Every Sunday my Twitch subs and I watch Star Trek in my Discord. Here are my reviews and thoughts on each of the episodes as I see it. If you're curious about a nerd's views on Star Trek episodes, please read on, I go quite in d mopepth with some of this episodes! I've watched some Star Trek before but not all of it!
Starting season 5! Getting into some of the REAL good shit~ ....Once again, I'm worried my scale is all fucked up. There's gonna be lots of 10s, aren't there???
Redemption Part 2 - TNG
10/10
We slam back into a civil war. Kurn and Worf nearly die in a battle but Kurn does the Kurn Maneuver (going warp on the surface of the sun so the others chase a bit further and blow up), and they make it out. I do think it'd be funny if they just straight up killed Worf in the first scene of season 5 though. Dorn's like "I got one more in me."
At the same time, Picard is trying to convince some more fucking admirals that they need to stop Romulans from supplying the Duras family. At first the admirals are belligerent, but eventually Picard convinces them. Apparently, Geordi has invented a Tachyon Net to catch Romulan cloaking. That's our Geordi. And also, Data passive aggressively is like "Hey Cap why haven't I gotten a ship? You say there's not enough senior officers to outfit the blockade. I can do that". So, Data is made captain.
Klingon politics is fun. The guy who tried to kill Dorn and Worf yesterday is drinking with em and insulting em. Worf is really realizing how different the Klingon Empire is from the Federation, but he finally decides "eh, fuck it", cause he wants to be with his brother.
Data shows up on his new ship, and his first officer is racist. "No one would expect a Klingon to be a good ship's counselor, and I don't believe an android would be good at being a captain".
"I understand your concern. Request denied."
Fucking love Data.
Okay NOW Worf is probably feeling the differences between the Federation and Klingons again as someone yells at Gowron and they have a fight and Murder Occurs.
My man, I'mma need you to stop being racist.
The blockade happens, a tachyon net. And instead of like, moving up or something (space is a flat plane of course), the Tasha Yar Look-alike working with the Romulans is like "WE NEED TO FIND A WAY THROUGH" and sends a message to Picard, claiming she's the CHILD of Tasha Yar, and that he needs to fuck off. Everyone is like "what the fuck is this", and Guinan has to explain that one episode where an alternate universe Tasha goes back to the past on Enterprise C. And if that's not enough for you, this new character, Sela, explains exactly what happened. An interesting story, and end to Tasha. Though kinda dark. And of course, Sela is played by Tasha Yar's actress, so it hits even harder.
Wow this Klingon is really horny for Worf. I guess I get it, but she needs to slow her roll. He gets captured by the Duras, and they offer him to join them. Quite obviously Worf told them to fuck off.
Also, O'Brien is on the Bridge! He's doing Worf's job. Which I guess makes sense. Better that then make a new character.
Data saves the day, all while Racist McFuckstick questions him EVERY step of the way, insulting him and treating him like garbage, but Data discovers hidden Romulans sneaking past, and solves the issue because he's Data. Then this asshat turns out around and becomes a kissass. Absolutely fuck this guy.
With the Romulans exposed, they flee, and Dural's forces IMMDIATELY crumble as they have no Romulan backup. The Duras sisters dip immediately, leaving their nephew. Fuck him I guess. Toral, the son of Duras, is brought before Worf. Gowron gives Worf the opportunity to kill this literal child. It's a thing ANY Klingon would do. Worf isn't just any Klingon, though.
What a good god damn line. None of the Klingons are happy but Worf doesn't really give a shit, now does he? Especially since he immediately turns to Picard and requests a return to the Federation, which is granted.
Smooth episode. Doesn't feel rushed, but it's FULL, it's almost feels like a MOVIE. Solid god damn episode.
Darmok - TNG
9/10
The Enterprise goes to meet with some Aliens who have showed up called the Tamarians. The Tamarians were interacted with once before, and they're considered... instructable and confusing, but perfectly benign and peaceful. Picard wants to have a true first contact and get to know them better, but their way of communication is... odd. They just state Proper Names, and then locations. My linguistics brain is tiiiiingling!!
They watch the Tamarian captain talk with someone else, and again, they seem pleasant. And they're saying things about Darmok and Jalad at... somewhere, when the walls fell. And then Picard and the other captain are teleported to the planet, the Tamarian brandishing knives. Oh no!
But again, he seems... jovial. Maybe frustrated by being unable communicate? Eventually, night falls, and Picard begins to freeze, but the Tamarian captain gives him some fire, "his arms wide"... This is SUPER INTERESTING.
Riker has been trying to rescue Picard with no success. They try and send a shuttle down to pass through the No Teleporter Forcefield, but the Tamarians shoot out their engines... JUST enough so they would be able to continue, but not come back. Good shooting.
Also of note, this is the first episode with Picard's new uniform! Makes sense it wasn't in the part 2, right? Anyways it's nice.
