TNG Rewatch: 5x19 - "The First Duty"

[suarezguy]

It was good to see Wesley having some flaws and in conflict with Picard but ...

Here we have Lacarno and by a lesser extent the other members of the squadron willing to throw a deceased friend under the bus in order to save their own careers.

I thought this was a little too blatant, it made Locarno (talking about friendship and loyalty but placing the blame on the member who died) seems like too much of an obvious creep and therefore the dilemma too easy.

I'm also not *entirely* sure how the actions taken against Crusher and the others works. I get taking away their credits for the year and forcing them to noy advance with their class but at the same time wouldn't their next year at the academy but rather easy? Academically, that is.

LOL maybe; but presumably the professors would make enough changes and/or the specific courses would be different enough that it would still be challenging.

It could have been distracting but I kind of wish Lefler had talked with Wesley, follow-up with their friendship from a few episodes before.

 

[Ghrakh]

It was good to see Wesley having some flaws and in conflict with Picard but ...

Here we have Lacarno and by a lesser extent the other members of the squadron willing to throw a deceased friend under the bus in order to save their own careers.

I thought this was a little too blatant, it made Locarno (talking about friendship and loyalty but placing the blame on the member who died) seems like too much of an obvious creep and therefore the dilemma too easy.

Maybe, however at the end:

WESLEY: They should've expelled all of us.

PICARD: They almost did. But... Mister Locarno made an impassioned plea for the rest of you. He said he used his influence as squadron leader to convince you all to try the Kolvoord maneuver and then to cover up the truth. He asked to take full responsibility.

 

[Memory Alpha]

I'm mixed on this one. It is a slow, steady build-up to a big Picard LECTURE that you literally see coming from the opening credits. Wesley's vague agitation and angst are a nice touch, though, and a nice lead-up to "Journey's End," even though I think the Traveler's voyeuristic interest in Wesley is really odd.

I always thought that IF they had pulled off their little stunt, they'd have been slapped on the fingers and given a LECTURE by Picard or someone else. But what would have happened? It's a good question. Satelk has the whole thing figured out, but he strangely doesn't press it. Neither does Brand. And considering that someone got killed, I rather think Locarno and Co. got off lightly.

An interesting angle would have been if they had pulled it off and gotten caught.

 

[MacLeod]

Certainly there seems to be an indication that Command expects it's officers to be truthful.

Lets look at examples where officers have been less than truthful when it comes to command

Paris eventually came clean about his causing the shuttle accident.

Kirk in (STID) omitted details in a report or to put it another way engaged in a lie of omission.

You could perhaps infer from dialouge etc.. that it was the lie as muuch as anything that resulted in consequences.

WHo knows had Paris held his hand up at the inquiry that was no doubt held into the shuttle accident he might not have been kicked out of Starfleet.

 

[jimbotron]

"Paris", haha. Yes, let's dispense with the pretense that it's two different characters, wink wink.

 

[Makarov]

Yeah I choose to believe they are the same character, just that he changed his name to distance himself from the events in the episode. It's like the exact same character and just makes more sense if they are the same dude.

I'm surprised at the mixed reactions because I thought this one was a fan favorite. It's definitely up there for me and I can probably quote Picard's lecture out of memory.

I thought Picard's final words to Wesley in this ep were a little bit harsh... like "you've got rough times ahead. Seeya." How about a "good luck" or a "take care."

 

[BillJ]

Yeah I choose to believe they are the same character, just that he changed his name to distance himself from the events in the episode. It's like the exact same character and just makes more sense if they are the same dude.

His father being "Admiral Paris" likely shoots a small hole in that theory.

 

[Timo]

just that he changed his name to distance himself from the events in the episode

Yeah, vice versa, supposedly, as in VOY his dad really is named Owen Paris, and there's no reason for him to change his name.

It would be pretty natural for Tom to adopt a nom de guerre at Starfleet Academy if his father were this famous Admiral who wanted Tom to continue the family tradition. "I'm doing it, yes, but not for you, dad!"

It's less clear why he would describe his moment of shame to Kim inconsistently with what we saw here. Why say that three officers died due to a piloting error by Tom (Nick)? Perhaps the story just sounds better with added guilt?

Timo Saloniemi