Star Trek: TNG 5x09 Full Reaction!
Added 2025-12-20 18:00:08 +0000 UTC
Comments
You can tell that the crew entertained the idea of Rasmussen being, if not Q himself, then maybe part of the continuum. Picard certainly thought of it, given he has the offhand mention of they did a scan and Rasmussen is human, thus ruling the idea out. Putting myself in Picard’s place, I’d also quickly verify that suspicion one way or another.
Thomas Corp
2025-12-21 01:08:13 +0000 UTCMax Headroom makes his Star Trek debut. The Enterprise crew meets a mysterious man who claims to be from the future and travels in a small, stolen time machine. The synopsis for this episode sounds like it could be a Star Trek, Doctor Who crossover. Berlinghoff Rasmussen sounds like a name straight from the 1800s. I was half expecting Rasmussen to be Q in disguise when I first watched this episode many moons ago.
Geordie Joe
2025-12-21 00:51:44 +0000 UTCHeard about the idea of Robin in this. Beautiful to see though it would have been, I also think it could have been distracting. Matt is great in this. Again, years since I’ve seen Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. From what I recall of it and the sequel, yeah, there’s not any real problematic shit by today’s standards, and I imagine it holds up well. Sort of like how you said Iron Will holds up well. I did catch that again. David Ogden Stiers was in it less than I remembered, but that speaks to how big an impact David has in his scenes in that movie. Pleasant surprise was being reminded of Brian Cox being in the film. The Kevin Spacey of it all was fairly easy to reconcile with, particularly as for most of the film, he’s a slimeball. There was one scene with a few lines that you did have to work hard not to think about the now uncomfortable subtext. Very uncheerful situation to start with, so uncheerful that the MST3K guys were stumped with it, as I understand it. Fuzzy on the Max Headroom of it all, but I take it the Reagan quote is in that? Sounds like it would be, if nothing else. Matt does the hell of a thing of putting on the act, with occasional slips. It is fun watching this knowing what to look for. Need to refresh the memory of the other time travel Trek episodes, especially where Deep Space Nine does the tribble time warp. (It’s just a jump to the left.) Heard similar complaints, especially where it pertains to Geordi. The tension is still done well enough, and you think that part of the payoff would be something going wrong that Geordi is able to fix because he stayed, which I know that Jess would have loved that. We both get more the complaints about how it would have been more interesting if Rasmussen really was from the future and there could be a genuine moral dilemma. They tackle the subject well, and fraud though Rasmussen, the scene still has great weight. The one scientist, in addition to being all set to marry someone who’s rich, good-looking, and maybe even a human being, is also relieved he can stop yelling, “It’s so damn HOT!” every morning. And then we get to see the penny have its descent. One thought was Rasmussen trying to set wrong what once went right, and the Enterprise would have to undo his fuckery. The twist we get is very fun. It is more apparent on a rewatch. Quite loved how Jess clocked shit as she did. Behind on Orphan Black, but I take your general point on the Dyad Institute. Good catch with comment about Lincoln surviving that fateful night at Ford’s Theater. We both love Data’s badass moment. Fitting that Picard gets to use that quote as Rasmussen tried to claim that he got some REALLY bad advice from Rottingham. (BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT.) Can see wanting to see what Robin would have done with the scene. One Hour Photo is another one that I haven’t seen in a while. LOVE him in Insomnia. Makes you think he chould have told Picard that he forgot about the wild card. Most fortuitous circumstance with the timing this reaction being the last one before Christmas given the Ice Cream Bunny of it all.
Thomas Corp
2025-12-21 00:09:52 +0000 UTCI may actually be looking forward to next month's entry the most of any movie here. And I've been reading up hard on the story behind it; some stuff out there I'd never heard of before that really adds to the appreciation of it. And I'd definitely say by now Picard has three gold stars from the kindergarten of getting the shit kicked out of him.
Ryan
2025-12-20 23:42:09 +0000 UTCI figured you'd be familiar with the quite prolific Matt Frewer, even if none of his roles are coming to mind from any videos you've done. This role was actually intended for perhaps the single hottest actor at this exact moment, Robin Williams, who was just coming off Hook, but it turned out his schedule was already way too packed. Frewer makes for quite a good substitute, even if it's a bit ironic with one of his best known roles as this point being a jock neighbor who hates science. I saw Honey I Shrunk the Kids for my fifth birthday party, one of my first trips to a movie theater (and among the movies I had rather more interest in that year than Batman), and it's been a huge nostalgic touchtone ever since. Really helps that it's a rare '80s comedy where you can still watch it without constantly thinking "I don't know how we ever thought that was okay." Things get off to a real bang as we barely get introduced to the major problem of the week (where one of the scientists is definitely thinking their predicament lacks its usual cheer) before we're presented with Dr. Rasmussen, from the 26th century where it's always morning in America, even in the aftern-n-noon. And Frewer wastes no time making an impression, providing even more fun on a rewatch where you can easily see the act he's putting on and the occasional moments his real feelings slip out. All even more fun now that we've seen an episode all about Boimler and Mariner genuinely coming from the future and making comical nuisances of themselves, which shows he really wasn't that far off in how it would play out. I've seen some fans complain that there's a lack of tension in the story of saving the planet as we never buy the show would make its heroes responsible for wiping out millions of people, even more once Geordi stays down there, but I find it works quite well in keeping our interest where it really should be and figuring out what's up with Rasmussen. There are also complaints that it would have been more interesting if he really was from the future and there could be a genuine moral dilemma, which I get a bit more, but I still find what we get to be about as interesting an exploration as we're likely to get without dragging down the rest. And no sooner is the planet saved, and that one scientist free to marry someone who's rich, good-looking, and maybe even a human being, than the other shoe we've waiting the whole time for comes calling. I didn't predict at all what the twist would be, but on rewatch it does all make good sense. And we actually have a whole show that I totally buy is what would have happened if he'd been able to go back and make the Dyad Institute. My favorite clue is his using Lincoln's survival as an example of how history could be made worse. Data gets his understated badass moment threatening to knock him out if he must, and at long last we actually get Picard essentially passing a sentence of "Make him part of the tour." Though this is also the scene I most wish we could have seen Williams do, providing some foreshadowing for Insomnia and One Hour Photo. And with this being our last episode before Christmas, how fitting that it's one connected to the Ice Cream Bunny.
