First Duty & Cost of Living

[EnriqueH]

First Duty was such a slam dunk.

Although I've always liked Wesley overall, this was a great episode to humanize the character. But I loved Picard's reaction to Wesley.

This episode is a testament to Trek's ability to show us something at a certain age, but when we rewatch it 20 years later, it shows us something else.

Wow. What a knockout.

And then I saw Cost of Living and it was a rough transition for about 5 minutes, but I got into it. It was a lighter episode, but I really enjoyed the weirdness of the Lwaxana's holodeck program. That funny face balloon, the weirdo fat dude and the juggler were pretty memorable. And I was actually moved by Lwaxana's relationship with Alexander.

Because of the year of the episode, you can tell Majel Barrett was drawing on her personal loss---Gene's death---for that one scene.

When I think of good Majel performances, I tend to think of "What Are Little Girls Are Made Of?" and Half A Life, but I thought this was a good one as well.

 

[Makarov]

If you've got the bluray the commentary for First Duty was really funny. They point out Patrick Stewart on the verge of falling asleep in one of the court scenes. Great episode.

I agree about the crazy holodeck characters being memorable in Cost of Living.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

First Duty was such a slam dunk.

Although I've always liked Wesley overall, this was a great episode to humanize the character. But I loved Picard's reaction to Wesley.

This episode is a testament to Trek's ability to show us something at a certain age, but when we rewatch it 20 years later, it shows us something else.

Wow. What a knockout.

And then I saw Cost of Living and it was a rough transition for about 5 minutes, but I got into it. It was a lighter episode, but I really enjoyed the weirdness of the Lwaxana's holodeck program. That funny face balloon, the weirdo fat dude and the juggler were pretty memorable. And I was actually moved by Lwaxana's relationship with Alexander.

Because of the year of the episode, you can tell Majel Barrett was drawing on her personal loss---Gene's death---for that one scene.

When I think of good Majel performances, I tend to think of "What Are Little Girls Are Made Of?" and Half A Life, but I thought this was a good one as well.

That's funny, I don't remember a fat dude in Lwaxana's program.


Worf: "So we're just supposed to sit here?"

 

[Amaris]

First Duty was such a slam dunk.

Although I've always liked Wesley overall, this was a great episode to humanize the character. But I loved Picard's reaction to Wesley.

This episode is a testament to Trek's ability to show us something at a certain age, but when we rewatch it 20 years later, it shows us something else.

Wow. What a knockout.

And then I saw Cost of Living and it was a rough transition for about 5 minutes, but I got into it. It was a lighter episode, but I really enjoyed the weirdness of the Lwaxana's holodeck program. That funny face balloon, the weirdo fat dude and the juggler were pretty memorable. And I was actually moved by Lwaxana's relationship with Alexander.

Because of the year of the episode, you can tell Majel Barrett was drawing on her personal loss---Gene's death---for that one scene.

When I think of good Majel performances, I tend to think of "What Are Little Girls Are Made Of?" and Half A Life, but I thought this was a good one as well.

That's funny, I don't remember a fat dude in Lwaxana's program.


Worf: "So we're just supposed to sit here?"

"The higher, the fewer!"

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

First Duty was such a slam dunk.

Although I've always liked Wesley overall, this was a great episode to humanize the character. But I loved Picard's reaction to Wesley.

This episode is a testament to Trek's ability to show us something at a certain age, but when we rewatch it 20 years later, it shows us something else.

Wow. What a knockout.

And then I saw Cost of Living and it was a rough transition for about 5 minutes, but I got into it. It was a lighter episode, but I really enjoyed the weirdness of the Lwaxana's holodeck program. That funny face balloon, the weirdo fat dude and the juggler were pretty memorable. And I was actually moved by Lwaxana's relationship with Alexander.

Because of the year of the episode, you can tell Majel Barrett was drawing on her personal loss---Gene's death---for that one scene.

When I think of good Majel performances, I tend to think of "What Are Little Girls Are Made Of?" and Half A Life, but I thought this was a good one as well.

That's funny, I don't remember a fat dude in Lwaxana's program.


Worf: "So we're just supposed to sit here?"

"The higher, the fewer!"

I remember him being old... fat? Well, maybe a little.

 

[Spectral]

I like both of these episodes a lot. Season 5 is the most consistently good for me. It's nice to see Wonder Kid Wesley finally humanized. Everyone makes mistakes growing up. And after they're grown up. And pretty much forever. But you can still face those mistakes, and why you made them and try to improve yourself going forward.

I know a lot of people hate on Cost of Living because it's a fluff episode or because Lwaxana annoys them, but the episode is about not taking life too seriously. About finding a balance between the importance of the serious and the fun. What are they worth to you? That holodeck program made me giggle, I don't even care if that makes me childish.

I also really like getting to see some deeper layers to Lwaxana other than the demanding, superficial nuisance. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much well-roundedness or development in most of the characters in this series. So I appreciate when we do.

So, yeah. Neither of these are episodes I find myself going to back to re-watch often, but I think they're both strong and they both add a lot to the overall Next Gen world.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

I like both of these episodes a lot. Season 5 is the most consistently good for me. It's nice to see Wonder Kid Wesley finally humanized. Everyone makes mistakes growing up. And after they're grown up. And pretty much forever. But you can still face those mistakes, and why you made them and try to improve yourself going forward.

I know a lot of people hate on Cost of Living because it's a fluff episode or because Lwaxana annoys them, but the episode is about not taking life too seriously. About finding a balance between the importance of the serious and the fun. What are they worth to you? That holodeck program made me giggle, I don't even care if that makes me childish.

I also really like getting to see some deeper layers to Lwaxana other than the demanding, superficial nuisance. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much well-roundedness or development in most of the characters in this series. So I appreciate when we do.

