Star Trek: TNG 5x01 Full Reaction!
Added 2025-10-18 17:00:09 +0000 UTC
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I first saw this show on the tv. Hence, no skip intro button, even if I wanted one. (Which I do not.) Yeah, I’m aware that after the success of the Best of Both Worlds three-parter, they just settled on the idea of doing the season finale/premiere two-parters going forward. Need to refresh my memory when we get to the others, though I recall this one working the best out of the post-Best of Both Worlds season cliffhangers. For not having the overall plan set right away, this one at least feels less stapled together and superglued than the Daniel Craig James Bond films. It is interesting how Picard essentially lampshades how Sela’s presence does not drastically change anything in the grander scheme. You mentioned last week that this two-parter feels more like two separate episodes sort of tied together, which helps. I’d say that I’m with you and Worf on the rules. I’d also quote Hawkeye at some point, by saying, “Please, I’m with friends.” when the fighting gets too unruly. Think the first time I saw Mike Haggerty was in Inspector Gadget, so that remains my default image of him. Suppose you’re right about the Klingons being distracted by the ship, although, if it’s the size they’re distracted by, as Woody Harrelson notes, we’ve seen bigger. Data standing up for himself is always great, and they have that great showcase of the oversight on Picard’s part. A problem that Picard rectifies immediately. Shame about the little bitch that Data had to put up with. Was curious what you were going to highlight Timothy Carhart from. Good note on Red October (and likewise, good note about him still not sharing scenes with Gates.) Wasn’t aware of the Sutherland connection, though that is amusing. Heard the thought that in addition to genuine anger, Data’s outbursts are him emulating how Picard or Riker would deal with unruly crewman, much in the way of how Radar imitates Colonel Potter when he’s on the phone in the one scene. Love how Data comes out on top, Hobson basically says he was wrong, to which Jess, you, me, all of us tell him, “No shit, Buckwheat. Get the hell out of here.” Bringing us to Sela, who it’s been interesting seeing the steady answer to the question of Jess not knowing about her. It became apparent when the reaction to Yesterday’s Enterprise came up, and there was the effort to be careful with the comments on that one. Went back to remind myself of what we said on that one. See we both danced around certain things there. Though your use of the Sela quote in relation to the surprise Tasha appearance was a rather nice touch. As I said, the idea of the pick-me-up could go either way with this one. The bit with Sela’s backstory, yeah, I knew the reaction to that was coming. I know that Denise came up with the general idea of Sela. The murky part is where it becomes speculative, as you say. I too find it difficult to believe that Denise came up with the DEEPLY problematic shit. Again, hope is held out that the writers just forgot about certain aspects of Tasha’s backstory when coming up with this. As it is, Sela does make a solid impression. Think it would have worked better to introduce her in a less crowded story to allow the crew really dive into it. For what we got, she makes a good debut with seeing through Picard’s plans. Never heard much about fans insisting that she’d be a good guy. I COULD buy the idea she’d be the occasional reluctant ally, similar to Zemo with Sam and Bucky, but the writing for that would have to be very good. Shame about her going after Geordi. She does get points for the “Silence the child!” scene. Which the quote you use, Google says Final Fantasy? They do a very good job with the culmination of the arc with Worf. He truly is a better man than either of us, as we would take out the little Joffrey Duras boy. See you’re on the screenplay win for ‘96. Strong win for the year. Strong category. The win, as said, is strong. Could see the win standing. Could’ve seen the win going to Branagh’s Hamlet. I’d make a case for The Birdcage to be considered. Funny how ‘92 is the one question mark of the first half of the decade for me. The category was stacked, and like I said, A Few Good Men wasn’t even featured. Nor, now I think about it, was Glengarry Glen Ross. (Like you say, shit guy though Mamet is, there is a reason why his writing is celebrated.) Need to give that one serious thought. Been a long time since I’ve seen the next one, though I recall it being excellent. Can see why it’d be one of your favorites. Looking forward to hearing the thoughts on it.