Ryan
2025-12-20 23:23:46 +0000 UTCLove that necklace, Jess. This one being a more lighthearted hour after the big Spock two-parter? Well, uh, yes and no. Get a laugh how you ultimately lampshaded that yourself. If nothing else, yes, this is an interesting one. Main attraction is Rasmussen played by Matt Frewer, who just from that, you know you’re in for a wild ride. I’m not as familiar with Max Headroom as others, hence my not having any real reference to that, but I know Matt’s usual persona. Half why, I’d imagine, he was cast in Hercules as, was it Panic, yeah, Panic; Bobcat Goldthwait was Pain. You got excited due to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. If I’m being honest, I need to see Honey, I Shrunk the Kids again, been a long time since last seeing that one; memory’s rusty. I think I have a stronger memory of the sequel as a matter of fact. Love how you doubted so much. Rasmussen did have the good move of weaponizing the future, more precisely pretending he has knowledge of it. Understandable that the strategy would be effective as we are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. You make the observation of the ship aside, he has no real proof to back his claims up. After a point, the pile of non-answers does keep building higher and higher that you recognize the game, and certainly the crew catches on. They do the nice balancing act of not making the crew stupid via having their attention elsewhere. Sort of like when dealing with Q when he was powerless; they do have a more pressing problem that takes up immediate concern. Here, it’s shown that once that’s cleared up, and full attention is given to Rasmussen, the math gets simple real quick. It does help too that Worf and Deanna were skeptical. Deanna should have kicked Rasmussen in his fellas for saying the “Some of my best friends are empaths.” horseshit. You handled Rasmussen making the moves on Beverly better than I did. I got LIVID, yelling at him shit like, “BACK the FUCK up!!” Surprised that Picard didn’t go Kool-aid man at that scene. Feels like a personal attack when Data gets called out for listening to multiple pieces of music at once. ...Is there really something wrong with that? An efficacious method of building up some strong mental discipline from time to time, I should think. The dilemma is a great and compelling one. All reminding us of your love of Geordi. And it really shows his skill here. The attempt to create the greenhouse effect did not pan out. Keep in mind: This was Plan A. Fortunately, Geordi is on the ball with the Plan B of it all, as of course he did, as he is your beloved who is one of the best. And indeed, Geordi is successful. The man in charge, love his sincere gratitude, and I adore all your reactions to Geordi’s brilliance. It did reach a point where Picard brought up the idea of bending the Prime Directive. Praise indeed, by the way, that Khan Noonien Singh is held as one of the most notorious villains in history. You note that the scene would make for a compelling argument if you didn’t know that Rasmussen was full of shit. Still does make for the compelling moral conundrum, even with knowing that Rasmussen is full of shit. It would have been more engaging without that fact; give you that one. And Patrick does sell the scene so perfectly, and Matt is good in showing Rasmussen sweating. Love your reactions to when Rasmussen made his nefarious move. Man ends up bamboozled. For our heroes have the capability of short-circuiting phasers. Think they should employ that tactic more often. Most satisfying when Picard informs Rasmussen that his being an avaricious sot was the big giveaway. That and his “subtle plan” couldn’t have been more unsubtle if it painted itself purple and danced naked on top of a harpsichord, singing “Subtle Plans are Here Again!”. Evidence to the latter is your delightful commentary about all the fuckery. Plus, how you saw Rasmussen being worried as fuck for someone who knew what was going to happen, as you described it. Sharp eyes, Jess. Alas, no Worf tackling. That would have been great. Likewise, no heel kick from Data, sadly. And it is most enjoyable when we close on the scene of Picard offering Rasmussen the helpful parting words, “Don’t worry, Professor, you will now receive the wondrous gift of experiencing how future events such as these will affect you in the future.” And he’ll get to be cellmates with one Mr. W.W. Beauchamp, er, Fajo, and the two of them can form a beautiful friendship of how their efforts to kidnap Data failed. Yes, a most fun one this week, Jess, lovely to share it with you.
Thomas Corp
2025-12-20 20:28:09 +0000 UTCThat would make for a terrible password lol. Judging by the time you commented, i think you prob happened to try to guess it just as it was removed. Good timing =]
Mark McKeown
2025-12-20 19:30:38 +0000 UTCThe password is Sesskasays
RachelDax
2025-12-20 19:17:41 +0000 UTCSame here
Geordie Joe
2025-12-20 18:06:16 +0000 UTCI'm confused. It says it's password protected?
Jenny Chalek
2025-12-20 18:01:22 +0000 UTC
