FULL DISCUSSION - Star Trek TNG S1E21 - The Arsenal of Freedom
Added 2023-12-13 20:00:08 +0000 UTC
Comments
Just remember: the Show is still finding its footing. Not quite firing on all cylinders, yet. TOS didn't start out "great" either... the two pilots really needed retooled, etc. But I will admit I am biased, too much of TOS is hokey and cliché to me.... TNG is definitely my favorite ST series.
Jovet
2023-12-15 16:04:17 +0000 UTCOverall I liked it there’s somequestionable stuff, like Logan only being there as a conflict to Geordi. First he wants to leave and when Geordi leaves he screams at him for that. And at the end the battle is just to give Geordi something to overcome. He’s still in the atmosphere when he drops the shields they should have burned up. But good character stuff and the beginning of using Troi correctly
Scarpad’s Domain
2023-12-15 04:01:28 +0000 UTCMaybe I was less observant, but it honestly took me a few seasons to realize Troi had an office with actual appointments. I’m not sure what I initially thought a “counselor” did lol
Glenn Johnson Barnes
2023-12-14 22:03:21 +0000 UTCI enjoy Ken's takes. It's refreshing. I scan the comments for him all time to get his thoughts. I too hope he sticks around to see if he warms up as the series goes on.
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-14 21:10:21 +0000 UTCThe crew of the Drake, I can understand. They never found the underground control cavern, so they were focused on opposing the flying unit (a no-win scenario as they grow stronger). But the original population didn't make a kill-switch for these things that THEY invented?
StonyD
2023-12-14 21:09:40 +0000 UTCKen, I hope you stick around for the rest of the series. I think your opinion of it will improve. But rest assured, it will NEVER be "TOS". Two different animals with tone, style, and overall execution. TOS, TNG, and DS9 all have their own flavor.
StonyD
2023-12-14 20:53:17 +0000 UTCFor those Gen-X or older "The Lollipop. It was a good ship." is a Laugh-Out-Loud reference to an old Shirley Temple song that's worth the Google. Also this episode has a slow-burn way of sticking with you. I'm betting you'll remember it a little more fondly at season's end.
Dan Halstead
2023-12-14 20:24:39 +0000 UTCArguably the Enterprise does not retain its flagship status during certain conflicts we see where an admiral is in command of a different vessel, thus having his "flag" on that ship.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-14 18:11:44 +0000 UTCIt's his opinion and it's a valid one even if I don't agree completely with all the issues. 7/10 is about what I would rate it too overall.
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-14 18:07:06 +0000 UTCDont confuse peace time status with reserve status though. The Enterprise IS supposed to be the flag ship in case of conflict, that is mentioned. In peace time you don't need a flagship so they are an exploration and diplomatic vessel but it can still be the one ship that will spring into that position in case of war. And that absolutely matters.
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-14 17:37:14 +0000 UTCIn the end, reading the Enterprise crew is kind of Troi's entire job. She's the ship's counselor and therefore responsible for the crew's mental health. So telling a commanding officer when she senses a lot of stress in other members of the crew is part of her job of the medical staff and vitally important. I'm glad this episode went into that. Advising Picard in negotiations is more of a side-gig for her. What she did with Geordi is her MAIN duty.
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-14 16:50:54 +0000 UTCThen why are you here after all?
Sam Langanke
2023-12-14 16:05:37 +0000 UTCI think this is one of the less-dumb ones of the season.
Jovet
2023-12-14 15:26:26 +0000 UTCIf I remember correctly, there's some "continuital drift" on that.
Jovet
2023-12-14 15:24:04 +0000 UTCYou are correct Phillip. Apparently the term can also be used more loosely to mean "the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the first, largest, fastest, most heavily armed, or best known". Or so wikipedia tells me lol
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-14 12:56:04 +0000 UTCThe menace was kind of dumb. The planet was being killed and nobody thought to tell it they'll buy it and shut it off, but half delirious Crusher figured that out? The whole used car salesman guy reminded me of Jon Lovitz and that's not really a good fit for ST. 20 episodes in I am not sure that this is a show that would stand up to endless rewatching. This was kind of meh, as are most of the episodes. It's charmless, and bizarrely, it's also intentionally mellow most of the time. I listen to Gates McF, Jonathan Frakes, and all of them and I find myself missing DeForest Kelly and the energy he brought to his scenes. 7/10 tops, kind of dull thanks to the enemy.
Ken R
2023-12-14 10:05:53 +0000 UTCCalling the Enterprise the flagship was always weird, the flagship is the one carrying the person in command of the fleet or the subdivision of a fleet. That's not the Enterprise. Doesn't matter in the big picture but it was a weird choice especially because the Enterprise doesn't even seem to be that important, half the time starfleet uses Enterprise to play space taxi for diplomats or to ferry cargo around federation space, I wouldn't call those the most interesting assignments.
