Picard episodes?

[apenpaap]

I've been watching some of DS9's best episodes lately, and I plan to watch some TNG next. I was planning to start with some Picard-centric episodes, since he is my favourite TNG character. It's been a long time since I watched TNG though, so I don't really remember which ones they were, which is where you come in. Which ones are the episodes starring Picard?

 

[Canuck69]

Is there any season(s) you are leaning towards because there really is quite a few throughout the series...

Some that come to mind are: Chain Of Command I+II, The Inner Light, Best of Both Worlds I+II, Family, Allegience, Devil's Due, The Drumhead, Unification I+II, Tapestry, Starship Mine, The Chase.

There are so many with him having a major role because he is the Captain but these are ones that come to mind now. I'm sure someone else will come up with more.

 

[John Clark]

I'd add Darmok to Canuck69s list

 

[Canuck69]

And if you want to see Captain-turned-lovesick sap you can watch Lessons, Captain's Holiday, Q-Pid, The Perfect Mate and Attached. Not that there is anything wrong with them, it is just more Picard the man then Picard the Captain (Family is similar with the personal theme but is a great follow-up for Best of Both Worlds)

 

[Whoa Nellie]

In 'Captain's Holiday', it is marvelous to get to see the relaxed, off-duty Jean-Luc Picard suavely romance the beautiful, lady archaeologist. Wonderfully written by Ira Steven Behr, this episode is an homage to the great romantic films of the 40's. Vash is Bacall to Picard's Bogart. Watch Bogart and Bacall in the classic movie "To Have and Have Not" and then watch "Captain's Holiday." Vash's brazenness complements Picard's more sedate personality perfectly. She is the ideal foil for Picard's straight man. Picard and Vash have a very compelling 'battle of wills' dynamic to their relationship. The characterizations and relationship dynamics between Picard and Vash makes this episode a pure joy to watch.

The TNG episode 'Qpid' is pure, unmitigated fun! The combination of Picard/Vash and Q is unbeatable. This is Patrick Stewart's Picard doing Errol Flynn's Robin Hood in a wonderful homage to the classic movie. The sword fight between Picard and Sir Guy is a delightful amalgamation of Errol Flynn's 'Robin Hood' and 'The Princess Bride' with Picard's line "There's something you should know." In the scene where Robin Hood rescues Maid Marion from the tower you hear the guards outside the door being dispatched just before Picard flings the heavy door aside. "Jean-Luc," Vash sighs as they make their way across the room to each other. In one hand Picard holds his bloodied broadsword while with his free hand he sweeps Vash up into his arms for a passionate kiss. That is just classic swashbuckling taken straight from the golden age of the silver screen!

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[RyuRoots]

Canuck69 put together a pretty good list, and I agree with all of them, especially Starship Mine. I think Attached is worth watching as well. And yes, Darmok should definitely be added.

 

[Canuck69]

A good one I forgot is The Measure of A Man. It is really about Data but Picard plays a huge role and it is a great episode.

 

[Anwar]

Tapestry. Not only a great character study for Picard, it's a great episode in and of itself.

 

[Joshua Howard]

Tapestry. Not only a great character study for Picard, it's a great episode in and of itself.

I would highly recommend "Lessons" as well. Not only is it the only other episode which makes reference to Tapestry, but also another great look into the personal life of Picard (and one of my personal favorites.)

Pegasus in Season 7 is worth it, if not for any other reason than "Captain Picard Day."

 

[nx1701g]

There was a Picard DVD collection released a few years ago. The collection included:

The Big Goodbye
Sarek
Family
The Drumhead
Darmok
The Inner Light
Tapestry

 

[Pemmer Harge]

Lessons is a personal favourite of mine. I love Stewart's performance in that episode.

 

[Kegg]

Most of the great Picard episodes have already been covered, so I'll just throw in "All Good Things", the two-part series finale, which is very Picard centric - the whole thing is from his perspective as he shifts between three different stages of his life - the past, present and a possible future - trying to solve a problem he encounters in all three time periods.

 

[childofdarkness]

The Inner Light, Family and Best of Both Worlds would probably be my recommendations.

 

[Red Ranger]

The Big Goodbye, Best of Both Words, Family, The Inner Light, and Darmok are my favorite Picard-centered eps, although BOBW focuses more on Riker. Darmok shows Picard as both a thinker and fighter, as he first figures out how the Tamarians communicate, and then embraces fighting the creature on El Adrel. -- RR

 

[LitmusDragon]

Menage a Troi is not exactly a great episode but it has one of my favorite Picard moments in it- the part where he has to persuade the Ferengi that he wants Luxwana back. Cracks me up.

There are some great recommendations in this thread already. I can add Where Silence Has Lease and The Ensigns of Command as episodes which highlight the command style of Picard the character quite well (as opposed to Stewart the actor which is what makes the dramatic episodes work so well). Clues is another good character episode that highlights Picard's deductive reasoning capability.