Had a technical issue with our mics so had to use the audio from our camera microphone in this video. If anyone comments about the audio, please make fun of them for not reading this.
One thing I love about this episode is that even though he's a fake, it sort of shows you who Picard may be as a person instead of as a captain, which is awesome. Picard always gave me the vibe of a man who is extremely aware of his position so he "assumes a character" and keeps people at a distance even though under all of that, he's quite cheerful and passionate.
"Esoqq" is played by Reiner Schöne. He is a famous actor here in Germany and he is also the german voice actor for "Darth Vader", "Optimus Prime" in the "Transformers"-movies, Willem Defoe and many more !
It’s great to see German actors in American television, but couldn’t they have given him some prosthetics to make him appear alien? 😅 J/K This is a cry for help. Is there room in the EU for hundreds of millions of tired, poor, huddled Americans longing to breathe free?
I feel like something like "an escape room" may have been in earlier shows and video games. The idea of doing it for real, or that anyone would want to, is what came later.
Always thought this one was underrated, Faux-Picard is a hoot especially when putting the moves on Beverly while real Picard's scenario is like Among Us crossed with fan favourite Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters In Search Of An Exit".
I've always loved the part of this episode when Picard, who is suppose to be French, starts singing Heart of Oak. An English song about the defeat of the French during the Seven Years War. It doesn't seem like that's a song a Frenchman would sing, but since it's the fake Picard maybe that's why he chose to sing this specific song.
@@kevinbrooks9074 The Crocodile or, Public Decency Though some at my aversion smile, I cannot love the crocodile. Its conduct does not seem to me Consistent with sincerity. Where Nile, with beneficial flood, Improves the desert sand to mud, The infant child, its banks upon, Will run about with nothing on. The London County Council not Being adjacent to the spot, This is the consequence. Meanwhile, What is that object in the Nile, Which swallows water, chokes and spits? It is the crocodile in fits. ‘Oh infant! oh my country’s shame! Suppose a European came! Picture his feelings, on his pure Personally conducted tour! The British Peer’s averted look, The mantling blush of Messrs. Cook! Come, awful infant, come and be Dressed, if nothing else, in me.’ Then disappears into the Nile The infant, clad in crocodile, And meekly yields his youthful breath To darkness, decency, and death. His mother, in the local dells, Deplores him with Egyptian yells: Her hieroglyphic howls are vain, Nor will the lost return again. The crocodile itself no less Displays, but does not feel, distress, And with its tears augments the Nile; The false, amphibious crocodile. ‘Is it that winds Etesian blow, Or melts on Ethiop hills the snow?’ So, midst the inundated scene, Inquire the floating fellaheen. From Cairo’s ramparts gazing far The mild Khedive and stern Sirdar Say, as they scan the watery plain, ‘There goes that crocodile again.’ The copious tribute of its lids Submerges half the pyramids, And over all the Sphinx it flows, Except her non-existent nose.
Josh figuring out who the impostor was and why really impressed me. I only know one other Trekkie that ever picked up on it. I know i didn't pick up on it when i first watched it.
Cadet Haro (if indeed there is a real Cadet Haro out there) is a Bolian. This is the second time we've seen a Bolian in the series (the first was Captain Rixx in "Conspiracy") and the first time we've seen a female Bolian. Bolians have blue skin and the males are bald, although apparently the females have hair. The species was named after Cliff Bole because he directed the episode in which they first appeared.
I dig this new little intro showing the evolution overtime since first starting Star Trek. This episode is cool, nothing over the top but meets the base expectation of a good TNG episode (not great, but good IMO). I do really like seeing the different species and the twist are highlights. I think you guys will like this.
I'm a sucker for what I call, Breakfast Club episodes - where people who don't know each other, from different backgrounds are forced to work togther. Gilligan's Island, Lost, The Cube, Twilight Zone (Five Characters In Search of An Exit) etc. No matter the genre count me in.
Movies like Twelve Angry Men are like that too. And my favorite episode (from season 2) of Murder She Wrote, where Jessica Fletcher ends up the foreperson of a jury.
This is an episode I return to every now and then. Lots af fun and interesting thing about authority. The aliens are fun and the whole Picard doppleganger was great. The praise you give goes to Michael Westmore and his team! Give him props! Amazing stuff for a show. Emmy Award winner! Oh, and a pulsar is a type of star, so it's a "stellar" thing, not a "lunar" thing that's more of our moon stuff. Great reaction guys.
I think the Picard on the ship, Fake Picard, was also part of their test. If you think about the Title "Allegiance" they could be testing how much the crew would trust the person or how well the crew knows the person to lose trust when it seems exactly like the person.
3:42 I’ve been pronouncing the E and the end of Kolbe’s last name for 30 years. Only because of you two did I learn the correct way to say it. Wait until you get to René Auberjonois. Try and say THAT name! Ha ha!
Seeing Josh on the literal edge of his seat during the date was worth it, as was Alex's look of comedic disbelief when the doppelganger started singing. Knew it wouldn't be a fave, but the acting, makeup, and sheer comedy value of this episode make it a guilty pleasure for me. "Ales for everyone!" Did anyone else love noticing the Pulsar's strobe light on the Doppel's head? Considering the viewscreen is a bluescreen, that's some serious attention to detail on the bridge lighting set to match.
