I posted 2 episodes today! Ep 9: ua-cam.com/video/teHLG9Ag_jg/v-deo.html Trek Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLQHhQlj8i5dqskzLNqeSNyMGa1rBWe3h1.html Original Series: ua-cam.com/play/PLQHhQlj8i5drsrCtQd-FDuZZ99vKlPTyZ.html
The actor who played Admiral Jarok is a man named James Sloyan. He's 84 years old, now. In the entire run of _Star Trek,_ he plays four different characters.
ooo let's see. Admiral Jarok, he played a scientist in Voyager who was an enemy to the Talaxians, and um... I mean his voice is very recognizable... ARgh, I can't remember. Help me out.
He was in two episodes of DS9, playing Dr.Mora (2:12, The Alternate; 5:12, The Begotten); on Voyager he played Ma’bor Jetrel in S1:14, Jetrel; in TNG, in addition to this, he played (as noted above) an adult Alexander from the future in 7:21, Firstborn. He was also in, among many other things, NYPD Blue S3:13, A Tushful of Dollars.
One my favorite endings in the entire series. I just wish we could've seen the Klingons reactions when Picard asked, "Shall we die together?". I imagine they were very impressed with him.
Ronald Moore wrote this episode, and lines like that are what separate him from many of the other writers that did seasons 1 and 2. When you see his name in the opening credits for writing, you know you're in for a great episode.
The whole dynamic between the Romulans and the Federation was a commentary on the Cold War. The episode “The Defector” aired on January 1, 1990. Almost two years before the USSR dissolved on Dec. 25, 1991. Many of the Star Trek episodes involving the Romulans ended up reflecting that turbulent time in history.
iirc Romulans represented Communist China, while Klingons represented the Soviets. So they represented the communist bloc at the time. With Gorbachev normalizing relations and it makes some sense with the release of star trek 6 in 1991 with the peace talks with the Klingons as the main plot.
According to Roddenberry, in the original series, the Klingons represented the Soviets, The Federation is NATO, the Romulans are the Chinese, and the Vulcans are the Japanese. Now things had changed by 1990 and I imagine he still used political commentary in the 90's as he did in the 60's and 70's.
Of course you are correct. The Klingons more closely matched with the USSR. But in any case, it was an interesting time. Part of the reason the 60s, 70s and 80s were so wild is because nuclear war could break out at any time, as depicted in the ABC TV movie “The Day After” in 1983 which scared the heck out of people. Might be a good one for Jennifer to watch.
Kind of sad that the world doesn't seem to have learned much since the 1960s; we seem to be willingly plunging into a new cold war with China and Russia
I just Finished reading Patrick Stewarts Autobiography and he wrote that they put this Shakespeare scene in, because he actually played in Henry V during his time at the Royal Shakespeare Company. And youre right Patrick also played the bearded, long haired guy, called Michael Williams. They also included Dixon Hill, because Patrick loved to read those kind of detective stories as Teenager.
A really good episode. You can feel the admiral's concern for the future of his daughter, and how heartbroken he is when he learns that everything was a lie. A nice look into the mind of "an enemy", revealing once more that the other side isn't just a monolithic manifestation of evil, but a complex society.
James Sloyan knocks it out of the park in this episode. He does guest characters for every Star Trek series after TOS basically. He always does a fantastic job in whatever role he's playing. Reminds me of Jeffrey Combs, who Jen will be introduced to when she makes it to DS9. Can't wait for that!
The Klingon Federation peace treaty had been established early on to explain Worf being a Starfleet officer but as I recall this was the first instance we got to see of the Empire and the Federation working together.
One of the most underrated episodes. Picard on on open channel asking Tomalak if he want's to die together was totally him not only attempting to get him to back down, but also to show the Federation's Spine to the Klingons.
@DennisGlover-wr2mw kirk is as awful a character as the actors portraying him are at acting. he(both the character and the actor) prevented me from loving tos as much as it deserves.
@@sabin97 Captain Kirk is one of the best captains. He actually has a lot of similarities with Picard. He can be strict when he wants to. He dresses down his crew when they do something wrong. He is stern with his enemies. When people say Kirk is just the stereotypical swashbuckler, that's a sign they haven't seen the show.
I love how every conflict between the Federation and the Romulans is like a game of chess. Picard being prepared by having 3 cloaked Klingon ships on his side is a perfect example of this.
This was the second episode written by fan Ronald D. Moore after “The Bonding”. This episode got him permanently put on the writing staff. Eventually he went on to be a producer on The Next Generation, then on to produce the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series.
As you may have figured out by now the 3rd season was full of excellent shows over the first two seasons of TNG and they were just getting started. Note, Tomalak was played by Andreas Katsulas was in Babylon 5 as well as the movies The Fugitive wirh Harrison Ford and other movies. With actor James Sloyan who played The Defector. Slovan, who reminds me of George C. Scott, the actor was TNG's go to guest star of TNG, DS9 and Voyager. He played a bunch of characters on Star Trek. Look out for him.
