UNCUT - All Good Things (TNG SERIES FINALE) | Star Trek Journey 326
Comments (168)
I have a horrible feeling Josh and Alex might actually like Discovery. I you don't like sci-fi and all you want is emotional character drama then it's.. still terrible actually. I love this finale but DS9's finale is just a little better.
this was a perfect TNG episode and was the epitome of what Star Trek TNG could be. I'm so glad you guys took this journey. So much more awaits you!
DS9 is 100% Alex coded in terms of character drama being the driving force of the show. Voyager is somewhere in between DS9 and TNG in that theme.
This damn last scene... gets me every time.
Hey guys! I envy you guys so much. To be able to watch the entire Star Trek franchise with fresh, unexpecting eyes must be a joy! As a child of the 80/90's, and a lifelong Star Trek fan I really apprieciate what you guys do, and it gives me a feeling of rediscovering the things I love about this franchise. What I really love about your reactions is that you rembember shit. You are connecting the dots, you remember the guest stars and the returning characters. You remember the canon. That is what makes your content so good for me as a trekkie. All I can say is thank you, keep up the good work, and dont't you dare stop now. You hava a ton of incredible Star Trek content left to go. It will be a blast, for you, and for us! Best regards, Eirik from Norway
Might I make a suggestion? After season three of DS9 but before starting season four you should watch the first TNG movie, just before the season 5 final watch the second film, the third after the DS9 final, and the last after finishing Voyager... by the way will you be starting Voyager soon?
Yeah, they have to do the movies in the release order with the TV shows. I hope they are still making content by the time they would get to Nu Trek.
Just wanted to thank you guys, TNG was a family to me, it's been a ride but all good things...
On Netflix this episode 25 is followed by TNG episode 26 “Retrospective “, an in depth look at TNG hosted by Jonathan Frakes. Well worth watching to see behind the scenes.
Little Easter egg: they mention the u.s.s Bozeman as one of the ships headed towards the neutral zone. Thats frasier’s ship.
So when are we doing the next DS9?
Spoiler: Dr. Shepard never appears on screen again inTNG
I found the episode extremely dull. But I did like Picard’s joining the poker game at the end.
Star Trek is one of those shows that grows with you throughout your life. It's why many of us have watched this show countless times, whether it's through binge watching it in order, or having random episodes on in the background, or watching reaction channels like you guys. Everytime you watch an episode, or watch the series over again, you get something new out of it. Watching TNG over again right now after having completed the show is a completely different experience than watching it blind. And it will be a new experience if you watch it again after finishing DS9, VOY, or any of the other Star Trek shows. And it becomes a new experience just as you experience more of life in general and see how much if it is reflected in Star Trek. I swear I quote this show everyday because I find it so relevant to everything. So don't be too sad. Your journey is far from over. TNG becomes like an old friend that you can always go back to whenever you're feeling down. Now that you've seen the show, it never really leaves you. Just like the finale, the journey continues on, and the sky's the limit.
Well, even though I watched just after midnight on Saturday/Sunday, I'm only now commenting because work has been stupid and I get home and start nodding off within a couple hours. But I finally found the time to read through other people's comments and make my own, so here goes. AGT may only be my 2nd favourite Trek finale, but more than any other it feels like wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket in front of the fire on a winter day. It's the comfort food of Trek finales. It's got all the full circle moments you could ask for, and it gives the whole cast their moments to shine. Also great that they gave Denise a chance to be there for the end even though she left so early on. Not Wesley though, fuck that guy. One scene that was a neat little callback to previous episodes(Time Squared and especially Cause and Effect) was the discussion in the conference room. Whenever they encounter one of these situations, they always go through the same reasoning. Riker suggests changing course, Picard counters that doing that could well be the thing that leads to their destruction, and they proceed to find out RIKER WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!!! Every time. If they'd listened in C&E and changed course, no collision, and they only escaped when they used his plan. And here, if old man Picard had listened to Riker and not gone to the Devron system, he wouldn't have created the anomaly in the first place!!! Q's demeanor in this episode seems to have reverted back to a much more sadistic/judgmental form than we've seen him become over the seasons. He basically laughs off humanity's extinction, and seems to take pleasure in telling Picard that he will himself be responsible for it. That ending courtroom scene changes the context though. The continuum wanted humanity tested, and while Q helped Picard out, I think he also understood a little "tough love" was needed. He couldn't appear to be the more benevolent Q we've come to know. It would be too easy for Picard to lean on him for help. He knew Picard and his crew needed to be up against the wall, and they needed to be on their own, because that's when they're at their best, when they only have each other to rely on. He had faith in them to figure it out, and they did. At the end when Picard asks what he's trying to tell him, and Q leans in and stops himself, I interpret that as Q nearly reverting to lecturing the way he used to, before realizing that if Picard can open his mind enough to figure out the continuum's test, he can figure out Q's lesson as well. He's acknowledging that Picard and humanity have "grown up", and don't need him to give them the answers anymore. It was also fitting that O'Brien was here for the finale given he was here at the beginning. Also one last appearance for Nakamura and Tomalak(last real appearance being in The Defector IIRC). Also credit to Brent Spiner for the subtle and not so subtle differences between the Data of the different time periods. Reaching back to that season 1 Data bag of taking everything way to literally and asking a million questions about mundane things we all take for granted. Also the subtle changes in future Data using contractions and showing subtle emotions. It shows just how much Data has developed since Farpoint. Everyone always mentions the poker scene, and rightly so. It really is just about the perfect way to end the series. But I have to say the speech to the Farpoint crew, placing absolute trust in them knowing everything they'll go on to accomplish, even if they have no idea, and every, last, one of them jumping into action without hesitation. Warms my heart every time. Yes, it's sad that the TNG journey has ended(minus the movies), but plenty of great times ahead as DS9 heads into S3. And remember, if you ever find yourself missing the show, you can always come back and visit your friends, here, on the Enterprise. See you.........out there.
