UNCUT - The Inner Light (TNG S5E25) | Star Trek Journey 232

this episode is overhyped imo. i like the idea of it, and i like the implications of it. i even like some of the execution of it. but the minute-to-minute details of the episode can get kind of boring and tedious. it's a B for me, but the final scene of the episode gets an A.

I’m new here and going in chronological order of reactions so I don’t know if you’ve yet changed any opions yet but I gotta type this out on first watch! I hope you see this, because it may explain something if you haven’t, it may change your take. This was The Matrix before The Matrix, and Picard was The One. Not “The One” to save them, but the one to remember what it was to be them.

I agree with your rating on this episode. I did learn a new appreciation for it after watching this video recently. Its a discussion of the episode from a creator with a few other Trek videos under his belt. I (obviously) suggest it if you have some extra time to listen more about his episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZpZfJC21lM

The first time Kamin picks up the flute, he plays a song that's comforting to Jean-Luc. The first time Jean-Luc picks up the flute, he plays a song that's comforting to Kamin Also, Kamin's son Batai was played by Patrick Stewart's own son Daniel

Good stuff, and I agree overall, appreciate your honesty (even when it stings a little). Awesome skit at the end, too.

S for me. Based on the emotion it evoked from you, you may also find it grows on re-watch. More of a slow burn type episode.

I have strongly disagreed with some ratings, but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the system and in fact doing away with it wouldn't change much. You're still going to watch episodes and react to things and ultimately say whether you liked them or not. One thing worth considering as you move into other series is a system used by another popular long time Star Trek reviewer where he makes sure to point out each time that his ratings are always relative to other episodes of that individual series so that there is not an issue of trying to compare two very different series. For example, he considers TNG better on average than TOS and so if he gives a TNG episode a 5/10 he is saying that it's pretty much par for the course for TNG - that it's right in the middle. Yet it might still be an episode that he considers overall better than a TOS episode that he may have rated 6/10, or worse than a DS9 episode that he rated 4/10. It would help with some things, but the big downside is that it is difficult to do when you haven't seen the entire series yet, so it wouldn't work if done exactly like that. Perhaps there is nevertheless some way to incorporate the general idea so that there is one less thing to deal with in terms of people looking at your reactions to TOS episodes and trying to compare them one to one to DS9 or TNG and trying to compare one to one to TOS.

I can't remember how I felt about this the first time I watched it. I mean, I know I liked it, but I can't remember if I loved it as much as I do now. So, your rating for the episode doesn't bother me or anything because I might have given it an A too the first time I saw it, and I saw it with no expectations. I think this is definitely one that grows on you with another viewing. As well as watching it again after TNG is complete and you see the rest of (specifically) Picard's story in this series. I'd definitely be curious to know what you two think of it if you watch it again after TNG concludes. :)

My headcannon to this is that they somehow didnt have the tech for long distance manned space travel, but they did figure out how to project what is essentially a holodeck scene into another person's mind and Picard was the first one to come into contact with it.

Sorry to just be catching up on this now but I hope you guys don't give up the grading system for good. Here's the thing: Watching something for the first time is very different than watching it for the 20th time. That's part of the enjoyment for us geezers of seeing how you take it in. It helps us remember how our first time was too. You might find that The Inner Light shines brighter than the others once you're looking back after the series is over, or after you've re-watched everything 3 or 4 times over. And if we're honest with ourselves, we probably didn't love it our first time through as much as we do now. You remind us of that. Superfans like to obsess over things, for better or worse. You guys were never disrespectful, you gave your honest thoughtful opinions and it came out an "A", and the fact we know it's an honest and sincere opinion matters more than what the opinion is. Appreciate all the time you've put in to give us a new old perspective. Thank you.

Guys regarding your final point about the tier gradings - just don't worry about what the masses make of your ratings, I guarantee more people enjoy the honesty rather than grading something high because the fanbase love it, like what other reaction channels do.

I don't think I tiered this episode but I'd also give it an S. It's not one of my absolute personal favourites but it's such a great story and concept, and Stewart's acting is superb. The end scene always gets me in his quarters, when he walks up to the window he has a look of absolute grief, though it's a little hard to see due to the lighting. My one improvement would be to have some kind of reference to the massive trauma he would have suffered from living another life which wasn't really his, especially seeing as how he has essentially lost an entire family.

This one is okay but not really for me. The plot hole is too big. I am also not a huge fan of the one’s Picard goes to other planets and have adventures. Not really another planet or was it? It just is not my thing. I do not get that emotional in this one either. It is done well. Simple plot until the reveal. Just the fact that he was there so long was probably the most interesting thing. The episode did not do much with Picard having to deal with the after effects of his time with the other people. I do not think it really affects him that much. He adjusts very quickly.

