TNG: Half a Life

            This is exactly the kind of episode I despised as a kid. It is about two things: Lwaxana Troi and dealing with getting old. I guess it is also technically about a scientist working to save his planet from having its star burn out, but lets be serious, it is about Lwaxana. From the moment the episode opens with Picard cringing at her presence I knew I was in trouble. Now I am certainly not 9 years old any more, but that has only somewhat improved my feelings towards this episode. It does deal with the serious issue of rebelling against societal norms when it will help you but hurt those you love which is an interesting topic, but it does so in a very over the top way I didn't really enjoy.
            We begin with Picard failing to avoid Lwaxana as he comes out of a turbolift on his way to greet a scientist. Lwaxana immediately latches on to the man who seems less annoyed that Picard at least. The scientist is from a xenophobic world that only agreed to let him try his experiment with the Federation because their own star is going to fail and destroy there planet in less than 50 years and the Federation found them a suitable test star. I am going to basically skip the entire middle of this episode as it is entirely Lwaxana being herself all over the ship and the scientist guy falling in love with her. 
            They get to the test and although it seems to be going well it eventually spirals out of control and the star explodes. The scientist seems extra sad and eventually admits to Lwaxana that he is going back to his planet to die. As soon as they reach age 60 they always get together with their families and commit suicide. Lwaxana is horrified and almost talks him into not doing it. But his daughter shows up and is super upset and his people seem willing to go to war over it so eventually he agrees to go forward with the suicide but in a touching note Lwaxana goes down to the planet to be with him during the ritual.

            Review: I guess this isn't the worst episode, but I found it rather painful to watch. The parts dealing more seriously with the issues at hand were fine but having to deal with Lwaxana ranting about herself all the time is way too much. Like Picard I was ready to go through this episode at warp 9.

2 out of 10