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Re: TNG S4: The Best of Both Worlds, Part II

{ There might have been a real tension there if there were any chance that Picard could be lost forever, but we all knew that the main cast was protected from death on TNG. }

But we didn't know that at the time.

They ended the episode as they did because even they didn't know if Picard would survive. Even Patrick Stewart didn't know!

{ I've never understood those that say the second half is a let-down. }

I think because now people see it and say "Oh geez the reset button, by the end of the episode everything is like it was at the beginning".

To me, is one of the few times the Magic Reset Button of most plots works so well - you don't know that it's going to. At least, we didn't when it first aired. It was believable that Riker would take over and Shelby would be the new first officer and that they'd have to sacrifice Picard to save the day.

Re: TNG S3: The Best of Both Worlds, Part I

{ the mystery, the terror - yes, I knew there was no way Captain Picard would die, yes I knew Patrick Stewart was returning for the next season - but oh. my. freakin'. GAWD. }

Impressive. Even they didn't know that.

Re: TNG S2: Samaritan Snare

The worst thing about this episode - it came out right after Q Who.

You JUST introduced the best tv show bad guys ever and you follow them up with these morons?

{ I can't see the Romulans, Klingons, or Jarada falling for the Pakleds obvious trick. }

No way could the Pakleds have communicated with the Jarada.

Re: TNG S2: Q Who?

I'm surprised how many people love the "Oh please" line. Q just was an accessory to the murder of 18 people. No different than throwing them on a rail-line in front a moving train you know can't stop. But they are offscreen nobodies so it's ok b/c he made Picard say he was wrong. What?

{ I was watching Peak Performance yesterday and the part where Data notes the Zackdorn were renowned in the galaxy as master strategists for FIVE THOUSAND years. So basically they were intergalactic celebrities at a time when earth was still marvelling the wonder of agrigulture and written language. And yet these guys are just some aliens that belongs to a Federation run by humans from Earth... }

It's really Worf who shines there. First he (possibly correctly) calls out the Zakdorns by saying that maybe they are just coasting on reputation - a reputation which has kept people from challenging them. Then it's his genius that saves the day, not the humans'

Re: TNG S5: Time's Arrow, Part I

{ And so the serviceable but uneven fifth season ends }

What??????

Re: TNG S7: Genesis

{ When looking at the stretch of episodes from "Homeward" through "Genesis" ("Lower Decks" aside, of course), it's not hard to make a case for this cumulatively being the nadir of TNG. Granted, I'd rather watch this than season one, because the characters and production are more honed. But season seven should know better. }

You know what's so rare about TNG? They knew exactly when to end it. Seasons 1 and 2 mostly blew. Seasons 3-6 were mostly great. Season 7 was uneven. Had enough good episodes to be better than 1 and 2 but it was still undeniably weak overall. They were out of ideas and needed to move on to something else. But despite the low points, ending in season 6 would have been too soon because they still had a few bullets left in the gun. How many good shows can say they ended at just the right time? Most get cancelled too soon or else refuse to call it quits when their time has gone.

Re: TNG S7: The Pegasus

{ Only really watched next gen out of the star treks and had wondered why they didn't use cloaks, this episode explains that, but still think it is a rather big compromise for the federation to make. }

Federation cloaking technology according to TOS was stolen from the Romulans. Also, the Federation doesn't really need cloaks like the Klingons and Romulans do; Starfleet's purposes are different.

{ Yeah, violating a treaty is bad, but there wasn't anything unethical about the phase thingy itself, yet it's treated like some big evil secret. The Romulans aren't trustworthy, why am I supposed to be horrified that the Federation is willing to lie right back to them? I find it hard to believe almost an entire crew would mutiny over something like this. }

They mutinied over how dangerous and unstable the prototype was. Esp from what we know of Pressman and his fanaticism and how he would have likely behaved as captain. Like, wait, we all might die in order to break the law b/c our captain won't just admit this stage of the test has flaws?

{ It made absolutely no sense that the phase cloak never made an appearance in the Dominion War. Section 31 would've been all over that }

Well it never worked right for very long, maybe it never did get the bugs worked out.

One reason this episode is great - the scene of the Enterprise decloaking. Amazing. Always gives me chills.

Re: TNG S5: Cause and Effect

{ The fact that Data also has 3 pips on his collar bothered me too at first, although soon I realized it's really "2 and a half." In the lieutenant commander insignia the show uses, there's two bright pips and one black pip. So maybe the "3" was for Riker's 3 bright pips? }

Plus, Data is 3rd in command of the ship.

But I figure since he created the message, he would know himself and know what "3' would mean to himself.

Re: TNG S6: Frame of Mind

I just can't follow this episode. Usually I'm good with stuff like, but I just cannot figure out, no matter how many rewatches and careful pauses and charts, what's all going on each time his reality changes and which one is what.

Re: TNG S6: Timescape

This ep was a bit of a cross between The Next Phase and Cause and Effect, but different enough to be good on its own.

The best part was the Romulans acting so unlikely the ones from Next Phase. Always good to see other races/species having different individuals - actually presented differently to us - rather than having them be monolithic.

Re: TNG S5: The Perfect Mate

{ As pretty as Kamala appeared in this episode, I couldn't help thinking that "an empathic metamorph" would not make the ideal mate for a mature man with a strong sense of self. }

That's kind of the point.

Re: TNG S2: The Outrageous Okona

{ Data and the comic doing Jerry Lewis is the worst scene ever filmed. I actually covered my eyes for a moment out of embarrassment. }

Although I love how Data says "So if I jump around like an idiot, that is considered funny?"

Re: TNG S1: 11001001

The metamorph I thought was different than Minuet because:

1 - the men of the ship don't want to take advantage of her and clearly don't want a relationship with someone who only exists to please them.

2 - they made it clear her species has metamorphs of both genders (and that it's more common with males).

3 - she isn't computer created and has her own thoughts and goals and real personality

4 - "The Perfect Mate" actually provides an interesting moral and philosophical conundrum to us.