I just realized that the actor playing Ral is the same actor who was Lloyd Braun on Seinfeld!!
Aramis Calcutt
2025-01-19 01:29:21 +0000 UTC
lol this is where future knowledge just hurts and you want to blurt out what happens and how small details in this episode come back a few years and shows later lol.
Jason Biggs
2024-05-16 20:19:23 +0000 UTC
I also took it more as a little bit of lazy writing. Most of the writers of TNG at this time, would have known about the aerobics craze. Something that was primarily embraced by women. I never took it let's make it sexual (because it never felt sexual to me). Lets find a more modern thing women due together, and instead of thinking about what they might be doing in the future, lets just riff a fad that was already dying but still was considered an Late 70's/80's fad..
Mark Wood
2024-05-15 23:35:10 +0000 UTC
Sometimes I find these scenes like the Troi/Crusher scene insulting to sci-fi fans. I feel like the producers are like, "these nerds are watching in their parent's basement, let's give them a little T&A." There is an episode of "Enterprise" where I think they take this too far.
Stevtrek
2024-05-15 05:26:08 +0000 UTC
Ral wasn't a Chrysalian, he's human/betazoid. He was just representing the Chrysalians
Ee'char
2024-05-15 01:05:03 +0000 UTC
Hello, Newman...
Charles D.
2024-05-14 18:10:30 +0000 UTC
I'll give Gene and the producers the benefit of the doubt here, and suggest that the only reason they had mirrors in the "yoga room" is in fact because it's really being filmed in the middle of the engineering set, and they had to hide that fact with something more interesting than just a wall plug. (Even as I'm typing this, I can't quite convince myself of that...)
tyranusfan
2024-05-14 13:25:58 +0000 UTC
Should be noted that before this, in both TOS and TNG, the terms "quadrant" and "sector" were used interchangeably. From here on out, they use quadrant only to describe the quarters of the galaxy, and sectors to talk about where they are "on a map grid," so to speak.
tyranusfan
2024-05-14 13:23:05 +0000 UTC
This episode teaches you how to deal with two types of toxic people: charming manipulators (Ral), and people who are too loud, brash, overbearing, and just plain stupid for their own good (the Ferengi). With manipulators, you see through their tactics, challenge them, and expose what they're actually doing (Riker's scene in 10 Foreward, Troi exposing his deception to the others). With stupid people, you don't have to do anything. The stupid will take care of itself, and the trash will take itself out (the Ferengi stranding themselves in the Delta Quadrant).
And I agrre that this, or possibly Peak Performance, is when they finally figured out how to use the Ferengi. They aren't dangerous or malicious. They're caricatures of us. They're capitalists who have no desire for violence, but they do have a desire for profit and good business dealings. They work as comic relief and as a nuisance as long as they're handled in a way that isn't completely over the top goofy. As you discovered, they're actually pretty welcome characters when handled well.
BN13
2024-05-14 12:17:53 +0000 UTC
The guy who plays the love interest for Troi always struck me as being extremely awkward and terrible. Even when I was younger, I would cover my face at nearly every line he delivers. "I'm Debanani Ral...." Ugh, awful. This episode might be one of the worst in the series, but it does set up for a surprise in a later Trek show that I really enjoy.
Clyde Frog
2024-05-13 19:40:48 +0000 UTC
I think even 13 year old me cringed when I first saw the "yoga" scene. It was just so clearly made to be eye candy.
I think the interesting thing about this episode is what it could have been and wasn't. Imagine if instead of this wormhole being discovered by a race with an economic disadvantage, it was mutually discovered by Federation and Romulan long range sensors and there was a race to claim it with all the expected tension of brinkmanship? They could have done that, but IMO they would be over-using the Romulans in that way. And the story as is told helps to flesh out the galaxy a bit more, with other races, politics, negotiations, etc.
This is a B tier episode for me at best though, and not one I go to for a re-watch. There are a few moments where the tension pays off, such as the wormhole jumping and leaving the Ferengi stranded, and Raul being exposed as an empath, but they just weren't satisfying enough to carry the whole episode.
Sherpa Jones
2024-05-13 15:02:04 +0000 UTC
Totally correct - The diameter of our galaxy is (conservatively*) around 100,000 light years. In the Star Trek universe, this disk is divided into 4 quadrants. (I hope the program translates this correctly into Star Trek English) Earth is of course in the alpha quadrant. Apart from the Alpha Quadrant, the Federation of United Planets has pretty much no idea what's going on in the rest of the Milky Way.
*Conservative, because recently a few objects (stars or nebulae) have been sighted that are further out and still held by the Milky Way; which puts us at about 200,000 light years, but most of what is seen and known is limited to the 100,000.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) - sometimes I don't delete this.
Adam from Germany
2024-05-13 14:45:02 +0000 UTC
That just makes one try to visualize what his 'probe' would look like .... ugh...
Jovet
2024-05-13 13:16:41 +0000 UTC
Lucky you! The first episode of TNG I saw was Conspiracy with the worms and exploding head...OMG was I traumatized!!!! I was 14!! I immediately knocked off TNG as something to never watch again. I finally came back to it a decade or so later when someone convinced me it was an awesome show...and I ended up LOVING IT. I still stay away from anyone reacting to that episode though :)
C_Drew
2024-05-13 12:23:35 +0000 UTC
This will probably look broken depending on the font your browser uses, but you'll get the point:
|
|
Gamma | Delta
|
------------|------------
|
Alpha | Beta
|
X
|
X = Most of Star Trek takes place here
Tim b
2024-05-13 09:34:30 +0000 UTC
Then send in your own damn probe Goss!
