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AI/LLM reviews of STNG - Too Short a Season


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"Star Trek: The Next Generation - Too Short A Season" 
is an episode that delves into the complexities of 
past decisions, the allure of youth, and the 
long-term consequences of well-intentioned 
but flawed interventions. It centers on an aged 
Starfleet Admiral facing the reckoning of his history.

Plot Overview:The USS Enterprise-D is dispatched 
to Mordan IV, where Captain Picard is to meet 
with the legendary but now elderly Admiral Mark Jameson. 
Jameson is a renowned negotiator, specifically requested 
by a group of dissident terrorists who have taken 
Federation Ambassador Hawkins and his staff hostage. 
Jameson reveals that he successfully negotiated 
a similar hostage crisis on Mordan 45 years prior, 
and Governor Karnas of Mordan IV, who is involved
in the current crisis, seemingly believes only 
Jameson can resolve it.

As the Enterprise journeys to Mordan IV, Dr. Crusher 
conducts a medical checkup on Jameson and makes 
a startling discovery: he has been secretly taking 
an alien rejuvenation drug. This drug rapidly de-ages 
him, making him physically younger and stronger, 
a stark contrast to his initial frail appearance. 
Jameson confesses he took the drug to be at his 
physical and mental peak for these critical 
negotiations. However, upon arrival at Mordan IV, 
it becomes terrifyingly clear that Governor 
Karnas is not interested in negotiation; 
he seeks revenge. Jameson's past intervention, 
intended to bring peace, inadvertently 
led to decades of civil war and millions 
of deaths on Mordan IV. Karnas's true desire 
is to confront the older Jameson with 
the devastating consequences of his past actions.
Jameson attempts an armed rescue mission, which 
quickly fails. Realising the truth of the situation, 
he offers himself to Karnas in exchange 
or the hostages' release. Picard, Crusher, 
and Jameson beam down to Karnas's office. 
Karnas is shocked by Jameson's youthful appearance. 
Picard explains Jameson's use of the de-aging drug, 
and Karnas expresses his desire to show
 the now-younger Jameson the full scale 
 of the devastation caused by his long-ago intervention.
 
 Strengths:Exploration of Consequences: The episode 
 bravely tackles the rarely seen long-term, negative 
 consequences of Federation intervention, even when 
 well-intentioned. This adds a valuable layer of moral 
 complexity to Star Trek's idealism.
 
Admiral Jameson's Character: Jameson is a tragic figure, 
driven by guilt and a desperate need to fix his past mistakes. 
His decision to take the rejuvenation drug and his ultimate 
sacrifice are compelling character beats.

Themes of Youth and Hubris: The rejuvenation drug serves 
as a powerful metaphor for the desire to escape 
the consequences of aging and past errors, and the hubris 
of believing one can simply reverse time and fix everything.

Karnas as a Sympathetic Adversary: Karnas is not a simple 
villain. His desire for revenge is rooted in profound 
suffering, making him a complex and understandable antagonist.

Picard's Ethical Dilemma: Picard is placed in a difficult 
position, caught between a past Starfleet hero 
and the devastating results of his actions.

Weaknesses:

Pacing (Minor): The initial setup of Jameson's condition 
and the mystery surrounding Karnas's true motives can 
feel a little slow at first.

Visuals of Rejuvenation: The special effects 
for Jameson's de-aging are rudimentary and show 
their age, sometimes detracting from the dramatic impact.

Underdeveloped Rejuvenation Drug: The alien drug itself 
and its long-term effects are somewhat underdeveloped, 
serving primarily as a plot device.

Limited Crew Involvement: While Picard and Crusher 
are central, much of the rest of the main crew has 
limited direct involvement in the core conflict.

Overall Impression:"Too Short A Season" is a surprisingly 
poignant and ethically complex episode for early 
Star Trek: The Next Generation. It dares to show 
the darker side of Starfleet's history and the burden
 of past decisions. While it suffers from some 
 of the visual and pacing limitations of its era, 
 its strong thematic content, the compelling character 
 of Admiral Jameson, and its exploration of unintended 
 consequences make it a thought-provoking 
 and memorable entry in the first season.
 
