What I don't understand is why the crew didn't just invert the polaron field to bypass the primary nacelles via the chronoton conduits? Then they would have just needed a tachyon burst from the main deflector dish to stabilize the inertial dampeners. I hate when shows just bypass the simple solution just to extend the storyline.

I never would have thought of that.

@sukhisoo said:

This is the first episode in the collection that I do not remember AT ALL. Perhaps I never saw it. It is equally likely, though, that I saw it and forgot it.

It begins promisingly enough with a disagreement between fish head aliens and dog head aliens with mustaches. They hate each other passionately. ("I didn't understand that kind hostility even when I studied earth history," preaches Riker). This story gets pushed aside, though, and we learn nothing significant about either race or why they hate each other. There's some superficial nonsense about one race loving to eat real meat instead of that replicated crap. I've already forgotten which of two races it was.

To the forefront marches a technobabble-based mystery story. Data plays Sherlock and tries to solve it. Frankly, it was a bit of a slog to sit through. The problem was caused by technobabble and solved with it. Yeah -okay- there is a sentient life form going through different characters, causing them to do things that they don't remember. It's just lonely and wants to go back home. Blablabla.

This one won't be high on my rewatch list.

(Oh and it features a cameo by Colm Meaney. Mildly noteworthy, but not terribly interesting.)

No more blablahbla!!! Or bonk bonk!

Fish heads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn73Wtem0No