UNCUT - Conundrum (TNG S5E14) | Star Trek Journey 221
Added 2025-01-26 16:15:11 +0000 UTC
Comments
MacDuff was a macguffin.
Aaron Holden
2025-03-15 21:48:02 +0000 UTCI love how Riker and Ro's relationship has evolved since her debut episode. Even before they lose their memories, Riker is relatively gentle with her for her mild insubordination, almost pleading with her to put on a better team effort. Whereas before he would have coldly reprimanded her for not keeping to proper dress code.
Sherpa Jones
2025-02-03 02:30:25 +0000 UTCI think this episode is pretty much a quintessential A tier episode. There's some action, some mystery, some tension, and a lot of fun character moments. There are some flaws and some plot holes, but nothing too serious, and it's not iconic enough to justify an S, but whenever I'm going through TNG, I do look forward to it. While it's obviously not what they were going for since they made it extremely obvious that MacDuff appeared out of nowhere(and also there was that devious smile after the failed memory recovery procedure), I think they could have made a twist out of it. We've seen other officers manning the tactical station before. Just make him a security division Lt. at one of the computer stations at the back who would just seem like some random officer doing a shift on the bridge like dozens we've seen before. However when they pull up the crew manifest, make him the deputy tactical officer or something like that, still subordinate to Worf. This would be pretty plausible for the viewer as he's not taking an established position like first officer. This would avoid raising concerns among the crew of the viewers, and don't even include him in the briefing. However when they start to close in on the Lysian station, he could start being more vocal that they need to attack and positioning himself as a tactical officer means he's near the weapon controls when the time comes. If they played it like this, I think it would do a much better job catching people off guard. Still, it's fun to see the crew trying to figure out who they are but still maintaining their core principles. Worf thinking he's the captain was especially fun. Also Picard sitting at the helm station was maybe a little callback to Booby Trap. As for Riker, he and Troi have both had their share of relationships so I don't see 1 more making much difference for them, but the question is will he and Ro act differently toward each other going forward now that they've cut through the sexual tension? Time will tell. Also the attention to detail behind the scenes on this show is amazing. In engineering Riker points past Geordi and says the engineering computer core is down that corridor. On the official blueprints, walking away from the warp core and past the engineering display table, if you walk down the corridor to the left, go around a few bends and take the first right, the computer core is right there, exactly where Riker was pointing. Unlike the computer cores in the saucer, there's only 1 in the stardrive section, with that space on the other side occupied by a ballast module. Only the most hardcore fans would ever realize this, but they included it anyway.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-01-29 23:03:21 +0000 UTCIf Yar had lived longer it would almost certainly have happened, and Riker and Data would be Eskimo brothers
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-01-29 22:29:12 +0000 UTCTechnically, she did him
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-01-29 22:27:35 +0000 UTCLike the Ferengi perhaps. I could see them being very interested in the memory wipe tech.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-01-29 22:25:30 +0000 UTCI expect the holodeck prevents any puncture injuries and any blunt force impacts or levels of heat/cold or pressure that could actually hurt you seriously. There are probably sensors that monitor vital signs. If someone were drowning and their heart rate/co2 levels were spiking, it probably creates a pocket of air before you're in any real danger. OTOH if you create a gym on the holodeck, you could obviously pull a muscle exercising otherwise the safeties would be preventing you from actually working out. Overextension injuries are something you do to yourself, so nothing the holodeck safeties can do there. Probably there are safeties to make sure a barbell doesn't crush your throat.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-01-29 22:02:37 +0000 UTCWasn't even 70. Cancer is a bitch
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-01-29 21:48:56 +0000 UTCYou’d be astonished the amount of times I’ve been called “Dun-LEH-vee” 🤣
Brian Dunleavy
2025-01-29 17:18:04 +0000 UTCI truly can't think of another way to pronounce it haha
Josh (Target Audience)
2025-01-29 17:17:15 +0000 UTCWithout question, the most shocking bit of this reaction for me is now that someone pronounced “Dunleavy” right first time - you’d be amazed… 🤣🤣
Brian Dunleavy
2025-01-29 13:34:02 +0000 UTCOn rewatching this now, its way more interesting than I remember it being from a few years ago. Its a lot of fun to see their base personalities bouncing off each other without the usual context! McDuff was ejected. Crewmates win!
