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UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S3E15 - Yesterday's Enterprise

UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S3E15 - Yesterday's Enterprise

Comments

TA sure didn't!!!

Jovet

This episode is the reason I joined your Patreon

Busy Andy

This episode felt like a movie - not a TV episode from the 90s. Amazing plot, acting and the music! The music during the first scenes of the ending battle is amazing.

Leroy Banack

Watching you guys shit-bricks at the Tasha reveal was worth every penny.

MrDeadstu

or it a production goof

Dark Kronis

This was my mom's favorite ep of TNG. In a retrospective review, Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club praised the episode for quickly establishing the premise and stakes, as well as turning Tasha Yar's death into one of the episode's "strongest emotional beats." Tasha's determination to die with meaning by the end of [the episode] transforms her death, as she say's herself from something meaningless into something more noble. I loved this episode's tense, almost dark atmosphere. In particular the increased tension between Picard and Riker. As you would expect as most of it takes place during a wartime setting. TV critic Critic Marc Bernardin described the episode as Star Trek's "smartest time-travel experiment" and a fan favorite. Time Magazine rated this episode as one of the top ten moments of Star Trek, including television series and films up to that time. The work of multiple writers on this episode came off with amazing smoothness. Resulting in a tight thriller with a real bang up climax. Fans attending the Star Trek 50th Anniversary convention in 2015 even voted this episode the fifth-best episode of the entire franchise. Like my mom and so many Trek it would be hard for me also to not consider this my favorite TNG episode. Great scenes also between Picard and Guinan which go to the heart of their long friendship. And Worf falling in love with prune juice. Just delightful! In 2016 SyFy ranked "Yesterday's Enterprise" as the No. 1 best time travel plot in Star Trek. The episode truly deserves the accolades it has gotten through the decades!

Comrade Wireless Caller

This is why, at the end of the day, TNG is the best Star Trek. Who would have thought you'd be in-store for a Yar episode!? LOL

ET

One reason for the hard cut at the end is that there is a hard cut in the timeline. By the time the Enterprise C enters the rift a few days have passed, yet when we are back on the bridge we know, we jump back to the moment we left just before the Enterprise C first appears. The timeline we were watching was just cut right off, and we had to go back in time to pick up the timeline we know. Those two scenes are not parallel so blending them makes no sense at all. One of them could be Tuesday and the other Friday for all we know.

Sherpa Jones

...for now...

Sherpa Jones

Those darker themes are popular because we live in dark times and want to see a brave crew overcome their struggles. LOTR is dark and has lots of battles. These stories tell us the importance of hope, perseverance, and overcoming hardships.

Sherpa Jones

Yeah, its like a temporal wake or something, fragments of events that took a while to diminish.

Sherpa Jones

That's pretty dark even for today's audiences.

Sherpa Jones

The score in this episode was just brilliant! I love the tubular bells that slowly echo in as the rift opens and starts fluctuating. It is like an audio cue that the timeline is fracturing and echoes of the past are spilling into the future. Great choice of an instrument to convey this feeling and the impact of the rift, as tubular bells are often the chimes in clocks, giving it the sense that the clocks are breaking and time is shattering. It gives me chills every time I watch!

Sherpa Jones

lol, I just watched it. I never saw that before.

Tom Occhipinti

I just lived to see Tasha finally get an episode around her and showcase her acting skills. Thought Denise Crosby did an amazing job in this one. The guest stars were really strong!

The Captain

Buddy, you're trying to make a square peg a mile across fit through a round hole a millimetre wide. There was no war with the klingons at the time of the battle, and it didn't start till 2 years after. There was certainly no war with the romulans, and if there had been, you would 100% sit back and let your 2 enemies fight rather than risk your own ship. It's clearly spelled out in the episode, and you're trying to make a theory fit that just doesn't work. PICARD: One more ship will make no difference in the here and now. But twenty two years ago, one ship could have stopped this war before it started. "stopped this war BEFORE IT STARTED" before it started..................... before it started..................... before it started..................... before it started..................... Not sure what's confusing here?

Timothy Nikiforovs

@Timothy Nikiforovs Because however bad things were between the Federation and the Klingons, they were still worse between the Federation and the Romulans. The Enterprise D still answers distress calls to Romulans, and they're definitely still slimy enemies.

Jovet

And here we go, the fantastic outtake for this episode, Guinan asks Geordi about Tasha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqz48DFBRsc

Ian Westcott

Don't you hate it when great episodes have no lasting consequences and completely hit the reset button at the end...

#MaxwellDidNothingWrong

I recall hating them when I first saw the episode decades ago. I’m no big fan of the movie uniforms, but without that turtleneck they are just plain garbage. As someone else said, looks like a suit jacket with no shirt. What were they thinking?

