Even greater appreciation for "Tapestry"

[Lord Garth]

Is there anyone else who gets more out of this episode as time passes on?

Like Picard, I'd hate my life right now if I did everything like I was "supposed to". The main reason I'm satisfied with my life and the way it's going is precisely because I went out on a limb and got myself noticed by people who otherwise wouldn't have a clue who I am.

I just think the message is something that trancends an already great episode and it's my favorite Q story.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

I love this ep. One of the best, IMO. Playing life safe wont get you far, and TNG agrees!

 

[Trekker4747]

This is one of my all time favorite episodes of the series it's only bested by one or two others. Really great story that does, indeed, have more impact one as they sit and ponder their past (something I've been doing with my high school reunion this year) by far my favorite Q story (as it potrays Q more as I saw him, as a "father" or compass for Picard and "humanity" than a villan) not to mention the effects it seems to have on Picard.

Extraordinary episode.

 

[sbk1234]

I can't say enough good about this one. As I get older, I relate to it more and more, looking back at my past. When I originally saw the promo, I was worried that it was going to be a cheap knock off of Quantum Leap. It was nothing like that, AFAIC. Great stuff.

 

[Spider]

The thing that resonates most for me is Picard getting an evaluation from Riker. It can be quite unsettling to get an evaluation from someone who used to work for you. It's a good thing I treated this guy quite well before the tables turned!

This show has always, and always will be, on my top ten list of TNG episodes.

 

[Trekker4747]

Spider said:
The thing that resonates most for me is Picard getting an evaluation from Riker. It can be quite unsettling to get an evaluation from someone who used to work for you. It's a good thing I treated this guy quite well before the tables turned!

Along those lines, getting bitched out by LaForge over the tardiness of the report! And that the poor guy was in his 50s or 60s (or howeverold Picard is supposed to be) and had only made ONE promotion in his career. (Form Ensign to Lieutenant (J.G.)) I think Q made it that way to really twist the screws in.

 

[Corran Horn]

Lord Garth said:
Like Picard, I'd hate my life right now if I did everything like I was "supposed to". The main reason I'm satisfied with my life and the way it's going is precisely because I went out on a limb and got myself noticed by people who otherwise wouldn't have a clue who I am.

I just think the message is something that trancends an already great episode and it's my favorite Q story.

That's funny, I thought the message of this episode was 'You have to get stabbed through the heart to get ahead in life, sometimes.'

I've scheduled my stabbing for Thursday. Wish me luck!

 

[Vic Sixx]

He also got to go back and screw the girl. Wasn't a total waste.

 

[Anwar]

The point of the episode is "You can't pick and choose what parts of your life you want to have happened or not happened, becuase you are who you are due to every choice you've ever made and everything that's happened to you."

Picard tried to erase the untidy parts of himself, the mistakes due to youth, but he learned that those mistakes are what made him who he is.

 

[tomalak301]

I'd probably put this episode in my top 5. It's the second best (Behind All Good Things...) Q episode and had a very powerful messege. I think each time I see it, it has more meaning for me as well.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

This is my second favorite Picard-centered episode. The first being "The Inner Light."

 

[Mojochi]

I can't say it's my favorite episode or anything like that, but it's a strong premise, that got a solid execution, & it was a smart way to continue to de-vilify Q, & make his previous encounters look less malicious. Definitely the kind of thing Star Trek should be doing.

About the only thing bad I could even say about it, was that I wasn't all that impressed with the actors playing Picard's classmates. Although, that might be because Stewart is a brilliant actor, & they are likely not

 

[Anwar]

Well, the girl was only 17 in that episode, and I don't know how old the other guys was (early to mid 20s) so they were less epxerienced.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

A top ten of mine as well. I can't add anything to what has already been said. I will watch it any time it comes on.

 

[Bad Atom]

This is one of my absolute favorite TNG episodes - I liked it so much that I contributed a Five Minute version of it.

Interestingly enough, Michael Piller was not a big fan of this episode. He thought the episode glorified violence by saying that for Picard to get where he was, he had to do the violent thing. And most episodes of TNG took the opposite stance, saying that there was always a peaceful solution to problems. I never thought it was about doing the violent thing, it was about taking risks and doing the bold, unexpected thing. That's a philosophy I believe in and to me it makes life worth living, which is why I love the episode so much.

 

[jimbtnp2]

middyseafort said:
This is my second favorite Picard-centered episode. The first being "The Inner Light."

inner light is a lame compared to tapestry, its much better

 

[Whoa Nellie]

I love the episode "Tapestry." It is a wonderful character piece for Picard. With Picard, TNG canon has given us a rich, multi-faceted character; one who reads ancient Greek and Latin classics and Shakespeare as well as hard-boiled detective novels. He plays the flute as well as rides horses, fences, and does a little rock climbing. He drinks tea as well as Aldebaran whiskey. He is a diplomat who appears to have a certain degree of special ops training.

IMO, like the TOS episode "The Enemy Within" did with Kirk's character, TNG's episode "Tapestry" does a beautiful job of showing that it takes both the erudite as well as the "Hell bent for leather" ensign who was stabbed through the heart in a barroom brawl (Action Picard) facets to make Picard the flagship captain.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[Red Ranger]

People,

I agree that this is one of the best TNG pieces. I remember feeling bad for the alternate Picard who had not only advanced only one rank in all that time, but was stuck in a an assistant sciences position, completely at odds with Picard, as he loudly protests to Q, "That is not who I am!" Even Worf outranked him!

It was also jarring to see Riker and Troi treat Picard with condecension and, in my opinion, not much respect or empathy for his situation. After all, he was attempting to, as Riker put it, "get noticed." I do think that Picard's low position and the treatment he receives from his former subordinates was purposefully arranged by Q.

One question I always had about the ep: We learn that someone else named Captain Thomas Holloway (sp?) is in charge of Enterprise. I wonder if anyone's ever done a novel showing where Holloway is in the TNG universe we know? That would be interesting.

Red Ranger

 

[Anwar]

I don't think we've ever seen Holloway. Moore toyed with the idea of having Jellico be the Enterprise's captain in the alternate timeline.

One other bit I picked on was Riker saying "Jean-Luc, is it?" when Picard talked with him. That had to have hurt; Riker didn't even know Picard's first name in that world.

 

[Atariboy]

And don't forget this wonderful bit of continuity: now we know why Picard laughs after he's stabbed (which we first learned years ago when he told Wesley the story). He's relieved everything will be put right!