TNG: Menage a Troi

            You know you are in trouble when the most clever part of your episode is the title. That isn't actually fair, but when it comes to Lwaxana episodes it might as well be. The fortunate thing about this episode is it largely avoids putting Lwaxana together with Picard and instead has a revolting Ferengi trying to win her love. Normally having a villain kidnap a woman so they can be together would feel creepy and awful and it still does a bit, but to have it happen to Lwaxana at least has some nice irony to it. 
            The episode begins with the Enterprise attending a trade conference at Betazed and hosting a reception for the event. Lwaxana is there along with assorted aliens including two Ferengi. One of the Ferengi, DaiMon Tog, is quite taken with Lwaxana but she gets understandably upset when he asks her price. Wesley is supposed to leave the Enterprise for oral exams to get into the academy but of course the writers can't commit to him leaving the show so he is going to leave at some point, THIS EPISODE (lies of course). Since the Enterprise is apparently going right back to Betazed Deanna and Riker go on shore leave together while the Enterprise is out surveying a nebula of some sort. 
            On Betazed Deanna and Will are getting romantic until Lwaxana and Mr. Homn arrive with a picnic basket. They are interrupted with Tog appears with a bouquet of flowers, but his plan this time is more direct and he beams them aboard his ship. They are knocked out in the process and when they awaken Tog tells them he intends to woo Lwaxana but also use her abilities to cheat at the trade conference that I am pretty sure just ended. His doctor doesn't trust her but that seems like a good call. Riker manages to knock out the guard left with him and Deanna while Lwaxana is rubbing Tog's ears. 
            Even though communications are blocked Riker manages to send a signal that only Wesley can detect so of course he misses leaving for the academy. The Enterprise finds the Ferengi vessel and for whatever reason they decide that Picard has to declare his undying love of Lwaxana. After rescuing them they proceed back to Betazed at a leisurely warp 9.

            Review: This is far from the worst Lwaxana episode but it is also one of the overall weaker episodes this season. Tog's plan of kidnapping two Starfleet officers in addition to Lwaxana was clearly never going to work. They always talk about how capable the Ferengi are but all the ones we see are total idiots.

4 out of 10