I wish this episode was JUST Picard and the Tamarian on the surface. I find them trying to communicate EXTREMELY fascinating, and I love the small moments as much as they do. Picard LEAPS for joy as he learns what a phrase means! I LOVE THAT! And then BOOM BACK TO THE OTHERS, who try and beam Picard up. They fail, AND interrupt Picard trying to save the Tamarian's life. Like obviously they need to try and get their captain back. But I find it WAY less interesting than the other half of the episode. The only other part I guess I like is that Data and Troi are trying to figuring it out and spell out the way their language works, but that's about it.
Basically, their entire language is based on the stories of what people once did. Tembo, his arms wide, is someone who once gave and gave. Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra is the story of two people who didn't know each other, but met on an island, and fought a mighty beast, and became closer, friends. Thats what the captain is trying to do.
Unfortunately, despite Picard making these breakthroughs, the Tamaran Captain dies from his wounds. And Picard worries that no one may know exactly what he wanted, if he goes too. But then back to the dumbies in space, Riker basically declares war on these people to try and get Picard beamed back on board. He does, and the Enterprise nearly falls as Picard charges on the bridge like "I GOTTA STOP THIS SHIT". And then he has a conversation.
And that conversation is total gibberish. But, to us, after having watched the episode? It makes COMPLETE sense. In the end, Picard offers the knife of the captain, tembo, his eyes open. But no, temo, at rest. He keeps it, and the episode ends on Picard making the same gesture the captain had made.
If this episode didn't have Riker's weird aggressive bullshit on the bridge, it would be an 11/10, if it was just Picard. It just needs a few changes. But I really love linguistics stuff, so this hits me harder than it might for some. Also I guess it maybe needed them on the ship to explain stuff for us dumb idiot consumers?
Ensign Ro - TNG
9/10
The Enterprise get word that a Federation colony on the edge of Cardassian space has been asploded. They're on their way to determine how the Cardassians did it, when they get a message from some people calling themselves "The Bajora", which is funny, who claim responsibility, as if THEY can't have a home in this sector, no one can. Aight my guy.
The Bajorans (I'm calling them that cause it sounds better), and their terrorist leader Orta, directly attacked the Federation basically to get them to pay attention to their plight. I've seen this kinda terrorism plot in stuff before. An admiral is like "Picard, I need you to tell him we hear him, and our thoughts and prayers are with them." which I'm sure will go well, and then he also forces Picard to take some lady who he apparently GOT OUT OF PRISON for this. Ro Laren.
No one here is happy about this. Ro Laren is kinda belligerent, Riker is PISSED at how belligerent she is, and Picard is exhasperated. It's also very weird watching this after having watched a full season of DS9. This was way before DS9 was ANYTHING, or even a possibility. So all the continuity errors are weird.
Ro Laren convince them to talk to a leader of a refugee camp. They were GONNA talk to some prim and proper Bajoran, "one of the good ones". Picard gives them blankets, they give harsh words about "oh if the terrorist attack is making you help us we should have been killing you long ago".
Good scene with Ro and Guinan. Apparently, Ro Laren ignored direct orders, and seven people died because of it, so she's been in jail, and EVERYONE hates her. And she kind of hates herself, too. Also it turns out she's being used by the admiral for... some kind of purpose! What a surprise!
She sneaks down and talks to the terrorists, and when Picard goes after her. They're IMMEDIATELY captured, but the terrorists are... friendly. Enough. They claim they had NOTHING to do with the terrorist attacks. And through Guinan, we find out that Ro Laren was sent here to give him another offer... one that the Federation couldn't make above board. She doesn't know who to trust anymore, but Guinan trusts Picard.... and Picard becomes her new mentor figure. Something she desperately needs.
Ro Laren is fucked up. She has extreme trauma, and is the chess piece in a terrible conspiracy. But she can trust Picard. And we trust Picard too, will find the right way out of this mess.
Wow, what a surprise! The Cardassians are here! And they're going to destroy the Bajorans! And the Admiral is like "Oh gee well you should leave the Bajorans to their fate~". LOL I'm sure. Picard IMMEDIATELY calls him on his bullshit, explaining all of it. And the Admiral is like "what no way". Anyways Picard is ALWAYS one step ahead of him. I think he's tired of all this conspriacy bullshit. I know we are too. Picard is amazing here. And he takes Ro Laren under his wing, and hopes she'll remain in starfleet. It's nice to see.
Again, good episode. Riker being overly angry again... why is that happening a lot??? It's also a VERY important episode, being THE episode that solidifes DS9. And it shows Ro Laren for the first time, who'll show up in future episodes!
Silicon Avatar - TNG
9/10
Wil is making the moves on some colonist, in what might be the horniest scene I've seen in Trek. "You can come to my tent later, Will. I can make chicken curry, we can have that wine I know you brought, and then we can have an... unforgettable desert" ;D
And then they're interrupted by a rotating crystal christmas tree.
It's the Chrystalline Entity!! Y'all remember that?! It hasn't shown up since SEASON ONE, but it's some kind of entity that just straight up eats people, and it ate Data's homeworld, basically. Data, Will, and Crusher try to evacuate the colony to safe caves nearby. Riker's new crush stops to help someone who fell over.
