[TNG] Season 5, Episode 13: The Masterpiece Society
Rating: 2
“Masterpiece Society” sort of feels like a season two episode, complete with kinda gross Troi romance. It does a couple of interesting things, though – mostly it arrives at what traditionally would be the climax at around the half hour mark. Smartly, they realized that the resolution of the inciting threat isn’t the real heart of the conflict – its the irreparable damage the Enterprise’s interference has on a such a controlled society.
A stellar core fragment is headed towards a hidden human colony. They don’t talk to outsiders about anything — except core fragments.They’re really impressed with transportingEach person here is genetically engineered for their role in society. They’ve gotten rid of most diseases and disabilities, and kind of think they’re better than Enterprise humans.Normally they don’t like letting people in, or out, but they agree to let one of their scientists go back to Enterprise, since they’ll probably die if they don’t.Meanwhile, Troi and the leader guy say humpty dumpty in unison together……Which leads to loveGeordi and the scientist find a way to save the planetIt was this beam. I wouldn’t have thought of thatBut then the science lady doesn’t want to go back to her lame planetIts always good when the climax of an episode is Picard finally meeting with the opposing leader and they talk it out!If people leave it creates an imbalance and generally makes them sad, so there is a real prime directive conflict. Eventually, they agree to let them go because the planet is kinda lame – They don’t even have transporters.