Yes, I noticed that callback to Time Squared and Cause and Effect in this one, too. I find it amusing that they keep having this argument and Picard's decision is consistently wrong. And it is OBVIOUSLY wrong. This bothers me in Cause and Effect every time. Because they hadn't been tipped off that there was a problem the first time. They would have had no reason to stop or turn around. It is obviously going forward that causes them to encounter the problem. I've always wondered what would have happened if they'd simply stopped dead in their tracks when they realized they were in a loop. (I'm unsure it is that clear cut in Time Squared, as I haven't seen that one in a long time.)
I haven't been around for a while and I've fallen way, way behind of TNG and DS9 because of...things, but I had to see this one. I will gradually catch up, sooner or later. It'll take a while, since before this the last reaction I watched of TNG was "Lessons", and the last one of DS9 was "Babel", way back near the beginning. Jeez, I really did fall behind. One thing I haven't had a chance to mention because of not yet watching the reactions to the pertinent episodes, is that I hated the Worf/Troi romance with every fiber of my being. I could stand it in "Parallels" because of the alternate realities, but that's it. Don't know the general consensus around here because I haven't looked at the other comments since the last reaction I watched, but I really, really, really, hated it everywhere else. No, it wasn't because I was rooting for a Riker/Troi reunion, but although I liked the way Troi and Worf had a close friendship, especially with her helping him and Alexander, I just didn't think the romance worked, at least not for me. Glad you liked the ending scene. I blink back tears every time.
As implausible as the Worf/Troi romance seems to me, there are far more egregiously implausible ones to come...
The “magnificent seven” tng crew. wisdom (P), ambition (R), logic (D), empathy (T), nurture (C), ingenuity (L), & honor (W).
Loved watching this with you! You are right that one of the great pleasures about TNG is that you can always return to it and have fun with your beloved characters, ship and stories. I really like the TNG finale. The writers seemed to genuinely understand why the fans loved the show. You're right that it seems like this episode was made for everyone. I like Q in it quite a bit. The final scene is perfection. Even though DS9 is my favorite Trek series, I think TNG had a better finale. It doesn't try to do too much. It gives you a look back at where you started, shows a glimpse of a possible future, and then sends our characters out on more adventures which are left to our imagination. Well, our imagination and a few movies. Happy to hear that you two liked the episode and loved the show overall.
'Credit spoilers' were not really a thing back then because you would know who was guest starring from both the preview and the TV Guide listing. Can I also just say, it was really fun rewatching the series with you guys. I almost felt like I was watching it for the first time again.
I don't recall if the original TV spot showed us Tasha or O'Brien, but Q was featured prominently.
Some extended media recommendations. Both the 25th Anniversary TOS computer game and its sequel, Judgement Day, are quite good, voiced by the actors, and available from most older game distributors (Steam, GOG, etc.). This is also DeForest Kelly's final appearance as Dr. McCoy before he passed. It can be a little tricky to find really good novels from this era these days -- strongly urge you to try used bookstores first -- but I did enjoy the recent novel Pliable Truths, which takes place during the Enterprise's first visit to DS9 to drop off the Chief prior to the start of that series. You might also try Lost to Eternity, which looks into the aftermath of ST:4.
The game footage for Star Trek: Klingon is available on YouTube and is a pretty fun watch. Somebody else can verify this for spoilers, but I think it only references TNG.
Watching Alex go off on rants over the comments is almost as entertaining as the reactions LOL Quick someone tell Alex that star trek 6 is about the cold war
Lol. You had to have been around when the Cold War was ending to appreciate The Undiscovered Country.
10 DS9 episodes until Star Trek Generations 14 DS9 episodes until Star Trek Voyager begins
Man I had no idea we were so close to Voyager, I thought DS9 would get at least a couple seasons of it being on its own
Riker got the 'ol "Shades of Grey" treatment for his past self. I choose to interpret that as the greatest inside joke ever snuck in.
