UNCUT - Lessons (TNG S6E19) | Star Trek Journey 261
Comments (172)
With Patrick passing I felt this was the perfect episode to watch again on the evening of his death. Thanks for watching it with me Josh and Alex.
Man I wish i was subscribed during your TNG run. This episode has always been my favorite of TNG. Every narrative choice is perfect. The chemistry between Picard and Daren is superb. It's wonderful every time I rewatch it.
This is the beauty of Star Trek. You can tell all kinds of story that some will like more than others. Personally I think this is rather mid (and Inner Light doesn't make my top 10). I prefer more sci-fi in my sci-fi.
Was so sad to read Wendy Hughes passed away in 2014.
second most Favourite TNG Episode after the Inner Light for me.
200 comments. This is a great episode.
It would have been so easy for them to kill her off and I'm so glad they didn't.
But we needed the moment of her death, and Picard closing the flute 🪈 in the box never to play it again.
One of the most incredible episodes of Star Trek, ever. However, once you see that it is clearly someone else's hands playing the flute in Picard's quarters, you can't unsee it.
I've heard this before, but it makes no sense. Patrick Stewart can't mime playing a flute? They don't need a real flute player, and there's no one on planet earth that can claim Stewart is playing the alien flute wrong.
You never care if the guest character dies because you never really care about the guest character. You care here because you know how much it will hurt Picard, and that's real stakes.
I shed a tear rewatching this as well! What a magnificent episode. The story, the camerawork, the score, all of it. Everyone involved was firing on all cylinders!
This is why inner light is so beloved bc this episode is part of the payoff!!!
I think "The Inner Light" stands just fine on its own, as one of the best in the franchise.
I saw this on first airing back in 1995. I was 14. Thought it was "just an episode". 30 years of life has taught me otherwise. There's only one other (future) episode that's had a similar effect on me. Can't wait for you to get there.
Fuck yeah.
I never noticed Patrick's diastema before this episode
I guess that's why he had fake teeth for "Picard" ....
I thought you guys would flip over this one.
So many episodes I felt middling about, after watching your reaction has lifted my rankings. This is one of them. Thanks guys. 😊
"I've lost people under my command before. People that were very important to me." AKA Jack Crusher.
A few other comments: I love the juxtaposition of Picard being relieved that Darren is alive, yet 8 people still died, and Darren watched one of them burn to death in the fire. Life is like that. It kind of carries echoes of "The Bonding," where Data asks why we feel someone's death as less impactful the less we know them. There is a matte painting in the jefferies tube junction for one of the jeffries tubes that extends from the junction. It looks very different from the actual tube that is part of the set that shows up in other camera angles. I found the kiss scene in the tubes to be a bit rigid and awkward. They were both sitting down playing music, then suddenly they are standing. She just had her arm by her side. Granted, first kisses can be like this. The boardroom scene where they plan for the evacuation was just the best. The pacing of the lines, Riker taking charge... this just reinforced how much Picard trusts Riker and how Riker just thrives under that trust. Hints of jealousy from Crusher... chef's kiss. I love your comment too about Riker and Troi having an "open relationship" lol. And the chemistry between Picard and Darren was just perfection. Whoever in the prop department made Darren's roll up keyboard either didn't study a real keyboard, or was told to make it "alien." Showing two white keys between two adjacent black keys makes no sense whatsoever if this was supposed to mimic a traditional piano. So it must be an "alien scale," and Darren just picked the notes according to "human scale" that Picard was playing. --------------- Also, watching your genuine reactions to this, and getting tears from Josh, is why I'm here. I was born in 1980, and watched these episodes between the age of 7 and 14. I was more interested in the technology, the action sequences, and the adventure of space travel. I was also bought in on Wesley Crusher, and that if he could pilot a starship as a teenager, I could also do that. (Never got the chance though unfortunately.) I even styled my hair like his. Being in my 40's now, especially as a fairly private person who a) is not given to casual romances and b) is married to my career and doesn't find much time to date, this episode hits a lot harder. It feels good to watch you watch it for the first time, and be just as moved by the story. And if this episode brought Josh to tears... well, I won't spoil nothing for you.
