267. AttachedFORMULA: The High Ground + A Piece of the Action + Violations
WHY WE LIKE IT: Picard and Crusher's relationship finally addressed.
WHY WE DON'T: They choose to go with the status quo. Oh, and that curtain Beverly wears as a skirt in the epilogue.
REVIEW: For the third episode in a row, we have a story in which we find out what a character is thinking, with a comedic B-plot to support it. In this case at least, we're not physically in someone's mind. "Attaching" Crusher and Picard gives the writers the chance to finally tie a loose end that's been dangling since The Naked Now, namely the question of the attraction between the two of them. Old friends, we knew that. Breakfast buddies, yes. But more?
Turns out Picard was in love with her back when she was married (oooh, Picard, don't break the Code!), but he never said anything, and hasn't said anything since because of his loyalty to Jack. But they're just friends now. Or so the scene would let us believe. Except that in the epilogue, Picard's suddenly willing to have a go "now that [they] know how [they] feel about each other." Chances the subtext of that campfire scene, certainly. In the last season, they could have gone with a big shake-up, but they didn't. Crusher make what seems like a difficult decision, but she doesn't want to become another Neela Darren.
Aside from the big emotional reveal, there's some good telepathic interplay between them: Crusher calling him on his crap, Picard digging too deep, shared jokes, etc. Light-hearted entertainment amidst strictly ordinary dangers in the Prytt caves. Aboard ship, Riker has to handle the Kes and the Prytt, both incredibly paranoid. It's played for laughs mostly, with Riker thinking outside the box and spelling out his logic to the alien rubes.
LESSON: Be careful who sees your erotic dreams.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: The B-plot's comedy is not particularly sharp, and the A-plot is much ado about nothing, but it's fairly well done thanks to the cast's performances.
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