Nathan Koga
2025-01-29 08:09:29 +0000 UTCWhen I was in high school I spent a good amount of time trying to win over this one girl but, ultimately, I had to move on. I had that same look on my face as Riker when I walked into the cafeteria one day and saw the next girl I had started to pursue sitting at a table talking to the first. I just turned and left.
Edweirdo
2025-01-28 22:28:12 +0000 UTCWhen he hosted the Trill symbiant.
Sherpa Jones
2025-01-28 20:53:16 +0000 UTCExactly. Riker and Dr. Crusher are the only two full commanders on the Enterprise-D and they are in different divisions (command and medical). It’s possible that each division could potentially have someone with a rank of commander.
Ron Hubbard Jr
2025-01-28 16:23:16 +0000 UTCI wonder if anybody besides us remembers Mcgruff The Crime Dog
Mike Rogers
2025-01-28 05:25:20 +0000 UTCYou put it so... delicately 😂😂😂
Mike Rogers
2025-01-28 05:24:09 +0000 UTCthe one thing that pissed me off was the chess scene. No Troi, thats not how chess works. Realistically no one would have any chance against Data in chess (even 3-d chess which has a rule set online and is much more complicated as its something like "quantum chess" where each piece has two moves where an interaction collapses them) My head canon onterpretation of "counselor, you have divised a unique unanticipated move" is that it was an illegal move, as thats the only was data could possibly loses at chess. I mean already the Neural Net chess engines are unbeatable by humans. We are to beleive that Troi could beat DATA at chess? No matter how good her "intuiton" Data can bruteforce it and she just can't win. This is the one part of the episode that really breaks suspension of disbelief for me.
paultardspambot .
2025-01-28 00:52:36 +0000 UTCWhen did he do Beverly?
Derek Orr
2025-01-28 00:47:44 +0000 UTCAlways good to have Ro in an episode and goo dot see you can wipe Riker’s memories but not his rizz
AzoriusMage
2025-01-27 19:05:22 +0000 UTCI personally thought the actor who played McDuff did a perfectly okay job. Out of curiosity I looked him up. He didn't have a huge career but did some different things. And unfortunately just died this past year. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Anderson
Greg Quinn
2025-01-27 18:55:05 +0000 UTCHowever, KYLE Riker, William's father did have a fling with Pulaski. So only Yar remains un-Rikered.
Nolan
2025-01-27 10:42:30 +0000 UTCThank you. I do hate to be that person, but, "What's his motivation? We don't know!" immediately after they literally just had a briefing meeting about it? C'mon, guys. We love you, but sometimes... ;p
Avaria
2025-01-27 09:49:37 +0000 UTCIt's the telepathic link working both ways. The writers sense the discussions in the future and write the stuff in. Meanwhile Alex gets vague premonitions of stuff that's been written in the past.
Avaria
2025-01-27 09:44:07 +0000 UTCAnd, if it needs to be a mystery, consider it in terms of a "how done it?" instead of a "who done it?" In this case the "who" is rather blatant, so the emphasis shifts to all the various "how's." How will our team get their memory back? How will Kieran try to stop them while still maintaining his deception? How will they all react once the truth can no longer be denied?
Avaria
2025-01-27 09:38:36 +0000 UTCRo should have assumed the captaincy as the most decisive personality.
Ken R
2025-01-27 08:10:50 +0000 UTCSo... What do you think Troi's side of the bet was? Did Data simply accept the challenge? Perhaps she would have to be his new partner for future dance lessons?