I understand and respect Josh's reaction. For my part I don't watch Star Trek because of romance. Sorry. B+
And Beverly Crusher is same rank as Riker. Commander. Three golden pips like Riker. Daren is liutenant commander. Two golden pips and one black. Like Data. Most of the time Riker ranks over Beverly because he is from command division. But in medical field Beverly ranks over.
Beverly ranks over Captain when it comes to medical matters. If she gives quarantine orders, for example, the captain cannot override them. Her authority here is to prevent the spread of deadly disease, and the captain does not have the medical expertise to question this.
Another fun thing to do on rewatch is to watch Troi in the background behind Picard at the concert. The minute Darren walks in and Picard reacts, Troi looks at him. Then for the rest of the concert her gaze is constantly shifting between the two. Sirtis acting the hell out of her empathic powers, and she's not even in focus. She actually does this a lot in the series, and it's a really unsung thing csuse it's offen so subtle it goes under the radar.
Yes, this is a great catch. She does this a bit in "Sarek" during the concert too.
1 Black Pip: Crewman (not a command officer) 1 Gold Pip: Ensign (lowest command rank) 1 Black 1 Gold Pip: Lt Junior Grade (not a full Lieutenant) 2 Gold Pips: Lieutenant 1 Black 2 Gold Pips: Lt Commander (not a full commander) 3 Gold Pips: Commander 4 Gold pips: Captain
I thought no pips was a crewman, and a hollow pip was a Chief
I want to give my props to you two on the really great discussion segment. I don't love this episode as much as Josh did, but still a great Picard character episode and I love the conversation it created.
Man, I would have loved if she’d been an octopus! 🐙
Picard is an open-minded guy
The writers played you! They knew you’d expect the trope of killing off the love interest, and turned it around on you. 😁
And thus it was handled in an even better way for the ending. Kudos to the writers.
Given how private a person Jean-Luc is, I'm convinced that Darren is the first person he's played the Inner Light folk melody for since his lifetime on Kataan. When the probe gave Picard the flute as the only tangible relic even while imploring him to "tell them of us", it's clear, then, that it's their music that is meant to be the primary conduit. Using music to pass along the emotions of how they love, how they teach their children, how they live as community. When Picard shared it with Darren and she joined in with piano harmony to "complete" the song (it was only played as a solo line in Inner Light), the feels hit even harder knowing it's a fulfillment of the promise Jean-Luc made to his Ressikan family to share their memory with others.
In my head cannon, the probe is somewhere in Daystrom Station being restored to full operation, so that others can experience the lifetime that Picard did. To me this is what the Kataan people wanted. A living museum piece that many people could experience. Likely the probe shut down because it's power supply was only sufficient for one experience.
And on the subject of pips. Referring to the pips that are a solid gold disc as full pips, and the pips that are a thin ring of gold around a black center as half pips, these are the ranks. 0 pips: Enlisted men with no officer rank. "Crewman" is a typical title. 0.5 pips: Not used as far as I know 1 pip: Ensign 1.5 pips: Lieutenant Jr. Grade (generally still just called Lieutenant) 2 pips: Lieutenant 2.5 pips: Lieutenant-Commander (sometimes just called Commander, but not always, and never just Lieutenant) 3 pips: Commander 3.5 pips: Not used 4 pips: Captain Admirals' insignia seems inconsistent, but sometimes we see them with 6 pips, 3 on each side of the collar. There are different gradations of Admiral, just as there are three different ranks with "Lieutenant" in the name, so I would assume there's probably one for 5 pips and one for 5.5, but I don't think we ever see that. Worf is a Lieutenant. Data, Geordi, and Troi (and Daren) are all Lieutenant-Commanders. Crusher and Riker are Commanders.
Pip! Pip! Foray!
E tier! Beverly loyalists unite! ...is what I would say if Commander Daren hadn't absolutely knocked it out of the park to an absurd degree. Still, on principle I have to downgrade it from S to A because I accept no substitutes for Beverly Crusher.
No substitutes? Why? Other than her looks she is the most empty character of the TNG crew. She has zero character growth up to this point.
As much as I love this episode, I can't help but wonder- what exactly is the point of predicting the formation of a star two million years from now?!?
