UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S3E5 - The Bonding
Added 2024-05-02 14:37:14 +0000 UTCThank you to everyone who gave us feedback on last week's reactions concerning syncing and lag issues. From everything I have read here as well as my own research, I believe the issue is unfortunately due to frame rate. Our camera & microphone equipment as well as the show footage on the blu-ray are at 23.98 fps, while streaming services tend to be true 24 fps. This causes a "drift" of 3.6 seconds after one hour of real time.
Now that we don't have show audio in the background, we believe it is best to do a visual sync at the beginning only. This way, you are not bothered by the constant drift taking place. It is such a minor difference that you should only need to pause our video for a moment once at around 30 minutes in, but even then it would only be necessary if you notice our commentary is early. We have had great feedback on our downloadable versions which have no syncs at all, only the time code. This will hopefully be the last time making changes to the format for these.
TL;DR - Pause our video for 1 second if you feel our reaction commentary becomes early as you get deeper in the episode
Comments
I'm into several personality theories, including some MBTI. In particular I think Kiersey's Temperaments help to explain the philosophical differences between something like Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek, and their fans respectively. I can definitely see why people can really like one and hate the other. I will by no means go into the full theories. But for what is relevant here, Kiersey divides all people into 4 main personality groups, or temperaments. The two groups relevant here are Artisans and Idealists. These two groups are kind of polar opposites in many ways. I'm pretty sure Ron Moore is an Artisan. Shows like Battlestar Gallactica, Rome, and Game of Thrones, definitely cater to Artisans. In fact, I'd say they completely embody the primary Artisan way of thinking. Artisans have a very pragmatic and gritty view of humanity and don't trust portrayals or characters that seem too "perfect" or idealistic. In fact, many of them are convinced that their counterparts, the Idealists, don't actually exist in this world, and are just as self-serving as they are and think everyone else is, and are just being fake to hide this. In reality though, nothing could be further from the truth. There are legit good and well-meaning people out there. Anyway, there is a LONG list of traits that work together to make someone an Artisan, and whatever I write here is going to be a massive over-simplification of the term, not to mention biased because I personally don't really care for artisan views. On the contrary, you have the idealists. Gene Rodenberry was probably an Idealist. Things like Lord of the Rings and Star Trek cater to idealists. These are the people who believe in the good of humanity and have hope for our future. These are the therapists that actually don't suck because they actually listen and understand human behavior (think Guinan as an example). These are the people who strive to be good for the sake of good because they want to be. These people are the Aragorns that Artisans are convinced don't exist (though granted, they're no where near as bad ass, and they'll probably never be in a position of power). Extreme examples are people like Bob Ross, Tolkien, Jim Henson, Walt Disney, and Mr. Rogers. But they can also be the nice guy next door, or the people who die first in shows like Battlestar Gallactica or Game of Thrones because they are "too nice". These groups each highly misjudge each other and each rub each other the wrong way. Artisans see Idealists as naive/ignorant, unrealistic, "goody-two-shoes", head in the sand, too perfect, dogmatic, having unrealistically high standards, or being inauthentic. Idealists see Artisans as "dark for the sake of dark", overly pessimistic, morally corrupt/ambiguous, overly self-serving, missing the big picture, creating the very problems they claim to hate, and never realizing that their view of "realism" isn't actually that realistic. Basically, both Artisans and Idealists each understand a part of the same truth. But neither side recognizes that they don't have the whole truth, and the other group actually contains the other half of the truth. they each have insight into humanity that is equally valid, but in vastly different ways. Each can get overly caught up in their own view and start missing the point. For example, This episode, "The Bonding" was written in part as a response to Gene insisting that in the 24th century, nobody will grieve. Obviously, that's TOO idealistic, and people like Ron Moore and other writers called it out. However, Ron Moore IMO has done more than his share of highly unrealistic things as well in his own work. For instance, I LOVE the Battlestar Gallactica Miniseries, and the first two episodes of the show because they actually had that truly realistic