PATRON TIER LIST TNG S5E7

you must admit this is quite a palate cleanser after the last episode

I wish this had been a surprise but the advertising spoiled that. I was eager to watch it. Sarah, Spock… what more can you say. S

Two of my favorite moments are when the Klingon Captain tells Data a Romulan woman will lick the paint off of his ears, And when Piccard tells Data, he’s moving about in a very android way Oh yeah, and there was this really old Vulcan guy who showed up at the end

I mean look, this is master-class ST goodness. I mean SPOOOCK! And Sarek and Picard are amazing together. But honestly, TNG in this period did more to build ST canon than anything before or after really. The way they turned the Ferengi, Cardassians, Romulans, Klingons, and even Federation into such amazingly fleshed out groups, all with their own believable goals and actions added so much depth and investment into the whole franchise for me. AND we got to see something like a Federation ship boneyard, and I love little bits of world-building like that. S-Tier.

Could hardly recognize Data as a romulan. Picard still looked like picard as a romulan.

I think we’re all looking forward to what promises to be an explosive reaction to Spock’s picture in the teaser! Sadly for us that saw this in 1991, it was advertised all over the place (TV Guide, billboards, a week-worth of episode teasers) so we were spoiled. Thoroughly enjoy this episode. The idea of Spock being on Romulus is compelling. A good example of why Data would make a terrible bunk mate. Love the guest characters. Shout out to Steven Root from Office Space fame (red stapler) as K’vada and of course to Malachi Throne (Commodore Mendez from Menagerie) as Pardek. It was sad to see Sarek in his diminished state, and his death marks the first time we lost a major TOS character.

The Next Generation had already paved its own path by then, but having Spock on the show really legitimized the series and removed all doubt that this was Star Trek. “Unification” came to also mean the bringing together of fans of The Original Series with those of The Next Generation!

In November 1991, I worked at a restaurant/sports bar called Bennigan’s in Houston. Normally reserved for sports, their big screens were all tuned in on this particular night to Star Trek: The Next Generation. When the words, “Indeed? You have found him, Captain Picard.” were uttered and Spock appeared, there was CHEERING from all over the restaurant!! What a moment in time. That memory is indelibly imprinted on my soul! 🖖

Best ever use of “computer, enhance”.

I liked this episode. Seeing Spock again was awesome and unexpected, but overall, the story was just an A for me. It didn't really hit that specialness that I was hoping for. Still a good episode, and the Klingons razzing Picard and Data was hilarious, but it could have just been a little...more. Not bad in any regard, just missing that...spark.

If your mics peak when Spock comes on screen, then you’re definitively Trek fans for sure. Great intrigue and setup for this episode, easy S.

In the first season there were a few references to TOS that felt unearned, today one could call them member berries. When Sarek was in the show they were pretty careful not to constantly reference anything from TOS, treating the character mostly like any other guest star. By now TNG is established enough that having the possibly most iconic Star Trek character of all time in the show feels special yet not desperate.

Was it a surprise? I hope it was a surprise! Two or three surprises hopefully!

I read somewhere, I'm not sure it's correct. Even though they posted an in memory announcement for Gene Rodenbery on part 1 and 2. He actually passed when they were filming episode 11.

"Indeed, you have found him, Captain Picard." A somewhat eerie timing of the original airing of this episode in that it occurred just after Gene Roddenberry had passed away. Circle of life in a way for Leonard Nimoy as Spock, who had been the only remaining cast member to make it into the original series from Roddenberry's very first Star Trek pilot, The Cage; also, Malachi Throne (Pardek), who provided the original voice of the Keeper in that pilot and later played Commodore Mendez in The Menagerie, the TOS 2-parter that featured most of The Cage. You can still hear his voice as the Keeper in the remastered Cage in the couple of scenes from the Cage that were not in The Menagerie.

This episode has a bonafide Go-ron in it. 🤦

I think this episode is pretty good. As "A" as it gets.

I wonder which you two will react to stronger: the appearance of Spock, or a mid-season two-parter.

R.I.P. Sarek

Ah yes, the episode with the eel pick up line (a 14 foot eel proving that size does in fact matter)! Picard and Data go undercover - Riker doesn't probably because he would hookup with a female Romulan and compromise the mission. A great hook, superb guest performances including another TOS crossover. What's not to love about it? I rated it S tier.

