This is the most Deanna Troi centered episode so far in TNG and I enjoyed it more than I expected. Even the Ferengi are starting to be a little more tolerable, but they still have a ways to go to become the actually interesting culture they turn into in DS9. Riker is fun to watch negotiating and handling the rival negotiators moves on Deanna. It was kinda obvious the wormhole wasn't going to work out when they kept mentioning over and over that there are no other stable wormholes and I happen to know they are wrong, but it hasn't been discovered near Bajor yet.
The episode begins with Troi checking her mail and trying to get the computer to make her a "real" chocolate sundae. But she is interupted and called to Ten Forward for a diplomatic reception with negotiators representing several worlds trying to win the right to control a stable wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. Troi us bored until she meets Devinoni Ral representing some random aliens I had never heard of before. Troi is immediately fascinated by him and returns to her office after the gathering to look up details on him. Meanwhile just as the negotiations are to begin the Ferengi arrive and demand a seat at the table which they get. On a break Ral stops by Troi's office and starts playing with her hair and flirting until she agrees to meet him for dinner.
Picard and the Federation representative aren't sure about the wormhole and decide to send a shuttlecraft through to make sure it is safe since only unmanned probes have gone in before. Geordi and Data get assigned because who is going to miss them if it isn't safe (also a good hint to the audience that it is since the writers are unlikely to kill of two important characters in such a way). The Ferengi insist on sending a craft of their own. Back in Troi's quarters she and Ral never make it to dinner because they are too busy together in bed. Ral admits to Troi that he is part Betazoid as well and is also empathic, but makes her promise not to tell anyone. And then he goes straight from there to Ten Forward where he uses his power to convince one of the other aliens to back out of the negotiations.
Back on the shuttlecraft Geordi and Data discover they are not in the Gamma Quadrent, they are in the Delta Quadrant, and even worse the wormhole is unstable on this end. Geordi being a good guy tries to warn the Ferengi, but they don't listen and are trapped forever in the Delta Quadrant after the wormhole shifts positions. Back on the Enterprise the Ferengi ship suddenly opens fire on the wormhole but the Enterprise manages to blast the missile before it hits. Ral and the alien representing the planet that owns the wormhole rush to the bridge and Ral announces he has secured the rights to the wormhole and agrees to let the Ferengi have free passage. Troi has had enough and reveals this was a ruse planned by Ral and the Ferengi and unmasks Ral as an empath who has been using his powers to cheat at the dealmaking. Just then Geordi and Data come back and tell everybody the wormhole is useless. Troi and Ral have a tense good by and roll credits.
Review: I am glad the writers were trying to make more out of Troi's character, but having her only serious parts be as romantic material for the male members of the show isn't really taking her seriously. She does stand up for herself in the end and takes control, but I am not sure it is enough to save the episode. The negotiation bits work rather well which is good since it is so much of the episode.
5 out of 10
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