UNCUT - Final Mission (TNG S4E9) | Star Trek Journey 190
Added 2024-09-19 19:22:48 +0000 UTC
Comments
Favorite James Earl Jones character: The snake warrior guy in the original 'Conan The Barbarian' (w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger).
TeenyStudio Flicks
2024-10-06 07:00:12 +0000 UTCI know, and Wes looked like a real boy too!
Ricky
2024-09-23 01:28:13 +0000 UTC:) The water fountain effects where unbelievable too! It looked like real water. I don't know how the managed that...
Dave Brown
2024-09-23 01:20:52 +0000 UTCI also enjoyed this one. I think you have to dig the dynamics between wesley and Picard and how their relationship has come full circle to where picard's life is in wesley's hands. The reason Wheaton left is actually sad. He had been abused on the set of an earlier movie, and he was old enough that he was coming to terms with it and had to unpack that and deal with his lingering trauma which meant taking leave of the show. The show didn't reveal this and it only came to light much later. But the show runners weren't exactly horrified by the prospect. Wesely from his inception was supposed to be a "Gary sue" character who would draw in the theoretical younger nerdy audience who would relate to him as a hero. That was notoriously not well received especially in the first season, and the writers didn't really know what to do with him as he was a relic from a time in the show the show had long moved past. So officially, they said he "wasn't working as the role model for young people he was supposed to be." Thats kind of harsh considering the real reason, but perhaps there was some truth to both these things- Wheaton could not quite "grow" into a more mature role because he personally was stuck with his underlying trauma. Plot wise, it made sense that he would be in the academy by this point. There really just wasn't much of a role for him anymore on the show after they dropped the "boy genius who makes the adults seem foolish" treatment he got in the first season. Of all the main cast, he was by far the weakest. Even secondary cast members like Guinan and O'Brien were better characters at this point.
paultardspambot .
2024-09-22 06:47:32 +0000 UTCThe Enterprise has to withstand all kinds of radiation. I seriously doubt it would be affected by waste radiation in the other ship. They were wondering if the anomaly indicated intelligent life, as they enter the cave and walk down steps designed for 2m tall bipeds.
James Baloun
2024-09-22 02:04:32 +0000 UTCHave not seen this episode for many years. I find myself distracted by the technical errors. An asteroid belt is two dimensional. There are a million other orbits to approach the sun other than the plane of the belt. Also why did a random failure happen crash-landing distance from a Class M body? Space is much, much, much bigger than that at impulse drive speeds. Oh well.
James Baloun
2024-09-22 01:56:33 +0000 UTC@Timothy Nikiforovs She has three tongues, though.
Jovet
2024-09-21 12:39:37 +0000 UTCI'd love to debate this further but, you know, spoilers...
DG
2024-09-21 09:32:12 +0000 UTCI liked this episode very much. For me, definitely more than a "C". When I saw it when it was first broadcast, I was even more impressed. Patrick Stewart was very good in this episode, and it also featured some of Wesley's best scenes. I give it a B.
John5193
2024-09-21 05:16:53 +0000 UTCI'd probably give this one a B minus. Even if Wil wasn't giving a masterclass in acting, Patrick Stewart picked up the slack, and the scenes between them were still great given the history between the characters. Wesley is the closest thing to a son Picard has, and certainly Wesley has come to see him as a father figure. The rest of the story on the planet was fine, but the whole thing was built around creating the emotional farewell between those characters. As for the B plot, it was also fine, but clearly written to keep the rest of the crew occupied. 2 things really should have been done with that story. First, while I suppose there was a concern they'd have to take extra time before joining the search, they really should have evacuated everyone to the saucer section and towed the ship with the stardrive section and minimal crew. There was no reason to risk fatal radiation poisoning to 1000 people in that operation. Second if the asteroid belt is anything like ours, the asteroids would be on average a million km apart and it would be trivial to set the ships course and speed to avoid them. But I get it, sci fi/Star Wars style asteroid belt = obstacle course. Still, they could have got the ship going and let inertia carry it like Alex said, and set it on a course heading "above" or "below" the plane of the system. Asteroid belts tend to be torus shaped, so from the right angle they'd have a straight shot at the sun. They could get it going at a relatively slow pace, go join the search, find Picard and Wesley, and come back later once it's passed "above" the asteroids, and redirect it into the sun. A short couple minutes towing and limited radiation exposure. So yeah I understand the C rating, but I think the Picard/Wesley stuff elevates it a bit.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-09-21 04:57:55 +0000 UTCWoman who called the Enterprise for help sure didn't get laid. Not with that face🤣
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-09-21 03:09:56 +0000 UTCAre we talking about Wesley leaving? If so I don't know if that really count as a spoiler. I feel like the episode makes it pretty clear that he isn't coming back as a regular anytime soon. The academy is something that takes years and we are almost halfway through the fourth season. You don't typically go through the trouble of giving someone on the main cast an entire farewell episode just to bring them back the next season.