Perhaps if they figure out how to do that, they can apply it in reverse, modeling how Star systems that already exist were formed.
One of my favorites too. It’s so perfect and everyone is at the top of their game. Not to mention that it’s a story of relationship that’s not fated to work out. Everyone can relate to that. So so good. AND THE MUSIC
RIP Wendy Hughes! Seriously one of the best reactions so far. I love this episode for the music and Picard finally getting to tell someone about his other life. And don’t worry Josh, you’re not the only burly guy brought to tears by this episode! I’ve watched it for the last 30 years and still get emotional sometimes. And seriously, when has Frere Jacques ever sounded so good?
A great reaction and a truly great episode! Well done!
you guys always love thses eps im mid on, oh well
And rag on the episodes you love?
i was gonna watch and then i saw the episode, not one of my favorites, i hate eps where the main character falls heads over heel in one show, they should be concentrating on crusher, not randos
Hey random thought here - do you think they found and removed that dude's body who got killed by the baryon sweep? Maybe Darren picked that spot as his body was stinking up all the other tubes.
I've always assumed the tissue gets obliterated.
You guys have GOT to go to the Star Trek Original Set Tour in Ticonderoga, NY. For any Star Trek fan, it is THE place to visit. My daughter actually squealed when the turbolift doors opened onto the bridge. It's absolute magic.
So I really don’t want to ruin this for anyone, but this parody (don’t worry, no spoilers)… https://youtu.be/DChJ2FtCP5U?feature=shared
OUCH!!! 😣😖😣😖😫
This is fundamentally why I'm here - guys, this episode right here and your reaction throughout it, a perfect example of why i am loving being on this journey with you. I have seen this episode so many times since I was a kid, but seeing it alongside you means I get to see it ‘new’ as an adult in my thirties, and this time it really really hit. This is peak TNG.
... ditto. 🖖
Alex talking about actors having chemistry and Josh describing exactly why this was one of his favourite episodes sums up why TNG is (in my opinion) is the best Trek show - it's a rare combination of everything coming together and all of the cast playing off each other so well and genuinely seeming to have a connection. I've been looking forward to seeing you watch this one since your comments about how we'll likely not hear about the flute or the events in The Inner Light again, it's such a great way to bring it back. Also loving how you picked up that Darren looks similar to Crusher, they look like they could be sisters!
Incredible . To see Picard so happy brings me such joy. One of the truly great episodes which never gets stale. That music as it gently fills the ship is magical. What a wonderful tribute to all those long gone people that still live in Picard’s heart .
Wendy Hughes is possibly my all time favourite guest star. She fit the show like a glove - every scene she was in it felt like she could have been in the show for seasons. Perfect chemistry with every main cast member and just fit the rhythm perfectly.
I am so glad you had this experience with this episode. I guess you could say it was your "Inner Light" moment.
Another time that watching it with you at age 35 is so different than seeing it for the first time as a little kid. Every time I go through Star Trek on my own, it's colored by it bringing me back to my childhood. You guys bring a different perspective and I love it.
Very well said! I’m having the same experience.
Lessons in A Major
Actually, the "folk melody" starts in D Major, switches to E Major, and the final arpeggio is in F♯ major. 🤷♂️
Sadly it seems director Robert Wiemer who skillfully directed this episode also died in 2014 the same year as actress Wendy Hughes passed away
Not only one of the best episodes of the entire franchise for me, but it also retroactively makes The Inner Light even better by giving it some real on-screen resonance. Almost shockingly good, even by late TNG standards.
😭 I love how much you guys care about the characters it makes all the difference to how good your reactions are.
Guys, listen to this! 30 years later I'm still slicing onions... https://youtu.be/RyYhbC0MXlY?si=-ngoB8Vo9NdbdxPQ
There are spoiler images in that video
Shooting for TNG was around 8 days, but prep on episodes would be 4 weeks (on average) for director prep, casting, location scouting, set building, etc. Writing would be mostly done before prep starts, though there was always last minute rewrites, even up to the night before shooting the scene.
