PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG - Season 2 Episode 5
Added 2024-01-29 02:23:25 +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
Well, they didn't hate it. I think I can see why they thought it dragged a bit. Not for me, though!
Jovet
2024-02-01 05:30:23 +0000 UTCI still think she was strong in The Child.
Jovet
2024-02-01 05:26:31 +0000 UTCYeah....and wrong here also as they didn't care too much for it.
Duane Chancey
2024-02-01 03:22:04 +0000 UTCWhile I agree it's a ludicrous idea, and indeed very disproven by later stories (including one TOS film upcoming), it's neither fanfic nor fan service, it's simply lore building at this early stage of Trek. Remember, most of what we know of as Trek is really established in the early TNG era. In TOS and the early TOS movie they were quite literally making it up as they went along, but in this era they're properly world building, creating a bible as it were. Fortunately, this is one little bit of world building that will be revised very soon.
Andy Frankham-Allen
2024-01-31 22:56:00 +0000 UTCI can relate. I was older than you upon first viewing... but I have usually found the deep character dive stuff boring. I want the sci-fi stuff, not what Worf had for dinner 15 years ago.
Jovet
2024-01-31 22:41:21 +0000 UTCIn all the history of the Klingon race and empire they were never before confronted with someone who wanted to negotiate peace? I find that VERY hard to believe. I mean, we can expound this to the lack of imagination spent on non human races in general... I find it very hard to believe that humans are the only diverse (language, race, creed, religion, etc) race in the ST universe... yet the Klingons, Romulans, etc, all seem to be homogeneous. No word in *the one* Klingon language for "peacemaker" ...
Jovet
2024-01-31 22:39:09 +0000 UTCI was wrong, they didn't predict it.
Jovet
2024-01-31 22:35:23 +0000 UTCA Troi Episode with 2 really good scenes. The Scene back on the ship after the Chorus is killed....actually all the scenes are good after they go back! The Chorus Death scene will probably catch you off guard. I bet you enjoy this one!
Duane Chancey
2024-01-31 08:52:20 +0000 UTCI never really liked this episode. Maybe because when I first watched it I was 10 and wasn't too interested in a romance laden episode....and that had continued to taint the way I view it.🤷♂️
Greg Quinn
2024-01-31 07:50:12 +0000 UTCIn what way is it either of those things?
Andy Frankham-Allen
2024-01-30 08:41:37 +0000 UTCGreat concept for an episode but its execution is so poor and heavy handed, that it just doesn't work. Again message is absolutely great. But Yikes.
Mark Wood
2024-01-30 06:10:02 +0000 UTCYes, that detail about the Klingons is a bit hard to swallow... burgeoning on fanfic or fan service.
Jovet
2024-01-30 05:03:59 +0000 UTCWell, it shows that Pulaski is a different "type" of doctor to Crusher. This is explored further, too.
Jovet
2024-01-30 05:02:30 +0000 UTCSpoilers... edited out, thanks.
Jovet
2024-01-30 05:00:06 +0000 UTCYeah those weapons look incredibly painful. Ugh!
Jovet
2024-01-30 04:58:42 +0000 UTCLaughable that a ruling family on any planet would be illiterate. So it's good it's not canon.
Jovet
2024-01-30 04:56:24 +0000 UTCLOL I have all the episodes on my computer, all labelled by Series name, Season number, Episode number, and Episode title. It's what keeps me sane both enjoying these reactions and following along with episode numbers. Alas, I only have TNG in this format, so I'll be out of luck for other Trek series (which I have not all watched anyways) unless I find or buy them too.
Jovet
2024-01-30 04:51:45 +0000 UTCI've stated it before and I'll state it again: we all have so much more in common than we do different. We should be focusing on our commonalities, not our differences.
Jovet
2024-01-30 04:49:25 +0000 UTCHell yeah, rocking the 1970s look and doing it well even in 1989.
Ian Westcott
2024-01-30 04:39:16 +0000 UTCFor some reason, this episode gets a bit of dislike, but I really liked it. It COULD come out cringy, but due to the main guest star being deaf and having real input into how his character would behave, I think it comes off as being honest and authentic instead of how this sort of thing would normally work. The chorus, when they speak, does have me roll my eyes a tiny bit, thinking "neat idea, shabby execution"; when they die, the episode gets much better.
Ian Westcott
2024-01-30 04:38:38 +0000 UTCThat was painfully obvious, even to those of us who don't know sign language: Howie's role was astonishing and a true inspiration of how so many of us just freak out when life takes a tragic turn (in any way), and we just "go off" about it -- but sometimes, if we LISTEN, friends around us can point us toward a new beginning that gives us hope.
