"Tapestry"

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by Captain McBain, Mar 19, 2013.

  1. desfem79

    desfem79 Lieutenant Commander

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    i don't think he died per se, but was near death. or he may technically have, but was revived (,i.e. his heart stopped, no pulse, no breathing, near brain death, etc.)

    I get the impression that it was Q, since I don't get why his brain would create such a detailed near death experience with Q's powers and personality. Unless Picard's brain used Q as Picard knew him as an allegory to God. But then I get the impression Picard is an atheist, I don't think as a rational person who values inquiry he would be terribly religious
     
  2. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    In war, there are no Athiests in the Fox Holes! I suspect Picard's not as much the Athiest as we've been led to believe ... let us hope that he turned to Catholicism in the last moments before he really did expire. And that a priest was there to administer Last Rights.
     
  3. desfem79

    desfem79 Lieutenant Commander

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    I dunno, just speculation lol..

    I get as a philosophy buff, he may challenge the notion of God though, or perhaps be spiritual but not believe in a God per se. I guess by what he told Nagilum in Where Silence Has Lease, he does believe in some kind of afterlife.
     
  4. desfem79

    desfem79 Lieutenant Commander

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    For me it's the message/meaning, more so than the acting or dialogue (IMO bad acting and a Picard-centric episode are polar opposites hehe..) Picard obviously thought that the biggest mistake of his life actually was his biggest boon.
     
  5. MikeH92467

    MikeH92467 Admiral Admiral

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    This script reminds me of the old Twlight Zone series. The chance to relive a life and fix our biggest "mistakes" is something we all think we would take in a heartbeat, but in Picard's case (as desfem79 correctly points out) what he thought was his great "mistake" was what actually drove him to a fabulously successful life. Could it have been a dream? Maybe, but it was a great story with a strong message and that's the key to good TV: strong stories, great acting.
     
  6. MikeS

    MikeS Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Speak for yourself... and I have made some HUGE mistakes... but they all lead me to where I am now.

    I suppose this episode is responsible for shaping my thinking behind this philosophy though...
     
  7. JirinPanthosa

    JirinPanthosa Admiral Admiral

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    It was left deliberately vague whether Q really caused that experience. Though I find either way very plausible. I prefer the explanation that it was Q behind the whole ordeal because it's the more interesting explanation. Though it is likely he would have survived by Crusher's expertise had Q not intervened.

    For me there's no specific moment that changed the course of my life, but I'd certainly like to change the person I was back in high school and college. I was set back years in more ways than one because of how I behaved in certain parts of my life.
     
  8. Iamnotspock

    Iamnotspock Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    You mean, "I don't want my pain taken away, I need my pain!" didn't do it for you? ;)
     
  9. Anwar

    Anwar Admiral Admiral

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    Picard's never really been all that Atheistic, or maybe he became more religious minded as the series went on.

    I mean, in "Generations" his fantasy involved having a Merry Christmas with his family.
     
  10. Chensams

    Chensams Vice Admiral Admiral

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    That's a good point although I suppose one could celebrate the giving gifts part while still being an atheist.
     
  11. JirinPanthosa

    JirinPanthosa Admiral Admiral

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    Picard's religion or lack of religion has never really been stated in the series. He clearly does not ritually practice religion, and he clearly believes in a scientific explanation for the natural world, but it's hinted at in indirect ways he believes in fate and that there is a soul that exists separate from the body.
     
  12. MikeS

    MikeS Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Christmas was originally a Pagan festival to brighten up the cold and lonely mid-winter. Catholicism hijacked it and stuck the birth of Jesus onto it to pacify the Pagan hordes. It is quite possible that Picard was celebrating Christmas as the Pagans did. I do (lights, big feast, family time etc).
     
  13. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    [​IMG]

    This chick definitely cemented Sir (!) Patrick Stewart's expectation of having more scenes like these in TNG, with assorted Babes of the Week ... and dare I say it? Whether she meant to, or not, I think she turned him on.
     
  14. Makarov

    Makarov Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    To me it has to be Q's doing.

    What disturbs me about this episode is Riker/Troi's reaction to alternate Picard saying he wanted to move up in the world.
     
  15. Iamnotspock

    Iamnotspock Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    He does go on quite an atheistic rant against "superstition, ignorance and fear" in Who Watches the Watchers?