Picard looked like he was a grandfather when he first arrived. He looked so old throughout this episode.

One of my favorite episodes of any show ever. Just thinking of the music gets me every time. S+

The flute over the credits at the end……whew. So solemn, sad.

You put that better than I did. Stewart was such a brilliant actor that maybe you wouldn’t get someone quite like that who wasn’t classically trained and maybe there are few classically trained actors who have a genuine interest in sci fi. I don’t know what percentage of the population of North America are into Star Trek but it did seem that they almost always didn’t cast Star Trek fans in major roles.

I literally joined the Patreon today to watch this full reaction! It's so fun to experience this Hugo winning, mind blowing, conversation starting philosophical thriller with other people both in person and through the magic of the interwebs. While there IS a valid dark interpretation (Picard is kidnapped mentally for decades against his will), if you know the Picard character you can see how much of a gift this event would be for him. Not only does he get to live a quiet, loving family life he couldn't have while commanding the Enterprise, his archeology credentials now include holding the personal history of a now extinct civilization in his head and heart. He should be writing books and building holodeck replicas for the rest of his life!

Early on Josh said about an episode I wonder if this is the one episode you show someone who's never seen Trek but it's that one episode. And I commented there is and I've done that you just haven't seen it yet and this was the episode. This is S all day for me. It's like Casablance the more you watch it the better it gets. The acting, along with the score, is superb. they even did a talk about it in front of a convention audience. You can see it on YT Patrick Stewart and the Inner Light panel at the 2017 Star Trek Convention

I've been waiting since the day I discovered your channel for you to arrive at this point in time. An "A" from both of you is a very good score and I'm super happy that you liked it. This is my favorite episode in the entire series, still. I was worried you both give it an "F" since you didn't like Wrath of Khan and then Star Trek 6... I started to worry and wonder. There are still good episodes to come, but this one is THE top for me.

I thought the relationship between him and his wife was great and really sold picards trauma over losing her and the actress was believable

It doesn't matter if you get rid of the grades or not. People are still going to cower in fear waiting anxiously to see if you like their favorite episodes as much as they do. This is because most people, whether they are aware of it or not, are desperately seeking external validation for their own beliefs and life experiences. If someone else behaves in a way that feels like an invalidation of themselves, (by not liking the same things that they like for instance) people go on the defensive because the ego can't handle that contradiction and sees it as a threat. It actually takes a great deal of self awareness, ego check, and emotional maturity that isn't taught in our culture to not cower in fear as you desperately hope that some random people on YouTube validate your conclusions by agreeing with your ideas on a Star Trek episode. If you have a bunch of people on your channel doing that, that is a THEM problem, not a problem with anything you are doing. They will act that way no matter what you do, or how ever you might try to change to appease them.

Sorry, I just got to watch this today. I always got the impression that this was an interactive program. Kamen did exist, as all those people, but the program was able to react to Picard's reactions. It adapted the "characters" to fit him, while keeping them true to what they were. If that makes sense. It wasn't just a data dump, it had to adjust itself to fit whomever it encountered out in space.

The irony that you liked Picard interacting with his "daughter" and not his "son", since that's Patrick Stewart's actual son... Lol

It made me cry. Again. One of top 5 of TNG.

I like this episode a lot. For me, it's an "S" As for the rating & tier system I absolutely hope & vote to keep it. Personally, I've never liked or needed living in a perpetual echo chamber. I'm surprised more people here react the way some do. I like that Josh & Alex don't always agree with me. Those disagreements also open minds to different points of view. A fresh perspective is always a good thing. I love Star Trek, always have, but diversity of thought & tolerance are Trek-isms to be encouraged not attacked.

Picard's Ressikan flute prop from "The Inner Light" just sold for $237,000 at auction.Jun 29, 2021

I think the issue with the grading system is that you guys seem to really be grading quality of the episode on an A-E scale, but if it’s a favorite episode (regardless of quality) you give it an S, which is making the grading system skewed.

Please keep the white boards. IMHO 👍

We are just at the Intro and i'm already crying. I just FEEEL this Episode. I really love it.

If you're looking for a critical take on this episode, Allison Pregler has a video where she goes through its flaws. It's an entertaining take, even though I like this episode.

Possibly the most powerful ending of any Star Trek episode.

I'm sad that this is Patrick Stewart's favourite episode. It's not that it isn't good, it's just that it's the only one up to now (s5) where he doesn't play Captain Picard. (Excluding when he's been possessed / assimilated etc).