Rhett Coates
2024-01-30 00:04:58 +0000 UTCI had read that in another post some years ago, on another site, of course, and when I discovered his real life in that light, it brought tremendous poignancy to having seen the episode. It's yet another example of Gene Roddenberry wanting to show the world (us viewers) that even The Handicapped have value (i.e., as in "Everyone Matters"), such as Geordi being blind and yet he's in Starfleet AND is the Chief Engineer of the Federation's flagship. That MEANS something, and it's terrific!
Rhett Coates
2024-01-30 00:01:43 +0000 UTCYou mean laughable that Riva and his family don't write and well they didn't put that information into the episode? :) I just had to look up that info because when I was watching the episode and Picard even tells him to write down what he's trying to say I didn't get why he refused to do it xD Didn't occur to me that the reason is he can't write.
DataDroid
2024-01-29 18:49:40 +0000 UTCI wanted to learn sign language after that episode although low vision and blindness make that far more difficult to learn to do than speak Klingon I Have thought about it and want to clarify that my use of the word spoiler was a joke in the next sentence. As the Klingon language=ge has been a thing ever since Mark Leonard spoke in Star Trek The Motion Picture Now it is not a spoiler to say that you can learn to speak Klingon on line, right? KPlAH!
Thicketdweller
2024-01-29 17:01:56 +0000 UTCSorry, I might have gotten it wrong.
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-01-29 16:40:46 +0000 UTCI think the Id would be more the warrior/adonis, wouldn't he?
JD Nevesytrof
2024-01-29 16:13:49 +0000 UTCMaybe this is one of those episodes you appreciate once you're older? Aside from some good character moments, I always saw this as an ultimately boring one. Time for a rewatch!
Joe Concepts
2024-01-29 14:22:16 +0000 UTCAn episode I always feel like I should enjoy, but it tends to bore me. Riva and his counsel are a good idea, but not terribly practical. Nice that Deanna gets to use her skills a bit more beyond 'feeling' things, doing something practical. Also quite interesting the bit of lore that before Riva there was no Klingon word for peace, and his role in establishing the treaty between the Klingons and Federation. Naturally, with such an important historical role, you'd think we'd hear of Riva again... right?
Andy Frankham-Allen
2024-01-29 13:20:18 +0000 UTCThis is by far the best Troi episode of the series. The show finally shows her as the counselor and trained psychologist she is, helping a man to deal with his disability. I also love Picard's reaction to the crisis "Listen to me! You are NOT alone. We are all in this together!". One of Picard's best moments as the captain.
Andreas Schmitt
2024-01-29 12:33:44 +0000 UTCI like the episode but I wish they’d done more with Geordi’s sub plot. It’s an interesting choice but it only gets about one scene.
Matthew McKinnon-Gray
2024-01-29 12:09:14 +0000 UTCI agree. Hope they don't talk over it, lol.
Ian Ramsey
2024-01-29 08:14:27 +0000 UTCAn interesting concept and I believe the actor was deaf in real life.
Mike Rogers
2024-01-29 07:24:15 +0000 UTCIt’s just a ceremonial greeting, number one. Where is everybody?
Silk
2024-01-29 07:14:42 +0000 UTCFun fact, John de Lancie (Q) is married to Marnie Mossiman who was the female chorus in this episode.
Paul Rymer
2024-01-29 05:57:48 +0000 UTCTroi is great in this episode, and I really like the scene with Picard at the end.
Paul Rymer
2024-01-29 05:52:58 +0000 UTCOverall, this is a memorable episode to me as it featured a deaf man playing a deaf man and showing that a disability isn’t a weakness. The scene with Rivas and Geordi is among my favorite of season 2.
Eric Bundy
2024-01-29 05:52:15 +0000 UTCPrediction: The plot twist will be predicted before it happens.
Jovet
2024-01-29 05:28:41 +0000 UTCRiva: Best beard in the 24th century and beyond! LOL!
Jovet
2024-01-29 05:23:16 +0000 UTCPrediction: The boys are really going to like this one. The characters are written well and unmistakably dramatic.
Jovet
2024-01-29 05:20:53 +0000 UTCWhich would be laughable, too, so it's just as well they didn't.
Jovet
2024-01-29 05:17:56 +0000 UTCEspecially getting Troi done! LOL!
Jovet
2024-01-29 05:16:55 +0000 UTCI think this episode is one of the few episodes of Star Trek that transcends its medium. The human condition will always persist, even in a utopia-like future. Overcoming life's challenges is something we all share and struggle with. As I like to point out, why do we focus on petty differences when we all have so much more in common with each other??
Jovet
2024-01-29 05:14:50 +0000 UTCThis one I've always had a soft spot for. It's probably not that great an episode but I really like the idea of what it was trying to do.
Elway Simpson
2024-01-29 05:09:46 +0000 UTCA good story idea, but the execution is cringey. This great mediator seems to just want to get laid for the first half of the episode. The animation of the “skeleton ray” was a little stiff and unrealistic, but the effects crew was still experimenting.
tyranusfan
2024-01-29 04:59:58 +0000 UTCThe death of the Chorus was pretty gory, often overshadowed in people's minds by Conspiracy. Not much I do remember about this episode, except it was about a deaf person who had this really cool concept of a chorus. I'd say not a standout, but decently okay.