It's very brief, but one of my favorite things from this episode was the part in Ten Forward when Geordi was trying to bluff his way through that song and he didn't know the lyrics.
Great video as always. Just wanted to mention though, when you guys get to the series finale don't watch the 2-parter version. It's missing whole scenes. Go for the full double-length episode.
I'm pretty sure Crusher was informed that the real Picard had returned, given that Troi wasn't on the Bridge and Beverly was definitely playing up the charm to tease him. My favorite part about that has to be Picard's voice-crack at "Engage."
This episode definitely shows improved writing, improved directing, improved makeup, improved everything. Not a perfect episode but really good. It’s obvious the quality of the show has greatly improved.
this episode very much cements this series interpretation of what it was to be *a crew* this then goes on to evolve into what it is to be *a family* in later episodes, and the shows that follow. that's what many people today fail to consider, when dealing with people who know about this fact, and won't take an outsider as a member "just" because they fly colors, or dress the part. people won't just accept you when you demand to be accepted, and will most definitely spot an impostor who doesn't know the _protocols_ so to speak. that's why many late productions fail, when they resort to _appealing_ without knowing.
Another episode that I remember as being worse than it is! I love that you guys are getting me to reexamine my feelings about the episodes that I'm not as high on.
Its cute that in the 90's video game Birth of the Federation...when you first meet that race (no matter whom you're playing as) their first communion is them "surrendering" to join you.
@@gggooding And ironically enough the Mintakans, who are also mentioned here. Each surrenders to you if you have enough military relative to their development. The Chalnoth are also represented (but hard to ally with and not that great) but the other 2 species are not. (edit - I never remember she's Bolian since she looks so different than the one on the Enterprise.) I also wonder if there ever was an Ensign like that - was she scanned but not abducted?
They discovered the plot twist very quickly, I wonder if there is any subject in the stellar academy, orders with eyebrow movements, lowering your gaze...
The sexual tension between Picard and Crusher has been a slow burn since The Naked Now. Ditto with Riker and Troi. For us older fans, this all feels like a Bob and Mary, Ted and Alice movie vibe. Will they or won’t they? To say anything now would be spoiling the fun yet to come. 😉😏 An aside: Gates Mc Fadden has never looked hotter before this episode. Even though today, she has retained her good looks and personality, which isn’t always the case for her peers. Thanks for the reaction, guys! 👍🏾
2:30 I don't precisely recall that snifter scene, but that's definitely a spirit. My guess would be brandy/cognac based on Picard being French (while being portrayed by a British actor with a British accent).
Okay, this episode being reacted to at the same time Extra Credits releases an episode on people being able to notice things without realizing they've noticed it is a beautiful coincidence.
Banger after banger, as predicted 🤣 The episode ranking chart after this season is going to be top heavy, I think. I can't say every episode left is on this level, but this season is not done banging. BTW, love the intro zipping thru the episodes, and it not being the same ones every time. 👋
The actor who played the "pushover," Joycelyn O'Brien, did a *great* Irish brogue as a maid in the Sylvester Stallone comedy _Oscar,_ starring Tim Curry, Marisa Tomei, Kurtwood Smith, and Chazz Palminteri + cameos by Don Ameche, Yvonne de Carlo & Kirk Douglas. Highly recommended.
Yeah, we tried to tell you, after the halfway mark in season three it ramps up like crazy. Not that early season 3 was bad but it was inconsistent like 1 and 2 were, just less so. I don’t know if they can handle the finale….it’s gonna be their highest rated video for sure.
I she can apparently not read emotions when she doesn't want to. I always figured she "turns off" her empathic abilities while playing poker. Just like Geordi doesn't look through cards and Data doesn't count cards or stack decks. Thats my head cannon anyhow.
As much as I generally prefer TOS to TNG, I agree with Josh that "Allegiance" > "The Empath." Not by a lot, but yes. To me, this is TNG at its best. The subtleties of the crew recognizing that this is not their Picard -- brilliant. Excellent writing, acting, etc. Great reaction, Josh and Alex, particularly when you saw the principles playing poker!
"Back when I was in the academy we use to follow every toast with a song!" And then the rest. Cracks me up to this day every time! The singer Christopher Nicholas "Nick" Bertke better known by his stage name "Pogo" did a hilarious take off on that scene in one of his songs.
The episode is homage to famed Stanford Prison experiment in early 1970s. Two dozen people participated in experiment on concept authority and psychological abuse in a makeshift prison in basement Stanford University building. In the end the guards were abusive, negligent, even antagonistic.
I wasn't sure if they would enjoy this as much as they did and considered it potentially one of the weaker ones in the final line up. I'm particularly looking forwards to 22, 23 and 24.
Patrick Stewart is the GOAT. He’s a super-serious Shakespearean actor, but also super goofy and a total spaz. He’s BFF with his X-Men co-star Ian McKellen (Magneto). Check out his “interview” with Ricky Gervais. It’s good to see this side of Stewart show through in Picard every once in a great while.