survival situation feel with real world scenarios that they had to figure out, and hard decisions that they had to make. If the show would have stayed like that, and focused on what humanity had to do in order to survive, I would have loved it. But i feel like pretty quickly the show starts doing things that throw that feel out of the water and completely break my suspension of disbelief. Whether it's characters showing up who IMO should never have survived, characters going completely out of character and turning evil for no reason, going to places we should never be able to go literally at any time, things being established as major problems all of a sudden not being an issue any more, or showing some stuff in the fleet just to be dark and gritty where if that was really how stuff was ran, that whole fleet would not be able to function. And don't even get me started on season 4. Ironically, sometimes I felt like Voyager was the more realistic of the two. I don't feel like Ron Moore "fixed voyager's problems". I feel like he created problems of his own. If you want some in-show examples Okana, Kirk and Riker are all Artisans. They aren't the best examples here though because they embody other Artisan traits better than the ones I described here, such as charisma, having multiple partners, charm, loyalty to their friends, and knowing how to relax and have fun. We'll be getting a few guest characters eventually though who are more opportunistic and more along the type of Artisans that I just described. Picard, Wesley, and Guinan are idealists. However, MUCH later once Ron Moore gets a chance to write a little about Picard in his youth, HE writes Picard as an Artisan. No surprise there considering Ron Moore is an Artisan. He writes what he knows. Even though in real life, people don't switch temperaments as they get older. I'm actually in the minority of really hating that episode because I view it through a type theory lens. I feel like one of the messages that Ron Moore was unintentionally sending was that life isn't worth living unless you live it like an artisan, and if you end up like an idealist, then you are a beta who never takes risks and are better off dead because you never really lived. I doubt anyone else got that message and I'm probably taking that way too personally lol. But more on that when we actually get there. As for this episode, I never knew Ron Moore wrote this one until now. I really like this episode, so I don't hate everything he's ever done. Sometimes the best Trek comes from Gene's idealism being challenged, and our true humanity being shown, like in this episode.
BN13
2024-05-11 21:05:06 +0000 UTCAt some point it's ok to just accept that it's ok to acknowledge the statistical reality that the vast majority of people are hetro/straight/cis....and it's perfectly normal and understandable to default to using language that indicates a child has one male and one female parent.....nothing in the dialogue was judgemental against LGBTQ2+....it just made reasonable assumptions in choice of dialogue and that's ok
Derek Orr
2024-05-08 00:45:08 +0000 UTCMinor Spoiler. Going forward, Ronald Moore is responsible for some of the really good Klingon story arcs.
Vagon Khan
2024-05-07 19:37:54 +0000 UTCI had not watched this episode in years, because I wasnt wild about it when I was younger. I figured you guys would not like this one either, but i'm glad I watched it again. I changed my mind about it, and am glad you guys enjoyed it so much.
Clyde Frog
2024-05-06 02:54:34 +0000 UTCThis episode will really give weight to past and future episodes when unnamed characters die. It gives us insight into the grieving process the crew does experience but a 45 minute episode lacks the time to show.
Sherpa Jones
2024-05-03 23:22:25 +0000 UTCI love watching Star Trek with you guys! ❤️ I’m always looking for more!
Philbot
2024-05-03 21:19:29 +0000 UTCThe visual stuff will come back, but the video has a timecode that regardless of your WiFi buffering, should be consistent throughout. Also, our uncut reactions are now available to download in the shop and are free for Target Demographic tier patrons. Most streaming services allow you to download to stream offline as well. Something to consider if you have unreliable WiFi.
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-03 15:54:10 +0000 UTCI kinda need the visual of some kind throughout, as my wifi likes to buffer. Not really sure if I can even trust it enough to watch this and keep track of where you are. Like I'm not trying to be mean or whatever or exaggerate, without the visual cues to fix it... I cannot watch the reactions
Talon Karrde
2024-05-03 14:18:18 +0000 UTCReally enjoy how you two appreciate the humanity in Star Trek. It truly is its best storytelling quality.
J-Ro
2024-05-03 06:39:12 +0000 UTCSolid episode, good performances, great writing. Loved your guys reaction to it, and looking forward to the discussion. Damn, just wait until you get to the REALLY GOOD episodes of this season!
