PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG - S3E18

Evidence that Riker is a great first officer: when he meets with the senior staff in his quarters to discuss Fake Picard's strange behavior, and Worf mentions mutiny, Riker raises his voice and slaps him down hard. Riker is always more stern with Worf than with anyone else under his command, because he knows that's the most respectful way to treat a Klingon.

This is my platonic ideal of a TNG episode. Great mystery with a sci fi twist that utilizes its premise to explore the characters. Not to mention both plot lines are actually of equal value for once! hooray!

Second appearance of a Bolian after Capt. Rixx in "Conspiracy". The race was named after prolific TNG director Cliff Bole.

Before this episode, were you aware that you needed to hear Patrick Stewart singing British age of sail diddies over a pint?

Fun episode, but not very memorable.

Not sure how you'll like this one. You're ahead of the crew the entire time on the ship, but you're fully into the mystery during the prison scenes. I guess you'll like at least half of it?

The "cadet" is from Bolius 9. Bolians of course named in honor of your main man, Cliff Bole.

Fun fact: the abducting aliens in this episode were played by twins Jerry and Jeff Rector to ensure they looked identical, as they claimed.

Great chance for Patrick Stewart (and Gates McFadden) to show off their acting jobs. Plot is a bit middling, but then we get Picard rizzing up Beverly and singing 'Heart of Oak' (a traditional Royal Navy tune). Which did you guys prefer - imprisoned sleuthing Picard, or the riz-lord drinking-song Picard..? 🖖

Cheer up my lads.

I love that the crew’s tipoff that Picard is an impostor was how personable and charming he was. “Surely our captain couldn’t be such a swell guy.”

Those aliens could be Instagram influences for glute building workouts. I'll see myself out.

So fake Picard is in most ways "just" a copy of real Picard, with all the memories and knowledge of real Picard...but kinda controlled by the alien captures. But the things he did seemed like they were motivated by real Picard desires/drives...Beverly for sure...probably singing with everyone...heck maybe real Picard has even wondered "if I told them to get really close to a pulsar, would they?"

Always weird to me how Picard wakes up the Ensign (who is actually one of the capturing aliens) by grabbing her throat. Lol?

I'm a big fan of the 'Picard in prison' half of the show. The other half doesn't work for me. It would have been better if the whole episode was that side, and we only find out when he returns that there had been a copy on board the Enterprise. Or even that there wasn't a copy, and they had been search for Picard the whole time.

I honestly love the fake Picard. Id watch a miniseries about him commanding a Starship

Another average episode with some great out of character acting. And continuity, referencing the Mintakans from "Who Watches the Watchers" as well. Oh yeah, and some wild alien designs you'll love.

Just a fun average episode, but still a sign of the massive increase in overall quality of the show. Even the episodes that don't really have much to say are still engaging with fun character moments and good dialog.

Fake Picard singing for the crew is a memorable bit. And I always kinda liked the ending. But otherwise a mediocre showing.

This is a classic Star Trek by the number episode. Characters put into a test, check. This test is by an advanced alien species that doesn't understand a specific humanoid characteristic, check. It's like the Savage Curtain without all of the killing.

This is a dip in quality after four good-to-great episodes. This episode has moments, like Picard's sea shanty and date with Beverly, but overall, I find this episode forgettable. Worth the watch, but a rewatch is optional.

I kind of forgot this one existed 🤣

This is one of those episodes that was a lot better than it had any right to be but was still just sorta there. Patrick Stewart was definitely having fun in this episode, which was awesome to see, and this is one of the first times (there have been a few, but not many so far) where he can truly shine as an actor. Love this episode even though the B plot (A plot?) in the prison could have been better.

McFadden absolutely kills this. Her facial expressions, her discomfort, everything. If you have even a minor crush on Beverly, it will go up tenfold here.

This is a great character episode, that once again hinges on Patrick Stewart's acting abilities. Lots of good scenes between the rest of the Enterprise crew, and Picard is at his best, trying to escape from his mysterious prison and also being just a little (or a lot) "off." I think y'all are gonna love it.

Meh. I liked the scenes in the cell with the real Picard more than nutty fake Picard on the Enterprise, at least the cell story had a mystery to solve but it wasn't a very interesting episode.

You know how we said the back half of season 3 was full of bangers? Well, this isn’t one of them. It’s not bad by any means, just run of the mill. But it does actually mark the first time we see Picard at the regular poker game with his senior officers, even if it is the fake Picard.

It's an episode of Star Trek.

Not necessarily one of my favorites, but did have some good moments. Like how Dr Crusher looked at Picard with a different perspective, even though she was seduced by Fake Picard 🤣🤣🤣

Great make up in this one, Patrick Stewart clearly having fun. Maybe a step down from last few but still a lot of fun

“What Beverly? You won’t sleep with me? Fine. I’ll find someone who will”(Slams door in her face) “Councilor Troi, report to the Captain’s quarters. On the double”

Another great season 3 episode with lots of tense scenes for Picard while fake Picard has a ball on the Enterprise. Patrick Stewart should have got a double salary for this one.