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FULL DISCUSSION - Star Trek TNG S3E10 - The Defector

FULL DISCUSSION - Star Trek TNG S3E10 - The Defector

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I always read that as being concerned with internal things, But who knows, maybe some romulan faction was freaking out over the possibility of an AI apocalypse.

paultardspambot .

Ron Jones was so fire he got fired

GreenCauldron08

In “ the Neutral Zone.” The Romulans say their “attentions were else where” Which makes me wonder?? Maybe an uprising fiefdom, maybe the Breen??

Philbot

I get that there’s dire stakes, but currently the enterprise could just stay put on the “right side” of the neutral zone and monitor the situation? Like they’re always the only ship in the sector, but if people are coming, I think they can handle it, especially with the secret Klingons..

Philbot

I think the appearance of the Klingons with the Enterprise is important for a simpler reason: it reminds the Romulans that the alliance between the Federation and the Klingons is not a small thing, and that the Klingons hate the Romulans much more than anyone in the Federation does.

Jovet

@Mark Wood It's possible, sure, but it's the Romulans we're talking about: they have little regard for rules, non-Romulans, and non-Romulan rules. And they know that they can get away with murder with their unilateral ability to cloak.

Jovet

I keep getting hunted by spoiler slayers 😆 so I’m always trying not to say too much..

Philbot

This is a fun conversation, but I think I have to let it go for now. I wrote a very long defense of the logic behind Jarok's plan, why the Federation destroying the base before it was operational could prevent a full scale war and why the Klingon Government might not get involved if a war did break out. But I realized I was deep into spoiler territory. Going to have to leave it at that, unfortunately. My defense of the episode was a lot of Headcanon anyway.

Ross Bischoff

Personally I've always been of the opinion that with an end to hostilities with the klingons at Khitomer and the romulans being out of the picture for so long, the early 24th century was a very quiet, peaceful period in federation history and starfleet got complacent with it's ship designs and operating doctrines.

Timothy Nikiforovs

he crossed the neutral zone just to shit on Worf 🤣

Timothy Nikiforovs

I caught this, too. All good, mah boys! Keep on a watchin’!!

Jess Thomas

Tomalak, not Tamalak The appearance of the Klingon ships is important. Part of the romulans game is to only fight the Federation without the Klingons fighting as well. We've seen there are some Klingons who are not fans of the alliance with the Federation, so these games of "you crossed into the zone first" are likely so the Klingons will have a reason not to honor their alliance. Also, in terms of brinkmanship, I don't think it's that the Romulan necessarily want a war, but they know the Federation doesn't either, so if they captured the Enterprise on the pretense they entered the zone, they're thinking starfleet wont engage in a war. Same as with the previous romulan episode, the romulans in federation space were obviously there to set up a listening post inside federation space. I don't think Tomalak was really going to go to war over a dead romulan on the federations's side of the neutral zone. But the federation can't be sure, so its more likely they wee hoping to gain concessions from the federation to keep the peace. Its why Picard has to make a big deal of them crossing into federation space or entering the neutral zone. If he didn't, the Romulans would take it as a sign of weakness (Balance of Terror) as Spock explained, and they'd start crossing the neutral zone all the time once they saw the Federation didn't have the backbone to enforce the treaty of Algeron. It's a complex multipolar game with them, and you never know what their real motivations are. Add to that the Romulans are not entirely unified, some may want war, others may not. And keep in mind the Federation is still weak from the Gillworm invasion (Conspiracy) with ships decommisioned and such. Heck, even the galaxy class itself seems like its a product of the gillworms influence. Starfleet spent years developing a giant cruiser with mission creep they put children on. How many times do we see the computer core has to be replaced, the warp core be replaced, there are various flaws, etc. The romulans are almost certainly aware of what happened with the gillworms given how good their intelligence network is, and there are surely some who are saying strike now before starfleet has fully recovered. We see how undermanned starfleet is and how few ships ever seem to be available. If it wasn't for the Klingon alliance, the Romulans probably would have already invaded, hence the huge significance of the K'vorts decloaking.

paultardspambot .

