The Hunted

A problem recognized long ago in earth's history. A nation mobilizes for war and wins. Now what do we do with these suddenly unemployed soldiers?

The planet Angosia with its prime minister James Cromwell is applying for membership and they've sent Captain Jean-Luc Picard to look the place over. While doing so Jeff McCarthy escapes from a lunar penal colony. The Enterprise with some bit of doing subdues him and he's held in there security cell to get his story.

McCarthy gives a lot of mixed signals to Counselor Troi. He's a cultivated but violence can spring from him in an instant. His fighting skills are enhanced, programmed right into his DNA. He's a super soldier no doubt.

The best example in earth history is the Roman Empire who when they reached their zenith did not know what to do with all their trained fighting men except maybe make them gladiators. The USA had a GI Bill of Rights which is the best answer humankind has devised. The Angosians weren't that clever.

It's a good episode and you can only imagine the report Patrick Stewart gives the Federation.

Danar's story seems to follow a similar arc of Rambo in First Blood albeit without all the death and destruction.

After not being welcomed back to society, a former soldier relies on his military training and reflexes to survive in a world where they feel unwelcome.

Enterprise visits a planet that wants to join the Federation.

This is a strong episode with the crew up against a cool adversary and in another position of mediation.

The purpose of the story is the main theme of society's treatment of its servicemen and women. It does this well, with clear allegories to Vietnam and is relevant today like it would have been if it had been made in the 60s or 70s. There is a familiar plot structure of Picard and the crew mediating, but in a slightly more reluctant way than usual.

How it addresses the main theme reminds me a lot of the movie 'First Blood' with the guest character doing a John Rambo on board the Enterprise. One extended action sequence is by far the most cinematic part of the episode and puts him up against the entire Enterprise. I like it because it mostly emphasises the resourcefulness and cunning of the character more than his fighting prowess.

It ends in somewhat of an anticlimax but I do like the fact that Picard doesn't babysit the negotiation process and how it implies the Angosian government will do the right thing because they want to be part of the Federation.

Through genetic engineering a planetary race, which is applying for a position in the Federation, has been producing soldiers to fight their battles. What has happened is that they have ignored the fact that these are sentient beings who have the same desires and hopes as their own. One of them escapes and through a series of circumstances finds himself on the Enterprise. Picard, taking the side of the oppressors because of ignorance has him captured and put in isolation. What they don't realize is the ingenuity of this battle ready being who is really formidable. Picard runs somewhat afoul of the people he is negotiating with as he realizes there are two sides to this story. The smug people are extremely comfortable letting these poor men fight for them and have no intention of giving them anything. Picard often uses the most solid form of action which is inaction. Another third season gem.

I loved this episode... Kept us guessing and the resolution was true to Starfleet and Picard. Teaching a little lesson. Always good to get back to basics. Deanna Troi used as she should be without any special attraction added to her talents.