Hard to separate how much is the effect but fan service and how much is the fact that it's a very good episode. Still very good episode. Between a S and A. I went S.

what can i saw about seven, Great Episode, Sarek, Romulans, Spock what more do you need its for sure an S tier.

Absolutely great episode. A lot of wonderful little things that get touched on -- Sarek, the Klingon representative for Gowron, the teasing of Spock, Data watching Picard sleep.

My 3rd wife was somehow a bigger TREK fan than I was, at least the "newer" series, she hated TOS. She would come home from work and binge watch TNG, though I introduced her to DS9, VOY and ENT, which she worked into her binging rotation. I lost count of how many time we'd decide which series to watch next. So, our 9 years together, plus any binge watching I did (my original VHS purchases of full price movies were Star Trek 2 and 3 in the gold sleeve, in early 80s) ... I probably have seen Unification 1 and 2 dozens of times ... The hype of the guest stars returning has worn down for them. They are good episodes, but not great. However, since the guys will be seeing these for the first time, I predict solid S votes from both, for both episodes.

I would say this episode is why people shouldn't watch TNG before TOS, as it dulls the stakes of movies 2 & 3. But you guys were more ambivelant on 2 anyways.

Biggest opening hook pop since "Yesterday's Enterprise" - gotta be. Bigger hook pop *than* "Yesterday's Enterprise", though? Discuss...

Predict you will love this one. This was intended as a way to amp up excitement for the upcoming 6th movie.

So much to love in this episode: Spock, Sarek, Picard, Data, Romulans ...

I love the supply depot guy.

I remember watching Spock in TNG was a total shock for me. He seemed to come out of nowhere. With marketing, dubbing and all that Star Trek VI arrived much later to Central Europe, so I didn't experience the hype for the original crew at the time yet.

Perfect S - not a Spock episode to me, but more a Sarek episode - concluding his fatherhood themes started back in "Journey to Babel", continued in "Yesteryear" and the movies, concluding so powerfully in "Sarek" and here. And what a hook... How do you guys feel about Sareks ending, and what are your predictions for Part 2? Is Spock defecting..?

This Episode is ok, but is mainly putting things in place for part 2, so is really acts 1-1.5 of story so really isn't much of an episode in of itself, so really only a B for me. Mark Leonard as Sarek for his scene is amazing though.

Everyone's gonna want to talk about Sarek and Spock. But let's throw some respect behind this episode's real hero: the guy running the depot who's honest enough to say, "I'll help you, but only because I'm lonely and Troi is hot".

IIRC you both expressed concern in the discussion for Sarek that he would be brought back just to kill off, which unfortunately ended up being the case. Malachi Throne (Pardek) is another TOS connection as he had previously played Commodore Mendez in The Menagerie, and also voice one of the Talosians. I have a question. Outside of Star Trek 6, did either of you ever expect to see Leonard Nimoy play Spock again?

S tier. It seems like important thing are happening, because that's the plot

The hook! S for Spock, S for Sarek, S for Superior episode, S for Star Trek Super two parter !

I hope no one spoils or has spoiled Spock for you. Looking forward to the holy shit reaction.

Surprise! You thought you had to wait till "6" to see OGs again. But RIP to the GOAT. I predict this will be quite a rollercoaster of an episode for you. Spock is BACK. The Romulan homeworld. Crew dress up. Data being, well, Data. But they did exactly what Josh feared was gonna happen in "Sarek."

We begin with a memorial to Gene Roddenberry. And has Spock turned into a traitor? He's around, but where is he and what's he up to? And sadly, Sarek dies without once again making peace with his son. It's fun to see Picard and Data made up with detachable Romulan parts. Mark Lenard's last scenes are heartbreaking. Another Season 5 “Best of the Best” for me.

Sarek absolutely steals this episode for me. Mark Lenard’s performance in his one and only scene is a master class. Honorable mentions- pixelated Spock hook, creepy watch-you-while-you-sleep Data, and Spock’s closing line giving all the chills.

Picard helping his "old friend" make the salute one last time...heartbreaking. RIP Sarek of Vulcan - and Mark Lenard. The GOAT of all GOATS.

Now that’s a hook!

