UNCUT - Ensign Ro (TNG S5E3) | Star Trek Journey 210
Comments (88)
Another reason i love it is the Cardassians are my joint favourite alien with Romulans.
Ro is one of my favourite characters, i love her almost as much the Chief. For me this is a high A.
Don't know if someone already mentioned it but this episode has a pretty egregious continuity error. When they beam down to the planet Ro has a jacket with a com badge on it. She bends down and takes the jacket off to put around a child and suddenly her com badge is on her shirt. I can't not see it every time.
Maybe she moved it while the camera wasn't looking. 😀
Romulans were Cold War Chinese, Klingons were Cold War Russians in TOS.
The Cardassians in The Wounded were somewhat sympathetic. Yes we heard about war crimes, but in the context of mistakes their own people were ashamed of, and of course Maxwell murdered close to(if not over depending how big the station he destroyed was) 1000 of them. Here however, the gloves are off. The Cardassians are very much veering into space nazis at this point. It's actually refreshing to have genuine bad guys in Trek, as opposed to techno zombies like the Borg, or Klingons or Romulans or Gorn who we always end up finding common ground with. Invading and occupying the Bajoran homeworld and torturing people to death in front of their children, that some genuine evil. Sure the Klingons conquered Krios, but that situation seemed tame by comparison. The Bajorans weren't inspired by any particular group, but Jews in the 40s, Kurds, Palestinians, and Haitians were cited as inspiration. The Bajoran situation IMO reveals a certain moral cowardice in the federation. The Cardassians, seemingly unprovoked, invaded a neutral planet, annexed it, forced the native people into exile, and brutally mistreated everyone who remained. And what does the federation do? Nothing. Now I get that they just got out of a war with the Cardassians, but they apply no sanctions or offer any condemnation of their treatment of the Bajorans, and if anything they seem to go out of their way to appease the Cardassians(makes Maxwell a lot more sympathetic). IMO it's akin to having a neighbor who beats their wife/gf every night and won't let them leave the house, and you not only turn a blind eye to that situation, you invite said neighbor over for a BBQ and chat about the football game. Picard seems to understand the problem but until the end of the episode he was willing to be a team player regardless. We've had some great prime directive episodes that do a good job spelling out why non interference in developing societies is a good policy. But in a case like this it just comes across as an excuse to turn a blind eye to horrible atrocities. Granted, that too is something all too common in human history.
The Cardassians in The Wounded weren't doing scientific research they were running guns and getting ready for invasion. Maxwell was a hero 👏 🙌 ❤️
So looking at memory alpha, this episode was indeed designed to introduce an "edgier" character, and they loved her performance from "Half a Life". Also originally it was going to be the romulans, but they felt they had overused the romulans and remembered the episode "The Wounded" and decided to make the occupier the Cardassians. Since the plot was originally romulan, it went a great way in establishing, with "The Wounded" the Cardassians as both an incredibly sneaky but more imperia, totalitarian people. I really like this episode but without getting into spoliers, it established things that become hugely important on DS9.
I think also, reviving the Cardassians as more then just a one off race, adding a new malevalent power to the region other then the Romulans, was a great move. In Tos, the Romulans were the honorable ones, and the Klingons were the sneaky ones. They sort of reversed roles in TNG.
1:02…..ummm Nexus? How umm….
Why aren't we calling out Geordi for not being very nice like we are with Riker? He's just as bad. At least the ladies were willing to befriend her. But then again, she WAS court-martialed and convicted after an incident in which many think she's to blame for several officers being killed. Interesting they didn't give us any details, really.
How was he not nice?
Ahh Ensign Ro --- another great example of how star trek is at is best when commenting on the social issues of the day, and not preaching, but making you think for yourselves
Do you guys ever notice how much Guinan co-opts what "should" be Troi's role and lines? Certainly having Whoopi there was interesting but honestly her guidance and intuition should go to Marina's character imo.
I agree
Unpopular opinion. I love dick Riker. Whenever he starts shouting, staring, glaring, or getting inappropriately close, I'm just like - ".... take me." I'd be that problem officer giving his negative behavior all the positive reinforcement that undoes the mandatory HR training Troi undoubtedly assigns him on a weekly basis.
Ro!!!
Full stop. Bitchy old man here. "Out of pocket" means that you are not available. You can't just take a saying that means that and turn it into "going crazy" FFS.
My sister and I lament the fact that our language is being destroyed. It has become an ongoing battle to decipher the latest abbreviation, acronym, emoticon or new use of a word or phrase. So sad and annoying.
