
Because of the unprofessional and creepy way LaForge behaves throughout the show, it's clearly a bad episode. Now the solution to the killing and disappearance does seem kind of interesting, though the 'creature' looks more like a gigantic turd...and that made me laugh. Overall, a pretty terrible outing.
Hitchcock murder mystery
eonbluekarma20 November 2008
This is a well written and original TNG episode. Don't understand why it receives low rating on IMDb but it rings of Hithcock's TV show. A must see episode for Trekkies and Hitchcock fans. The plot is thick and it leaves the viewer guessing right up until the end. The suspense is masterfully shot by the director. It is an all around winner.
Also its nice to see Klingon's written into an episode that isn't about the empire or war.
I think if people look at this episode in that light then it is a justifiable 8 out of 10. It definitely does not deserve the 5.9 it has received so far.
Also its nice to see Klingon's written into an episode that isn't about the empire or war.
I think if people look at this episode in that light then it is a justifiable 8 out of 10. It definitely does not deserve the 5.9 it has received so far.
I will never understand.....
faithless473417 March 2020
The One Where Geordi Facebook Stalks a Girl and Ends Up Battling 'The Thing'
HaphazardMelange30 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The premise is an intriguing one, as The Enterprise arrives to resupply a sub-space relay station only to find what is possibly the remains of one of the two crew members, a shuttlecraft missing, and the only other living being left alive: a dog.
Before the teaser even ended my pop culture reference radar went off, as this was surely throwing a reference to 1982's 'The Thing'. What followed was red herring after red herring, as Geordi scoured through the station's computer to recover Lt. Aquiel Uhnari's personal logs and began connecting a Klingon patrol to the apparent death of at least one of the relay station's occupants.
It's a creepy sight as Geordi begins to fall in love with a girl who is presumed dead, whilst snooping through her things and petting her dog. It's a common thread that I've come across with rewatching ST:TNG - that Geordi's relationships never play out as straight forward, and he often comes across as being a sexual predator at the worst, a creep who doesn't know how to be professional with women at best. Whether any of this is by accident is debatable, but it is certainly a testament to poor writing.
Ronald D. Moore has gone on record as saying he wish he had not written "Aquiel", and I don't blame him. Perhaps it's the burden of filling a 26 episode season that results in misfires for even the greatest of television shows, and maybe that can be forgiven. But this episode is a referential mess with a hint of stalker-y gratification for one of the main supporting characters, and deserves all the unforgiving criticism it gets.
Before the teaser even ended my pop culture reference radar went off, as this was surely throwing a reference to 1982's 'The Thing'. What followed was red herring after red herring, as Geordi scoured through the station's computer to recover Lt. Aquiel Uhnari's personal logs and began connecting a Klingon patrol to the apparent death of at least one of the relay station's occupants.
It's a creepy sight as Geordi begins to fall in love with a girl who is presumed dead, whilst snooping through her things and petting her dog. It's a common thread that I've come across with rewatching ST:TNG - that Geordi's relationships never play out as straight forward, and he often comes across as being a sexual predator at the worst, a creep who doesn't know how to be professional with women at best. Whether any of this is by accident is debatable, but it is certainly a testament to poor writing.
Ronald D. Moore has gone on record as saying he wish he had not written "Aquiel", and I don't blame him. Perhaps it's the burden of filling a 26 episode season that results in misfires for even the greatest of television shows, and maybe that can be forgiven. But this episode is a referential mess with a hint of stalker-y gratification for one of the main supporting characters, and deserves all the unforgiving criticism it gets.
Terrible ending to an annoying episode that could easily have been better.
wwcanoer-tech10 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
As Qanqor stated in his or her review, "The Plot Makes No Sense."
S/he asks "If the dog is the creature, then what is the blob?" I would say that's the creatures "poop", the leftover remains of the consumed officer that were left behind when it transitioned to the dog. But, then why does it retain the ability to shape-shift and why did it take some energy beam to do it?
I didn't mind that Geordie is attracted to Aquiel but it was ludicrous for him, as an investigating officer, to simply be alone in her quarters, let alone have a bonding session with her! Geordie should never investigate anything ever again because he doesn't have any restraint. It would be much more interesting to see him struggle with keeping a distance.
I assume that everyone thought "It's the dog!" when they saw Geordie on the bed with the dog. That was one thing that made sense. (But is unbelievable that none of the crew would consider that possibility.) But why did it turn into this growing lump of slime?! That made no sense. If it has to revert to that form then it's not going to be very successful finding food/hosts because any that see it will be scared away,
How would a creature take over a new body? What's plausible? We want something that starts but that Geordie can recognize and get away from.
The slime in the lab only needed to touch Dr. Crusher for a moment to completely replicate her hand.
