It was an experimental drug, that turned patients into grouchy, southern Vulcanphobic doctors, so by the early 24th century, it was abandoned
What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?
- Thread starter Amasov
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Not immediately. Nothing is immediate. Picard's laughter takes place a few seconds after the stabbing, before the cardiac arrest has affected his brain cells and as he is falling to the ground, not from pain, but likely in the process of passing out (the first symptom of a sudden cardiac arrest, which is what must be happening).
Here's a couple videos:
Both involved Picard's perception of the event, and we don't know of any visual recording of the incident or third-party reporting, so it's possible that Picard's laughter was more of a bloody gurgle before he passed out and likely lost some memories before restoration. Q is being manipulative here, he doesn't care about an accurate recording of events (and I believe the whole of Tapestry is an illusion).
Picard's laughter, whether real or perceived, is likely an example of the pseudobulbar effect, with his brain shutting down due to lack of circulation, although it might be too quick given the timeframes shown. The events mentioned in Samaritan Snare ("I had this one Nausicaan down in this somewhat devious joint-lock when, unbeknownst to me, one of his chums drew his weapon and impaled me through the back.") do not match either of the events shown in Tapestry (where he merely tosses one over his shoulder and is stabbed while still standing over him), so false memory seems to be at play here. Either in his story to Wesley or his true conception of the events (if that's what Tapestry is showing). We don't know if he can see the knife, he is likely quickly losing his vision, but his vocal chords and breathing should still be working, if impaired, and I don't see any reason why laughter should be off the table even if his heart was pierced cleanly through.
V
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It's not a binary state between "heart is 100% fine" and "heart is 100% shredded". Piercing the pericardium and damaging a cardiac wall would still almost certainly prove fatal, just in minutes rather than seconds.
But what about the laughing??
What I mean is that the wound can mend, especially with sophisticated 24th-century technology.
Nothing can explain the laughing. That was a stupid idea meant to show that Picard is a "tough guy". Yeah, like we were going to buy that!
I mean he can even stand one second against Soran, it's Kirk who does all the punching. Picard runs around and "helps" by distracting Soran for like half of a second.
V
Vale
Guest
Like a replacement heart?
Like closing a tear on a heart's wall.
How would you like it if you got a big gash in your leg and the doctor said: "No problem, we're gonna amputate and get you an artificial leg."
Starbase Earhart might not have had a readily available Sickbay with the equipment to repair his heart muscle. The place looked pretty rough and this was 2327 when technology was less advanced. Clearly it was enough damage to require Picard to get an artificial heart installed at another medical facility.
How do they keep him alive in the meantime?
Well, I did. It's drama not true life stories. Good grief.
I am sorry but I can buy Picard as a diplomat, as a smart guy but a man of action... no way! I mean even the writers don't buy it. Look how ineffectual he is against Soran. Each time they clash he lasts like one second and a half. He's just more believable as a helpless old man like he pretty much was in Picard season 1.
???
Cool...? That feels like a big non sequitur for the topic at hand. But, sure, you buy him as a diplomat and a helpless old man. Thank you.
No, I was referring to the laughter which IMO was meant to show Picard as being tough. Seeing that he's critically wounded and laughing... tough guy...
Except, that's not how the episode plays out. Picard always say that as a watershed moment of youth impudence, to be ashamed of rather than learn from. I don't find it a "tough guy" moment but a learning moment, especially at the end as he realizes the significance of that moment in his life. Picard wasn't born the diplomat-he was made in moments like that.
Better put, thank you.
That's your interpretation. My point is that as a tough guy Picard is just not believable.
I never said that that's what he wanted. I said that the scene is meant to make us see him as a tough guy.
Plus he laughed the first time around long before he knew that Q existed.
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