There are a LOT more than two…….
Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 3x04 - "No Win Scenario"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
- Start date
That was the portal weapon.
With Jack's lines that he is fine being alone and an outsider, isn't he basically, taking his underworld record in the previous episodes, just Han Solo from Star Wars? Nothing wrong with that per se but it's not exactly original.
They've never actually confirmed that Star Wars exists as a thing in Trek's universe although it should if their world is basically our world as much as possible (Eugenics wars aside), but it'd be hilarious if someone outright called Jack a Han Solo wannabe in the show.
They've never actually confirmed that Star Wars exists as a thing in Trek's universe although it should if their world is basically our world as much as possible (Eugenics wars aside), but it'd be hilarious if someone outright called Jack a Han Solo wannabe in the show.
did it say 250th anniversary also in the flashback?
I'm guessing Frontier Day is annual.
It was conveniently blocked.
That was part of the portal weapon.
Beats me. That’s why I asked. Because, you know, we’ve never heard of Frontier Day in the 50+ years Star Trek has been on the air.
Ho boy, Two-takes Frakes continues to deliver! What a thrilling hour to cap off the first act of hour story. It one-upped last week in every way for me.
No Win Scenario carried on the structure used by Seventeen Seconds, with a mix of heart-wrenching character drama and moments of action, the latter building up in a crescendo as they hatched the plan to escape the nebula, and even gave Vadic a taste of her own medicine. Picard entertaining the cadets provided a nice framing device, with the bits of his stories we hear setting up the next act, before ultimately revealing the real significance of that day five years ago. I did find it weird, however, that instead of using Picard escaping the asteroid field in Booby Trap with Data's help, the writers instead chose to reference another similar, never-heard-before (or at least I think) incident, apparently so that Picard and Jack Sr. cooperating could foreshadow Jack Jr. helping Picard escape the nebula now. It almost feels like they originally wanted to reference the TNG episode, but rewrote the details of the event to insert a connection to the elder Crusher.
A lot of the quieter moments of this episode managed to feel complex, deep and well-constructed, conveying the emotional state of the characters really well. Seven's paranoia as she searched Ensign Foster's quarters was palpable, and the camera work really helped sell the terrifying knowledge that a changeling could disguise themselves as literally anything. This sense of paranoia saturated the scene so thoroughly that when Seven seemed to be surprised and suspicious by Riker's order to keep the infiltration quiet, I briefly wondered if maybe he was the one replaced now, as improbable that was. The one thing I found a bit clumsy was the obvious omission of Seven and Riker's conversation to set up the climax where the imposter would try to sabotage nacelle control.
Another example I liked was Riker trying to record a goodbye message for Deanna. At first I thought it was some bad line reading from Frakes, then I realized that the words sounded rehearsed because Riker himself didn't know what to say and his heart wasn't really in it. In comparison, him actually talking to Deanna at the end of the episode felt much more emotive and authentic, displaying his regained sense of wonder for the universe after witnessing the space jellyfish birth, with Deanna herself appearing to see that hopeful glint in his eye once again.
Much of the episode was, of course, centered on Picard and Jack's relationship. I found it quite run-of-the-mill if enjoyable, and there was nothing really surprising in that after a rocky start, they would find common ground in both Picard's rebellious past and working together to escape the nebula. Much of their largest moment was, however, completely stolen by Shaw who easily dominated every single scene he appeared in, be it his painkiller-addled rambling on changeling detection techniques, the almost-friendly sarcastic bickering with Seven who took it all in stride, or of course, him finally opening up about his survivor's guilt regarding Wolf 359, easily the crowning achievement of Stashwick in this season as of now. Beverly, however, was a bit underutilized this week, and despite her being the one to convince Riker to attempt the risky escape, she felt mostly relegated to an expository role. But all in all, another solid hour, and this season doesn't seem to be losing any steam. I can't wait for next week.
Observations:
No Win Scenario carried on the structure used by Seventeen Seconds, with a mix of heart-wrenching character drama and moments of action, the latter building up in a crescendo as they hatched the plan to escape the nebula, and even gave Vadic a taste of her own medicine. Picard entertaining the cadets provided a nice framing device, with the bits of his stories we hear setting up the next act, before ultimately revealing the real significance of that day five years ago. I did find it weird, however, that instead of using Picard escaping the asteroid field in Booby Trap with Data's help, the writers instead chose to reference another similar, never-heard-before (or at least I think) incident, apparently so that Picard and Jack Sr. cooperating could foreshadow Jack Jr. helping Picard escape the nebula now. It almost feels like they originally wanted to reference the TNG episode, but rewrote the details of the event to insert a connection to the elder Crusher.
