UNCUT - Conundrum (TNG S5E14) | Star Trek Journey 221

MacDuff was a macguffin.

I love how Riker and Ro's relationship has evolved since her debut episode. Even before they lose their memories, Riker is relatively gentle with her for her mild insubordination, almost pleading with her to put on a better team effort. Whereas before he would have coldly reprimanded her for not keeping to proper dress code.

I think this episode is pretty much a quintessential A tier episode. There's some action, some mystery, some tension, and a lot of fun character moments. There are some flaws and some plot holes, but nothing too serious, and it's not iconic enough to justify an S, but whenever I'm going through TNG, I do look forward to it. While it's obviously not what they were going for since they made it extremely obvious that MacDuff appeared out of nowhere(and also there was that devious smile after the failed memory recovery procedure), I think they could have made a twist out of it. We've seen other officers manning the tactical station before. Just make him a security division Lt. at one of the computer stations at the back who would just seem like some random officer doing a shift on the bridge like dozens we've seen before. However when they pull up the crew manifest, make him the deputy tactical officer or something like that, still subordinate to Worf. This would be pretty plausible for the viewer as he's not taking an established position like first officer. This would avoid raising concerns among the crew of the viewers, and don't even include him in the briefing. However when they start to close in on the Lysian station, he could start being more vocal that they need to attack and positioning himself as a tactical officer means he's near the weapon controls when the time comes. If they played it like this, I think it would do a much better job catching people off guard. Still, it's fun to see the crew trying to figure out who they are but still maintaining their core principles. Worf thinking he's the captain was especially fun. Also Picard sitting at the helm station was maybe a little callback to Booby Trap. As for Riker, he and Troi have both had their share of relationships so I don't see 1 more making much difference for them, but the question is will he and Ro act differently toward each other going forward now that they've cut through the sexual tension? Time will tell. Also the attention to detail behind the scenes on this show is amazing. In engineering Riker points past Geordi and says the engineering computer core is down that corridor. On the official blueprints, walking away from the warp core and past the engineering display table, if you walk down the corridor to the left, go around a few bends and take the first right, the computer core is right there, exactly where Riker was pointing. Unlike the computer cores in the saucer, there's only 1 in the stardrive section, with that space on the other side occupied by a ballast module. Only the most hardcore fans would ever realize this, but they included it anyway.

Without question, the most shocking bit of this reaction for me is now that someone pronounced “Dunleavy” right first time - you’d be amazed… 🤣🤣

On rewatching this now, its way more interesting than I remember it being from a few years ago. Its a lot of fun to see their base personalities bouncing off each other without the usual context! McDuff was ejected. Crewmates win!

When I was in high school I spent a good amount of time trying to win over this one girl but, ultimately, I had to move on. I had that same look on my face as Riker when I walked into the cafeteria one day and saw the next girl I had started to pursue sitting at a table talking to the first. I just turned and left.

the one thing that pissed me off was the chess scene. No Troi, thats not how chess works. Realistically no one would have any chance against Data in chess (even 3-d chess which has a rule set online and is much more complicated as its something like "quantum chess" where each piece has two moves where an interaction collapses them) My head canon onterpretation of "counselor, you have divised a unique unanticipated move" is that it was an illegal move, as thats the only was data could possibly loses at chess. I mean already the Neural Net chess engines are unbeatable by humans. We are to beleive that Troi could beat DATA at chess? No matter how good her "intuiton" Data can bruteforce it and she just can't win. This is the one part of the episode that really breaks suspension of disbelief for me.

Always good to have Ro in an episode and goo dot see you can wipe Riker’s memories but not his rizz

I personally thought the actor who played McDuff did a perfectly okay job. Out of curiosity I looked him up. He didn't have a huge career but did some different things. And unfortunately just died this past year. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Anderson

Ro should have assumed the captaincy as the most decisive personality.

So... What do you think Troi's side of the bet was? Did Data simply accept the challenge? Perhaps she would have to be his new partner for future dance lessons?

(So far) Riker's dick has been inside: - Beverly - Troi - Ro The only two named main characters that he hasn't been in are: - Pulaski - Yar

I think Alex would prefer almost every episode by a mystery. And you know what, I'd love that too lol. Hard to beat the thrill of trying to solve a problem. Especially if the writers are really clever. Nevertheless, I think A is where this episode lands for me too, so many good character moments in addition to great Picard scenes, yep. Awesome.

Well, Kirk would have an in depth debate with Spock and McCoy about the situation and come to the same conclusion about whether or not to fire.

Fun times, but you’d think that it would be easier to just steal a photon torpedo 😁

Conundrum baby! One of the best of S5!!! A great way for the writers having fun experimenting with the characters!

It think Kirk has Riker beat in the hook-ups department.

My headcanon is that the Chief was off duty in his quarters with Keiko when the energy beam hit, and they just Netflix and Chilled the whole episode.

I figured the reason for MacDuff (the crime dog) to position himself as first officer instead of captain or higher was because it gave him the most authority while being expendable enough to ensure any memory recovery efforts failed. That's why he volunteered to be the giunea pig for Dr. Crusher's experiment. So that it looked too dangerous and wouldn't work. This species got a revisit in a 2-part novel story that I found intruiging and delved more into this species and what happened to them after this episode.

The glaring, but necessary, plot hole. If this had been a real-life scenario, Mc Duff would have made himself an Admiral so that he would have the ultimate authority regarding command decisions. Mission accomplished!

