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 From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca 
  
 AI / LLM reviews of Star Trek The Next Generation - Schisms 
  
 Google Gemini 
  
 The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise begins to suffer 
 from inexplicable, fragmented memory loss and vivid 
 nightmares, all centered around a bizarre, repeating 
 metallic clanking sound. Commander Riker is the most 
 affected, experiencing disturbing visions of a surgical 
 table and strange alien figures. Dr. Crusher identifies 
 a correlating physical symptom€€€an allergic reaction 
 resembling an itch€€€shared by the affected crew members. 
  
 After the crew compares their fragmented memories 
 in the holodeck, they realize they are being 
 systematically abducted in their sleep by an unknown, 
 non-corporeal species. These aliens are transporting 
 the crew to a dimensional pocket of "non-space" where 
 they are performing experimental, intrusive procedures. 
  
 Using a recovered fragment of Riker's memory, the crew 
 sets a trap, luring the aliens back to the Enterprise. 
 The ship then uses a modified probe to enter 
 the aliens' dimension. A tense standoff ensues, 
 culminating in the Enterprise successfully reversing 
  the aliens' transporter signatures and escaping 
  their strange, unsettling operating room, leaving 
  the abductors stranded in their own space. 
  
 Strengths 
 Atmosphere and Suspense: "Schisms" successfully 
 creates a chilling, almost horror-movie atmosphere. 
 The mystery of the fragmented memories and the shared 
 sense of violation build genuine dread. The sequence 
 where the crew pieces together the puzzle in the holodeck, 
 realizing they are victims of alien abduction, 
 is brilliant and unsettling. 
  
 The Power of Sound Design: The repeated, 
 eerie "clank-clank" sound of the aliens' machinery 
 is one of the most effective sound cues in TNG. 
 It is simple, auditory horror that immediately signals 
 something is deeply wrong and helps ground the crew's 
 shared trauma. 
  
 Riker's Focus: Jonathan Frakes delivers 
 a strong performance, grounding the psychological terror 
 in Riker's distress and determination to understand what 
 is happening to him and his crewmates. 
  
 Weaknesses 
 Anticlimactic Explanation: The ultimate reveal 
 of the aliens' purpose€€€that they were experimenting 
 on the crew to find a better, more stable form of light 
 for their procedures€€€is often criticized as being weak. 
 The motivation doesn't fully justify the high 
 psychological horror stakes established 
 throughout the episode. 
  
 Sci-Fi Gimmickry: The introduction of "non-space" 
 and the "Soliton Wave" technology is a highly technical, Trek-specific 
 solution that requires a lot of rapid exposition, making the climax less 
 about 
 human drama and more about scientific maneuvering. 
  
 Overall Impression 
 "Schisms" is an excellent example of TNG venturing into psychological 
 thriller 
 territory. It masterfully uses confusion, shared trauma, and unsettling 
 soundscapes to create a disturbing and memorable viewing experience. While 
 the 
 conclusion is 
 technically complex and the aliens' motivation feels a bit shallow compared 
 to 
 the terror they inflict, the journey remains gripping. It's a great choice 
 for 
 fans who enjoy episodes that are more atmospheric and creepy than 
 philosophical. 
  
 Rating: 8/10 
  
 That was a deep dive into an episode that really stands out visually and 
 aurally! 
  
 ChatGPt 
  
 Here€€€s my review of *Star Trek: The Next Generation* €€€ **€€€Schisms€€€** 
 (Season 6, Episode 5), using the information from the transcript and 
 critical/fan commentary, with a rating out of 10. 
  
 --- 
  
 ## What the Episode Does / Plot Summary 
  
 * Strange things begin happening aboard the Enterprise: several crew members 
 (Riker, Geordi, Worf, and others) experience mysterious missing time, 
 insomnia, unexplained physical symptoms, or feeling that something is not 
 right. ([jammersreviews.com][1]) 
 * The clues build slowly: Riker falls asleep, Geordi feels pain, Worf freaks 
 out around scissors, etc. Crew start trying to piece things together. 
 ([jammersreviews.com][1]) 
 * Eventually they realize that aliens from another dimension (or phase) are 
 abducting crew members during those missing times, performing experiments 
 (including surgical procedures) while the crew are unaware. ([ja 
 mersreviews.com][1]) 
 * There€€€s a holodeck recreation sequence: some of the affected crew use 
 the 
 holodeck to reconstruct their partial memories (foggy, fragmentary) of where 
 they were taken. This is creepy and disorienting. ([jammersreviews.com][1]) 
 * In the finale, Riker stays awake and tricks the aliens somewhat, manages 
 to 
 rescue at least one victim, and they close the rift / subspace gap through 
 which the aliens were abducting people. But the episode ends with some 
 ambiguity: we still don€€€t 
 fully know the aliens€€€ motivations; a brief energy pulse at the end 
 suggests 
 something may remain unresolved. ([Wikipedia][2]) 
  
 --- 
  
 ## What Works Very Well 
  
 1. **Atmosphere & Suspense** 
    The episode builds dread gradually. What starts with mundane annoyances 
 (poor sleep, odd pains) escalates into something genuinely creepy. Many fans 
 say €€€Schisms€€€ is one of the scariest TNG episodes. ([IMDb][3]) 
  
 2. **Mystery Structure** 
    The slow reveal works: little hints, mismatched memories, unexplained 
 symptoms, leading to the realization of something wrong. It€€€s more 
 effective 
 by making the viewer feel the unease along with the characters. 
 [jammersreviews.com][1]) 
  
 3. **Holodeck Reconstruction Scene** 
    This is widely praised. Reconstructing their experiences in the holodeck 
 is 
 visual, eerie, emotionally unsettling. It€€€s memorable and tense. 
 ([jammersreviews.com][1]) 
  
 4. **Unresolved Ambiguity** 
    The fact that the motivations of the aliens aren€€€t fully explained, and 
 the threat is partly removed but not completely squared away, adds to the 
 lingering feeling. For many viewers that uncertainty heightens the impact. 
 ([jammersreviews.com][1]) 
  
 --- 
  
 ## Where It Falters / Weaknesses 
  
 1. **Pacing / Slow Build** 
    Several reviewers note that the first half drags €€€ the episode spends a 
 lot of time building up the weirdness before moving into more overt horror / 
 confrontation. Some find the lead-in segments (insomnia, poetry reading, 
 etc.) 
 slow. ([ 
 jammersreviews.com][1]) 
  
 2. **Technobabble & Plot Stretch** 
    The explanation of how the crew are abducted, how the subspace rift 
 works, 
 etc., relies on a lot of technical jargon. Some of the science is vague or 
 feels like it€€€s there to justify the plot rather than being integral. 
 ([jammersreviews.com][1]) 
  
 3. **Alien Threat Under-Developed** 
    While creepy, the alien antagonists are not deeply characterized. We 
 never 
 get a strong sense of why they€€€re doing what they€€€re doing beyond 
 €€€experiments.€€€ No dialogue, motive, or consequences beyond the immediate 
 rescue. Some fans feel this 
 reduces the emotional or thematic depth. ([cameronmoviesandtv][4]) 
  
  
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