In this episode, the Enterprise is ensnared by a swarm of two-dimensional lifeforms pulling the ship toward a lethal cosmic string. Simultaneously, Counselor Deanna Troi suffers a sudden "short circuit" of her empathic abilities, leaving her feeling effectively disabled and "blind" to the emotions around her.
Troi goes through the classic stages of grief—denial, anger, and fear—eventually attempting to resign because she feels "hollow" without her gift. Do you think her reaction was realistic for someone losing a primary sense, or was it, as some reviewers suggest, "self-absorbed whining"? [S1E4] The Loss
While often ranked low on IMDb due to Troi's uncharacteristic lashing out at Dr. Crusher, many fans with disabilities have praised the episode for accurately depicting the frustration of losing a vital faculty. In this episode, the Enterprise is ensnared by