FULL DISCUSSION - Star Trek TNG S2E15 - Pen Pals
Added 2024-03-07 13:05:01 +0000 UTC
Comments
I don't know about offensive, but perhaps it wasn't the best choice either. Obviously saying "and you're taking her with you" would make the most sense, but if he's unsure of the gender, Sarjenka being an alien he's never seen before, maybe "and you're taking your friend with you" would have sounded less awkward
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-07-15 16:36:56 +0000 UTCYou're speaking my language Steve. Who Watches the Watchers is a great example of where the PD works well, with no disaster or extinction event threatening to wipe out their civilization. They were doing just fine, so leave them alone. But if they're all going to die, no cultural contamination can possibly be worse. Like even if the interference leads to them wiping themselves out, you haven't made things worse. As a Halo fan for over 2 decades, in many ways I'm more partial in many ways to the Forerunner's Mantle of Responsibility, which prioritizes preventing extinctions and safeguarding biodiversity in the galaxy. Perhaps a mix of the 2 philosophies would be best. The events of this episode is one of the few times I've strongly disagreed with Picard on a moral/ethical basis.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-07-15 05:37:32 +0000 UTCThere are actually plenty of human children that I would refer to as "that" LOL
tyranusfan
2024-03-14 23:37:30 +0000 UTC@jovet I disagree vehemently with your disagreement.
Shatner's Cigarette
2024-03-13 23:46:47 +0000 UTCThe Doctor tried, but he ultimately failed. Poor Adric.
Jovet
2024-03-09 03:51:24 +0000 UTCOof...couldn't disagree more with you guys about the A-story here; it's always been a great character study of Data for me, and a prime example of a situation where he attempted to be more than the sum of his parts, with consequences both good and bad, just as they are for any human being. But I'll let the go-to Data writer, Melinda Snodgrass (who wrote the episode's teleplay), explain better than I could: "[Y]ou can picture Data becoming entranced in answering [the] question, 'Is there anyone out there?' First, he's an android and if you ask him a question, you're going to get an answer. Secondly, the whole thing would be so charmingly intriguing to him, that he would do it [...] You never could picture any of the other characters doing that, but Data can make the mistake, and I don't mean that in a pejorative sense, and step out of his careful Starfleet training because he's really just growing up. He's more of a child than Wesley."
Patrick47
2024-03-09 02:19:08 +0000 UTCI'm not saying Data canonically has emotions on the show. Just that the writing and performance is done in such a way that you have to suspend disbelief that he doesn't. In Measure of a Man, Picard points out he holds onto medals that serve no purpose, and the keepsake of Tasha. Data cannot explain why - just that he wants them. Whether we call it by name, it shows pride in his accomplishments and the loss of a loved one. Those are emotional actions. Then little things like when he tosses Geordi across the room a bit too rough in Contagion, and he winces in a slapstick way, that too seems unusual for someone with no emotional awareness.
JGoss
2024-03-08 18:11:23 +0000 UTCOf course, unlike Data, Vulcans are canonically established to have emotions, and even sometimes acknowledge that they have them; they have simply adopted the strict control of emotion as a way of life.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-03-08 18:05:00 +0000 UTCWhether you want to call them emotions or not, he acts constantly throughout the show as if he has them. Otherwise he would be a monotone automaton with no personality, desires, hobbies, friendships, etc. Vulcans too supposedly "have no emotions" when they clearly do, they merely suppress the outward expression of them. Data, consciously or unconsciously, expresses what can be described as emotions, just in subdued ways. There's more to emotions than just outbursts, loss of control or reckless behavior, for example.
JGoss
2024-03-08 18:03:31 +0000 UTC@JD Nevesytrof To quote a certain Klingon from a future Star Trek movie... 'Human rights.' Why the very name is racist. The Federation is no more than a 'homo sapiens' only club.