Nolan
2024-01-29 04:26:29 +0000 UTCYou will probably laugh out loud at how lame the pre-title cliffhanger is.
James H
2024-01-29 04:13:01 +0000 UTC7
Vikingdad
2024-01-29 03:50:38 +0000 UTCThe biggest thing I remember liking about this episode is Howie Seago's performance. If he doesn't sell this character, this episode fails. He does an excellent job.
Nerd's Gold
2024-01-29 03:27:17 +0000 UTCMarnie Mosiman who plays Harmony of Riva's chorus is the wife of John de Lancie who played Q
Badger
2024-01-29 03:24:59 +0000 UTCI really like this episode. It is such an original idea I think. I predict you guys are really going to like it because the acting is top notch by the guest star. The amount of emotion portrayed with no speech is really good.
Prof Moff
2024-01-29 03:17:22 +0000 UTCYeah, like I said. I forgot to put TNG in the search bar.
Steven Johnson
2024-01-29 03:15:59 +0000 UTC"TNG season 2" seems to work well in the search bar.
Joe Concepts
2024-01-29 03:10:30 +0000 UTCThis one is ok. The lady in the chorus was/is married to John Delancy, the guy who plays Q.
Monty Crawford
2024-01-29 03:05:55 +0000 UTCI always liked this one. In my rankings for the season I have this one as "Excellent".
KatWithAttitude
2024-01-29 02:50:48 +0000 UTCI like Riva's charisma and determination to get things done. I believe Worf would admire his bravery
Narnman
2024-01-29 02:50:13 +0000 UTCFun (?) fact: The three members of the Chorus correspond to Sigmund Freud's concept of the Id (the Scholar/Artist), Ego (the Warrior/Adonis), and Superego (the Woman).
Anthony Bernacchi
2024-01-29 02:48:42 +0000 UTCI think this episode i deserves much more attention. The first great Troi episode. It's a great example of using science fiction to tell a very human story
Neill Shaughness
2024-01-29 02:42:43 +0000 UTCIn case you wondered why Riva didn’t write down what he was trying to say after his chorus died, apparently originally there was a part in the script that stated that the members of the family he belonged to didn’t read or write but this information didn’t make it into the final cut of the episode.
DataDroid
2024-01-29 02:41:24 +0000 UTCGeordi with regular eyes? Too soon.. I hope this doesn’t give him false hope
TalynStarburst
2024-01-29 02:40:08 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed that during the scene where Picard is trying to talk down the distraught Riva, Howie Seago made sure his unsubtitled lines completely fit the situation. Whenever films or series make that extra effort when most won't notice, it's great.
JD Nevesytrof
2024-01-29 02:38:26 +0000 UTCNot too bad this episode, not quite In Truth There Is No Beauty but still a good overcoming adversity episode for its time
Gregory
2024-01-29 02:37:57 +0000 UTCI had totally forgotten about this episode. Howie Seago did an amazing job. He really impressed me with his acting skills when he couldn’t even hear the others, his timing and facial expressions were spot on!
DataDroid
2024-01-29 02:35:36 +0000 UTCI agree - I also thing it is Troi's strongest episode up this point. It showed she could do more than just say "I feel ..." and "I sense ..."
Collin Freeman
2024-01-29 02:33:29 +0000 UTCFun fact: I went to Google which episode this was and forgot to put "TNG" in my search results, so it brought up TOS's "The Apple." I was confused. Nonplused, you might say. Uh... I have no memory of this episode at all.
Steven Johnson
2024-01-29 02:32:00 +0000 UTCThere may be a difference of opinion, but I do think this is Troi's strongest episode up to this point in the series. This is one of my personal top 5 of the season because I like the idea of the chorus and the resolution to it all.
CM Waters
2024-01-29 02:31:55 +0000 UTCThe actor who played Riva is deaf in real life. Also several others in his family were deaf or hearing impaired. He petitioned to to showrunners to make an episode that represented deaf people.
Ca$hWednesday
2024-01-29 02:30:14 +0000 UTCThis is the episode where I finally started liking Deanna Troi and Jean Luc Picard. Prior to this, I thought Troi was a useless character who just went around saying "I feel...", "I sense..." and not much else, and I thought the bald captain was a bit of a jerk. But this episode showed me more to what Troi could do and be as a person, and by this point Steward had become more relaxed; less rigid, serious, and all-business.
Collin Freeman
2024-01-29 02:26:55 +0000 UTCThe death of the Chorus is pretty brutal. Not "Conspiracy" level brutal, but still surprised they let it air like that.
THE LORE!!!
2024-01-29 02:26:23 +0000 UTC