I remember watching this live for the first time. Absolutely on the edge of my seat when the Romulans decloaked. Thinking they were done for and cheering when Picard played his cards and took the pot. But within seconds seeing Jarok devastated, a true patriot exploited by a faceless bureaucrat for the gain of a lie. Pure tragedy. The weight of being used by those who you fought for, the horror of having left never to return and knowing the price your family would pay. Heartbreaking.
James Sloyan has actually played 4 characters across 3 different shows he plays Romulan Admiral Alidar Jarok in "The Defector," and time-traveling Klingon K'mtar in "Firstborn."here in The Next Generation and also appeared as Haakonian scientist Doctor Ma'Bor Jetrel in Star Trek: Voyager's "Jetel,"and as Bajoran scientist Dr. Mora Pol in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "The Alternate" and "The Begotten." Awesome actor and characters all around.
This is an elite level season three episode that contains great performances all around, but yes, the episode belongs to the guest star and their interactions with the cast, especially that moment between Picard and the Admiral alone. It's just great drama start to finish with real triumphant moments like the Klingon surprise by Picard and Worf and tragedy in how this all plays out for the titular defector.
It's been decades since I first watched these episodes as a much younger person ... I appreciate Jen's fresh and intelligent perspective on these episodes that makes me appreciate them much more as an older person than when I initially saw them.
@@artboymoy Ya Jen needs to do B5 as well.I think she would really like it. Andreas also did a cameo on Enterprise as the captain of an alien ship of people with 3 genders.
This is why Klingons and the Federation work so well together, the Klingons are ready for war, but the Federation thinks outside the box. If they could establish a three way alliance, intelligence with strength and guile, they'd be unstoppable.
Henry the 5th . Henry tours the camp incognito before the battle. ( Shakespeare) picards book in his office is the collected works of William Shakespeare, Patrick made his name in the Royal Shakespeare company.
Just FYI everybody. Since 2017, CVN 80, USS Enterprise is currently being built, and to be operational in 2028. It is the first carrier to not be named after a person since 1966 and the third aircraft carrier to bear the name Enterprise.
One of the things I like about this series is that many of the episodes has a mystery, just like this one, that has the audience guessing just as the Enterprise crew. Excellent episode and reaction.
This episode had one of if not the best subtle hints at Picard's long game for entering the Neutral Zone with back up. Such a good show, excellent re watch value to this one.
Great episode. This is an example of excellent guest stars who shined in TNG, as James Sloyhan did a fantastic acting job, and I also enjoyed Andreas Katsulas’ performance as Commander Tomalak. I enjoyed loved this episode demonstrating Picard’s strategic prowess among his other considerable leadership skills. When Tomalak says “I look forward to our next encounter”, he is expressing admiration for the move with the Klingons, and you know Picard’s reputation even among Romulans will only grow. Great reaction as always Jen!
One thing I love about this episode is that no one is stupid. While every character has a different take on Jarok and the situation, they all are being reasonable, including those who end up being wrong. So often in shows that have the cast take opposing views on a situation, one side will be clearly foolish/wrongheaded/stubborn/racist/whatever, and the other virtuous. In this one there is ample evidence for each interpretation, and it is only as the story unfold that you can see the truth of it rather than just wait for the people in the negative camp to see the light.
"A little touch of Harry in the night". I think it was Patrick Stewart in prosthetics doing an actual Yorkshire accent with relish. This is from the famous scene in Henry V where Henry goes about his camp in disguise in order to hear what the men are saying, and also to raise their spirits.
I LOVE THIS EPISODE!!! I didn't remember how it went, so I was on the edge of my seat with Jen the whole time. May we all have the bravery of Admiral Jarok!!!
I found it touching how in Star Trek Online, Admiral Jarok's daughter survived Hobus and went on to command the flagship of the new Romulan Republic. She makes commentary in the game about how she came to hate the Star Empire for how they were treated as the family of a traitor when she knew her father wasn't. I feel the STO team decided that she did get that letter and it helped forge her into the badass romulan commander she becomes.
I knew he portrayed Tomalak in more than one episodes of TNG ... but have always struggled to figure out where *else* do I know him from. And now I feel like a moron ... Babylon 5 obviously. G'Kar - such a great story arch he had there. Would highly suggest checking the series out ;)
There are quite a few actors that appeared on both TNG and Babylon 5. Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander in B5) is in the TNG episode "Starship Mine" for example.
PEAK Star Trek here, one of my favorite episodes, with another iconic play from Jean-Luc Picard, preplanning having the Klingon backup. That climax has become mematically fantastic, as it was so smoothly executed. They also give you a brief warning interpolating the Klingon theme when Tomalak accuses him of making idle threats.