Philbot
2024-05-13 07:43:15 +0000 UTC
It’s funny, but I think this might be the first time we see the two women together in an off-duty situation. I mean they’ve worked together for a while, and they seem to work well but you don’t really see them hanging out, not on duty.
Philbot
2024-05-13 07:42:25 +0000 UTC
Well, I did say it was ONE reason. Can't imagine any others.
KatWithAttitude
2024-05-13 05:31:10 +0000 UTC
Yes...that is definitely the whole reason... 🍑👀
Greg Quinn
2024-05-13 05:07:15 +0000 UTC
Troi trying to get a "real chocolate sunday" and the computer initially not wanting to do it because it's not healthy gives you some hints about how the replicator works.
When you order something unhealthy like a chocolate Sunday it makes it in such a way that it tastes incredibly close to the real thing but not quite. But in exchange you get something that has a perfect breakdown of macro and micro nutrients. Now the replicator "can" make a "real" chocolate Sunday but it generally won't unless the health guidelines are over rode.
This would also partially explain in universe why almost everyone is pretty healthy and very few people are overweight (along with factors like plenty of opportunities for fun exercise like in the holodeck, and overall great mental health so few people will be eating to fulfill emotional needs...although Troi seemed like she was trying to eat for emotional needs in this episode).
Of course the real world explanation is they generally hire fairly fit actors, who then wear tight tummy tucking outfits along with silicon muscle suits under their uniforms...lol.
Greg Quinn
2024-05-13 05:05:37 +0000 UTC
Just for your reference. the Federation is mainly in the Alpha and parts of the Beta quadrant. Earth is close to the edge of Alpha and Beta. I think that one ship that Riker got offered last season was supposed to explore the Beta quadrant a bit more. The delta and Gamma quadrants are basically on the other side the the galaxy.
The Romulan and Klingon Empires are mostly in the Beta quadrant, as are the Gorn and Tholians from TOS. From fan maps, about three quarters of the federation are in the Alpha quadrant.
I'd link a map but it contains spoilers for species you haven't met yet hehe.
Andreas Schmitt
2024-05-13 03:07:27 +0000 UTC
I remember that they were trying to work up buzz for Troi's love scene. Like Entertainment Tonight talking about how steamy and risqué it was going to be. When I watched it after the hype the love scene was ho hum. Good episode, though.
Mike Rogers
2024-05-13 02:44:08 +0000 UTC
I don’t love to hate Devinoni Ral. Hey Ral, it’s not “this damned ship.” It’s the Enterprise. I mean, it might be damned depending on what’s firing at it, invading it, or trapping it, but this week the only “damned” thing is you and those poor Ferengi.
Leo Greenwood
2024-05-13 02:33:37 +0000 UTC
Thanks for reading my take. That felt like a therapy session 🤣
JGoss
2024-05-13 01:50:03 +0000 UTC
I'm going to download this discussion and study it... study it very, very closely.
Jovet
2024-05-13 01:48:50 +0000 UTC
10:00 That's exactly what it is. Riker chose his career over Deanna. They both found each other again on the same ship and they're just friends. No games, no drama, no porking. Still lots of deep caring. Adults being mature adults.
Jovet
2024-05-13 01:37:49 +0000 UTC
7:38 Not 7,000 light years... 70,000 light years. Three-quarters of the way across the galaxy. Remember that 70,000 light years means that, "if you traveled at the speed of light, it would [still] take 70,000 years to make the journey." The whole point of Warp Drive is to go "faster than light" or else it would take ages to get anywhere. Warp 9 is many times faster than the speed of light (it's a logarithmic scale), but that trip would still take 80+ years.
Jovet
2024-05-13 01:30:49 +0000 UTC
Yukon Cornelius also needs his pick to taste test for gold or silver!!
Jovet
2024-05-13 01:24:24 +0000 UTC
Just a sideways step from Days of Our Lives!
Jovet
2024-05-13 01:22:27 +0000 UTC
0:03 😮🤩
Jovet
2024-05-13 01:21:29 +0000 UTC
💀
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-13 01:20:37 +0000 UTC
I’ve always liked this episode I can still remember the night it aired me and my brother were outside playing in the snow, fighting Borg. And we came inside to watch and warm up. I love pretty much all of season 3 really!
Philbot
2024-05-13 01:09:32 +0000 UTC
One reason why the mirrors were there is that this is really the main Engineering set. The mirrors covered up stuff.
KatWithAttitude
2024-05-13 01:08:25 +0000 UTC
If memory serves, this was the first episode of TNG that I saw. Kind of a weird introduction, especially since I was like seven years old.
Steven Linden
2024-05-13 01:02:46 +0000 UTC
For me, this episode did for Ferengi what Star Trek III did for Klingons.
JGoss
2024-05-13 00:50:32 +0000 UTC
I mean I think we all know Alex and Josh are FWBs. Just go watch Emissary.
Steven Johnson
2024-05-13 00:46:58 +0000 UTC
The better Troi episodes aren't the Troi episodes.
Zack
2024-05-13 00:46:41 +0000 UTC
"I dOnT tHiNk itS A pIeCe A sHiT" - Some Guy On The Internet.
Steven Johnson
2024-05-13 00:46:32 +0000 UTC
What the hell was that teaser? Didn't even tease the Ferengi drama and explosions? Just "nah, Troi arguing at dinner about negotiations... nailed it!"
JGoss
2024-05-13 00:34:58 +0000 UTC
They’re FWBs. It’s pretty clear, but they couldn’t say it explicitly back then.
Aramis Calcutt
2024-05-13 00:32:24 +0000 UTC
TA Yoga Session scene will be expected every discussion video. Josh, you're up.