Paul O'Neal
2024-05-03 05:24:14 +0000 UTCGood reaction gentleman👍
Just another Red Shirt
2024-05-03 03:09:01 +0000 UTCI so LOVE your raw emotions!!! It is soooooo SEXY! 🔥
T’Pynyn of Vulcan
2024-05-03 02:26:31 +0000 UTCAnthony why would Troi assume? Well let's be very clear. You're assuming she was making an assumption. Realistically that's a faulty assumption. She's an empath. She very well might have felt his emotions on a sexual level at some point. He's twelve. I knew I was gay before the 2nd grade (I didn't know the term gay meant being sexually attracted to males, but I already knew I was sexually attractive to males. Hell I was already sexual active at a younger age then this character. With all the time we don't see characters she would have contact over time ranging from brief moments to larger interactions with all the people on the ship including in social and communal situations. Where it would be very easy for a youngster to already have sexual desire. Seems rather reasonable to me And of course on the more real world reasoning, most studies from the 70's through the late 80's of this time that roughly 10 percent of US society weren't exclusively straight. From being gay, bisexual transexual to asexual (thats about all I ever read about during those two decades). And while later studies of today have those numbers significantly higher (at least for those who are young), the last ones I have read are still under 50%, Meaning on a simple numbers game, if your going to assume you go with he largest number.
Mark Wood
2024-05-03 01:31:14 +0000 UTCMoore isn't really active in Outlander much at all, and hasn't been since its 2nd season.
Mark Wood
2024-05-03 01:27:11 +0000 UTCGreat reaction guys. I honestly did not remember much of this one.
Monty Crawford
2024-05-03 01:09:45 +0000 UTCA: "Where has this been my entire life?... Just picturing how my life could have been different if I'd grown up with this instead of Star Wars." J: "This is better than most TV I've ever seen, ever!" Target Trekkies: Bwahahaha! Yes. Good. They are coming to understand. Soon, very soon now, they shall see...
Avaria
2024-05-03 00:49:19 +0000 UTCThis isn't one I have strong feelings about either way, and there's another episode I always get it mixed up with, but it ended up being a lot better than I remembered. I lost my dad when I was 17, so as an adult this one does hit home more. RDM really showed his potential with this being his first episode ever. We see he also jumps right into developing Klingon lore as well. Regarding the actor who played the kid, a lot of people are saying he sucked, but I actually think he did a decent job. At this point he's already lost his dad, and now he's an orphan. At that age death can just be numbing. You don't know how to react, so you just shut down. Intentional or not, I feel that's what he accomplished. One thing I think you missed was the purpose of the aliens in this episode. You wanted the whole thing to be about grieving. The thing is, it was. The point of the aliens isn't for us to care about these non corporeal beings on this planet, nor to draw away from Jeremy's story. The whole point was to put Jeremy in a position where it's that much harder to let go. That's what Star Trek does, it'll take a concept like that and make it manifest. Jeremy could have recreated his mother on the holodeck, but then he's putting himself in that position, and the crew could just shut down the holodeck. When someone is unable to let go of a loved one they lost, you can't just shut it off. Note that it wasn't their arguments to the alien that made it leave, it was Wesley and Worf relating their own experiences that helped him move on, and helped the alien understand it was for the best. I think this episode explains why Picard is so uncomfortable around kids as we first learned in Farpoint. Early on he just seems like a cranky old guy with no patience for kids getting underfoot, but I think that's a front. The scene where he says no one is alone on the Enterprise shows he does have some fatherly instincts. The turbolift scene reveals the true reason however. Knowing he had to tell Wesley his father died under his command, and now having to do the same thing again, he knows if there are kids on his ship, their parents must be there as well, and that may well lead to the very scenario this episode shows. Yes, if the ship is destroyed, the kids will die same as everyone, but Jeremy living somewhere else would have changed nothing, except that Picard wouldn't be the one to personally tell Jeremy about it. If that had been the case, it just means Jeremy would have had even less time with his mother before her death. Not the most instantly memorable episode, but a surprisingly good commentary on death and grief.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-05-03 00:34:51 +0000 UTCGeez if you guys really like the weepy stuff you might actually like nutrek, all they do is cry and talk about their feelings
Scarpad’s Domain
2024-05-03 00:20:42 +0000 UTCI agree that they didn’t need the alien aspect
Scarpad’s Domain
2024-05-03 00:19:38 +0000 UTCmore like 13 years old
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-05-02 23:41:31 +0000 UTCRon Jones makes 3x10 great as well. Well the story and performances make it great, but the score elevates it even more
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-05-02 23:37:19 +0000 UTCyeah 1 at the midway point should be enough
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-05-02 23:26:55 +0000 UTCExcellent reaction.
