PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG - Season 2 Episode 8
Added 2024-02-04 22:52:49 +0000 UTCComment on this post your ‘takes’ on this episode and we will read a few in our discussion!
NO SPOILERS - If it is information regarding anything THAT DOES OR DOES NOT HAPPEN after this episode, don't include it in your comment.
If you want your take to be read in the video, comment ONE of the following:
- A brief review (2-3 sentences) of why you like/dislike the episode
- A question for us about the episode
- A prediction of how you think we will react to a certain aspect of the episode
- A fun fact about the episode
We are watching this episode Monday, so we won’t be reading the comments on this until then. If you have questions shoot us a message!
Comments
One of my favorite episodes for building Worf’s character and showing some understanding to Klingon’s culture. Detail that I noticed was that Data stepped in front of Captain Picard when the Klingon Captain was about to shoot. One of those details that makes rewatching TNG interesting.
Atieh B
2024-02-29 01:38:52 +0000 UTCThe Klingons are based on soviet Russians and japanese Samurai. You can argue these also were "too violent". Still they accomplished to be the technical most advanced warriors of their time.
Sam Langanke
2024-02-09 14:03:40 +0000 UTCMy head cannon has always been 1. Data (obviously) 2. Worf 3. Riker in hand to hand...
Greg Quinn
2024-02-06 22:20:54 +0000 UTCI’m going to predict Alex and Josh are going to love this one! The LORE!!! The Klingons! And hey, a peak at the phaser range too! What’s not to love? I especially love how Riker goes from asking Worf about the “killing the Captain” thing and seemingly thinking it’s barbaric, to fully understanding it within Klingon Culture and using it to save the day! Great stuff! Fun Fact: The shot at the end of Enterprise repairing the Pagh was made by freeze framing the shot of the Bird of Prey on approach to landing on Vulcan from The Search for Spock!
The Game Show Reviewer
2024-02-06 03:51:29 +0000 UTCOne thing I notice on watching TNG with a more analytic mind is that Riker is one of the few human Star Trek characters that we can visibly see appriciating and having FUN with people from other (truly "alien") cultures/species. (I can think of others but no spoilers.) For all the talk of Star Trek being about diversity, the humans can come across as being a bit snobby. Sure they are mostly tolerating and curious about other cultures, but it's more like an intellectual exercise and not something to engange with on an emotional level.
Tim b
2024-02-06 01:49:38 +0000 UTCI assume the culture wasn't that extreme when and where warp drive was developed on Qo'noS. After all, culture always evolves and differs from place to place even on a globalised planet. Plus, up until this point all klingons we have seen are military. (I would discuss this further if its wasn't for the strict not-even-minor-spoilers policy.)
Tim b
2024-02-06 01:29:45 +0000 UTCWhy do you think Q likes to call Worf "microbrain"? LOL!
Jovet
2024-02-06 00:50:23 +0000 UTC"Rash and stupid" doesn't really come to my mind as much as "how have you survived this long?" does.
Jovet
2024-02-06 00:50:00 +0000 UTCOne... or both?? LOL
Jovet
2024-02-06 00:48:39 +0000 UTCYou guys asked for development of Klingon culture, and here it is! While the Klingons in this episode come off as rash and stupid, we start to see some important facets of their culture and command structure. And it also shows Riker at his best, not floundering in the unfamiliar environment, but confident and adaptable.
Evan Guthrie
2024-02-05 19:38:51 +0000 UTCI think this is generally a fairly good episode, but it features yet another "too violent to be anything but an idiot" Klingon. It's unfathomable that this stupid race even got warp capability in the first place. They're just too violent to have made a truly advanced society without constantly imploding. Also, fortunately, we finally see signs about how Worf is more of a "model Klingon" (or his idea of it), while other Klingons are bit less idealistic.
Ian Westcott
2024-02-05 17:38:06 +0000 UTCWe finally get to see Klingon culture and lore. Frakes is at his peak in this episode and shows that Riker cleverness. Definitely a highlight of this season.
Eric Bundy
2024-02-05 17:31:30 +0000 UTCI always loved to rewatch this episode. Here is where the Klingons get truely flashed out and Riker gets to finally show off that fancy beard of his in action:-). The first Riker episode of the season and it surely doesn't dissapoint. And of course "THE LORE!"
Sebastian_Frodo
2024-02-05 16:15:40 +0000 UTCNot sure if they had the capability for that at the time. For the TMP Viewmaster reels, it seems they were only able to visit the V-ger set and most other reels are from flat photos that they manipulated to get a "pop up book" effect. For TNG, many of the photos seem to be genuine 3D.