If you want to see Picard dance, checkout the 1988 film Safehouse staring Patrick Stewart. He plays an aging man that is either a retired spy or a delusional old man. In the US it aired on Showtime. It may be a bit hard to find because of the 2012 Denzel Washington Ryan Reynolds film with the same name. It's a good mystery movie and has a great dance scene in it.
Made a funny meme about the scene with Picard singing in 10 forward. “Back when I was in the academy, we would follow every toast with a song. I wonder if I could….. oh yes. *ahem* Shake your ass, watch your self! Shake your ass, show me what you’re workin with!” 😂
Like this episode and The Empath (One of DeForest Kelley's favorite episodes). Ending on this one was kind of pushed but the beginning and middle were top notch.
EXCELLENT EPISODE! Yeah it's a one off and not serialized to stretch out over multiple arcs or episodes but SO WHAT?! STILL an EXCELLENT EPISODE stand alone or not doesn't matter.
I had kind of thought you may not like this one as much as it is pretty goofy at times. I do enjoy it though. Picard singing is funny. The melody he sings I believe is a British song called "Heart of Oak." During the American Revolution "The Liberty Song" used that medley but with pro-American lyrics by John Dickinson. Dickinson is a signer of the Constitution, Founding Father, and I think is mentioned in Oversimplified History's Revolutionary War video.
Those aliens seemed to be experts in many species with a long history of abductions. But they never met the D-crew and how much of a well oiled machine they’ve become.
I was actually surprised by how much you enjoyed this episode. While I enjoyed it when first watching it, I thought perhaps it might be a bit slow for your tastes.
Before you get into season 4 you may wish to think of a way of skipping the guest cast section of some of the episodes. This show is great at removing any surprises of characters better viewed as reveals. Just a thought.
I never really know what's going to hit with you guys and what's going to miss. I'm really curious how you'll feel about the next episode. It's one I've always really liked, but I have a sneaking suspicion y'all won't dig it. We'll see.
It's almost meta watching you guys getting more and more stressed waiting for the other shoe to drop and have a dud episode. We will all have to raise a glass with Alex to the end of an era. 😆
Being an anarchist myself, the description always irked me a little for reasons. It's accurate on a superficial level, but you can't really expect much exposition other than that, and i get Picard's response to it. I mean, he is the captain of a star ship so heirarchy would naturally be a big deal to him. The show really started hitting their stride around this time, and the rest of the season is great. I think there may be one episode im not a huge fan of, but i wouldn't say any are "bad." I look forward to watching along with you guys. Great reaction. 👍
You do know that this show would never have been produced in a state of anarchy with no laws or police, right? Hollywood could not exist under such conditions.
@davidmeadows5627 bro, you must be a constantly terrified person if that's the case. I've never called a cop in 40 years. Never will. There is an autonomous region of over 2 million people in Northern Syria that is doing just fine, primarily built around libertarian socialism (anarchism) and democratic confederalism. Widely praised as the most egalitarian region in the middle east. They fully ran ISIS out, man... something the U.S. never was able to do. If you need laws to be a good person, you are not a good person to start with. Nobody ever said a community couldn't hold people accountable for their actions. The system we have right now though, is not it. It's oppressive and exploitative.
@@citizenbrain8065 If you think that that makes me a constantly terrified person, then the overwhelming majority of human beings are constantly terrified people, with only a microscopic group called anarchists being the one and only exception. I never said I need laws to be a good person. I said I need laws to protect me from the people who are not.
You guys did say, when everyone was saying Star Trek TNG gets good in season three, "We liked season 1 and 2, what's it going to be like when it gets good?"
They are in the thick of it now, their minds are going to be regularly blown every few episodes until they’ll have to take a break just to keep from overloading their positronic networks.
It wasn't "everyone saying it gets good in season three", it was a few morons trying to get them to skip half the series for no reason. Same people undoubtedly think STD and the other trash are worth watching despite taking massive dumps on Star Trek.
