TNG S07E16 & S07E17

In this installment:
(viewed Wednesday, May 7th)

Star Trek:  The Next Generation, S07E16 - "Thine Own Self"
Star Trek:  The Next Generation, S07E17 - "Masks"

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"Thine Own Self"

•  The flagship of the Federation in the hands of Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi?  Eep @_@

• During the conversation between Commander Crusher and Lieutenant Commander (at the time) Troi, we learn that holding the rank of full commander isn't a requirement for the position of chief medical officer aboard a starship. 
  
  Crusher explains that she pursued the rank "about eight years ago" (i.e. before her tour on the Enterprise-D as CMO) because she wanted to "stretch herself a little".
• Data, stop making modem tone.  You're scaring the little Barkonian girl.
• "I wonder what these markings mean?"
  
  "'Radioactive'.  That is what is written on the container."
  
  "You can read this language?"
  
  "Apparently."
  
  "'Radioactive'...what does this mean?"
  
  "I do not know.  Perhaps it is my name."
  
  Yeah, that's not going to be good later.
• "So, one more scene where Riker plays the trombone?"
  
  "Yeah, screw it.  Why not?  It's not like we're doing an eighth season."
• Ugh.  There's that word again.
• "Did you come here for something in particular, or just general Riker-bashing?"
  
  Dude.  Do we ever come here for anything but general Riker-bashing? :P
• Troi's decision to take the bridge commander's test and go for the rank of commander is one of the first steps on the road that every Trek crew seems to take:  Before we're done with them, I believe all of the main TNG cast will be full commanders or higher.  This same phenomenon happened with the TOS crew.  You can't have experienced, outstanding officers serving for years on the same ship and not throw them some promotions, but you can't promote them all to captain and put them off the ship (although this does happen with a few characters obviously).
• "You...are an Iceman."
• MR. RADIOACTIVE
• ICE MAN STROOOOOOOOOONG
• "Father, are you alright?"
  
  Yeah, nope.  That would be radiation sickness.
• The look on Data's face during Talur's explanation of the "rock, fire, sky and water" elements of the universe is pretty priceless, as is his response.
  
  "I believe you are reasoning by analogy; classifying objects and phenomena according to superficial observation rather than empirical evidence.  Wood, for example, does not contain fire simply because it is combustible.  Nor does it contain rock simply because it is heavy.  Wood, likely any complex organic form, is composed of thousands of different chemical compounds--none of which is 'fire'."
• You know, if you're going to have to get stuck in a primitive society and need to build your own equipment from only the available materials, you could do worse than an android.
• "Tell me something:  Is there a solution?  Or is this simply a test of my ability to handle a no-win situation?"
  
  No, we have one of those.
  
• Aww, you gotta kill holo-Geordi to pass the test :(
• "It is a trick."
  
  "No.  It is empirical data."
  
  Oh, man.  That's an argument I've had a few times.
• I wish people got shocked every time they stabbed me.  That'd be pretty awesome.  I mean, not that I get stabbed a lot.  No more than average, I would suspect.
  
  What?  You don't get stabbed?
• "After that, I have no memory until this moment.  But it appears...I had an interesting time."
  
  Yeah, I'm familiar with that sensation ;)
• "Counselor, have you been promoted in my absence?"
  
  "That's right.  Which means from now on, you can call me 'sir'."
  
  A world in which a self-aware, hyper-intelligent, hyper-capable android with over two decades of service in Starfleet has to call a half-wit, psycho-babbling shrink "sir" is a world in which there is no truth, no goodness and no beauty :P
  
  (I realize how ugly that sounds, so I would like to take this moment to remind everyone that my constant stream of insults leveled at characters like Commander Riker and Counselor Troi is:  1) Primarily made in jest; and 2) No reflection whatsoever on the actors who played the characters.  I've met both Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis (not like we're best pals or anything, but I've briefly met them at conventions and follow them on social media), for example, and they're both wonderful human beings who have a lot of love and appreciation for the fan community.  Much like Wil Wheaton, they're great people and it's not their fault that their TNG characters were so insufferable.)

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"Masks"

• Who put Counselor Troi in charge of the freaking kids?  O_o
• "For instance, what do you think about when you see a bird?"
  
  "Flying?"
  
  Way to go with the obvious answer, kid.  YOU HAVE NO FUTURE IN ART.
• Data's sculpture of a PADD?  I didn't make one of those in high school art class, but I didn't not make one of those in high school art class.
  
  (Actually, full disclosure?  I think it was a phaser.  My point was that I was a huge nerd of Potsie-like proportions.)
• And Data's "music" sculpture?  Looks vaguely like a vagina for a second there.  TAKE IT EASY, DATA O'KEEFFE.
• The image of the Enterprise-D approaching the "rogue comet" is really just beautiful cinematography, and a testament to what can be done with old-school, physical visual effects. 
  
  
  
  It actually made me go look up when S7 is coming out on Blu-ray.  According to Wikipedia, it should be sometime this year.  I'd love it if Netflix started having the BR versions of TNG available for streaming, because as much as I love Trek it's never really been a priority for me to own physical discs of all of the series (although I do own all of the films).
  
• "Intense Sensor Echo" is going to be a great song title for the Fissles of Häng.
• So Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi discover an odd sculpture in Troi's quarters (which we later learn was probably the first intrusion of the D'Arsay Archive onto the ship). 
  
  Speculation between the two of them as to its origin included:  1) Maybe Riker left it for her as a gift; or 2) Maybe she has a secret admirer.
  
  Neither of them are like "HEY HOW AND/OR WHY DID SOMEONE BREAK INTO MY/YOUR QUARTERS TO LEAVE ME/YOU A CREEPY STATUE?!?"
  
  And to think...they're both qualified bridge officers D:
• Once again, Captain Picard's archaeological curiosity gets us into trouble...
• "And death?  One of the symbols was 'death'."
  
  "The ultimate boundary."
• "Geordi, what does it feel like...when a person is losing his mind?"
  
  Again, one of those things you just don't want to hear from your android.
• "Now you've done it, Captain.  Masaka is awake."
• This had to be done.  Sorry.
  
  
  
• "Okay sir, we need you to put on this freaky mask and go talk to the crazy android in the weird-o, ancient temple.  Good luck!"