 Rating: 7/10

ChatGPt

**Review: *Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Too Short a Season”***
**Season 1, Episode 16**
**Transcript Source:** [chakoteya.net](http://www.chakoteya.net/NextGen/112.htm)
**Rating:** ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (3/10)

---

### 🧭 Overview

In “Too Short a Season,” the USS Enterprise responds to a hostage 
crisis on Mordan IV and encounters **Admiral Jameson**, who's been 
using a de-aging serum to revisit past decisions and atone for his 
involvement in a sparked civil war decades prior ([chakoteya.net][1]). 
The episode grapples with themes of aging, atonement, 
and the perils of rushing redemption.

---

### ✅ Pros

* **Thematic Ambition:** The exploration of hubris, 
second chances, and consequences resonates thematically. 
Admiral Jameson’s quest to reverse time echoes moral 
lessons about premature interference .

* **Supporting Performances:** Michael Pataki 
as Karnas delivers gravitas and depth 
in the role of Jameson’s haunted counterpart ([jammersreviews.com][2]). 
Marsha Hunt’s portrayal of Ann Jameson 
also adds poignant humanity ([en.wikipedia.org][3]).

* **Background Relevance:** The episode exemplifies early *TNG*’s 
strategy of focusing on guest-driven plots and moral dilemmas distancing 
from Starfleet officers, offering variety for the series ([thoughtsfromthemountaintop.com][4]).

---

### ❌ Cons

* **Critically Panned Make‑up & Acting:** Admiral Jameson’s make‑up 
is often derided as overdone and artificial in the HD era . 
Clayton Rohner’s performance has been described
 as “campy” and “horrible” ([en.wikipedia.org][3]).

* **Crew Gets Sidelined:** The main Enterprise crew 
plays second fiddle to Jameson’s arc. Picard, Riker, 
Troi, and Crusher have limited engagement in what 
is largely his solo odyssey ([reddit.com][5]).

* **Plot Holes & Illogical Decisions:** Reddit users 
and critics note gaps—like why the crew doesn’t beam 
hostages out or remotely scan for them—and military 
protocols that would override Jameson’s lone-wolf 
decisions ([reddit.com][5]).

* **Tone Imbalance:** Den of Geek labeled the 
episode "an absolute shambles," mocking awkward
 dialogue, tone, and accessibility regarding 
 disability in the 24th century ([denofgeek.com][6]).

---

### 🗣️ Community Insights

From Jammer's Reviews:

> “The story itself was predictable 
and made little sense… the episode seems 
to be made to showcase Rohner, but you don’t 
showcase a block of cheese in a case 
with hot lights.” ([jammersreviews.com][2])

Reddit user Psychological\_Fan427:

> “It’s a decent episode… Beverly Crusher’s 
best episode to date… most of the time, 
everybody stands by while action happens
 around them.” ([reddit.com][5])

---

### 🎯 Final Verdict

“Too Short a Season” carries dramatic 
ideas—aging, regret, and redemption—but 
fails to center its weight on memorable 
execution. Jameson's narrative is thematically 
rich yet marred by tonal inconsistency, 
sidelined Starfleet crew, and unconvincing 
make‑up and acting. While Tony Braga delivers 
a surprising emotional payoff at the end, 
the episode’s execution leaves much to be desired.

**Final Score: 3/10** – Worth watching for its 
introspective themes and few solid performances, 
but far from a highlight in *TNG*’s first season.

---

[1]: https://www.chakoteya.net/NextGen/112.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Next Generation Transcripts - Too Short A Season"
[2]: https://www.jammersreviews.com/st-tng/s1/season.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com "\"Too Short a Season\" | Star Trek: TNG - Jammer's Reviews"
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Short_a_Season?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Too Short a Season"
[4]: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.com/2020/04/20/star-trek-the-next-generation-too-short-a-season/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Star Trek – The Next Generation: Too Short a Season"
[5]: https://www.reddit.com/r/StarTrekViewingParty/comments/1h3wqmk/tng_episode_1x16_too_short_a_season/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "TNG, Episode 1x16, Too Short a Season : r/StarTrekViewingParty"
[6]: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/revisiting-star-trek-tng-too-short-a-season/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Revisiting Star Trek TNG: Too Short A Season | Den of Geek"


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