Matt G Cowart
2024-05-02 22:45:46 +0000 UTCNot a theory. Definitive the case for my experience.
Sam Langanke
2024-05-02 22:32:28 +0000 UTCDon't forget "Outlander". Ron D. Moore's real longtime project.
Sam Langanke
2024-05-02 22:21:29 +0000 UTCYou appreciate episodes like this way more as an adult, Alex. As a teen it was too much talking for me.
Sam Langanke
2024-05-02 22:18:15 +0000 UTCI would definitely appreciate the visual synchs back. I'm watching along with you guys with actual off air recordings of the episodes which have the original bumpers going into the commercial breaks, so every break you are automatically jumping ahead by about four or five seconds from me. So having that visual que helps greatly to re-synch with you.
Dan Krantz
2024-05-02 22:16:22 +0000 UTCCats & dogs will always get a pop
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 22:12:41 +0000 UTCOk, a random cat got a pop. Noted
Phil Ken Sebben
2024-05-02 21:56:08 +0000 UTCYou've not factored in my joy when i discover after a break that im perfectly synced
tanuki trouble
2024-05-02 21:53:21 +0000 UTCWhat didn't you like about it initially?
Jovet
2024-05-02 21:40:35 +0000 UTCYeah, you had me until the 7th paragraph. Well predicted.
Jovet
2024-05-02 21:39:44 +0000 UTCI'm confident he was told to portray "brave and mature" and he did just that!
Jovet
2024-05-02 21:34:40 +0000 UTCThis one seemed synced pretty well for me.
Jovet
2024-05-02 21:31:29 +0000 UTCAlso, Alex pining that he wasn't a Star Trek nerd.
Steven Johnson
2024-05-02 21:29:32 +0000 UTCThis is an episode I grew to like more as I got older. I remember strongly disliking it when I first got into Trek. I came around to it a bit more in recent years. It's not one of my favorites but it's solid enough.
Spencer Loften
2024-05-02 21:00:39 +0000 UTCWaitaminute, you guys are sitting on the wrong side still! IS THIS THS MIRROR UNIVERSE!? WTF!?
Steven Johnson
2024-05-02 20:24:35 +0000 UTCIt will be a fascinating listen if they hate any going forward. I'm thinking there are a couple candidates. But when they liked Okona which I loathe, it's impossible to guess.
JGoss
2024-05-02 19:44:39 +0000 UTCI'm thinking maybe doing that increases the risk of a copyright claim situation?
Greg Quinn
2024-05-02 19:42:55 +0000 UTCOr...the ones we all think are great they will hate... Lol
Greg Quinn
2024-05-02 19:41:41 +0000 UTCHappy I could contribute something.
John
2024-05-02 19:40:10 +0000 UTCNot an episode I particularly like. I figured you guys would like it more than I did. But I didn't expect you all to like it this much. Still glad y'all enjoyed.
Greg Quinn
2024-05-02 19:38:21 +0000 UTCThat’s funny because we read it, and it sparked a good convo so I’m not cutting it.
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 19:29:25 +0000 UTCI've heard the story told with both versions of alliteration, s or f.
Nolan
2024-05-02 19:25:56 +0000 UTCHe was just a bit stiff and a little stilted. Nothing like "OMG he's the worst actor ever, kids can't act!" type of criticism. I think he actually did quite well, but I can also tell the material is just a bit hard for him to keep a hold on, plus the pressures of being on a set with all these other older actors too. Again, he did well, where I can see other child actors not able to do as well in the same circumstances. A lot was asked of him and he did an decent job delivering. But I also empathize with any pressure he may have felt.
