Star Trek TNG - Ensign Ro

I had planned to write my usual brief reviews of TNG episodes, but I disliked "Ensign Ro" so much I decided to write more. Here's why I disliked it:

A Precursor to Dark and Gritty Star Trek
The episode is a teeing up the DS9 Franchise. Depending on who you read, Ensign Ro was supposed to be Sikso's Bajorian 2nd in Command  aka "Kira" played by Nana Visitor. This is our introduction to her, and Bajorians in general. Here they aren't a recently occupied planet, instead the Cardassians have forced them off Bajor and they exist in refugee camps and as "roaming nomads". But this episode introduces a lot of negative elements and thinly disguised 20th century politics we get on DS9:

Terrorism: The Bajorians have supposedly wiped out a Federation colony to attract attention to their cause

Cardassian atrocity porn: We listen to Ensign Ro tell us that as a child she was forced to watch her father be tortured to death - despite begging for mercy.

Double-dealing and lies: The Cardassians convince the Admiral  Kennelly that the Bajorians are terrorists. But *pysch* it was actually a false flag attack by the Cardassians. The Admiral then lies to Picard and tells him to negotiate and help the Bajorians, but *psych* his actual plan is to let the Cardassians destroy the Bajorians. The Admiral tells Picard Ensign Ro is under his command but *pysch*, he's secretely telling Ensign Ro what to do.Picard then lies to Admiral and pretends to allow the Cardassians to destroy the Bajorians on their ship but *pysch* its all a fake. The ship was empty.

Self-righteous victimhood: The Bajorians constantly throw their tragic fate in Picard's face, and demand why the Federation stood by and "let it happen".

Stupid/Dishonorable Star Fleet Command - Once again, the higher-ups are shown to be not just liars and stupid, but amoral in their convoluted plans.  Admiral Kennelly amorally uses Picard and Ro as his pawns to implement his secret plan to kill the terrorists. But he's too dumb to understand he's being used by the Cardassians.  So, we have the Cardassians using Star fleet command and the Command in turn using its subordinates in an immoral action.  

Obnoxious Ethnic Pride:  Because the Bajorians are "victims", Ensign Ro feels she has  the right to constantly remind everyone (1) that she's proud to be  Bajorian,  dammit, (2) she's not going to "assimilate" and (3)  that she's a VICTIM.  And (4) the Federation didn't help Bajor enough. Example: Ro tells Picard that Bajorians have their last name first. And he'd better understand that. 

Picard acts like a total cuck and accepts this.  He then tells us that "the Bajorians were philosphers and artists when humans hadn't learned to walk errect." Later, he whines that Bajorians are tired of sympathy and promises. The subtext is we're all supposed to accept this obnoxious behavior because we OWE the Bajorians.  We LET THEM DOWN.  How precisely, the Federation did this is skipped over.  The TNG writers only give us one side.  

They leave out the obvious comeback that the Universe is a big place  with lots of victims and the Federation can't help everyone, and there's no logical reason why Group X being oppressed by say the Romulans is less worthy of Federation help then the Bajorians. Further, The Federation doesn't exist to run around the Universe helping Non-Federation peoples.  And what did Bajor ever do for the Federation? And who did they ever help?  All the moral obligation goes one-way.

Again, does this remind you of some real-life 21st Century attitudes?  It should.

The Strong woman Trope

Ro basically acts like a man with Tits.  She's aggressive, obnoxious, curt, and insubordinate. Despite her record of disobeying orders and getting 7 people killed, Picard just thinks she wonderful and offers her a job on the Enterprise!  We're supposed to accept all this because she's a STRONG Women.  And we are supposed to like that because uh... its something we're supposed to like.  Except I didn't.  I like my strong women to be believable WOMEN. And not fakes.

Summary:  Another over-rated TNG episode due to politics.  The amazing thing is TNG fans LOVE Ensign Ro.  I was astounded the writers created a character who killed 7 fellow crewmembers by arrogantly disobeying orders, and we're supposed to feel sorry FOR HER.  

Not only that, but instead of being humbled by her deadly error in judgment, she's cocky and arrogant!  She agrees to stay with Star Fleet because "Starfleet has a lot to learn from me",  y'mean like how to disobey orders, get 7 people killed, but somehow not get courtmaritaled but praised for not doing much of anything? That really is a strong woman.