[S5E16] Over A Barrel ((LINK))
What appeared to be an evidence locker could have very well been A's new lair. Things were boxed up in a sanitary, pristine manner including bloody clothes, probably from the day Mona died. Then there was the Breaking Bad HAZMAT suit leading to the very odorous barrel; where Mona's body might have been, umm...being preserved.
[S5E16] Over a Barrel
This latest installment was pretty frustrating, but then again so are most episodes of PLL. I just keep wracking my brain over Aria and Jason both "coincidentally" getting stood up. Then the flowers. Then Ashley. Who was behind it?
In a storage bay, Worf is hit by a barrel that falls from above. His spine is damaged, resulting in paraplegia. Dr. Crusher, the commanding medical physician on the Enterprise, consults a neurological specialist, Dr. Toby Russell, to aid in the treatment and provide professional expertise for Worf's injury.
During the review of Worf's case regarding the injury Dr. Russel states that Klingon anatomy is "over designed" and that she has not "seen so many unnecessary redundancies in one body". Dr. Crusher informs Dr. Russell that Klingons refer to the redundancies as the "brak'lul" and that almost every vital function has two organs in case of failure. After further discussions, she introduces Dr. Crusher to a genetic tissue generator device, the "genatronic replicator" that she has been using in experimental holographic simulation applications for which the "early results have been very encouraging". Dr. Crusher is impressed and was unaware of its use on humanoids. Dr. Russell reports that it has never been used on humanoid species and makes a suggestion that this experimental application be used to clone Worf's spinal cord for transplantation. Dr. Crusher has significant concerns regarding the use of an experimental treatment as Worf would be the first patient to have its use as a humanoid species and that they know little about Klingon anatomy and physiology for successful surgical procedure. Dr. Crusher informs Dr. Russell that conventional techniques will be used.[3]
Dr. Crusher speaks to Worf and recommends implants that transmit neural signals which would allow him to regain about 60% of his mobility. However, Worf does not like the idea of being an injured warrior nor "lurching through corridors", so he considers his life to be over.[4]
Later, Dr. Russell enters Dr. Crusher's office, and Crusher tells her that while she is delighted that Worf will recover, she is horrified by Russell's immoral methods of putting her own interests in collecting research data and gaining recognition above patients' interests and lives. Russell silently leaves the room.
Lieutenant Worf and Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge are in Cargo Bay 3 investigating strange readings. Their tricorders are unable to detect the exact problem. Worf is preoccupied with his loss to Counselor Deanna Troi in a poker game, and no one realizes that a large, heavy container sitting on a high shelf is leaking. Another similar container is sitting on top of it. Eventually, enough of the material leaks out that the lower container begins to buckle under the weight of the upper container. The two containers fall, and the upper container hits Worf in his back. La Forge rushes over to the immobile Worf and summons emergency medical assistance. Worf wakes up in sickbay and at first he believes he is being held by a restraining field to keep him from leaving. Grim faced, Dr. Crusher informs him that his spinal cord has been crushed, resulting in paralysis.
Meanwhile, the Enterprise diverts to render aid to the USS Denver, after the latter struck a Cardassian gravitic mine left over from the Federation-Cardassian War while transporting over five hundred colonists. Dr. Crusher sets up triage units in the shuttlebays, and accepts Russell's offer for assistance.
While on the bridge, Commander Riker asks to discuss Worf's request with Captain Picard in his ready room. Inside, Riker tells Picard that, although he always tries to understand and respect the traditions of other races and cultures, the idea of assisting Worf in suicide disgusts him especially as Worf could still live a full life despite his injury. Picard however is more understanding of Worf's request, explaining to Riker that while a Human could adapt with an injury as severe as Worf's, when a Klingon is unable to stand and fight they consider their life to be over. Picard can't make Riker's decision for him and understands how frustrated he feels over the situation, but encourages him to make it based on his friendship with Worf. Klingons choose their friends very carefully, and if Worf didn't know if he could count on Riker he wouldn't have asked.