The whole plot falls apart if you think about it too much. Like I said in my ranking, they can only send up small missiles but they also invent a programme that survives a 1000 years, lives dormant within a probe, can pierce the Enterprise shields and makes a person live an entire life within 20-25 mins?? All while the planet was dying? Why did it pick Picard? Did what happened to Kamen really happen? Or was just his memories that they imprinted on Picard? Why did they teach him to play the flute? Why did they put the flute in the probe? So many questions. It’s a nice episode, A- B+ for me. Different strokes for different folks but it’s all a bit too whimsical. It’s not in my top 25 and I rarely rewatch it

I also think this is one that you have to be in the right mood for it to maximally work. Like maybe you guys would connect more with the story if you were in a different place in your lives. Or maybe not. But when it comes to "heavy" things, there's definitely a degree of whether someone is in the right headspace to really buy into it. I think the confusion over whats going on, which to me was pretty clear, hurt a bit. Like the specific characters other then Picard arent really important outside their relevance to Picard himself. Since you tend to like character dynamics, thy were supposed to just be like, very average ordinary people. Also, I have a headcanon thing that i cant explain now as to why this happened to Picard specifically.

I think they didnt get this one entirely. Heres my take. Picard only actually expereinced the moments we saw, but he had memories "loaded in" to cover that span. The program was written with the recognition it would be disorienting for someone, and it was programmed like a very long holodeck scenario. The people in it weren't existing anywhere outside of Picard's mind. Whether or not they were based on specific people who lived on the planet sort of doesnt matter. The point isnt to tell the story of this specific family, its to tell a general story about the final decades of that society's existence. So obviously their neuroscience was way more advance then other technologies were. Picard is living in a small community on a dying planet, so their society is more advanced then what we saw, but the point wasnt to show of their tech or even highlight anyone significant. It was supposed to just be a sort of normal, average life of a person who had lived there. Picard's choices did matter somewhat, and the program could adapt, but he was in a situatio where he couldnt do much more then have a local effect, he already started his life in middle age with a wife. We could also imagine this isnt what they actually looked like, the program made them look like whoever would receive it. I think if he did expereince it the way i said, that makes more sense. It's like the Roy arcade game from Rick and Morty.

Please don't lose the ranking/white board system. It's my favorite thing about your format, specifically because I have occasionally misread one or both of your reactions during the actual episode and don't find out until the white boards turn around. I don't know why that makes me like it, but it does.

ngl I'd be interested in seeing one or two Red Dwarf reactions from you guys

S

this episode has been unforgettable for 30 years

Sorry to keep posting...but I have to say...the sound of the impact of a blunt object into a skull immediately following the words "Red Dwarf" was extremely gratifying. Red Dwarf is shit.

And hey, don't get rid of the grades. The grades aren't the problem. The problem is the tendency of people to be so damn bipolar about everything. If you were grading on a ten point scale, with 5 being average, people would still consider anything below an 8 to be shit. That's just how a lot people are. Either its the greatest thing ever, or its the worst thing ever. There's little room for a middle ground.

Also, I'll point out that I was fully prepared for you guys to shit all over this one. I think your remarks about it are spot on, and I'd be exactly on the same page if it were my first watch. I appreciate your reaction and discussion here.

IMO, the single greatest episode in the entire Star Trek franchise. A perfect episode.

Also, I really do hope the grades stay, even if some people are emotionally unstable and can't handle if you give their pet episode anything but the highest tier. Ignore those people. It's a solid way to gauge your immediate reaction after the episode and fun to compare them to the later-on season tier list. Maybe if you're worried about people skipping to the end for youtube & that affecting performance, just keep the grades for patreon uncut videos?

The reason this episode doesn't even make my top ten for the season is that nothing happens. Everything people praise it for is legitimate and it is a great episode, but the only consequences from anything that happens can only be experienced through Picard in future episodes. If this episode is never referenced again in a significant way, or if Picard doesn't have a noticeable tweak to his character going forward, it means nothing. Pay attention in future episodes. Would the episode you're watching be the same if Inner Light never existed?

To be perfectly clear, I think A tier makes sense and is what I expected both of you to give it, maybe even B-tier. Why do I say that when I rank this as one of the best episodes in all of TV history? Because it has to sit with you, take its time, much like it did to Picard, you have to process it. I never gave it a grade on my first watch, of course, but if I had, I'd guess it would have been high B back then. But over many years since then, and countless rewatches, with every run through my brain, its quality was perceived greater and greater until it reached the pinnacle it's at in my mind now. Part of it was truly putting myself in Picard's shoes, and the sheer magnitude of what he went through, and what it meant. Living an entire lifetime, longer than I've been alive now, all to preserve the life memories of an extinct race? That is... historic. As is the episode.