A lot of the quieter moments of this episode managed to feel complex, deep and well-constructed, conveying the emotional state of the characters really well. Seven's paranoia as she searched Ensign Foster's quarters was palpable, and the camera work really helped sell the terrifying knowledge that a changeling could disguise themselves as literally anything. This sense of paranoia saturated the scene so thoroughly that when Seven seemed to be surprised and suspicious by Riker's order to keep the infiltration quiet, I briefly wondered if maybe he was the one replaced now, as improbable that was. The one thing I found a bit clumsy was the obvious omission of Seven and Riker's conversation to set up the climax where the imposter would try to sabotage nacelle control.
Another example I liked was Riker trying to record a goodbye message for Deanna. At first I thought it was some bad line reading from Frakes, then I realized that the words sounded rehearsed because Riker himself didn't know what to say and his heart wasn't really in it. In comparison, him actually talking to Deanna at the end of the episode felt much more emotive and authentic, displaying his regained sense of wonder for the universe after witnessing the space jellyfish birth, with Deanna herself appearing to see that hopeful glint in his eye once again.
Much of the episode was, of course, centered on Picard and Jack's relationship. I found it quite run-of-the-mill if enjoyable, and there was nothing really surprising in that after a rocky start, they would find common ground in both Picard's rebellious past and working together to escape the nebula. Much of their largest moment was, however, completely stolen by Shaw who easily dominated every single scene he appeared in, be it his painkiller-addled rambling on changeling detection techniques, the almost-friendly sarcastic bickering with Seven who took it all in stride, or of course, him finally opening up about his survivor's guilt regarding Wolf 359, easily the crowning achievement of Stashwick in this season as of now. Beverly, however, was a bit underutilized this week, and despite her being the one to convince Riker to attempt the risky escape, she felt mostly relegated to an expository role. But all in all, another solid hour, and this season doesn't seem to be losing any steam. I can't wait for next week.
Observations:
- Vadic really seems like she's not quite all there upstairs, unhinged and absolutely terrified of her, uhm, handler. Bad pun.
- I loved how the Starfleet library would obviously use Odo's bucket to illustrate the regenerating habits of changelings. Complete with a photo of the man himself, looking as unimpressed as ever. Based on his make-up design, the photo they used seemed about early Season 2-ish, maybe?
- "Cheap, on the rocks," - orders Jack, and Picard immediately procures a bottle of Jameson. I couldn't help but chuckle. Any people of refined taste to confirm how it compares to other Irish whiskeys?
- I absolutely HATE this bullshit handwave Voyager introduced all the way back about the holodecks having their own power supply that just so happens to be incompatible with everything else. So forced.
Wouldn't be the first time they invented an event.
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/First_Contact_Day
I do agree it's weird that the bucket design was reused, but forgetting that changelings from the great link don't need to regenerate as often as Odo is a pretty forgettable fact, DS9 is my favourite series I even forgot that.
They still do need to regenerate though, they can't stay in one form forever.
I think Odo himself gave up using the bucket and just turned into random objects for fun if I remember correctly
Also Shaw's line about the Wolf 359 survivors waiting to be ordered and chosen who gets to use the escape pods makes me wonder if the writers were aware of this Star Wars theory running around--
In Return of the Jedi, as Vader is dying, you hear blaster shots in the background. No other rebels except Luke are on the Death Star & no one's shooting at him. That means Stormtroopers are shooting each other for space on escape pods
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It's just awful. I can't even make out faces sometimes. A person can only adjust contrast and brightness so much. It makes me annoyed that I'm paying for the service.
It's getting better every episode, loving this season.
Halodeck as place of refuge for the last moment.
Cap Shaw was in the Borg Wolf battle.
Farpoint reference!
Commander Hansen. RIP changeling.
The asteroid sling is the new Riker maneuver.
Alien jelly fish babies in the end...
"Sir! Wonderful! A feeling of great joy and gratitude. A great joy and gratitude from both of them." - - Deanna Troi
Halodeck as place of refuge for the last moment.
Cap Shaw was in the Borg Wolf battle.
Farpoint reference!
Commander Hansen. RIP changeling.
The asteroid sling is the new Riker maneuver.
Alien jelly fish babies in the end...
"Sir! Wonderful! A feeling of great joy and gratitude. A great joy and gratitude from both of them." - - Deanna Troi
I’m confused. Was it killed? It stayed in human form when shot, for some odd reason. Shouldn’t it have reverted to liquid form? And Changelings usually disintegrate when killed.
Also the life support shutdown alarm is the one from 1979's Alien. That was cool.
I'm getting Professor Quirrell vibes with Voldemort on his head.
Teeling is better. Jameson is pretty standard.
Yeah it was pretty dumb in that Voyager episode, but I actually didn’t mind the use here. They had the set and it was better to use it than have a conversation in the briefing room.
The only things that never run out of power are holodecks and gravity!
We could say the same about alcohol, but we rarely put these in the same category for some reason.
Wiccan rede: An it harm none, do what thou wilt. (Harm none includes one's self.)
I thoroughly detest alcohol, save in making of vanilla. But, the whole stoner culture, marijuana leaf clothing is irritating, and far more so since I live in Washington State. I found alcohol culture, especially beer culture, just as annoying, especially when in college.
