So, there seems to be a lot of disappointment with Geordi's character and how a real crew member letting himself get personally involved with a perpetrator is a bad idea.
Well, I got news for you, the entire series is like that, but for whatever reason this episode gets dumped on some by fans who tolerated Picard sleeping with a subordinate officer, or the same fans who called Captain Kirk a hot headed trigger happy captain, or the same fans who are shocked and amazed when civilians are killed on an armed ship after Q forces an encounter with the Borg.
I often wonder who exactly watched this show in the first place? It certainly wasn't me in spite of the dozen or so episodes I saw after the premier.
But, the plot is a murder mystery, and one of the ship's crew getting personally involved is meant as a lesson as to what not to do when you meet a suspect in a murder case. Especially one that has a lot of circumstantial evidence stacked against them, and especially when they start acting suspiciously.
To me this was another "could have been great" episode, but it hampered by the soft music and soft lighting and lack of action that is characteristic of Star Trek the Next Generation. And again it's hampered by the ''let's talk about our feelings" format, though Geordi getting involved is something that one of the Enterprise crew might have gotten involved in.
Does it work? Well, it's got more energy than episodes that came before it, so it is a step up. But TNG fan will have to make up their own minds as to the actual quality of the episode.
I thought it was a step up because it was smart, Geordi eventually let his smarts win out over his heart in a matter of justice, and things clue in all what actually happened.
Again, it's another talk oriented show with all of the soft music, soft lighting and everything else that is characteristic of Star Trek The Next Generation, but that's expected.
Make of that what you will.