So, as Geordie pets the dog, we could see it start to change. We could see a paw turn into a hand and grab Geordie's leg, shocking him. Or, more creepy, would could see it's face start to morph into Geordie's. Or, because Aquiel talked about memories being suck out, he could be talking to the dog, telling it a story, when he stops, forgetting what he was trying to say, and then "my mind has gone blank. ... Woah" and then he steps back to see the physical changes in the dog. Geordie tries to run, the dog jumps onto him, knocking him down, and when Geordie tries to crawl away, we see that the dog has a human hand holding him back, but the uniform rips and Geordie reaches the phaser...
Wouldn't that be more interesting than "I see a blob in the mirror, turn around, and shoot it"? I bet that you can come up with something even better. Why can't the writers?
A good mystery provides clues for the audience to guess the villain before it is revealed. Early on, why not have some foreshadowing of the dog not reacting to Aquiel the way that it normally does? Doesn't shake hands, doesn't like its favorite food or something. Best would be a behavioral change, that the dog is more aggressive, just like the eaten officer was much more aggressive on the station than his Star Fleet record indicates.
Some more aspects that did not make sense:
S/he asks "If the dog is the creature, then what is the blob?" I would say that's the creatures "poop", the leftover remains of the consumed officer that were left behind when it transitioned to the dog. But, then why does it retain the ability to shape-shift and why did it take some energy beam to do it?
I didn't mind that Geordie is attracted to Aquiel but it was ludicrous for him, as an investigating officer, to simply be alone in her quarters, let alone have a bonding session with her! Geordie should never investigate anything ever again because he doesn't have any restraint. It would be much more interesting to see him struggle with keeping a distance.
I assume that everyone thought "It's the dog!" when they saw Geordie on the bed with the dog. That was one thing that made sense. (But is unbelievable that none of the crew would consider that possibility.) But why did it turn into this growing lump of slime?! That made no sense. If it has to revert to that form then it's not going to be very successful finding food/hosts because any that see it will be scared away,
How would a creature take over a new body? What's plausible? We want something that starts but that Geordie can recognize and get away from.
The slime in the lab only needed to touch Dr. Crusher for a moment to completely replicate her hand.
So, as Geordie pets the dog, we could see it start to change. We could see a paw turn into a hand and grab Geordie's leg, shocking him. Or, more creepy, would could see it's face start to morph into Geordie's. Or, because Aquiel talked about memories being suck out, he could be talking to the dog, telling it a story, when he stops, forgetting what he was trying to say, and then "my mind has gone blank. ... Woah" and then he steps back to see the physical changes in the dog. Geordie tries to run, the dog jumps onto him, knocking him down, and when Geordie tries to crawl away, we see that the dog has a human hand holding him back, but the uniform rips and Geordie reaches the phaser...
Wouldn't that be more interesting than "I see a blob in the mirror, turn around, and shoot it"? I bet that you can come up with something even better. Why can't the writers?
A good mystery provides clues for the audience to guess the villain before it is revealed. Early on, why not have some foreshadowing of the dog not reacting to Aquiel the way that it normally does? Doesn't shake hands, doesn't like its favorite food or something. Best would be a behavioral change, that the dog is more aggressive, just like the eaten officer was much more aggressive on the station than his Star Fleet record indicates.
Some more aspects that did not make sense:
- Aquiel deleting logs after she gets to the Enterprise. Few Star Fleet officers would be that stupid and it is completely unnecessary to advance the plot. Finding the bad report would be enough for motive.
- "Aquiel is not on the Enterprise." But she was on the Enterprise, even though I don't know why both the dog and Aquiel couldn't be alien creatures. Maybe it divides. Would be cool if, after she meets Geordie that last time, we see her temporarily morph in some way. If she was white, while she shakes his hand goodbye, we could see it turn brown to match Geordie and then revert when she lets go. (Also, why doesn't the computer notify security when a member of the crew disappears?! Always annoys me.)
- Why have the Klingon delete records, which makes no sense except for ones that would document his arrival. Since he copied data, he could have dropped one data disk or forgot one in the computer (whatever he copies it to). Or, the last computer log would be connection to an unknown device, or a device known to be Klingon. When interrogating the Klingon, they could examine his device and it's identification number would match the last log entry.
- Or, better, the Klingon is having an affair with Aquiel. The other officer is mad that the Klingon visits the station. When he discovers them gone, he then deletes every record that mentions his arrival, even the logs where Aquiel talks about him, but he misses one where he was not mentioned explicitly, where Aquiel only hints to her sister that she's seeing a new man, a very strong man, whom she only sees every 7 days (whatever the Klingon's period was) but doesn't fully explain. Then more of the elements of the story could be weaved together.