Nerd's Gold
2025-01-27 06:32:21 +0000 UTC(So far) Riker's dick has been inside: - Beverly - Troi - Ro The only two named main characters that he hasn't been in are: - Pulaski - Yar
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-01-27 06:30:36 +0000 UTCI hope you can go back and really appreciate the opener. The last pan to reveal this new guy pretending to look around confused cracks me up every time. This series is so rewatchable
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-01-27 06:26:15 +0000 UTCI think Alex would prefer almost every episode by a mystery. And you know what, I'd love that too lol. Hard to beat the thrill of trying to solve a problem. Especially if the writers are really clever. Nevertheless, I think A is where this episode lands for me too, so many good character moments in addition to great Picard scenes, yep. Awesome.
Paul
2025-01-27 05:04:55 +0000 UTCOur personalities are more than just our memories. Our personalities aberrate within a framework outlined by our genes and specific brain structure.
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:51:56 +0000 UTCMaybe next series they can have an android Vulcan played by Dr Stubbs! 🖖 😁
tyranusfan
2025-01-27 03:50:34 +0000 UTCDamn we’re losing a lot of Trek actors recently
tyranusfan
2025-01-27 03:49:37 +0000 UTCFunny enough, the next one is one I don't really care for.
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:49:04 +0000 UTCThey’d still have to get through the Lysian defenses. It’s alot easier with a federation starship.
Philbot
2025-01-27 03:48:03 +0000 UTCWell, Kirk would have an in depth debate with Spock and McCoy about the situation and come to the same conclusion about whether or not to fire.
tyranusfan
2025-01-27 03:46:58 +0000 UTCI think it is the short-term vs long-term memory. So they still do know how to talk, have their motor skills, recognize their environment, know how to operate a starship.
Marko
2025-01-27 03:46:54 +0000 UTCFun times, but you’d think that it would be easier to just steal a photon torpedo 😁
tyranusfan
2025-01-27 03:45:12 +0000 UTCPicard on the conn would have been more striking if we hadn't seen it before in "Booby Trap"
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:44:57 +0000 UTC@tyranusfan Or an internet reader. ⚠️😁
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:44:21 +0000 UTCA bit.
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:42:36 +0000 UTCPigeonholing expectations can be problematic. I don't believe "Well, I like THIS and nothing else!" type plots/writing is really fair to the show.
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:41:21 +0000 UTCGuys I do understand you, but please don't pump their expectations. We all know what comes this season and following seasons. But it's not fair to them, nor us essentially. Because now they have this unviable level of expectations about what could come, and more times than not it falls flat for them. And then people here get upset. But we would be to blame.
Marko
2025-01-27 03:39:14 +0000 UTCBecause he had to volunteer for the memory restore procedure (so it could fail and discourage more) and you wouldn't do that to the captain.
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:39:06 +0000 UTCThe glaring plot hole is... why didn't they just try to get arms from someone else who had them??
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:38:31 +0000 UTCYes. That, and if any crew members started remembering something, remembering who the captain of the ship is was far more likely than most anything.
Jovet
2025-01-27 03:37:50 +0000 UTCIt was never fully explained how holodeck safeties actually work, but I always imagined it would prevent more severe injuries. Like you wouldn't die, but you could pull a muscle fighting that skeleton monster from Worf's training program. Kind of like when Neo falls of the building in the first Matrix, he doesn't die, but gets a bit banged up.
Marko
2025-01-27 03:24:35 +0000 UTCConundrum baby! One of the best of S5!!! A great way for the writers having fun experimenting with the characters!
Chris S.
2025-01-27 02:59:51 +0000 UTCIt think Kirk has Riker beat in the hook-ups department.
penoyer79
2025-01-27 02:20:42 +0000 UTCMy headcanon is that the Chief was off duty in his quarters with Keiko when the energy beam hit, and they just Netflix and Chilled the whole episode.
Mister Hope
2025-01-27 01:27:49 +0000 UTCI figured the reason for MacDuff (the crime dog) to position himself as first officer instead of captain or higher was because it gave him the most authority while being expendable enough to ensure any memory recovery efforts failed. That's why he volunteered to be the giunea pig for Dr. Crusher's experiment. So that it looked too dangerous and wouldn't work. This species got a revisit in a 2-part novel story that I found intruiging and delved more into this species and what happened to them after this episode.