Spencer Loften
2024-09-21 00:18:55 +0000 UTCIt's a side-effect of popularity gain. As more and more new people join in, the community rigor of not revealing spoilers gets more and more diluted. It isn't harped on like it used to be.
Jovet
2024-09-20 21:14:12 +0000 UTCAnd the comparison to Tasha's sendoff was a bit unfair: Wesley didn't die.
Jovet
2024-09-20 21:11:44 +0000 UTCIt's not boring to me. But the tension the episode tries to evoke is pretty thin and translucent. It's easy to guess that it's a canned episode with no lasting effects on the status or cast of the show. e.g. there's nothing to actually fear.
Jovet
2024-09-20 21:10:33 +0000 UTCStill not the record temperature on Earth. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/weather/2022/10/06/satan-s-storm--the-day-kopperl-tx-residents-thought-the-world-was-ending
Jovet
2024-09-20 21:07:39 +0000 UTCYeah, I think TA needs to reiterate to keep it locked tight and don’t spoil anything. Some people can’t resist, and not to be “that guy”, buts not cool.
Chris S.
2024-09-20 20:20:48 +0000 UTCAt least it was a dry heat
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2024-09-20 20:17:12 +0000 UTCYeah, Wil's home life was nuts. The only consolation is how he got so much love and stability from the TNG cast.
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2024-09-20 20:13:49 +0000 UTCAnd apparently written very fast to accomodate both Crosby and Goldberg's schedule.
Nolan
2024-09-20 20:10:33 +0000 UTCNormal run of the mill Star Trek episode that is more dissapointing in TNG than TOS
AzoriusMage
2024-09-20 20:01:02 +0000 UTC100% and legit dangerous 😂
s0rd3z
2024-09-20 19:20:18 +0000 UTCThis is a rare *old man yells at cloud* moment for me, but I can almost 100% guarantee the chicken wire cages were better than everything they sell today
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-09-20 19:19:28 +0000 UTCLove that intro. I had an old AWA ring (it was cheaper than the big plastic WWF ring) and my friend had the same one. His dad made a couple cages out of chicken wire. Put em together and had wargames matches. Man..the 80's kinda sucked but was also kinda awesome.
s0rd3z
2024-09-20 19:17:02 +0000 UTCYE was a combination of 2 plots that from 2 spec writer camps that was merged into 1 story by the staff writers. It’s a miracle if came out so well!
Column Meanie
2024-09-20 18:39:41 +0000 UTCYou missed Wesley's innovative use of a tricorder.
DG
2024-09-20 18:37:21 +0000 UTCThanks. I knew there was some rule like that from the WGA. Yesterday's Enterprise also had numerous writers.
Collin Freeman
2024-09-20 18:05:46 +0000 UTCI don't feel the need to grade this programne (or indeed any other) on a curve. Actually, I'm not really a fan of grading TV shows (or films, music, books, etc) at all, but that's another topic. Therefore, if pressed, I usually assign S, A or B to most episodes of TNG, because it is one of my favourite shows. If I were to be giving out lower grades on a regular basis, I probably wouldn't be watching the show consistently anyway. I feel the same about judging students on a curve in academia. Having said all that, I find TA's grading discussions a lot of fun to watch regardless.
DG
2024-09-20 17:37:57 +0000 UTCThe WGA limits shows to four credited writers. If there are four writers on screen you can all but guarantee that even more people were involved.
Jeffrey P
2024-09-20 17:30:52 +0000 UTCNo update to the sex scoreboard. At least I do not think so. I fell asleep twice during the episode which could mean I had sex but let's be honest, that didn't happen.
Prof Moff
2024-09-20 15:28:35 +0000 UTCSpoilers are increasingly creeping into these comments. One saving grace is that the guys are a few episodes ahead.
DG
2024-09-20 13:36:24 +0000 UTCI thought you guys would like it more just because it’s Wesley’s last episode. 😂
marty63026
2024-09-20 11:40:39 +0000 UTCYup. The hike to the mountains was actually outside. They were trekking across the El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, in San Bernadino, according to Memory Alpha. It's part of the Mojave Desert.
