ST:TNG, Parallels, Episode 711

Interesting episode, if a little... hmm. I don't know what's a good word for it. "Explain-y?" The writers at this point have stopped apologizing about the bizarre, pseudo-scientific language they're using at this point to drive plot points. I wonder if it's almost be better if people weren't trying to "open spacetime rifts" with "low energy warp fields" so that Riker can get a better visual. Just say, "I'm attempting to compensate for the visual display." Or really, anything better than nonsense.

But yes: decent episode. Worf is trapped among parallel quantum eventualities, and has to figure out a way back to his "own universe." Lots of fun is had with the differences between universes, from Data's eye color, to the lighting on the bridge, to whether Wesley Crusher is still on the Enterprise (possibly in a universe where he wasn't held back a year or so after failing his entrance tests).

I also appreciated that the writers established consequences for Worf's actions, even though in terms of canon, his universe is the only one that mattered. I liked it a lot that they acknowledged that in the universe he was leaving, he was actually abandoning Diana without hopes of having her actual husband return. Even more awesome is when one of the hundreds of Enterpises that end up collapsing "into" a single reality don't want Worf to go back, as their universe has apparently been led to destruction at the hands of the Borg.

Uber-beard Riker yells at Riker Prime "I'm not going back!" and begins firing on Worf's shuttle as it moves to close the "rift." Riker Prime is forced to kill a version of himself from another universe. Apparently, there isn't room for three Rikers in a given universe... two is fine, though.