I remember watching this when it first aired and it has been one of my favorite TNG episodes. Not since TOS's "The Balance of Terror" has Trek done a Romulan character so well. And it's always good to see Tomalok getting bested by Picard.
Those damn Romulans, always crossing the neutral zone causing trouble!!! Hurray for the Kilngons backing up Capt Picard and the Enterprise!! Great episode Jen and thanks for sharing ❤️💛🖖🏻
Always glad to see James Sloyan's work. He played the defector in this episode. He appeared in another ST:TNG episode as well as ST:DS9 and ST:V. He also had roles in "Xanadu" and "The Sting". Also always glad to see Andreas Katsulas, who played the Romulan antagonist. His work playing one of the principal roles in the "Babylon 5" series was delightful. He was also the one-armed villain of "The Fugitive" opposite Harrison Ford.
The actor who played the defector has appeared/will appear in many more TNG episodes in a variety of roles, so in the future, if you see a character who looks familiar, it might be this actor, playing a different role.
Couple things, if you ever watch the movie, Excalibur, you'll see a very familiar face in there and I think you'll enjoy iy. Also, if you should ever watch Babylon 5, and I highly recommend it, keep this episode in mind, you'll see another familiar face between the shows. And, one more thing, thank you for sharing your reaction to this episode and this wonderful show, it's a treat to watch your trek through this verse.
"shall we die together?" one of the best final acts of the season. jarok's deflated realization that 1) he'd heroically thrown away his life for nothing, 2) as a result of being punked by his own people -- with tomalak's easy victory thwarted by picard's klingon card up his sleeve. i daresay this was the point when the writers found their formula going forward.
I love the Star Wars Acolyte trailer here. Showed the stark difference in quality between classic TNG and current Star Wars. Not that Wars could ever compete with Trek.
You have a good eye: Yes, that is Patrick Stewart as the other guy in the holodeck scene at the beginning of the episode! The guy that plays the defector (James Sloyan) has played many characters within Star Trek, on multiple franchises. All of them have been memorable. The Klingon Warships decloaking behind the Romulan ships is one of the more badass scenes in the Star Trek universe.
An often overlooked highlight of the series. The pacing, the music, the performances were all excellent. I still remember watching that one the first time.
Yes, this is a really great episode. Always makes me think what would I do in a situation like that? (Thankfully, I'm a nobody and will never face such a situation, but still...).
One of the great things about Star Trek is that once they have a good actor they can just reuse him or her under different prosthetics. James Sloyan, who played Jarok, would go on to play major roles on Deep Space Nine and an episode of Voyager.
Love watching you watch the Next Gen. Jen. The Klingons and Federation are allies at this point in time is why they had cloaked Klingon ships with them, and Picard knew that. I feel bad for the defector and the Klingons on the Birds of Prey, because the Klingons as a group are way more aggressive then Worf!
I like the episodes that involve the Romulans, this one in particular. James Sloyan does a good job as Jarok, he's played other characters in the Star Trek shows
You should really add the film Galaxy Quest to your list for when you have a break in the Star Trek reactions. It's so funny & a lovely "Love Letter" to Trek
I love this episode - all the way through the episode does a good job of keeping whether he's a plant or not uncertain, and the final reveal at the end is excellently done, and you can spot it coming if you where listening closely enough - Picard mentions speaking to the Klingon high command briefly - it was subtle enough that I doubt many guessed the ending but it feels setup and earned.
0:38 -- RE: "Is this Shakespeare?"; A: Yes, and not only that, it's Henry V. Data is playing the character of King Henry. This play (a later speech) is the source of the now-famous phrase "We few, we band of brothers" and the writers for this episode had enough sense to not directly use that particular scene. Shakespeare is making a Revival in this episode, as well; See also TOS "The Conscience of the King", and of course many of the actors and actresses on Star Trek (TOS and since) have had extensive experience with Shakespearean theatrical performances.
@@jenmurrayxo I also caught that! I sometimes wonder though to what degree are questions asked by Reaction to be considered rhetorical, or to worry over answering them. This one is important I think because of the meta connections. Henry V cannot make the famous speech without first consulting with the army, and incognito at that; Roddenberry's Optimism seems to have a lot of Shakespearean devices attached to it, as well.
6:51 "Hmm. Geordi believes him." Yeah. Which is surprising. Geordi's the one who found the first real piece of evidence that, if this guy really _is_ a defector, the Romulans wanted us to intercept him.
0:38 This guy in the play is being played by Patrick Stewart (Picard's actor) - he's a big shakespearian actor and loved any chance to do abit of Shakespear on screen.
The Actor who plays Tomalak is Andreas Katsulas who played the villain in the Fugitive the one armed man. He was also fantastic in Babylon 5 another amazing scifi series for the 90's, that you should check out.