Aramis Calcutt

That really makes no sense at all. Say the federation was at war with the klingons, and the romulans jumped in and attacked a klingon outpost. Why on Earth would the Enterprise-C attack a potential ally in order to defend a current enemy? To quote Picard "there's no logic in this at all"

Timothy Nikiforovs

It's popular because its plot is feature-film-level ambitious, adds lore to the previously-unexplored Enterprise-C and her crew, brings back a lost colleague in a sensible and logical way, and sends her off anew in a more honorable and memorable way. Its writing does have some small flaws, but it's still a top-tier, excellent story.

Jovet

@Derek Orr When the Enterprise-C took on the Romulans, would it really have mattered if there was not already a war between the Federation and Klingons? So, the war was already established and going. It just didn't end 22 years ago. It's not disclosed how long it had actually been going by that point or its total length of time.

Jovet

Why would they torture themselves?

Travis Boyle

THAT'S THE POINT. The show came a long way from that point....get it?

JGoss

An exciting episode for sure....but its popularity has always bugged me....just like Wrath of Khan and one of the TNG movies...and lots of DS9.....the fans keep expressing that their favourite and most popular episodes/movies...are the pew pew war/battle ones or darker themes, war time, grim future etc....thats all ultimately NOT star trek....neat side track thing to see though

Derek Orr

they where not altered...they where incomplete and it was an annoying tease.....here put on the jacket...you dont need a shirt and skip the belt....

Derek Orr

now uniforms last a season at most

Derek Orr

I like that they left a glimmer of possibility that the war D survived and took out the Klingons or had help showed up

Derek Orr

worf was not rescued by the enterprise

Derek Orr

ya I hate the preview of dark lighting that apparently is normal now

Derek Orr

no ships to go around

Derek Orr

meh DS9 is war trek....an interesting quality side diversion from main Star Trek

Derek Orr

ummm its quite horrible. Heck the cast want it erased

Derek Orr

oh man...so much I wish I could say about that carpet comment lol

Derek Orr

Huh? it was pretty clearly stated it had been 20 years of war because history did not include the 1701-C dying a heroic death and taking out some of the romulans

Derek Orr

Oh we noticed...dont forget the movie uniforms where still in use at the time with the various TOS movies still ongoing. The absence of the department coloured turtlenecks was jarring. They even had close ups that showed the wrath of khan hand phasers right beside the empty belt loop on the jackets.

Derek Orr

It wasn't that they where unfinished necklines, they where simply not wearing the turtleneck undershirt, or the belts. It was like wearing a suit jacket over your skin with no dress shirt.

Derek Orr

If you're referring to what I think, completely different scenario

Timothy Nikiforovs

If you look closely Geordie is wearing the alternate timeline uniform in the final scene.

Stephen Morris

In short, a different reality is a different reality. And the rest I want to write I can't until the series is over.

Jovet

@Nolan Like, Geordie trying to get to the bridge? 🤷

Jovet

Thrice if it's nice....

Jovet

Like a Ronco ad: But wait, there's MORE!

Angelaina Marie

Ain't that the truth. Their reaction to her showing up was gold, and the main reason I was so anticipating this show. Gawd the next few are going to blow their minds. Can't wait.

Angelaina Marie

On a 21" TV in 1990, nobody would have seen. I sure didn't notice. There's a whole issue with TNG where it's at the tail end of tube tv. I've noticed the crisper, re-mastered versions some things look kinda janky. The models were often built so that they only looked good from filming distance, to save time. I've caught a couple just nasty flaws that show up now because we're watching it in such higher resolution.

Angelaina Marie

Did anyone notice how the Ent-C uniforms looked for shit? The necklines weren't finished or anything, just bare cut fabric and no turtleneck to hide the edge. Terrible.

Aramis Calcutt

Plus, you need to do some crazy zero gravity maneuvers that the internal gravity can't compensate for right away, I'd rather land on some carpet then polished black floors.

Nolan

Why would anything change before the Enterprise C disappeared? Basically every time travel story is a case of "an event or person is changed/removed and everything AFTER that point is changed"

Timothy Nikiforovs

Thank you YouTube! You've preserved it!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYO_5ObB-QrEvNdY5dwfmPP6-8qgBqBD0 Ah fond memories of this on our computer. I would then 'wake it up' and then trigger the screensaver again so I could see something different. Watching the tribbles fall everywhere. Those Amoeba aliens attaching itself to the screen. You could see Sickbay's medical screen. And looking at this list, there were so many I forgot! I forgot about the Academy's "final exam", planetary info screens. We didn't get the TNG screensaver, sadly, but that looks so cool!

Firekrys FWO

"No matter the time line, if you tell Picard your true feelings, he'll let you do whatever you want." — best quip of the entire history of Target Audience.

Aramis Calcutt

“...everything before that was the same.” I wouldn't assume that. But we'll never know.