Nolan
2024-05-02 19:16:21 +0000 UTCThis was not only the first Star Trek script, but the first TV script ever written by Ronald D. Moore, who would later become the showrunner of the revived "Battlestar Galactica" and the creator of "For All Mankind." Moore gave the script to Gene Roddenberry’s assistant, Richard Arnold, while visiting the TNG set during the filming of Season 2’s “Time Squared.” Arnold helped Moore get an agent, who submitted “The Bonding” to TNG as a “spec script,” that is, a script intended to get the writer’s foot in the door to pitch other stories. Normally, TV series never purchase spec scripts. Sound familiar? Due to the lack of scripts available for production when Michael Piller took over from Michael Wagner as co-executive producer, Melinda Snodgrass and Piller found it necessary to read through the “slush pile” of unsolicited scripts, which TV producers normally never do. Although it needed work, “The Bonding” was the only script in the pile which Piller considered suitable for TNG. Piller bought it and asked Moore to submit another story, beginning Moore’s storied career in television science fiction. Piller and Melinda Snodgrass extensively rewrote “The Bonding” (significantly improving it, in Moore’s opinion), but Moore receives sole screen credit. Moore originally had Jeremy Aster recreate his dead mother on the holodeck; the aliens picked up on what Jeremy was doing and planned to recreate Marla on the planet on a permanent basis. Gene Roddenberry vetoed this version, saying that 24th-century human children were better at grieving than their 20th-century counterparts. Therefore, the rewrites changed the eidolon of Marla Aster from a holographic version to the alien impersonating her, making it more believable that Jeremy could delude himself into thinking that his mother’s death was “a mistake” and could be tempted to retreat into the fantasy of his lost past. Also, in Moore’s draft the Ten Forward scene involved Riker, Geordi and Guinan discussing the loss of a friend rather than Riker and Data; perhaps Whoopi Goldberg was unavailable that week. (Unfortunately, Alex and Josh talked over the hint in the final version of the scene – “We spent some time together” – that Riker and Marla Aster may have hooked up at some point.) It was Piller who added Patches, Jeremy’s cat, to the script. Dennis McCarthy’s score is more noticeable than usual in this episode, demonstrating his immense talent as a composer. The quiet, restrained nature of the story allows the “wallpaper” Rick Berman wanted him to compose to come into sharper focus (especially in the final scene of the bonding ritual), and it is exceptionally beautiful wallpaper. The scene in which Geordi shows Picard the mines from the planet’s surface seems at first glance to be a non sequitur that does not connect to anything else in the episode. From subsequent events, however, one can guess that the energy beings excavated and deactivated the mines after Marla Aster’s death for the Enterprise crew to find, so they could understand the cause of her death without endangering themselves, and so that the mines would not harm any other visitors to the planet in the future. Note that this is the third consecutive TNG episode involving a character (Kevin Uxbridge, Liko, Jeremy Aster) struggling to come to terms with the death of a loved one, and that two of the three episodes feature an illusory recreation of the person who has died. The episodes are all good enough, however, that this repetitiveness of theme is not bothersome. Here comes the paragraph of this comment that people will dislike: The heteronormativity in this episode is through the roof. Perhaps Picard asks about Jeremy’s “father” because he was acquainted with Marla Aster well enough to have sensed she was heterosexual, but how does Troi know Jeremy will want a “wife” rather than a husband when he grows up? Ronald D. Moore met Patrick Stewart on the set of “The Bonding” and told him he was working on another episode. According to Moore, Stewart said, “Just remember one thing… the Captain doesn’t do enough screwing or shooting in this series.” I wonder if that is an exact quote, or if Moore bowdlerized another alliterative phrase with the same meaning.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-05-02 18:39:30 +0000 UTCHe was ok in this. Not really a fair performance to criticize him for, since he has to play it emotionally stunted for most of it. Now in RoboCop 2, I couldn't stand the kid! But I guess that was the point.
JGoss
2024-05-02 18:28:45 +0000 UTCMy sync always seems to be a second or two off from yours, likely due to the platform I'm watching on (Paramount through Prime). But also, I always inevitably need to pause and re-start while watching (multitasking, life never pauses), which throws the sync off. I use the picture-in-picture window to fine-tune the sync when I re-start.
Gweneviere
2024-05-02 18:26:30 +0000 UTCNawww, that episode rocks. I'm going to praise it to high heaven when its turn comes. Hint: Ron Jones makes it good.