Nolan
2025-01-27 01:18:04 +0000 UTCI was checking out what's to come, and I think Alex and Josh are in for a streak of six or seven really solid episodes coming up. Looking forward to seeing if they agree!
Jesse Manning
2025-01-27 00:31:21 +0000 UTCThe glaring, but necessary, plot hole. If this had been a real-life scenario, Mc Duff would have made himself an Admiral so that he would have the ultimate authority regarding command decisions. Mission accomplished!
thebeefmaster
2025-01-27 00:00:47 +0000 UTCOnce I became aware it wasn’t supposed to be a twist and it was supposed to be obvious I was able to appreciate it more. I enjoy taking the ride with the characters and figuring it out with them. Like imagine watching The Thing (1982) and knowing the entire time who is one of the monsters.
Josh (Target Audience)
2025-01-26 23:58:57 +0000 UTCNo but she injured her shoulder diving so it seems you could be more seriously injured if you fell. Death may be unlikely but could happen from only a 4 foot fall? 🤷♂️
Philbot
2025-01-26 23:48:13 +0000 UTC+4 bonus
Josh (Target Audience)
2025-01-26 23:12:43 +0000 UTCThe real issue with this episode is why didn't the alien put himself as the captain in the computer. Then he could have killed any species he wanted, what an idiot !!! lol
Gregory Mark Coburn
2025-01-26 23:06:22 +0000 UTCIf you take the safety protocols offline, Yes you can.
D Jammers
2025-01-26 22:44:17 +0000 UTCI mean there's a trombone in play as well. Force multiplier.
Aaron Wells
2025-01-26 22:14:59 +0000 UTCTo be fair, Barclay has probably been debauching himself on holodecks since he was 14. What we saw on the show was him trying to exercise restraint.
Aaron Wells
2025-01-26 22:13:50 +0000 UTCI figure they needed that guy because all of our heroes are inherently smart and have so much integrity, it wouldn't make much sense for them all to easily say, "OK, I guess we'll just do this." They needed one high ranking voice of descent.
Joe Concepts
2025-01-26 22:12:37 +0000 UTCYeah, a lieutenant would have been better as opposed to a full commander. There's only a couple of commander slots on the whole ship.
Aaron Wells
2025-01-26 22:11:34 +0000 UTCShit.
Aaron Wells
2025-01-26 22:08:09 +0000 UTC“Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers; next day you're attempting to dupe the crew of a galaxy-class starship into genocide. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a star system, a planet, a ship like a lot of other ships. And the thing is...after all these years, I still look … where no wonder year has gone before.”
John M.
2025-01-26 21:40:40 +0000 UTCRiker somehow rolled a 20 on his rizz stats.
Michael Bradley
2025-01-26 20:59:59 +0000 UTCMakes me wonder could you drown on the Holodeck. If you can be injured what if you’re mountain climbing and you fall could you die?
Philbot
2025-01-26 20:56:17 +0000 UTCIt’s the god being from justice they just reused the model..
Philbot
2025-01-26 20:51:53 +0000 UTCOne of my favourites of the Season. S
jon bolton
2025-01-26 20:47:53 +0000 UTCI tricked my mom telling her Riker got demoted and she bought it..
Philbot
2025-01-26 20:43:13 +0000 UTCSure, but I really don’t think they were intending a twist or mystery with this story
Josh (Target Audience)
2025-01-26 20:43:07 +0000 UTCI’m realizing now they could have put McDuff at ops because Data wasn’t on the bridge and we might have bought it.. We wouldn’t have suspected the twist of random Lieutenant being a plant..
Philbot
2025-01-26 20:34:31 +0000 UTCLol fair
Wrestling With Gaming
2025-01-26 20:30:11 +0000 UTCFor me it falls in the middle where you wouldn’t appreciate it as much, but it’s still broadly entertaining if you don’t know the characters. They re-set up the friction between Riker & Ro before losing memory so you still get the point. I think Reunion is probably the worst episode to show someone lol
Josh (Target Audience)
2025-01-26 20:20:55 +0000 UTCIt's interesting to me that Alex just REALLY doesn't seem to like pretty much anything where the audience has information that the characters don't. Not trying to criticize; everyone has their own personal taste. But I feel like a lot of times he views these through the lens of a twist, even when they're not intended to be.