Jovet

I had TOS and nearly all of TNG on beta tapes! I switched to VHS around 1993, then my beta VCR died in late 1994. I had to wait until the sci-fi channel special edition of TOS to come out in ‘98 to get that on tape again

tyranusfan

I want that screensaver!

tyranusfan

Well they lost half the fleet. So I think it is the opposite: Riker wanted his own ship but couldn't get one.

Sam Langanke

Well I'm sure such a war would have been over one way or another before 100 years passed. At any rate, the point of change was 22 years before, everything before that was the same.

Timothy Nikiforovs

But! There are more we're waiting for! 😈

Jovet

But what if it didn't?

Jovet

This episode, as a prime example, just does NOT get old!

Jovet

I think we've all been waiting for you two to get to this episode, like "City On The Edge of Forever" and "Yesteryear."

Stevtrek

I actually really enjoy the hard cut back to the normal bridge at the end, for two reasons. One because at that point, you're braced for anything to happen, even up to the destruction of the enterprise itself. And yet the episode still has one more way to surprise you. And two because it's not just shock value, it's conveying something meaningful: the moment the C went through the rift, that timeline disappeared. At that instant it no longer matters what happened to the D because nothing at all happened to them, ever again.

Dan Halstead

It was originally planned to show Data electrocuted and Wesley decapitated by shrapnel, leaving Picard alone on the bridge. But time, money and probably a desire not to be TOO gruesome conspired to cut those deaths.

tyranusfan

Honestly it wouldn't make sense because that ship's crew survived, as they had to be there to rescue Worf.

Joe Concepts

Wonderful as always. I grew up watching TOS on Betamax with my Dad, and once the reruns started playing more in 80s, I got hooked. Our Apple computer had the TOS screensaver. It could fill the screen with Tribbles. A Horta would chew holes in the Desktop. And Spock would walk around Then TNG came out and this is my series. Every Sunday night, the family was on the couch watching this show. I was in total awe and I was 12 at the time this dropped and enjoyed it immensely. The poster with the schematic of the Enterprise was on my wall for many years. Then as an adult, rewatching these heavy episodes it hit all over again, along with the childhood feels. Thanks, guys!

Firekrys FWO

Yeah but that stopped in the same episode, it didn't continue for the next century

Timothy Nikiforovs

"Errand of Mercy"

Jovet

If it were on time it would be Today's Enterprise

Dan Halstead

I love that they used a wing from a model kit for the metal stuck in her forehead

Timothy Nikiforovs

Oh right. Well, yeah there were hostilities, but not open war.

Timothy Nikiforovs

Damn straight! I don't wanna hear nuthin about maintenance. We have roombas now, by the 24th century, they just beam the dirt out of the carpet.

Timothy Nikiforovs

one of my favourite all time episodes of TNG right here, this for me is top tier Trek.

The Darkside Gamer

Literally lmao right now! 🤣 Glad I could help 😃

James Knight

What about Star Wars fans??

Jovet

Otherwise known as Sharcooties.

Jovet

The hostilities with the Klingons we saw in TOS escalated and never resolved.

Jovet

TNG is definitely the future I want, mainly due to all the 90s carpeted floors!! BRING BACK CARPET!!

Josh (Target Audience)

SHRAPNEL! That’s the damn word I’ve been trying to think of since seeing the scene

Josh (Target Audience)

ya, tng is good trek, DS9 is trek at it's best.

M Palmiere

These poor female captains in TNG, Captain Tryla Scott had a neck bug (S1: Conspiracy), and Captain Rachel Garrett gets shrapnel lodged in her forehead.

James Knight

Never ended? How do you mean?

Timothy Nikiforovs

Watching this, and figuring out what was going on, I always assumed that the war with the Klingons just never ended.

Jovet

I like the cast, except for Shatner just being too over the top too often. Yes, so much of TOS is looking back. So many fistfights, so many silly romance dramas, so many avoidable moments of tension. To me, TNG is what TOS *should* have been. I can respect its position only in so much as it gave us TNG. I like some of the TOS films much more than the series itself. I don't like the TNG films at all.

Jovet

"fun" for anyone to see how the show evolved in just 2 years

JGoss

I don’t know when I first saw TWOK probably around 3 years old? But I wasn’t really a Trekkie until TNG. I remember my cousins raving about 4, and they weren’t fans they were casuals. I saw 6 in theaters and eventually rented the lot.

Philbot

Classic episode. Glad you enjoyed it! I think it's not very representative of the series in terms of tone, but it's definitely one of my favorite things ever made for TV.

Captain Proton

6:00 I take it Tasha's return was not spoiled for you two? Thank heavens!!

Jovet

5:13 NOPE! Not a mirror universe switch!!

Jovet

"Code of Honor" isn't bad.