Blaine Martin
2024-03-08 17:43:01 +0000 UTCIt ain't perfect, but I love this episode. Rules are meant to be broken in some circumstances. The Prime Directive after all has been broken several times in many ST universes. otherwise who are we if we dont help another being when it "doesn't hit right with us"? and ask yourself could you live with yourself? I agree perhaps it was a slightly too much a leap for Data.. Patrick is well versed in managing a horse hence the scenes. just an innocent perspective..
Andrew Bassey
2024-03-08 17:42:58 +0000 UTCI'm glad no aliens took that approach and prevented the dinosaurs from being wiped out by that asteroid 65 million years ago. I, for one, am glad that mammals had the chance to evolve so that I could experience consciousness.
Blaine Martin
2024-03-08 17:37:48 +0000 UTCFrom your lips to Roddenberry's ears....
StonyD
2024-03-08 17:07:56 +0000 UTCThat's a perception that I don't share. All I notice about her is most of her lines sound overdubbed. They don't have the same feel as the other actors present in a scene.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:50:49 +0000 UTCBinroe was right, and Snodgrass was right.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:49:39 +0000 UTCWe haven't gotten to an episode I despise, yet. I may have to look to be sure but that might not even be until next year for TA.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:46:39 +0000 UTCAre you blaming Troi's fat, chocolate ass?
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:45:15 +0000 UTCI disagree with both of you. There is too much evidence that contradicts your belief.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:44:31 +0000 UTCThat's fine, Derek and I disagree vehemently with you. ;)
JD Nevesytrof
2024-03-08 16:43:54 +0000 UTCand by "a few weeks ahead" they mean, like, a month ahead. Definitely a perk to be a Patron.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:43:00 +0000 UTC@Derek Orr I disagree vehemently.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:41:15 +0000 UTC@JD Nevesytrof You do realize you just talked about dehumanizing a non-human, right? In hindsight, did she seem to mind? Did she react?
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:38:53 +0000 UTCAnd shocked Data was planning on taking her to the bridge!
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:36:55 +0000 UTCThe best episode of all of TNG is very sci-fi. "Sci-fi taking a back seat" does not make for a better show, or storyline.
Jovet
2024-03-08 16:35:05 +0000 UTCThe trouble with Pulaski is that even when she’s being warm and compassionate, any character played by Diana Muldaur comes across as condescending most of the time. And she may be a lovely person in real life, but that seems to be a common thread with her acting.
James H
2024-03-08 16:15:27 +0000 UTCI definitely agree that I didn't find O'Brien's comment offensive or rude, or *racist* of all things. I think he was just.. shocked Data brought an alien child onto the ship - and didn't know what else to say.
Lady Beyond The Wall
2024-03-08 16:01:06 +0000 UTCI've always liked this episode a lot, but Josh makes some trenchant points about Data's characterization. The writing staff considered various characters as Sarjenka's contact on the Enterprise; it was Melinda Snodgrass, the writer of "The Measure of a Man" and scriptwriter of this episode, who convinced them that it should be Data. She later said, "You never could picture any of the other characters doing that, but Data can make the mistake, and I don't mean that in a pejorative sense, and step out of his careful Starfleet training because he's really just growing up. *He's more of a child than Wesley.*" (emphasis added) I've seen at least one online comment to the effect that the episode would have worked better if Data and Wesley had switched roles.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-03-08 14:25:20 +0000 UTCNo, I think it was just that this was a Dennis McCarthy episode, and McCarthy was more willing to challenge himself by working within Rick Berman's constraints than Ron Jones was.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-03-08 14:17:23 +0000 UTCI'd like to be a redshirt on Kirk's Enterprise. Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse (assuming I'm not vaporized).
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-03-08 14:14:32 +0000 UTCNow that this and the next episode have both dropped... "I guess Season 2 peaked with Measure of a Man and Code of Honor." * Laughs in Borg... *
Dan Halstead
2024-03-08 14:11:04 +0000 UTCLmao I absolutely disagree
Jason Biggs
2024-03-08 10:28:33 +0000 UTCIt was one of my favorite episodes too.