Steven Linden
2025-01-26 20:05:03 +0000 UTCI gotta disagree with just one point from the Patreon takes, I think this is a terrible first episode to show someone. A lot of the episode works because of us seeing the characters doing things they normally don't and wouldn't. It doesn't work as well or pack the same punch if you're not familiar with these characters.
Wrestling With Gaming
2025-01-26 19:51:14 +0000 UTCYes
Josh (Target Audience)
2025-01-26 19:42:58 +0000 UTCat this point Riker is so far in the lead it becomes more a question who finishes 2nd and 3rd!
Narnman
2025-01-26 19:30:44 +0000 UTCwhen i was a kid this is one of the early episodes i watched so this mcduff character really fooled me at the time. thats why its still great for me i hang on to that original mystery and feeling
Narnman
2025-01-26 19:29:26 +0000 UTCThis guest star is a very milquetoast actor; I always head-canoned it as he has a hard time emulating humans. :D
John M.
2025-01-26 19:13:16 +0000 UTCAn A for me. There are two parallel mysteries going on: a pretty good example of a "whydunit" mystery as opposed to a "whodunit" for us as viewers, and a mystery for the crew as they try to figuring out who they are, and the two mysteries converge at the end. I think whydunits are generally less popular because viewers/readers like to participate in the mysteries themselves, but it's a valid one nonetheless.
Vina
2025-01-26 19:01:01 +0000 UTCAlex is a time traveler
tyranusfan
2025-01-26 18:58:47 +0000 UTCAnybody else think MacDuff looks like Fred Savage?
Evan Guthrie
2025-01-26 18:57:19 +0000 UTCmemories and experiences define who you are, so it interesting to question who you would be without those experiences, that was what made this episode good, honestly the alien plot was mediocre and would have been more interesting if it was some space anomaly that caused it
Dark Kronis
2025-01-26 18:36:24 +0000 UTCRandom note, around the 48 minute mark, you guys started speculating on potential "fish out water/outside looking in" characters like Data and whether there may be more in that vein. I really wish that discussion had continued, it would have been cool to hear you guys theorize potential ideas for what else could fit that type of mold and fill that role.
THE LORE!!!
2025-01-26 18:19:59 +0000 UTCYea, great job Alex!!
startrekiborg
2025-01-26 18:19:22 +0000 UTCWhen one has been Captain for a very long time, one gets used to it. And it becomes comfortable, like old leather.
xadg
2025-01-26 18:18:35 +0000 UTCI never felt the twist of it being McDuff was important. It's obviously him, but that part never mattered at all. Every time I watch it, I am solely focused on the idea of characters we know exploring who they are while not knowing who they are.
THE LORE!!!
2025-01-26 18:17:29 +0000 UTCI am amazed at how Alex has predicted stuff coming up on this show. Not just predicting that Worf thinks he's in command, but other things which I can't mention. Spoilers.
Keith S
2025-01-26 18:02:15 +0000 UTCIt wasn’t the first episode I ever saw but they used to screen them all over the place here in the UK. Maybe I was watching reruns, who knows, but I thought initially he was just another one of the randomly added crew that appears throughout 1 season
Worf and Riker Ride Again
2025-01-26 18:02:01 +0000 UTCBut he was soooo close!
Worf and Riker Ride Again
2025-01-26 17:58:22 +0000 UTCRIP Erich Anderson, MacDuff, who died last year
Turtleboy
2025-01-26 17:45:45 +0000 UTCOne of my absolute favourites, the chemistry between Riker, Ro and Troi is insane. Also Picard sitting at the helm really got me the first time I watched this!
