Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s “Man of the People”

Tread Perilously‘s month of Star Trek continues with the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called “Man of the People.”

The Enterprise gets involved in a diplomatic mission when the ship carrying Ambassador Alkar gets attacked. Now aboard the Federation flagship, he immediately attracts the attention of Counselor Troi. But Alkar’s mother warns her off, saying she’ll regret any association with him. Soon, the mother turns up dead and Alkar bonds with Troi during a supposed funerary right. But is it more than he says? Does it have anything to do with Troi’s rapid aging and unusual behavior? And once Picard gets involved, will he be swayed to Alkar’s grim calculus?

The Alternative Factor gets a new host despite a very similar voice to the previous one. Geography Corner takes on a surprising form as Erik and Justin discuss the places where 1980s TV directors could have bought houses. The presence of Ensign Janeway leads to an understandable tangent. The pair also diagnose a worthy Star Trek question buried in the failings of “Man of the People.” Justin questions the value of freelance diplomats. Erik creates a post-realization to explain why the Enterprise isn’t a purely exploratory vessel. Riker turns out to be the episode MVP, and Justin inadvertently creates the Mansplaining Ghost.

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