Atieh B
2024-03-08 10:19:34 +0000 UTCHe played it very oblique though, he was clueless about chatting up a strange alien child or breaking the prime directive. No other character except for maybe Wesley’s dumb ass would have behaved this way. He does have ethical subroutines that guide is “empathy” and behavior and as an ethically just being he’s guided by them. But he can’t actually feel for Sarjenka or anyone at least not the way a human would.
Philbot
2024-03-08 09:06:40 +0000 UTCI agree. Grew up would be more appropriate.
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:32:47 +0000 UTCYeah I hasn't noticed till they said anything. I think they were just bored. Lol
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:30:54 +0000 UTCThey are going to be believers again with the next episode I hope. On pins and needles waiting.
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:26:06 +0000 UTCI agree. I think he also meant that as in "that liability." It'd like he brought a bomb on board and he doesn't want to be a witness. Breaking thr prime directive is a huge deal and eventually all of the details woild have to go into a report to Starfleet with lots of scrutiny. I think O'Brien has established himself as not Speciest at this point and deserves the benefit of the doubt. Lol I mean he DID fake sleeping to save the kid and everything. Lol
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:22:27 +0000 UTCI'm new as well and felt the same way. Collections is a good way to organize it better. Just scrolling down things get confusing.
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:19:51 +0000 UTCAgreed. It's important to remember that Lore was made first and had to be disassembled because of his dangerous unethical behavior. Soong had reason to take great care in making Data's ethical program.
Anomalocaris
2024-03-08 08:19:42 +0000 UTCI think it was an expectations thing. They got a taste of the great stuff and it makes the good stuff taste not so good anymore. Lol It's only natural.
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:18:11 +0000 UTCI love like all of them so my parameters aren't the same as most either lol
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:16:43 +0000 UTC100%
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:15:22 +0000 UTCI agree. I think he also meant that as in "that liability." It'd like he brought a bomb on board and he doesn't want to be a witness. Breaking thr prime directive is a huge deal and eventually all of the details woild have to go into a report to Starfleet with lots of scrutiny. I think O'Brien has established himself as not Speciest at this point and deserves the benefit of the doubt. Lol I mean he DID fake sleeping to save the kid and everything. Lol
Andrea R
2024-03-08 08:14:41 +0000 UTCYeah I've always said that he has low level emotions. My theory is that his positronic brain is just so complex and similar to humans' that even though emotions aren't programmed in, they are inherently there at a lesser degree
E Parhas
2024-03-08 07:18:19 +0000 UTCUgh. Too many creepy crew interactions in that show. And they honestly just feel like the “B” team on an inferior ship
Derek Orr
2024-03-08 07:07:30 +0000 UTCIt’s because the show becomes way less sci fi and way way more into the raport and camaraderie and humour between the crew and also more pew pew war battles star wars stuff….essentially it appeals to the masses more with a more mainstream style and a bit less alien future evolved utopia sci fi feel
Derek Orr
2024-03-08 07:06:35 +0000 UTCexactly! Interfering in civil war or giving warp technology to pre warp societies not ready for it…that makes sense to have those rules. But to simply keep sailing by and casually watching an entire intelligent species die from natural causes is just disgusting
Derek Orr
2024-03-08 07:04:03 +0000 UTCIt’s interesting when the conflict is because the rules make sense …like dont get involved in civil war or don’t deliver warp drive to some place thats at 20th century level development …trying to stop a civil war or welcome a new species to the galaxy in order to get them to stop killing each other is an intriguing dramatic story. But to actually seriously consider simply letting an entire species die because of geology is just disgusting passive genocide.
Derek Orr
2024-03-08 07:01:21 +0000 UTCMaybe O'brien said "That" to not openly admit that Data (and himself) just shattered the PD by beaming an alien on board. Perhaps by saying "that" he is maintaining plausible deniability. "At 14:00" Lieutenant Data requested two to beam up, correct? O'brien: "That's correct sir." "You then proceeded to beam up the lieutenant and a young alien girl." O: I never said that sir. "Nevertheless, 3 minutes later, Data arrives on the bridge with a child, to the protests of the Captain." O: Did he? "And in fact, when Data left the transporter room 1 minute after beam up, you asked him if he was going to take "that" with him. To what were you referring?" O: To the item in his hand when he left.