JGoss
2024-05-02 18:26:26 +0000 UTCIt's funny seeing you guys change gears in your reaction as soon as the alien element was added. You still liked it, but you went from fully engaged to confusion for several minutes. I think the original holodeck idea would have been a better, but less action-y, episode.
JGoss
2024-05-02 18:19:11 +0000 UTCThis boggles my mind when 3x08 exists. 🙃
Nolan
2024-05-02 18:17:58 +0000 UTCThrough the deaths of both of my parents, one thing I kept focused on was that "it's the natural order of things." Our parents SHOULD precede us in death. It's unfortunate when it happens earlier in our lives, but it's so much better than our parents burying us. I thought the kid did a pretty good job. How would you have suggested he act better (in specific situations)?
Jovet
2024-05-02 18:09:28 +0000 UTCMaybe they got some lights back there so that shadows cast don't pork it up. 👍
Jovet
2024-05-02 18:06:23 +0000 UTC@James Goss 🤦 LOL! 🤦 @ "just one question..."
Jovet
2024-05-02 18:05:07 +0000 UTCHaving lost a parent at 21, parents leaving behind their kids too soon as a story is a definite emotional button for me. This one almost got me a few times, but focusing on how you guys were responding to the writing and performances were enough to distract me. There's another episode that really gets me, and heck, a S32 Simpson's episode of all things got me recently too. I think one could critique this child actor's performance, but I think he did a pretty good job considering he had a lack of professional acting experience and a lack of life experience playing against him. Like, telling an 8 year old to act out absolute despair and sadness, that's about as good as you're gonna get. And what's the alternative? Wishing absolute hell on this poor kid so he can ACT better? Nah man, let him have his happy childhood.
Nolan
2024-05-02 17:55:45 +0000 UTCI was way less noticing of the delay, I paused once just to make sure. I only noticed it when the two security mooks got knocked down by the energy intruder, you shouted just as they got hit. If there isn't a 'beat' between the action and the reaction, then it feels off.
JGoss
2024-05-02 17:50:54 +0000 UTCThe Bonding is my least favorite episode of the season, so if you guys call this the best one yet, you're in for a great ride.
JGoss
2024-05-02 17:48:29 +0000 UTCLet us know if you have issues after watching this one, it should be synced well
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 17:46:43 +0000 UTCSince I clearly skimmed when you wrote, hey just one question .... are you guys watching all of Trek in release order? 🤪
JGoss
2024-05-02 17:46:15 +0000 UTCI miss the little picture-in-picture window with the blurred background. It helps me maintain a correct sync. Pretty please bring it back...
Gweneviere
2024-05-02 17:41:55 +0000 UTCYes
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 17:26:58 +0000 UTCFor me, the best parts of the episode are the stuff that doesn't include the son and mother.
JGoss
2024-05-02 17:15:28 +0000 UTCIs it just me or is the green screen keying much better? I don't see as much leak
JGoss
2024-05-02 17:11:52 +0000 UTCOh, I get it now. You are 23.976 but the streamers convert it to 24, and that's out of your hands?
JGoss
2024-05-02 17:10:12 +0000 UTCThat’s what they are
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 17:02:49 +0000 UTCThe Trek series generally gives you sci-fi elements to comment on the real world human condition. I wouldn't say that Trek never does the kind of "low stakes" episode you'd like, but it's often done like this.
Joe Concepts
2024-05-02 16:56:37 +0000 UTCI wonder if Ronald D. Moore had some personal loss that he channeled into this story?
Numinous2019
2024-05-02 16:56:17 +0000 UTCWhen encoding and editing, have you thought about converting your reactions to 23.976 so it syncs better?
JGoss
2024-05-02 16:54:46 +0000 UTCGreat direction with that Riker and Data scene which was almost entirely done in close-ups.
Joe Concepts
2024-05-02 16:53:44 +0000 UTCI agree with you entirely. I guess it's a lower key 'good' episode, although I never really thought twice about it. It might suffer because of the content of other season 3 episodes (being vague to avoid any possible spoilers).
Numinous2019
2024-05-02 16:52:18 +0000 UTCThank you.