Another favorite episode! Showing that people can change to make the world better for those that will come after them. James Sloyan is an incredible guest actor. The story, the performances from our main cast were all great. You're reactions are very genuine and a pleasure to watch. I watch a couple other guys and they tend to be a bit more flippant borderline MST3K with it while offering some decent discussion about the episode they just watched. Yes, that was Patrick Stewart in the holodeck as the sentry.
“Irrelevant, irrelevant, irrelevant.” Michael Piller-oh that’s a good would you mind if I use that for the upcoming script? Ron Moore-“Sure not like your script is going to overshadow my entire 3 season long storyline.” Rick Berman- “Sorry Ron, your two parter is going to have to wait till next season.”
Awesome Next Gen thumbnail / poster at start of intro! 😃👍👍 Great ep, I love this one. I like the extended mystery of 'is it for real, or not?'. 💜 As this ep does a tiny bit of Henry V - I feel obliged to massively recommend you react to Kenneth Branagh's Henry V. It is epically awesome! Braveheart for the English. When he gives his very famous "band of brothers" speech during a raging battle.. it's so rousing! I was ready for signing up for him! "England forever!" 😋 You'll absolutely love K.B.'s Henry V. It's very interesting, utterly engaging and really exciting at many parts. Also the soundtrack will blow your Batman socks off your feet.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I posted 2 episodes today! Ep 9: ua-cam.com/video/teHLG9Ag_jg/v-deo.html
Trek Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLQHhQlj8i5dqskzLNqeSNyMGa1rBWe3h1.html
Original Series: ua-cam.com/play/PLQHhQlj8i5drsrCtQd-FDuZZ99vKlPTyZ.html
I̳ ̳w̳a̳n̳n̳a̳ ̳t̳a̳l̳k̳ ̳t̳o̳ ̳y̳o̳u̳ ̳A̳l̳o̳n̳e̳ ̳A̳b̳o̳v̳e̳🛐🤦♂️🤷♂️..
" She will grow up believing her father is a traitor...
*but she WILL grow up.* "
My heart breaks every time.
It's a great line
Sad, when you consider what eventually happens...
Picard having some birds of prey in his pocket is such a bad-ass move.
The one thing that always bothered me is Picard didn't thank the Klingon captains personally but delegated the task to Whorf.
@@seanmcmurphy4744the klingons probably did not care because they just got to watch some smug romulan tuck his peepee in and slink away like a dog.
The actor who played Admiral Jarok is a man named James Sloyan. He's 84 years old, now. In the entire run of _Star Trek,_ he plays four different characters.
He was so awesome in this. 👍
ooo let's see. Admiral Jarok, he played a scientist in Voyager who was an enemy to the Talaxians, and um... I mean his voice is very recognizable... ARgh, I can't remember. Help me out.
SPOILER...
He also plays an adult Alexander Rozhenko from another timeline in a later season TNG episode.
He was in two episodes of DS9, playing Dr.Mora (2:12, The Alternate; 5:12, The Begotten); on Voyager he played Ma’bor Jetrel in S1:14, Jetrel; in TNG, in addition to this, he played (as noted above) an adult Alexander from the future in 7:21, Firstborn. He was also in, among many other things, NYPD Blue S3:13, A Tushful of Dollars.
@@SciTrekMan very good. thanks, man. i can sleep again.
One my favorite endings in the entire series. I just wish we could've seen the Klingons reactions when Picard asked, "Shall we die together?". I imagine they were very impressed with him.
There are only a handful of non-klingons that the klingons respect, can't wait for her to get into DS9 and see a few more.
Ronald Moore wrote this episode, and lines like that are what separate him from many of the other writers that did seasons 1 and 2. When you see his name in the opening credits for writing, you know you're in for a great episode.
@@VME-Brad Including the most beautiful character in any Star Trek show, Jadziah Dax. Terry Farrell....what a babe.
@@Chapterhouse86 Haven't really paid much attention to the writers, but I think I'll find out other episodes he helped write.
“You may test that assumption at your convenience.”
🤣
The whole dynamic between the Romulans and the Federation was a commentary on the Cold War. The episode “The Defector” aired on January 1, 1990. Almost two years before the USSR dissolved on Dec. 25, 1991. Many of the Star Trek episodes involving the Romulans ended up reflecting that turbulent time in history.
iirc Romulans represented Communist China, while Klingons represented the Soviets. So they represented the communist bloc at the time. With Gorbachev normalizing relations and it makes some sense with the release of star trek 6 in 1991 with the peace talks with the Klingons as the main plot.
According to Roddenberry, in the original series, the Klingons represented the Soviets, The Federation is NATO, the Romulans are the Chinese, and the Vulcans are the Japanese. Now things had changed by 1990 and I imagine he still used political commentary in the 90's as he did in the 60's and 70's.
