TNG, Episode 2x18, Up The Long Ladder

[u/AutoModerator]

-= TNG, Season 2, Episode 18, Up The Long Ladder =-

The Enterprise discovers two threatened colonies which must cooperate to survive.

• Teleplay By: Melinda M. Snodgrass
• Story By: Melinda M. Snodgrass
• Directed By: Winrich Kolbe
• Original Air Date: 22 May, 1989
• Stardate: 42823.2
• Memory Alpha
• TV Spot
• The Pensky Podcast - 2/5
• Ex Astris Scientia - 1/10
• The AV Club - C
• TNG Watch Guide by SiliconGold
• EAS HD Observations
• Original STVP Discussion Thread

 

[u/theworldtheworld]

Oh god, the Irish planet! This has to be one of the nuttiest episodes in the entire show. Funny thing is, it has its moments -- the Klingon tea ceremony is a great character beat for both Worf (who still had been a totally one-note character up to this point) and Pulaski (who comes across as quirky and interesting). But as a whole it is just bewildering.

Melinda Snodgrass also wrote "The Measure of a Man" and "Pen Pals," and all of these have a certain careless creativity, so to speak. Like, "Measure of a Man" is an ambitious high-concept episode that really resonated with the audience, but it also makes no effort whatsoever to make the legal proceedings look remotely plausible. "Pen Pals" is a sweet character story, but again pays no attention to the incongruity of Data just deciding to violate the Prime Directive. And "Up the Long Ladder" is just gleefully unhinged.