There is a lot of scenes I love in this one, the Sarek one, the scenes on the Bird of Prey, but Romulus looks a little dreary in comparison to the Klingon home world. The very definition of set up but it does hold my interest.

Worf: 'I serve the Federation, but I am still a Klingon' Ro: 'I serve the Federation, but I'm still a Bajoran' Spock: 'I serve the Federation, but I'm still a Vulcan' Whose 'conflicting culture' character moments are best?

I'm the odd one out on this one. I don't care for either pt 1 or pt 2 of unification. I know people love it because of the cameos, but to me the overall plot doesn't make a lot of sense and is disappointing. I wanted a meatier story of what was going on with the Romulans and Spock, and it was always sad to me that Spock and Sarek didn't resolve their differences before his death. Love TNG cast and they get some fun moments but it's not enough to raise this above a B for me.

I think you guys will like this one. When I watched this the first time, I didn’t really know about TOS and had not seen Sarek. So a lot of this went over my head. I probably would have rated it a B at the time.

That Data scene with Picard trying to sleep is S tier on its own.

MOTHERFUCKING SPOCK

I really hope you were 100% unspoiled for this

It's hard to top the vibes of seeing Mr. Spock show up on TNG.

Y'all are gonna freak out/geek out for this episode and Part II, because there's really nothing as synonymous with Star Trek as Mr. Spock. Also, some Sarek sprinkled in, some sadness, a mystery to investigate, the Romulans.... I mean, there's really nothing to dislike about this episode or the next one.

Nearly perfect S episode and it’s all just setup to get us to the last scene. Worf requesting Klingon opera is priceless as is Amarie’s response: “I don’t get a lot of requests for Klingon opera”. I loved Riker joining her on the keys. Always love when Frakes gets to bring some of his real-life musician personality to Riker.

He actually played Doctor Spock in the original program too

Easy S. Heartbreaking performance by a returning guest star. The Klingon captain is also the red stapler guy from "Office Space."

The "ENHANCE!" trope might bring you from the biggest flip from an eye roll to pop off ever. This two-parter is so hot it's kind of wild in retrospect they didn't make this a season finale/premiere. Man that last Sarek scene hits really hard for anyone who has dealt with a dying family member with their moments of lucidity. I never thought they could hit that note effectively again after "Sarek".

Can't wait to see your reaction to this one. Also it's a great lead in to star trek 6. Yes Sarek dies. I seem to recall Mark Leonard passing away not too long after this aired.

Sarek, Spock and Romulans oh my!!

My prediction: biggest pop of the season. He may have been name-dropped at the beginning of the episode, but seeing the GOAT’s son for the first time since Star Trek 5 is really gonna send you.

Pardek was Malachi Throne, who played Commodore Mendez in “The Menagerie” and also provided the voice of the principal Talosian.

Josh: I hope they don’t bring back Sarek to kill him off…… 👀

What an episode to end the year on! Thats what I call good timing!. Even though I think you guys watch episode 8 and 9 right after this one. But still.

Surprise!

As we've been seeing, this show has started to not be afraid of going a bit dark and depressing. The last appearance of Sarek is heartbreaking, and I'm sure it must hit very hard for someone who has lost a parent in this way.

This has the potential to be the biggest 'pop' in history. 🤯🤯

So i'm happy we get to see one last gasp of Sarek, he really delivers on these scenes of an old man with the Vulcan equivalent of dementia. The quick anger, the other emotions that fire through... similar to real dementia. It's crazy to see him affected so. And Spock is back! Also what do you think that soup on Romulus tasted of? Similar to plomeeK?

Only criticism maybe you could have for this is they save Spock for that very last scene, but what comes before it is good enough that it works fine.

So great you guys don't get know anything about these. It's understandable back in the day that they wanted to promote these episodes and "spoil" guest stars, but it must be interesting going in completely blind. But since they did it right away in the opening scene it wouldn't spoil much, really.

Let's all take a second to pour one out for our boy, the GOAT, Sarek. IMO, this is Mark Lenard's best performance of the character. We see all those defenses broken down that we saw during his mindmeld with Picard, but now performed by the man himself.

S rank for Brent Spiner comedic performance with Picard, the way he slowly turns his body without moving his head, amazing

Good not great episode, but seeing The GOAT be himself is always amazing and I do predict this will an S-tier "lose your shit" reaction moment

You will lose your minds!