OK, here's an idea: How about we stop telling them which episodes people really like and let them watch it just like another episode, with no pre-conceived notions at all?

Come on, Alex, it's not as if he threatened you with Galactica 1980!

This is both a fantastic episode and the most overrated episode in all of Star Trek imo. Oh, it's good A+ and maybe an S depending how I feel that day. But this episode is constantly #1 on best of TNG or even all of Star Trek episode lists. It's not even in my top ten of TNG or even top 5 this season. It's very, very, good and on almost any other show it would be that show's best episode. But this is TNG where this high level of excellence is an A+ for me, but not quite and S really. I love it, but the BEST episode of TNG? I don't see it. That's how freaking good this show is. Oh and I'm still watching the discussion part but I'm seeing comments that make me think you guys are thinking of getting rid of the rankings. I love them but do whatever you feel is best. You guys have good instincts for this stuff.

Not sure if anyone pointed out, the "son" was Stewart's real life son. That's why he looked like him, and had a slight British accent. Also, I love your rating each episode immediately, then at the end of each season, doing a re-rate. Also, episodes ring alot differently as you get older. I saw this episode on first air, recorded on vhs and watched it over and over. 30 years later, I have a 20 year old daughter, and it's much more meaningful.

I think every Trek series (and every show in general) has "THAT ONE" which is revered as "the best ever." I suppose Inner Light qualifies for that, but it's for that very same reason that I've found myself growing... tired of it over the years. I sort of feel the same way about Best of Both Worlds, except that BoBW still continues to be entertaining and plot-relevant. "Inner Light" is a masterpiece CONCEPT of a story, but there's something kinda stale about the execution... and this is especially telling when future installments of Trek tackle the same concept but with FAR BETTER execution, imho. It's still a very important episode, and I'm happy to see y'all's honest reaction to it. As for the "Tier Rating," I say keep at it. It's been a mainstay for so long that I think its consistency would be fantastic to look back on in the future. There are bound to be detractors concerning anything you might do. Have I been disappointed about some of your grades for beloved installments? Sure, but then you've also rated things way higher that I'd never even think twice about. Seeing y'all's unique perspective on things is refreshing, and it's a big reason for why I keep coming back (and paying back) to this channel~

I believe the ONE thing holding this back as an S for me would be that while it is a really great hour of science fiction, it's not quite a great episode of TNG because it isn't about any of the main characters at all. It's even almost not about Picard as he kind of becomes a new person. Still great stuff, but I'd call an A+.

Rats, I was really looking forward to Alex's replacement. I heard Chris Pratt was up for the role

I appreciate that there are many who love this episode but it's not on my favorite list. Perhaps it's because I can't get overly interested in watching a whole episode about people I don't know. PStew is great, the story and pacing is very good. It's solid but it doesn't grab me. Thank you for your great discussion! ❤️

Maybe y’all can do the Romans’ thumbs up or down at the end of each episode and still keep the ratings for the Patrons.

Here's what I love about the tier ratings: it's a snapshot of your immediate feelings of an episode or movie, and that's why it's so enjoyable to watch these series with the two of you. I've seen these episodes over and over again -- I'll never have a first impression of an episode of TNG again. Feelings on an episode change over time with age, reflection, or both. But I get to share in those first impressions all over again, and it makes me as a fan ask questions or think about things in ways I haven't before. Star Trek VI was a good example -- I was disappointed in your disappointment because it is one of my favorites, but damn if you didn't have good points in your review.

Your ratings for this episode...I just don't understand.

Not sure if someone's already said this ,but this gave me huge nostalgia for Rick and Morty's "Roy - A Life Well Lived", which is one of the funniest things in that show. I did see the other day that this had been an episode that people had been counting down to as it was their favourite. Not even in my top 10 but it's got a good concept. "The Measure of a Man" was probably my "countdown" episode 🙂

They can't give this an S because they don't know what all is yet to come. We the audience are all like wormhole aliens who live outside time, with no before and no after, experiencing everything all at once. But they are different, they are linear, and exist purely in a single moment of steadily advancing time. Appreciate that difference and it all comes together.

Also regarding the tier ratings. I would say get rid of them for the after episode discussion, and just discuss what you liked and disliked organically rather than starting from a grading that you then have to justify. Then in the season recap assign a tier rating with the benefit of hindsight.

I love the tier rankings. Don't listen to the weirdos.

I look at as a computer simulation that happens in his mind. They could be based on real people but it's an AI.