Jovet

I respect it's position in the franchise, and the cast is great, even if half of it is underutilized. My biggest gripe is that Trek is supposed to feel like this better future we look forward to, but so much of TOS feels like looking back. Besides the cheap looking sets, effects, & props dating the show from a production standpoint, a lot of the social mores and ideas about technology feel outdated even by the 90s, let alone that it's supposed to be 240 years from now. Discovery is going to be hyper dated to the 2020s in a few years. With 90s Trek, I see the kind of future I actually WANT to live in.

Timothy Nikiforovs

Alas, I have but one 👍 to give. 👍👍👍

Jovet

They all died all the same, the ship blew up, we just didn't see it on screen.

Jovet

The Defector might be my favourite TNG ep, but YE is right up there with it, and I'm not going to argue for a second with anyone saying it's their #1. This episode is a masterpiece. As little as we know about the Enterprise-C, knowing the ship went down in a blaze of glory that ultimately led to peace with the klingons is a fate perfectly suited to a ship bearing the name......Enterprise. Also you've now seen the origin of another great Picard meme with "not good enough, dammit, not good enough!!". Regarding Alex's comment about seeing Worf on the other side at the end, I think we've all had that thought. Picture this; after Riker is killed and Picard takes the tactical station, things keep getting worse. Data's console exploded, decapitating him, and a power surge electrocutes Wesley, and we get a bunch of sounds from the tactical console indicating weapons are no longer functioning. One of the klingon ships breaks off to go after the Enterprise-C, and as a desperate final act, Picard goes to the helm station and sets a collision course with that ship. Right as he does, a klingon boarding team beams aboard the bridge, led by Worf. Picard kills his 2 subordinates with his phaser as they materialize but is jumped by Worf who slams his wrist on the console making him drop the phaser. Worf pulls his d'k tagh (klingon dagger from TSFS) to finish Picard in hand to hand, and Picard grabs a starfleet combat knife from his belt, and in a scene reminiscent of the Revenge of the Sith movie poster, we see them grappling with each other in this knife fight, silhouetted against the viewscreen as the klingon ship chasing the Enterprise-C looms larger and larger on the viewscreen, until the moment of impact followed by a bright flash, then a fade in to the original Enterprise-D bridge from behind the tactical console. We see the anomaly on screen and Picard asking for a report, and as he does so, the shot is panning over and we see the yellow shirt and sash right as Worf starts to speak. Since it was already stated in the Encounter at Farpoint comments, Picard was nearly 60 when the show began, making him about 62 here. Starfleet academy is a 4 year course, so assuming he went at 18 and graduated at 22, he's a 40 year veteran of starfleet at this point. That means the first half of his career was that of an explorer, the same as in the original timeline. I think this adds an extra layer to the changes in his character here. The rest of the crew would have spent their entire adult lives knowing war as a fact of life. Not only has Picard likely seen more death and loss than any of them, and being a captain has likely sent a great many people to their deaths(including the 6000 troops carried aboard that Yar mentioned), but he also remembers what peace looks like. His more detached attitude toward his crew is likely a defense mechanism after losing far too many friends to the war. Patrick Stewart is firing on all cylinders in this episode. The scene where he explains to Garrett how bad the war is going was brilliantly performed, and of course "let's make sure that history never forgets the name....Enterprise" is a timeless line for a reason. I also rather enjoyed Garrett's character. The scene where she basically tells Crusher she has work to do and to stop babying her was great. That combined with zero hesitation to go back and face certain death after hearing how bad the war is going, and the fact she was willing to take on 4 warbirds to save a klingon outpost before they were even allies made her brief appearance memorable, and left no doubt for me that she was worthy of the ship she commanded. Regarding the scene at the end with Geordi, I'd assume since we didn't see Geordi in the regular uniform in the teaser, they just filmed that on one of the shooting days he was in for set in the alternate timeline, and removed the belt hoping we wouldn't notice the cuffs, rather than spend time having him go back to the wardrobe department to change. Eric A. Stillwell who co-wrote the story claims he named the planet Narendra III after Naren Shankar, who would join the TNG cast in S4 as a science consultant, writer and story editor. I assume the 2 are friends in real life as he wasn't involved in Trek at this point. Finally, this episode is a measure of redemption for Yar. The original will still die to Armus just the same, but at least Denise got to come back and play the character doing something meaningful with her life. 9.5/10 episode, and only because they didn't have the time and budget for couple finishing touches that would have been epic.

Timothy Nikiforovs

@Target Audience I like your logic.

Jovet

@James Goss A little TOO-contrived continuity, if you ask me. I can't stand it, in shows like this, where the coincidences keep stacking up and up and up.

Jovet

I actually have a hard time believing Riker would be here. He should REALLY have his own command by now. War is hell.

