User:Wfaulk/reviews/4x15

an interesting allegory
4/5: recommended

I really enjoy the concept early in the episode of putting the audience in the Malcorian's viewpoint, along with the dramatic irony of us knowing more than they do. That lessens throughout the episode as more of the plot is revealed, but it uses the Malcorians as a surrogate for modern Earth, and asks what our first contact might be like if it were to happen now. Of course, there is the awkward and unnecessary sex joke with Riker and a few heavy-handed Area 51 jokes.

Some of the characters are a little overly prototypical, although there's a limit as to how many sides of an argument can realistically be explored in 45 minutes. It's nice to see that explored at all, even if one group is clearly set up to be the bad guys.

It's an interesting break from the average Trek episode, and even from average TV stories in general.