@@viceman8152Do you mean Roddenberry? 🤔
Of course you are correct. The Klingons more closely matched with the USSR. But in any case, it was an interesting time. Part of the reason the 60s, 70s and 80s were so wild is because nuclear war could break out at any time, as depicted in the ABC TV movie “The Day After” in 1983 which scared the heck out of people. Might be a good one for Jennifer to watch.
Kind of sad that the world doesn't seem to have learned much since the 1960s; we seem to be willingly plunging into a new cold war with China and Russia
I just Finished reading Patrick Stewarts Autobiography and he wrote that they put this Shakespeare scene in, because he actually played in Henry V during his time at the Royal Shakespeare Company. And youre right Patrick also played the bearded, long haired guy, called Michael Williams. They also included Dixon Hill, because Patrick loved to read those kind of detective stories as Teenager.
This is one of the rare instances where we get to hear Patrick Stewart's natural Huddersfield accent.
I have seen Patrick Stewart live in Twelfth Night. He is astounding.
Stewart kind of looks like Liam Neeson in that costume.
Thanks for this BTS info! 👍
"Shall we die together?"
*goosebumps*
A really good episode. You can feel the admiral's concern for the future of his daughter, and how heartbroken he is when he learns that everything was a lie. A nice look into the mind of "an enemy", revealing once more that the other side isn't just a monolithic manifestation of evil, but a complex society.
May we one day get Tiaru Jarok in canon.
Klingons showing up as Federation backup at the end of this episode was fire.
Jen deserves a new rank pip on her uniform collar for every second _TNG_ season completed.
Pips are coming!
@@fakecubed Spot on.
That would make her an admiral by the time she gets to Deep Space Nine, which.... would not be appropriate.
James Sloyan knocks it out of the park in this episode. He does guest characters for every Star Trek series after TOS basically. He always does a fantastic job in whatever role he's playing. Reminds me of Jeffrey Combs, who Jen will be introduced to when she makes it to DS9. Can't wait for that!
If she watches DS9, hopefully she does.
@@quatz1981She just released the first episode of DS9 on her Patreon if I’m not mistaken
@@cloudwatcher608 yeah i noticed that.
The Klingon Federation peace treaty had been established early on to explain Worf being a Starfleet officer but as I recall this was the first instance we got to see of the Empire and the Federation working together.
The Defector is one of my favorite episodes!
One of my absolute favourite TNG episodes. Exciting, tense, and ultimately tragic. So good.
Man, I love it when they say “irrelevant”. It such a powerful word for them and it just puts a stopper on any line of questioning.
Picard to Tomalak: "Shall we die together?"
EPIC.
One of the most underrated episodes.
Picard on on open channel asking Tomalak if he want's to die together was totally him not only attempting to get him to back down, but also to show the Federation's Spine to the Klingons.
A great moment for Patrick Stewart as he was with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The Next Jen is always can’t miss because it’s the best damn show with the best captain/reactor we could ever have 🖖.
@DennisGlover-wr2mw He meant Captain Jen leading us in reactions, I believe. Kirk acted and overacted, but he never reacted. Carry on. :)
@DennisGlover-wr2mw
kirk is as awful a character as the actors portraying him are at acting.
he(both the character and the actor) prevented me from loving tos as much as it deserves.
She is a tad prettier she has a slightly better hairline than Picard 😆.
To be fair Picard isn’t going for pretty, more like handsome Frenchman
@@sabin97 Captain Kirk is one of the best captains. He actually has a lot of similarities with Picard. He can be strict when he wants to. He dresses down his crew when they do something wrong. He is stern with his enemies. When people say Kirk is just the stereotypical swashbuckler, that's a sign they haven't seen the show.
I love how every conflict between the Federation and the Romulans is like a game of chess. Picard being prepared by having 3 cloaked Klingon ships on his side is a perfect example of this.
This was the second episode written by fan Ronald D. Moore after “The Bonding”. This episode got him permanently put on the writing staff. Eventually he went on to be a producer on The Next Generation, then on to produce the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series.
My favorite moment is the twinkle in Worf's eye when Picard tells him to signal the Klingons...
"Oooh, burn! I assume."
14:03 - “KLINGON WARSHIPS?!“ 🤣
Too cute
As you may have figured out by now the 3rd season was full of excellent shows over the first two seasons of TNG and they were just getting started. Note, Tomalak was played by Andreas Katsulas was in Babylon 5 as well as the movies The Fugitive wirh Harrison Ford and other movies. With actor James Sloyan who played The Defector. Slovan, who reminds me of George C. Scott, the actor was TNG's go to guest star of TNG, DS9 and Voyager. He played a bunch of characters on Star Trek. Look out for him.
I remember watching this live for the first time. Absolutely on the edge of my seat when the Romulans decloaked. Thinking they were done for and cheering when Picard played his cards and took the pot. But within seconds seeing Jarok devastated, a true patriot exploited by a faceless bureaucrat for the gain of a lie. Pure tragedy. The weight of being used by those who you fought for, the horror of having left never to return and knowing the price your family would pay. Heartbreaking.