I've watched each episdoe of TNG dozens of times a lot over a hundred but I rarely watch the finale, maybe 4 times in 20 years , I don't like goodbyes so weird for a TV show but not just any TV show.
Just a note on them moving DS9. It wasn't a single line of dialogue as you suggest. It was a fairly significant plot point, complete with the Chief arguing with the computer over it not being a recommended procedure, and them almost tearing the station apart.
To be perfectly honest, my first time watching DS9, I totally didn't get that that was a permanent change in the station's position.
Back when this first aired, here in Toronto they broadcast it at the Skydome (baseball stadium), which was at the time I believe still the largest tv in North America. There were over 30,000 people there... It was wild. One of my favourite memories as an adolescent.
Videogames you say? A Final Unity is basically a missing TNG episode, all characters fully voiced by the original actors. Do a lets play or something like that.
This was my first and only episode of TNG that I saw during the original run. I was 11 and immediately hooked.
you still got the TNG movies, so it not over completely
I'm interested to see how much they like the movies. I feel like they are going to have wildly different takes on them than the general consensus. We'll see.
deleted scene- (Unfortunately only version i could find names a character from voyager in the descriptive text, just the name and actress but if that is too much dont look, only version available) https://www.reddit.com/r/voyager/comments/1dy65w4/deleted_scenes_from_tngs_all_good_things_in_which/
From Memory Alpha- "Early versions of this story included the Borg attack at Wolf 359 as a fourth main timeline. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, 3rd ed., p. 299) According to Brannon Braga, Hugh would have appeared as well, helping to rescue Picard from the Borg in this timeline. (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 281) The story also originated from a pitch by Ronald D. Moore early in the season in which Q had gone insane, causing the universe to come unraveled. The other characters found themselves in a bizarre place, with Q as a homeless guy sitting in a corner next a garbage can muttering "I used to be a superbeing. I used to be a superbeing." Although Michael Piller did not want to do this story, he did like the idea of bringing Q back and using him to bookend the series. (TNG Season 7 DVD – "The Making of 'All Good Things...'") Several changes were made so that the sets would appear as they did in season one for the past sequences. The striping behind the captain's chair was removed, the ops and conn chairs were returned to a more reclined position, and the equipment lockers on either side of the bridge were also changed. The captain's chair itself, as well as the rest of the command chairs, were not changed back to their season one appearance. The master systems display table in main engineering, as well as the "plugs" blocking the second set of corridor entrances, were also elements that were added after "Encounter at Farpoint" that weren't removed. The past Enterprise restores the wood paneling to the equipment lockers on the sides of the bridge and the reclining chairs for the ops and conn stations as well as the gold ship models in the observation lounge, which were present in the first season. However, the Captain's Chair retains the configuration introduced in the second season. Additionally, as the past Enterprise enters the anomaly, the camera angle used that contains O'Brien and Data in front of the viewscreen has the non-reclining chairs for the conn and ops position introduced in season 2 being used. Early in the 2364 sequence, O'Brien reports that a number of ships have been reported entering the Neutral Zone. Several scenes which were ultimately deleted (but are included in the episode's remastered Blu-ray release, as well as being included in the novelization of the episode) that expanded upon this by having a section where Picard discovers a group of Terellian vessels trying to take advantage of the anomaly's healing and rejuvenation properties. Past-Data seems to imply that the anomaly was formed by the convergence of the tachyon pulses from the three Enterprises (though his exact words are "It is as if all three originated from the Enterprise") In the future, it is in fact the Pasteur, not the Enterprise, that fires the tachyon pulse. Ronald D. Moore later said of this: "This is an error that no one caught until the episode was on the air. And who caught it first? Rick Berman's ten-year-old son. Kind of humbling."
guess the admiral from Pegasus got his wish after all
Imagine the grin on his face when the Klingons apparently destroyed the Romulans, thus rendering that treaty preventing cloaking null and void.
😢😿😭
This is no spoiler, but you guys are going to love Star Trek: Picard, when you get to it. Much of new Trek is sh** but Star Trek: Picard is good. You're really really really really really going to like it when you get to it in a few years!!!!!
It wasn't real Trek, but let's not discuss that here.
I really love your take on going back and enjoying episodes forever. I've been doing that for 30 years and it genuinely doesn't get old. Watching this with you had revitalised this show for me so just a big thank you!
Picard as Captain Starfleet, I like it. An apt title. What a pleasure it's been watching TNG through the both of you, and now to continue on through DS9, VOY and beyond, one door closes, two more open.
That really is one of the best aspects of all of this: As painful as it is when you run out of new episodes or movies to watch in Star Trek, it's all still there, waiting for you to come back to it again, and there's so much of it that it's easy to forget things and so you get that rush of reminding yourself about that one episode, that one moment, that one guest character, or whatever. Sometimes, it's wrapping yourself back up in a warm, familiar, comfortable blanket again, sometimes it brings back the same strong emotions that move you or make you laugh, and sometimes you see it differently than you did before, and it's just great to always have that option for the rest of your life. Watching it along with you two on a channel like yours is the modern new/cool way to do that, and it brings its own fun and interesting experiences as well, plus it's a great excuse to rewatch this stuff when you weren't necessarily going to on its own. I have loved every time that I get to come back to Star Trek.
