I am mildly sad that they’re using ordinary, rectangular playing cards, not the novelty circular ones that were used in TOS mess-hall scenes (see ‘Charlie X’). How adorable is Data’s enthusiasm for appropriate accessories? There’s no need for him to wear that slightly sparkly, holofoil-trimmed dealer’s visor.
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And because he and his beard together form an effective poker face, a concept which is paradoxically difficult for Data.
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So they play poker and use all those shorthand poker expressions that make people sound so cool and hard-boiled (I can never remember them) and O’Brien says ‘Too rich for me’ causing me to remember that in M*A*S*H* the favoured expression was ‘too rich for my blood’ and Riker wins because he’s The Man. The funny part is O’Brien thinks he’s had some bitter experiences now. O’B: Bitter experience has taught me it’s a fundamental truth. My luck is always lousy unless I start on the dealer’s right. O’Brien gets to be the first person to talk rather than narrate, as he gives a justification for sitting next to Data, other than ‘Data is adorable.’ (My ‘the Enterprise is high school’ concept breaks down slightly in the face of O’Brien, who pulls off the interesting feat of being a nerd and a jock simultaneously.) This kind of connects with what I was thinking last time about Pulaski being a woman who prefers the friendship of men, and builds on O’Brien’s acceptance at the cool kids’ lunch table. The lineup consists of Pulaski, Geordi, Data, O’Brien and Riker, with one place at the hexagonal table considerately left empty for the sake of camera access. We begin with Picard narrating some of the less exciting things you do when you’re the Enterprise – visiting a newly established starbase, crew rotation (everybody turn left!) and dropping off ‘experiment modules.’Īnd now, the first appearance of that great tradition, the TNG officers’ poker game. (If I later bail out and revert to bullet points, sorry, people called Bruce and everyone else.)
#Tng measure of a man full#
So, despite my recent lassitude and ennui, I think it deserves a full write-up and will endeavour to deliver. It has a guy called Bruce, which is probably the name, of all names, that I find most intrinsically comical (second place probably goes to Fred). (The episode was written by a former attorney, and only got a chance because of the writers’ strike, so it’s an ill wind that blows no good.) It has the staff poker game. It has Picard being his dad and protecting him and getting to make a fiery courtroom speech all Crusading Silver Fox DA.
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It has Data being smart and adorable and vulnerable and a challenge to the status quo by his mere existence. It has so many of the best things about TNG. I should reserve judgement on ‘best episode of season two’ when I’m not even half-way through, but oh gosh, this episode, you guys. (Please click the Memory Alpha link for detailed information.) Memory Alpha says: The Enterprise must defend Data’s status when Starfleet demands his reassignment for study.
#Tng measure of a man how to#
In which Bruce Maddox just does not know how to express his Data crush appropriately.