Star Trek TNG S3E13-15 Deja Q, A Matter of Perspective, Yesterday’s Enterprise "Masterpiece Theater" | First Time Reaction - To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 053)

First-Time Watch - Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 3,
Episodes 13-15

This week on To Baldly Go, we continue our first-time watch of Star Trek: The Next Generation with three very different episodes. This week we get:

• Q becomes human and mortal

• Judicial standards in the 24th century

• A masterpiece?

We covered:

• Deja Q

• A Matter of Perspective

• Yesterday’s Enterprise

Deja Q

Q returns to the Enterprise, but this time he is not quite the all-powerful being we have come to expect. tripped of his powers and forced to live as a human, Q has to confront mortality, vulnerability, fear, hunger, pain, and all of the other strange experiences that come with being one of us.

We talk about Q growing on Aaron, the evolving relationship between Picard and Q, and how surprisingly effective it is to put Q in a position where he has to learn about humanity from Data. There is a great dynamic here as Data explains the human experience to Q, while Q, in turn, explains experiencing the human experience to Data — something Data can understand intellectually, but not truly experience himself.

We also discuss the strange weight Q carries in The Next Generation. He only appears in a handful of episodes, but his presence feels much larger than that. Add in some peer pressure, some pretending to play musical instruments, and a little bit of Star Trek Doug Judy energy, and Deja Q turns into a solid, entertaining episode.

A Matter of Perspective

In A Matter of Perspective, Riker finds himself accused of murder after a scientist is killed in an explosion. The Enterprise crew then has to sort through competing accounts of what happened, with the holodeck being used to recreate different versions of the same events.

This one left us asking some serious questions about courtroom standards in the 24th century. What counts as hearsay? Where is the burden of proof? How much confidence should anyone have in recreated testimony? And would any of us really want to be in court under this system?

We also talk about perspective itself, and how the episode plays with the idea that multiple people can remember the same event differently. Being wrong does not necessarily mean someone is lying, but the episode still leaves plenty of room to debate how well its mystery and legal framework actually hold together.

Yesterday’s Enterprise

And then we get to Yesterday’s Enterprise.

The Enterprise-C emerges from a temporal rift, and the familiar world of The Next Generation is suddenly replaced by a darker, militarized timeline where the Federation is at war with the Klingons. It is a huge shift in tone, and the episode immediately feels bigger, stranger, and more consequential than almost anything the series has done so far.

We talk about the return of Tasha Yar, the alternate version of the Enterprise-D, the way the episode uses Guinan, and Picard once again refusing to surrender even when the situation appears hopeless. We also touch on how this kind of story points toward the broader possibilities of Star Trek, including some discussion of Deep Space Nine.

Yesterday’s Enterprise is widely considered one of the best episodes in all of Star Trek, and after watching it, it is easy to understand why. This is the kind of episode that shows exactly what is possible with this medium: alternate timelines, moral choices, sacrifice, legacy, and a story that feels both massive and deeply personal.

As always, remember – Never give up!  Never surrender!

Listen to this episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Where we are on our Trek:

Last week we covered:

• TBG Episode 052 - Star Trek TNG S03E10-12 The Defector, The Hunted, The High Ground | First Time Reaction

Next week we will continue with:

• TBG Episode 054 - Star Trek TNG S03E16-18 The Offspring, Sins of the Father, Allegiance | First Time Reaction

If you want to see my journey from the very beginning, start here:

• TBG Episode 000 – Star Trek – “What am I doing and what do I already know?” | First Time Watch-Through

• TBG Episode 001 – Star Trek TOS S01E00-01 The Cage, The Man Trap – “The Failed Pilot” | First Time Reaction

• TBG Archive

Also, be sure to check out Nate’s and my other podcast – The In Lap with Aaron and Nate – to listen to us discuss all things Formula 1 on race weekends, wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Star Trek TNG S1E12-14 The Big Goodbye | Datalore | Angel One - “Another Lost Episode” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 036.5)

First-Time Watch – Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1, Episodes 12-14

In this special bonus episode of To Baldly Go, we’re releasing another lost episode as we return to early Star Trek: The Next Generation with “The Big Goodbye,” “Datalore,” and “Angel One.”

This episode we get:

• A decent episode with a weak close

• The Enemy Within redux?

• A bit too clever?

We covered:

• The Big Goodbye

• Datalore

• Angel One

The Big Goodbye

“The Big Goodbye” gives us one an early TNG holodeck story, with the crew stepping into a detective noir simulation that becomes more dangerous than expected.

We talk about this being a strong Crusher episode, the limitations of the holodeck, and why the Enterprise crew doesn’t seem to use the holodeck more often to simulate difficult situations and possible outcomes. We also discuss the episode’s weak ending, how a bad close can sour an otherwise decent story, Brent Spiner’s acting, fake mystery novels, and somehow, Sons of Anarchy.

Datalore

“Datalore” introduces Data’s brother, Lore, and gives Brent Spiner another chance to show just how much range he can bring to the role.

We discuss Spiner’s performance, our disagreement over the episode’s rating, Lore’s tell, Wesley’s role in the story, Riker’s reactions, Beverly running away, and the idea of Data’s human form. We also touch on original-series film and lighting styles, plus some fun name trivia along the way.

Angel One

“Angel One” brings the Enterprise to a planet with a matriarchal society, but the episode struggles to turn its premise into a clear and satisfying story.