This episode is probably the most fun I've had watching a first run episode of Star Trek. They went with fun over drama and tears and it was the right choice. ...and hey, now! My favorite series is DS9 because of character stuff, my favorite TNG episode is Best of Both Worlds. Love it when top level action successfully mixes with drama.
NOW!! Time for GENERATIONS!!!
As for your comments about the DS9 location thing... you guys' knack for dropping inexplicable blanks on stuff that we consider to be patently obvious...that is part of the charm of your content. I'm sure it sounds like a chorus of people bitching and moaning over minutia (though I'd argue the location of the setting of a show to not be in any way trivial)...but bear in mind that it makes your stuff interesting. It gets a rise out of us. Its part of the fun. An episode or two ago when Josh correctly noted the distinction between a Lt. and a Lt. J. G. I practically cheered. Different strokes for different folks. Similarly, there's another channel, Popcorn in Bed, that did a brief dip into some Star Trek stuff. I remember that lady holding up her hand in a Vulcan salute and pronouncing "May the Force be with you!" I learned you can in fact combine a facepalm and a shit eating grin. I hope she never changes.
Man this actually feels surreal finally getting here
I know what you mean!
Great analysis. I agree with Josh, this was a well designed period at the end of the sentence....that doesn't actually end the sentence. It checks the boxes, hits the marks, and celebrates the show. Not perfect, not the best episode of the show...but definitely top 10. I've synced up with the guys on this one...nothing to add, really. Thanks for the upload guys, I really enjoy your efforts and your thoughtful perspectives. Like I've said before...you guys are really adding something to the Trekdom...instead of simply and shallowly dickriding it like so many other reaction channels do.
Very overrated episode. Some great scenes no doubt, lots of Patrick Stewart is a plus, the phaser cannon was cool, the last scene was beautiful but the story is a mess. Since the anomaly grows backwards in time, they should NEVER have seen it in the future. They do their beam, then that's it. Worst of all, it's a big 'reset' episode where no one remembers except Picard. They could have done so much better with a story choice.
I don't agree with the rest, but yeah, the anomal going backward in time means they shouldnt have seen it. I guess it forms and then grows backward in time but untill it was made by the final pulse didn't exist? I mean, keep in mind this is all a problem created by the Q to test Picard, so he has to be able to actually solve it.
So that’s the conclusion of one of the most special tv shows to ever be made. It is such a good and unique tv series. Hard to believe it’s been gone for over 30 years now. On to the spin-offs and the movies!
The “All Good Things” novelization incorporates additional story elements that they wanted to include but didn’t get to. It also expanded on some of the scenes in the episode.
ooh. Could you expand on that?
1:35:35 Josh with the teary eyes...
This is a phenomenal series finale. It was a little different experiencing it when it aired in May 1994 knowing that Generations was coming in six months. I think if we hadn’t known a movie was coming that soon, the ending would’ve been a little more emotional for us watching it. Aside from the minor errors like Data’s & O’Brien’s rank pips and the tachyon beam being from the Pasteur and not the Enterprise, the only story complaint I have is when the future Enterprise went back to the Devron system and saw the anti-time anomaly and it had just formed and was very small. They shouldn’t have seen anything. It’s anti-time and grows backwards through time. It formed with the Pasteur’s tachyon pulse and followed by the warp core explosion that fractured the subspace barrier and grew backwards in time from there. It wouldn’t have been visible at some point in the future like when the Enterprise returned and they saw it. Anyway, that’s still a minor thing. I still absolutely love it. S+
i agree, but as I replied abpve, the problem was made by the Q to test Picard, so there had to be an actual solution he could reach
I wonder if Picard told the crew everything about the future? 🤔
Though think how busy Colm Meaney was in DS9 and he still took time to come for this finale. I think that footage of past Riker isfrom Arsenal of Freedom
you're right, it is
Once you watch Generations, you should go back and watch it again with the Commentary on I think it will answer a lot of Questions, not sure if there are spoilers or not for any future things but maybe someone else knows that.
This could have been a fever dream of 300 year old Picard….
I can’t wait for next gen movies and voyager!! Great job guys. Enjoyed this run🫶
DS9 IS close to Bajor. It’s just not orbiting Bajor any more.
Just remembered those arent medieval peasants but WW3 refugees of the nuclear fallout. Next few decades will be rough lol. I didn't vote for Colonel Green.
One of my favourite TV finales of all time. Wonderful. Back in the day when this aired they had a watch party at Toronto's Skydome and had 40,000 attendees. There are some videos of it on YouTube.
Excellent Finale! There are other reactions of star trek that people do but yours is the best. Its incredible that October 2023 it all started for TNG.