This is definitely one of my top 5 episodes of Star Trek. Definitely a S tier for me. Always brings a tear to my eye at the end. Glad y'all liked it. Definitely thought we'd see the tears flowing in this reaction

I like the tier rankings. And I like the ones I like... doesn't really affect my viewpoint whether or not you like the ones I like or don't like. However, it is nice to get a validation for one's opinion from the masses sometimes. Regarding this episode... I do think it is one of the best of the series and find it interesting of the three series you've watched so far that the three considered to be the best are very similar... City On The Edge Of Forever, Yesteryear and The Inner Light. Someone earlier in the comments have pointed out some of their similarities already. As for DS9... (those who have seen it know)

1) This is S Grade for me 2) Do not get rid of your grading 3) People need to get past their selves and realize that other people's opinons do not reflect their own. Nor should it. I know it's already been said but I guess it bears repeating.

Just watch the way Picard presses the flute to his chest at the end....that's acting not a word said.

It’s a crime that you didn’t give this an S… this is science fiction perfection… The acting, the writing. Come on guys!

You know, I wrote out a huge multiparagraph review, I hit post, and now for whatever reason it's disappeared. It's an S for me but I can't be fucking bothered rewriting it. The irony is one of those paragraphs was complaining about how YT removes comments you spent half an hour working on with no explanation or chance to edit and you just lose all your work, and how they need to be put out of business over that. Maybe just a connection issue or something, but it's damned annoying. Amazing ep even if it's not top of my list

If people don’t like the grades fuck em. It’s a TV show for crying out loud.

Fair because I give your reaction an A - not quite an S. I am so kidding! 😅 I would have bet some ribs or chicken wings that this was THE episode that one of you would have to grab a Kleenex through-and again you surprised me. I have seen this episode maybe 25 times throughout the years and every time it is an emotional experience and much more re-watchable TO ME -than some of your S ones.. I see in the comments it is mostly S and some A or less as well -Fascinating... So what is it in general that makes an episode an S with some or an A with others..? Are the S people just a more emotional kind of personality, more empathetic, or perhaps slightly less evolved B personality that had too much fluoride in their water? Are the A's more A personality, a little more aggressive, like to wrestle each other, and have questionable choice in shorts? Or - just a feeling, like you have said. I fell there is a college sociology thesis here somewhere...😇 Also, interesting-like City on the Edge of Forever, this episode also about the writing and the acting. They aren't on a spaceship very much at all, the regular crew isn't around-there isn't much "Star Trek" in either episode, or uniforms etc… Yet they are some of the most popular episodes of all time... Just an observation.. It never registered to me that guessing your reactions is a lot like playing Fantasy Football… In my head I have a point spread -is it a 'we the audience already knows' episode-B over/under .6%... A Wesley episode -Punt D +/- 75%..and so on.. I find myself re-rolling all my guesses on your DS9 reactions now though.. "The game's afoot, cry the dogs of war"...

I'm not sure if Kamin was was real person, but I don't think it matters. All the "people" weren't lying, I think it's more of a holodeck simulation of someone's life that has a final scene for the "player" where all his friends say some preprepared lines.

Perhaps rather than a grade. A simple thumbs up or down as an immediate reaction would suffice. You wouldn’t alienate the losers that get their horgons in a twist that you gave a good episode an A instead of the S THEY think it deserves. A bad episode gets a thumbs down either way. Save the ratings for after a rewatch and an end of season review when the episodes have had a chance to sit with you. Inner Light is an S tier but I could totally see people needing to digest it after an initial viewing so this is a perfect example.

This episode is definitely one that benefits from multiple watches, at least for me, plus I think as kid I just couldn't quite appreciate Picard's emotional journey as much as I can now. I haven't rewatched this episode in a long time and I actually teared up a bit watching it with you guys this time. Something that really stood out to me this time was near the beginning when Picard says "you can't expect me to forget a lifetime spent there", referring to the Enterprise, but by the end, when Picard is playing the flute alone, you realize that works both ways and he will always remember his life on Kataan. I also appreciated that in the same way the people of Kaymin's community sacrificed part of their water for the tree because a symbol of hope was so important to them, the planet used their resources to launch the probe, just on the hope that eventually it would run into someone who could live their life and tell their story. And even though it took over 1000 years, that hope was actually realized and I find that very moving.

Regarding the Tier rankings, maybe still record the reveals, let them shape your discussions, keep the Patreon rankings, but don't actually put the reveals in the videos. Bank em until the post season tier list as a reveal that you then keep or adjust with hindsight.

Love the bits!

Cackling at Josh saying Patrick Stewart didn't have any chemistry with his own real life son. 😂🤣😂🤣

Wholesome. That's the only word I have for this episode.

No spoilers but man when you talk about something that we will see later it always makes me laugh .. no clues as to what you said or when it might happen but .. awesome keep guessing or asking for stuff .. one of my favorite parts.