Reposted from Patreon: Pity poor “Allegiance,” the most egregious example in the history of television science fiction of an episode poorly served by its placement in the season. To think we thought “The Dauphin” had it bad in Season 2! “Allegiance” reminds me of the man Keegan-Michael Key played in a "Key & Peele" sketch who had to give the speech after Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington. As with “The Offspring,” one reason for making “Allegiance” was to save money after the expensive production of “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” This was director Winrich Kolbe’s favorite of his own TNG episodes, partly because of the simplicity and ease of filming in the cell set. Kolbe ran over schedule in the first two days of shooting, making Paramount executives nervous, but once he began working in the cell set the production zipped along. However, the main reason the episode was Kolbe’s favorite was how much he loved working with Patrick Stewart. He compared the skill Stewart showed in his dual role in this episode to the artistry of Itzhak Perlman playing a Stradivarius; Kolbe could ask Stewart for a little less or more in a particular scene, and Stewart would respond perfectly. TNG’s producers rejected the cue Ron Jones had composed for the dinner scene with Dr. Crusher and the fake Picard, leaving the scene unscored. Ironically, the same thing had happened in Jones’ first TNG episode, “The Naked Now,” with the cue he composed for Dr. Crusher’s attempted seduction of Picard. However, the jazz piece to which Picard and Crusher dance after dinner is an original composition by Jones, not an existing piece of music. Unfortunately, this is the last Ron Jones score we will hear for three weeks because Jones was on a trip out of the country; see my comment on S3E20 a week from today for more information. Note how Geordi sings a nonsense syllable rather than the word “slaves” in “Heart of Oak.” LeVar Burton had, of course, starred in "Roots" as the enslaved African Kunta Kinte. The Picard storyline in this episode bears a resemblance to the original "Twilight Zone" episode “Five Characters in Search of an Exit,” which guest-starred William Windom, Commodore Matt Decker from “The Doomsday Machine.” Mitena Haro, the “Starfleet cadet” who is the ringer in the group of captives, is the second Bolian character to “appear” on TNG; the first was Captain Rixx in “Conspiracy,” and the species is named after Cliff Bole, who directed that episode. The TV Tropes website points out that the Bolian facial ridge makes Haro appear to have “two faces,” a subtle hint that she is the mole. Actors Jerry and Jeff Rector (the aliens) are identical twins; Jeff Rector would later play Donald Trump in "Bad President," a 2020 fantasy comedy featuring Stormy Daniels as herself!
I like this episode, especially the Picard doppelganger. It reminds me a little of the TOS episode The Empath. The only thing I don't like is the aliens' bubble butts. Disturbing.
21:22 to the question of whether Picard could become romantically involved with a senior staff member, you might recall that there is the precedent of Capt Robert April who was married to his own Chief Medical Officer (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident").
8 episodes remaining... one is mediocre, one is my least favorite of the season, a few are quite entertaining--and two are some of the best episodes of Trek ever!
Had a technical issue with our mics so had to use the audio from our camera microphone in this video. If anyone comments about the audio, please make fun of them for not reading this.
Did you reverse the polarity? Re route power from the starboard eps conduit?
@brentaughe7539 I think they need to recalibrate the deflector dish to put out a resonance burst on their microphone.
@@EricTheSaylorman of course i forgot about that
@@EricTheSaylormanno spoilers!!!
Perhaps just your typical very localized subspace distortion?
An Englishman acting as an alien acting as a Frenchman singing a song praising the English.
Connery played an Egyptian with a Scottish accent.
"I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."
@@TheMoneypresident he also play a Russian with Scottish accent
Just remember, NEVER go Full Retard.
@@curtisberard7831*Lithuanian* speaking Russian with a Scottish accent
Double kudos to Josh for identifying the imposter among the abducted!
I know. I think I kind of suspected all or none of them, so good job.
One thing I love about this episode is that even though he's a fake, it sort of shows you who Picard may be as a person instead of as a captain, which is awesome.
Picard always gave me the vibe of a man who is extremely aware of his position so he "assumes a character" and keeps people at a distance even though under all of that, he's quite cheerful and passionate.
Dang, I like that viewpoint
Picard (fake one) giving Crusher "blue balls" never fails to make me crack up laughing!!
He slammed the door on her faster than Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino called a cab for that chick after his booty call.
"Esoqq" is played by Reiner Schöne. He is a famous actor here in Germany and he is also the german voice actor for "Darth Vader", "Optimus Prime" in the "Transformers"-movies, Willem Defoe and many more !
Wir saufen bis wir umfallen😅
@@paulanerruhrpott6188 Wir saufn bis wir umfalln.^^
It’s great to see German actors in American television, but couldn’t they have given him some prosthetics to make him appear alien? 😅 J/K This is a cry for help. Is there room in the EU for hundreds of millions of tired, poor, huddled Americans longing to breathe free?
Add to that list his portrayal of the Minbari Grey Council leader Dukhat on Babylon 5.
Oh wow, I didn't realise. He's great
LOL to Alex saying, "OMG, this is the first escape room!"
TNG did actually on the record inspire the creation of the Apple iPod, so I guess anything is possible
I feel like something like "an escape room" may have been in earlier shows and video games. The idea of doing it for real, or that anyone would want to, is what came later.
They won an Emmy for outstanding creature makeup just for this episode alone.
Always thought this one was underrated, Faux-Picard is a hoot especially when putting the moves on Beverly while real Picard's scenario is like Among Us crossed with fan favourite Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters In Search Of An Exit".
I'm an old Guy and that was the first thing I thought of .... Twilight Zone!
Back in the 80s or 90s I read a Sci-Fi story for young adults that had a plot something like this but I don't remember anything about it. Lol
Gotta love UA-cam.
Crusher: "He asked me to dinner in his cabin, and it was a very...unusual evening."
Pop up ad: "TRY CASCADE PLATINUM PLUS!"
😂😂😂😂
Gotta admit, that would make for a most unusual evening.
Only thing coulda been more hilarious would be
Cerveza Cristal
I grew up watching Knight Rider and Winrich Kolbe directed a lot of the best episodes. I was always excited to see his name in the credits.
I've always loved the part of this episode when Picard, who is suppose to be French, starts singing Heart of Oak. An English song about the defeat of the French during the Seven Years War. It doesn't seem like that's a song a Frenchman would sing, but since it's the fake Picard maybe that's why he chose to sing this specific song.
