why was Guinan so relaxed when she saw the Borg cube in the window ? maybe it's because she knows everything will be ok since she met Picard in the past and he came from a future in which all is well that is after this episode
Just watched this one and boy was Ensign Gomez a breath of fresh air. I really liked her interaction with Geordi and Picard. She came across as a real human being in contrast to the regular characters who can be a little stiff.
I think the Borg became extra curious about us when the Enterprise was suddenly flung back to the Alpha Quadrant. Since they didn’t know about Q, they must have thought we had some very advanced tech that they hadn’t detected yet.
Really good episode for Q, despite getting people killed, he likely saved a lot more lives by alerting the Federation to the Borg, which in his cold, near omniscient view probably seems like a gift, which hints at his real motives while making his relationship with Picard more complex. The Borg look like Cyber Gimps here though, agreed that they didnt really sell them that well here despite a great concept which is capitalised on later.
Guinan (or any of her refugee race) could have informed Starfleet years, possibly decades, before they first encountered the Borg. I don't know what Guinan's species are exactly, but they are serious assholes.
I imagine it also though pulled the Borg attention to firmly fixate on the federation. Especially as they wouldn’t know it was Q who tossed them back to the Alpha quadrant. So they saw this ship go at impossible speeds. And likely just decided right then and there to send a ship to visit.
seeing this episode for the first time back in 1989 was a whole different experience. Seeing the Borg for the first time (they sound Swedish!) was super exciting and devoid of any cynicism when watching it 30 plus years later. One of the best story lines until species 8472 appeared in Voyager IMHO. Immerse yourselves in the stories and try not to question things too much 🙏
On the rewatch at 2:22, I like how Guinan is on high alert about the conversation between Q and Picard. It's clear, she's worried about what he's up to, and Picard should tread carefully.
One of my favorite TNG episodes, lots of suspense and the Borg were quite creepy, reminded me of Edward Scissorhands with the black outfit and pale skin. The Borg turned out to be much better villains than the Ferengi. Yes, too bad we didn't see more of Gomez. This episode does raise a few questions: The Enterprise has no remote controlled drones they could have beamed over instead of crew members? Why didn't Picard completely destroy the Borg ship when he had the chance? Before the Borg adapted to the Enterprise's weapons, they inflicted serious damage to the Borg cube before retreating.
I read or heard some where one reason the Borg were so curious was that from their encounters with federation tech in the neutral zone the federation didn't have technology capable of getting them to that section of space and here they were so they were trying to find out how this lesser technology race got to them so quickly.
That would be an okay explanation if they had said that in the episode, but it still doesn't explain why Q had to send them so far out to encounter the Borg when they were already in the Neutral Zone.
Only thing I can think of there is the ones in the neutral zone were just scouts checking the federations technology level and afterwards considered them worth watching to see what they would invent but didn't see them as a threat.
Seems to be that at that point Guidan would be an entity, different from Q, but some form of cosmic being. Later they changed that and she was just aware of things but could not fight Q or anything like that.
When she spills the drink, it takes place in Engineering, and I can’t help but think how this foreshadows how the Federation is expanding, heading outwards (eagerly) like Gomez-based on their science and engineering-and then runs smack dab into an apex power, like Picard, which you would not expect to run into in that area…and that was far, far out of its/her league to deal with…
I think it was because she was wiping the spill with her bare hands- if you don't have a towel all it does is press cold (by then) wet uniform against him... only frogs like that
We don’t know which face of the cube is the ‘thrust’ face, or if the Borg can just move their ships in any direction regardless of the cube’s orientation
Wow thanks for the compact recap and review, I'm going to need these going forward as a new watcher. I really have enjoyed the Q and the world building that "race" has brought to the show so far. I find the writing for Q to be interesting and to be portrayed by a charismatic actor, so was kind of surprised to hear you didn't much like him.
It kinda sets up the theme that humans are eager…over-eager, going too far in their bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young enthusiasm … and this is leading them into a contact with a supreme power that they are not going to like smacking into, and will be utterly unprepared to handle.😢😅 Theme of: being too carefree, and not looking where you are going.
