Dead Colonists or Dead Way of Life for the Colonists, that is the fundamental question.
It's also the reason I despise characters like Martin. For all his zealotry and fanatical ranting, each and every time he is faced with the fact that, had the Enterprise not contacted them, and had Aaron not accepted their offer of help, the colonists would all be dead anyway.
Every time Martin goes off on a rant at someone, the other character points out that they'd all be dead if they followed his way of thinking. And every time he ignores them and runs away or avoids answering and continues to make pointless argument. I get it, there are people like this IRL, so it's a legit character, with a legit flaw.
What makes it so funny, or perhaps frustrating, is that this is a supposed "perfect" society, bred for superiority, and they all sit around and do nothing with all that genius. What challenges do they face? What does their society need that isn't already provided? So what's the point? What are they fighting so hard to protect?
The most frustrating characters outside of Martin, are Troi and Aaron. They spend a few days together, becoming more attracted to each other, which culminates in them spending the night together. Nothing wrong with that, im real life. But in this series, Troi is supposed to be acting on behalf of the Enterprjse and Captain Picard.
Which begs the question, why? Why do Picard or Riker not beam down originally to discuss what the society is facing and what must be done to save them? The only answer I can come up with is, they wouldn't have been able to write in the love story conflict.
Then she and Picard have an inane conversation where Troi tells Picard she thinks they're making their society work just fine, as he's criticizing the whole venture of "perfect societies." Then he asks her if she'd like to live her life with her entire future already written, and she gives the idiotic answer that she "doesn't know." Which considering her entire career and way of life, you'd rightly expect a resounding "No!"
But Troi's almost falling in love, and so all looks rosy in the commune. And then after the threat is passed and all is well, several of the colonists have decided they don't want to live within the confines of their "perfect society" any longer.
When Picard gathers the officers together to discuss giving them asylum, Troi stupidly tells Picard they just cannot, because what will happen to their "perfect" society then? She doesn't give a fig leaf for the individuals who are desperate to get off the planet while they can, because Aaron will certainly never answer another outside call again now that this has happened so they either leave now or their stuck. But Troi's selfishly thinking only of Aaron and how it will affect him and his job. I found that repulsive, and completely out of character for her.
When Picard does finally meet with Aaron, after all the danger has passed and the "damage" is done, he tells Aaron he cannot refuse the colonists asylum. And even tho Aaron is feeling the pull of the outside world himself, he still begs Picard to not give in to them, because his duty and only purpose is to serve the society and repair the damage done by the Enterprise being there.
Then Aaron and Troi have a final goodbye where Aaron tells her he loves her and he always will, because for all the supposed perfect mates for him within their society, he's never and will never love any of them. It's really sad commentary for continuing this way of life at all. Actually for ever even beginning it.
So, Enterprise grants asylum, Riker comes in to tell Picard they're all onboard, twenty three of the colonists, and then Picard starts lamenting the situation and questioning if they've been true to the Prime Directive. Which I find a cop out the writers stuck in there right at the end.
Of course the Prime Directive doesn't apply, they're human. Doesn't matter if their ancestors ran away to start a so-called perfect society or not. They're still human and therefore not subject to the PD.
And bottom line, Picard waffling about it after it's all over and said and done, doesn't change the fundamental fact that if they'd not accepted outside help in order to protect their way of life, they'd all be dead anyway.
It's also the reason I despise characters like Martin. For all his zealotry and fanatical ranting, each and every time he is faced with the fact that, had the Enterprise not contacted them, and had Aaron not accepted their offer of help, the colonists would all be dead anyway.
Every time Martin goes off on a rant at someone, the other character points out that they'd all be dead if they followed his way of thinking. And every time he ignores them and runs away or avoids answering and continues to make pointless argument. I get it, there are people like this IRL, so it's a legit character, with a legit flaw.
What makes it so funny, or perhaps frustrating, is that this is a supposed "perfect" society, bred for superiority, and they all sit around and do nothing with all that genius. What challenges do they face? What does their society need that isn't already provided? So what's the point? What are they fighting so hard to protect?
The most frustrating characters outside of Martin, are Troi and Aaron. They spend a few days together, becoming more attracted to each other, which culminates in them spending the night together. Nothing wrong with that, im real life. But in this series, Troi is supposed to be acting on behalf of the Enterprjse and Captain Picard.
Which begs the question, why? Why do Picard or Riker not beam down originally to discuss what the society is facing and what must be done to save them? The only answer I can come up with is, they wouldn't have been able to write in the love story conflict.
Then she and Picard have an inane conversation where Troi tells Picard she thinks they're making their society work just fine, as he's criticizing the whole venture of "perfect societies." Then he asks her if she'd like to live her life with her entire future already written, and she gives the idiotic answer that she "doesn't know." Which considering her entire career and way of life, you'd rightly expect a resounding "No!"
But Troi's almost falling in love, and so all looks rosy in the commune. And then after the threat is passed and all is well, several of the colonists have decided they don't want to live within the confines of their "perfect society" any longer.
When Picard gathers the officers together to discuss giving them asylum, Troi stupidly tells Picard they just cannot, because what will happen to their "perfect" society then? She doesn't give a fig leaf for the individuals who are desperate to get off the planet while they can, because Aaron will certainly never answer another outside call again now that this has happened so they either leave now or their stuck. But Troi's selfishly thinking only of Aaron and how it will affect him and his job. I found that repulsive, and completely out of character for her.
When Picard does finally meet with Aaron, after all the danger has passed and the "damage" is done, he tells Aaron he cannot refuse the colonists asylum. And even tho Aaron is feeling the pull of the outside world himself, he still begs Picard to not give in to them, because his duty and only purpose is to serve the society and repair the damage done by the Enterprise being there.
Then Aaron and Troi have a final goodbye where Aaron tells her he loves her and he always will, because for all the supposed perfect mates for him within their society, he's never and will never love any of them. It's really sad commentary for continuing this way of life at all. Actually for ever even beginning it.
So, Enterprise grants asylum, Riker comes in to tell Picard they're all onboard, twenty three of the colonists, and then Picard starts lamenting the situation and questioning if they've been true to the Prime Directive. Which I find a cop out the writers stuck in there right at the end.
Of course the Prime Directive doesn't apply, they're human. Doesn't matter if their ancestors ran away to start a so-called perfect society or not. They're still human and therefore not subject to the PD.
And bottom line, Picard waffling about it after it's all over and said and done, doesn't change the fundamental fact that if they'd not accepted outside help in order to protect their way of life, they'd all be dead anyway.