I just watched this again and had to comment on it. At this point I've re-watched TNG so many times I've lost count, and after watching it so many times, I figure once I've made up my mind about which episodes are my favourites, my choices aren't likely to change. That's not the case this time. I've always liked this episode, but this time I appreciated more than I ever have and after going through the first six seasons again, I can't think of many more I like as much as this one.
What caught me off guard and impressed me most this time is how masterfully the tone shifts right towards the end. If you pay attention to the act breaks in this episode, almost every single moment right before a commercial break consists of Picard smiling. Then there's one where he and Nella kiss, and even the act that ends with Worf telling them they'll have to go on a dangerous mission has Picard smiling at the bad timing as he was about to make Nella a nice dessert. So all the smiling and positive feel sort of lulled me into a false sense of security thinking of this as just a light-hearted episode that didn't feel like it would ever have any stakes. I knew what was coming since I'd seen this episode before, but the pleasant tone of the first half still made the sudden danger at the end really powerful.
I really hate that Nella had to leave in the end. I guess it was inevitable since Wendy Hughes was just a guest star and the rationalization that Picard and Nella agree on for why they should split makes complete sense, but it seems like such a waste. They really embodied that old formula of people falling in love by 'making beautiful music together' wonderfully and of all the women Picard got involved with, I felt this one was the most perfect for him.
He and Vash had delightful chemistry and obviously always had a blast together, but she was too reckless, uninhibited, and impulsive for him. He and Crusher had too much history and were just too comfortable as friends, and while I was really sad to see him give up Kamala in
"The Perfect Mate", her nature ultimately gave her chemistry with him a bit of a forced and fake quality. Nella was just so mature, thoughtful, talented, and charming with Picard. You can see that in how she not only can always maintain intelligent conversation with him, but also make him smile constantly with her flirtatious remarks.
A few little things I noticed that made this episode more interesting than in the past:
- Wendy Hughes has the most unique Australian accent I've ever heard. The reason I didn't realize she's Australian the first few times I watched this episode is because she seems to slip in and out of the accent.
Instead of saying all of her words the way a person with a strong Australian accent does, it sounds like certain words within each of her sentences are said with that accent, and then she sounds more American the rest of the time. I think you have to listen really hard and look for it to hear her Australian accent. I wonder if she's consciously trying to conceal it or if that's just the way it talks.
- I think I was remembering this thread, because when Picard was playing "Frère Jacques", I could totally tell that the hands didn't belong to Patrick Stewart and I found that REALLY distracting. I'm also pretty sure it was someone else's hands when Wendy Hughes was playing the piano too. I couldn't help but wonder why the hand substitution was done for "Frère Jacques", but not the Ressikan folk tune. I'd imagine "Frère Jacques" to be easier, but maybe it's all the little improvisations they did around it that made it hard.
Anyway, back to the general topic at hand...I think this episode has just about everything I love about
"Star Trek" (aside from some good sci-fi and/or alien stuff, oddly enough), so I now consider it a personal favourite. It had some strong character development, philosophy, romance, humour, good conversation, and a suspenseful dangerous situation. I don't read Star Trek novels, but I think if there was one stating that Picard and Nella eventually reunited and lived happily ever someday, I'd have to pick it up because I loved them together
that much.
I'm tempted not to ask, but curiosity is getting the better of me. So far, the people against this episode have only said they don't like it, without explaining why. What exactly bothers you guys about this episode? Too mushy?