Jovet

It's okay. They'll want to watch this one 2 or 3 times, minimum. Just for it ALL to sink in.

Jovet

4:44 You could fit a bus inside Alex's mouth.

Jovet

I don't *hate* TOS, but I don't care for many aspects of it.

Jovet

I know they wanted to go for a different feel, but I'm not surprised we only got 2 seasons of Deep Space Nine. Like sure, after the armistice with the klingons they wanted to get away from war content, but every single episode had the crew doing humanitarian work. There was zero action or conflict. Only 1 person died in the entire series, and that was from getting swept away in a flood in the episode "The Needs of the Many" while trying to rescue villagers. That death wasn't even on screen. The writing was OK, but what a snooze fest

Timothy Nikiforovs

Oh man!!! I and we have been all waiting for this episode for weeks! The reaction was priceless! And can not wait for even more now! F YES!❤️🖖

Phluke Skywalker

Love the pop at the reveal.

DustmanNorochj

For ‘fun’. Fun for whom?

Jeffrey

So much great stuff in this episode. It’s my 2nd favorite of the ones you’ve seen so far, only behind Measure of a Man

Jeffrey

Actually I was gonna comment how much I liked that you guys were actually talking this episode! It's been a little quiet lately but this one got you jazzed.

Trouty McTroutTrout

The show probably used up every spare season 1 uniform they had

JGoss

Also just how crowded the ship is along with mentions of carrying 6000 troops

Timothy Nikiforovs

Kinda reminds me of that Matthew McConaughey line from U-571 "What the hell are you doing, huh? This is not a Goddamn democracy"

Timothy Nikiforovs

At least with an episode like this, when you go to rewatch there are lots of details to catch that you missed the first (or second, or third) time through

Jeffrey

For fun, go back and watch something like Code of Honor and then this immediately after.

JGoss

New Trek is great. Ds9 is my favorite though

harrypothead42024

The only time I'll argue with release order is if it goes against the creatorsintended order. Farscape's 1st season flows so much better. And for like, TOS and Batman: The Animated Series, you can sorta see everyone develop their groove better. Typically I rewatch TOS in production order... which is a chore cause the DVDs aren't in that order.

Nolan

I was the opposite I watched the movies first (2 to 4) love those and dismissed TNG. Now TNG is my fave

Darren Seal

Nope!

Josh (Target Audience)

Lmao thanks for this. Terrific breakdown of the short-lived show we all love.

John Deadcorn

I've always believed when you start an older TV series or movie series you watch ALL of it, preferably in release order and don't skip ANYTHING. If things are skipped or watched in a different order than release order (like some people insist new people do with Star Wars), not only do they miss a lot of buildup and plot points but they could become incredibly confused and lose interest. And like I said before "Shades of Gray", if we had to watch it back then, so do the new people now. Once you see everything, you can rewatch in any order you want.

KatWithAttitude

Some awesome jaw drop moments from you guys this episode! Just what we wanted. This is probably the most "gore" we've seen since Conspiracy. Some people find it incompatible with Star Trek but I like it in rare situations to show the true dangers of being a space explorer. Did you guys think it was over the top?

Trouty McTroutTrout

Been waiting for that Tasha reaction! You guys didn't disappoint haha

idlebaum

The Tasha pop… it’s what we all wanted and it’s not even an adult movie!

Brian Moore

One of the all time greatest episodes of any of the Star Trek series. There's many that can come close, but only a very small handful that can beat it. Let's make sure history never forgets the name, Enterprise I find it pretty cool that it didn't. Even more than 20 years after the last episode of TNG, it still lands. People still love it. Also, Picard's "That'll be the day" is exceptional. Really shows the fighting spirit of his at it's finest. We see it in the normal timeline on occasion, but that scene really shows off that side to his character.

FPG

Great watch. Probably gonna watch again tonight

James Bottas

That uniform lasted awhile almost 100 years..

Philbot

🎶Stones that I carry inside me. Weight me down.🎶

Philbot

I imagined an alternate timeline where Kirk on the B?-C? Rescued Worf.

Philbot

SirPatStew is subtly a different guy in this episode. A masterclass in acting! Always. Everyone else is mostly the same but not Picard.

Philbot

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!! Can't wait to get home and watch this! My whole family did a double take

Firekrys FWO

That pop for Tasha gives me life.

William Roberts

The audio commentary for "The Measure of a Man," in particular, has a humongous spoiler. Amusingly, it was new information to Melinda Snodgrass when they recorded the commentary -- she apparently didn't keep watching the show after she left.

Anthony Bernacchi

Yea I respect it now as the originals and I have a near encyclopedic knowledge of all things Trek. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen the alternative factor all the way through. 😆 😴

Philbot

😂 My captions made Data say Enterprise-CHad 😆

Philbot

The best episode of the series to this point I love everything about this one and without watching season 1 it would lesson the impact for me. Leaves you wanting more…

Darren Seal

Theeerrrreeeeee we go...