Yea, but that wasn’t really my question. It seems like they didn’t really have to go in at all. Jarok’s entire plan is to stop a war by attacking first? I don’t know how that helps it seems that the federation could patrol the border send 100 ships! If they’re going to attack they would anyway violating the treaty first doesn’t help anything. And they’re also stupid because the Klingons are already allies and they don’t like the romulans much so them getting involved was always a risk. 🤷‍♂️

Philbot

I'm counting 8 episodes in season 3 I prefer to this one, which is excellent. The second half of season 3 is stacked with great episodes. I think its the start of peak TNG which continues for all of seasons 4 to 6 and most of season 7 - which I see at a similar level to season 3. Lots to enjoy, there's a reason why the show got its biggest ratings during TNG.

Paul Rymer

Don't feel bad about not knowing some of the older cultural references. A lot of what I know about those things comes from the fact I saw it on Star Trek first then researched it.

Edweirdo

Gosh I'm old. I just noticed this episode aired on my 30th birthday.

Dale Williams

They want a war they can win. The Federation and the Klingons have a defensive alliance. Kinda like the United States and NATO. If the Enterprise is alone and captured they can claim the Federation were the aggressors and the Klingons would have no obligation to join the war. Since the Klingons were there and the Romulans would likely lose the battle, the Klingons and the Federation would know that the Romulans were the aggressors and the Romulan Empire would have a war on two fronts.

Ross Bischoff

My favorite thing about Tomalak is how much joy he takes in lying to people who know he is lying. He's got that shit-eating grin on his face that says, "this is the line I'm using to politically justify my actions and we both know it's bullshit but what are you going to do about it?" What a fun antagonist.

Glen

TA: "The Romulans have absolutely no honor" Worf: "These guys are getting it"

Andreas Schmitt

Yea, they could probably watch 6 by now really not a ton of spoilery knowledge..

Philbot

I’m wondering how Sherlock would have been applicable to their current situation?

Philbot

If you guys watch Scrubs or have ever watched scrubs you will come to love dr. Stubbs 😂

Philbot

While I like this episode I don’t think I like it as much as them it starts to get a little slow in the third act?? The stakes seem inflated?? They’re either going to attack or not, but if the enterprise goes in first they will anyways? But they don’t go to war because they’d all die except didn’t they want war?? 🤷‍♂️🤣

Philbot

All I hear that is Benitez in "The Renaissance Man" - what a powerful scene.

Matt Newmark

I was hoping you'd read mine last, and you did! Thanks, guys, you made my day!

Anthony Bernacchi

Small correction boys. Riker says a Romulan curse word, veruul, not a klingon one.

Clyde Frog

Yeah I already made a sarcastic comment about this on the reaction post, but here it is if you missed it: Wait.. how can we enjoy these themes when we weren’t living during the Cold War and don’t understand the fears at the time and aren’t history buffs and don’t like war stories and younger generation blah blah blah blah Could it be…. The execution of the story made us care??? 🤯🤯🤯

Josh (Target Audience)

It's 2080s actor Hector Branagh.

John M.

I had already thought about the fact that the Klingons didn't attack blindly. I imagine that Picard made it clear to the Klingons that there might be a glorious battle, but that the Federation would rather see the Romulans crawl back into hiding with their tails between their legs - because the Romluans would then have to live with this dishonorable humiliation.

Adam from Germany

The title is "The Defecator" (mind - I'm still translating wirth deepl.com)

Adam from Germany

Colm Meaney was in and out of the show because by this point he had built a successful acting career. Around this time he had roles in Die Hard 2 and The Committments for example plus guest spots on other networked TV shows. Don’t look this up it’ll spoil future episodes.

Paul Rymer

Don't know if anyone has made this point yet, but.....gulp....'Red October' is about an enemy officer defecting to stop an increased risk of war due to a strategic advantage which they have to betray. I realise the TNG script is more concentrated and the Enterprise crew interact more with the Romulan than Raimius and the Americans, but it is still the same concept. Is Raimius trustworthy?

