FULL DISCUSSION - Star Trek TNG S3E11 - The Hunted

Definitely a commentary on dealing with soldiers coming home. Vietnam was still in memory of the writer, etc. (before Gulf War I). Notice the stressing of "we had a vote, and the people didn't want them anymore."

Agreed. Mid tier episode, not bad with a good message about treatment of veterans, but with a clunky execution and waaay too long on the 'escape' sequence.

while this may not be the favorite episode of anyone (btw, my favorite is coming soon) it always touches me deeply - as a peacenik hippie in the 70's, who marched against the war in Vietnam, i had mixed feeling about the people who served there - later i became close to a former green beret Lt. who, while physically unharmed, was terribly wounded by, as he said, "all the killling" - the message in this episode speaks volumes on behalf of those who serve - to all veterans i say Welcome Home.

I am elder than all Star Trek episodes from this point onwards (dob 04/01/1990). XD

This one and the next get mixed up in my recollections, there are some thematic similarities and mullets.

It's interesting and a lot of fun watching along with you guys. I saw the entire series as a kid in its first run, but honestly never really went back to watch it after that initial viewing. Many of these episodes I don't even remember, so it's cool seeing them again for the 'first' time. ETA: Oh, I remember this episode. It was actually one of my favorites as a kid, and I still enjoyed it watching it 30yrs or whatever later. As an adult, perhaps a bit less. I do still like the main character and the basic idea that the race developed super soldiers then didn't know what to do with them after a war.

Honestly, I'm really glad that your opinion disagrees with the fan consensus, and with mine, sometimes. Far more interesting that way, and more fun to watch than reactors who seem to just like everything. I still think I'd describe this episode as "solid", though I can also see the fairness of your criticisms. I guess the thing for me is that I really enjoy the drawn out chase through the ship; I find it really fun to see so many different locations on the Enterprise, and to watch the crew try to keep up with him.

These deep dive discussions are the best part of your channel IMHO! Thank you! 😊

That was nice to for a lame episode, this is still a lot better than most of what you saw in season 1 or 2

But if this was a Season 1 or 2 episode, how would you have felt about it?

It was a bit hard to believe no one reacted by firing back, after he shot the wall beside/behind the PM….imagine if that was the President IRL

Loved how the space suit was a thing set of coveralls in a plastic bag, like something from amazon

Don't worry guys. The six or so bangers we talked about are still waiting for you.

That tube corridor is the same set as the corridor that Scotty walks down and hits his head in Star Trek 5

The metaphor is PTSD, their programming and augmentation is like veterans who fought and killed in war trying to fit back into normal society.

Great reaction as always guys. This one I pretty much agree 100% with your take.

Your comment about the cell in the brig looking like Star Wars I found apt. TNG mostly has its own design aesthetic which isn't the same as, but sometimes overlaps with, another design aesthetic from the 70s and 80s called Cassette Futurism or NASA-punk. It's much more prevalent in the set designs in the Star Wars movies and shows outside the prequels, as well as movies like Alien, and TV shows like the original Battlestar Galactica. TNG's general aesthetic was pretty unique to that show. Because they designed their own idea of futuristic technologies instead of primarily using off-the-shelf 80s-era tech like keyboards and CRT TVs everywhere on the sets, I feel the show has aged more timelessly (especially when getting to watch it in HD) than other sci-fi shows from the 80s and 90s. Some of the overlaps though might be the general gray and beige tones of interiors, the peculiar shape and orange hue of the larger doors (like the ones used on the holodecks and cargo bays), etc.

Like I said in the patron takes thread (I wish you addressed it) this episode has action and danger, which is a change of pace for TNG. That it is a change of pace is good enough. TNG rarely has any sort of physical nonsense on the shows, this was a different and welcome vibe, although the fight scenes could have been better.

The writing on this episode is just weak. You can clearly tell it's not written by someone very knowledgeable about TNG. It's basically First Blood so it's not very original, the stuff with the transporter is odd and just kind of breaks how the transporter works...best to never think about that scene ever again, just erase it from your brain...and while yeah I get he's a "super soldier" he makes the enterprise look like a bunch of chumps which is never a GOOD thing, you don't want your meh guest making the flagship of the federation look like a bunch of incapable idiots. The more I think about this episode the more I dislike it :)

I always notice the styrofoam texture of the stuff that falls on Worf.

James Cromwell was Stretch Cunningham on All In The Family.

I agree with you 100% this is an ok episode.

The shot of Worf casually strolling toward Engineering while Geordi is getting his ass kicked always makes me shake my head, then laugh. In that order.

Honestly I'm fine with breaking out of a transporter beam as a twist, but give us some sort of explanation that makes some sort of sense. Like they're about to energize and suddenly he punches a light fixture and electrocutes himself to disrupt the beam, SOMETHING.

Yeah, I watched the entire episode to give an accurate take... and then watched it again to get the reaction... I doubt I'll ever watch it again.

Yeah this one is alright. It's mildly interesting, but not mind blowing or particularly profound. It's not boring. It IS rewatchable—give it a few years.

I’ve never been excited about this one, but I definitely enjoy it more than you guys did. I guess I liked the war allegory and like Picard’s great decision at the end.

So, what we're getting at here is this is absolutely not in the top 6 of the season.

5:38 Alex has got it!!

Yeah, mediocre is the perfect description for this episode. This is, in fact, the first time I’ve watched it since it originally aired. All I remembered was how unmemorable it was.

Its also a difference between the time era, we used to refer to paper blueprints that we'd bought mail order or at a convention to see what "section of whatever section" that Danar was fighting his way through.

Working on a model, watch in a bit.