StonyD

We already wish the same 😆

Josh (Target Audience)

Best episode of the series up to this point. Wish I could see it again for the first time like you guys!

Jonathan Llyr

I forget to mention…I wish Ron Jones scored this episode. Can you imagine???

Chris S.

Bonkers! Amazing episode from start to finish! The Guinan scenes were mysterious, almost, dare I say, creepy. They really threw the budget at this one! I like how they altered the bridge too. The carpenters added steps and raised the captain’s chair, and calling it a “military log” and “battleship” throughout the episode. A+!

Chris S.

fun goof at the end Geordi still in the alternate uniform

Dark Kronis

Just so you all know, this one IS in the top 6 for the season. In regards to the darker lighting, be careful what you wish for.

Burrito Vampire

This episode was a great way to give Tasha some justice from season 1.

Christopher Boutwell

Must be a temporal rift...

The Ninth Doctor

So, the original plan was to kill more of the Enteprise D cast members in the final battle. Wesley was allegedly going to be beheaded and Data electrocuted at their stations, but just Riker made it into the final cut 👍🏼

The Ninth Doctor

Your teaser prediction is distressingly accurate.

badvertised

Do you like it now?

Josh (Target Audience)

Growing up as a TNG er I hated TOS wasn’t till 09’ or maybe sometime before the new movies that I had this need to know everything!

Philbot

Yeah… that suggestion gets more confusing the more we watch

Josh (Target Audience)

Agreed. It's my 3rd favorite TNG episode of all time.

Collin Freeman

Are there two Thursdays this week? Better watch this twice.

Steve Boshear

I honestly thought it was going to be a 2-parter and her going back would be the cliffhanger

Josh (Target Audience)

Great reaction! I feel bad for all the people out there that followed the "Skip the first season, it sucks." advice. I can't imagine that this episode lands as hard for them.

Ross Bischoff

Same here... hope this cheers you up as it did me!

David Wayne Fox

I am so happy you posted this today. I had to cancel a trip this morning because I'm recovering from surgery and was eagerly looking forward to this episode and your reaction, so this was a delightful surprise.

David Wayne Fox

Your reaction to seeing Tasha did not disappoint. According to one of the audio commentaries for this episode they wished they could have made it a two-parter, but it was impossible. TA, don't look at the audio commentaries yet because there are spoilers in them.

