“Little Green Men” is both a fan and personal favorite even though it treads on much of the same ground as “Past Tense, Parts I/II.” I like it because the episode is an homage to B-science fiction movies of the 1950’s and touches on the themes of The X-Files, another favorite that was gaining popularity at the time. There is some criticism the 1947 characters are wooden stereotypes, but that misses the point of an homage. Do not take the episode so seriously. It was meant to be fun.Quark buys a new ship in order to expand his smuggling opportunities. On a trip to deliver Nog to Earth so he can attend Starfleet Academy, he, Rom, and Nog are transported to 1947 Roswell in an accident. Conveniently, their universal translators are damaged along the way.
When they regain conscious, they find themselves prisoners of the United States military. All the stereotypes are there; a brash, Neanderthal of a general, a younger, heroic guy to temper the general’s obnoxious act, and his naïve, but good hearted girlfriend. The general is played by Charles Napier. He made a career out of playing such brutish characters in a far cry from the good natured hippie he played in TOS’ “The Way to Eden.” His character here reminds me more of his bit part in Austen Powers lecturing the Brits over how the US does not want to bail them out again like in World War II than the corrupt Murdock in Rambo: First Blood, Part Ii. That ought to tell you the overall tone of “Little Green Men.”
Quark being quark, looks to take advantage of the situation for his own profit. After all, these humans buy poison known as nicotine o purpose. They will buy anything! He even speculates about giving warp drive to his people far earlier than they did in reality. As the situation turns more sinister and the military demands secrets from the Ferengi, the three have to work together in order to escape back to the future with the help of said young, heroic foil and his naïve, but good hearted girlfriend.
They use an atomic bomb test and some material quark is smuggling in order to get back home. Amusingly enough, this escape method was devised by Ira Steven Behr after watching True Lies. Behr was bemused that an atomic bomb explosion was used as a backdrop during a kissing scene between the hero of that film and his recently rescued wife. Her felt the true power of the bomb had been lost I the public’s conscious since films like Dr. Strangeloe and more recently, The Day After. So hewrote that scene as a reminder of the power of the bomb. His concern seems quaint in the post 9/1world.
“Little Green men” is a fun romp for fans of old science fiction. If you do not care much for flying saucers carrying bug eyed aliens in an invasion of Earth I suppose it is not your cup of tea. But I have a penchant for retro science fiction. It is probably my only motivation for sticking with Caprica I am also a Quark fan. I appreciate episodes in which he rises above is nature, if reluctantly, in order to save his family. He still gets his just deserts in the end.
Rating: **** (out of 5)