Mike Rogers
2024-02-05 14:33:32 +0000 UTCThe best episode of TNG so far, my third-favorite Season 2 episode, and arguably the first time we are seeing the “real” TNG that viewers remember.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-02-05 14:32:16 +0000 UTCMy understanding is that the View-Master reels for "A Matter of Honor" were created with digital manipulation from 2D images. The only time 3D cameras visited a Star Trek set for View-Master was for "The Omega Glory." (You can see Nichelle Nichols' episode script open on her lap at one point on those reels.)
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-02-05 14:28:52 +0000 UTCI'd have a beer with Mendon. Not with Bem.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-02-05 14:26:04 +0000 UTCOld enough to be President of the United States! We should get a write-in campaign going for November...
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-02-05 14:24:01 +0000 UTCIf this had been a Worf episode, it would have been a very different story. The whole point is a human among Klingons.
Andy Frankham-Allen
2024-02-05 14:20:46 +0000 UTCGreat episode. Fun, exciting, and builds on Klingon culture. It also shows you how tough Riker actually is. I mean physically. He can kick some ass when he needs to!
Chris S.
2024-02-05 13:51:03 +0000 UTCI’ll never look at women the same way again lol.
Chris S.
2024-02-05 13:49:16 +0000 UTCFun Fact: The Klingon captain is played by Christopher Collins, aka Chris Latta, the voice of Starscream and Cobra Commander in the original Transformers and G.I. Joe cartoons of the 80s.
tyranusfan
2024-02-05 13:37:03 +0000 UTCThis is It !!!!! I have been looking at the calendar and counting down for this moment !!! This episode Has Riker, Has Klingons and also a return of the Benzite Vaping race. Lol This episode should check a lot of boxes for what you guys have been asking for.
Mullinsky
2024-02-05 12:53:11 +0000 UTCYou guys are gonna love this. A Riker episode, where we finally get more insight into him, his relationship with Worf, and a lovely bit of development between him and Pulaski. The stuff on the Klingon ship is fantastic, our first proper look at their culture since... well, ever. Up to know we've only seen glimpses, and outsider points of view really, but spending proper time with Klingons we learn they're not as dour and aggressive as they always appear. They're funny, layered, and this is only the beginning. One of my favourites, and I think it'll become one of yours. Maybe even the best one this season so far.
Andy Frankham-Allen
2024-02-05 09:55:25 +0000 UTCRiker finally stops being a whipping boy! Although he still has to eat live worms, get bullied, smacked around, called a liar, oh, wait... Seriously though, the first home run of many.
snthd
2024-02-05 08:09:22 +0000 UTCI suppose they wanted the tension of the story to depend on the distrust between the Klingon captain and a Starfleet officer. Worf would not have provoked the same behaviour, because he would be accepted as being of their own Klingon mentality and warrior code.
Numinous2019
2024-02-05 07:38:46 +0000 UTCReally enjoyable episode. But it's one of those "how does the Klingon Empire survive, nevermind thrive like this?" type episodes for me....🤔
Greg Quinn
2024-02-05 07:37:37 +0000 UTCI did not know that. Thanks 😀
Greg Quinn
2024-02-05 07:35:51 +0000 UTCFrakes is very good in this episode. His body language when dealing with the Klingon captain and bridge crew is great. This story makes up for Riker being relegated to the background so often.
Numinous2019
2024-02-05 07:33:56 +0000 UTCI have not rewatched the episode yet for a fresh take but I know I liked it. I remember enjoying the gusto that Riker had digging into Klingon cuisine. This was the episode that was visited by the GAF 3D cameras to later put out the Viewmaster reel of the episode. I felt that was a milestone for TNG as the TOS Viewmaster reels were so popular among fans, like the Mego action figures (TNG would not see any Mego action figures until their revival a few years ago). This episode gave them an opportunity to reuse bird of prey shots from the movies.
Mike Rogers
2024-02-05 07:03:06 +0000 UTCThe first I think "good" TNG episode. Not that there haven't been good episodes so far already, but THIS ONE feels like what a "good TNG" episode is. And yes Alex, the Klingon LOoooRE! But how odd this isn't a Worf ep. Oh well, at least Riker shines here.
Nolan
2024-02-05 04:34:54 +0000 UTCOr anyone to do...
Jovet
2024-02-05 04:09:46 +0000 UTCThey'll high five each other!
Jovet
2024-02-05 04:09:25 +0000 UTCOk...you guys have another Riker Ep. you talked about a couple Eps ago. Another Benzite, too bad he's a bossy know-it-all. He reminds me of B.E.M from TAS. It is funny watching Riker eat Klingon food and get hit on by their Females, he looked a bit worried! I think you will comment "2 good ones in a row!" Fun Fact...the Benzite is the same actor who played Mordock. 😀🖖
Duane Chancey
2024-02-05 03:29:21 +0000 UTCWhich adds to the TrekFormers connection as Leonard Nimoy played Galvatron before. Now if only Peter Cullen could have had a part in Trek...
