Geordi La Forge's (LeVar Burton) best Star Trek movie moment was in Star Trek: Insurrection, and this touching scene involving the return of his natural eyes redeems Geordi's lowest point, getting kidnapped in Star Trek Generations. As Chief Engineer of the Starship Enterprise-D and E, La Forge was part of all four movies starring the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He only played a supporting role in each film, but Geordi's sunset scene with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was a hallmark of LeVar Burton's fan-favorite character.
In Star Trek Insurrection, Picard (Patrick Stewart) led the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E in a revolt over the forced relocation of the Ba'ku so that an alliance between Starfleet and the Son'a could take control of a region of space known as the Briar Patch. The radiation emitted by the Briar Patch contained regenerative properties; it allowed the Ba'ku a form of immortality, which the Son'a craved. Indeed, Starfleet also saw how the Briar Patch could benefit billions in the United Federation of Planets, although they were unwilling to break the Prime Directive and forgo the rights of the Ba'ku to gain possession of it. Meanwhile, exposure to the Briar Patch's radiation also affected the crew of the Enterprise-E. For instance, Worf (Michael Dorn) began suffering from a bout of Klingon puberty while the romantic feelings were reignited between Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis).
However, the Enterprise crew member who arguably benefitted the most from the Briar Patch's effects was Geordi. La Forge was born blind and wore a VISOR almost his entire life, but his disability didn't prevent him from earning a brilliant Starfleet career, serving as the Enterprise-D's helmsman in TNG season 1 before he rose to become the starship's legendary Chief Engineer. In Star Trek: First Contact, Geordi's eyes got upgraded when he received ocular implants, which eliminated the need for his VISOR and gave La Forge artificial blue irises. But thanks to the Briar Patch, Geordi's natural eyes regenerated, so he was able to remove his implants and see with his own two eyes for the first time in his life.
In Star Trek Insurrection's most beautiful moment, Picard found Geordi in the hills above the Ba'ku village where the Chief Engineer was waiting for the sunrise. La Forge knew that the Briar Patch had healed his eyes and he was also aware that it would only be temporary, so Geordi wasn't about to miss his chance to see his first sunrise ever. Picard completely understood the significance of the moment for Geordi, but it was LeVar Burton's stellar acting that really hammered home what seeing the cascade of his first dawn truly meant for Geordi. With just the power of his performance, Burton pulled on Trekkers' heartstrings as he communicated the sheer joy of Geordi truly enjoying a spectacular sight he'd dreamed of all his life.
Geordi's literal moment in the sun was a perfect counterbalance to how badly La Forge was treated in Star Trek Generations. The Chief Engineer suffered the indignity of being kidnapped by the Klingon sisters Lursa (Barbara March) and B'Etor (Gwyneth Walsh) in the first TNG movie. Geordi was held in irons and interrogated about trilithium by the film's villain, Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell). Worse, the Klingons altered Geordi's VISOR so that they could see through La Forge's eyes once he was rescued and returned to the Enterprise. It was because Lursa and B'Etor had access to Geordi's VISOR that they were able to bypass the Enterprise's shields and fire photon torpedoes at the Federation flagship. Essentially, Geordi was the fall guy for why the Enterprise-D was destroyed in Star Trek Generations.
Star Trek: Insurrection isn't highly regarded by fans as one of the best Star Trek movies, but director Jonathan Frakes' film does contain some crucial and enjoyable moments for TNG's cast. Perhaps above all, Insurrection gave Geordi La Forge his best Star Trek movie scene and reaffirmed why he one of the franchise's most beloved characters.
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May 05, 2020 at 05:48AM