A great episode of TV
nicofreezer12 January 2022
Oncr again I have to step in and defend Geordie Laforge against some stupid reviews, who are you people to call him a weirdos or creepy ? Are you so fragile and insecure ? Once again Laforge did nothing wrong, he only fall in love, you have to see Laforge as a romantic man, at least thats the way star trek writers wrote his character. I dont see whats wrong in his attitude right here , he was the only defensor for this poor innocent, Laforge was the better man in this episode. 8.5/10.
Another Failed Romance for Geordi...
Samuel-Shovel7 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
In "Aquiel" the Enterprise comes across a murder scene and disappearance on a distant Federation outpost. Geordi is tasked with investigating the case and finds himself falling for the murdered party after going through her personal logs. His situation and case assignment becomes complicated when the woman herself shows up alive.
Star Trek's attempt at a "Laura" episode falls flat due to an overcomplicated and unsatisfactory solution to the mystery, a quite terrible romance between Geordi and the episode's titular character, and slow-pacing. La Forge continues his string of failed romance where he always comes away kind of seeming like a weirdo. Here he falls for a cam girl that he thinks is dead when he falls in love with her. Find a living, breathing partner Geordi! Stop with the holodeck and video obsessions.
That weird subplot takes over the episode and becomes the A story, pushing the actually interesting story to the back burner. But the good monster reveal gets a big old shrug from me, just like this episode...
Star Trek's attempt at a "Laura" episode falls flat due to an overcomplicated and unsatisfactory solution to the mystery, a quite terrible romance between Geordi and the episode's titular character, and slow-pacing. La Forge continues his string of failed romance where he always comes away kind of seeming like a weirdo. Here he falls for a cam girl that he thinks is dead when he falls in love with her. Find a living, breathing partner Geordi! Stop with the holodeck and video obsessions.
That weird subplot takes over the episode and becomes the A story, pushing the actually interesting story to the back burner. But the good monster reveal gets a big old shrug from me, just like this episode...
This made it out of the writers room?
thevacinstaller22 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I have heard mention that this episode is a homage to classic Hitchcock? I suppose if you are really stretching you could see an attempt to create a compelling murder mystery in this episode. I got absolutely nothing out of this episode beyond a cure for insomnia.
Geordi ---- what are you doing? You are a good looking guy who is an engineer on the flagship of the enterprise! Why are you snooping through the underwear drawer of an average starfleet officer who got send to 'siberia' for being disruptive?
The blob creature was undeveloped and it stretches my disbelief to work through the processes this creature would have to go through to find and consume it's victims. I swear I watched this episode but I still don't understand who committed the murder ---- I believe that the show is suggestion that the blob took over control of Aquiel and 'wiped' her memory of the event and then transferred itself to the dog?! What?! Why?
This is the weakest episode of TNG since Code Of Honor.
Geordi ---- what are you doing? You are a good looking guy who is an engineer on the flagship of the enterprise! Why are you snooping through the underwear drawer of an average starfleet officer who got send to 'siberia' for being disruptive?
The blob creature was undeveloped and it stretches my disbelief to work through the processes this creature would have to go through to find and consume it's victims. I swear I watched this episode but I still don't understand who committed the murder ---- I believe that the show is suggestion that the blob took over control of Aquiel and 'wiped' her memory of the event and then transferred itself to the dog?! What?! Why?
This is the weakest episode of TNG since Code Of Honor.
Geordi La Forge vs Mr. Peanut
XweAponX24 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is another great ep that took a critical pounding. I wholeheartedly say "Get Stuffed!"-Even to Ron who wrote it! It was great. I never knew the "Mr Peanut effect" - I thought I was the only one who called it that.
This ep begins as a Murder Mystery as someone else suggests. And just as any Hitchcock Mystery, this episode has a "Maguffin" - That thing which our attention is drawn to while the real murderer slips right under our noses from the very start.
In a Hitchcockian Mystery, the bad guy is one of the first characters introduced. As with Hitchcock, so too Braga and Moore in this Jeri Taylor story.
Our Psycho Murder House is a Communications Station in deep space - Near the Klingon Border. As Worf and Geordi and Riker investigate a grim scene indeed, foul play is evident. Geordi finds a great dog in a locker, apparently just left there.
The Victim appears to be a woman, Lt. Aquiel Unhari (the very attractive Renée Jones) - The owner of the dog. And Geordi has to break into her private communiques to try to find clues as to what happened. There was another Lieutenant posted - Never seen but referred to, is missing and there is a grease-spot of protoplasmic goo embedded into a metal plate, which Dr. Crusher must needs extract from the metal.
