From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc,rec.arts.startrek.fandom,rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.tv,can.arts.sf
Subject: AI/LLM reviews STNG Attached
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:43:37 -0000 (UTC)
Organization: NetKnow News
AI/LLM Reviews of Star Trek The Next Generation - Attached
Google Gemini
The Enterprise is transporting a team to the secluded planet Kesprytt, home to two rival humanoid cultures: the Kes (open and communicative) and the Prytt (isolationist and deeply suspicious). Captain Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher are assigned to a reconnaissance mission.
While on the surface, they are attacked by the Prytt and crash their shuttle. Captured by the reclusive Prytt, Picard and Crusher are subjected to a device that is meant to interrogate them but instead creates a direct, involuntary, telepathic link between their minds.
They are forced to hear not only each other's immediate thoughts but also deeply buried, private feelings. The central drama revolves around Crusherâs long-suppressed romantic feelings for Picard, which are suddenly broadcast directly into his mind. They escape and spend time in the wilderness, navigating the complexities of knowing each other's most intimate secrets while being hunted. The shared experience allows them to understand each other on a level no two people ever have. The link eventually dissipates, leaving both characters awkward but profoundly changed by the experience.
Strengths
Ultimate Character Exploration: This episode delivers on years of subtext. By forcing Picard and Crusher's private thoughts into the open, the writersâand actors Patrick Stewart and Gates McFaddenâprovide a rare and deeply rewarding glimpse into their complex, intimate relationship.
The Power of Telepathy: The device of the telepathic link is used brilliantly. It creates immediate tension, humor (in their early confusion), and devastating emotional honesty. Hearing the raw, unedited thoughts of two such reserved characters makes for incredible drama.
Performance: Gates McFadden's portrayal of Crusher's panic, embarrassment, and deep affection is superb, matched by Patrick Stewart's nuanced reaction to the revelationsâa mix of shock, awkwardness, and mutual vulnerability.
Advancing the Relationship: The episode irrevocably changes their dynamic. While they revert to professional decorum, the knowledge gained means they can never truly go back to the way things were, adding layers of depth to future interactions.
Weaknesses**
The Kesprytt Plot: The political conflict between the Kes and the Prytt is severely underdeveloped. It serves purely as a mechanism to trigger the mind-link device, and the specific motivations or culture of the Prytt are never fully realized or satisfyingly resolved.
Lack of Follow-Through: While the relationship is changed, the episode stops short of capitalizing on the romantic tension, pulling back at the end to maintain the show's established formula. This can feel frustrating for viewers invested in the pair.
Overall Impression
"Attached" is a masterclass in character-driven science fiction. While the primary plot device (the Kesprytt civil dispute) is forgettable, the internal drama between Picard and Crusher makes this a standout episode of Season 7. It's a bold and moving examination of friendship, love, and the terrifying vulnerability that comes with true intimacy.
Rating: 8.1/10
That was a great piece of TNG character drama!
ChatGPT
Here is a review of ***Star Trek: The Next Generation â âAttachedâ*** (Season 7, Episode 8), based on the transcript at **chakoteya.net** and general thematic analysis:
---
## â Episode Summary
Picard and Dr. Crusher are **imprisoned on Kesprytt III**, a world seeking Federation membership but divided between **two hostile factions**. While escaping, they discover theyâve been implanted with **neural devices** that allow them to **hear each otherâs thoughts**. As they struggle to survive, avoid capture, and navigate the planetâs politics, they are also forced to confront **long-buried personal feelings**, including Picardâs past love for Beverly â and his deep guilt connected to Jack Crusherâs death.
A parallel plot involves Starfleet evaluating whether the Kesprytt are ready for Federation membership; ultimately, the Federation deems them **too paranoid and unstable**.
---
## ð What Works
### ð Real, Emotional Character Development
The biggest strength of the episode lies in its exploration of **Picard and Crusherâs relationship**, which had been built slowly over six seasons with deliberate restraint. Their telepathic connection becomes an elegant narrative device that finally **dissolves their emotional walls**. The scene where Picard reveals his long-held love for Beverly is among the **most honest and vulnerable** moments in the series.
### ð§ A Mature Examination of Trust
Hearing each otherâs thoughts breaks through professional distance, revealing insecurities, assumptions, and unspoken truths â a fascinating look at **privacy, intimacy, and emotional risk**.
### ð Federation Ethics & Politics
The ruling about Kesprytt III reinforces that **technological advancement alone is not enough** for Federation values. The episode subtly reinforces Trekâs philosophy: **psychosocial maturity matters**.
---
## â ï¸ Weaknesses
### ðââï¸ Adventure Plot Feels Thin
The escape-and-chase sequences are functional but not particularly memorable. Some viewers find the Kes and Prytt subplot **too straightforward and underdeveloped**.
### ð Emotional Reset
Though Picard and Crusher share major revelations, the episode ends with them **retreating back into ambiguity**, largely resetting their dynamic. Some see this as realistic; others find it frustratingly anticlimactic.
---
## ð§ Themes
| Theme | Description |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Privacy vs. intimacy | What happens when nothing can be hidden? |
| Unspoken love | Timing, grief, and duty complicate emotion |
| Political maturity | Paranoia and division block progress |
| Emotional bravery | Honesty requires vulnerability |
---
## ð Standout Moments
* Picard admitting he loved Beverly while Jack was still alive
* The two sharing food and laughter while reading each otherâs thoughts
* The final scene, where Beverly quietly withdraws from Picardâs room â bittersweet, layered, human
---
## ð¯ Final Verdict
**Rating: â
â
â
â
âââââ â 7.5 / 10**
This is a **quiet, character-driven episode**, not an action blockbuster, but it contains some of the **richest emotional development** in the PicardâCrusher arc. Its understated drama and mature tone make it especially meaningful for long-time viewers invested in their relationship, even if its ending feels like a reluctant return to stasis.
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