Synopsis: The Enterprise turns into a swamp while Data turns into Sybil.
Memory Alpha: Let’s leave symbols to the symbol-minded.
Review: You know, some ideas are just so high concept that it’s best just to leave them alone. Perhaps this confusing story could have worked for a full-length movie, or better yet, a novel, but there’s just too much exposition for a 42 minute show. The performances are fine, but there’s no heart. There is also no real tension, no real climax. Very unsatisfying. Mad props, though, to the art department.
Death By Troggles 
Mad props … to the prop department? High concept reviews FTW!
PS
Great job on the countdown so far, I’ve been enjoying it immensely!
Ha, prop department. Why didn’t I think that?
Thanks for the compliment. I know how much you like this episode, though I’m sure you knew you were in the minority on that already!
I remember this episode mildly freaking me out when I saw it. Something about Data turning around with the symbol on his head and saying “Masaka is waking…” just seemed weird and wrong.
Data surely did his best. I think with a better script this could have been terrifying.
I remember hearing something about the fact that this was shot with a bunch of other eps, and Spiner was like “you’re asking me to play like 5 characters, and you’re giving me about a half day of prep”.
Then again, I was 11 when this came out. I would’ve been weirded out by a lot of stuff.
Your memory is correct. Spiner got virtually no prep time. I haven’t seen him in anything else, other than a brief guest spot on Cheers. But I grow more and more impressed with his range every time I watch these episodes. Other than perhaps Stewart, he easily has the most emotion evoking moments on the show.
He was in independence Day, playing the scientist who gets killed by the alien.
Yeah, I’m surprised Beau either didn’t mention it or didn’t catch it (or hasn’t seen Independence Day, but it’s my understanding that everyone saw it when it came out).
He’s also had a fairly recent guest shot on “Big Bang Theory” (playing himself, humorously) and I’ve seen him a couple other times in guest roles.
@Spooky
Haven’t seen it.
This is one of the seventh season eps I haven’t seen yet. But I remember a coworker remarking how poor this one was.