Talking about chemistry between people, there's a theory explaining why some people click and some don't. There's many different versions of it depending on what you find, but I like to go off of Keirsey's 4 Temperaments. Basically, everyone is in one of 4 groups of how they percieve the world. Of these groups, 2 are what are called Sensory types, or S-Types. These are Artisans and Guardians. For reference, Worf and O'Brian are Guardians, Vash, Riker, Patrick Stewart, and Q are Artisans. Guardians tend to be very down to earth with strong traditional or cultural principles, Artisans are all about the adventure, fun, and charm with sometimes loose morals. Them both being Sensory though, they have a similar way in which they process the world, and what they value as most important. This style tends to me more "what you see is what you get". They live in the world of practical things you can see and touch. On the contrary you have the other 2 groups, Idealists and Rationals. These are called Intuitive Types, or N-Types. Idealists are more philosophical and hold themselves to model universal ideals, hence the name, and include people like Guinan and Picard. Rationals are the more logical or science minded ones. They include people like Geordi, Spock, Data, and Nella. N-Types both like deeper and more abstract things. So naturally, according to this, Picard and Nella would click because they are both Intuitive types. They are going to see the world similarly sharing common values and interests. Whereas Picard and Vash would clash as much as Picard and Q because you have an N-Type with an S-Type. Their most important values are going to be highly different, if not completely opposite from each other. That's why they don't make sense together. Vash would be every Artisan's dream, but not Picards. They are more like a novelty to each other. Any pairing can work in theory, but in general you find the most chemistry between either two N-Types, or two S-Types. When you mix the two, the relationship is a lot less likely to be compatible unless there is a lot of work involved.
Why did you include Patrick Stewart, the actor, among all of the TNG characters? That was an odd choice.
This was TNG's City on the Edge of Forever Kirk-Edith Keeler moment. And they delivered.
as i said in the trailer, when he playing the flute in his quarters it not Picard hands but a musician hiding under the camera, once you see it you cant unsee it
That camera pan from the hands on the piano around to Darren sitting at it had me wondering if there was a switch up during the frames we only saw the piano.
We've established over decades of Trek that the sort of person who becomes a captain are in a relationship with their ships and find the Vosh and Cmdr Darrens of the world to just be annoying. Picard would be more likely to play with his flute on Raisa like Riker does and keep it off the ship.
So that's why he rubbed Worf's console like that in "Starship Mine" .....
One of the things I feel really contributed to the believable romance and how strong it felt, was the respect and restraint of the other characters. Each character provided a performance that meant they knew what was going on, but there were no jabs. They provided a performance that showed their characters knew this was special. What I think is a great depiction of this is when Picard and Daren are talking in stellar cartography about their turbo lift incident. One of the lieutenants walks in the room, but they are out of focus, but they have a momentary hesitation in their stride and you can glimpse a subtle smile. That was what I believe the writers were going for in relation to how they wanted the vibe to be. The recognition of the romance by everyone else, but have it just out of sight, because when you have something special like this, all that matters is what the two people in it are having.
This episode wouldn't have the same impact if it were in season 1. Nice placement in the show for sure, earning the character building and attachment for them over the years.
Exactly. They've spent years building up these characters. At this point in the show, something like this has been earned. You can't fake it. It just has to have time and development to mean anything.
I loved seeing Josh smile so much at Picard and Daren's interaction.
The love Josh is expressing for this episode and for this show is a love I feel for Star Trek of this era (TNG through ENT) as well, especially TNG and DS9, and I love that people younger than me are discovering these shows and making similar connections with it. I think this will continue to happen for a long time, and that warms my heart, honestly. On a separate but related note, I think the love most (all?) of us here have for these shows is why we tend to sometimes be soft graders on re-watches because it's hard to remove all of that love when judging even a not-so-great episode from these series.
Stewart once said he wasn’t smiling on purpose during the duet. It was just the absurdity hit him of this guy on the floor with the back of his head pressing against his legs as he wriggled playing the flute and tried to keep his hands in the right position for the camera. He looks like he’s is trying to stifle a giggle at one point.
I honestly don't think I've seen this episode before. I tried to watch this show every week as a kid on tv in the 80s/90s (including the summer reruns), and also have seen most of it at least a 2nd time from syndication/DVDs, but there always were a few episodes I just never saw for whatever reason. This honestly must be one of them. Because I certainly wouldn't have forgotten it. Such a great watch. I could probably nitpick a few details if I wanted to, but I don't want to. It further solidifies Picard as a Legend. Easily one of my favorite TNG episodes from now on.
