A lot of people who feel the need to “defend” sci-fi with that old song about being able to look at deep philosophical issues head-on under the safe storytelling umbrella of action could use this episode as exhibit A? To what extent is our personality derived from the sum of our experiences? What aspects of our character is innate in us, regardless of what fate has handed us? Can we still be presently in love with someone from our past?
This is all heavy shit. Luckily, it can all be examined due to a kooky transporter mishap and a duplicated (and marooned) Riker back on the Enterprise and running around in a yellow shirt.