Avaria
2024-09-20 07:57:44 +0000 UTCamen brother not one of the seasons standouts
Scarpad’s Domain
2024-09-20 03:56:26 +0000 UTCi thought this was a fine send off for Wes and he did and ok job never uderstood the level of hatefor the character
Scarpad’s Domain
2024-09-20 03:54:51 +0000 UTCThe main reason for the stupid water plot: to keep them in a single set. For an episode that isn’t great they weren’t going to spend a fortune so you need a story reason to keep them In one cave set. If the water problem wasn’t there Wesley would have had to go for water. And you want to kill off the extra character before the monologues because then it just seems weird having that guy sitting there wall there having this heartfelt conversation.
Jonathan
2024-09-20 03:33:07 +0000 UTCI thought it was nice they took the time to give Wesley a send-off. Not all characters get that..-Thanks for the Sandlot reminder!
Badger
2024-09-20 03:14:27 +0000 UTCWil Wheaton had been offered multiple movie roles throughout the first 3 seasons. (He was more or less at his peak of popularity in those years after Stand by Me). He’d been forced to decline all the roles because Trek’s producers were unwilling to give him time to go do these things even when they weren’t giving him much to do on the show. Wil was unhappy (between that and some bad things happening in his personal life), and asked to leave, so the mid-season departure was his choice.
tyranusfan
2024-09-20 03:06:27 +0000 UTCThe bulk of the episode was C- for me, but I bump it up to B- just for the scenes with Wesley and Picard towards the end.
Paul
2024-09-20 02:45:09 +0000 UTCOne problem here is I feel like they forgot to continue the Picard/Wesley relationship until this episode.
Joe Concepts
2024-09-20 00:48:15 +0000 UTCBye Wesley (the og bye Felisha )
Lt Dan I scream
2024-09-20 00:38:01 +0000 UTCThey retain their value better if kept in their original packaging, as my Moogie used to say.
Cirk Bejnar
2024-09-20 00:37:10 +0000 UTCYeah, I have to say after rewatching it just now, this episode is more boring than I remember. Not horribly so, just.... meh. I think I voted this as a 'B' tier when the poll went up, but between this rewatch and your discussion, I tend to agree it's a 'C'. I do appreciate what they're going for with Wesley and Picard, but it just doesn't hit as hard as I'd like it to.
Forbidden Donut
2024-09-20 00:21:45 +0000 UTCThere's a proper place for DDs - sadly ST:TNG isn't it.
Matt Newmark
2024-09-19 23:11:06 +0000 UTCThey could've used some ugly bags of mostly water
Tony B
2024-09-19 22:55:27 +0000 UTCI'm concerned that Alex and Josh don't know what the outside looks like. That special effect of the sun.... lol, it was the Sun
Ricky
2024-09-19 22:43:57 +0000 UTC"IT'S SALTWATER!!!!" 🤣🤣🤣💀☠
Matt Newmark
2024-09-19 22:42:13 +0000 UTCWatching now I kinda feel like it's a B but I think I may have listed it as a C on the takes.
Greg Quinn
2024-09-19 22:37:24 +0000 UTC1:04:21 Re-writer's Room ran long.
Jovet
2024-09-19 22:19:33 +0000 UTCI have so little to say about this episode except... I'm really curious to see what your opinion will be of the next episode lol
Deep Red
2024-09-19 22:10:39 +0000 UTC35:55 ...all the babes...
Jovet
2024-09-19 21:56:44 +0000 UTCI agree on this episode being a C. Its ok. But there was no tension/emotion, and no twist, and the plot was boring. Usually, what a good episode will have would be at least 2 out of those 3. For example, “Reunion” had all three elements. But this episode kind of dragged along, with really nothing exciting happening at all.
Chris S.
2024-09-19 21:52:47 +0000 UTCThis episode might have been better if the shuttle guy WAS a guy trying to keep Picard and Wesley from reaching the miners or whoever wanted their help.
wildhunt1973
2024-09-19 21:51:28 +0000 UTCHe is smart!
Tony B
2024-09-19 21:46:09 +0000 UTCYou guys are just brutal on Wesley and Wheaton. Come on, he's no Dr. Stubbs.
Joe Concepts
2024-09-19 21:44:50 +0000 UTC22:36 The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Jovet
2024-09-19 21:43:38 +0000 UTC16:22 Wesley was right, though. The "captain" is a POS.
Jovet
2024-09-19 21:37:23 +0000 UTCYesterday’s tease about 11 got me false hyped. I forgot we still have these two turds to trudge through
Phil Ken Sebben
2024-09-19 21:36:23 +0000 UTC55°C ≈ 130°F. Toasty. 🔥
Jovet
2024-09-19 21:31:02 +0000 UTCCorey Allen directed the pilot.
