UNCUT - Tapestry (TNG S6E15) | Star Trek Journey 255
Comments (92)
You guys gotta get on board with the Worf pony tail. Definitely his best look!
This one always creeps me out, as I think the actress playing Marta was only 17 at the time.
A fantastic episode 👏
47:28 Never was open-ended to me. Q let Picard die on the table so that he could manipulate Picard into wanting to change things in his youth. The reality that "Johnny" re-experienced at 21 was a duplication of our current reality, as Picard would have experienced it, because that was the only way Q could guarantee to Picard that no history would change. The end where he actually got stabbed was back in our reality, where that could stay as Picard's past. Q's speech at the end about giving Picard a gift of seeing that his regrets and loose ends were an important part of him is spot on. This is the most benevolent thing we have ever seen Q do, except perhaps give the Federation a warning about the Borg. Perhaps Q was repaying Picard like he offered to do previously.
Best Q episode. Definitely! This episode is always fab. I always interpreted as the end as rewinding everything (e.g. Jean Luc and Marta never slept together) and the laugh was Picard being happy to be back to restoring his life as he knew it, good and bad.
I definitely agree with people that being a Junior Lieutenant isn't pathic, but joining Starfleet in your 20s and being in it for decades and only getting up to Junior Lieutenant is...Like that's only one promotion ever. Even someone who never wants to be in a major leadership role I would think would get to at least Lieutenant Commander before settling down....or at the very very least a full Lieutenant
Yes, it is perfect episode Josh. My favorite ST NG episode actually!!
At least Picard is punctual. This was a great episode. Ron Moore of course! Mind you Ron has clunkers but they are few and far between. We had a very strong Q episode after some “meh” ones. This one showed Q not just as an annoying prankster, but as a being of power that for some reason is fond of (?) Picard.
It's not just S-tier--I think we're in legitimate top 10 territory with this one.
One thing that confused me- In memory alpha, it says this episode came the week after the episode where Q visited DS9, indicating his line about seeing Picard meant he went to see him immediately afterward (and perhaps caused this whole situation?). However, in your viewing order you have this episode coming after Dax. Did Memory Alpha get it wrong? The fact that TNG and DS9 would air on the same night with DS9 coming on immediately after TNG may be leading to some confusion.
Well...when I check Google for the list of DS9 episodes it has the episodes in slightly different order. Not sure why.
a young junior officer, or someone who joined starfleet later in life isn't "pathetic". For someone to have graduated from the academy in their 20's and never gotten to full lieutenant by their 60s is essentially a failed or at least mediocre career. And it's more then just the rank, it's the way that Picard lived his life and that he was "never noticed by anyone" plus the way hes treated by Troi and Riker that show what kind of life he lead. He basically "peaked in college" so to speak and had been resting conservatively on those laurels, doing just enough but no more the rest of his life.
and as I said "never noticed by anybody" hints at a lack of personal relationships and a lonely life. As Q said, he drifted from one assignment to the next with no sense of mortality or limited time, "playing it safe" his whole life.
There have been a few episodes over the first 4 seasons that you guys didn't like - Captain's Holliday is the first one that comes to mind but there were a few others - a number of people said based on some of your comments (I think on Captain's Holiday you specifically said that his actions with Vash didn't fit his character, for instance) that one problem you were having was that you were seeing Picard through the lens of the first couple of seasons while the community knew more about what he would become. This is probably about 75% of what they were talking about.
Or Kirk’s speech in Trek V that looking back going left when he should have gone right wasn’t in his nature
I think it’s not shitting on a jr lt position , but it’s not the life of a legend, remember how Picard brother described him in family, the great starship captain. Also how he derided him in that episode for considering leaving starter. It’s a similar thing.