Also, if you want to get really meta and long term-into another episode-the spill over from this over-enthusiastic contact-this smack into supreme power will get all over Picard. The brown (color of the Borg) will get all over him, as he is assimilated as Locutus.
Oh, and now that he has been assimilated by the Borg, in a later episode, it puts a permanent stain on his Starfleet reputation-or career-as is symbolized by his uniform taking a mess from getting hit by an unexpected eagerness encountering a power well-out-of-its-league.
And to cleanse himself of this stain, as a bookend, he has to stain himself and cover his clothing in mud, a wrestling with his brother-a baptism in emotional recognition, and acceptance of the mess, that he has caused or experienced, far outside the expected confines of his prim and proper life-and an atonement of sorts-in following the whole ordeal. Just a thought and a reflection on this. It works.
This episode was really good. I’m also disappointed they didn’t add Gomez as a more frequent recurring character. Beyond Guinan, O’brien, Pulaski, Q, and Ensign Ro, I can’t think of anyone beyond maybe a couple Klingons who appear in 5+ episodes of this show and aren’t in the main credits, which is kind of astounding considering there’s damn near 200 episodes. Gomez would have made a great addition as a recurring character, even if she was only in 2 or 3 episodes per season. That said, she does appear in an episode of Lower Decks as a captain, which is nice can service and a deep enough cut that it BEING fan service doesn’t feel like it’s hitting you over the head.
Wait, in this episode he says that Humanity was exonerated by the Q however in the finale he tells Picard that the trial never ended. So much for continuity.
Alpha Centari is not tte closest star to the solar system. Proxima Centari is closer at a distance of roughly 4.25 light years compared to Alpha Centari's 4.5.
B+ is a good grade. This episode was a good build-up to the Borg. The points, like making obvious dumb decisions to continue the plot line, keep this one from being more than it could have been. Q actually isn't that annoying to me. Should I be?
why was Guinan so relaxed when she saw the Borg cube in the window ? maybe it's because she knows everything will be ok since she met Picard in the past and he came from a future in which all is well that is after this episode
Even though we know some of the stuff that's going to happen in later episodes, we are trying to look only at what's happened so far.
@@reverseangle Spoilers... Troi is alwayd useless and Wesley doent get cool for several decades
@@MLBeatonwait... when does Wesley become cool? 2040? 2063?
Just watched this one and boy was Ensign Gomez a breath of fresh air. I really liked her interaction with Geordi and Picard. She came across as a real human being in contrast to the regular characters who can be a little stiff.
I think the Borg became extra curious about us when the Enterprise was suddenly flung back to the Alpha Quadrant. Since they didn’t know about Q, they must have thought we had some very advanced tech that they hadn’t detected yet.
Gomez recently returned in the season 2 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks, where she is now captain of her own ship, the USS Archimedes.
Really good episode for Q, despite getting people killed, he likely saved a lot more lives by alerting the Federation to the Borg, which in his cold, near omniscient view probably seems like a gift, which hints at his real motives while making his relationship with Picard more complex.
The Borg look like Cyber Gimps here though, agreed that they didnt really sell them that well here despite a great concept which is capitalised on later.
Guinan (or any of her refugee race) could have informed Starfleet years, possibly decades, before they first encountered the Borg. I don't know what Guinan's species are exactly, but they are serious assholes.
I imagine it also though pulled the Borg attention to firmly fixate on the federation. Especially as they wouldn’t know it was Q who tossed them back to the Alpha quadrant. So they saw this ship go at impossible speeds. And likely just decided right then and there to send a ship to visit.
seeing this episode
for the first time
back in 1989 was a
whole different experience. Seeing the Borg for the first time (they sound Swedish!) was super exciting and devoid of any cynicism when watching it 30 plus years later. One of the best story lines until species 8472 appeared in Voyager IMHO. Immerse yourselves in the stories and try not to question things too much 🙏
Star Trek should have sold incuborgers (aka Borg Babies) as plushies.