The Cardassian look like Warren Jeffs.
The guy who played the Cardassian Gul was a regular on Dr Quinn: Medicin Woman. He played Horace, the telegraph operator.
So another "Suddenly Human" call back.
FWIW, in the original conception the Klingons were the cold war Russians and the Romulans were the somewhat enigmatic Chinese, less dominant than the two main powers and with a history of tangling with the US / Federation. By TNG the Chinese were resurgent and booming, so the Romulans also got an upgrade. The Soviet Union was showing signs of turmoil, as did the Klingon empire.
We know what the Cardis are a stand in for.
I've just 'done the math', and if I'm not mistaken... at two a week, there's only 6 years and 46 weeks to go until you finish every released or announced bit of Trek! Well... at least you won't run out of content any time soon! And by then you'll have a bunch more of an existing series, at least a few seasons of an upcoming show, and maybe some other upcoming bits. Here's to another 8+ years of the good times!
I am sure there will be three a week. From when? Positively some time in 2025.
It wasn't just about Ro's attitude and whether she was going to help or betray us. It was about her own internal turmoil and even despising herself, relishing the scorn of others, as it seemed to validate her own deeply rooted feelings of guilt and self-loathing. Guinan seeing the jewel hidden within the mud and muck of Ro's emotions and vouching for her to Picard was a powerful turn.
🔼 🔼 🔼 🔼 🔼
Josh: "30 years ago, it's the same arguments people are having today." Yep, welcome to season 5.
I give it a good solid B+ for all the reasons you said. One thing that held it back for me was the goofy admiral seemed so charicatured, but he was a minor enough character that I could forgive it.
When I heard "back in 2010 when we were in high school", my age hit me like Alex jumping off the ropes.
Eek! I could’ve been their teacher!
More we can't figure out Riker so lets just make him a jerk to someone instead.
And he's also very protective of the Enterprise, and know it's a very special ship to be on. Plus Riker seems to be somewhat responsible for discipline on the ship.
I never put together that Guinan connected with Ro because they're both refugees. I was always kinda meh on their interaction, this is the first time I heard that line about - "People like us who've lost their home...." Makes so much more sense that she'd want to connect with/look our for her/ etc
Would’ve loved an added line where Guinan says her people were wiped out by the Borg, and Ro confusedly says “never heard of them”. It would really drive home that as crazy as the Federation has been about the Borg, in Ro’s corner of the galaxy they’ve had other priorities.
Scotty got to wear a kilt, but only with his dress uniform. I guess he wouldn’t want to be crawling up a Jefferies tube in one of those.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjF4hFmyfdg
Bajor and the Bajorins gets much more fleshed out going forward in this and DS9 which it would be an absolute crime if you guys didnt watch by the way. Also, it wasn't portrayed that way this time, but the earrings are linked to the Bajorin's religion and family name similar to Worf's sash. Those aspects of it likely were not established in the writers room lore just yet, but in retrospect it seems funny that Star Fleet would disallow an officer to wear a religious artifact.
Don't worry, they said they'd do it. In release order too. So they'll find out all that Lore at the proper time, too
Glad you liked this, Ro was instantly a favourite of mine, I was in a Trek group that met IRL and went to conventions etc. Bajoran earrings really became a thing, with creative small businesses popping up selling them as well as replica com badges, Vulcan pendants and so on. I even got a piercing to have one stay in place. Unfortunately it got infected and that phase was over real quick.
It's your unofficial intro to Deepspace 9
DS9 episode 0
My God, Ro Laren's speech about her father is bone-chilling no matter how many times I listen to it. Excellent performance by Michelle Forbes of a truly disturbing story.
Agreed. I get choked up every time. Michelle Forbes is an underrated actress, IMO.
I know we joke about how bad the admirals are. And they even read my take about it. But how did someone THIS DUMB make it to Admiral?
Failing upward survived to the 24th century
The BEST "You're Welcome!" GUINAN-esk mic drop by Josh. 👏👏👏💗💗💗🎄🎄🎄
Really like this episode; I just can't get enough of Picard outsmarting people and saving the day. And Michelle Forbes is a great actor who really brings the character of Ro Laren to life with her performance. I particularly noticed on this watch how she has this very nervous/insecure body language that really adds another layer to the character for me. And the speech she gives about her father while the camera slowly zooms in on her face is excellent. My only real complaint is that I do think the earring was a bigger deal than it should have been. It just made Riker seem inordinately harsh for making Ro take it off.
Nah it wasn't harsh.