KatWithAttitude

“Space, the final battleground. These are the campaigns of the warship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to prosecute the war against the Klingon Empire; to render aid and assistance to endangered civilizations; to boldly fight where no one has fought before.” So we come to it at last: “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (alternate working title: “NCC-1701-C”), the series finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation and an enduring classic of science fiction television. In retrospect, it seems surprising that a series with ratings as high as TNG’s ran for only two-and-a-half seasons, producing fewer episodes than TOS, which had lower ratings on its first run. However, both TNG’s popularity and the relative brevity of the series were due to its premise. Gene Roddenberry’s decision to make a darker and more action-packed sequel to the optimistic original Star Trek, with the Federation and the Klingon Empire fighting a war that had already lasted for twenty years, was initially controversial with fans, but supercharged the show’s viewing figures with an audience that had grown up on the original "Star Wars" films. Moreover, TNG’s writers proved unexpectedly skillful at balancing action-packed, battle-oriented episodes with moments of exploration and discovery and compelling character-based stories. TNG gained new energy at the beginning of Season 3 from the return of Dr. Beverly Crusher after a year’s service as a ground combat medic, following the departure of Diana Muldaur’s Dr. Pulaski. Pulaski’s death in the turboshaft remains one of TNG’s most indelible images, remarkable considering that it came at the end of a modestly produced, budget-saving season finale. However, it was clear that TNG could not continue much longer without its plots becoming repetitive and straining credulity in that most of the main characters had survived this long (not to mention the implausibility of Riker and Data remaining aboard the Enterprise in wartime conditions when they were both fully qualified by this point for commands of their own). TNG’s producers convinced a reluctant Paramount to produce a heavily-promoted half-season to conclude the series, culminating with “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” The brief given to the finale’s writers was simple: “Kill ’em all.” (The crew’s deaths were more elaborate and brutal in earlier drafts, with Data electrocuted and Wesley decapitated, but time and budget considerations prevented this.) It was inevitable that TNG’s series finale would focus on Tasha Yar, the show’s breakout character. A minor figure at the beginning of the series, Yar benefited from two or three unusually strong early scripts, capturing the attention of writers and viewers. As she received increasingly meaty storylines, Denise Crosby’s acting talents blossomed, and the role catapulted her to major television stardom while permanently raising the bar for the depiction of female characters on American primetime television. By the midpoint of Season 2, Yar was clearly the show’s main character, even though Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes retained top billing. If they resented a supporting player stealing the spotlight from them, as happened over the years to the putative stars of other TV series such as "Happy Days," "Family Ties" and "Family Matters," they gave no public indication of it. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” would also amply justify a decision that viewers had found odd: the addition of Whoopi Goldberg to the cast at the beginning of Season 2 in the recurring role of ship’s bartender Guinan. This non-military character’s presence seemed incongruous on a wartime vessel, leading critics to accuse the show of stunt casting at the expense of believability. Throughout Guinan’s appearances, however, there were occasional hints that there was more to her than met the eye, as she would occasionally murmur to herself that there was something indefinably wrong with the fabric of reality. The meaning of these vague hints, initially unknown to the writers themselves, would finally become clear in the unexpected story with which the show ended. (“Yesterday’s Enterprise” was the first episode of the series in which Guinan appeared on the Bridge.) It was especially daring for a series with such broad-based popularity to conclude with such a complex story, involving alternate timelines and potential changes to the histories of characters the audience had come to know so well. (Years later, Jonathan Frakes said, “To this day I do not understand ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise.’ I do not know what the fuck happened in that episode. I’m still trying to understand it…”) In its brief run, TNG produced unforgettable episodes. Among its greatest achievements was “Imzadi,” a Hitchcockian thriller guest-starring Marina Sirtis (a British actor who auditioned for the role of Yar during the casting of TNG’s pilot) as a duplicitous half-Betazoid mind-control expert, Riker’s former lover, who subtly turned the Enterprise crew against each other with her empathic abilities and was ultimately revealed to be an agent of an extremist peace group suspected of complicity with the Klingons. Even more memorable was “batlh,” told entirely from the point of view of a Klingon crew locked in hopeless combat with the Enterprise. African-American actor Michael Dorn received an Emmy nomination for his inspired performance as the doomed Klingon captain. Nonetheless, “Yesterday’s Enterprise” remains TNG’s crowning achievement. (It is Denise Crosby’s favorite TNG episode, and features composer Dennis McCarthy’s favorite of the scores he composed for the series.) Remarkably, while bringing the series to a conclusive and explosive end, it pointed the way forward to Star Trek’s future. The Enterprise-C’s desperate journey back in time held out the possibility of an alternate version of the 24th century in which the devastating war between Federation and Empire never happened at all, leaving the way open for a rebooted series returning to the optimism of the original. Star Trek would prove to be in the forefront of the wave of “lighter and softer” sci-fi shows that captured large audiences in the 1990s, in part a reaction against the darkness of TNG itself. And yet however much later versions of the franchise differed from it, TNG’s extraordinary series finale ensured that, as Jean-Luc Picard had hoped, history would never forget the name Enterprise. Incidentally, I considered writing this comment from the viewpoint of an alternate timeline in which TNG was a more optimistic and utopian series from the outset, with “Yesterday’s Enterprise” as a glimpse of a darker alternative. Such a series could, I think, have run as long as seven seasons, although it is scarcely likely that it would have produced a series finale as good as “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” I decided, however, that such a comment would be too complicated and confusing. The information that appears inside parentheses in this comment would have been true in that alternate timeline as well.

Anthony Bernacchi

A&J, did you guess during the episode that Tasha would choose to go back to rewrite her death?

JGoss

Not my proudest fap.

EnigmaticPenguin

I sure do love Th... Wednesdays <3

John Deadcorn

Likely not, but was almost Worf: https://ibb.co/3B5Njcr

JGoss

So glad the credits didn’t spoil Tasha’s appearance

Lwaxana’s Poolboy

I'm 99% certain it's James Avery. Heard his name dropped in relation to the episode many times over the years.

Steven Johnson

Shattner does, but only if he's singing "Rocket Man".

Burrito Vampire

This episode should have been made into a theatrical movie.

Jason Mitchell

Despite having seen every episode dozens of times, it really does feel like the first time following along with you guys through the show. This is a brilliant episode and there are many more to come that match it. Thanks so much for making another re-watch feel new and special again!

John Deadcorn

The script was hastily put together over a holiday break. I'm not sure they had a chance for it to cross their minds. It would have made for some great continuity though.

JGoss

James Avery!? Awesome! RIP 🙏🏻

Josh (Target Audience)

Ummm, you sure about that? The voice is uncredited, and I've never heard it attributed to him.

JGoss

They actually increased the budget for this episode. Each episode was costing approximately $1.2 million, and even with the increased budget they couldn't do everything they wanted to do, including most of the crew dying and the Enterprise D possibly being destroyed as the C went through the rift. Such a good episode though. IMO, the best of Season 3 so far.