As far as reputation, this one works better if you know the characters and background about the show's setting then something like "The Inner Light" which can work even if you're not familiar with Star Trek. So that be why The Inner Light gets more critical acclaim. But this one also has a very good reputation. What you've heard of is determined also by chance. When you say it's your favorite Q episode, does that include "Q Who?" (the introduction to the Borg)
Yes
My favorite episode. Being a lieutenant junior grade is not inherently a bad career, but for Picard who was the captain of the flagship to realize this was his life, it has the right impact. This episode is always inspiring to me, the sense that (generally) it's better to regret things you did then things you didn't do (provided it's not something like, trying heroin or murdering someone, but more of a "get out of my comfort zone" kind of thing) Only being a lieutenant junior grade for that many years in starfleet is essentially a failed career. Only one promotion his entire career and he's still a junior officer. The point where he changes things, he's already an ensign. He just did his job, no risks, nothing special, and he got nowhere. "No one ever noticed him" likely also means he doesn't have close friends or a girlfriend or anything like that. He's reliable and a vet which explains how he got on the enterprise, but he's literally a background character. The message really hits for a lot of people and can be taken different ways. A sort of "you only have one life to live it to its fullest" or "if you're not happy take some chances" or if you're happy with you life "everything that happened, even the bad stuff, is part of who you are and the life you have now. Funny you mention "A Christmas Carol" because the original concept of the episode was Q taking Picard through different parts of his life he regretted, but they decided to simplify the story and focus on one time and a couple characters. The thing with the girl friend does make you think- perhaps Picard "made love" in a way where his passion was restrained because of the situation and this wasn't what she wanted from "Johnny". Or maybe it "ruined their friendship" because it was too late. Or something she wanted in the moment that she realized wasn't what she wanted. Probably why she left before he woke up. It is one of the things that isn't clear. As people have said, when it originally aired, it wasn't clear who it was till Q stepped in the light. Might have more to say later but I'm in a motel with poor internet.
For comparison, Dr. Bashir is already a lieutenant junior grade though DS9 is his first assignment. He did well on his test and in medical school as he already has that rank and is the chief medical officer of a station and "could have had any assignment he wanted." He's also arrogant, a risk taker, and a womanizer. I believe the characters would be 22 assuming they went to the academy straight out of high school and are graduating which takes four years. Many academy entrants are older then 18. By the way, enlisted crew generally had pre-existing schools and only have to take a two year course, a la Crewman Tarsus from "The Drumhead"
It's not a spoiler now to mention the fan theory that Q actually changed himself into Marta Batanides and he had sex with Picard at that point...
*Q makes a snide remark and then takes a huge bite out of some giant vegetable for reasons unknown* ... NO REACTION FOR THAT?!
The perfect use of Q. Not a villain, but an antagonistic conduit through which we can learn a little about ourselves. In the S-tier for TNG writ large, for me.
It always irritated me that Picard, to me was literally saying he would rather die than be a scientist, skilled technician or anyone under the rank of Captain. What an insult to virtually every member of his crew.
I don't think that's what is meant by his reaction. To him, he is an adventurer, an archeologist, explorer, commander, a risk-taker. Someone who savors and makes every moment of his life exciting and meaningful because of how close he came to death, giving him as strong a sense of the value and fleeting nature of life as one can get. It's in his blood, at least, the blood he knew... evolved into. He cannot picture being anyone else. It's not that he thinks being a scientist is so lowly, and beneath him, but it doesn't resonate with his soul, the spirit of infinite passion and vigor that resides in his flesh. I'm much more in line with a quiet, nerdy, introverted cartographer or astrophysicist, if I was on the Enterprise, that'd be me. I'd loathe to be in Picard's command role, far too stressful for my blood. We're all very different and that's okay. Who is "better" or not, it's not what the episode was trying to comment on in an overall sense. Only what is better for each specific individual and, in this case, Picard himself. And how our choices, even the choices we think are mistakes, that we regret, ultimately lead to where we are today, in a monumental time lapse of quadrillions of unknowable dominoes tipping over. All, in their own small (And some large) parts contributing to what we develop into. So, maybe don't hold so strongly to your regrets. Who knows who you'd be if not for them?
Alternate ending: Picard wakes up laughing but looks down at his yellow shirt and two pips because Q only took him back to the moment before the fight but after he'd already alienated his friends...
Morning, Darlings 😉 One of those easy God-tier episodes (Q-tier?) It's not so much that being a science officer living a safe, simple life on the Enterprise would be hell in a general sense, but for Picard? For whom that great man became, to be reduced down to a life so mundane, so protected? Living that existence would have been a torment for him. Cursed in the knowledge of who he could have been, who he was, knowing his potential was squandered all because he didn't have a Nausicaan brush with death. Also, it's curious how the Inner Light keeps popping up and I think I agree with you that in a pure enjoyment sense, I prefer Tapestry to it. I think Inner Light is a more important episode though. The comparison I'd make is between Shindler's List and Avenger's Endgame. Which do I "like" more? Avengers, of course. But Shindler's list is potently more important. If that makes any sense.
Yeah, it's a good comparison between Schindler's List and something more fun like a marvel movie. I think probably the most important television series was The Wire. Was it the most fun? Was it my favorite? No and no. But The Wire was *excellent* and it was important.
