TNG: A Matter of Perspective
April 5th, 2004 at 11:38 am (Trek Talk)
While I love the concept for some reason the episode A Matter of Perspective never really worked for me. There is a similar episode of the X-Files that also showed the same event from the perspective of different witnesses and did it with a sense of fun and humor that was very enjoyable. For some reason though the TNG version of the ‘everybody sees things different episode’ feel forced and simply not much fun to watch. I think there is something about Riker’s (and Manu the wife’s) behavior at the space station that simply does not ring true, not matter which perspective is reviewed. There is also something a bit cheesy about the ‘real explanation’ for how the station was destroyed. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is that keeps this episode from shining but I have the suspicion that given a re-write by another of the staff writers and maybe a different director A Matter of Perspective could have been one of the great episodes in the series.
Nick said,
April 5, 2004 at 2:03 pm
Everybody does one of these some time. I even remember a Different Strokes and a Brady Bunch with this plotline.
btw, have you ever seen the original, Kurosawa’s Roshomon?
Also, Spike TV is doing a DS9 marathon today. (4-5)
gl. said,
April 5, 2004 at 2:05 pm
i liked xfiles well enough but don’t usually get all giggly & enthusiastic about any of them except the multiple perspective one! that one was great!
Diane Gibson said,
April 9, 2004 at 4:43 pm
Reading (but never watching! Urk…the thought is a chilling one) about the X-Files is my latest guilty pleasure, and so my ears perked up when it was mentioned. Which episode was this, Leopoldo?
P.S. You make mention of the X-Files a number of times, and seem to be something of a fan. Do you plan to review any of those episodes?