CM Waters
2024-02-05 03:24:48 +0000 UTCAnd you were worried that Riker wouldn't have anything to do!!! One of the 2 or 3 best episodes of season 2. It helped to build on our understanding of Klingon culture. You'll never look at worms the same way again.
Regan
2024-02-05 03:24:36 +0000 UTCIf this doesnt bring out the Klingon side in both of you-perfect for your wrestling..well..something something Klingon petaQ!
Badger
2024-02-05 02:53:22 +0000 UTCMy prediction: Riker, "One....or both?" Josh and Alex: "YEAH what a chad!!"
JD Nevesytrof
2024-02-05 02:32:06 +0000 UTCSince you liked Heart of Glory, you should love this. This is a far better Klingon episode than Heart. Having scenes on a Klingon ship and interactions with the crew was something new. Riker steps into the spotlight and doesn't disappoint.
Nerd's Gold
2024-02-05 02:06:20 +0000 UTCFUN FACT: For some of the children of the 1980s, the actor playing Captain Kargan was the voice of the original Starscream in the Transformers, and Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe!
Joe Concepts
2024-02-05 02:03:04 +0000 UTCFrom Memory Alpha: John Putch had played the identical Mordock in "Coming of Age". On being cast for this episode, Putch recalled, "I was all very impressed by that. I thought, 'Ah, they love me, they love me.' What they really loved was that it was me, because they'd spent all that money on making that blue head and it was form fitted to me…I don't fault them for that. I would have done the same thing, but it's funny how you are naive about these things when you're just an actor."
KatWithAttitude
2024-02-05 01:44:05 +0000 UTCRiker.. talk about having balls of steel when you can just take over a Klingon ship and declare yourself as captain!
TalynStarburst
2024-02-05 01:36:31 +0000 UTC"One or both?" Riker slinging that Kirk-rizz...
StonyD
2024-02-05 00:46:46 +0000 UTCMost impressive in any case. I have no idea how he can stomach all that stuff.
DataDroid
2024-02-05 00:39:43 +0000 UTCAnother fun fact: This episode is the most-watched episode of the show so far, when it first aired.
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:35:08 +0000 UTCStorybook time: Commander Riker serving under Captain Kargan over Lieutenant Klag eating gagh on board the Pagh.
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:30:55 +0000 UTCRiker eating all the Klingon food before his departure is going to be a most loved or most hated scene! LOL!
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:27:55 +0000 UTCEpisode oneupmanship is going to be a thing for the boys this season. :-) (official prediction)
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:27:03 +0000 UTCFun fact: The same actor who played Mordock back in "Coming of Age" plays Mendon here. So, it's kinda forgivable for Wesley to be confused.
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:24:51 +0000 UTCWhat about before they meet the mate for life? I wasn’t aware of that Klingon tradition of being faithful/monogamous ?
Paul Rymer
2024-02-05 00:23:36 +0000 UTCDid you mean to imply that Cmdr Riker IS a huge cuck or has a huge cuck? :grin:
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:21:30 +0000 UTCRiker had to beat someone up as soon as he got there, just like prison. Or high school
James Bottas
2024-02-05 00:20:02 +0000 UTCThey'll love it!
Jovet
2024-02-05 00:19:50 +0000 UTCThe Data / Geordi friendship has been an obvious one. Here we get a bit of the low-key Riker / Worf relationship, and really as time goes on you can pick any pair of characters and find some interesting dynamic between them. As should be expected by any seven-season show.
Joe Concepts
2024-02-05 00:10:52 +0000 UTCPretty much this is the first appearance of "real Klingons" instead of the renegade ones we saw in Season 1. And it's one of the very best of the season.
Joe Concepts
2024-02-05 00:07:05 +0000 UTCFINALLY, the great Riker episode you were waiting for! Rewatching these episodes now, I'm seeing this really is a significant Riker coming-into-his-own episode. You see he's clever, aggressive and ambitious, and also just really embracing the adventure of joining the Klingon crew. This is the Bearded Riker people were talking about. :)
Joe Concepts
2024-02-05 00:04:44 +0000 UTCYeah, but kinda goes against the rest of the future Klingon world building/culture. Seems klingons are supposed to mate for life, not be promiscuous and sleep around.
Monty Crawford
2024-02-05 00:04:41 +0000 UTCI think you both will love this episode and it will even go all the way to the top of your list to be your favorite episode so far in TNG.
DataDroid
2024-02-05 00:02:31 +0000 UTCWho knew Wesley was such a racist?😂
Just another Red Shirt
2024-02-05 00:02:16 +0000 UTCRiker episode!! Klingons!! .... not-Mordock!!
DataDroid
2024-02-05 00:00:23 +0000 UTCThis episode should be pretty much 35 years old when you watch it, with an air date of Feb 6th 1989.