@@kevinbrooks9074
The Crocodile or, Public Decency
Though some at my aversion smile,
I cannot love the crocodile.
Its conduct does not seem to me
Consistent with sincerity.
Where Nile, with beneficial flood,
Improves the desert sand to mud,
The infant child, its banks upon,
Will run about with nothing on.
The London County Council not
Being adjacent to the spot,
This is the consequence. Meanwhile,
What is that object in the Nile,
Which swallows water, chokes and spits?
It is the crocodile in fits.
‘Oh infant! oh my country’s shame!
Suppose a European came!
Picture his feelings, on his pure
Personally conducted tour!
The British Peer’s averted look,
The mantling blush of Messrs. Cook!
Come, awful infant, come and be
Dressed, if nothing else, in me.’
Then disappears into the Nile
The infant, clad in crocodile,
And meekly yields his youthful breath
To darkness, decency, and death.
His mother, in the local dells,
Deplores him with Egyptian yells:
Her hieroglyphic howls are vain,
Nor will the lost return again.
The crocodile itself no less
Displays, but does not feel, distress,
And with its tears augments the Nile;
The false, amphibious crocodile.
‘Is it that winds Etesian blow,
Or melts on Ethiop hills the snow?’
So, midst the inundated scene,
Inquire the floating fellaheen.
From Cairo’s ramparts gazing far
The mild Khedive and stern Sirdar
Say, as they scan the watery plain,
‘There goes that crocodile again.’
The copious tribute of its lids
Submerges half the pyramids,
And over all the Sphinx it flows,
Except her non-existent nose.
Josh figuring out who the impostor was and why really impressed me. I only know one other Trekkie that ever picked up on it. I know i didn't pick up on it when i first watched it.
Cadet Haro (if indeed there is a real Cadet Haro out there) is a Bolian. This is the second time we've seen a Bolian in the series (the first was Captain Rixx in "Conspiracy") and the first time we've seen a female Bolian. Bolians have blue skin and the males are bald, although apparently the females have hair. The species was named after Cliff Bole because he directed the episode in which they first appeared.
Would the 3rd instance be the barber💈?
Maybe! But they also show up often as background aliens during crowd scenes.
I dig this new little intro showing the evolution overtime since first starting Star Trek. This episode is cool, nothing over the top but meets the base expectation of a good TNG episode (not great, but good IMO). I do really like seeing the different species and the twist are highlights. I think you guys will like this.
I'm a sucker for what I call, Breakfast Club episodes - where people who don't know each other, from different backgrounds are forced to work togther. Gilligan's Island, Lost, The Cube, Twilight Zone (Five Characters In Search of An Exit) etc. No matter the genre count me in.
Movies like Twelve Angry Men are like that too. And my favorite episode (from season 2) of Murder She Wrote, where Jessica Fletcher ends up the foreperson of a jury.
Hitchcock's LIFEBOAT (1944)
Don't forget Clue.
Mintaka III
Josh’s eyeballs: 😳
CONTINUITY
This is an episode I return to every now and then. Lots af fun and interesting thing about authority. The aliens are fun and the whole Picard doppleganger was great. The praise you give goes to Michael Westmore and his team! Give him props! Amazing stuff for a show. Emmy Award winner! Oh, and a pulsar is a type of star, so it's a "stellar" thing, not a "lunar" thing that's more of our moon stuff. Great reaction guys.
Star trek diving into horror a little bit is always a good time
Aside from that one comic with a haunted mansion floating in space. That was just dumb.
I love how much fun you guys are having with this. I’m just waiting for “Voyager” and “DS9”. 😎
I think the Picard on the ship, Fake Picard, was also part of their test. If you think about the Title "Allegiance" they could be testing how much the crew would trust the person or how well the crew knows the person to lose trust when it seems exactly like the person.
Captain Picard has also been known to drink Wine...
And Aldeberon Brandy. ... Who do you think gave it to Guinan.
_5 in a row, indeed! You were told: This is PEAK Star Trek!*_
More bangers to come!
3:42 I’ve been pronouncing the E and the end of Kolbe’s last name for 30 years. Only because of you two did I learn the correct way to say it. Wait until you get to René Auberjonois. Try and say THAT name! Ha ha!
Seeing Josh on the literal edge of his seat during the date was worth it, as was Alex's look of comedic disbelief when the doppelganger started singing. Knew it wouldn't be a fave, but the acting, makeup, and sheer comedy value of this episode make it a guilty pleasure for me. "Ales for everyone!"
Did anyone else love noticing the Pulsar's strobe light on the Doppel's head? Considering the viewscreen is a bluescreen, that's some serious attention to detail on the bridge lighting set to match.
If you were an alien who had to impersonate Picard for a couple of days... wouldn't you try to get it on with Beverly before the mission ended?
I'm glad you liked this one so much. I think it's one easily overlooked among the other great episodes of season 3, but I've always liked it.
It's very brief, but one of my favorite things from this episode was the part in Ten Forward when Geordi was trying to bluff his way through that song and he didn't know the lyrics.