After meeting the other ship, the Enterprise medical staff begin treating casualties. Dr. Crusher discovers that a patient under Dr. Russell's care had died after Russell tried an untested, experimental treatment, borathium, despite a chance standard treatments like leporazine or morathial would have saved his life. Outraged by Russell's reckless choice of a radical approach over conventional treatment, Crusher relieves Russell of duty, and tells Russell that she will not be permitted to practice medicine any longer while on board the Enterprise.
Picard meets with Dr. Crusher in her office after he learns that she has relieved Russell of duty. She had found that Starfleet Medical had refused permission to allow Russell to use living subjects for her procedure. Crusher says that Worf is basically healthy for the time being, but that if he went into surgery he could die. Picard tells her that she should consider allowing Russell to perform the operation. Even though Crusher knows Worf could have a full life even with this paralysis, Picard explains that Worf's society says that his life was over the moment he was struck by the container. To ask him to accept living without full mobility despite a lifetime of differing values and beliefs is realistically just too difficult. He could possibly be convinced to forgo suicide and take a chance with Russell's procedure, as risk is something Klingons know all about. The only way to save Worf's life is to do this because otherwise, Worf will eventually kill himself. Picard tells Crusher that it may not be good medicine, but it is Worf's only choice.
While thrilled that Worf will recover, Crusher is disturbed by Russell's attitude of "the ends justify the means." Crusher tells Russell that she gambled with Worf's life and won, but real research is a slow and painstaking process and should never be put ahead of patients' lives. Crusher tells Russell that she hopes she enjoys her laurels, as she does not think she could. Crusher looks away from Russell and goes back to work while she leaves without saying a word.
After the operation, Worf begins the process of physical therapy. The process is slow as it takes time for Worf's body to adjust to signals from the new spinal cord; Worf stumbles while he re-learns to walk. Watching his father stumbling, Alexander starts to move to him, but Troi reminds him of the Klingon stoicism about which she's spoken to him. Surprisingly, Worf asks for Alexander's help, and tells him that they will struggle together. With that, Worf begins his long journey towards recovery.
"Will you or will you not help me with the hegh'Bat?""You are my friend. And in spite of everything I've said, if it were my place, I would probably help you. But I've been studying Klingon ritual and Klingon law, and I've discovered that it's not my place to fill that role. According to tradition, that honor falls to a family member. Preferably the oldest son.""That is impossible! He is a child!""'The son of a Klingon is a man the day he can first hold a blade.' True?""Alexander is not fully Klingon! He is part Human!""That's an excuse. What you really mean is that it would be too hard to look at your son and tell him to bring you the knife, watch you stab it into your heart, then pull the knife out of your chest and wipe your blood on his sleeve."
"I am delighted that Worf is going to recover. You gambled. He won. Not all of your patients are so lucky. You scare me, Doctor. You risk your patients' lives, and justify it in the name of research. Genuine research takes time. Sometimes a lifetime of painstaking, detailed work in order to get any results. Not for you. You take shortcuts, right through living tissue. You put your research ahead of your patients' lives. And as far as I'm concerned, that's a violation of our most sacred trust. I'm sure your work will be hailed as a stunning breakthrough. Enjoy your laurels, Doctor. I'm not sure I could."
Worf reluctantly sees his son Alexander for a few moments before he sends him away, ashamed of his weakness and disability. Meanwhile, colonists who had run afoul of a mine left over from the Cardassian war come aboard the Enterprise for treatment. Dr. Russell assists the Enterprise medical staff with the casualties, but Crusher learns that Russell has performed another experimental and unapproved treatment on one of them using a drug called borathium, which resulted in the patient's death. Enraged, Crusher relieves Russell of duty and forbids her from practicing medicine while on the Enterprise.
Crusher delivers the news to Alexander: his father is dead. Alexander demands to see Worf... but when he enters the operating room, he discovers, to everyone's relief, that Worf's vitals have stabilized! Klingons have several redundant organs, including secondary synaptic functions that kicked in after the new spinal column was put into place. Russell is pleased with the outcome, believing that the ends justify the means, but Crusher cannot abide Russell's unscrupulous medical practices.
Made in Manehattan is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the one hundred and seventh episode overall. The title is a reference to the 2002 film Maid in Manhattan. 041b061a72