The Enterprise is dispatched to the planet Kesprytt III to investigate the possibility of the Kes, one of the planet's two countries, becoming an associate member of the Federation; this would be a unique situation as previously only united planets have been admitted to the Federation. As part of this process Picard and Dr Crusher beam down to the planet. Things go wrong though and their signal is somehow intercepted and they find themselves in a Prytt Prison with implants in their necks. The Kes ambassador explains that the Prytt, the planet's other nation, are a secretive and paranoid race. A Kes agent gives Picard and Crusher the means to escape but as they head to a safe rendezvous point they learn that the implants give them a psychic link that forces them to share their thoughts, it also makes them feel nauseous if they move more than a few yards apart. As time passes this link strengthens and some previously unstated thoughts are fully exposed; notably the feeling they have for each other. Back on the Enterprise the Kes ambassador proves to be just as paranoid as the Prytt; when Picard and Crusher don't turn up at the rendezvous point he suggests that the Federation must be in league with the Prytt!
This was an interesting episode thanks to the character development we get between Picard and Crusher; Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden are on top form here and provide some genuinely touching moments as the feelings they have had for each other are exposed. The story about the Kes and the Prytt primarily serves to put Picard and Crusher in this position but is also rather interesting in its own right; it was fun seeing the paranoia of the Kes ambassador being exposed; starting with his being a bit over-concerned about being overheard leading to his completely bonkers accusations about the Federation allying itself with the Prytt. Overall a good emotional episode with some tense moments too.
This was an interesting episode thanks to the character development we get between Picard and Crusher; Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden are on top form here and provide some genuinely touching moments as the feelings they have had for each other are exposed. The story about the Kes and the Prytt primarily serves to put Picard and Crusher in this position but is also rather interesting in its own right; it was fun seeing the paranoia of the Kes ambassador being exposed; starting with his being a bit over-concerned about being overheard leading to his completely bonkers accusations about the Federation allying itself with the Prytt. Overall a good emotional episode with some tense moments too.