Nolan
2024-03-08 06:40:30 +0000 UTCI like to think parts of the PD are absolute - such as political acts and internal matters, but there's more leeway in the case of natural disasters and Starfleet is willing to overlook breachs, so long as potential developmental damage is diminished if not negated. They'll still probably have to send a ship all the way out here to monitor though, so court martial impending.
Nolan
2024-03-08 06:38:31 +0000 UTCMaybe O'brien said "That" to not openly admit that Data (and himself) just shattered the PD by beaming an alien on board. Perhaps by saying "that" he is maintaining plausible deniability. "At 14:00" Lieutenant Data requested two to beam up, correct? O'brien: "That's correct sir." "You then proceeded to beam up the lieutenant and a young alien girl." O: I never said that sir. "Nevertheless, 3 minutes later, Data arrives on the bridge with a child, to the protests of the Captain." O: Did he? And in fact, when Data left the transporter room 1 minute after beam up, you asked him if he was going to take "that" with him. To what were you referring? O: To the item in his hand when he left.
Nolan
2024-03-08 06:17:35 +0000 UTCData has extremely strong curiosity as well as a very powerful ethical program. Those things lead him to talk to Sarjenka and then for him to "feel" something needs done. That feeling of wanting to save a civilization and this person probably was weighed more important than the prime directive. He swore a oath to star fleet and the prime directive but that isn't written into the very core of his being the way his ethical program is. So in that sense it works without him having "emotions" in the way we think of emotions. But.... it still doesn't really make sense that he kept the conversation going for so many weeks without telling anyone...that is a plot hole.🤷♂️
Greg Quinn
2024-03-08 05:51:42 +0000 UTCOf all the episodes of Star Trek, this was definitely one of them.
tyranusfan
2024-03-08 03:38:04 +0000 UTCYou can meet Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Walter Koenig and Clint Howard at Trekonderoga, May 17-19 2024 in Ticonderoga NY. Why? I'm not sure.
PFCoffey
2024-03-08 02:59:27 +0000 UTCI'm not sure if Code of Honor is anyone's favorite. Lol
Greg Quinn
2024-03-08 02:13:48 +0000 UTCNope. I'm blaming Troi being inconsiderate....
StonyD
2024-03-08 01:44:16 +0000 UTCYes it is, and Josh and Alex correctly discerned how dehumanizing (or desentientizing if you prefer) and derogatory it is.
JD Nevesytrof
2024-03-08 01:04:25 +0000 UTCWell, let me clarify a bit. It's in my top 50, lol!
Monty Crawford
2024-03-08 00:36:51 +0000 UTCLooked pretty normal to me, you see people scooch past each other all the time in real life. Blame the director.
JD Nevesytrof
2024-03-08 00:16:17 +0000 UTCOne thing we've learned so far on this journey is that every single episode is someone's favorite!
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-08 00:06:49 +0000 UTCThis is actually one of my favorite episodes...dunno why, but it is. But of course my parameters are not the same as most.
Monty Crawford
2024-03-08 00:05:16 +0000 UTCYes to echo what StonyD said, we are a few weeks ahead of what is on YouTube, but all the episodes are here. You can scroll down through our posts, or go to the collections page
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-07 23:25:51 +0000 UTCI like when Troi and Picard are first walking to the holodeck, that one Ensign has to throw himself against the wall to get by them because Troi won't move her ass over and share the hallway....
StonyD
2024-03-07 23:25:01 +0000 UTCAll the uncuts on here should be in order more or less. You'll have to scroll back down the line for them. I'm not sure if there is an easier way.
StonyD
2024-03-07 23:23:18 +0000 UTCNaw it’s pretty stark difference. There are more good then bad in I’d even say season 4 on first half if 3 is still rough.