I know, I was only able to see all episodes then because a freind of mine had it on VHS. This episode is defenitely one of those I saw only because of the recordings. And only once.
What a special treat this was... I think the cake analogy at the end fits this perfectly. Hey, an egg, some sugar, flour... not that exciting on their own, but if you mix them at just the right time, in just the right quantities, and bake them so precisely for the right time and temperature... then magic emerges. As great as this episode was, there's still a whole damn Hogwarts worth of magic left to come.
#cakemagic 🎂🥮🍰
Easily one of my favorite TNG episodes!
Quite the contrast with the last couple o' season 1 DS9 episodes, eh? Makes this feel like a complete slam dunk followed by a teabag.
Yeah watching mid-season DS9 S1 vs TNG S6 isn't fair
I think I heard that the actress that played Darren was a contender for Beverly. Like Rokana was a contender for Riker, and Hugh a contender for Wesley.
1:12:45 Why are we here, Josh? We're here to help each other.
Someone needs to play the Picard/Daren rendition of the Inner Light theme at Patrick Stewart's funeral.
Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, shall we?
NOT the episode I expected to make Josh break down! 🤯🤯🤯
Yeah. Nearly 7 seasons deep, you guys are definitely trolling about rank and insignia. Right? :)
Nope!
34:15 How could you NOT think about that, Josh??? They're perfectly setting that up!!
19:19 Wow, Josh dropping the classic music knowledge. 🤯
I think they watch with subtitles.
"Remember me" is officially "Forget about me" compared to "Lessons" now!
Yo!!!!
2:32 It's a bit ridiculous that the Enterprise computer has been completely taken over by Stellar Cartography. And any such an extensive outage would have to have been approved by the captain in advance. The only real logical/writing flaw in this episode.
In the episode, Picard clearly reminds Riker that ship's resources are his responsibility. It was also during the night. I'm guessing Stellar Cartography only used all of the computer resources that were not being used for essential systems like ship operations, life support, etc. But it is odd though for there not to be a shipwide notification, so someone waking up at 3am and wanting a tea would know the replicators are down. But Picard being a busy man, he may not have seen the notification? Also, think about the computer resources needed to simulate an entire star system forming. They could be modelling it right down to the sub atomic particle, or even down to the standard model of particle physics. So all the forces; strong and weak nuclear, electromagnetic, and gravitational - have to be calculated down to that scale. Think about how many GPU type processors are used to run modern AI. Yeah, I think they needed A LOT of computing power for that.
This is the first time I have gone back and rewatched a full uncut reaction from you guys. Often I'll watch the YouTube cut later down the line, but this one was big. Your love for these characters feels like mine, and likely many others. They are at once both heroes and also vulnerable people like us, and watching you both experience catharsis for this story, and that empathy for them that grows in our brains like family members we care for is what binds us to this franchise. You both hit nails on the head. Josh noted how we care because we feel we know them so well, and we do. Modern TV's 10 episodes every 2 years does not build that. And Alex was even more correct that performances like this are a theft of the greatest moments of wonder we'll ever see on screen. Makes me even more excited to watch your journey with the DS9 cast, who I feel get that kind of deep character growth time and time again, over any other Trek storyline.
This is definitely on my re-watch reaction list, along with Sarek, The Defector, and a few others I can't recall ATM.
In my TNG rewatches over the years, I never really gave Lessons its due attention. That’ll change going forward and your reaction is the reason why!
You guys shit on Buffy, but Alex's comment reminds me of a great line from the spinoff "Angel". "If nothing we do ultimately matters, then all that matters is what we do" (and its effects on us and the people around us)
I mean, the bonds of humans to their partners and children make perfect evolutionary sense in that those bonds outcompeted lack of bonds where organisms didnt have investment in their offspring under the specific dynamics of that species and its environment.