Phillip Grischa
2023-12-14 08:36:43 +0000 UTCNot to mention the Enterprise is the flagship of Starfleet and clearly has the most interesting assignments.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-14 05:09:00 +0000 UTCFar fewer people have equally strong opinions about Season 2, I feel.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-14 05:08:28 +0000 UTCRiverside, Iowa, according to the real-life townsfolk there in our era, as well as Gene Roddenberry, since "They asked first."
Rhett Coates
2023-12-14 04:08:03 +0000 UTCThere are episodes where the Enterprise is referred to as the flagship of Starfleet. So I imagine they took the legacy of the ship seriously, and must have had a lot of confidence in Picard to put him in charge.
Joe Concepts
2023-12-14 03:32:26 +0000 UTCI have not been one of the "Season 1 is trash" people, but I just didn't enjoy it as much. Not to start more complaining, but looking at the Season 2 list, I think there are more in there that one I'd rather skip over. BUT Season 2 also has at least two episodes that are among the best of the entire series! So stay tuned!
Joe Concepts
2023-12-14 03:31:35 +0000 UTCDon't worry, the "season 2 is bad because it's not season 3" crowd exists I'm sure.
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-14 03:24:46 +0000 UTCOn Riker choosing to serve on the Enterprise over commanding the Drake; yes the name has a prestige to it, even if it's not the OG, but additionally, the Galaxy class ships were at the time supposed to be the most advanced ship in Starfleet. A lot of officers would want to serve on them to be on the cutting edge.
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-14 03:22:35 +0000 UTCOr to make it more explicit: ops and conn are both real naval terms. Conn is basically the person steering the ship, so Wesley. Ops stands for Operations officer. "Ship Operations Officers lead the day-to-day operations of the ship, and ensures compliance with organisation procedures and industry regulations to ensure the safe operation of ships."
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-14 02:50:55 +0000 UTCI think Riker and Tasha could have jumped and let Data catch them..like wee babies..
Badger
2023-12-14 02:16:36 +0000 UTCWe want to enjoy the ride as much as possible but yeah agreed
Josh (Target Audience)
2023-12-13 23:42:39 +0000 UTCI can't believe we've made it just five episodes from everyone finally shutting up about Season One!
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-13 23:24:11 +0000 UTCAnd Kirk was...well, let's not talk about that.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-13 22:00:11 +0000 UTCI guess you never heard of The Good Ship Lollipop. Google it for a blast from the past. Apparently Riker is a Shirley Temple fan. Fun fact: the sand in the cavern was infested with fleas so Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden were getting attacked all through filming those scenes.
KatWithAttitude
2023-12-13 21:49:39 +0000 UTCJosh, if you already saw Terminator I and II, you're done buddy, you're good.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-13 21:48:31 +0000 UTCWhat are the armaments of the USS Lolipop!? Favorite season1 episode, big breakout for Jeordi. Though I think there was an editing mistake as they had to destroy the Giant Drone ship after Picard had apparently turned it off. Also Fun Fact, Beverly isn't the first main Cast member human born off world, Nurse Chapelle was born on the Moon
Justin DiBari
2023-12-13 21:35:26 +0000 UTCTo be fair, it took Picard and Crusher accidentally falling down a well overgrown hole to even find the central control. Maybe the Drake's crew never found that and got killed on the surface. After all, if I'm being attacked, the last thing I'll do is randomly look for holes in the ground. I'll be busy staying alive.
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-13 21:19:31 +0000 UTCIn other words, usually Wesley has the Conn and Data is at Ops
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-13 21:17:39 +0000 UTCI agree with Josh: a solid episode. I give it a B. Makes you think what happened to the crew of the Drake and how dumb were they for not figuring out how to turn off the war machine.
Collin Freeman
2023-12-13 21:06:35 +0000 UTC18:10 Yes, none of them figured out how to shut if off. Remember, it was considered invincible.
Jovet
2023-12-13 21:00:30 +0000 UTC9:40 I think the story was written just fine. The only thing is the surface unit dematerializing but the one in orbit not is the small questionable bit. And Data throwing Tasha around never gets old. LOL!
Jovet
2023-12-13 20:52:55 +0000 UTC1:38 When looking at the bridge from the main viewscreen: the Conn is the left-hand position and steers the ship. Ops is the right-hand position and interfaces all the ship's systems. (These positions were reversed in the pilot.)
Jovet
2023-12-13 20:44:43 +0000 UTCTermineighbor. Nice.
Jovet
2023-12-13 20:42:45 +0000 UTCWell, you guys are now going to get sued for using the Terminator theme in your video. There goes all that Patreon money.
Steven Johnson
2023-12-13 20:06:41 +0000 UTC