So, yeah. Neither of these are episodes I find myself going to back to re-watch often, but I think they're both strong and they both add a lot to the overall Next Gen world.

One thing that irritates me about Cost Of Living and other episodes like it is that as soon as the microbes leave the ship, everyone starts breathing better and that's just idiotic! I mean, just because the microbes have left doesn't mean that the stuff they've eaten is not still eaten, it still needs to be replaced and that's gonna take some time. At least it should, in a coherent world.

 

[Spectral]

I like both of these episodes a lot. Season 5 is the most consistently good for me. It's nice to see Wonder Kid Wesley finally humanized. Everyone makes mistakes growing up. And after they're grown up. And pretty much forever. But you can still face those mistakes, and why you made them and try to improve yourself going forward.

I know a lot of people hate on Cost of Living because it's a fluff episode or because Lwaxana annoys them, but the episode is about not taking life too seriously. About finding a balance between the importance of the serious and the fun. What are they worth to you? That holodeck program made me giggle, I don't even care if that makes me childish.

I also really like getting to see some deeper layers to Lwaxana other than the demanding, superficial nuisance. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much well-roundedness or development in most of the characters in this series. So I appreciate when we do.

So, yeah. Neither of these are episodes I find myself going to back to re-watch often, but I think they're both strong and they both add a lot to the overall Next Gen world.

One thing that irritates me about Cost Of Living and other episodes like it is that as soon as the microbes leave the ship, everyone starts breathing better and that's just idiotic! I mean, just because the microbes have left doesn't mean that the stuff they've eaten is not still eaten, it still needs to be replaced and that's gonna take some time. At least it should, in a coherent world.

Hah, I can't even remember what the main plot trouble they were having that week was.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

I like both of these episodes a lot. Season 5 is the most consistently good for me. It's nice to see Wonder Kid Wesley finally humanized. Everyone makes mistakes growing up. And after they're grown up. And pretty much forever. But you can still face those mistakes, and why you made them and try to improve yourself going forward.

I know a lot of people hate on Cost of Living because it's a fluff episode or because Lwaxana annoys them, but the episode is about not taking life too seriously. About finding a balance between the importance of the serious and the fun. What are they worth to you? That holodeck program made me giggle, I don't even care if that makes me childish.

I also really like getting to see some deeper layers to Lwaxana other than the demanding, superficial nuisance. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much well-roundedness or development in most of the characters in this series. So I appreciate when we do.

So, yeah. Neither of these are episodes I find myself going to back to re-watch often, but I think they're both strong and they both add a lot to the overall Next Gen world.

One thing that irritates me about Cost Of Living and other episodes like it is that as soon as the microbes leave the ship, everyone starts breathing better and that's just idiotic! I mean, just because the microbes have left doesn't mean that the stuff they've eaten is not still eaten, it still needs to be replaced and that's gonna take some time. At least it should, in a coherent world.

Hah, I can't even remember what the main plot trouble they were having that week was.

Alien microbes were turning some essential material normally solid into a gelatinous state, sort of like Odo when he's asleep and so systems were failing all other the place, including in the end, life support.

 

[sonak]

I've always thought that "first duty" would have been more interesting had they gone with the Ron Moore-suggested route of loyalty to his friends over telling the truth. But I can't see them doing that on TNG; DS9 maybe, but not TNG.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

I've always thought that "first duty" would have been more interesting had they gone with the Ron Moore-suggested route of loyalty to his friends over telling the truth. But I can't see them doing that on TNG; DS9 maybe, but not TNG.

That would have been stupid of Wes as it would have completely ruined his relationship with Picard. He'd have become even more of a starfleet Pariah and likely forever...

 

[FormerLurker]

Wesley being loyal to his friends over Starfleet would have put him just where Locarno wanted him. Especially if Wes had been expelled along with Locarno. And Wes wasn't about to give him that, not at the expense of losing Picard's respect.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

Wesley being loyal to his friends over Starfleet would have put him just where Locarno wanted him. Especially if Wes had been expelled along with Locarno. And Wes wasn't about to give him that, not at the expense of losing Picard's respect.

Definitely.

 

[sonak]

Wesley being loyal to his friends over Starfleet would have put him just where Locarno wanted him. Especially if Wes had been expelled along with Locarno. And Wes wasn't about to give him that, not at the expense of losing Picard's respect.

They wouldn't have been expelled, as it was indicated that while the academy staff was virtually certain they were lying, there was no proof with which to expel him. Wes would've had a cloud over him, and Picard would have lost respect for him, but he wouldn't have been expelled.




Of course it's unclear what the cadets were hoping to accomplish. Their maneuver would have been illegal even if successful and there would still have been serious disciplinary consequences.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

Wesley being loyal to his friends over Starfleet would have put him just where Locarno wanted him. Especially if Wes had been expelled along with Locarno. And Wes wasn't about to give him that, not at the expense of losing Picard's respect.

They wouldn't have been expelled, as it was indicated that while the academy staff was virtually certain they were lying, there was no proof with which to expel him. Wes would've had a cloud over him, and Picard would have lost respect for him, but he wouldn't have been expelled.

I wonder if not being expelled but being suspected of lying during an investigation, isn't in some ways even worse than being expelled. At least if you're expelled you can put the experience behind you and move on. If you aren't but suspected of being a crook you may wind up as the un-impaled Picard in tapestry, a mere lieutenant junior grade at fifty plus, a failure.

Of course it's unclear what the cadets were hoping to accomplish. Their maneuver would have been illegal even if successful and there would still have been serious disciplinary consequences.

I agree it was a lose-lose situation. That Locarno was really an asshole, they shouldn't have followed him in the first place. He's the one that put them in trouble with nothing clear to gain in a best case scenario.