Jason Biggs
2024-03-07 23:16:42 +0000 UTCEveryone acts like these "quality differences" between season 1 or seasons 1-2 and then 3-7 are like black and white. They're not! They're very thin shades of gray. Constantly blown out of proportion. Pun intended.
Jovet
2024-03-07 23:14:30 +0000 UTCI don't agree with you, I believe it's very reasonable that Data's lack of experience and respect for life overcame his ability to see the situation he was getting into. That being said, I do believe that Picard's "You reminded us..." speech at the end is pretty-much a cop-out.
Jovet
2024-03-07 23:11:42 +0000 UTC🙄 There's nothing wrong or offensive about what he said.
Jovet
2024-03-07 23:08:15 +0000 UTCData most certainly has emotions, he just doesn't think he does. The writing and his performance does not make sense if he has no emotions. He cares, shows concern, takes pride in his accomplishments, feels loss, has friendships, has hobbies, he smirks, winces, etc. It's like Wizard of Oz - scarecrow, cowardly lion, tin man, they think they're searching for a brain, courage, and a heart, but fail to realize they had them the whole time.
JGoss
2024-03-07 23:04:19 +0000 UTCThey have watched both episodes of the week before they begin recording discussing them.
Jovet
2024-03-07 23:02:03 +0000 UTCThat's really interesting that I like this episode more than you guys. I think you guys like the first two seasons altogether a lot more than I do, so maybe my bar is lower? I can't say it's a good episode there's just a lot of tidbits I liked in it.
Zack
2024-03-07 23:01:41 +0000 UTCSorry, very new to Patreon, how come you've gone straight to E15 after E10? Or do the Uncut reactions turn up a little out of sequence on here? No problem, just making sure I'm not going nuts :)
Dave Brown
2024-03-07 23:00:41 +0000 UTCTo me, he found himself in the situation before he intellectually caught up to what was going on and its implications.
Jovet
2024-03-07 23:00:18 +0000 UTCIndeed
Collin Freeman
2024-03-07 22:34:06 +0000 UTCAlex: "Picard's got two beings inside him, 'I wanna save everybody' and 'follow the rules.'" That to me is what makes lawful good characters so interesting when done well, you're always going to run into those conflicting directives and sometimes it's going to just tear you up.
JD Nevesytrof
2024-03-07 22:30:50 +0000 UTCThank you, I’m glad someone agrees with me lol
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-07 22:21:15 +0000 UTCJosh, I really appreciate you defending Data's character, I fully agree this was really unusually "human" for him, as sweet as it was. It might have made way more sense to have WESLEY discover the signal and cultivate the connection because he's inexperienced, he doesn't know any better, and he can act emotionally. Then he learns a painful lesson when he has to let her go.
JD Nevesytrof
2024-03-07 22:17:18 +0000 UTCAhhh, Season 2... Yup. Episodes I haven't thought of since 1988.
Tom Occhipinti
2024-03-07 21:55:45 +0000 UTCThe Greatest Gen podcast describes TNG as a hot tub hangout, which is bang-on. (There are things about that I don’t like, but I get the appeal.)
John M.
2024-03-07 21:33:58 +0000 UTCFilled out... with a bunch of plastic from the looks of things... She had less plastic on her in that alien makeup....
Andreas Schmitt
2024-03-07 20:16:21 +0000 UTCDon't worry about Chief OBrien... that was VERY out of character for him. I never like that line "you're taking THAT?" either. That's now what OBrien is like at all. He's one of the most popular guys in all of star trek, despite just being the Transporter Chief. He's great
Andreas Schmitt
2024-03-07 20:12:29 +0000 UTCThat got a chuckle from me. They had no idea what was next up. I assume they've seen it by now.
JGoss
2024-03-07 20:09:04 +0000 UTCYou guys are picking up on episodes scored by Ron Jones and episodes NOT scored by Ron Jones. Don't get me wrong, I like Dennis McCarthy, but he didn't push the envelope (and didn't piss off Berman in the process) in his scores. It's apparent from the opening notes of an episode whether it was McCarthy or Jones (or a guest, and later Chattaway)
JGoss
2024-03-07 20:07:29 +0000 UTC"You just want to be there". Congratulations, guys. You have now officially understood what made Star Trek so special.