The Romulans are Space Chi-Coms. The Klingons were basically Space Russians in TOS, but relations had thawed by TNG, so now they’re just a Proud Warrior Race. The Cardassians are Space Nazis.
And the Bajorans are their Space Jews?
Once again... I am impressed with how much the guys predicted about the future of the episode during the episode!
Cardassians are basically space Nazis
Well, ... yes
#rikerisadick #youregoingtolovedeepspacenine
Yeah and thiss episode is definitely a table setter
not allowed to wear a earing but worf allowed his sash
Eh, Worf was only discommendated by his whole race. Ro had just gotten out of prison for being a bad Starfleet officer. No accoutrements for her. At least not until she proves she can actually wear just the uniform.
Love this episode but in retrospect the crew runs her a bit hard in the beginning. Riker and Geordi come off like arseholes.
Geordie always talks real tough for being kinda a wuss…
Ensign Ro breaks the streak on 80’s/90’s TV of annoying late additions on a show.
Great episode and great character
Hey, Josh caught the term 'Badmiral'. And Alex made another prediction which almost came true. Of course I don't say which one.
Ro Laren is "Tasha Yar 2.0." An improvement and refinement in every way.
That's an interesting way of putting it. I don't think I'd ever really considered her that way.
Big episode for lore building / deepening while also being a good standalone episode.
High School in 2010... I'd graduated by then. WTF have I been doing with my life? As I said in the takes, I think the allowance to add extra pieces to one's uniform is something that is earned in Starfleet. When Ro came on the Enterprise at the start, she was just out of prison, dishonored, and responsible for 8 deaths. At that point she had to prove she could still be a Starfleet officer before she could also be allowed to bring other aspects of her character into her daily representation. Prove you can be a good Starfleet officer as a baseline so you can earn the right to even wear the uniform, then you can also be a Bajoran starfleet officer.
Hey, hey, hey,… You say you like a character with attitude. But you detest Dr. Pulaski. All because Pulaski insulted Data. Sorry to go down that corridor again, but you made me do it. Edit: you knew somebody had to say it.
It must be because Pulaski is a woman! Which is why we also hate Ro… oh wait.
Btw, gotta say, the writing is so good because its “show dont tell”. Yes, there has to be some exposition in certain scenes for things were not aware of. But overall on this show, they do a fantastic job of the show. Don’t tell philosophy in writing. I think that’s why modern writing today in general is so bad. Is because they do not treat their audienceintelligently at all. They think we’re stupid, and have to tell you every single little thing about each scene and what each character is thinking, instead of using silence and performances to convey that. I think modern writing and storytelling has completely lost that.
Because most people watching are of average intelligence and half of them are stupid—less than average intelligence. It's very common for entertainment to be written with the least-common denominator in mind. There truly are not many "think about it" television shows out there.
I think this is the only time Ro's people were ever referred to as the Bajora. From here on out they are referred to as Bajoran or Bajorans. It looks like they were not sure what term to use in this episode.
That confused me as well, however this time watching I think the idea is the Bajora is the specific name of that terrorist cell. If that's the case, they didn't do anything to help with the confusion by choosing that name lol
Before Picard can treat her like a daughter, Riker's already on Ro like she's his snot-nosed kid sister. Wish there'd been a scene at the end where she shows Riker the earring. Cope and seethe, baby. Dad likes me better.
I gotta say, now watching the show again, I wish Riker would have been written a little more 3 dimensionally. Picard is dismayed, but measured. Riker just glares with disdain, and is grumpy and practically hostile. At this point in the show, Riker should have been written as Picard’s protege, learning to be more thoughtful and versatile. He could still be Kirk-like in his jovial fun way, but has been written as one dimensional, almost antagonistic towards characters on the show.
That Cardassian's prosthetic looked crooked. Looks like the makeup guy was in a bit of a rush.
I figure it was a one scene viewscreen confrontation. They weren't putting him in a chair for hours just for that. Probably used leftovers from "The Wounded." And if it's true plans were for the Romulans to be the oppressors, depending on how late that change was made, maybe it was a rush job?
Riker's so mad in this episode. Must have just seen Josh's Darmok rating beforehand.
It's an S tier for me for a lot of reasons.
That is Mr. Mot the Bolian barber.
*Mott
I didn't go to the gym.
🤬
The world building in this episode is excellent, the Bajorans and their history with Cardassians, Ensign Ro herself are all compelling additions to the show. Genuinely a very very strong episode for me. Michelle Forbes is great too :)
Welcome back, Michelle Forbes.
So say we all
Let’s gooooooo! One of my personal favorites