Watching this today completely wrecked me because last night I had a dream about meeting someone and falling in love, and woke up to the pain of the dream fading and losing that feeling. It was rough to watch. Also, I think the experience was custom made for for the character of Kayman, based on real people and experiences. The program was sophisticated enough to adapt to variations based on the actions and choices of the person it contacted.

I never really noticed how they reuse "we cant travel so we send the probe to bring Barcaly to us" plot. I will just say I fully get why everyone loves this one but its not just why I watch Trek. I can see unhappy stuff outside my window, I'm not looking for it on my screen.

Definitely an emotional episode. I'm surprised it hasn't come up that Picard's son Batai (the older version) is Patrick Stewart's real son.

Occasionally on the screen - S-tier emotions

I think this is a fair reaction to this episode. I remember watching it when it first aired with my mom (who is not a Trekkie) and she really liked it. For me as a teen I liked it but wasn’t blown away by it. But then I rewatched it. And rewatched it. And rewatched it again and again. Something about the episode just kept pulling me back into it. And I think I realized finally why: because Patrick Stewart is such a phenomenal actor that you really can feel Picard’s journey. You feel as if you’re going on this ride with him. His performance in each scene is so genuine and real, and so familiar. With a lesser actor, “The Inner Light” wouldn’t work. With Patrick Stewart, it becomes immortal. But I didn’t get any of that until I really watched it repeatedly. Any episode that encourages you to rewatch it is damn fine television.

You can manage expectations on a reaction channel, but that is simply catering to the masses, which is not what you guys are about and not what drew many of us to your channel. Keep the ratings, or don't, but do not get rid of them just because some people get in a wad about how you rate stuff.

Did you guys actually lose subs/patrons because you didn't like Star Trek VI as much as people were expecting? I can't imagine taking something this seriously as a fan. To each his own I guess. I personally don't mind getting roasted for my grades/hot takes but I also don't have to worry about the financial side of things like you do.

If you think you've seen Patrick Stewart's range as Picard up to this point, just you wait.

Really enjoyed this! I love this episode but like you, not sure if I'd include it on a favourites list just through personal preference. You really shouldn't have to apologise for what rating you give to an episode. The whole reason most of us are here is to see your genuine reactions to Star Trek. Some of your comments I agree with, some I don't. That's the whole point of discussion. It'd be really easy for you guys to quickly check the patrons' tier rating before you give your own and adjust yours to match, but you don't. You give your honest, in the moment opinion, despite what 'most fans' think of an episode. Honestly, huge respect to you two for doing that.

That was definitely their "City on the Edge of Forever"

I hope you don’t get rid of the tiers, but I’ll understand it if you do.

Sounds like this was maybe Josh's Hawaiian pizza episode? Maybe that ingredient was pineapple?

Everyone stay to the end the last scene is hella funny

Watching the episode today, for some reason, it REALLY moved me emotionally. I know I've enjoyed it since I first saw it, but for some reason this time around, I was emotionally spent by the end. This is probably a series top 5 episode for me, and definitely in the top 10.

I have a feeling how much this episode resonates and hits you has alot to do with how actually close you are to the end of your life

The acting by Patrick Stewart alone makes this my favorite episode. It sure grows on you.

My favorite episode of the series I don’t know why it just is

They keep getting the ratings wrong because they aren't trekkies yet, they are just people watching the show. They will see their ignorance after a few re-watches.

Picard got married and had kids and grandkids without getting married and having kids... Have to appreciate Star Trek where you can die, come back and become your own daughter.

BTW, I miss your critique of the coming attractions. It was a big part of the original viewing experience. Don't watch them first, but include them anyway.

Lol, Alex at the end giving vibes of "well, you can't do this to me. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I SACRIFICED!?!?"

You really have to step back and appreciate that they did fit 30 years into 40 minutes. This time I was noticing in the middle how it felt like a movie length story. The story was paced but still moved smoothly if quickly through the lifetime.

Your ratings will change over time, and they already have. In the end you have some episodes that you'll gladly rewatch, and those you'll change the channel (streaming changed that). When I watched these originally, my teir rating was: 1. Holly shit, that was good! What's on next week? 2. Wow, that was good. What's on next week? 3. Okay, what's on next week?

Yep, great reaction guys and perfectly valid. This is one that grows on you, that repeatedly makes you think long after the episode is over and rewatches make your mind go in various directions. Each rewatch feels in a way different and i've seen this one many many times. This wasn't my favorite episode the first time I watched it. For one I was a young teen the first time and while I liked it then I didn't look at it as deeply as I do now. This is one that became my favorite over time, ironically, though I didn't have Riker trying to sever my connection to the episode and kill me in the process. This is an episode that I think grew with reflection. I think its already started with you both given your thoughts here and then on the tier list.