Well shit. I guess Riker isn't having no desert tonight.
All of them hide in the caves, Riker taking control of the situation. No one knows if the cave will even be enough to shelter to them. Even if it does, they may just run out of air. It's a tense situation. Luckily, Worf and the others come in the nick of time.
Riker admits his love for Worf, finally.
What a pretty mat painting. Oh wait no that's horrible. They go get an expert on the Crystalline Entity, who is.... a flippant shithead. She's flippant AND mean towards Data. "MAYBE IT LEFT THE SURVIVORS ALONE BECAUSE YOU LEAD IT HERE AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO KILL ITS ALLY" Ma'am, this is a Wendy's.
Yes, her son was killed by the Chrystalline entity. This is going too far. Data had nothing to do with it. Fuck off lol. Data is assigned to her anyway, cause Picard's not putting up with that shit. Data gives her information and tries to find a way to scan for it, and she's almost willing to throw it away so she can ignore Data some more. But she accepts it, and they have a good moment.
GREAT scene with Picard and the scientist. She wants to blow it the fuck up, understandably. And Picard thinks it's just eating, just living, and deserves to live, even if it hurts others, by accident. Also understandably. No one is in the right, or the wrong.
I love you, Data.
She gets attached to Data, because he has her son's memories in his head, and his data entry logs. She even has him use his voice and read a journal entry. Data, of course, does, but we watching are like "this is MASSIVELY UNHEALTHY"
She and Data also find a way to communicate with it, to try and reach a friendly relation with it. They find a way, using resonance sequences. It works, and the entity seems... willing for friendly relations, they just need some time to- oh shit, Dr. Marr hacked the signal. The signal amplitude increases, to a point, and causes it to shatter and literally kills it. She's IMMEDIATELY escorted to her quarters for, y'know, killing a living thing we wanted to be friends with.
She says she did it for "you", you being her son, though she's talking to Data, because she sees data as her son. And Data explains no, from what he knows, her son would be very, very sad. And it just BREAKS her.
What a fucking episode. Heavy, but good.
Disaster - TNG
10/10
Our episode starts with O'Brien, Keiko, Riker, and Data at Guinan's. Keiko is gregnant! :D pregante! They're arguing over what the kid should be named and Riker is like "oh, William, easy, done". Good shit.
At the same time, Picard is showing some kids a tour of the ship. He is VERY bad with children. And then, suddenly... DISASTER! title drop.
They hit some "space filiment", whatever the shit that is, and it causes a whole bunch of shit to fail.
The kids are crying and Picard is very, VERY VERY BAD AT THIS. "SHUT THE FUCK UP AND STOP CRYING WE WON'T DIE". Yeah that'll help.
Meanwhile, it's O'Brien, Troi, a random Ensign, and Ensign Ro on the bridge. Ro is back! :D And because a random Lieutenant who WAS in command here is now dead cause of Explodium, Troi is now in charge. She is NOT ready for this. At all.
This episode is basically just "what do these groups of people do in disaster scenarios". We've got Crusher and Geordi stuck in room with a radiation fire and barrels of fuel. We've got Troi, Ro, O'Brien, and a random dude on the bridge, with Troi in charge and freaking out. We've got Data, Riker, Keiko, and Worf in Ten Forward, and Keiko is.... very, VERY pregnant. And then Picard surrounded by crying children in an elevator.
Picard is the first to get his situation under control. He "appoints" everyone fake titles, and gets their help to try and get out of the elevator.
On the bridge, Ro does some Illegal Fucky Shit to get power back online for some systems. O'Brien is OFFENDED, which is VERY funny because of what he's like in DS9. This isn't DS9 tho.
There's an Electrical Storm, which Data nullifies by Walking Into it. Oh, Data.
IT'S HERE! This is what this episode is known for. Keiko in labor. Who is here to help? How about the fucking Klingon who just grabbed some old guy's bones and cracked them back into place and said "Good, you bore the pain well". Yeah. That's the best choice. Well your other choices are Data's head, cause Riker took it apart, and riker, who is busy elsewhere.
I gotta say, the turbolift? Very poorly designed. Why is the exit hatch like, up above, in the middle of a curved dome??? How is ANYONE supposed to get to that? It needs like, a release for some kinda ladder. Picard broke his ankle but is STILL able to get out of it and climb up. Aight.
To put out their fire AND get rid of the explosive compounds, Geordi and Crusher depressurize the room. It's fun and exciting, though they got like, the least scren time of all these groups.
Ro wants Engineering vented cause it's about to explode. Troi refuses, just in case people are alive down there. Luckily, Data and Riker silve the situation with Data's head being connected to Engineering.
All of the disasters are being solved. This is a sweet and cute moment.
This one is going about as well as you would expect. Anyways, she's a girl, yay! Turns out this entire episode was a Gender Party gone very, very wrong. No obviously not. The episode ends with an adorable last moment with Picard and the kids, the Enterprise fixed and moving off.
Great episode! Honestly just a bunch of great moments and character moments, one after another. And I like little vignette episodes like this with showing different groups handling issues.