Since Picard plays poker and keeps in touch with everyone I don't think that future timeline happens.
What i love about this, is that you get a little bit of everything. the Spoiled Guest Stars, the Technobabble, the Relationships from Worf, Dianna, Riker and also Picard and Crusher. Also to finnish with the Poker Scene is *chefs kiss* perfect.
One time period is freaked out by his behavior, one time period trusts him completely, one thinks he is old and senile. It's interesting
Target Audience out of context: “Did I kill you with this or did you kill me?” 😆
The technobabble never ends!
I'm not sure if this is an error but Data says all three beams originate from the Enterprise in three different time periods. Okay but the future beam originated from Bev's ship. Sooo...huh?
That's a holdover from an earlier draft of the script that they missed. Originally, I think Picard, Geordi and Data were going to steal the Enterprise D from a museum in the future time period.
Alex I agree 100% on Picard. He is my hero as an adult too. And that is why he is my favorite character in all of Trek.
"You obtuse piece of flotsam" is a sick burn
I still like Picard's Devil's Due line... "No, no. I don't find you tantalizing. I find you Vulgar & Obvious."
Omg I never noticed that the admiral that assigned him to the enterprise was Sati! The one that staged the witch-hunt trials!
Yup!!
I've watched this countless times now but you guys made it feel like it was my first watch again, had me laughing and even tearing up at the end again. Thanks for the reactions guys these have helped me appreciate them all over again and that's a real special gift you can give someone.
"Federation" is an amazing novel, just FYI. As is "Vendetta."
Federation is one of my all time favs!
This episode's call back to Encounter at Farpoint is great. One thing that I really like is that Q hints occasionally that the trial might not be over. The most impressive is when Picard introduces Q to that girl with Q powers. Q says something like, "the jury is still out, make no mistake" when Picard mentions the trial. I love that little point even though there was probably no idea of the finale at the time.
The Enterprise goes on. We're just not privileged to see what happens next.
Marina Sirtis said at a convention that they were originally scheduled to do 9 seasons but they cut it short to start the movies.
There is a documentary on this blu ray disc called Journeys End, that is a retrospective BUT it includes a sneak preview of Generations so be careful
I've never been that much into TNG, it's the only one of the Berman era shows i've only watched once. For the finale i think it was alright i guess, coming right off Preemptive Strike tho, it's kinda disappointing.
Wow. How is it disappointing?
NGL, I was trying to adjust the volume of your discussion while slightly inebriated and accidentally hit the speed playback and set it super slow. Hearing you guys breaking it down while sounding like you were drunk absolutely made my night. I rewatched it at the correct speed, but the "drunk discussion" version was absolutely incredible. .25 speed in case anyone is curious.
Like drunk historians, but for Star Trek.
Fantastic episode and fantastic journey....of which there is so much more to go. The good, the bad, and the just plain weird. :)
To answer some of your questions, Cambridge England is where the Camvridge university is located and the most prestigious proffesorship probably in the world was the head of the Physics and Mathematics department which was created I believe for Isaac Newton and was recently held by Stephen Hawking. There were six Galaxy class ships at the time Enterprise launched with six more under construction but recall ship development was hamstrung by the Gillworm invasion. After Shelby took over ship development, starfleet got away from the huge multi-purpose shipsm and towards specific ships that didn't require as much time to make. However, we can asume additional Galaxy class ships were made after Encounter at Farpoint after they worked out the numerous kinks.
Shelby was absolutely not in charge of ship development for starfleet. She was a junior officer who worked on tactics to deal with the Borg The invasion with the neck things in season 1 did not hamper starship development
Just want to drop a comment here to thank you guys for this journey. It's been fun to watch through my favorite TV show again and experience it anew through your eyes. Totally agree about just wanting more with these characters. (By the way, I'm a TNG fan whose favorite episodes are this finale and "The Best of Both Worlds", and I do also love DS9. It is possible to love both sci-fi plots AND character stuff!)
I've been waiting all week for this. Thanks for going on this TNG journey, guys, it's been consistently fun to re-watch the series with you -- and while I'm not the hugest DS9 fan -- I'm definitely sticking around for the X-Files reactions, where your journey has just begun. There's SO many great hours of fun ahead of you, you have no idea. I can't wait. You guys rock!
Definitely lots of synching issues between this and what I watch from paramount. Still I managed. Good reaction.