I don't believe Picard did any time traveling. I think his family may have been based on real people, but it was AI generated. But, that doesn't change how real it was to Picard.

I liked when you used to show the teaser trailer for the episode during the discussion was very entertaining

The greatness of this episode takes time to sink in. Your mind has to make it personal to you, and for most people that is not going to happen immediately. Your reaction here exemplifies something I've brought up in the past, however: Josh mentioned forming judgement of the episode based on what he saw Kamin (Picard) wearing, and equating that with his experience of a low-quality episode. This is an example of the early judgemental reactions that are unfair to episodes because you somewhat (or completely) tune out after you've decided "Well, this is going to be *this*..." that I've mentioned before.

Each to their own. At least you gave an honest opinion. You're allowed to live another day.;

Captain Picard learns to question his entire life of not settling down and having a family.

Am I losing my mind? I saw you guys in a video where you were ranking these and you were already ranking the ones that we hadn't seen yet, so I paused the video and waited until today and I wanted to go back and look at it but I can't find it. Where is it??

I'm actually kind of in the same boat as you guys. This is an episode I completely understand why so many people rate it as one of the best episodes of Star Trek. Why it is so beloved. It's also not in my top 10. But I really have no issues with the episode. I think we all need to get more comfortable with something not being "the greatest of all time" and that being totally okay. I like having A tier episodes.

The beauty of this channel is that it answers the age old question of “what if Lucha Underground was about a reaction YouTube channel” He had better have had a son you can have a blow off match with for the season 5 program.

No hate, just a difference of opinion. IMO, this was an' "S." A gut punch to see Picard wake up out of 40+ years experience. Again, IMO, Redemption and I, Borg were "A."

I envy you guys for getting to see this episode cold. I went to a Star Trek convention just before the last 3 episodes of season 5 aired. They did a snopsys of what was going to happen in them. I would rather not known exactly what was going to happen to Picard in this episode.

R.I.P. John Goodman, but... I guess this works out better for Alex moving forward with the channel.

Wow. A discussion as long as the episode. Minus the bit at the end, I guess.

Others have given personal connections to episodes; here's mine. When this aired my wife and I enjoyed it, while concentrated on our careers. On reruns just a few years later , we were trying to have kids and had miscarriages. We were at the point that we were adjusting to the idea of not ever having kids. This episode hit so much harder then and even now remembering the feeling. It also makes me think of a Valjean line from the musical Les Misérables from the same time period: "He's like the son I might have know, if God had granted me a son." If you've read this far, we did end up with three children, now adults starting families.

i always wondered how this would have gone if the probe connected to a Klingon or a borg

This episode is quite simply, one of the best. All those people we see and indeed the race itself couldn't escape the disaster that eventually caused them to go extinct. So they threw out the probe in a desperate attempt to just say they were there and that they existed... now they exist powerfully but only in Picards mind. He, to his mind had a family and all the things he never allowed himself to have as a captain, I always feel in those last shots he would have given anything to go back, just as much as in the first scenes he was trying to go back to the enterprise. God tier episode. It's not even the best of Patrick Stewarts acting, there's an episode coming where if you're even able to take your eyes off the screen to say anything I'll be frankly surprised 😅

Everyone has their opinions and no one should be faulted for how they feel. Personally, this is my fav episode of TNG. :)

Comparing this to Data's Day is embarrassing...I get you graded it low because you don't understand that the lived experience can alter Picard but that's not the show's fault. They constantly talk about not wanting to know what's going on but then when the show doesn't reveal what's happening in the first fifteen minutes they knock it for that. I rejoined the Patron to watch this uncut episode. The grade given to the episode has convinced me to move on.

Notice there was no B-plot.

We finally made it y'all. This episode is timeless imo.

💓💓💓

"Didn't really feel it with his son" had me giggling. IYKYK. (Oh there we go ... ok I wrote this before the end of the discussion hahaha).

The sex scoreboard Picard gets a score. Riker 14 Troi 4 Picard 3 new Dr. Bev 3 Data 2 Ro 1 Worf 1 Geordi 1 Broccoli 2 i Chief/Keiko 1 Extra: I cannot do my normal over the top vulgar sex talk about this one. This was a sweet episode and a real reason for sex.

Picard has Sarek, the Borg and these clowns in his head now.

Yes, this is the equivalent to City on the Edge of Forever, in my opinion. There can be no other. Not to fulfill that slot.

Getting blasted by the end credits is like cold water splashed on your face

Won a Hugo award for Best Dramatic Presentation and was nominated for an Emmy.

I say keep the post-watch grading. It’s fun!

