Spoilers Episode 7 "Nepenthe"

[fireproof78]

You mean sub-janitor kim

Agent Washington : Congratulations. You are now *Private* Grif again.

Sarge : Got anything lower?

Agent Washington : Private, *Junior* Grif?

Sarge : I was thinkin' something with an insulting adjective, or... maybe a demeaning adverb...

Agent Washington : How about Minor *Junior* Private Grif, negative first class?

Sarge : Heh heh, I like the way you think.

Mnr. Jr. Pvt. Dexter Grif, -1st Class : You realize you just doomed us to certain death just so you could insult me, right?

Sarge : Hey, if we do get killed at least we'll go out on a high note. Well, everybody but you. That's to be expected; you haven't had a high note in five years! Why break the goddamn streak?

 

[Blue Squadron]

Absolutely
He’s on active reserve
The house is full of tech defence
Their son is dead
The soil on the planet is regenerative
The son could have been saved with a positronic network, but they couldn’t find one

We haven’t seen the last of Riker, Troi and Data

Totally agree!!

More than that, I was very struck by the fact that the writing has Picard very much fall into the old habit of referring to Will as “Commander Riker,” which is a little odd, given that Jean-Luc should have been well aware that Riker was (finally!) appointed to his own independent command as a Captain and, presumably, held that or subsequent appointments for quite some time, potentially over a dozen years or more after the events of Nemesis.

The subsequent illness and death of Thad Troi-Riker certainly gives a believable reason for Will and Deanna’s prolonged furlough from Starfleet but I do think it was very telling that they deliberately had Riker refer to his still being on “active reserve.”

The fact that they also very carefully avoided specifying his substantive rank prior to this, does make me wonder if Will made it from Captain to Commodore or even Rear Admiral in the decade or so after he left the Enterprise and before his son became ill and died.

I have a sneaking feeling this may yet turn out to be relevant down the line if Riker pulls some sort of “I’m coming to get you!” rescue later in this (or maybe even next) season. If he has the weight of established flag rank behind him — and, by that point, Riker’s career should be almost as storied as a Picard’s — then that sort of thing might just be a little easier to do (at least in the context of Star Trek script-writing anyway...!).

 

[fireproof78]

More than that, I was very struck by the fact that the writing has Picard very much fall into the old habit of referring to Will as “Commander Riker,” which is a little odd, given that Jean-Luc should have been well aware that Riker was (finally!) appointed to his own independent command as a Captain and, presumably, held that or subsequent appointments for quite some time, potentially over a dozen years or more after the events of Nemesis.

How long did he refer to him as "Commander?" Good grief, old habits die hard.

 

[Nerys Myk]

How long did he refer to him as "Commander?" Good grief, old habits die hard.

Wait till Worf shows up and JL ignores his advice on reflex.

 

[Cyrus]

Another thing I watched for was the Fenris Ranger signal device. It seems that Elnor just happened upon it dangling underneath a desk that he was hiding under. Hugh's desk? Maybe they'll clarify next week.

Spoiler: next episode clip from Ready Room

Seven asks Elnor “Where is Hugh?”, so she gave that particular device to Hugh

 

[Nerys Myk]

Spoiler: next episode clip from Ready Room

Seven asks Elnor “Where is Hugh?”, so she gave that particular device to Hugh

Spoiler

And Elnor breaks into an Abbott and Costello routine

 

[picardjean-luc]

Spoiler

And Elnor breaks into an Abbott and Costello routine

Spoiler

Which was so touching because it shows that behind his Romulan Ninja/Elf-warrior persona, Elnor is still a teenager

 

[Gilora]

More than that, I was very struck by the fact that the writing has Picard very much fall into the old habit of referring to Will as “Commander Riker,” which is a little odd, given that Jean-Luc should have been well aware that Riker was (finally!) appointed to his own independent command as a Captain and, presumably, held that or subsequent appointments for quite some time, potentially over a dozen years or more after the events of Nemesis.

I think the writers did it on purpose to show the two falling into their old roles. Evidence: during one conversation Riker called Picard 'captain.'

 

[Kevman7987]

I think the writers did it on purpose to show the two falling into their old roles. Evidence: during one conversation Riker called Picard 'captain.'

Old habits die hard, with a vengeance.

 

[Anduinel]

You mean that he failed? It's next thing to the Hugh's death that make me frustrating. Elnor had a personal motivation important for his nature, well now he has a "well-understandable motivation", the same as they gave to Seven by this mindless Icheb's murder.

I expect Hugh's death is more to clear the way for Seven's development than anything else, which is why I find it so frustrating. If that's so, they'll have dusted the character off, then had him torn down, then opted to murder him at his lowest moment so Seven (who, to be clear, I'm full-on adoring here in a way I didn't on VOY) could continue with the "I fight for people who have no one to fight for them" direction with the XB. Killing another established XB character to advance Seven's story would be redundant if it was done twice in two seasons, and here we're getting it twice in a few episodes and in a way that has Seven standing on Hugh's cold, dead shoulders after all his work with the XB. I really, really hope I'm wrong and there's a save around the corner in the form of nanos or bundling Hugh's mostly-dead body into an old Borg regen station or something, because it's a notable narrative stumble. But, given the statements from Del Arco and Chambon, I don't think that's likely.