I like this episode more than the inner light as well
I like how in the bar Cory was drinking Klingon blood wine.
Starflleet didin't change its uniform style for over 80 years. And then every few years. Curious. I wonder why ...
Because they weren't on tv
I had a feeling you guys would love this episode as much as i do. It's one of about 6 from this Season which are in my top 20 episodes of TNG, so you can imagine how many i give an S to in Season 6. I love J C Brandy in this, the only other role i know her for is taking over as Jamie Lloyd in Halloween 6, which i personally preferred when it was Danielle Harris. I think this is my favourite Q episode from TNG. As you say we all have regrets, some months ago i told a friend one of mine is i wish i'd not been a quiet, swatty geek at school, and been more of an arrogant shit, i guess like the young Picard.
Spot on that this story is about Picard - and more specifically, this kind of discussion about regrets or different choices in life is always going to be very specific to an individual. For instance, cliche or not I would not change a thing about my past. There are mistakes I made, even major ones, even ones which caused substantial suffering. Yet all of that led me to where I am today, not only to my life but to my wife and to my kids. I would not want to risk even a minor change that could ripple down and make me lose that. Other people may feel likewise, or differently. It is very personal. I don't think the episode says anything about people who were not risk takers or were risk takers or were or were not anything else. For Picard, the risk taking was important. For you, it may not be.
Great thoughts. I think that The Inner Light benefits with many casual fans from it's light connection to Star Trek lore whereas an episode like Tapestry hits harder if you Remember Samaritan Snare and other previous Picard backstory references.
Spot on
What if I'm the Lt.JG of my life and don't even know it? Maybe 20 years ago I SHOULD have gone to that party with my bros and smoked crack with them instead of ratting on them to their parents. OH GOD, I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER. I COULDA BEEN THE -MANAGER- OF MY WALMART
High definition TV and remastered film kinda makes a mini spoiler of the Q reveal. On 1990s TV you couldn't tell it's Q till he is right in Picard's face.
I love this episode. Since first watching it 32 years ago I’ve often wondered it that was actually Q or if Picard had a near death experience and this appearance of Q was all a product of Picard’s mind.
I'm just going to go ahead and hope that Picard's unconscious mind didn't conjure up Q playing with his ear to wake him up in bed the morning after.
Damn if only i took more risks in my youth I woulda been the president now
You don't need risks. You just need a rich daddy. :)
Have to agree with you guys - I rate this higher than Inner Light. In fact, I don't even place Inner Light at number 2 in that list... it's great but not to the degrees it gets praised to. As for Picard's disgust at being Lieutenant Jr Grade (which by the way, is just one grade up from Ensign... in 45 years!), I think it wasn't that he hated the role, it's just that it wasn't for him. He'd always aspired to be in command and to be a leader of people, and here he's just doing something that doesn't interest him at all with no progression and no real hope for more. It's not something he could live with. But I agree, it's still funny how it comes across 😂
Great episode. I don't really have a unique take on it, but I'll chime in just to say I also admire how it was written by Ronald Moore. Engaging, earnest, still found moments for humor that doesn't get in the way, and a cool 'what if' with our look at Lt. Junior Grade Picard.
This is the episode that changed my thinking about Q. Previously he seemed to be about judging and harassing the crew. Even in Q Who, he came across more as someone who wanted to win an argument rather than teach a lesson, with the entire crew, and ultimately all of Starfleet, as his audience. Here, though, his audience is only Picard. Q has no reason, if his interest is in all of humanity, to save Picard's life. He not only saves Picard's life, but helps him to appreciate the life he has lived, warts and all. Q goes from being Picard's tormentor to being his friend.
I'm very glad you liked this one, one of my all time favorites!
I’ve really been looking forward to this episode and reaction. This is my favorite Q episode and his interactions with Picard throughout the episode were great. Definitely some of the best humor in a Q episode. The attention to detail and continuity in this episode is really great and something that TNG as a series did really well. I wish that was always the case.
this ep make me look at my life and go yup i messed with time and im the blue Picard
i hope you dont feel as bad about it as Picard did
I got a Cameo from John DeLancie a few years ago and I told him this was my favorite episode. You’re welcome to check it out https://youtu.be/rYcpMTa6HZI?si=AdxE5Vx6FdcZP3FG
Yes, S tier! Great episode! Almost Twilight Zone type episode
Top tier episode. This has always been a top five for me.