The real issue with this episode is why didn't the alien put himself as the captain in the computer. Then he could have killed any species he wanted, what an idiot !!! lol

I figure they needed that guy because all of our heroes are inherently smart and have so much integrity, it wouldn't make much sense for them all to easily say, "OK, I guess we'll just do this." They needed one high ranking voice of descent.

Riker somehow rolled a 20 on his rizz stats.

Makes me wonder could you drown on the Holodeck. If you can be injured what if you’re mountain climbing and you fall could you die?

One of my favourites of the Season. S

I’m realizing now they could have put McDuff at ops because Data wasn’t on the bridge and we might have bought it.. We wouldn’t have suspected the twist of random Lieutenant being a plant..

It's interesting to me that Alex just REALLY doesn't seem to like pretty much anything where the audience has information that the characters don't. Not trying to criticize; everyone has their own personal taste. But I feel like a lot of times he views these through the lens of a twist, even when they're not intended to be.

I gotta disagree with just one point from the Patreon takes, I think this is a terrible first episode to show someone. A lot of the episode works because of us seeing the characters doing things they normally don't and wouldn't. It doesn't work as well or pack the same punch if you're not familiar with these characters.

This guest star is a very milquetoast actor; I always head-canoned it as he has a hard time emulating humans. :D

An A for me. There are two parallel mysteries going on: a pretty good example of a "whydunit" mystery as opposed to a "whodunit" for us as viewers, and a mystery for the crew as they try to figuring out who they are, and the two mysteries converge at the end. I think whydunits are generally less popular because viewers/readers like to participate in the mysteries themselves, but it's a valid one nonetheless.

Anybody else think MacDuff looks like Fred Savage?

memories and experiences define who you are, so it interesting to question who you would be without those experiences, that was what made this episode good, honestly the alien plot was mediocre and would have been more interesting if it was some space anomaly that caused it

Random note, around the 48 minute mark, you guys started speculating on potential "fish out water/outside looking in" characters like Data and whether there may be more in that vein. I really wish that discussion had continued, it would have been cool to hear you guys theorize potential ideas for what else could fit that type of mold and fill that role.

I never felt the twist of it being McDuff was important. It's obviously him, but that part never mattered at all. Every time I watch it, I am solely focused on the idea of characters we know exploring who they are while not knowing who they are.

I am amazed at how Alex has predicted stuff coming up on this show. Not just predicting that Worf thinks he's in command, but other things which I can't mention. Spoilers.

RIP Erich Anderson, MacDuff, who died last year

One of my absolute favourites, the chemistry between Riker, Ro and Troi is insane. Also Picard sitting at the helm really got me the first time I watched this!

The sex scoreboard LADIES and GENTLEMEN I present to you: Ro-Ker (it is better than Lar-Iam or Will-Ren, though Ri-Ro is not bad. We almost got Tr-Ro-Ker and that would have been awesome) Riker 13 new Troi 4 Dr. Bev 3 Data 2 Ro 1 new Picard 1 Worf 1 Geordi 1 Broccoli 2 i Chief/Keiko 1 Extra: Ro must be a great Lawyer. She really got Riker off on all charges and many times. last week we asked about what Troi is like in bed. There is NO DOUBT about what Riker and Ro are like. I can only imagine the moan and grunts coming from Riker’s room. I picture in my head as the scene of them starting the no holds barred naked wrestling match that the next shot is on the bridge and the ensign navigator reporting to the captain of unexplained turbulence. “Captain it is like the ship isa a rockin’ “, then Picard and Worf look at each other and shake their heads.

Great Episode, it's an A

B+ --- the final minute or two literally dragged it down a level for me. Also this should have been a two parter, with about an hour of additional Riker/Ro/Troi shenanigans added into the middle.

The guest star was perfectly fine. He was there to make sure the Enterprise crew ended his war for him, and the way he was written was very well done.

Been a while since I've watched this one. I had it stuck in my memory that Riker porked both Troi and Ro right in a row. I'm a bit disappointed I was mis-remembering.

I was hoping you'd like this one. You're entering into a bunch of my favorite episodes coming up. But we often disagree, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of them.

I love this one! It's so interesting how despite their lack of memories, they are all essentially still the same people underneath. Picard just has 'Captain' written into his DNA.

The weird shape of the space station in this episode was a recurring element in dreams I had as a kid for years. Something about just the weird abstract shape of it...don't know why. Would appear all over the place. Used to sketch it in class. So revisiting this episode is always trippy for me. Good analysis and discussion. And we can't be too hard on Riker, a fellow Alaskan. If he turned down Michelle Forbes, he would deserve to be strapped to the next torpedo.

I also loved this episode but I predict the next episode is gonna be an "S" episode

23:06 They just gave his motivation! He's an alien using the Enterprise to persecute a war. And he's the inside man.

This episode is very much a nature versus nurture kind of deal. How much of who we are? Is our memories and how much of it is just inborn personality?

This was the first episode I ever saw. I was shocked there was a traitor. Lol Not knowing any of the characters makes it a totally different type of episode.

It's interesting that even though much of their memories are erased, the characters maintain their personalities (Picard is the voice of reason, Worf is aggressive, Riker still is a horn-dog, etc.).

Love this episode so much. Can't wait to see how you guys enjoy it!