Numinous2019

The guys might not be aware of it, but Patrick Stewart is a Shakespearean actor, having been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 through 1982. It's what got him into acting, and it's what led to his breakthrough into Hollywood. When he was cast on TNG, the LA Times called him an "unknown British Shakespearean actor", and during the first season, the cast pranked him by replacing his name with that on his dressing room.

Adam Zey

Ron Jones is absolutely fired.

Mark Wood

Your right. Its 6th for myself on this season.

Mark Wood

Since we don't know how close the planet is to eater side of the zone. It's quite possible that they actually enter the Neutral zone only after the Enterprise does. With the fact that the Enterprise is visible to their sensors if they are lookin gin that area (and they even have a probe that would be closer then their side of the zone), it does give them the possibility of actually leaving after the Enterprise violated. Now of course they already have footage of the Roman Warbird going so deep into the Neutral Zone that they nearly cross over into Federation Space.

Mark Wood

I love this episode, but, in line with the last patron take, I can think of five season 3 episodes we haven't gotten to yet that I'd rank above it.

Steven Linden

Sir Patrick spent most of his pre-Trek career acting in Shakespeare plays. It would have seemed obvious to everybody working on the show that he should be in the performance of Henry V. Also, he is from Yorkshire, in northern England, so the accent he was using in the play is pretty much the one he grew up speaking.

Regan

LOL Yes!

Michael Nemo

I've attended Star Trek Las Vegas and it was pure Star Trek 💯. They do it every year.

Andrea R

I love your reactions and the discussions, I've started watching these again synced up with the show, and there are quite a few really good episodes this season I can't wait to see how you like the rest of it.

Preston M

By the way, yesterday May 18th was Andreas Katsulas's birthday. He would have been 78. He was SO good in these episodes!!

Jovet

I thought about pointing it out. 34:39 on my copy.

Jovet

Oh, the Romulans are totally lying jerk assholes. For example, they violate the Neutral Zone constantly and then throw a hissy fit when the Federation does just once. Josh pointed out that the Romulans made the Federation look like the aggressors... but really, those Romulan Warbirds were already there, lying in wait. And, Tomalak's lies (especially in "The Enemy") are just so disgusting.

Jovet

Yes, but it still wasn't clear if he was lying and it was an orchestrated Romulan plot, or something else.

Jovet

Josh has gotten emotional. It just takes the right trigger. I've already predicted they'll both be weeping at some point. I have one episode in mind for sure, but a few other candidates that we'll just have to see about.

Jovet

The Romulan ship intentionally slowing down to let the scout ship escape should have been a big enough clue that everything Jarok told them was what the Romulans wanted him to tell them.

JGoss

I like what you said and to paraphrase... "If you don't like this episode, then you don't like Star Trek."

Stevtrek

This is one of those episodes where we see someone come out of the bridge restroom! No comments on that guys?!?! What gives?!?! ;)

Michael Nemo

When I first saw this as a kid, I was sooo pissed at the twist. Definitely made the Romulans Evil Villains in this one. And as I grew older I appreciated it more and more.

Firekrys FWO

17:34 Fun bit of tech trivia. Dr. Crusher is not scanning him. She is using what is called a "dermal regenerator." It excites/increases cellular activity at the site of the wound to accelerate healing. With Romulans this process is even faster because as we know from Spock, Vulcanians are a tough breed. So, in the future, if you cut or scrape yourself, you can go into the bathroom and use a Dermal regenerator to fix it. No more bandaids.

Steven Johnson

I have the Klingon Dictionary in my attic. I bought it at a Star Trek convention in my teens. That was when conventions were purely Creation STAR TREK conventions. I wish they would bring back those. None of this comic-con crap. Not putting those down because I’ve been to a couple of them. But I wish they were pure Star Trek conventions again, and I really miss those days.

Chris S.

👍🏻

Chris S.

Part of my favorite scene in this episode. So great.

Collin Freeman

30:20 That was a sublime comment!

Jovet

23:20! Definitely! Always best to discuss while it's all fresh in your minds.

Jovet

19:40 That's a really important, and underrated, scene.