Great video as always. Just wanted to mention though, when you guys get to the series finale don't watch the 2-parter version. It's missing whole scenes. Go for the full double-length episode.
Glad that you guys enjoyed this one. I love the non-verbal scene at the end... so good.
"She can only sense feelings."
That's it. That's the character synopsis of Troi. No more, no less.
great episode, well written and simple, just the sort of thing you wanted to watch after coming home from work
Troi not realising anything was wrong was wild 😂
If the species has telepathic abilities it makes sense they'd be able to block their minds from an empath. Like she said, he was emotionally distant.
@@yehudahecht1520 oooh good headcanon, I’m having that, thanks!
@@Lumibear. Headcanon? It's in the episode.
I'm pretty sure Crusher was informed that the real Picard had returned, given that Troi wasn't on the Bridge and Beverly was definitely playing up the charm to tease him. My favorite part about that has to be Picard's voice-crack at "Engage."
This one was nominated for an Emmy for best makeup.
The song is Heart of Oak, the British Royal Navy Anthem.
Kudos to Josh for figuring out the plot about the abductions before Picard. You guys are impressive!
The concept of this feels more like season 1 or 2, but done better because they have worked out the kinks.
This episode definitely shows improved writing, improved directing, improved makeup, improved everything. Not a perfect episode but really good. It’s obvious the quality of the show has greatly improved.
this episode very much cements this series interpretation of what it was to be *a crew*
this then goes on to evolve into what it is to be *a family* in later episodes, and the shows that follow.
that's what many people today fail to consider, when dealing with people who know about this fact, and won't take an outsider as a member "just" because they fly colors, or dress the part.
people won't just accept you when you demand to be accepted, and will most definitely spot an impostor who doesn't know the _protocols_ so to speak.
that's why many late productions fail, when they resort to _appealing_ without knowing.
Another episode that I remember as being worse than it is! I love that you guys are getting me to reexamine my feelings about the episodes that I'm not as high on.
"All your names mean surrender". Good gag, but also subtly effective world building.
Its cute that in the 90's video game Birth of the Federation...when you first meet that race (no matter whom you're playing as) their first communion is them "surrendering" to join you.
@@gggooding And ironically enough the Mintakans, who are also mentioned here. Each surrenders to you if you have enough military relative to their development. The Chalnoth are also represented (but hard to ally with and not that great) but the other 2 species are not. (edit - I never remember she's Bolian since she looks so different than the one on the Enterprise.) I also wonder if there ever was an Ensign like that - was she scanned but not abducted?
They discovered the plot twist very quickly, I wonder if there is any subject in the stellar academy, orders with eyebrow movements, lowering your gaze...
This was the first episode of Star Trek I ever saw. I was on the couch and it randomly came on.
The sexual tension between Picard and Crusher has been a slow burn since The Naked Now. Ditto with Riker and Troi. For us older fans, this all feels like a Bob and Mary, Ted and Alice movie vibe.
Will they or won’t they? To say anything now would be spoiling the fun yet to come. 😉😏
An aside: Gates Mc Fadden has never looked hotter before this episode. Even though today, she has retained her good looks and personality, which isn’t always the case for her peers.
Thanks for the reaction, guys! 👍🏾
And the streak continues... 😏
Thanks as always for doing what you do 🖖
Abducted by aliens while already in space... wait for the incoming butt probe! 😂
2:30 I don't precisely recall that snifter scene, but that's definitely a spirit. My guess would be brandy/cognac based on Picard being French (while being portrayed by a British actor with a British accent).
I’m catching up on these. Just watched this one and loved it like you guys did. I’m surprised fans didn’t love this one as much!
Okay, this episode being reacted to at the same time Extra Credits releases an episode on people being able to notice things without realizing they've noticed it is a beautiful coincidence.
Banger after banger, as predicted 🤣 The episode ranking chart after this season is going to be top heavy, I think. I can't say every episode left is on this level, but this season is not done banging.
BTW, love the intro zipping thru the episodes, and it not being the same ones every time. 👋
The actor who played the "pushover," Joycelyn O'Brien, did a *great* Irish brogue as a maid in the Sylvester Stallone comedy _Oscar,_ starring Tim Curry, Marisa Tomei, Kurtwood Smith, and Chazz Palminteri + cameos by Don Ameche, Yvonne de Carlo & Kirk Douglas. Highly recommended.
WhileI have probably seen every TNG episode, I have never seen them in order. Enjoying this journey with ya'll.
If you're reacting to Star Trek TNG you _must_ react to "Data and Picard" by Pogo. Especially after this episode.
Yeah, we tried to tell you, after the halfway mark in season three it ramps up like crazy. Not that early season 3 was bad but it was inconsistent like 1 and 2 were, just less so.
I don’t know if they can handle the finale….it’s gonna be their highest rated video for sure.
I wonder how comedicaly bad Counselor Troi is at poker considering she is an empath and they still let her play.
I she can apparently not read emotions when she doesn't want to. I always figured she "turns off" her empathic abilities while playing poker. Just like Geordi doesn't look through cards and Data doesn't count cards or stack decks.
Thats my head cannon anyhow.