You like an episode more than the inner light!? Oh, it's Tapestry? ... I'll allow it
I didn't get this in time for the patron takes, but this is my favorite episode of TNG (next to maybe the series finale). I also especially love the continuity call back to Picard telling Wesley he laughed when he got stabbed. Now we know why. Little things like that are why Ron Moore is the best.
Q's at his best in Q Who and here because these are episodes where he's playing into the trickster archetype: he's smarter than Picard, so he can take some of Picard's deeply held beliefs and push them to their extremes to prove him wrong. In Q Who, Picard claimed they were ready for anything. Q proved no, you're not ready for the Borg. In Tapestry, Picard claimed he was a completely different man from that 21-year-old he was now ashamed of, and that the man he was today had nothing to do with the guy. Q proved no, you can't get away from those embarrassing moments when you were young, you still need them today, and they'll always be part of you. Some of the writers treat Q as more of a clown, but he's at the top of his game when he's terrifying. Some lessons in life are terrifying to learn.
Yes, this is a perfect episode. Tapestry is my second-favorite TNG episode (next to Yesterday's Enterprise) and my favorite Q episode. I love the banter that Q hurls at Picard in the early white space scene. Thank you for the great discussion! ❤️ 🖖
Never thought about it before this watch, but Q disgustedly talking to Blue Picard about being safe and not taking chances really does harken back to his quote in Q Who. "If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid." Clearly Q has a philosophy that he's trying to impart on Picard.
One of the best of the best from TNG
This is in my top 5 for TNG. Brilliant episode. If I recall, I think Ronald Moore has said that it was a personally significant one for him, as he reflected on the things that led him to end up working on Star Trek. Fun fact: The original premise was in fact called "A Q Carol", and it featured a variety of different moments from Picard's past. Michael Piller made the suggestion to focus on just one of those moments, and Ron Moore picked the Nausicaan fight as the one to focus on.
TNG The sex scoreboard Perv Picard boinks a girl way less than half his age BUT count it. Riker 14 Troi 5 Picard 3 new Dr. Bev 3 Data 2 Geordi 2 Broccoli 2 i Ro 1 Worf 1 Chief/Keiko 1 Extra: Picard scores with a young hottie. No matter some distractors may say YES this counts. This was real as Q said. Picard did the Saluting the Ensign with Marti. I looked for other chances, the young Picard would have had 3 or more scores but old man Picard only got 1. Needed viagra I guess.
For some reason this episode reminded me of a song. or rather the lyrics to it. Song For A Future Generation by the B-52s.
This is an episode that I watched on the first time airing, and I thought it was just a little clichéd? I'd never actually seen "It's a Wonderful Life", but I was aware of the trope. I did "get" the double meaning behind his laughter, but not really worth an S for me.
This is why I enjoy your reactions. This episode is not the first example of this, but I first watched Trek as a kid, growing up on the ‘TNG Era’. As a violent child, I liked explosions. Battles! Spaceships!! So if I had to name my top 10 (or top 100!) before joining your channel, no way would an episode like this be considered. I joined so I could watch you guys watch what were my Favourites! Like most of us, even when we like a show, on rewatch we generally only watch our favourites. Those childish preferences, full of explosions, I carried through the decades, mostly disregarding the rest. So there are so many episodes that iv probably not watched since I was… 10, 12? Disregarded as boring at the time due to the lack of destruction. My top 100 has definitely changed! Cheers guys.
That actress was 17 making out with JL. Idk what went into the casting process maybe she turned in the best audition, but it’s kinda weird. 🤷♂️
They could have called this episode “ It’s a wonderful Knife.”
I understood that lesson when I was around 40 and it changed the way I see life.