At the end, when Picard is speaking to Worf and Troi, I think Ensign Gates walks past in the background, the last extra
Since Alex asked... It was mentioned in many comments, and I did get a kick out of how many mentioned it. The wormhole is in the Bajoran system it looks like near the Denores Belt, an asteroid belt similar to the one the is in our solar system and past Mars but before Jupiter. Its a few hours by shuttle via Bajoran freighter to Bajor. Ships aren't supposed to go to warp inside soalr systems; it would disrupt the gravitational curvature of the system. Every time you see a ship go to warp it has first left the system via impulse which doesn't take long. The pilot had som pretty important stuff, including Kai Opaka declarin Sisko to be the Emisary of the Prophets, their representative and sort of a savior figure to the Bajoran people from the sacred texts. This hasn't come up much so far; only Winn using the title of "Emissary" in a somewhat condescending way since it's clear she doesn't believe Sisko IS the emissary. That's why appearing with him at the Vedek assembly was so important. It's still a Bajoran station co-administered by Starfleet; just instead of being in orbit of Bajor, it's a few hours away in the Bajoran system parked by the mouth of the wormhole or as the religious Bajorand call it, the "Celestial Temple." Sisko met the prophets/wormhole aliens in the pilot and seemingly explained the nature of time to them (although in a way they always knew since they are non-linear, don't try to think about it too hard, it's pradoxical and incomprehensile by nature.) In ancient times, before the Cardassian occupaton, several "orbs" were found called the Tears of the Prophets; some fell directly to Bajor, some were discovered in the Denores Belt by Bajorans who had spacefaring capabilities before humans did. They allow visions that the Bajorans believe are directly given by the Prophets. It is definitely true thatt DS9 requires a good deal of attention and being able to remember things; this is part of the reason why it wasn't well recieved on its original run. Without the benefit of being able to easily watch old episodes or look up stuff, many viewers found the plots increasingly hard to follow as time went on. Fortunately you can pretty much turn your brain off for Voyager; notoriusly each episode is very much a stand alone thing there. I get being frustrated by people saying the same thing- but when you don't remember something people are going to point it out. I guess people were surrprised because the Station being near the wormhole wasn't just in the pilot; every episode since has shown it by the wormhole and never in orbit of Bajor. The wormhole is kind of what made DS9 into a big deal center of commerce instead of just a random station that Starfleet was helping the Bajorans with. In the second episode, past prologue, you have a Bajoran terrorist who wants to blow up the wormhole thinking it will take Bajor off the galactic radar. It seems obvious from some peopl'es perspective but they have seen the show many times. When there are important plot things that maybe you guys have forgotten, people are going to remind you. I don't think everyone expects you to remember every detail of DS9, especially as there can be breaks between plot lines. Like I am sure some people who watched originallty were like "who is winn and what are vedeks and what is this selection?"
There are some very obvious inconsistencies about ships going to warp or out of warp inside a solar system. It's a very hand-waved subject. 🤷
It's been a pleasure rewatching all of these episodes with you guys. At least with so much DS9 left I have to say... death may be here but it's a good day to die. Also I'm sorry about your taxes!
I'm not crying... we're all Crying 🖖🫂😥🖖🫂😥.
What you guys don't understand is, that back in the 90s, we were preoccupied with Buffy and the Cold War... Thank you TA for an amazing leg of this journey. You got me through many hard days over the last couple of years, as I was going through some stuff (I'm fine, don't worry). This channel has been a bright spot for me, and I really appreciate all of your hard work.
The cold war?
Wonderful. Just, wonderful. Thanks guys.
I don’t think we need the moments with the present day characters to say goodbye or whatever. Because we get a lot with their future selves. I get the feeling though, maybe because none of that happened in the present? I think they still have their moments like Picard calls data a man. ❤️
In 30-plus years, Ensign Gates has never had a fan club like this. Star Trek: Gates? Come on, Paramount, make it happen. Watching S7 along with you, I realized that some episodes didn’t feel like Star Trek even though they were good. (And some didn’t feel like Star Trek and were also terrible.) But this finale isn’t just a solid sci-fi story, it feels like it could *only* have happened on this show, with these people. When you’ve followed their journey for seven years (or whatever), this ties up their stories and sends them off the way you want to see. TNG’s original airing paralleled my elementary-school years, so the first time I watched this episode, I was about to head into middle school. In a way, this episode marked the end of my childhood. Thanks for taking me back there for a couple hours and letting me experience it like a kid again.
I just read she was in 48 episodes of TNG(!) and was also a member of the Excelsior crew in Star Trek 6!
Guys, your short holodeck ending scene… brought a tear to my eye. Nicely done TA, nicely done!
Credit to patron Steven Johnson
That final poker scene - it got me then, and it got me now. Excuse me.
Me too
The future Comm Badge is my favourite Trek insignia in the entire franchise. Nice catch. Also yes. This was a very good sendoff, if not anyone's fave episode. Brent had it right. That final poker scene is worth all the time and all the tears, and it impacted me watching you guys visibly hold it together witnessing Picard at the poker table for the first time. Thanks for the beautiful journey with you.
Also now we need a "Flagship of Humanity" trailer.