Andreas Schmitt
2024-03-07 20:01:39 +0000 UTCFor me, that show is Voyager
Doug
2024-03-07 19:50:43 +0000 UTC33:39 That's Fireball in your eyes. :grin: It's funny to me how much you guys did have to say and laugh at the episode that didn't impress you much.
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:38:10 +0000 UTC20:30 O'Brien didn't bother me at all. I wouldn't know how to address that being at all either. ("That" can certainly be short for "that being".) There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said, and "that" cannot possibly be construed as an offensive word. :eye_rolls:
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:35:59 +0000 UTC19:00 Doctor Pulaski was not "picking on" Data. That would mean she was trying to be hostile or rude—she was not! She just had a complete failure of understanding on how to relate to him. She's a doctor interacting with someone she could never help. This is the first time you've probably ever encountered such a person. How would you feel in her position?
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:33:31 +0000 UTC15:22 I paused the video to write this comment... just at the perfect moment to see Alex flipping us all off. LOL!! I'll say it again... you have yet to see TNG's pinnacle of greatness. You will not be prepared for it. You will not even know it's coming. And if you're both not bawling... *insert non-specific monetary self-penalty here*
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:24:07 +0000 UTC12:10 Data knew EXACTLY what he was doing. It was not necessary for him to play her transmission for everyone in the act of obeying the captain's order.
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:21:37 +0000 UTC8:34 The "B" story made me cringe a lot. Seeing Wesley's inexperience and lack of confident authority be fodder for his subordinates was easy to identify with and kinda hard to watch on first viewing.
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:17:51 +0000 UTC4:30 16:30 I think that's a point. But the reason that Data was the obvious choice for this storyline is his child-like view of the universe.
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:13:39 +0000 UTCThis is a very middle-of-the-road episode. It's not bad, it's not great. It's not very interesting, it's not boring, it's not fast, and it's not loud.
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:12:32 +0000 UTC1:02 I am pretty certain that the lack of background score was a money-saving element.
Jovet
2024-03-07 19:09:35 +0000 UTCVery true. I think you are seeing why we fans much prefer the later seasons than seasons 1 and 2. Some good (even excellent) episodes in there, to be sure, but not as good overall as later seasons. Btw, there are clunkers in the later seasons, too.
Collin Freeman
2024-03-07 16:41:06 +0000 UTCThe only memorable part of this episode to me is the debate about the Prime Directive. I really hate how they went from "we won't interfere in someone else's politics" to "sorry but your planet is destined to die".
Doug
2024-03-07 16:38:51 +0000 UTCI mean I’m not gonna argue lol.
Jason Biggs
2024-03-07 16:32:49 +0000 UTCStill better than When the Bough Breaks
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-07 16:31:12 +0000 UTCWelcome to truly not liking an episode lol
Jason Biggs
2024-03-07 16:30:31 +0000 UTCPeaked? Hmmmm. Still some episodes left.
Collin Freeman
2024-03-07 16:29:43 +0000 UTCI get what Josh was saying about the family aspect of the Enterprise crew. That was definitely part of this show's appeal for a lot of viewers, including me. They just draw you in ... warm fuzzies.
Collin Freeman
2024-03-07 16:25:50 +0000 UTCNo score, only 1 alien = budget issues by this point in the season. They're lucky they got outdoor shooting with Picard's holodeck scenes.
Collin Freeman
2024-03-07 16:16:54 +0000 UTCI like this episode a lot, but I forgot about that O'Brien line. That was a weird choice.
Ca$hWednesday
2024-03-07 16:06:18 +0000 UTCI always thought of Data's actions in the same terms that you've stated in your comment. He seemed to possess a child-like naivety and could potentially act that way.