In defense of "who would want to be a junior lieutenant", the thing to remember is that starfleet is heavily based on the US navy, and ensign is basically the one rank you're guaranteed to be promoted from unless you're a constant screwup. Picard at this point is 65. He graduated at 21, would have become Lt. JG at 23 or 24, and has been stuck at that point in his career for FOUR DECADES. He would have been at that rank longer than Riker has even been alive, and he's first officer of the Enterprise. And now after the better part of a lifetime of mediocrity, he wants to move toward command. I can't blame Riker for being like "if it ain't happened by now, bud, it's not gonna". If Picard were 26 and in that position, perfectly fine. Even if he were his current age and a Lt. Cmdr leading the stellar cartography department in charge of a dozen officers, it would at least meant he made SOME progress. But he just stalled 3-4 years into his career and became a perpetual cog. It is pretty depressing. Also love how Picard goes to get up when Data calls for a meeting of the senior staff. But yes, this is one of Trek's best "life lesson" type episodes. There may well be mistakes that if we could undo them our lives would be much better, but we could just as easily be taking what we have for granted and end up much worse off. And this is definitely the best use of Q since Q Who. The omniscient Q who teaches tough lessons for our betterment, even if we don't appreciate them in the moment. Prankster Q is fun, but he wears out his welcome after a while. Still, wonder how Picard's life turns out if he just brought a phaser to that fight? One thing though, wile it might have been a little distracting, since they already had the actor(BTW that actor's sister played Meribor in Inner Light), They might have made more use of the guy they got to play young Picard. Not saying don't use PS in the past, but have a few shots from the other characters POV showing younger Picard. In particular though, the scene where he's making out with Marta is kind of uncomfortable when you realize JC Brandy was just over 17 when this was filmed and PS was I think 53. The actor playing young Picard was in his early 20s.
65!?!?
Thanks for sneaking in my take at the end. I don't know when it was said, but I think Josh mentioned not knowing the term for when important parts of your life happen that change the entire course/direction of things. If I am not mistaken, the term you wanted was "turning point."
Q acts as a spiritual teacher in this one, and his teaching is common in spirituality: "Everything you think is a mistake in your life actually is no mistake at all."
The closed time loop you're thinking about is called the Bootstrap Paradox, AKA a Causality Loop, in which there was no origin point for a particular moment or object etc, (think of the song Johnny B. Good in Back To The Future, where Chuck Berry's cousin hears Marty sing it, and then tells Chuck about it, ad infinitum.)
Hihi
Comfortably the best use of Q in TNG in my opinion
Possibly my favourite TNG episode. Really loved the discussion in this one. It's such a great thinker of an episode. I agree, it's not neccessarily about looking back and saying 'You should have acted like this in your youth', or that being a junior lieutenant is bad. There may be Starfleet captains who would experience this same thing and wish for the opposite, that they hadn't become captains and had stayed in the junior ranks to focus on research or whatever. It's about you reflecting on your own personal experiences and how those have shaped the course of your life, and how it's our regrets as well as our deeds which make us who we are.
Btw the actress that played Marta was only 17 when this was filmed. Amazing what they could get away with in Hollywood 30 years ago.
Probably still happens today.. Emmy Rossum was 17 in Phantom of the Opera made out with both the 30 something leads?
I think I like The Inner Light and Tapestry equally. Both excellent episodes, hard to prefer 1 over the other, though I agree they are really different episodes.
It is so interesting. More and more I hear people complaining that this episode is a message of “if you aren’t captain, then your life isn’t worth crap”. This was never the message, and when it first aired it was never looked at that way. Josh hit the nail on the head: it’s a story about PICARD’S LIFE and that anything less than command was unsatisfying for him. I think what has happened is a bunch of Gen Xers who watched this in high school are revisiting it now as 40 or 50 somethings and trying to apply the message to their own lives because maybe they have regrets. Just remember folks: it’s just a TV show.
I think about going back because with fore knowledge you can fix everything be rich now? But it would at the very least be difficult to still have met my ex.. maybe never met her at all or fuck it up so bad she wouldn’t even give me the time of day? Some things you wouldn’t want to change.
I believe the background they used for the starbase was the Logan's Run city model, and yes this is top 10 episode.
I was wondering what that background was
Picard's problem in the alternate reality was that he was Lieutenant junior grade, or whatever. It as all about his stunted personality. The fact that it was what made him a lowly lieutenant is a secondary matter.... but not the issue. In short, it's not about rank, it's about the core of who he became when he altered the timeline.
This is either my 3rd or 4th favorite TNG episode. Period.
My second fav Q episode. So great.
Same!
Q’s best appearance by far I love this episode it’s pretty faultless, s6 is, a couple of missteps aside, one of the best of Trek.
Instead of Domjot, Corey should have just challenged the Naussican to Fizzbin.
Picard "Yes, but what you're after is a royal fizzbin, but the odds in getting a royal fizzbin are astron...... Data, what are the odds in getting a royal fizzbin?" Corey "Who's Data?"
SO GLAD you guys loved this.
THIS EPISODE FINALLY GUYS
Been waiting for this episode for a long time. It's possibly my favorite, or at least top 5. FAMILY is also in my top 5 TNG... and the others are yet to come.
Like wise, cracking open a nice cold beer for this one.