Star trek TNG The sex scoreboard Did they during the ep or not? This is a tough one to judge Picard and Dr. Bev. The scoreboard says NO, not during the Ep did they ENGAGE but went to warp not during the ep. IF after the kiss there was a little more time we could have counted it but no. IF the divorced Pickereds would have had a "remember how hot" moment but no. I mean they could not even figure out whether or not to hug. So no Captain-Doctor probing. BUT Worf gets one. Riker 15 Troi 7 Picard 4 Dr. Bev 4 Data 2 Geordi 2 Worf 2 new additional crew Tasha 4 Chief 1 Extra - The scoreboard decided that Worf and Troi stuck the bat'lef DEEP. Troi already scored a worfing before (see the earlier ep for why that is not as odd as it seems). This ep Worf lays a trojan horse to catch up. note we did include Chief and To(a)sha as they were in the ep but not bangin which is unusual for the Yar. We now go on to the movies.
Riker waaaaay out in front. I think legally Picard and Crusher must have consummated that marriage for it to be counted as a marriage, so I reckon they could have another notch added?
It's natural to get a bit melancholy that this leg of the journey has reached its end, but don't forget that this is may be one of the most re-watchable shows ever made. For 30+ years whenever I'd see "Star Trek: The Next Generation" pop up on my TV while channel surfing, I couldn't help but stop and watch. And holy shit, was TNG shown on a lot of different channels over the years. Mostly because so many us had the same instinct. So when you guys inevitably decide to do a re-watch, experience it like so many of us did and watch them in random order. It helps give an appreciation of how well it executes episodic television that you can just pick a random episode and be entertained.
I have to address the most important thing here: Alex's comments during the intro about the location of Deep Space 9. Yes, it's close to Bajor, in terms of the scale of space travel, because it's in the same star system, but it's not orbiting Bajor itself. Basically, if Bajor is Earth, then the wormhole is Mars, and they moved the station from Bajor to the wormhole. Oh yeah, and the TNG finale is pretty great.
The movies are good but like you said they are a different beast. You do have wonderful Trek ahead between DS9 and Voyager. TNG was the start of what most of us consider Star Trek. TOS as important as it was is so different than what I love about the 90s era of Trek. That's why I feel the first 2 seasons of TNG were so rough. It was Gene's 60s era sensibilities being grafted onto a modern show and it just didn't gel well. Season 3 when Berman and Pillar really stepped up and took the reigns and then Ira Steven Behr over on DS9. This is where Star Trek found it's true soul. Ron Moore as you stated was a god of character dynamics. These are truly the best times. TV shows where still long format. 22+ episodes. A format that while yes it gave us many mediocre episodes it also gave us the room to breath and flesh out characters that even in the worst episodes had great individual scenes that would move the characters forward. You still have so much to look forward to. DS9, Voyager, and eventually Enterprise. So many good times ahead.
I'd dispute that the movies are 'good', except in part. Ironically TOS's TV producer (Harve Bennet) seemed to have a better grasp of the realities of film production than TNG's TV producers (Berman and Piller). At the same time, it seems that TNG needed to make the jump to the big screen. Season 6 was the show's peak, while 7 was a bumpy ride.
good stuff guys. Thanks for the show. im sure in the mirror universe they had 15 seasons .
I think when I go back and rewatch Star Trek again and I will this time I think I’m gonna count how many planets they visit and how many alien species they named drop how many they physically show and it’s on just as a way to be interactive Even the planets they named drop that they don’t physically show. The list gets massive pretty quick, and I enjoyed the imagination involved with being that creative to create that backstory of a future history of our galaxy. While still showing that Galaxy to be populated by people just like us
Prediction for TA's typical Voyager episode discussion: "I really like the scene with X and Y discussing Z. But I don't care for Braga's Technobabble SciFi plot at all!'
Seriously though, might not be my favorite episode but I definitely appreciate it the most because they ended it probably as well as possible.
100% agree with you.
Guys, the thing you HAVE to understand about the series finale of TNG... Is that it used to be in orbit of Bajor, but in the pilot they moved it near the wormhole.
I think of the movies as the season finales of hypothetical big-budget seasons 8, 9, 10, and 11.
I've watched the finale so many times and the ending never fails to make me cry
Fantastic ending to a fantastic series! Despite TNG not being my favourite Star Trek series, it's a bloody close second. That end scene always chokes me up, every time!
So end the (TNG) voyages of the Starship Enterprise. During Alex and Josh's continuing mission, we explored strange new worlds. We found new life, and new civilisations. And we boldly went, where no one has gone before.
Also going to point out you still can't look up information about TNG characters, including guest characters, if you want to stay spoiler free.
Yeah look up characters at your peril because it will spoil stuff
there are some fantastic Star Trek Novels out there, both for TNG and for DS9... and some dreadful ones, like the TNG/X-men crossover novels.
There’s a retrospective episode on TNG it aired? & I had the video back in the day. On Netflix it was the last episode like episode 8.. so I don’t know if it’s on the dvd, but you guys should watch it
S-tier, definitely. Probably my favorite, all things considered.
