I really liked this episode, except for the ending. The Gatherers seemed like an interesting group and the Acamarians, with their house clans and blood feuds, seemed like an interesting culture. For the most part, a great episode.
However, the ending was awful! I have to agree with the others. And the comment in the Goofs section is right. Riker had NO REASON AT ALL to vaporize Yuta. He had LOTS of other options. He could have had Chorgan step away from the table. Riker could have physically picked up Yuta and carried her away. They could have beamed her out and sent her straight to the Enterprise brig. So many options!
The choice to have Riker vaporize here was just to have that final "Riker is full of regret" scene at the very end. It was badly done and is an example of lazy writing.
I agree with another commenter here. The brig solution could have been a great ending. It would have allowed one final emotional confrontation between Riker and Yuta.
If they really wanted to have that final "no options" outcome, they should have made a much bigger deal about the modifications that were done to her. Perhaps the extensive modifications could have made it so that she can't be beamed out against her will, stun won't work and you can't just physically block her (maybe she has enhanced strength). They should have made her a much greater threat - a walking weapon. But no, instead they put this viral weapon in the body of a tiny woman who can be restrained with a hug.
Finally, I'd like to point out that it was extremely dangerous (and stupid) for Riker to have fired a phaser at someone on full power with Picard directly behind her. Picard was almost directly in the line of fire. Riker should have just had everyone at the table move away.
However, the ending was awful! I have to agree with the others. And the comment in the Goofs section is right. Riker had NO REASON AT ALL to vaporize Yuta. He had LOTS of other options. He could have had Chorgan step away from the table. Riker could have physically picked up Yuta and carried her away. They could have beamed her out and sent her straight to the Enterprise brig. So many options!
The choice to have Riker vaporize here was just to have that final "Riker is full of regret" scene at the very end. It was badly done and is an example of lazy writing.
I agree with another commenter here. The brig solution could have been a great ending. It would have allowed one final emotional confrontation between Riker and Yuta.
If they really wanted to have that final "no options" outcome, they should have made a much bigger deal about the modifications that were done to her. Perhaps the extensive modifications could have made it so that she can't be beamed out against her will, stun won't work and you can't just physically block her (maybe she has enhanced strength). They should have made her a much greater threat - a walking weapon. But no, instead they put this viral weapon in the body of a tiny woman who can be restrained with a hug.
Finally, I'd like to point out that it was extremely dangerous (and stupid) for Riker to have fired a phaser at someone on full power with Picard directly behind her. Picard was almost directly in the line of fire. Riker should have just had everyone at the table move away.