To me there multiple risks with having kids. The threat that society could interfere with how you are raising your kid and take them away. But also the whole idea of being bonded to someone where you don't have any information about them. Like sure, you think, well I'm going to raise them right, but at the end of the day, what if your kid turns out to be an awful person and your just stuck with that bond and there's nothing you can do about it? Like, no matter how well you think your raise your kid, what if they turn into a neo-nazi wife beating piece of crap?
The way I look at it is that there are no guarantees in life. I didn't chose to be born, but I am here. I didn't have a great upbringing, but I also could have had it much worse. My parents don't deserve my love for the things they put me through. But at the end of the day, I am my own free agent and I have to decide how to live my life. So if I have kids, my intentions are to learn from my upbringing and do my best to show them the love and support they need. But I cannot protect them from things outside of my control, and must accept that they are free agents as well and must decide for themselves how to live their lives. And they could end up hating me for mistakes I made. Such is life.
There's kind of an irony with the theme- Stewart compromising his acting by having his real life gf play a romantic interest in the show vs this episode where two professional actors made something work.
Who is this real life GF you are talking about?
So the actual answer to the troi uniform thing seems to be the same with the fish. Episodes are filmed out of order and the episodes filmed post chain of command have her in a starfleet uniform.
She still wears her casual attire from time to time post Chain of Command
And it's called a "runabout" as in "to run about" a mini ship that isn't designed to go too far, it has greater range then a shuttle but is based out of a home based. It has warp 6 capacity, phasers and photons, shields, etc, and can hold its own in combat vs a shuttle. Basically the ideal mini-ship to take on excursions to the Gamma Quadrant. While we've only seen the cockpit, there's a lot of space in the back for transporting cargo or people.
Blue is science and medical. Gold is engineering, security, and operations. Red is command and everything else.
Data is the Operations officer.
A Lt Commander has two gold pips and one black pip. A full commander has three gold pips
similarly, a LT junior grade has one gold pip and one black pip while a full LT has two gold pips. For example. Geordi started in season 1 as a LT junior grade with one gold pip and one black pip, was promoted to full LT in season two with two gold pips, and in season three became LT commander with two gold pips and one black pip. Data is a LT Commander with two gold pips and one black pip while Riker is a full Commander with three gold pips. Captains have four gold pips and ensigns one. When you get to the four classes of admirals (really three because there is only one Fleet Admiral) it's different with boxes around pips.
my guess why the fish and the troi is that the eps are filmed out of order and this was filmed before chain of command
Except there were scenes where she's in uniform in this episode. Her uniform is only on when she is on duty.
I'm so glad you loved this episode!! Watching The Inner Light will never be the same for you after this... 🩷
Could you believe the writers on Lessons were also credited with the story for Imaginary Friend?
I always think of "Lessons" as the sequel to "The Inner Light". They go together. They enhance each other. Not only does the back story from Picard's other life provide a lot of the emotion in this episode, seeing in "Lessons" that he still carries that life with him at all times changes the way you see "The Inner Light" when you rewatch it.
TNG The sex scoreboard Picard scores a loving, caring, I am sure, passionate lovie making. I am guessing they fucked like lions and broke the bed. Nella is a real screamer I bet, and I am guessing JLP is a moaner too. No wonder Riker was nervous. It was very loud at night. Riker 14 Troi 5 Picard 4 new Dr. Bev 3 Data 2 Geordi 2 Broccoli 2 i Ro 1 Worf 1 Chief/Keiko 1 Extra: On a side note. I am not ashamed to say this episode makes me cry like a little baby with colic.
Pulaski 16*
Josh enjoyed watching Picard smile talking to Darren almost as much as I enjoyed watching Josh smile talking about this episode.
💯
I seldom cue up a copy for uncut reactions unless it's a special occasion and this was one of those. One of my favorite reactions from you guys! Season 6 is my favorite season of TNG and it still has more in store for you.
Alright, who's chopping onions?
I had a portable keyboard smaller but similar to the one in the episode but the sound reproduction was so awful it sounded like a bad video game score when played.
Did you notice how the layout of white keys was off? For example, there were two white keys between what would be a C# and D# on a traditional piano. I wonder if the prop dep't was just inept or if they were told to make an "alien" keyboard?
Wendy Hughes has a big year in 1993 she was also a cast member of the hugely underrated Homicide: Life on the Street that had a high profile post Super Bowl premiere.
