So much film and TV involve the old suspension of disbelief. This episode really asks a lot of you. Picard may as well face front to the camera and say “Engage the wack-ometer!” I will not pick nits (okay, one: Why would they just let Wesley putz around and “experiment” with the warp core of the Federation flagship? And just before they have to go somewhere?) but I will instead invite you to let yourself zip along through this nutty, almost frightening episode. The truth is that last night I kinda had a dream that incorporated elements of this episode – much like Dr. Crusher I was trapped in an imploding alternate reality and I couldn’t recognize the efforts meant to rescue me. That’s some heavy shit!
