20 Years of Star Trek TNG: 'We'll Always Have Paris' Review

We'll Always Have Paris (Series One, Episode 23)

Rating: 4/10



The Original Series made good use of the recurrent themes of (a) temporal distortion (b) experiments gone wrong and (c) an old flame coming back to haunt a crew member so it was only natural that The Next Generation got into the act. With 'We'll Always Have Paris' we get the triple treat of all these leitmotifs, plus some input from a then (i.e. 1988) still lovely Michelle Phillips. Does the first episode without Tasha cut the mustard? Hmmm...maybe not.

• Three Reasons To Watch This Episode

1. The addition of some depth to Picard's back story is always welcome, and it could be argued that we first encounter in this episode the 'thinking female Trekker's cheesecake' that Patrick Stewart became. Playing some rather amateurish riffs off a Casablanca plot device (i.e. Jean Luc is reunited with Jenice Mannheim, who's husband is a noted Federation scientist), the most fun is actually garnered from the scenes with Picard in the holodeck Parisian cafe. Okay, the way in which Captain Picard tries to explain to Janice why he didn't keep his romantic rendezvous is emotionally uncovincing, but you have to admire the writers for at least trying to give the so far reserved Captain of the NCC-1701D some romantic cred. By the way; what in god's name is that incredibly 80's outfit that the young lovelorn holodeck character is wearing in Jean Luc's first sojourn in the cafe!
2. The time distortion effects. It's a minor point, but watching various members of the crew encountering themselves over differing time phases is at least intriguing. It may not be the best example of time disruption depicted as a dramatic and special effects device in a TNG episode, but 'We'll Always Have Paris' does have its moments.
3. Michelle Phillips and Rod Loomis. Their respective performances may be average at best, but seeing one of the original 'Mamas' from legendary 60s group The Mamas and The Papas is certainly a highlight (TNG didn't have too many celebrity guest stars over the years, and Phillips arguably was the first after watching De Forest Kelly revive Dr McCoy in 'Encounter at Farpoint'). Also Rod Loomis is arguably better known for his performance as Sigmund Freud in another sci-fi time shift show (in this case, 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure'). If he is to be compared to Paul Henried's Victor Lazlo in 'Casablanca', Loomis has almost nothing to do. Of course that is unfair, but hey...the USS Enterprise D is supposed to be a surrogate Cafe Americaine.

• Three Reasons Not To Watch This Episode

1. The lack of dramatic tension is painfully obvious in this episode. Partly due to the effects of the then Screenwriter's Guild strike, partly due to the derivative plot, partly due to the overall lack of romantic energy between the key characters (Jean Luc, Janice, Paul and as fourth wheel Beverley Crusher), you don't really get into the hearts of the protagonists. For a story that is at its core an homage to a great passionate affair as portrayed in an all time great movie the emotions are either checked or even made silly. I don't think you really can beleive that Jean Luc and Janice Mannheim would have had such a great love for each other, which in turn kills much of the effect which the writers and actors wanted.
2. The time distortion plot device is tidied up almost obscenely quickly and easily. Data beams down to the laboratory and sticks some anti-matter in the distortion....BANG all is fixed. I've read that this resolution was because of the script's paucity, and it shows...badly. If you want a more emotionally satisfying resolution of a time distortion take a geek at 'Yesterday's Enterprise'.
3. The failure of the TNG ensemble. One of the strongest aspects of any Next Generation episode is the way that most if not all characters in the show's ensemble get meaningful dialogue or some exposure. This episode is way too Picard-centric, and whilst Beverley and Data get some camera time too they don't exactly cover themselves in glory.

• Best Moment

Hmmm...tough. No real screamingly great scenes, although I did like the first sequence in the holodeck Parisian cafe. As the French would say, this is an amusement bouche...a fun little titbit to make you want more (which unfortunately doesn't really happen).

• Worst Moment

I've already intimated my thoughts here, and it has to be Data solving the time distort. Just too damned easy guys!

• Blink and You'll Miss It

It's not so much a visual thing, but ever noticed how in 'Star Trek: The Original Series' Captain Kirk had an old flame called Janice Lester, and in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Captain Picard has an old flame called Jenice Mannheim? What is it with old flames called Janice/Jenice...causing all this grief for USS Enterprise captains?

"You mean to say Jean Luc you preferred Mama Cass Elliot over ME!?"

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