On this board, we tend to pick apart episodes (or seasons, or the whole show, or even Trek as a whole!) and find new negatives: plot holes, consistency errors, less than stellar characterisation, poor delivery or other mistakes. But how about we tried the complete opposite? Cataloguing, or at least sharing those little, subtle details we think were interesting, inspired or even brilliant pieces of writing, acting or directing? I had the idea for this thread whilst re-watching "The Nth Degree", and noticing something in the first scene: The choice of Cyrano as a the play Barclay partakes in, of that particular scene is not arbitrary: it directly contrasts Barclay's courage at putting himself through a very public performance even though he is clearly suffering of severe social anxiety with Cyrano's courage at (allegedly) fighting a hundred men. It's not that subtle, but I think I'd missed it on previous viewings. So, what interesting little details have you noticed?
Off the top of my head the only ones that comes to mind is in "the child". I enjoy how in the end there was no explanation for the alien entity. All we know is that is some form of powerful alien conscience exploring the galaxy, it is curious as are the humans. In the end it found at some about humans and vice versa, but we got no explanation of origin or how it works, it is a mystery.
I also liked how in the first, and maybe second, season we see a few men wearing dresses. I unfortunately it is only non speaking background characters, I'm disappointed they didn't have a more important male character wear one (and I don't necessarily mean a main character, but someone who has a speaking role and is reoccurring)
I like how in The Neutral Zone, they talk about a mysterious force scooping off whole colonies from the surface of planets, and then wait an entire season before answering the question of what could do such a thing. It's just a little bit of continuity, but it's very cool.
For me TNG seasons 3-7 uniform is the "official" Star Trek uniform. TNG uniform might be the most recognizable of all Trek uniforms?
"interesting, inspired or even brilliant pieces of writing, acting or directing?" The music in BOBW part 1 and 2 really complements the acting. From the immortal "We have engaged the Borg" to Riker watching the devastation at Wolf 359. Then there's the tear as Picard is being transformed. I also love the urgency and pacing in Q-Who when Picard and co. storm onto the bridge and Picard states: "Warp 9, now Mr Crusher, engage". Again, the musical accompanying that is perfect. In "The Child", the scene with the heartbeat and Troi informing Picard that she's having the baby. I love how the argument is settled with her statement and how they all respect her decision. Poor Marina always comes in for criticism, but her performance in Face of the Enemy is ace. Sir Stewart is amazing in Chain of Command. As an atheist, I love Picards speech about returning people to the dark ages. That whole episode is a treat.
Indeed! Yes, that one is rather obvious, but quite well executed. I shall have to re-watch The Child. Not one of my favourite episodes (quite dull), but I'll check out that scene. Whilst I, too, enjoy that speech, I'm not sure I'd term it a "little thing": it is quite central to the episode.
It seems to be the go to for most parodies, and exists as more items of fashion wear....but it’s close enough to the TOS uniform that it’s a tough call. It is the uniform every other iteration of Trek has borrowed from, including Beyond and DSC.
In Relics - the Enterprise is trying to exit the Dyson sphere before the doors close. As the ship gets closer, we see the doors are about half way, leaving a vertical slit that's getting smaller. We cut to show the bridge crew looking concerned, and if you're not paying attention, you may miss seeing the woman at the helm tap a control. Cut to outside and we see the ship roll 90° so it clears the doors. Good job, Ensign.
Decades later and I still can't believe they fired Ron Jones. Better than the scenes where they need urgency but they sloth around, leaving seconds of valuable opportunity for the enemy to zap away. I still prefer stuff like Picard in "Contagion" where he asks if what they see is as simple as what they perceive; the belief the Ikonian transporter technology was used as a weapon when it really wasn't. It's little bits like that that make Picard better than how he appeared in, say, "The Emissary" (DS9). Definitely great acting! Dark ages are more the packaged words but the actions.
You can pick apart Relics for a lot of stuff, but there's no escaping that its opening teaser is just about the coolest they ever concocted. Lost ship found... Dyson Sphere... Transporter still running after 75 years... SCOTTY! I don't care if the rest of the episode falls short of expectations. It just doesn't get any better than that, for a Star Trek fan imho Sariel Rager on the job Nobody saying "Look out for the doors!" or even Picard tossing out an "Ensign?" She just unilaterally goes beep beep beep. "Got this". Loved that bit myself. Not often do they give the background players cool bits like that. Some of the mannequining they did in Timescape was fun like that too. For example, whenever I think of Beverly's assistant Martinez, it's always this frozen shocked face of his from Timescape. lol It's just perfect
I've ragged on Riker a lot over the years, 2nd only to Beverly. He's pretty elitist socially. He's completely self doubting as a captain, & sometimes just lost. He's not half as charming as he thinks, & don't even get me started on his love life. However, there is one aspect of him that I really like, & find very representative of Starfleet values, even though it was only showcased a handful of times... & that's his teamwork attitude. Whenever we see him on a team objective, he's actually really good. Him & Data in Disaster. Him & Ro in Conundrum (Overlooking the hanky-panky) Him & Picard in Gambit, not working as captain & #1 so much, but just as a couple operatives. He's even kind of a team player in Rascals and Time's Arrow, & honestly, once he gets over himself, & joins up with the team in Chain of Command, everything starts running smoothly, & he ends up being a real benefit to the mission. It's unlikely I'd ever end up befriending a guy like Riker. I don't think I'd much care for him as my executive officer either. I'd rather have Geordi or Data, TBH... & I'd absolutely dread having him as my captain, but if I were on a team, with a job to get done, I'd take him in a minute. Somehow, in that dynamic, he just knows how to step outside his normal BS & fit in.
The first thing to come to mind is the final scene where Picard gets his flute back and starts playing it in his quarters in "The Inner Light". The lighting, the pacing, the gut-wrenching line from Riker that "whatever it was must have been self-terminating, it isn't functioning anymore," all are absolutely perfect. Close runner ups are the retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh from Picard to the dying Captain Dathon in "Darmok", the final few seconds of "Best of Both Worlds, Part II" where Picard looks out his ready room window, and the last few seconds of "Family" where Rene Picard is asleep under the tree, and a shooting star streaks across the night sky. Dammit, this show was just perfect. LOL
That Gilgamesh thing absolutely MAKES the whole episode, as if it was the centerpiece around which the entire story/script was formed. It takes it beyond Picard just figuring out how the guy communicates, into actually, truly understanding it, internalizing what it means, & finding something within his own worldview that reflects it, & not only reflects it, but is pertinent to the immediate moment as well. At that moment, he is speaking Tamarian, just as much as Dathon speaks it when he talks about Uzani's army with fist open.
I like how the topic of anxiety and psychological disorders is tackled in a humourous way with Reg Barclay ! I love those moments between Worf and Alexander, when Worf is acting rather impatiently and then suddenly soothes a little bit for the love of his son. I like the complicity between some characters (like Geordi/Data, Troi/Riker...) and I really love seeing it evolve with time. I'm fond of Guinan's wise advises, she always has a particular way to say things without exactly saying them ! Whoopie made such a great job with her ! I love all the Data moments, especially those scenes when Data's trying to emulate human behaviours he doesn't fully comprehend. I used to be a lot like him when it comes to social awkwardness - and I still am in a way. I love those stars in Picard's eyes in Lessons, when he's in awe because of Cmd Darren's musical talent ! There's so much joy in his stare !