Plot Synopsis: Picard and Riker try to find out what the pirates want while the Enterprise pursues them.
Plot A and B Analysis: After our usual part I recap the teaser opens with the ship firing on the Enterprise, but they receive no damage. The Enterprise plays along and returns fire at 25%, and they let the merc ship get away. Plot A is about Picard and Riker, plot B is about the Enterprise. Picard and Riker continue their game of messing with Baran’s head, Data straightens Worf out regarding his undermining of Data’s authority, and Picard discovers the artifact they are assembling isn’t Romulan–it’s Vulcan. Tallera confronts Picard and reveals herself as T’Paal, a member of the V’Shar, Vulcan security force (not actually true). After Picard reveals himself she tells him about the Stone of Gol: a weapon that focuses and amplifies telepathic energy, she’s there to ensure it doesn’t get assembled (another lie, she’s a dirty girl and wants to use it herself). Thanks to Picard’s message, the Enterprise heads to the sector indicated only to find James Worthy!–I mean a Klingon–suspiciously waiting in a shuttle pod. Worf finds an excuse to search the shuttle and brings the crazy-tall Klingon aboard. Since the Enterprise now has the last piece of the artifact, Baran raids them where a clever scheme returns Riker back home, and a coup by Picard ends up with Baran dead and Picard as captain of the mercs. There are a couple of double crosses and down on Vulcan we find out the assembled weapon does kill people (wiping out two of the mercs), but if the person doesn’t have violent thoughts it’s useless. She gets taken prisoner and all ends well. There are a couple of good twists and the plot doesn’t feel slow, but the ending underwhelms.
Favorite Scenes: Possibly my favorite scene for the episode begins at 12:35, when Data calls Worf in to the captain’s ready room saying he is dissatisfied with Worf’s performance. When Worf asks why tells him:
Data: You continually question my orders in front of the crew. I do not believe this is appropriate behavior.
Worf: With all due respect, sir, I have always felt free to voice my opinions even when they differ from those of Captain Picard or Commander Riker.
Data: That is true. But in those situations, you were acting as Head of Security, not as First Officer. The primary role of the second in command is to carry out the decisions of the Captain–in this case, me.
Worf: But is it not my duty to offer you alternatives?
Data: Yes. But once I have made a decision, it is your job to carry it out regardless of how you may personally feel. Any further objections should be given to me in private, not in front of the crew. I do not recall Commander Riker ever publicly showing irritation with his Captain as you did a moment ago.
Worf *pausing in thought*: No, sir.
Data: If you do not feel capable of carrying out this role, I will assign it to Commander La Forge and return you to Tactical. I would not enter it into your record as a reprimand, simply as a transfer.
Worf: I would prefer to remain at my current post.
Data: Then I expect you to conform to the guidelines I have laid out.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Data then apologizes if this ends their friendship, which causes Worf to man up and admit his error. It’s an excellent scene. My other favorite scene is onboard the Enterprise when Picard and Riker are raiding it. They meet with Worf and Beverly, talk a little, then Riker shoots them both, which is capped later on when Picard shoots Riker.
Use of Cast/Characters: It’s nice to see Data dealing with more of the nuances of command. I enjoyed that little moment after Worf leaves Data’s ready room (and retained their friendship) Data pulls his jacket down, fully initiating the Picard Maneuver. Character development baby! Picard and Riker continue to improvise together well, and pull off some risky things that show how good they are. Worf also grows, learning more about command. Beverly and Troi don’t do much. Geordi again has the least, just a few lines. Robin Curtis plays Tallera/T’Paal and does a creditable job. It falls short as an ensemble episode, but several characters are used well.
Blu Ray Version: The squiggle monster’s redone wrinkle effect is a bit different than the original. Not a lot of changes, but excellent quality. There are two deleted scenes. The first involves Riker saving the engineer’s life, letting Baran know he’ll have to wait for the coils to be aligned instead of letting Baran kill him. The second occurs when the mercs find out the Klingon, Karal, has been brought aboard the Enterprise and involves more banter between Picard and Riker. Not a whole lot that’s useful here.
Nitpicks: At the 12:30 point where Worf gives some lip to Data again, Data and Geordi lock eyes for a moment before Data asks Worf to his ready room to dress him down. I would’ve added just a bit more: Geordi giving Data a little shake of his head as well. Also, why doesn’t the merc ship have a name? All ships should have names! While Data presumably gets to pick his first officer, Beverly is a full commander and bridge certified, having just commanded the ship four episodes ago, shouldn’t it be her? Additionally, I’m still not thrilled with Patrick’s performance as Galen–just not his best work. Finally, when “Galen” talks to a crewmate about needing a new captain the guy says sure but not Galen, because nobody trusts him–it should be Tallera. Later he becomes captain anyway though? Not enough has changed for their allegiance shift from Tallera, IMO.
Overall Impression: I think the writers learned the lesson of Unification, finding a better way to keep the Enterprise crew involved in a plot that primarily does not involve it or them. Gambit has its flaws, but I think it’s based on this premise: “What if you took the two finest officers in Starfleet and flung them into the worst situation you can think of, and they have to accomplish a mission as well as figure a way to get out alive?” I do think the ending is a letdown. It just doesn’t feel emotionally rewarding enough for the 80 minutes we’ve watched leading up to it, which is too bad. I rate this episode about the same as the previous one, 3 out of 5 stars.
Behind the Scenes/Trivia: Initially the etching of the Vulcan god of death was bald, but Berman had hair put on it so nobody would think it looked too much like Patrick Stewart. The biggest behind the scene tidbit is the Klingon. He may not be recognizable but he’s James Worthy. For those who don’t know he is a famous basketball player: a seven-time NBA All-Star, and three-time NBA champion. Evidently he was on a plane with Robert O’Reilly (who played Gowron). Worthy admitted his desire to appear on the show. At O’Reilly’s urging Worthy met with Rick Berman and Michael Piller, who in turn asked Jeri Taylor for suitable cameo roles. Lastly, the disruptor that Tallear/T’Paal uses is actually a reuse of the Veron-T disruptor from back in The Most Toys, which is kinda cool.
Missable/Unmissable? I don’t know if it’s unmissable, but overall I would recommend it. The next one is unmissable, it’s an unqualified good episode.