There was also a Klingon Commander who had been harassing the station - Reg E. Cathey as "Morag" - And he is a suspect. But the Klingon Governor of that parsec of space pulls a conundrum from his pocket - He drags in Lt Unhari, who claims memory loss, making her the perfect suspect.
But when Crusher finally separates the goo from the metal - It becomes her hand! She describes this as a "Coalescent Life Form" which on a smaller scale, ingest other life forms and Mimic them - But on a larger scale, can they imitate people?
All Signs point to Aquiel, is this misdirection?
Until Geordi comes face to face with a Coalescent "Peanut Monster" and was lucky he had a Phaser in his drawer and has to "waporize" it.
I will not say which character in this array of interesting characters is our "Coalescent Monster" - Find out!
This ep begins as a Murder Mystery as someone else suggests. And just as any Hitchcock Mystery, this episode has a "Maguffin" - That thing which our attention is drawn to while the real murderer slips right under our noses from the very start.
In a Hitchcockian Mystery, the bad guy is one of the first characters introduced. As with Hitchcock, so too Braga and Moore in this Jeri Taylor story.
Our Psycho Murder House is a Communications Station in deep space - Near the Klingon Border. As Worf and Geordi and Riker investigate a grim scene indeed, foul play is evident. Geordi finds a great dog in a locker, apparently just left there.
The Victim appears to be a woman, Lt. Aquiel Unhari (the very attractive Renée Jones) - The owner of the dog. And Geordi has to break into her private communiques to try to find clues as to what happened. There was another Lieutenant posted - Never seen but referred to, is missing and there is a grease-spot of protoplasmic goo embedded into a metal plate, which Dr. Crusher must needs extract from the metal.
There was also a Klingon Commander who had been harassing the station - Reg E. Cathey as "Morag" - And he is a suspect. But the Klingon Governor of that parsec of space pulls a conundrum from his pocket - He drags in Lt Unhari, who claims memory loss, making her the perfect suspect.
But when Crusher finally separates the goo from the metal - It becomes her hand! She describes this as a "Coalescent Life Form" which on a smaller scale, ingest other life forms and Mimic them - But on a larger scale, can they imitate people?
All Signs point to Aquiel, is this misdirection?
Until Geordi comes face to face with a Coalescent "Peanut Monster" and was lucky he had a Phaser in his drawer and has to "waporize" it.
I will not say which character in this array of interesting characters is our "Coalescent Monster" - Find out!
Murder at the space station
bkoganbing9 June 2020
Visiting a small space station some trace DNA is found, enough to know that
murder has been done. But who was murdered and why was it done?
Culprit and motive and for the next hour Levar Burton takes the lead in the investigation.
But it's Gates McFadden who discovers the murderer and literally from out of left field and in the last five minutes of the episode.i
Not one of the better TNG stories.
Culprit and motive and for the next hour Levar Burton takes the lead in the investigation.
But it's Gates McFadden who discovers the murderer and literally from out of left field and in the last five minutes of the episode.i
Not one of the better TNG stories.
Doesn't make sense
zombiemockingbird15 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It seemed kind of interesting when it started, but headed downhill fast. Unlike other reviewers, it certainly didn't remind me of any Hitchcock movie I've ever seen. I didn't think Geordi going through Aquiel's logs was particularly creepy, but it was immensely boring. I suspected from the beginning that the dog had something to do with it, just because it was there, which seemed out of place. The story itself just makes no sense. The Klingons were just filler, apparently, since they had nothing to do with anything. Why were logs erased? That seemed to have nothing to do with anything either. If Aquiel phasered the 'creature' into a blob, how did it manage to shapeshift into the dog? Yet leave part of itself behind, so later on, after being subjected to something (I forget what) it manages to shape shift into Dr Crusher's hand? But Geordie phasers it and manages to completely obliterate it. Too many plot holes. Actually, there wasn't enough story to even have holes.
La Forge needs an uppercut
steve-667-1019012 May 2020
Geordie was alway my least favourite character.
His borderline insubordination isn't consistent with Picard's ultra discipline. Doesn't say "Sir" enough and his attitude to Riker was poor.
Didn't like this episode at all.
Didn't like this episode at all.
Looking for Mother in the House on the Hill
Meeren17 August 2020
The dream Acquil refers to several times in her log, is it a reference to Hitchcocks "Psycho"? With the mother in the house on the hill. Or is it related to "The Thing"? Or the book that is also mentioned in the series. My vote go for Bates and his mother, but I could be wrong. I enjoyed the episode.
Ruined by the last 1 minute of the episode
a-gordon-237426 May 2022
This would be a decent 7/10 episode if not for the horrible ending (literally just the last 60 seconds). It makes absolutely no sense. She lost her memory how? I feel like the end of this episode was rushed and not thought out at all. It really could have been a better episode.
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