The "Defector guy" is James Sloyan he turned 84 years old this year
I like that in this episode we also see Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar from Babylon 5).
@@thecatthinks Rest in peace Andreas Katsulas
James Sloyan has actually played 4 characters across 3 different shows he plays Romulan Admiral Alidar Jarok in "The Defector," and time-traveling Klingon K'mtar in "Firstborn."here in The Next Generation and also appeared as Haakonian scientist Doctor Ma'Bor Jetrel in Star Trek: Voyager's "Jetel,"and as Bajoran scientist Dr. Mora Pol in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "The Alternate" and "The Begotten." Awesome actor and characters all around.
This is an elite level season three episode that contains great performances all around, but yes, the episode belongs to the guest star and their interactions with the cast, especially that moment between Picard and the Admiral alone. It's just great drama start to finish with real triumphant moments like the Klingon surprise by Picard and Worf and tragedy in how this all plays out for the titular defector.
It's been decades since I first watched these episodes as a much younger person ... I appreciate Jen's fresh and intelligent perspective on these episodes that makes me appreciate them much more as an older person than when I initially saw them.
"GET TO IT TOMALAK!"
Picard is done with the coy bullshit.
Picard's lucky that it was Tomalak and not G'Kar.
I liked the Tomalak character a lot. Too bad we lost Andreas Katsulas to B5, but he was great on that show.
@@artboymoy Ya Jen needs to do B5 as well.I think she would really like it.
Andreas also did a cameo on Enterprise as the captain of an alien ship of people with 3 genders.
This is why Klingons and the Federation work so well together, the Klingons are ready for war, but the Federation thinks outside the box. If they could establish a three way alliance, intelligence with strength and guile, they'd be unstoppable.
Henry the 5th . Henry tours the camp incognito before the battle. ( Shakespeare) picards book in his office is the collected works of William Shakespeare, Patrick made his name in the Royal Shakespeare company.
One of my fav episodes of Star Trek. Full stop.
So unique in its originality.
I love that stand off between Picard & Tomalak at the end. Picard constantly shows that he is one of the best at intellectual warfare!!
Just FYI everybody.
Since 2017, CVN 80, USS Enterprise is currently being built, and to be operational in 2028. It is the first carrier to not be named after a person since 1966 and the third aircraft carrier to bear the name Enterprise.
That's amazing
Who said there's never a Klingon around when you need one? 😊
One of my faves, a bit deeper than most of the others. Every now and then there's a gem of an episode, it's what makes me love tng so much
One of the things I like about this series is that many of the episodes has a mystery, just like this one, that has the audience guessing just as the Enterprise crew. Excellent episode and reaction.
This episode had one of if not the best subtle hints at Picard's long game for entering the Neutral Zone with back up. Such a good show, excellent re watch value to this one.
Great episode. This is an example of excellent guest stars who shined in TNG, as James Sloyhan did a fantastic acting job, and I also enjoyed Andreas Katsulas’ performance as Commander Tomalak. I enjoyed loved this episode demonstrating Picard’s strategic prowess among his other considerable leadership skills. When Tomalak says “I look forward to our next encounter”, he is expressing admiration for the move with the Klingons, and you know Picard’s reputation even among Romulans will only grow. Great reaction as always Jen!
One thing I love about this episode is that no one is stupid. While every character has a different take on Jarok and the situation, they all are being reasonable, including those who end up being wrong. So often in shows that have the cast take opposing views on a situation, one side will be clearly foolish/wrongheaded/stubborn/racist/whatever, and the other virtuous. In this one there is ample evidence for each interpretation, and it is only as the story unfold that you can see the truth of it rather than just wait for the people in the negative camp to see the light.
"A little touch of Harry in the night". I think it was Patrick Stewart in prosthetics doing an actual Yorkshire accent with relish. This is from the famous scene in Henry V where Henry goes about his camp in disguise in order to hear what the men are saying, and also to raise their spirits.
"Oh, burn (I assume)" 😂😂😂
Star Trek doing a John le Carré spy story, that's how i always saw this one. Great stuff!
0:50 "That kind of looks like Picard in a face... prosthetic."
You're not far off. Patrick Stewart is renowned for his Shakespearean work.
I LOVE THIS EPISODE!!! I didn't remember how it went, so I was on the edge of my seat with Jen the whole time. May we all have the bravery of Admiral Jarok!!!
This episode always stuck with me, James Sloyans acting was great especially at the end, you really feel for him.
I love how paranoid you are of the Borg (much like I was when I was a kid watching this live).
Commercial break!
I remember watching this episode with some friends. When the Klingons decloak at the end, that got a big "F-Ya!" from us.
Borg obsessed😂😂
Picard was famous for his principled diplomacy…but he was no fool. Dude came strapped.