As much as I generally prefer TOS to TNG, I agree with Josh that "Allegiance" > "The Empath." Not by a lot, but yes. To me, this is TNG at its best. The subtleties of the crew recognizing that this is not their Picard -- brilliant. Excellent writing, acting, etc. Great reaction, Josh and Alex, particularly when you saw the principles playing poker!
This reminds me of a twilight zone episode where different characters are stuck in a room and they don't know why and they end up being toys
"Back when I was in the academy we use to follow every toast with a song!" And then the rest. Cracks me up to this day every time! The singer Christopher Nicholas "Nick" Bertke better known by his stage name "Pogo" did a hilarious take off on that scene in one of his songs.
TNG forged a new path for itself in storytelling but this one could have been a TOS episode easily and that's a compliment.
The episode is homage to famed Stanford Prison experiment in early 1970s. Two dozen people participated in experiment on concept authority and psychological abuse in a makeshift prison in basement Stanford University building. In the end the guards were abusive, negligent, even antagonistic.
Alex and Josh's theme song is cool.
This is similar to the Twilight Zone 5 characters in search of an Exit
only in the sense of being trapped in a room. the premise for that is completely different.
I wasn't sure if they would enjoy this as much as they did and considered it potentially one of the weaker ones in the final line up. I'm particularly looking forwards to 22, 23 and 24.
Patrick Stewart is the GOAT. He’s a super-serious Shakespearean actor, but also super goofy and a total spaz. He’s BFF with his X-Men co-star Ian McKellen (Magneto). Check out his “interview” with Ricky Gervais. It’s good to see this side of Stewart show through in Picard every once in a great while.
You mean his appearance on Extras?
Jean-Rizz Picard
If you want to see Picard dance, checkout the 1988 film Safehouse staring Patrick Stewart. He plays an aging man that is either a retired spy or a delusional old man. In the US it aired on Showtime. It may be a bit hard to find because of the 2012 Denzel Washington Ryan Reynolds film with the same name. It's a good mystery movie and has a great dance scene in it.
Made a funny meme about the scene with Picard singing in 10 forward.
“Back when I was in the academy, we would follow every toast with a song. I wonder if I could….. oh yes. *ahem*
Shake your ass, watch your self! Shake your ass, show me what you’re workin with!”
😂
21:13 “l hope they stretch it out” …. Oh boy…. 😅
Like this episode and The Empath (One of DeForest Kelley's favorite episodes). Ending on this one was kind of pushed but the beginning and middle were top notch.
Fan theory, those are the aliens from 2001. lol
Gentlemen please. Whiskey? He's French! Cognac, (or at the very least Top Shelf Brandy).
EXCELLENT EPISODE! Yeah it's a one off and not serialized to stretch out over multiple arcs or episodes but SO WHAT?! STILL an EXCELLENT EPISODE stand alone or not doesn't matter.
Coming from the actors on the Voyager podcast, you can just say Rick Kolbe.
This not one my favorite episodes but it was a delight to see both them like it……… I think we got em with season 3🎉
I bought a chaise longe on the back of this episode that kinda looks like Picards!
Love the episode counter! Next one is going to suck for sure.
I had kind of thought you may not like this one as much as it is pretty goofy at times. I do enjoy it though. Picard singing is funny. The melody he sings I believe is a British song called "Heart of Oak." During the American Revolution "The Liberty Song" used that medley but with pro-American lyrics by John Dickinson. Dickinson is a signer of the Constitution, Founding Father, and I think is mentioned in Oversimplified History's Revolutionary War video.
Winrich Kolbe's first name is pronounced Vinrick.
"We didn't injure you in any way."
Oh really, that stun ray looked as though it was causing an injury.
‘Permanent injury’
@@russellharrell2747 I stand corrected.
@@curtisberard7831 it’s not a quote, but I’m sure that was the alien’s intention
they didnt have to get rid of troi because the aliens turn out to be high level telepths, hence the blocking. convenient
Those aliens seemed to be experts in many species with a long history of abductions. But they never met the D-crew and how much of a well oiled machine they’ve become.
This one was better than I remembered, totally forgot about the great fake Picard stuff.
I was actually surprised by how much you enjoyed this episode. While I enjoyed it when first watching it, I thought perhaps it might be a bit slow for your tastes.
Calling on Jesus having a spiritual moment, wait its not Sunday yet.
This is the Episode that got me into Jazz with that romantic dance.
I think the only time I’ve seen this episode is when it first aired.
After they finish this season, they'll be able to see the Data and Picard video
Before you get into season 4 you may wish to think of a way of skipping the guest cast section of some of the episodes. This show is great at removing any surprises of characters better viewed as reveals. Just a thought.
I never really know what's going to hit with you guys and what's going to miss. I'm really curious how you'll feel about the next episode. It's one I've always really liked, but I have a sneaking suspicion y'all won't dig it.
We'll see.
There is a remix artist that did a song on picards song and it is banging. Pogo - data picard song. You will love it
Did someone Xerox Picard?
This episode is Great!
It's almost meta watching you guys getting more and more stressed waiting for the other shoe to drop and have a dud episode.