Other than that, though, I enjoyed this episode tremendously. Frakes and Sirtis were wonderful playing against Stewart; you could feel the love and trust between those three, even when it came time to give their old captain the hard word. Kestra and Saji bonding was just a delight, and I do hope we see more of that young actress. Watching Agnes going unraveled on La Sirena was less fun, but interesting. I do hope Rios was trying to trick a confession out of her by implicating Raffi; he's known Raffi for years and, as pointed out when the good doctor came on board, Agnes didn't even get a security check. If he was sincere, he's a good deal dimmer than I took him for. But oh well. Let him make mistakes, I suppose. And despite my disappointment over the writers wasting Hugh, I am very much looking forward to Seven and Elnor teaming up for a little righteous vengeance next week. So yeah. Lots to like, but one very loud complaint.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Hugh kept the queen's chamber and that tech secret from everyone, especially the Romulans as they are running the show there. I expect he and Seven knew he was taking a great risk running that show. He was probably making sure Borg tech like the chamber's didn't fall into the wrong hands. I wouldn't be surprised if Hugh figured his chances of survival were limited all along on that Cube should the Romulans get too close to anything sector altering so far as technology goes and wanted the Rangers and Seven available in case of his death.

 

[Tuskin38]

It's nice they continued the tradition of gluing bits on "Earth" animals to create stunningly realistic alien animals

View attachment 13779

Yep, and Chabon confirmed on his instagram it was an intended connection.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Yep, and Chabon confirmed on his instagram it was an intended connection.

Impossible. These guys have never seen Star Trek.

 

[fireproof78]

Impossible. These guys have never seen Star Trek.

Well, what you missed is that the intended connection was My Little Pony.

 

[Cyrus]

Spoiler

And Elnor breaks into an Abbott and Costello routine

Spoiler

Seven: Where is Hugh?
Elnor: I don’t know
Seven: He is on Third
Elnor: Hugh is on Third?
Seven: no, Hugh is on first
Elnor: I dont know
Elnor: Third base!

 

[thribs]

The Rikers obviously aren’t teaching Kestra Betazoid traditions. I heard no dongs during dinner.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

More than that, I was very struck by the fact that the writing has Picard very much fall into the old habit of referring to Will as “Commander Riker,”

I think it was a mental slip on Picard's part and a subtle hint at his Irumodic syndrome. Riker seems slightly taken aback initially and it's almost like he consciously doesn't correct Picard.

Either that or Riker ran afoul of one Admiral Jellico and got his butt demoted.

 

[FederationHistorian]

They kill off characters quickly in this show. Goodbye Hugh.

Also, Hugh’s protected by a Federation treaty and can’t be killed by any Romulans, since the Romulans apparently still hold a 250-year grudge with Starfleet. But is killed anyways because he tries to take the cube away from the Romulans after Narissa orders some XBs to be executed. Isn’t there any concern that a war might break out because of this? Or that the XBs will turn to Picard to lead them, as one of them recognized him as Locutus?

The Zhat Vash have a code of honour when fighting Qowat Milat that involves unarmed combat. That's interesting.

So, if Riker’s house could have the defences it has, why didn’t Picard’s Chateau, since he was aware that rogue Tal Shiar were around and likely after him due to his association with Dahj? Also interesting that anti-cloaking scans are actually canon now. Remember this was something in one of the Star Trek videogames once.

Jurarti risked offing herself to get rid of a tracker which was unnecessary if she just explained what happen. This is after offing Maddox, which was also unnecessary due to the extent of his injuries. For a scientist, she’s not very smart, or al least doesn’t make smart decisions, even when taking into account that she might be afraid of Commodore Oh. Couldn’t she just use the transporter to beam out the tracker if its in her bloodstream and send it into space, thereby not jeopardizing her lifelong dream to meet a synth in the process? Was that tracker biological? How long does it stay in a body?

I don’t take it literally that Riker being called commander by Picard meant that he was demoted. Kestra called Picard captain, even though he’s an admiral. Its all just a force of habit. However, since Troi said they lived on starships, not starship, what happened to his command of the Titan? Riker is still in active reserve in Starfleet. So, was he removed from command of the Titan? Was it destroyed? Or did he leave the Titan voluntarily?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Also, Hugh’s protected by a Federation treaty and can’t be killed by any Romulans, since the Romulans apparently still hold a 250-year grudge with Starfleet. But is killed anyways because he tries to take the cube away from the Romulans after Narissa orders some XBs to be executed. Isn’t there any concern that a war might break out because of this? Or that the XBs will turn to Picard to lead them, as one of them recognized him as Locutus?

Hugh broke the treaty by attempting to lead the XBs to rebel

So, if Riker’s house could have the defences it has, why didn’t Picard’s Chateau, since he was aware that rogue Tal Shiar were around and likely after him due to his association with Dahj? Also interesting that anti-cloaking scans are actually canon now. Remember this was something in one of the Star Trek videogames once.

Picard lives on Earth not on a world harassed by the Kzinti.

Jurarti risked offing herself to get rid of a tracker which was unnecessary if she just explained what happen. This is after offing Maddox, which was also unnecessary due to the extent of his injuries. For a scientist, she’s not very smart, or al least doesn’t make smart decisions, even when taking into account that she might be afraid of Commodore Oh. Couldn’t she just use the transporter to beam out the tracker if its in her bloodstream and send it into space, thereby not jeopardizing her lifelong dream to meet a synth in the process? Was that tracker biological? How long does it stay in a body?

I think the tracker is spread through out her body so beaming out out is not an option.
Maddox probably would have survived if given the proper care. So she had to make sure that didn't happen.

 

[thribs]

The Kzinti are just kitty cats. Just leave a bowl of milk and some treats outside and they would have no issues with them.