The dude that plays tammalok in this plays G'Kar on Babylon 5... one of the BEST characters on the show
I found it touching how in Star Trek Online, Admiral Jarok's daughter survived Hobus and went on to command the flagship of the new Romulan Republic. She makes commentary in the game about how she came to hate the Star Empire for how they were treated as the family of a traitor when she knew her father wasn't. I feel the STO team decided that she did get that letter and it helped forge her into the badass romulan commander she becomes.
I knew he portrayed Tomalak in more than one episodes of TNG ... but have always struggled to figure out where *else* do I know him from. And now I feel like a moron ... Babylon 5 obviously. G'Kar - such a great story arch he had there. Would highly suggest checking the series out ;)
He played the one armed man in the Fugitive.
And, if you've seen it, he was the one armed man in movie The Fugitive staring Harrison Ford.
There are quite a few actors that appeared on both TNG and Babylon 5.
Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander in B5) is in the TNG episode "Starship Mine" for example.
He also appeared in the Cogenitor episode in ST Enterprise
She's actually in a fair few episodes as she was Gates McFadden's stunt double.
PEAK Star Trek here, one of my favorite episodes, with another iconic play from Jean-Luc Picard, preplanning having the Klingon backup. That climax has become mematically fantastic, as it was so smoothly executed. They also give you a brief warning interpolating the Klingon theme when Tomalak accuses him of making idle threats.
i had forgotten this episode.
it was awesome.
Henry V, the night before battle, Henry walks among his troops in disguise, to sense their mood.
I remember watching this when it first aired and it has been one of my favorite TNG episodes. Not since TOS's "The Balance of Terror" has Trek done a Romulan character so well. And it's always good to see Tomalok getting bested by Picard.
Those damn Romulans, always crossing the neutral zone causing trouble!!! Hurray for the Kilngons backing up Capt Picard and the Enterprise!! Great episode Jen and thanks for sharing ❤️💛🖖🏻
Another episode I had completely forgot about over the intervening years!
Always glad to see James Sloyan's work. He played the defector in this episode. He appeared in another ST:TNG episode as well as ST:DS9 and ST:V. He also had roles in "Xanadu" and "The Sting".
Also always glad to see Andreas Katsulas, who played the Romulan antagonist. His work playing one of the principal roles in the "Babylon 5" series was delightful. He was also the one-armed villain of "The Fugitive" opposite Harrison Ford.
I never realized he was that guy in the Fugative!
The actor who played the defector has appeared/will appear in many more TNG episodes in a variety of roles, so in the future, if you see a character who looks familiar, it might be this actor, playing a different role.
Couple things, if you ever watch the movie, Excalibur, you'll see a very familiar face in there and I think you'll enjoy iy. Also, if you should ever watch Babylon 5, and I highly recommend it, keep this episode in mind, you'll see another familiar face between the shows.
And, one more thing, thank you for sharing your reaction to this episode and this wonderful show, it's a treat to watch your trek through this verse.
always been very impressed with this episode. the level of tension, mystery, and eventual reveal is just terrific.
"shall we die together?"
one of the best final acts of the season. jarok's deflated realization that 1) he'd heroically thrown away his life for nothing, 2) as a result of being punked by his own people -- with tomalak's easy victory thwarted by picard's klingon card up his sleeve. i daresay this was the point when the writers found their formula going forward.
Yes that is Patrick Stewart doing Shakespeare. He is a classically trained as a member of the royal Shakespeare company.
In TOS they mentioned delay time when dealing with the Romulans in the episode "Balance of Terror."
I love the Star Wars Acolyte trailer here. Showed the stark difference in quality between classic TNG and current Star Wars. Not that Wars could ever compete with Trek.
The late, great, Andreas Katsulas.
In the opening scene, one of the holodeck characters was played by Patrick Stewart and the other was played by Jonathan Frakes.
You have a good eye: Yes, that is Patrick Stewart as the other guy in the holodeck scene at the beginning of the episode! The guy that plays the defector (James Sloyan) has played many characters within Star Trek, on multiple franchises. All of them have been memorable. The Klingon Warships decloaking behind the Romulan ships is one of the more badass scenes in the Star Trek universe.
Or a good ear, I matched the voice
@@jgant5063 Indeed. Even with that thick accent it's easy to hear Patrick through it.
An often overlooked highlight of the series. The pacing, the music, the performances were all excellent. I still remember watching that one the first time.
13:59 The legendary "romulan standoff".
Yes, this is a really great episode. Always makes me think what would I do in a situation like that? (Thankfully, I'm a nobody and will never face such a situation, but still...).
One of the great things about Star Trek is that once they have a good actor they can just reuse him or her under different prosthetics. James Sloyan, who played Jarok, would go on to play major roles on Deep Space Nine and an episode of Voyager.
0:23 "Is he in the holodeck?"
