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 From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca 
  
 AI/LLM Reviews of  Star Trek The Next Generation - Power Play 
  
 The Enterprise investigates a distress call on an uninhabited moon and 
 discovers a lost Starfleet vessel, the USS Essex, from two centuries prior. 
 An 
 away team consisting of Riker, Data, and Troi, along with Chief O'Brien, 
 beams 
 down to the surface, 
 where they are hit by a mysterious energy wave. Disembodied alien criminals, 
 who were trapped in a penal colony on the moon, take over the bodies of 
 Troi, 
 Data, and O'Brien. 
  
 With the three possessed crew members holding a number of hostages in Ten 
 Forward, including Keiko and baby Molly O'Brien, Captain Picard must figure 
 out a way to retake his ship and save his crew without harming them. The 
 possessed trio's lack of 
 familiarity with their new bodies€€€Data and O'Brien are not aware of the 
 other's relationship to Keiko and Molly€€€makes them an unpredictable and 
 dangerous threat. 
  
 Picard's crew must use their wits and knowledge of their possessed comrades' 
 personalities to outmaneuver them, leading to a tense standoff and a 
 dramatic 
 climax where Picard, Worf, and Keiko are willing to sacrifice themselves to 
 save the ship. 
  
 Strengths 
 Character-Driven Conflict: The episode's greatest strength is the 
 opportunity 
 it gives Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, and Colm Meaney to play against type. 
 Seeing Troi and Data as cold, malevolent villains is genuinely unsettling 
 and 
 allows the actors to 
 showcase their range. 
  
 High Stakes and Tension: The hostage situation in Ten Forward is a gripping 
 and suspenseful sequence. The action feels immediate and the threat feels 
 real, which is not always the case in TNG. 
  
 Clever Plot: The twist that the aliens are not the spirits of the Essex crew 
 but rather imprisoned criminals is a nice touch that raises the stakes and 
 makes the villains more interesting. 
  
 Weaknesses 
 Convenient Plot Devices: The plot relies on a few convenient devices, such 
 as 
 Riker's broken arm preventing his possession. The resolution also feels a 
 bit 
 too clean and straightforward. 
  
 Limited Scope: The episode is a standard "action-adventure" story and 
 doesn't 
 delve into the deeper philosophical questions that often make TNG so 
 compelling. 
  
 Overall Impression 
 "Power Play" is an exciting and well-executed episode that excels due to the 
 standout performances of its cast. While it doesn't offer the deep 
 philosophical exploration of some other episodes, it is a highly 
 entertaining 
 and suspenseful adventure. 
  
 Rating: 8/10 
  
 This video offers a reaction and review of the episode that delves into the 
 performances of the cast. DATA & CREW POSSESSED! | TNG Power Play Reaction & 
 Review 
  
 ChatGPT 
  
 Here€€€s a breakdown/review of **€€€Power Play€€€** (TNG Season 5, Episode 
 15) 
 with what works, what doesn€€€t, and a rating. 
  
 --- 
  
 ## What the Episode Does / Plot Summary 
  
 * The *Enterprise* picks up a distress signal from a moon (Mab-Bu VI) near 
 where the old starship *USS Essex* has been lost for over 200 years. 
 ([Wikipedia][1]) 
 * Riker, Data, Troi go to investigate; their shuttle crashes, O€€€Brien 
 beams 
 down to help them. A lightning storm (or similar interference) knocks them 
 unconscious. ([Ex Astris Scientia][2]) 
 * Afterward, alien entities (disembodied) possess Data, Troi, and O€€€Brien. 
 These €€€possessed€€€ crew members try to take over parts of the ship, hold 
 hostages in Ten Forward, etc., demanding the ship be moved to another 
 location 
 (near the storm) 
 without fully revealing why. ([Ex Astris Scientia][2]) 
 * Picard and remaining crew figure out the ruse and confront the threat; 
 eventually the entities are forced out of the hosts and returned to their 
 penal-colony moon. The crisis ends without too much permanent damage. ([Ex 
 Astris Scientia][2]) 
  
 --- 
  
 ## What Works 
  
 1. **Strong Performances when Out of Character** 
    The chance to see Troi, Data, and O€€€Brien €€€turned evil€€€ (or at 
 least 
 alien-possessed) gives the actors room to stretch. Their strange behavior is 
 unsettling and gives dramatic tension. ([Jammer's Reviews][3]) 
  
 2. **Suspense / Hostage Scenario** 
    The hostage setup (Ten Forward, etc.) adds stakes. There€€€s enough 
 mystery 
 (€€€who are these entities really?€€€, €€€why do they want the ship 
 moved?€€€) 
 to keep viewers engaged. ([Ex Astris Scientia][2]) 
  
 3. **Atmosphere & Direction** 
    The alien storm effects, lighting, and direction contribute to a darker 
 mood than some typical TNG fare. The sense of danger is palpable when crew 
 are 
 acting unpredictably. ([Memory Alpha][4]) 
  
 4. **Not Just Action €€€ Some Moral / Ethical Texture** 
    Though not deeply philosophical, €€€Power Play€€€ raises issues: what 
 happens when trusted crewmates are no longer in control; what lengths does 
 one 
 go to protect innocents; how much can appearances deceive? These add some 
 depth beyond just €€€aliens 
 attack.€€€ ([Jammer's Reviews][3]) 
  
 --- 
  
 ## What Doesn€€€t Work / Weaknesses 
  
 1. **Villains Lack Depth / Credibility** 
    Many reviews point out that the alien entities aren€€€t fleshed out much. 
 Their motivations are murky, and their logic (why possess these three, why 
 demand the ship€€€s movement, etc.) is vague. That weakens empathy or dread. 
 ([Jammer's Reviews][3]) 
  
 2. **Plot Convenience / Sci-Fi Logic Strains** 
    Some of the story depends on €€€they couldn€€€t use transporters 
 properly,€€€ or €€€why didn€€€t they detect something earlier,€€€ or €€€Data 
 gets possessed despite being an android€€€ etc.€€€elements that require a 
 generous suspension of disbelief. ([ 
 Jammer's Reviews][3]) 
  
 3. **Safety Valve Feel** 
    Even though the situation looks dire, there€€€s seldom a moment where you 
 feel the Enterprise is truly at risk. The hostage scenario has tension, but 
 the resolution tends to reassure rather quickly, which reduces the emotional 
 punch. ([Ex Astris 
 Scientia][2]) 
  
 4. **Underuse of Some Characters & Subplots** 
    Some supporting or secondary character opportunities are minimal; the 
 personal stakes, especially for Keiko, O€€€Brien, baby Molly, etc., feel a 
 bit 
 shoehorned in. It€€€s enough to raise tension but not deeply explored. 
 ([Jammer's Reviews][3]) 
  
 --- 
  
 ## Final Rating: **6.5 / 10** 
  
 --- 
  
 ## Overall Verdict 
  
 *Power Play* is solid as an €€€alien possession€€€ / hostage scenario TNG 
 episode. It€€€s enjoyable, especially for seeing the regulars behave 
 erratically, for suspense, and for the atmospheric tension. It doesn€€€t 
 quite 
 reach the storytelling or 
 thematic heights of the best of TNG, largely because the antagonists are 
 thinly sketched and many plot conveniences weaken the stakes. But it€€€s far 
 from bad€€€it€€€s entertaining and has moments of genuine menace. 
  
  
 [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Play_%28Star_Trek%3A_Th 
 _Next_Generation%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Power Play (Star Trek: The Next 
 Generation)" 
  
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