Jovet

Ayy, my take made it. If it was going to for any episode, I'm glad it's this one. While this is my personal favourite of TNG, I'm by no means saying "it's all downhill from here". There are many episodes yet to come that are on par with the quality of The Defector, and they all have their own unique strengths. It's just the characters and the content of this story appeal more to me personally.

Timothy Nikiforovs

15:32 The twist at the end isn't obvious. There are hints, but it's still up to the viewer to put a few things together. As handy as it is to read the captioning, it's not the same as hearing the actors deliver the lines. Inflection, cadence, tone, it's why we're watching a TV show instead of reading a novel.

Jovet

From Wikipedia: In addition to his regular role of Captain Picard, Patrick Stewart also played the role of the holodeck character of "Michael Williams" from Shakespeare's Henry V, Act 4, Scene I, in the opening scenes of the episode. Stewart, who performed the role under heavy prosthetic makeup, requested this out of his love for Shakespeare—Stewart is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Stewart uses a regional English accent from the Black Country, an area between Birmingham and Wolverhampton; his version is of the strong 'Gornal' variety of Black Country dialect.

Brian K

She holds his decision against him, but it's not Worf's fault that she got Romulan medicine experience.

Jovet

Good news is we all know what comes after those 2 episodes.

ijp8834

My point was that communications have typically been like phone calls, instant. By adding a long delay between responses, it adds to the tension.

JGoss

They are SO going to lose their shit. I just can hardly wait!

Jovet

Agreed, I was trying to think which ones were better, and I am pretty sure I know the 6, but would say that 2 of them are easily objectively better (and we all know which ones), with the other 4 being on par, maybe +/- a little bit.

ijp8834

Tulmakake

Jovet

Subspace communication is faster than light. But it's not instantaneous. The Admiral was probably on Earth, versus being closer on a starbase or such.

Jovet

It was better in the original Klingon

AzoriusMage

That last comment they read danced along the neutral zone, but I like it.

D Jammers

Early non-specific prediction, that in some of these great ones coming, you guys may even get emotional over them. Alex definitely (based on past reactions), but maybe even Josh.

Joe Concepts

And doesn't Data actually pronounce Branagh wrong?

Joe Concepts

Borrowed from memory-alpha.fandom.com - Patrick Stewart, with heavy make-up and accent, plays the Shakespearean character of Michael Williams in the episode's opening scenes, which pay homage to the recently released 1989 film version of Henry V. That film was directed by and starred Kenneth Branagh, whose performance is cited by Data as one of the inspirations for his own. Stewart appeared in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1980) with Derek Jacobi, who appeared in Branagh's Henry V. Incidentally, Picard quotes Williams later in the episode when he says "Now if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it."

Andrea R

I think it was Ron Jones with another great score. His 8-note Romulan theme is awesome. Jones is just the man. Fantastic episode! Oh, and by the way…Beverly takes a shot at Worf for letting the Romulan in “The Enemy” die. That was a “oh shit” moment!

Chris S.

The teaser originally involved Data as Sherlock Holmes but had to be replaced for legal reasons. Patrick Stewart suggested Henry V as an alternative when approached by Michael Piller, two days before filming. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 110))

Andrea R

It sure does. It sure does.

JGoss

Mmmm, tomahawk steak

JGoss

(Bane voice) "Calm down James. Now is not the time for Es or Fs........that comes later"

Timothy Nikiforovs

Thomas Locke

Timothy Nikiforovs

Looking ahead, you have got a great run of solid, and even great, episodes on the way.

Joe Concepts

Ha... very nice stealth shot at The Hunt for Red October again!

Joe Concepts

Not sure about 6 being BETTER than this, but there are a few that are better and I'd say around 6 that are AS good I'd say. One thing I can guarantee however.. this was NOT your biggest pop of the season, and not your last clap.

Andreas Schmitt

Looking at the list from this season, I think ranking this anywhere between fifth and eighth would be pretty normal. IMDB has it fifth, but I see at least two episodes to come with a lower ranking that will have Alex and Josh going all Remmick's head.

John M.

Certainly no E or F though. Or else.

JGoss

And then one by one rather than two and then discuss is another gem of an idea.