John

They were going to kill everybody. Geordi was going to get electrocuted, Wesley or Data (story changes) was going to get a decapitation, and of course Picard goes down with the ship. THe voice of the Klingon is Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel Air, by the way.

Steven Johnson

I'm convinced this was changed at some point, and it was intended to be the same.

Steven Johnson

Yeah I felt edged but it was good lol

Josh (Target Audience)

Uncut reactions are tough on the attention span. For classic episodes I know like the back of my hand, I just put y'all on in the background while I do work or chores. "They're screaming at 2 minutes, cool they saw Yar. Screaming at 43 minutes, Riker just ATE IT."

Juan Tutrífor

I really like the “C’s” crew uniforms altered from the Kirk era uniforms but still a “Monster Maroon”

Thicketdweller

.....anybody got a cigarette?

JGoss

Haven't watch your reaction yet, but this gonna be troll thumbnail haha

Jiri Luza

Picard's actually holding Riker back in this timeline, because it's hard not to believe Starfleet would force Riker to accept a command in a losing war effort.

Juan Tutrífor

The transition from normal reality to alternate timeline wasn't planned. It was done in post, and is one of the coolest shots in the show. Then of course Picard moves over, and there's Tasha. So awesome. Since it wasn't planned, no transition at the end was doable. I'm happier with the way it went, though maybe actually seeing the Enterprise explode might have punched it up a bit. The last shot of Picard fighting on with fire coming into frame was a pretty strong visual though.

JGoss

Great name

Josh (Target Audience)

Riker really needs to not keep his space rock collection on the bridge. They turn into nasty shrapnel

Phil Ken Sebben

*ties bib around neck

James Bottas

We have finally arrived..! Great addition to my lunch hour! Thanks Guys!

Badger

Captain Garrett .... death by Macross model kit piece

JGoss

Not that I'm complaining IN THE LEAST, but isn't this episode a day early? This is probably not just one of my favorite episodes of TNG, but Star Trek in general. It felt like a movie. You could tell there was a lot of time and care put into this episode. Just love it!

wildhunt1973

No, the attack Worf was rescued from was at Khitomer, not Narendra 3. Same players, but different events.

JGoss

Love the subtle change in acting. He's not even looking at him for some time on the viewscreen, he refers to him as Commander rather than Number One, and firmly stops Riker in his tracks when giving his opinion. Just a reminder this is war, not a cruise ship.

JGoss

Can you guys make the weekend come a day early too? Please?

JGoss

A day early?! Glad I chose to work from home today

Lwaxana’s Poolboy

You are basically saving my day today. I have some very tough four weeks behind me, this comes right on time!

MadScientist

"Enjoying every scene" that's right guys. Watch it again, there's a lot to take in. The changes to the sets and lighting are a feast for the eyes.

JGoss

I found the somewhat adversarial relationship between Picard and Riker in the alternate timeline to be rather interesting.

Collin Freeman

You've made my day, literally just finished work ❤️

SinocTheHodgeheg

I had mentioned about Data and Wesley, but did not know they were planning on showing everyone dead.

Collin Freeman

Okay, here we go. The show really gets kicked up to notches heretofore unknown.

Collin Freeman

lol got the reaction I was hoping for good knew that pop was gonna be huge lol.

Jason Biggs

DAMMIT GOSS!

Josh (Target Audience)

Hahaha, you guys spoke over the first mention of a war with the Klingons

JGoss

I mean, my renewal's coming up! Gotta see if those ducats are well spent!

JD Nevesytrof

Oh this is gonna be good!

prot180

Now you understand the hype, this ep was such a huge deal to us at the time that they literally wrote a book about the making of this one story

JD Nevesytrof

Unlike the Sega Saturn, dropping this early without announcement was the right move

JGoss

Bro skipped to the end 💀

Josh (Target Audience)

Double "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?", you guys delivered

JGoss

Yep

Troy Massey

YESSS

Phil Ken Sebben

If someone hasn't commented about that, they absolutely WANTED and scripted to show the last stand with everyone else dying, Data was gonna get electrocuted, etc etc. But this show was right up against their budget and time and they just couldn't

JD Nevesytrof

Well this drop completely changed my plans for today

Evan Guthrie

I love these early Thursdays. Keep hacking that system clock, team ⏰️

The Ninth Doctor

I've been waiting on this one for so long, and it's a day early! Can't wait for work to end so I can watch!

Guillaume Bergeron

Today just got better!

Thicketdweller

"Every Star Trek fan is stupid but me." - every Star Trek fan

Juan Tutrífor

F'N-A!

Faitestealer

Early? Whoa. LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

JGoss

It sure feels like a Thursday to me!😉

Terrell Harkness

WHAT WHAT WHAT THE TA MAINFRAME SYSTEM CLOCK HACK WORKED

llama


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