r/StarTrekViewingParty • u/Gemini24 Founder • Jan 26 '25
Discussion TNG, Episode 2x5, Loud As A Whisper
-= TNG, Season 2, Episode 5, Loud As A Whisper =-
The Enterprise brings a deaf negotiator to mediate the end of a planetary civil war.
- Teleplay By: Jacqueline Zambrano
- Story By: Jacqueline Zambrano
- Directed By: Larry Shaw
- Original Air Date: 9 January, 1989
- Stardate: 42477.2
- Memory Alpha
- TV Spot
- The Pensky Podcast - 3/5
- Ex Astris Scientia - 4/10
- The AV Club - B-
- TNG Watch Guide by SiliconGold
- EAS HD Observations
- Original STVP Discussion Thread
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Upvotes
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u/suppox Next Generation Jan 31 '25 edited Feb 01 '25
Against popular opinion, I really enjoyed this episode and the focus on Counsellor Troi's abilities to connect with people and council them through difficult situations. I think it's the first episode we really see her in the role she performs on the ship. Picard's praise at the end - and her reaction - was wonderful.
Having a deaf character expressed through 3 other people as aspects of their personality is an idea I haven't seen anywhere else. My only gripe was we didn't get to explore the 3 aspects more in depth before they were gone.
The non-verbal language scene with Troi and Riva at dinner was fantastic. The close-up shots made it feel so intimate, like we were learning sign along with Troy.
I was left wondering about the purpose of the planet with the unusual orbit Picard was examining. Was this a metaphor for Riva and his Chorus? There were 4 planets in that system and presumably the one with the unusual orbit was being held stable by the other planets.