JGoss

Oh don’t worry, there’s already some C and D tier ones 😈 *crowd boos*

Josh (Target Audience)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You guys deciding to watch Star Trek in release order is genius. I am here for it !

Just another Red Shirt

Yeah, that's what I said. At least he probably already knew the lines.

KatWithAttitude

Heartbreaking

Josh (Target Audience)

Well, we'll see if you like the remaining season 3 episodes as much! Everyone has their tastes and of course many different factors can go into a great episode. But there are a few I am certain you'll love. Season 3 is just getting warmed up!

Trouty McTroutTrout

If you ever worry about the show maybe starting to peak, according to IMDb rankings, you've only watched 7 of the top 20 so far, and only 16 of the top 50!

JGoss

Stewart not only offered to play Michael Williams (under heavy makeup, which he never had to sit for), he was the one who suggested Henry V for the holodeck program.

JD Nevesytrof

Tilamook Bay? I'm familiar with it through another fandom 😂

Ee'char

"My daughter will grow up thinking me a traitor. But she WILL grow up."

Dan Halstead

I can't tell you if you'll consider future episodes better than this. But I know for a fact of the pops coming, my guys. The pops.

JD Nevesytrof

From here until the end of the season, it’s almost a perfect line going up, with one good episode after another.

Aramis Calcutt

Mmmm, Tillamook cheese

JD Nevesytrof

Yes, in the oral history of Trek I've been reading his friends and partners always refer to him as Ron.

JD Nevesytrof

The end of season ranking video is gonna be fun. Don't feel obligated to put episodes in C or D tier because the top is so heavily loaded 😅

JGoss

It's clearly Tillamook

JGoss

Damn right, Anthony. I might place this 8th or even 9th in the season, and the extra 2 haven't come yet either.

JGoss

Not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me. They wouldn't have had much time to cast someone else since they had to change it two days before filming.

KatWithAttitude

Us too

Josh (Target Audience)

And Patrick Stewart "offered" to play the holographic character in the Henry V scene, correct?

Collin Freeman

Agree with there being AT LEAST 6 more episodes that are equal or better than this.

THE LORE!!!

I think he would prefer to go by Ron. And guys, if you think this 1 was really good, you aint' seen nothin yet.

Collin Freeman

I have to say I really really appreciate the new system with the episode discussion coming right after the watch, I think that's the perfect way to go.

JD Nevesytrof

Tumilake, got it

Josh (Target Audience)

What would he consider us?

Josh (Target Audience)

Nope!

Josh (Target Audience)

According to Memory Alpha, Data was originally going to be Sherlock Holmes in the opening, and that's when they found out Holmes is not in the public domain. It was Patrick Stewart who suggested Henry V instead.

KatWithAttitude

and It's Tomolak, not Talamok

Ee'char

I don't know if you'll like the next 2 episodes as much as this one, but in my opinion they are still really good episodes.

Collin Freeman

You talked about the score; did you notice that when the Kligons decloaked at the end, it was the Klingon theme from the Kirk-era films?

Ee'char

Henry V is one of Shakespeare’s more popular history plays. Look up the St. Crispin’s Day speech. It’s where we get the phrase “Band of Brothers.” … “This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be rememberèd— We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.”

Aramis Calcutt

I am pretty sure Ronald D. Moore goes by Ronald professionally but among cast and crew he's just Ron. I'm sure the TA will correct me if I'm wrong.

Collin Freeman

8:00 This episode has cut content. The interrogation went much longer and had to be trimmed down for time. That's probably why Troi's presence feels abrupt.

JGoss

I think this is the first time subspace communication is used like this and in a useful way. By setting up hours of delay for response, Picard has a difficult choice to make and has to use his own judgment because every minute counts.

JGoss

Yes, the Romulans are master manipulators. Their whole society is based on subterfuge and stabbing each other in the back to climb the ladder. Not unlike the Romans of the 1st century A.D. they are patterned after. Master politicians in the worst way.

Collin Freeman

When you think you're doing the right thing and it all backfires such a sad story.

Jason Mitchell


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