Loved the reaction to this and the discussion. This is one of my favourites. It's the episode my dad would always pull out on VHS and force me to watch to try and inspire me to practise the piano more often!
I'm not sure what's making me feel more emotional... the episode or Josh's heartfelt reaction! 🤔
But we all want to know is how Josh's wife reacted to it!
Geordi "I thought I heard......music." Data listening intently "Hmm. I hear nothing Geordi. Perhaps you are losing your mind. Under the circumstances I believe it would be prudent to relieve you of duty until counselor Troi can perform a psychiatric workup." Like many people this is an episode that flew under my radar for many years. However when I did my big star trek franchise rewatch starting back in 2017, it really stood out to me. It did hit pretty hard still watching this time. Not as hard I would say it did for you guys, but this is a fantastic part of Picard's journey and an excellent episode. It's also always struck me how much the choice of actress reinforces that Picard has a type. Both blue eyed, red haired, early 40s senior officers in the science/medical division with assertive personalities and a lot of ambition. I guess Beverly was flattered and jealous all at once. Even though I'm glad she survived, I'm always disappointed they shuffled her off the Enterprise at the end. I mean I get the whole not wanting to order her into a dangerous situation, but it's almost comical how right after he starts a relationship with her, a situation pops up that requires her exact skills in an incredibly dangerous situation. She's head of stellar sciences for crying out loud. Probably one of the last people on a ship to be sent on most away missions. I think they could stand to give it another go. I mean sure any time there's a risk of the ship being destroyed she could also be killed, but that's a bit different, and it could happen almost anywhere she transferred to. Just seemed like giving up a bit too quick. Still, fantastic episode, and the next one is a favourite of mine as well.
Regarding the unlikely circumstances that puts her in danger; I had a thought this time watching when Worf said the storm was twice as strong as what the compound was built for. Q. Yes, Q. Behind the scenes, he created a situation that would test the relationship right out of the gate. So why isn't he actually present? Q is actually a compassionate character, he just doesn't like to show it. As opposed to his opinions of Picard and Vash, Q actually sees something genuine with these two and doesn't want to openly interfere. So he increases the storm twofold and vectors it to the compound, knowing Darren will be on the away team. We also never see Q responsible for the death of someone in episode. Yes, Q collectively decided to terminate Amanda's parents, but that wasn't shown on screen. So Q's quiet involvement leaves it ambiguous as to his indirect involvement in those 8 deaths. His motive? Like I said, I believe Q to be actually compassionate towards humans, but he hides that behind his insufferable character. It explains why he tries to keep them from exploring the dangerous unknows of deep space. So in this episode, he knew the consequences of this relationship if it were able to last months instead of days, should something like this happen much later. So he put the test in front of them before a much deeper bond could really do greater damage to one or both. Split them up for their own good. I also have a theory that Q is actually an evolved humanity, and the Q we see is a distant descendant of Picard. I want to even say he is Picard himself, playing a foil to his mortal self in the past, but I can't find a reason to allow Picard to live long enough to evolve into Q, nor is that how evolution works.
Why are they making all the burn patients walk to sickbay, you can just beam there.
They generally don’t whenever they’re having transporter interference (which they mentioned in this episode). A site-to-site transport is essentially to transports, doubling the risk of a transporter malfunction
Here is a tribute video to Wendy Hughes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgUIKxhluU0
You know what this episode was missing? A Season 1 Ferengi and a kidnapping plot!!
BOOO!
I loved that scene with Riker and Picard, because it shows how great their relationship has become. Riker is perfectly comfortable going directly to Picard when he feels uncomfortable. Also shows how professional and adult these guys are. It’s too important to just go on being awkward.
Today, for the first time since I began watching your Star Trek reaction videos, I was compelled to watch an episode TWICE in the same sitting. I’ve made no secret in my comments that TNG is my very favorite Star Trek series. But somehow, “Lessons” and a handful of other episodes has always eluded me. Today was the first time I watched the episode…really watched it…and my reactions were as visceral as yours. I want to thank you both, Josh and Alex, for helping make “Lessons” one of my new favorite Top Ten Next Generation episodes! Now I need to figure out which of my previous Top Ten I’ll have to give the boot! 🖖
I really like this one - love the music in this. Picard definitely has a type tho
I think we got used to Alex being the one getting hit with those emotions. It was Josh all episode this time! I guess The Inner Light hits a little harder in hindsight. I think part of that is how rare those kinds of callbacks are on this show.