SinocTheHodgeheg
2024-02-04 23:59:42 +0000 UTCThis is one is really good, especially for the second season. Well written and begins the backstory for the Klingons. My question is, should Riker have killed the commander as Worf says that's how Klingons advance in rank instead of just getting him off ship? I always figured the rest of the crew of the Prang would have not recognized Riker as the captain since technically he did not follow normal Klingon protocol for rank advancement.
Monty Crawford
2024-02-04 23:58:17 +0000 UTCI was expecting this to be the first episode of the season that you guys really loved, but it looks like that award already went to The Schizoid Man. Still, you've been wanting to go deeper into the Klingons for some time now, and this is the first episode to really deliver that. How do you think the episode might have gone if a different officer than Riker had been chosen for the exchange?
Adam Zey
2024-02-04 23:37:40 +0000 UTCPeople will often point to a different episode as the "First Great TNG Episode," and rightly so. I will often half-jokingly say that this one actually happened before that one. I love this episode so much.
Elway Simpson
2024-02-04 23:34:24 +0000 UTC"One, or both?" Is legit one of the most badass lines in Star Trek history. Such a fabulous way to get on the Klingon's good side.
Steven Johnson
2024-02-04 23:34:08 +0000 UTCAw, you edited it! That would have been comedic gold!
Steven Johnson
2024-02-04 23:32:45 +0000 UTCRiker joining the crew of the Klingon ship as part of a cultural exchange program is a fun hook to the episode. We get to see more of what life is like about a Klingon starship, and get some more LOREEEE, which is always fun. Riker gets to put everything he's learned from his adventures with Worf in those earlier episodes to practical use so we get some payoff from that as well.
Ca$hWednesday
2024-02-04 23:32:26 +0000 UTCFun fact: the Klingon captain was played by the same guy who voiced Cobra Commander and Starscream in the 80s "G.I. Joe" and "Transformers" respectively. I think you guys will like this one: Klingon culture, Riker getting something to do, a similar face coming back from Season 1 even if not the same guy. I will be surprised if you don't like this one. Either way though: when can we expect to see you eating Gagh on camera?
CM Waters
2024-02-04 23:29:02 +0000 UTCWell he likes to cook, so I can imagine he's more interested in foreign cuisines than most would be.
Andreas Schmitt
2024-02-04 23:15:53 +0000 UTCVery enjoyable episode and the concept of serving on other allied vessels makes some sense. I’m glad they sent Riker and not Worf which would have been predictable. Further evidence also that Riker will flirt with anyone.
Paul Rymer
2024-02-04 23:13:26 +0000 UTCThis one is solid in both A and B stories. Wesley is a racist because he thinks all Benzite look alike(CANCELLED!) The ending pays off well with Riker demonstrating his Kirk-esque strategic moves. Also great to see that guy who shows up in all kinds of things as the Klingon 1st officer. (He shows up at the start of the first Terminator, in the X-files, and one of the Mortal Kombat movies among other things.) My two favorite scenes in this one feature Riker sitting at a table eating. They both say a lot about him. Chiefly, he's got a cast-iron stomach.
Steven Johnson
2024-02-04 23:08:57 +0000 UTCJesus christ, sometimes I wonder where this autocomplete crap is being trained...
Andreas Schmitt
2024-02-04 23:05:53 +0000 UTCA huge cuck, eh? So, is Riker a Klingon cuck? No chance. We made it up.
Steven Johnson
2024-02-04 23:04:59 +0000 UTCMy prediction: You will get a huge kick out of this episode. You wanted to see more about Klingon culture, and here you have it. You Riker to finally do something? Well here you go ;) This one will end up on your top 5 for sure.
Andreas Schmitt
2024-02-04 22:58:49 +0000 UTCMe thinks you're gonna like this one.
Dan Krantz
2024-02-04 22:58:18 +0000 UTCKlingons and Captain Riker, that plate of live gagh must have really gone to his head.
Gregory
2024-02-04 22:57:27 +0000 UTCThis one ought to satisfy TA immensely. Great Riker episode! Looking forward to TA's reaction!
Darin Wagner
2024-02-04 22:57:14 +0000 UTCA good episode. Some focus on Riker for a change. Klingons, Riker - I think you'll love this episode so hard.
Collin Freeman
2024-02-04 22:56:49 +0000 UTCJust when you guys were getting frustrated with the lack of Riker. Also, return of the Vape Lord.
THE LORE!!!
2024-02-04 22:56:45 +0000 UTCYou’ll dig the phaser range scene. Klingons: THE FOOD LORE!!!
James H
2024-02-04 22:55:10 +0000 UTCIf you like Klingons and their lore you should like this. And for this episode at least you can't complain that Riker hasn't had anything to do. I have it listed on my rankings as “Best of the Best”.
KatWithAttitude
2024-02-04 22:54:23 +0000 UTC
