Unlike the last few character driven episodes this one works very well. It probably helps that just like Family it is about one of the characters with a better actor, but it also may just be that Data is more interesting. This episode is framed by something we haven't really seen before in Trek, a shift change on the bridge. When the episode opened I was sure my monitor was messed up because everything looked way too dark, but no, it was the night shift. As soon as Data is relieved and the day shift takes over the lights go up just as they go down at the very end of the episode. To knit pick the thing I just said I liked though, it does seem like maybe it would be easier to do your job with proper lighting, but I guess maybe it is a psychological/physiological thing. Finally having the entire episode framed as a friendly letter to Commander Maddox, the jerk who tried to have Data declared property in Measure of a Man, is the kind of thing that would only work with Data and only make sense in a being totally lacking emotion like Data.
We begin with Data's shift on the bridge ending and an internal monologue by Data in the form of a letter to Commander Maddox about how he handles living with emotional lifeforms. We learn that ambassador T'Pel is to come aboard the Enterprise. Data first goes to visit Keiko who is about to marry Mile O'Brien. But she is having second thoughts and tells Data to tell Miles the wedding is off. Data incorrectly assumes this will make Miles happy, but of course he isn't. The ambassador comes aboard and insists on talking to the captain in private. When he emerges from this conference Picard orders the ship to the edge of the neutral zone with the Romulans. I am going to trim a bit from the description because if you want Dr. Crusher tap dancing with Data you are better off just going and watching this episode.
Miles comes it and apologizes to Data who can tell Miles is uncomfortable and keeps offering him food and different seating options. It turns out he really just wants Data to talk to Keiko and try to get her to allow the wedding to go forward. Data tries, but his logic isn't able to convince Keiko. Meanwhile the Enterprise arrives at the neutral zone and receives a text message from the Romulans asking to meet. They proceed into the neutral zone and meet with a Romulan war ship. The ambassador is planning to beam over to negotiate with the Romulans but when she does something goes wrong and she dies in the process. The Romulans accuse the Enterprise of a trick and slowly leave. The Enterprise also leaves at a leisurely pace while they investigate. Data is put in charge and quickly discovers that the residue on the transporter pad isn't from the ambassador at all!
The ship whips around and heads back to go accuse the Romulans of kidnapping the ambassador. They aren't eager to discuss it and another warship decloaks. Picard calls their bluff and threatens to go to war so the Romulans reveal what actually happened. The ambassador wasn't a Vulcan at all, she was a Romulan spy. Knowing they have been beaten the Enterprise heads back to their own territory and Data goes to apologize to Keiko for making her mad. But she isn't mad, she is ready to get married. The wedding seems to go fine and the episode ends with Data taking over the bridge for the night shift.
Review: This episode succeeds both at telling the story from a different perspective than usual, in this case Data's, and also telling a tense diplomat story with the most diplomatic and backstabbing of foes, the Romulans. We get to learn a lot about Data, but also Chief O'Brien and Keiko. Even Dr. Crusher has a fun part in the whole thing.
7 out of 10
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