We will all have to raise a glass with Alex to the end of an era. 😆
Being an anarchist myself, the description always irked me a little for reasons. It's accurate on a superficial level, but you can't really expect much exposition other than that, and i get Picard's response to it. I mean, he is the captain of a star ship so heirarchy would naturally be a big deal to him.
The show really started hitting their stride around this time, and the rest of the season is great. I think there may be one episode im not a huge fan of, but i wouldn't say any are "bad." I look forward to watching along with you guys. Great reaction. 👍
You do know that this show would never have been produced in a state of anarchy with no laws or police, right? Hollywood could not exist under such conditions.
@@davidmeadows5627 sure it could. Nothing about producing a show needs any of that.
@@citizenbrain8065 Without laws, people wouldn't even be able to leave their houses without massive fear, let alone make movies and TV shows.
@davidmeadows5627 bro, you must be a constantly terrified person if that's the case. I've never called a cop in 40 years. Never will.
There is an autonomous region of over 2 million people in Northern Syria that is doing just fine, primarily built around libertarian socialism (anarchism) and democratic confederalism. Widely praised as the most egalitarian region in the middle east. They fully ran ISIS out, man... something the U.S. never was able to do.
If you need laws to be a good person, you are not a good person to start with. Nobody ever said a community couldn't hold people accountable for their actions. The system we have right now though, is not it. It's oppressive and exploitative.
@@citizenbrain8065 If you think that that makes me a constantly terrified person, then the overwhelming majority of human beings are constantly terrified people, with only a microscopic group called anarchists being the one and only exception. I never said I need laws to be a good person. I said I need laws to protect me from the people who are not.
You guys did say, when everyone was saying Star Trek TNG gets good in season three, "We liked season 1 and 2, what's it going to be like when it gets good?"
They are in the thick of it now, their minds are going to be regularly blown every few episodes until they’ll have to take a break just to keep from overloading their positronic networks.
It wasn't "everyone saying it gets good in season three", it was a few morons trying to get them to skip half the series for no reason. Same people undoubtedly think STD and the other trash are worth watching despite taking massive dumps on Star Trek.
Considering he's French and the kind of glass he's holding, my bet is on cognac.
Reposted from Patreon: Pity poor “Allegiance,” the most egregious example in the history of television science fiction of an episode poorly served by its placement in the season. To think we thought “The Dauphin” had it bad in Season 2! “Allegiance” reminds me of the man Keegan-Michael Key played in a "Key & Peele" sketch who had to give the speech after Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington.
As with “The Offspring,” one reason for making “Allegiance” was to save money after the expensive production of “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” This was director Winrich Kolbe’s favorite of his own TNG episodes, partly because of the simplicity and ease of filming in the cell set. Kolbe ran over schedule in the first two days of shooting, making Paramount executives nervous, but once he began working in the cell set the production zipped along. However, the main reason the episode was Kolbe’s favorite was how much he loved working with Patrick Stewart. He compared the skill Stewart showed in his dual role in this episode to the artistry of Itzhak Perlman playing a Stradivarius; Kolbe could ask Stewart for a little less or more in a particular scene, and Stewart would respond perfectly.
TNG’s producers rejected the cue Ron Jones had composed for the dinner scene with Dr. Crusher and the fake Picard, leaving the scene unscored. Ironically, the same thing had happened in Jones’ first TNG episode, “The Naked Now,” with the cue he composed for Dr. Crusher’s attempted seduction of Picard. However, the jazz piece to which Picard and Crusher dance after dinner is an original composition by Jones, not an existing piece of music. Unfortunately, this is the last Ron Jones score we will hear for three weeks because Jones was on a trip out of the country; see my comment on S3E20 a week from today for more information.
Note how Geordi sings a nonsense syllable rather than the word “slaves” in “Heart of Oak.” LeVar Burton had, of course, starred in "Roots" as the enslaved African Kunta Kinte.
The Picard storyline in this episode bears a resemblance to the original "Twilight Zone" episode “Five Characters in Search of an Exit,” which guest-starred William Windom, Commodore Matt Decker from “The Doomsday Machine.” Mitena Haro, the “Starfleet cadet” who is the ringer in the group of captives, is the second Bolian character to “appear” on TNG; the first was Captain Rixx in “Conspiracy,” and the species is named after Cliff Bole, who directed that episode. The TV Tropes website points out that the Bolian facial ridge makes Haro appear to have “two faces,” a subtle hint that she is the mole. Actors Jerry and Jeff Rector (the aliens) are identical twins; Jeff Rector would later play Donald Trump in "Bad President," a 2020 fantasy comedy featuring Stormy Daniels as herself!
I like this episode, especially the Picard doppelganger. It reminds me a little of the TOS episode The Empath. The only thing I don't like is the aliens' bubble butts. Disturbing.
Ha! I left this comment before I heard Josh point out The Empath similarities.
21:22 to the question of whether Picard could become romantically involved with a senior staff member, you might recall that there is the precedent of Capt Robert April who was married to his own Chief Medical Officer (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident").
8 episodes remaining... one is mediocre, one is my least favorite of the season, a few are quite entertaining--and two are some of the best episodes of Trek ever!
Ah, the magic universal translator...