He's a big softie on the inside!!
Josh: look people, I'm stupid Also Josh 10 minutes later: instantly recognizes Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata by name after just two notes. Excellent reaction, guys. I LOVE this episode. It's both heartwarming and heart wrenching, and a low-key great slice of life episode. Aquiel barked so Lessons could run. Hard to believe they're both in the same season.
I sometimes know things, but not often
I like the tiny detail when Picard and Crusher are having dinner. Talking about the herbal tea, he said "I found it in the replicator files." He already didn't want to tell Beverly where he got it from.
Picard was trying to keep his options open. What a Chad.
I missed this one on transmission and caught it when binge-watching the whole series on DVD for the first time. For years, I had no idea there was a follow-up to the ideas in The Inner Light and The Perfect Mate, all rolled into one. I tried discussing it with my friends who were fans and everyone just seemed to think it was "ok" or forgot about it. It's good to see you two and the comments here as moved as I was.
This actress died recently. 😔 2023?
2014
Trying to imagine the worst way a plot could've ruined this episode and all I can think is, "and then it turned out she was a salt vampire!"
I like this one for sure. She has much better chem with Picard. the Music and tieback for inner light was top tier. This is how as our knowledge of historical episodes make these things better and while I am sure you could watch this without seeing all the other stuff it just makes it so much better. but I think the new thing should be Picard must suffer rather than Troy .. just saying
“Don’t fall in love.” -Barry Manilow, “Copacabana”
I think a lot of people don't realise that this episode is part of the reason they like the inner light as much as they do
I can only speak for myself, but I would consider the Inner Light a top 5 episode for the series and Lessons... well, I want to say a bottom 5 episode for the sake of symmetry, but objectively speaking it's clearly far better than bottom 5. Still, what I can say is that it's somewhere in the bottom 5 - 10 in the series in terms of whether I personally would want to watch it if I tuned in and it was on. I just really find this episode a chore to watch and given the choice I'd gladly watch Angel One or The Royale over this one. In fact, if this comment weren't already so long I'd argue at length why The Inner Light very specifically serves as a kind of counterpoint to illustrate why this episode is so weak.
You think Picard uses that routine with every woman? “Yknow, this one time I encountered a probe and it gave me a flute…”
I cried way more than you. (And I've seen this episode loads of times.) Now I'm like Alex - I need a dry shirt.
This is me every time I watch The Offspring.
Amazing episode, never fails to make me cry multiple times. I'm SO glad they didn't kill her off, it gave them a chance to part in a way that wasn't traumatic. Picard has already had more trauma in his life than I think most people could handle! And yes I hated that they had to part in the end but they did it in such a honest, mature, healthy way.
I love your shirt, Alex! It's awesome!
Wait, what, 40 unsold ones! What what! Why! Where! What! Where to order??
Personal favorite of this season but now that I am in my late 50s it has more emotional impact. I cried like a baby
An episode that I can not find fault with. Accept the poor use of obvious stand in hands for Picards flute playing. Never noticed that till I watched the episode for the umpteenth time, the story is that good.
I'm thinking also a stand in for Darren at the concert. The weird pan from her hands, to just the piano, to her sitting in front of it. Enough time to switch from a musician stand in to the actor?
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who ends up watching this through tears 😅 both happy ones and heart wrenching ones.. This episode puts you right through the wringer, the link with inner light in a way that doesn't feel contrived but natural to the episode, everything, even the danger that gets faced because on first watch of course you don't know if she'll survive since she doesn't have main cast plot armour *chefs kiss* for the whole episode.
Even on rewatch, knowing she will survive, we are still bought into the agony Picard feels over believing he has lost her. This is how you create tension around the possibility of the ship blowing up or someone dying. When we as an audience are certain it won't happen, the story needs to convince us that the characters are suffering through the ordeal and facing a seemingly hopeless outcome.
You guys are great keep up the show!