Q; Given the conditions on the planet, how did the research station get there in the first place?
A; I got the distinct impression from the opening of the show that they were forced to evacuate because conditions on the planet worsened. Presumably then, things didn't used to be so bad, so that's why there's a station there. Picard actually says in his opening Log that they were forced to evacuate.
Troi calls for Riker to play Nightbird because, she informs Beverly, in ten years of trying he's never managed to successfully play the solo. What nonsense. All he or anyone would do is work out their own solo. This is jazz, remember?
Data says that the Enterprise transporters are more efficient than the Potemkin's. Why would this be, I wonder? Has the technology advanced significantly in recent years, or does the good stuff only go to the bigger ships? This last might be an appealing theory, but, as anyone who has been involved with cutting edge technology will tell you, the last thing you want to be staking your life on is the very latest thing, as it will invariably screw-up just when you most need it. What you really want is tech that's about six months to a year old that has had all the bugs worked out. Just a thought.
I wonder why it is that the 'other' Will Riker is perpetually treated as though he is 'original' Will's impatient and brash younger brother. The theme seems to be that original Will, through dint of his greater experience, has acquired a maturity which his other self lacks. Other Will is impetuous, original Will is cautious. I don't see this as necessarily being the case. One could argue that other Will, being left on his own for eight years with no guarantee of ever seeing another living soul, would have, having ample time to think on things, developed a powerful spirituality. Would he have left Deanna just like original Will did? While the general consensus seems to be that he would, I disagree. Other Will, unlike original Will, has had the time and the opportunity to re-evaluate his life. Original Will put career before love. Who is to say, and wouldn't it have made for a better show (although it would have had to be broken up for the sake of the series), that other Will might not have come out of his eight years of exile with a different set of values from those he had when he went in? Could he not, by virtue of being parted from Deanna with nothing to occupy his time (other than surviving under hostile conditions), have come to the conclusion that love was more important than career?
And when original Will was lying flat on his front on the metal bridge saving other Will's life, why didn't it set off his comm. badge? Remember, there was an episode in which he set it off planetside by tapping it with his torch, so why didn't it go off now?
"I'm Will Riker", says Other Will. Wouldn't he have said that he was Bill Riker? Remember back at the start of the series when Troi would every now and then call him Bill instead of Will? I got the impression that in olden days he used to be called Bill, but slowly by convention came to accept being called Will. Mind you, if this theory is correct, how come the erstwhile captain of the Pegasus, who knew him ages ago, also calls him Will?
Data, the android who has no emotions, visibly starts when Worf asks for four cards during the poker game. Yeah, right.
Time's Arrow Part Two Realm of Fear Man of the People
Relics Schisms True Q
Rascals A Fistful of Datas
The Quality of Life Chain
of Command Part One
Chain of Command Part Two Ship in a Bottle Aquiel Face
of the Enemy Tapestry
Birthright Part One Birthright Part Two Starship Mine
Lessons The Chase Frame of Mind Suspicions
Rightful Heir Second Chances
Timescape Descent