“Before him, there was no Klingon word for ‘peacemaker.’”
Huh, a whole episode I’d completely forgotten existed at all. “Loud as a Whisper” is a bit of a strange one, not without its merits, though it never became any kind of a memorable favourite for me (obviously). The episode explores its own idea well enough, even if it’s somewhat trapped in a very 1980s view of differently-abled people (in this case, a deaf man). I think the biggest problem with “Loud as a Whisper” is simply the story frame. No matter how they’re done up, tales of peace negotiations are rarely exciting.
The prime driver of “Loud as a Whisper” is Riva, the peace negotiator, a lifelong deaf/mute whose ancestral line has developed a psychic link with a three-person “chorus,” who express his thoughts in words. It’s an appealingly science-fictiony idea (and, particularly, a Star Trek-y science fiction-y idea), even if it all comes off a bit goofball as the three chorus members are explaining what parts of Riva’s psyche they represent. (“I am passion! The libido!”) Plus, having watched this episode back-to-back with “The Outrageous Okona,” which featured Billy Campbell (the producers’ second choice, behind Frakes, to play Commander Riker) as a bearded lothario, I am starting to wonder if Star Trek: The Next Generation’s visual shorthand for red-blooded maleness isn’t a big, muscular beard. Okona had one, and I spent half of his episode wondering if he and Riker would get into a beard-off to try to prove who was the biggest beardsman on the ship. Now here’s Riva, who has the most gigantic beard of all, and is therefore, naturally, an unapologetic romantic conquistador. He becomes immediately taken with Counselor Troi, and courts her so aggressively that one fears for Deanna’s safety.
It’s a good Troi episode, all in all, although – in typical fashion of the times – the female principal cast member of the series we are watching does not get to drive the storyline to anywhere near the degree of the male guest star. Plus, there’s a missed opportunity in Riva’s courtship of Troi, even if one of the two male chorus members has already been identified as the voice of Riva’s lust: where’s the scene between Troi, who represents the emotional balance of the Enterprise, and Riva’s female chorus member, who represents Riva’s emotional balance?
A few ancillary notes on this one:
This is, I think, Colm Meaney’s third episode as Chief O’Brien; he has slipped out of the woodwork so subtly that I (as usual) have difficulty recalling when we have first spotted him behind the console in his trusty Transporter Room 3. It’s an amazingly low-key beginning for a character (and actor) who would go on to become one of Star Trek’s all-time greats.
Perhaps due to a short running time, there is a single, generally unnecessary scene where Geordi explores the possibility of permanently restoring his natural sight with Dr. Pulaski. The matter is left to drop after this episode, not quite organically. Some follow-up would have been appreciated.
Finally, the disruptor pistol that’s used to kill Riva’s chorus produces one badass death effect: the flesh burns off the bodies, leaving a momentary impression of bloody, horrified skeletons!
Blogging The Next Generation runs every Tuesday as I work my way through every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation on blu-ray. Season 2 is available now. I’m double-timing it for the next few weeks, to prepare for Season 3’s launch in April.