This was a good "first-try" episode. It's another example of a good idea that was poorly done in the first season and then done-over later on with better results.
They misused Troi a little in this first season. The entire opening scene seems a little too Scooby Doo for me. Jenkies Captain, I have a hunch he's hiding something! You get the idea. It makes the Enterprise crew seem almost invasive though. Yes, they were supposed to be looking in on them, but the jump to the overdramatic tension through Troi immediately bristling up about them lying makes it almost seem like they're inserting themselves in the situation in a very pushy and overreaching way. And it's not the first time it's happened like that in this season. It's not something I was consciously uncomfortable with until the series progresses and they began to represent the viewpoint of an observer that gets drawn into the situation and ends up saving the day. It's a much more satisfying view, and when I compare this episode to the others that came after it, I see the flaw of the other view clearly.
So, they encounter an inorganic but rational life form on a planet that's supposed to be lifeless for a terraforming project. Excellent concept. One of the first real creative attempts I've seen at this point. And also one that you don't see a lot of in Star Trek since the preferred type of adversaries are ones that can provide more human-like interactions with the characters. It's not the first time they've ever done this - there was Devil In The Dark from TOS, which was also a really good episode, but it's not done often and there was a lot of potential with it as always...
But, also as always with the first season, they just keep shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to developing the concept. The terraformers aren't bright enough to figure out that they've stumbled upon a life form without the Enterprise, and of course one of them suspects but is too obsessive in the work to stop. Both of these ideas are believable, but it was done in an oversimplified (I use that word a lot when talking about the first season; apologies) and cartoonish way.
They don't take the time to develop those aspects of the characters and explore human behavior because they have to get on their soap box and start ranting. It's sad that this was more important to them than a good science fiction story at this point in time. They slop their way though the crystal species rapidly evolving into the ability to communicate with everyone which was somehow impossible on the planet (again, not very good science fiction) so they can start hitting the self-deprecating shaming and guilt trips as quickly as possible. And they don't even get it accurate... Data saying that humans are 90 percent water when really it's only 50 to 65 percent. I guess that's still "mostly," but that's not the point. The point is that we're somehow more insignificant and socially retarded as a life form because of this. I've never understood the push and the drive to want to believe that if there is other rational life in the universe that mankind is automatically inferior, and we shouldn't even consider any other possibility. It's just a very depressing outlook. Talk about lowering self-esteem.
Then, they can't even keep their own ideology straight. They've found ways to bitch, bitch, bitch in almost every episode about how war, especially war by humans and people that look human, is the most depraved and evil way of life and how it destroys environments, races, etc. So, as soon as the crystal being starts talking it declares war over the misunderstandings and in the process makes the point that humans are primitive and deserving of their actions. And, of course, we're happily accepting of that judgment as we send them home with a smile of respect for their superiority. Sorry for the internet shortcuts, but WTF? I guess it's okay for everyone but humans (and human looking aliens) to go to war. But it makes sense with the political climate back then, and more so now. It's okay for everyone else to attack and make war with each other and with Americans, but Americans are evil and should remove their military presence from the world in the role of peacekeeping because they're actually warmongering dictators, somehow. The ignorance of the left is truly dizzying at times.
But there was more to like in this episode than in others. The Velara Base and planet scape was actually very good this time. Like I said, the genuine desire to be creative with this episode was palpable. They just needed to turn their creative juices loose.
I always like it when they show off Data's abilities as a machine and you also get to see him and Geordi working together as an engineering team. It's exciting and smart. And it's another demonstration of why Geordi would need to be the chief engineer and a foretaste of the teamwork to come. They seemed like they were really trying in these moments to make a good show.
I know I don't speak as much on the good parts as the bad, but it effects my star rating. I can't understand people that give less than perfect review and and then have no critisizm whatsoever to give. Three stars to this one for the excellent concept, attempt at creativity, and the developmental process of Geordi and Data. Once the episodes get better and there's not as much rotten egg content to complain about, believe me, I'll gush on about the good things like this.
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