Anthony Goodwin
2024-09-19 21:30:26 +0000 UTCTo this day I still cringe at "noises" in space. Especially in Star Trek. 🙄
Jovet
2024-09-19 21:27:35 +0000 UTCTwo jump cuts while my take was being read. Be honest guys, did I confuse you guys for a while there? 🤣
JGoss
2024-09-19 21:19:22 +0000 UTCTotally get the reaction to Wesley’s monologue. The emotions felt forced and unnatural. This is likely because Wil Wheaton was DONE. He turned 18 and was ready to try bigger and better things. He felt incredibly disenfranchised by the producers who would never give him a larger part than to say “yes sir”. They refused to let him skip an episode so he could make a film, and in the episode he had 1 line. That was the final straw for WW. He has since gone on record stating that while had regrets about leaving, he wouldn’t change a thing because ultimately his decision led to a realization that he was really no longer interested in acting, a profession forced upon him by his neglectful and abusive parents. All that said, I do wonder what could have happened had he stayed on. I think the character was finally to that age where they could fold him into more adult themes and stories, and then WW checks out. It’s too bad because I think with the right scripts and direction, he can be a great actor. And then there were 7…
Column Meanie
2024-09-19 21:18:35 +0000 UTCdefinitely a c. probably one of the better wesley episodes
David Marcoot
2024-09-19 21:17:43 +0000 UTCi love dark intro bits
David Marcoot
2024-09-19 21:13:46 +0000 UTCDidn't remember this one very much. Now I know why. As many Trekkies who were around Wesley's age at first watch I didn't like him and was glad that he was sent off to the Academy at last. It really didn't matter how and why. Nothing against Wil Wheaton but the character as Gene's weird Mary Sue of himself was a mistake from the beginning and wasn't missed in later seasons and the TNG movies.
Sam Langanke
2024-09-19 21:13:25 +0000 UTCSooooo…they went on location. (Awkward pause)
Column Meanie
2024-09-19 21:06:23 +0000 UTCIt definitely lets Wesley have a moment to shine 👍
Jason Mitchell
2024-09-19 21:02:13 +0000 UTCLOL!!!!
Josef Nitervol
2024-09-19 20:57:02 +0000 UTCits a C
Josef Nitervol
2024-09-19 20:56:12 +0000 UTCThere won't be too many more of those shots of Gates in her form fitting uniform this season considering IRL she's pregnant through most of it. At least not too many after S4-E11.
KatWithAttitude
2024-09-19 20:52:38 +0000 UTCThe episode from season 2 where Wesley and Picard take off in a shuttlecraft together was Samaritan Snare with the Pakleds. We are smart.
Collin Freeman
2024-09-19 20:44:21 +0000 UTCIt’s a serviceable episode - I like the scenes between Picard and Wesley but aside from that it’s nothing special only really noteworthy as the one where Wil Wheaton leaves
Darren Seal
2024-09-19 20:32:40 +0000 UTCCorey Allen directed 2 episodes in season 1: Encounter at Farpoint and Home Soil.
Collin Freeman
2024-09-19 20:27:17 +0000 UTCYep, it's a C. Things happened, both the A and B plots were by the numbers. Aggressively average. Plus, the desert was on location in California, not a set 🥵
The Ninth Doctor
2024-09-19 20:13:29 +0000 UTCIt’s actually a matte painting
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-09-19 20:04:47 +0000 UTCJosh, at the Grand Canyon: This set is amazing.
JD Nevesytrof
2024-09-19 19:56:30 +0000 UTC"You know Wesley's a mouth breather" 🤣🤣
THE LORE!!!
2024-09-19 19:53:12 +0000 UTCWoohoo can't wait to see this when I get home. As a teenager I really liked this episode, and I thought Wil Wheaton did a good job. From a character standpoint, I thought this was a nice way to come 'full circle' from the first moment Wesley walked onto the bridge.
Firekrys FWO
2024-09-19 19:42:26 +0000 UTCThat Picard figure has a fun, non-spoiler backstory. The first movie was going to have new uniforms, so the costume designs were sent to toy manufacturers well ahead of time. The first week of principal photography, they changed their minds and *poof!* Later waves were revised, but a lot of the figures out there have this non-existant uniform. I used to play Yesterday's Enterprise with them as a kid.
EnigmaticPenguin
2024-09-19 19:41:26 +0000 UTCThe fact the figures are still on card make the opening even better.
Scott Wells
2024-09-19 19:24:08 +0000 UTCLet’s go!
Column Meanie
2024-09-19 19:23:37 +0000 UTC