I found the TA discussion towards the end of the post regarding grading very interesting. I tried and failed to get into the whole tier thing and indeed stopped voting quite some time ago. As much as I still really enjoy the Star Trek reactions the most on this channel, my favourite approach/structure is the way The Expanse is done here (and before that Game of Thrones).

I know you are rerating this, but this rewatch (>25) for my all time favorite gave me something new. At the big reaction scenes, I was listening to but not watching your video, I was glued to the episode. It's that powerful.

Unbeknownst to Alex and Josh, they’re somewhere on an alien starship, passed out on the floor, while a probe sent by Star Trek fans beams humanities greatest achievement into their minds. After they watch the very last trek episode, we fans will gather around “my darlings, remember us”, before they return to their real life.

When I watched the Darmok reaction I knew this one couldn’t reach S. They’re both concept episodes and I think these guys need more. The Inner Light is a fine wine that gets better with time.

The reactions and comments are great and all, but it's those surprise endings that take it over the top!!

Next time on Star Trek the Next Generation. Picard and the crew encounter an ancient alien mind link device designed to teach flute playing. It works. S+ for me.

When I first watched this years ago I didn't think it was particularly good, granted I was 12 or 13. Years later I view it as one of the best in series. I think the seed is there in your heads too and in the future you'll see it in a different way. I noticed that you spent more time justifying why it wasn't an S than why it was an A which kind of makes me think that, subconsciously, there might be more you guys are picking up on and it'll break through some day.

I enjoy seeing your grades at the end, but I totally get your frustration with people being angry about them. However, I also wonder if some of that apparent anger isn't just people joking around. Anyway, I'm still glad you give your honest opinions, because it seems to me that's the whole point.

That last scene hits hard years later! Patrick Stewart does such a good job of selling his unease in his own quarters, not feeling at home. And then the way he grips the flute like a man at sea grabbing a plank. It must be so surreal to have a piece of that dream in the real world. And now it's not something "just in his head," it's something he can express - in music - in his actual home.

This is in my top five Star Trek episodes of all time, but I think I enjoy it more in the way I enjoy a great one-off short story rather than as a Star Trek episode per se. There are a few episodes like that across the various series, "The City on the Edge of Forever" being another prime example.

Just a hunch, but this one may grow on you... maybe

Great discussion! I loved this as a teen, but it really grows as a) I age, b) I had children and c) global warming became a much more in-your-face problem (people knew it was coming back then, but hadn't seen its effects yet). It's the epitome of an episode that has aged well and is also one of Trek's most rewatchable.

I hope you revisit your grade for the greatest episode of all time.

This experience of his sequestration as it took 5 years to finaly fully accept his situation as mentioned by wanting to build a nursery is what you call Stockholm syndrome wich is a well known disorder that can last years to heal. Picard would have serious identity crissis, his memory would be screwed like whats real, whats not. He could have forget so many things from his previous life from crew members to the Entreprise little secrets a captain should find obvious. Just the rythme of his life on the planet, like seeing a sun every day, no more earl grey tea etc. I don't know how his body could react versus his brain's new and long lasting life. Food, sleep cycle, hobbys, friends, everything he knew for the last 30 years would be gone. He just lost his wife, kids and grand kids wich he raised and loved for decades. He changed diapers, helped for homeworks, showed his kids all he knew about astronomy and all. It takes me weeks to recover from my cats when they die, i can't imagine loosing my beloved wife of 30 years, kids and grand kids, friends even his house, village etc... His command style would surely been affected, either by being more of a family man, wich he never knew before or just i don't give a fuck anymore. His relation with child, wich we all know his not his primary talent would be totaly different He would also be experiencing steady flashback of his previous life, seeing a kid would make him remember the family he build over a 30 years span. You don't erase 30 years of pure emotion like you close a book. Finaly, i beleive he would need to consult with Troi on a weekly basic, probably for years only to never fully recover. On a positive note, his learning of the flûte would see his relation to music completly changed, while still being a major cause of flashbacks. I would have love to see a follow up episode to see his recovering process, a little like Family folowed when he was assimilated by the Borg. They missed a really good oportunity to show Stewart's talent as an actor at his deepest emotions. At last, sorry for the long and surely full of grammatical errors comment, english not being my first language but just to show the impact this particular episode had on me.

🐐 tier

Have you guys started watching Season 6 yet?

Dam, I've been waiting for this, and I've got to go shopping. I'd look strange in Walmart holding my tablet and phone, watching two different videos and trying to shop at the same time. But then again, it is Walmart. That would be far from the craziest thing to see in there.

Here is hoping you guys love it and S Tier it. I go back to this episode many times

First comment of the best episode ever 🖖