KatWithAttitude
2024-05-02 16:37:25 +0000 UTCMy condolences for your Mother
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 16:31:17 +0000 UTCAnd the show isn't even firing on all cylinders yet. Close to it though!
llama
2024-05-02 16:19:26 +0000 UTCSo I put this down in the Patron takes as kind of a meh. I should have reviewed the episode before I did, because I confused it with a different episode. But still, there are better episodes to come. This kind of thing being the baseline or maybe slightly above average... is why, when fans look back, Seasons 1 (and 2) are... bad. Or, if not bad, simply... not good. Comparatively.
John
2024-05-02 16:07:13 +0000 UTCThe thing is, the show still gets better. I haven't watched this one for years. I lost my mother almost 10 years ago and watching your reaction made the episode hit a little harder than it ever did before. For her, it wasn't quick like here. She suffered for years with a combination of dementia and lupus, and a few months before she passed she also had a heart attack.
KatWithAttitude
2024-05-02 16:02:43 +0000 UTCAgreed! It's a positive experience seeing these old episodes through Josh's and Alex's eyes. I have a better appreciation. They enjoyed this way more than I did on my first viewing.
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:56:29 +0000 UTC50:35 LOL! Alex: "...how my life could have been different... had I grown up with this..." Just. You. Wait. 😂
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:53:16 +0000 UTCThis is one of those that got better with the rewatch. I hear many people didn't particularly like this one, and I too didn't remember it fondly. But yes, it nails the emotionality and the character moments. I suspect many people (myself included) watched this when they were younger, and only now that they have grown up a bit more they have the (emotional) maturity to really appreciate the episode. Just a theory though :)
JHVJ
2024-05-02 15:50:47 +0000 UTC51:16 A great reminder that everyone is different. And you can't please all the people all of the time!
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:50:34 +0000 UTC48:00 Many have told you... the show gets *good* 50:05 Yeah. Wow. 😀 This... this is why it's so fun to watch you guys watch this!
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:45:12 +0000 UTCYou were spot on about the show starting to click,the gradual move towards more character based episodes is a result of a more cohesive writers room this season.
Martin Wilson
2024-05-02 15:42:35 +0000 UTC43:52 Almost perfect Sean Connery impression! LOL!!
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:41:04 +0000 UTCI think the child actor did a great job!
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:30:07 +0000 UTCGood luck!!
Monty Crawford
2024-05-02 15:17:14 +0000 UTCSure would be nice if the companies at least allowed for like, a big watermark across a tiny video image or something. Early on some reacters had some shows where they did that on Patreon but then even had to change that. Too bad. As if someone would use something like that as a substitute for actually watching an episode.
Joe Concepts
2024-05-02 15:14:46 +0000 UTCBest wishes for your job prospect.
Numinous2019
2024-05-02 15:13:08 +0000 UTC3:05 The what was obvious. It was the who that was the mystery. And then the "why are these two people still here??"
Jovet
2024-05-02 15:00:40 +0000 UTCI just had an interview for a job I hope I get!
Jovet
2024-05-02 14:57:08 +0000 UTCMeh. I sync with Paramount Plus so I have to resync after every commercial so it's not a big deal for me. First World Problems abound!
Michael Nemo
2024-05-02 14:55:27 +0000 UTCPausing for a second is a very minor issue for me and super easy to correct. Takes nothing away from the enjoyment of your reactions.
Trouty McTroutTrout
2024-05-02 14:49:52 +0000 UTCI’ll see what the feedback is on this one and if needed I can throw one in the middle, but I truly don’t think it’s enough difference to make resyncing worth it every commercial break
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 14:48:41 +0000 UTCThe visual sync was helpful to adjust a couple of times through the sho we. Would you consider putting a couple of them back, maybe 1/3 of the way in and 2/3 in?
Joshua Langweil
2024-05-02 14:43:58 +0000 UTCMy OCD thanks you. This episode was written by Ronald D. Moore...from BSG 2004.
wildhunt1973
2024-05-02 14:43:12 +0000 UTCCongrats and good luck on the new job!
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-05-02 14:42:31 +0000 UTCStarted new job this week, have to wait to watch till this evening!
Monty Crawford
2024-05-02 14:41:42 +0000 UTC