I just wanted to say that watching this show alongside everyone has been a highlight to look forward to each week. I watch every episode uncut and often rewatch my favorites on YouTube. I enjoy seeing the hosts' takes in real time and spend my lunch breaks reading patrons' perspectives, either passionately arguing against an opinion or marveling at how smart others seem when they agree with me 🤣. I truly love this community and am excited to continue this journey with all of you. As for the Target Audience channel, it's fans and members, I give them all an S rating.🖖
Hey everyone — quick question about the final scene of “All Good Things…”. When Q leans in close to Picard at the end and sort of breathes into his ear, did anyone else read that as having symbolic significance? Patrick Stewart has said that Picard was meant to represent humanity, and Q a kind of deity. Ever since this episode originally aired, I’ve taken that moment as representing the Divine Breath being given to humanity — a spark for its next stage of development. I’ve seen some people say Q was going to whisper something to Picard and then changed his mind… but that interpretation seems odd to me. It’s hard to see it as anything other than a deliberate, spiritual gesture. Curious what you guys think.
I always saw him as teasing Picard, telling him that there IS something to be learned and tantalizing him, but making him go off on his own instead. Though I like your idea too.
It has been an honor boys
fucked up of you guys to post this right before i have to go to work 😅
All Good Things is a classic example of sometimes when you don't have a lot of time to create something, you do a better job than if you had lots of time to work on it.
Many countries create and execute their TV series with a beginning and end in mind. The US does their series based totally on ratings and commerce. This series did not have a planned ending (that I know of), but imo they could not have planned a pair of bookends better than Encounter at Farpoint with All Good Things.
Well guys you made me splurge and buy this one and you did not disappoint. Very pleased you enjoyed this finale - and now you can start watching all the blooper reels!
Oh you made ME cry.
I've been away for a long time, unfortunately, but I just wanted to jump back in to mention this. I wrote my comment on your reaction to "Yesterday's Enterprise" from the point of view of an alternate timeline in which TNG was always set in that episode's "war" timeline, and therefore that episode was the series finale. In the final paragraph, I wrote, "I considered writing this comment from the viewpoint of an alternate timeline in which TNG was a more optimistic and utopian series from the outset, with “Yesterday’s Enterprise” as a glimpse of a darker alternative. Such a series could, I think, have run as long as seven seasons, although it is scarcely likely that it would have produced a series finale as good as “Yesterday’s Enterprise.”" You can now see the full irony of that comment.
I’ll always love this episode and that final scene is perfect.
Q you don’t have to stop by! But TA does. I agree more character stuffs would be good
The ending has begun.
Not to nitpick a 40 year old show and such an engaging episode, but Geordi was born blind, if he started aging backward it should not have made him see. This was a great reaction
I think they said they were regenerating not aging backwards but you’re probably right
The Trial never ends.
See you out there
One wee thing I've noticed over the years is that (early) Data is wearing Lt JG pips, yet Picard calls him 'Commander' and Data doesn't point out anything (given that Data at this point is very matter-of-fact)
Data was a Lt Commander from the first season so the pips are a mistake then, not the dialogue
Let’s Fucking Go!!!
I started my Trek journey extremely young(2 and a half years old), and TNG is what I grew up on. Getting to vicariously experience it again for the first time through your reactions has been the highlight of these past 2 years, and we're just getting started.
My story is similar - just shy of 5 years old. But my Star Trek journey began with TOS.
Lets Gooooo !!! - had to buy this one
Thanks Guys.., it was everything I wanted , to see you guys round out & "bookend" TNG with a pretty darn good Series Finale..., Bravo, Live Long & Prosper..., & we look forward then you get along to the S3 Ep.9 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which originally aired on November 21, 1994. So you can then experience out beloved TNG Crew's , 1st Feature Film release : "Generations"
Ladies and gentlemen - to the continuing voyages. *raises glass of prune juice*
Looking forward to this one. What ever one thinks of the finale it can’t be understated what impact The Next Gen had on tv. Including one of the most viewed finales of the decade. Without the huge success of TNG we would likely have not got any of the genre shows that came after it
One slip, and down the hole we fall then it took no time at all. But now that we’re here it’s over I fear onto the next show come on here we go
It's 1:01am on my night off, I'm several alcoholic beverages deep, perfect time for this so lets go!
We think we want a finale to make big changes for the characters or split them up, etc. Those usually aren’t the most satisfying finales though. ALL GOOD THINGS was comforting. You felt the crew was intact. They were still out there on missions that you just weren’t seeing. As I mentioned before Ron and Brannon also had restrictions. The GENERATIONS script had been written long before this episode was conceived. My only gripe would be too much techno babble but the good far outweighed that. Marvel Producer Kevin Feige said ALL GOOD THINGS served as an inspiration for character evolution in AVENGERS: ENDGAME. I think DS9 ends up being a more complexly written show, and has the incredible benefit of the supporting characters. Make no mistake though, I love TNG, and have enjoyed this rewatch. All good things may come to an end, but Star Trek is always there for you. LLAP
DS9 can never come close to the awesomeness of TNG