I'd give this episode an A wonderful development for Guinan. Great moments from Q and excellent introduction to the Borg.
Cant have ensign Gomez be a regular character, sorry, we have to churn out some more Wesley going through space puberty episodes.
Given his strikeout rate, he needs as many chances as he can get to bang space chicks.
I love John de Lancie's Q. He is the ultimate trickster, he really is the best character ib TNG
On the rewatch at 2:22, I like how Guinan is on high alert about the conversation between Q and Picard. It's clear, she's worried about what he's up to, and Picard should tread carefully.
I always wanted Ensign Gomez to be a regular character. It’s a shame they didn’t follow up on that.
I wonder if maybe they meant her to …be cannon fodder for the Borg, later, in that episode…but decide not to
The continuity of Q and his interactions with others as part of their characters is just as important as anything else like plot and events.
One of my favorite TNG episodes, lots of suspense and the Borg were quite creepy, reminded me of Edward Scissorhands with the black outfit and pale skin. The Borg turned out to be much better villains than the Ferengi. Yes, too bad we didn't see more of Gomez.
This episode does raise a few questions: The Enterprise has no remote controlled drones they could have beamed over instead of crew members? Why didn't Picard completely destroy the Borg ship when he had the chance? Before the Borg adapted to the Enterprise's weapons, they inflicted serious damage to the Borg cube before retreating.
You guys rock. Glad to find you before you hit a million viewers!
The poor little baby borg. I want one too...
I read or heard some where one reason the Borg were so curious was that from their encounters with federation tech in the neutral zone the federation didn't have technology capable of getting them to that section of space and here they were so they were trying to find out how this lesser technology race got to them so quickly.
That would be an okay explanation if they had said that in the episode, but it still doesn't explain why Q had to send them so far out to encounter the Borg when they were already in the Neutral Zone.
Only thing I can think of there is the ones in the neutral zone were just scouts checking the federations technology level and afterwards considered them worth watching to see what they would invent but didn't see them as a threat.
Seems to be that at that point Guidan would be an entity, different from Q, but some form of cosmic being. Later they changed that and she was just aware of things but could not fight Q or anything like that.
Micro-brain, with a macro-head.
Picard got Rid of Gomez for the same reason he got rid of McDoogle in season 1. That look of incompetence he gives her when she spills a drink on him.
Yet Wesley tells Ensign Mendon that people make mistakes and Picard handles it despite being upset.
@@ShamrockParticle Yes, in front of the crew he handles it quite well. But back in the ready room, he files for her to be transferred. lol
When she spills the drink, it takes place in Engineering, and I can’t help but think how this foreshadows how the Federation is expanding, heading outwards (eagerly) like Gomez-based on their science and engineering-and then runs smack dab into an apex power, like Picard, which you would not expect to run into in that area…and that was far, far out of its/her league to deal with…
I think it was because she was wiping the spill with her bare hands- if you don't have a towel all it does is press cold (by then) wet uniform against him... only frogs like that
I don't know about you, but I always carve my roasts into long cylinders.
7000 light years
=
7 years at WARP 9
Notice; when the Enterprise escapes the BORG cube "turns", it shouldn't need to?
It gives the Enterprise a bit more of a lead to enter the nebula. ;-)
We don’t know which face of the cube is the ‘thrust’ face, or if the Borg can just move their ships in any direction regardless of the cube’s orientation
Maybe Guinan was gonna use force lightning. 🤔
Wow thanks for the compact recap and review, I'm going to need these going forward as a new watcher. I really have enjoyed the Q and the world building that "race" has brought to the show so far. I find the writing for Q to be interesting and to be portrayed by a charismatic actor, so was kind of surprised to hear you didn't much like him.
He wasn't a threat here. Without the forewarning he gave them, the Borg would have rolled over humans.
I think he did it to help humans.
It's established that the Romulans had a few encounters with the Borg in their border. That's why they were busy the last 100 years.
