"Just Passing Through"
Starship Farragut
reviewed by Fred Dixon

The Starship Farragut team has produced two short subjects before releasing their third full episode “The Potemkin Passthrough.” Both focus on the romantic relationships of the Farragut crew. Let’s look at “Just Passing Through.”

This twelve-minute vignette focuses on the relationship between the Farragut’s first officer, Bob Tacket, and Chief Engineer Michelle “Mike” Smithfield (portrayed by real-life husband and wife Mike and Holly Bednar). It is a flashback from the present day to five years earlier before they were posted to the Farragut. Michelle was then assigned to the Defiant. (Nice little touch, she is wearing the insignia used the Star Trek: Enterprise episode “In a Mirror, Darkly.”) She is in a bar at Starbase 12 reading a book about superstring theory written by Tacket. She is impressed by it. Tacket comes strolling into the bar and straightens out some junior officers from the Quintillis who are giving the barkeep a hard time. (The Quintillis was destroyed by the Klingons at the beginning of “The Captaincy”.) Michelle is impressed by this act of chivalry. The commander picks up on this and goes over to her table. She does not know who he is or that he wrote the book. She sings the praises of the book and its author. Tacket lets her gush about him. Mutual friend Jack Carter (John Broughton), future captain of the Farragut and currently first officer of the Potemkin, comes into the bar, and he reveals Tacket’s identity when he introduces to the captain of the Potemkin (Mark Hildebrand). Smithfield realizes that she was being played and then starts playing with Tacket by cooling off his advances.

It is nice to see fanfilm characters actually have character. We see the earnest and studious nature of Smithfield and her ability to turn the tables on potential suitors. Likewise, we find that Tacket is a noted scientist, but also has a sense of humor and “interests” outside of his discipline. Mike and Holly Bednar let their real relationship shine through the acting with little looks, vocal tones, and other little nuances. Good to see some Human relationship amongst the specials effects, Starfleet uniforms and futuristic sets. Speaking of special effects, Neo-FX does a great job of showing ships in orbit above Starbase 12, the starbase itself, the Potemkin and the Farragut. Hetoreyn’s sound track sets a nice tone, especially the background music in the bar. John Broughton’s father has a nice comedic cameo as a hard drinking commodore. “Just Passing Through” is an amusing departure from the action and adventure of full episodes.

I give “Just Passing Through” A’s across the board. Farragut Films is going to hold up the release of this short because they feel the camera work was subpar in the live action sequences. I think they could release it as is.

Free counters provided by Andale.

Click here to return to the Star Trek Fan Films page.
Click here to return to the Orion Press website.