TNG Flashback: Haven

Although it was aired as the 10th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Haven" was actually filmed fourth, and then put on hold for reasons I've not been able to locate online. I might say it's because the episode isn't all that good, except that it is better than some of the other earliest episodes (like "Code of Honor" and "The Last Outpost").

The Enterprise is visiting Haven, a planet with legendary healing properties, when Counselor Troi is shocked to receive word that the prearranged marriage set up for her in childhood is imminent. A young human doctor named Wyatt arrives to be wed to her, but is surprised to find Deanna is not the woman he has had dreams of since youth. Instead, that woman is revealed to be aboard an approaching Tarellian plague ship, whose deadly crew is looking to beam down to Haven in the hopes of curing their condition.

If all that sounds a bit scattered, it is. There are too many ideas at play in this episode, none of them fully explored. But the real problem here, as I see it, is that the episode isn't about the main characters; it's about the guest stars. Yes, it's Deanna who may be whisked away from the ship by her arranged marriage, but the big resolution of the episode is all about Wyatt taking charge and beaming over to be with his mysterious plague woman. The climax is the fulfillment of his destiny, and the union of two fated lovers (neither of whom is a main character). Deanna is extricated from her dilemma through no action of her own; Wyatt simply beams away, choosing his dream woman over Troi, and solving all the problems for everyone in the process. It's almost a stand-alone sci-fi short story that just happens to use Star Trek characters as window dressing.

Except that it's not even quite sci-fi so much as fantasy. Somehow, Wyatt has dreamed all his life of this beautiful blonde woman he's meant to be with, who he believes is Deanna Troi. Then it turns out this plague victim, Ariana, has been dreaming of him too. There is absolutely no explanation given for this. Wyatt's a human, and while Ariana is an alien, no telepathic powers are ascribed to her species that would explain any of this. The closest we get to an explanation is a 30-second conversation between Wyatt and Troi's mother Lwaxana, where she feeds us some mumbo jumbo about all life being bound together. Well, that settles it.

If it were just the implausible story and the often hokey dialogue, there would be absolutely nothing to recommend this episode. But there are many saving graces here in the comedic elements of the hour. Patrick Stewart gives an amusing performance being put out and put upon by Lwaxana Troi. Brent Spiner shines as a deeply intrigued Data, watching the "petty bickering" of the wedding party. And Majel Barrett is pretty fun as Troi's mother, even if her accent is a little odd in places. (There's even a reasonable resemblance between her and Marina Sirtis. You can believe they're related.)

There's also interesting material in Riker's reaction to Troi's prearranged wedding. He's supposed to be an enlightened 24th-century man (indeed, the episode has still more early series speechifying about how backwards the people of the 20th century are), but he's not at all able to rise above his emotions here. Even though he has basically acknowledged he doesn't want to rekindle his relationship with Troi, he does not want to see her marry another man. Probably a true reaction, but jealousy is not the sort of behavior you often see from the main characters on Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. (Maybe Riker is just in a mood because people keep calling him "Bill" this episode instead of "Will." They never do that again for the rest of the series.)

Other observations:

• Entertainment is peculiar in the 24th century. At the top of the episode, Riker is relaxing in his quarters to a hologram of two toga-clad women playing harps. And the dopey smile on his face implies this may be his idea of porn.

• Filmed before "The Last Outpost" (but aired after), this is actor Armin Shimerman's first appearance on Star Trek, as the face of the Betazoid gift box. But I knew about that particular bit of Trek trivia before I rewwatched this episode. The guest star I was not at all prepared to see was a very young Robert Knepper as love interest Wyatt. 25 years later, I know him best as the snake-like "T-Bag" on the TV series Prison Break, a masterfully villainous portrayal of a character you love to hate. His performance here isn't exactly amazing, but it does show he has versatility.

• There's a fun little idea in this episode of a "chameleon rose," a flower with petals that change color with the mood of the owner. And in the remaster touch-ups, it looks a lot more natural than I remembered it.

• Watching this episode, I was really struck by the powerfully 80s hair styles throughout. Wyatt has big, puffy, Blue Lagoon hair. His dream woman, Ariana, has Flashdance flyaway teased half a foot high. Beverly Crusher and Tasha Yar sport some unusual 'dos as well at different points in the episode. I noticed all this while watching, and then read afterward that this episode was actually nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series. So here's a time capsule of our fashion tastes in 1987.

• Worf isn't in this episode, for reasons not explained in the story. I feel like it may have been a missed opportunity, too. Much is made of the culture clash between human and Betazoid traditions. I feel like there could have also been fun in commenting on the ways in which one fictitious alien culture clashes with another, especially with Betazoids and Klingons being on such clearly opposite ends of the spectrum.

There is some fun to be had here in this episode, but the storytelling itself is pretty flat. Overall, I'd call it a C-.