Numinous2019
2024-03-07 15:50:17 +0000 UTCI never really thought it seemed out of character for Data, personally.. and I couldn't see another character doing what Data did. I feel like other people would have immediately considered the consequences of their actions, whereas.. weirdly, for being an android, I feel like it makes more sense for Data to NOT consider the future consequence of talking to a little alien girl until she's actually in danger. 🤷🏻♀️ I see your points, though, and can see why people might think Data should have immediately said something.
Lady Beyond The Wall
2024-03-07 15:25:03 +0000 UTCEven though I love scored music in movies and TV, I honestly never pick up on it's absence unless it's clear none of it has music.
Mike Rogers
2024-03-07 15:21:57 +0000 UTCFor me, it works with Data compared to someone like Troi because like I said before Data is childlike and would be snagged into the conversation from curiosity. Troi would move in because duty would say she had to move on from that first message.
Mike Rogers
2024-03-07 15:19:39 +0000 UTCI like this episode for 2 things, and that’s the scene with the crew debating what should be done, and Pulaski finally (finally!) not being an ass, and treating Data like a person with feelings.
Glenn Johnson Barnes
2024-03-07 15:02:08 +0000 UTCI never wanted to live on that Enterprise. Even if it was realistic (and not an idealised vision of space travel), it's fine to visit the characters and ship every week, but........well you'll find out in several seasons time about how mundane certain aspects and crew jobs on the Enterprise might be......"I can't live another second as that man."
Numinous2019
2024-03-07 14:48:03 +0000 UTCIt's a good scene. Well performed by all the actors... What breaks it for me, and I harp on this all the time, is the way that TNG going forward frames the Prime Directive. Even in open warfare, humanitarian aid and POW exchanges are considered exceptions to the conflict. That's just stuff you do. It should be no different for starships that encounter natural disasters that threaten millions/billions of lives. It shouldn't be a debate. "Riker: The Prime Directive? Picard: Doesn't apply commander. They're in danger of extinction due to a natural occurrence, we must help. We could be talking about the loss of an entire civilization and all of its culture and history. " The real issue should be focused on the how, not the why. How do we avert this disaster? The notion that "volcanos erupting" and "interfering in open warfare" are treated as being one and the same is... Morally repugnant. As is the often used counter-argument "Well what if they turn out to be bad?" Yeah, but you don't help people based on whether or not they COULD be bad. "Yeah, there's a horrible accident and that pregnant woman and her child might die if I don't go and help, but what if her child turns out to be the next Hitler?" You help people because helping people in need is the morally right thing to do. I will always go back to "For The World is Hollow" exchange(Paraphrased): Spock: What about The Prime Directive? Kirk: Well surely a small bit of cultural contamination is better than total extinction, Mr. Spock. Spock: Logical, Captain.
Steven Johnson
2024-03-07 14:37:35 +0000 UTCSince I tend to only mention the IMDB rankings when the ep is good: For a point of comparison, this one is ranked 120th, jammed between two eps you've seen: Home Soil and Skin of Evil.
John M.
2024-03-07 14:28:03 +0000 UTCI know it's not meant that way, but I just gotta say this has been said twice now and it just weird me out. Something about "little girl" and "turned into a hottie" being in close proximity to me that makes me go eh.... I know, you didn't mean it that way, and the other Patron comment they read in the video didn't mean it that way, but ... oof.
Steven Johnson
2024-03-07 14:27:36 +0000 UTCI see all the criticism and they are valid. I guess I was just more okay with them. I have other thoughts...but those would involve spoiling.
Greg Quinn
2024-03-07 14:22:56 +0000 UTCFunny you put Tracy Torme in with Melinda there as incoming writers. Tracy's been there a while.... he wrote The Big Goodbye, for example.
Andy Frankham-Allen
2024-03-07 14:07:41 +0000 UTCFor me, the highlight of this episode is the informal discussion in Picard's quarters regarding the Prime Directive.
Darin Wagner
2024-03-07 13:36:39 +0000 UTCYou guys wanna trip out. The little girl alien was played by Nikki Cox. Google image search what she looks like today. She filled out.
Darin Wagner
2024-03-07 13:29:24 +0000 UTC