Thomas Corp
2025-10-19 02:16:17 +0000 UTCTime for Season 5 and its sparkly new title card. I actually missed it my first time through the franchise because I was an impatient ass at the time and was always skipping them by now. The first thing I have to note is that, as great as Best of Both Worlds worked out, the crew took a very bad lesson from it that ALL their seasons should end on cliffhangers that they had absolutely no plan for, and just hoped they could put together a decent conclusion during the hiatus. And that does come through pretty strongly here with as you note Worf's surprisingly small role, plus while we get an explanation of why this new Romulan looks like Denise Crosby, that also doesn't really play any role in the story, with Picard even pointing out the Romulans would seem to have no purpose to giving her this job and it won't affect their strategy at all. Luckily, the whole thing is still put together so well that it feels worth the time. We start on the high point of the neutral ground bar where apparently all Klingons just accept they can hang out however badly they're fighting outside it, and Worf has just as big a problem playing by those rules as I would. And we get the most random cameo from professional sitcom blue collar guest star Mike Haggerty. Guess the Klingons really like nuts, until they're distracted by a spaceship that looks like a one-eyed monster. It's a really neat idea that I wish we had more time for. Always love seeing Data stand up for himself, and it's nice that the episode manages to not make Picard look bad in the process. It seems like he's genuinely disappointed in himself for the oversight, and happily gives Data his own ship, just too bad he has to deal with such a little bitch in the process. You mention knowing Timothy Carhart from somewhere, and he was in The Hunt for Red October (and must kick himself that he couldn't work at all with Gates in either job), but it's probably more from his countless TV roles as this similar kind of obstructive jackass. Most amusing of all to consider alongside this role is his warhawk general in Season 2 of 24, making it quite fitting he's on a ship named the Sutherland. I actually always found it a bit out of character that Data gets as pissed as he does here, but it's hard to care when it's so good to see this guy get smacked down. So...Sela. I cringed so hard when you were hoping this one would be a pick-me-up. The exact details have seemingly never been made as clear as we'd like, but like I said last time, Denise loved working on Yesterday's Enterprise so much that she immediately started thinking up a way for that story to allow her to come back to the show. After months she presented her complete idea to the crew, and they agreed and set up her role in the closing episodes of Season 4. Now, where it gets murky is exactly how much of the whole thing about Tasha being violated and then pitifully dying AGAIN came from her rather than other crew members embellishing what she wanted, but I have to imagine it didn't all come from her given how upset she got at how she was written the first time around. For now, Sela makes a pretty good showing, seeing through Picard's plan and forcing the desperate move against orders by Data, while also cutting off any potential for the fans to start insisting she'd become a good guy (ah, who am I kidding, they definitely did anyway). She also gets a bit on my good side by, just like another villainous character played by the same actress as a dead hero, telling an especially annoying person "Bleat no more at me." And if there was one scene the episode absolutely had to nail, it was the very ending, and the culmination of Worf's years-long story arc of meeting more of his kind, finding they hardly live up to his expectations, and finally deciding to press forward as his own man without letting any culture decide his values for him. And he's a better man than me, because I definitely would have been tempted to kill the little pissant after everything he's been through. Even just to kill the would-be ruler so I could say "Some folks call it a bat'leth, but I call it a Kaiser blade." Hope you enjoy the belated week off, and this season certainly continues the quality level that's now become the show's standard. There's still plenty great stuff ahead, with the very next one being one of my personal favorites.
Ryan
2025-10-19 01:16:25 +0000 UTCI think the low video views could be related to YouTube's recent algorithm changes this year. They changed things like how video views are counted, and they now ask some users to provide ID to view videos that contain restricted content where government policies like the Online Safety Act are in effect, like here in the UK. (I'm sick of having to prove my age on almost every website now) Overreaching government policy that no one voted for.
Geordie Joe
2025-10-18 19:54:00 +0000 UTCTo briefly talk a little more about the troubles you’ve been going through. First, I wish to say that it pains me to hear that times are hard as of late. You spoke of the problem with the views. I have been noticing the views have been on the lower end. Similar to how you describe, I’m not glued to the numbers, just happen to have noticed that. No idea as to why the numbers are low. We did both foresee Daryl and Carol having the numbers that it’s been getting, and I did see the comments you made defending your decisions on the universe that is the foundation of your channel. Stand by that one hundred percent, Jess. I reiterate that I was sorry to hear about the end of the Alien: Earth reactions; I shared your predictions that it would be a hit with your channel, when I guess it didn’t. An unwelcome surprise, to be sure. Not the ideal time to buy a brand spanking new and expensive camera as you have the laugh about that. As you say, you have to laugh. My own misfortunes, I laugh myself sometimes. Ain’t a whole lot else you can do, really. Very idiotic of youtube to offer the tip of doing more Invincible reactions when we don’t get the new season until March. The appropriate wiseass response is, “Well, no shit. I admire your honesty, youtube.” I know that come winter, there should be some shows that will hopefully give you a boost. And I know that the final season of Stranger Things is just around the corner. Alas, I cannot share that with you as I am that behind on the show, much to the world’s chagrin, it seems. I do wish to at least pull up the patreon uploads to see if you are happy with the show’s conclusion, even if I can’t really see the reactions themselves. I would try to get the show in, but I am in the busiest time of the year at work, which will not let up until after New Year’s, plus other busy times going on. As Kleya says: I don’t have lately. I have always. I know you often have much the same in terms of a busy plate. Just hoping that the views pick up, and the troubled waters smooth over sooner rather than later. And we should be getting to your chapter-and-verse episodes soon. I know I have three of those of my own in this season, technically four if two-parters are counted as separate episodes. One of which never gets talked about, and I’m very curious about your thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone here. And there’s the one that I’m reasonably certain is a shared chapter-and-verse episode. Guess that’s about all I have to say for now. In any case, all the best to you, Jess. Take care.
Thomas Corp
2025-10-18 18:26:09 +0000 UTC