For sooth.
One of the great, badass Picard moments when the Klingon's de-cloak.
Love watching you watch the Next Gen. Jen. The Klingons and Federation are allies at this point in time is why they had cloaked Klingon ships with them, and Picard knew that. I feel bad for the defector and the Klingons on the Birds of Prey, because the Klingons as a group are way more aggressive then Worf!
Rarely been so happy to see Klingon warships decloaking like when I first saw this episode, many many years ago.
I like the episodes that involve the Romulans, this one in particular. James Sloyan does a good job as Jarok, he's played other characters in the Star Trek shows
You should really add the film Galaxy Quest to your list for when you have a break in the Star Trek reactions. It's so funny & a lovely "Love Letter" to Trek
Galaxy Quest is on my channel
@@jenmurrayxo oops! I didn't spot it when I scrolled through. My bad. Love your reactions 😁
I love this episode - all the way through the episode does a good job of keeping whether he's a plant or not uncertain, and the final reveal at the end is excellently done, and you can spot it coming if you where listening closely enough - Picard mentions speaking to the Klingon high command briefly - it was subtle enough that I doubt many guessed the ending but it feels setup and earned.
0:38 -- RE: "Is this Shakespeare?"; A: Yes, and not only that, it's Henry V. Data is playing the character of King Henry. This play (a later speech) is the source of the now-famous phrase "We few, we band of brothers" and the writers for this episode had enough sense to not directly use that particular scene.
Shakespeare is making a Revival in this episode, as well; See also TOS "The Conscience of the King", and of course many of the actors and actresses on Star Trek (TOS and since) have had extensive experience with Shakespearean theatrical performances.
I talked about Henry V and how the character of Picard relates to it in my commentary after the episode
@@jenmurrayxo I also caught that! I sometimes wonder though to what degree are questions asked by Reaction to be considered rhetorical, or to worry over answering them. This one is important I think because of the meta connections. Henry V cannot make the famous speech without first consulting with the army, and incognito at that; Roddenberry's Optimism seems to have a lot of Shakespearean devices attached to it, as well.
SO MANY truly great episodes in this season. You have so much to look forward to, and you will not be disappointed. Love the channel.
His daughter will know her father as a hero who died trying to do the right thing. I know…she said as much when I meet her in Star Trek Online.
Such a great episode. Just watched it last night myself! Anything Moore writes/touches is gold. ♥
6:51 "Hmm. Geordi believes him."
Yeah. Which is surprising. Geordi's the one who found the first real piece of evidence that, if this guy really _is_ a defector, the Romulans wanted us to intercept him.
I have that computer "Priority One message from Starfleet....." sound clip as ring tone for my close contacts Lol 😆
Thanks!
Thank you! 🖖☺️
This is one of my favorite episodes, and one of my favorite lines “shall we die together?”
0:38 This guy in the play is being played by Patrick Stewart (Picard's actor) - he's a big shakespearian actor and loved any chance to do abit of Shakespear on screen.
The Actor who plays Tomalak is Andreas Katsulas who played the villain in the Fugitive the one armed man. He was also fantastic in Babylon 5 another amazing scifi series for the 90's, that you should check out.
Another favorite episode! Showing that people can change to make the world better for those that will come after them. James Sloyan is an incredible guest actor. The story, the performances from our main cast were all great. You're reactions are very genuine and a pleasure to watch. I watch a couple other guys and they tend to be a bit more flippant borderline MST3K with it while offering some decent discussion about the episode they just watched. Yes, that was Patrick Stewart in the holodeck as the sentry.
The Romulan guy in this is such a great actor. He has appeared in several Star Trek episodes
“Irrelevant, irrelevant, irrelevant.”
Michael Piller-oh that’s a good would you mind if I use that for the upcoming script?
Ron Moore-“Sure not like your script is going to overshadow my entire 3 season long storyline.”
Rick Berman- “Sorry Ron, your two parter is going to have to wait till next season.”
After a rough morning, I definitely needed this today!
This is a great episode, and reaction! Bravo Jen.
Awesome Next Gen thumbnail / poster at start of intro! 😃👍👍 Great ep, I love this one. I like the extended mystery of 'is it for real, or not?'. 💜
As this ep does a tiny bit of Henry V - I feel obliged to massively recommend you react to Kenneth Branagh's Henry V. It is epically awesome! Braveheart for the English. When he gives his very famous "band of brothers" speech during a raging battle.. it's so rousing! I was ready for signing up for him! "England forever!" 😋
You'll absolutely love K.B.'s Henry V. It's very interesting, utterly engaging and really exciting at many parts. Also the soundtrack will blow your Batman socks off your feet.
The actor that played the defector is indeed great. He gets a nice role on a few Deep Space Nine episodes.
The defector James Sloyan. He's done a few rolls in a couple different star trek shows. I loved his performance here and in other things he's done.