Oh come on this is an A or A+ episode. It is amazing.
I like how when Picard responds to getting spilled on, by an Ensign, he uses the words . . . “It’s all over!” #ominous
It kinda sets up the theme that humans are eager…over-eager, going too far in their bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young enthusiasm … and this is leading them into a contact with a supreme power that they are not going to like smacking into, and will be utterly unprepared to handle.😢😅
Theme of: being too carefree, and not looking where you are going.
Also, if you want to get really meta and long term-into another episode-the spill over from this over-enthusiastic contact-this smack into supreme power will get all over Picard. The brown (color of the Borg) will get all over him, as he is assimilated as Locutus.
Oh, and now that he has been assimilated by the Borg, in a later episode, it puts a permanent stain on his Starfleet reputation-or career-as is symbolized by his uniform taking a mess from getting hit by an unexpected eagerness encountering a power well-out-of-its-league.
And to cleanse himself of this stain, as a bookend, he has to stain himself and cover his clothing in mud, a wrestling with his brother-a baptism in emotional recognition, and acceptance of the mess, that he has caused or experienced, far outside the expected confines of his prim and proper life-and an atonement of sorts-in following the whole ordeal. Just a thought and a reflection on this. It works.
Brilliant writing. The near arrogance of Picard challenged so effectively. Should have been the final episode for season 2.
This one is top10 of s02 for sure
I wrote a version of
TNG
WITHOUT Q
and the only episode that
wouldn't happen is
TRUE Q
This would have been solved if Riker joined the Continuum in the last season.
so she spilt her drink hot chocolate because her mind was on a different hot chocolate???
This episode was really good. I’m also disappointed they didn’t add Gomez as a more frequent recurring character. Beyond Guinan, O’brien, Pulaski, Q, and Ensign Ro, I can’t think of anyone beyond maybe a couple Klingons who appear in 5+ episodes of this show and aren’t in the main credits, which is kind of astounding considering there’s damn near 200 episodes. Gomez would have made a great addition as a recurring character, even if she was only in 2 or 3 episodes per season. That said, she does appear in an episode of Lower Decks as a captain, which is nice can service and a deep enough cut that it BEING fan service doesn’t feel like it’s hitting you over the head.
Between the jokes and soft chuckles you guys are the Tappet Brothers of TNG.
Thanks for the comparison, but they're way funnier than us.
Warp speed is just a mess when it comes to continuity in Star Trek
I've always been disappointed we never got to see Guinan use her Kung Fu grip powers.
Wait, in this episode he says that Humanity was exonerated by the Q however in the finale he tells Picard that the trial never ended. So much for continuity.
Incuborgers!! BAHAHAHAHA
0:42 without context looks like the beginning of a very different show.
perhaps with 3 breasts?
Alpha Centari is not tte closest star to the solar system. Proxima Centari is closer at a distance of roughly 4.25 light years compared to Alpha Centari's 4.5.
Alpha Centauri is three stars. Alpha Centauri is the system of stars. Proxima Centauri is part of Alpha Centauri.
Just discovered you guys.. where are you from?? your accents crack me up every time you say Pulaski
7000 light years away is knowhere fucking near them
probably the closest borg cube. Not necessarily their territory.
Good ep. It deserves an A or a B.
Incuburgers
B+ is a good grade. This episode was a good build-up to the Borg. The points, like making obvious dumb decisions to continue the plot line, keep this one from being more than it could have been. Q actually isn't that annoying to me. Should I be?
A- the borg I agree with Robert but I liked Q and Picard a lot more in this episode than before hence the a- rating
Ensign Gomez was abreast of her brief.
Not sure why, but Ensign Gomez makes me wish I had three hands. Weird.
The should have planted a bomb on the Borg ship and blown them up
The clumsy woman could've made a good love interest for Reg Barclay.
Love it
Ensign Sonia Gomez was Ensign Sylvia Tilley before it was cool.
I knew When I saw that episode that girl made me wish I had three of something, just couldnt put my finger on it