Worf and Riker Ride Again
2025-01-26 17:44:40 +0000 UTCThe sex scoreboard LADIES and GENTLEMEN I present to you: Ro-Ker (it is better than Lar-Iam or Will-Ren, though Ri-Ro is not bad. We almost got Tr-Ro-Ker and that would have been awesome) Riker 13 new Troi 4 Dr. Bev 3 Data 2 Ro 1 new Picard 1 Worf 1 Geordi 1 Broccoli 2 i Chief/Keiko 1 Extra: Ro must be a great Lawyer. She really got Riker off on all charges and many times. last week we asked about what Troi is like in bed. There is NO DOUBT about what Riker and Ro are like. I can only imagine the moan and grunts coming from Riker’s room. I picture in my head as the scene of them starting the no holds barred naked wrestling match that the next shot is on the bridge and the ensign navigator reporting to the captain of unexplained turbulence. “Captain it is like the ship isa a rockin’ “, then Picard and Worf look at each other and shake their heads.
Prof Moff
2025-01-26 17:39:59 +0000 UTCAaron you're actually a Lyssian living on that station, dreaming of being a human living on earth
Paul Hess
2025-01-26 17:36:36 +0000 UTCGreat Episode, it's an A
Josef Nitervol
2025-01-26 17:36:08 +0000 UTCB+ --- the final minute or two literally dragged it down a level for me. Also this should have been a two parter, with about an hour of additional Riker/Ro/Troi shenanigans added into the middle.
Paul Hess
2025-01-26 17:35:29 +0000 UTCThe guest star was perfectly fine. He was there to make sure the Enterprise crew ended his war for him, and the way he was written was very well done.
Jovet
2025-01-26 17:35:18 +0000 UTCBeen a while since I've watched this one. I had it stuck in my memory that Riker porked both Troi and Ro right in a row. I'm a bit disappointed I was mis-remembering.
Jovet
2025-01-26 17:34:10 +0000 UTCI was hoping you'd like this one. You're entering into a bunch of my favorite episodes coming up. But we often disagree, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of them.
Turtleboy
2025-01-26 17:32:03 +0000 UTCI love this one! It's so interesting how despite their lack of memories, they are all essentially still the same people underneath. Picard just has 'Captain' written into his DNA.
Elizabeth N
2025-01-26 17:31:49 +0000 UTCThe weird shape of the space station in this episode was a recurring element in dreams I had as a kid for years. Something about just the weird abstract shape of it...don't know why. Would appear all over the place. Used to sketch it in class. So revisiting this episode is always trippy for me. Good analysis and discussion. And we can't be too hard on Riker, a fellow Alaskan. If he turned down Michelle Forbes, he would deserve to be strapped to the next torpedo.
Aaron Wells
2025-01-26 17:29:19 +0000 UTCSame here
Sainjl
2025-01-26 17:28:23 +0000 UTCThis was my experience as well. It wasn't the first episode I ever saw, but it was early enough, and I was young enough to not know that McDuff wasn't a regular.
BN13
2025-01-26 17:24:14 +0000 UTCI also loved this episode but I predict the next episode is gonna be an "S" episode
The_Truth
2025-01-26 17:05:06 +0000 UTC23:06 They just gave his motivation! He's an alien using the Enterprise to persecute a war. And he's the inside man.
Jovet
2025-01-26 17:02:06 +0000 UTCThis episode is very much a nature versus nurture kind of deal. How much of who we are? Is our memories and how much of it is just inborn personality?
Matthew Ganz
2025-01-26 16:59:30 +0000 UTCThat must have made it all the more enjoyable to watch.
Collin Freeman
2025-01-26 16:29:19 +0000 UTCThis was the first episode I ever saw. I was shocked there was a traitor. Lol Not knowing any of the characters makes it a totally different type of episode.
Eric Wilson
2025-01-26 16:26:41 +0000 UTCIt's interesting that even though much of their memories are erased, the characters maintain their personalities (Picard is the voice of reason, Worf is aggressive, Riker still is a horn-dog, etc.).
Collin Freeman
2025-01-26 16:22:58 +0000 UTCLove this episode so much. Can't wait to see how you guys enjoy it!
A G
2025-01-26 16:18:11 +0000 UTC