We talk about the fun vignettes that don’t really add much to the main plot, why the episode felt unclear and poorly executed, and whether it was trying to be a little too clever. We also get into talking my rating down, Parks and Recollection and the art of writing great television, the first TNG reference to the Romulans, and some Gates McFadden trivia.

Remember - Never give up! Never surrender!

Where we are on our Trek:

If you want to continue in series order, the next episode in line is:

• TBG Episode 037 - Star Trek TNG S1E15-17 11001001, Too Short a Season, When the Bough Breaks | First Time Watch-Through

Our regularly Tuesday release will continue next week with:

• TBG Episode 053 - Star Trek TNG S3E13-15 Deja Q, A Matter of Perspective, Yesterday’s Enterprise | First Time Watch-Through

If you want to see my journey from the very beginning, start here:

• TBG Episode 000 – Star Trek – “What am I doing and what do I already know?” | First Time Watch-Through

• TBG Episode 001 – Star Trek TOS S01E00-01 The Cage, The Man Trap – “The Failed Pilot” | First Time Reaction

• TBG Archive

Star Trek TNG S02E13-15 Time Squared, The Icarus Factor, Pen Pals – “Podunk Bunnyville | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 045)

First-Time Watch – Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 02, Episodes 13-15

Welcome to another episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast, in which I – a newbie to the Star Trek universe – am watching through Star Trek from the beginning, in release order, and discussing with some of my long-time Trekkie friends.

This week, we get:

• Thoughts of Interstellar

• Family reunions

• Violation of the Prime Directive

We covered:

• Time Squared

• The Icarus Factor

• Pen Pals

“Time Squared” – Would you like to meet your future self?

The Enterprise encounters a mysterious shuttle adrift in space containing Captain Picard – from six hours in the future.  As the crew investigates, they uncover a growing temporal paradox tied to strange spatial distortion pulling them in.

Second Picard’s broken memories present a disastrous future for the crew, confronting the unsettling possibility that his own decisions are (or will be) responsible.

Things we discussed:

• Couldn’t tell if I fell asleep or not while watching

• Patrick Stewart playing two Picards

• Did Picard surrender again?

• Great Picard and Riker scene

• Finding solutions when we struggle to define the problem

• Were we stuck in a time loop?

• A captain outliving his crew

Can you be a fundamentally different person six hours from now?

“The Icarus Factor” – Character over career

Riker is offered command of his own ship and must confront long-standing tension with his father.  He must decide where he wants to be for himself and his career.

Things we discussed:

• Abbie doesn’t like family drama and sitcoms

• Riker’s dad

• Worf’s background and Klingon culture

• A different sort of episode

• Understanding versus justifying

• The Icarus story

• Correct names for things that don’t actually exist

• Incorrect pronunciations as children

A heavy, character-driven episode.

“Pen Pals” – One does not simply walk into Mordor!

Data secretly communicates with a young girl on a distant planet on the brink of catastrophe.  When he realizes the planet is doomed, the Enterprise crew is forced to confront the reality of the Prime Directive.

Things we discussed:

• Remembering bits and pieces, but not the entire episode

• Violating the Prime Directive

• Wesley’s growth and leadership

• How do you define “interference”?

• Is Data an existential threat?

• When and why we break the rules

• Philosophy is about people

• Great Picard episode.  A very un-Data episode

• An android’s perspective of what an emotional person would do – emulating

• Handling conflict as a people-leader

• Lord of the Rings trivia

• Who is TNG really about?

Does Data pose an existential threat to the Enterprise and crew with his exhibited ability to ignore orders?

Additional Discussion Points

• Remembering 9/11

• Feeding bottle baby kittens

• Studying the moon

Final Thoughts

This week, we learned:

• It is difficult to identify solutions when we struggle to define the problem

• Icarus was not only warned about flying too close to the sun, but also about dropping too close to the water

• Apparently a pre-warp civilization has technology that the Federation is lacking

As always, remember – Never give up!  Never surrender!

Listen to this episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Where we are on our Trek:

Last week we covered:

• TBG Episode 044 - Star Trek TNG S02E10-12 The Dauphin, Contagion, The Royale - “Junkfood Episodes” | First Time Reaction

Next week we will continue with:

• TBG Episode 046 - Star Trek TNG S02E16-18 Q Who?, Samaritan Snare, Up the Long Ladder - “Nobody Asked Your Opinion” | First Time Reaction

If you want to see my journey from the very beginning, start here:

• TBG Episode 000 – Star Trek – “What am I doing and what do I already know?” | First Time Watch-Through

• TBG Episode 001 – Star Trek TOS S01E00-01 The Cage, The Man Trap – “The Failed Pilot” | First Time Reaction

• TBG Archive

Also, be sure to check out Nate’s and my other podcast – The In Lap with Aaron and Nate – to listen to us discuss all things Formula 1 on race weekends, wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Star Trek TNG S02E04-06 The Outrageous Okona, Loud as a Whisper, The Schizoid Man – “If I Only Had a Heart” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 042)

First-Time Watch – Star Trek: The Next Generation  Season 02, Episodes 04-06

Welcome to another episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast, in which I – a newbie to the Star Trek universe – am watching through Star Trek from the beginning, in release order, and discussing with some of my long-time Trekkie friends.

This week, we get:

• Picard jokes about surrendering…but is it a joke?

• Advantage from disability?

• Where does our humanity lie?

We covered:

• The Outrageous Okona

• Loud as a Whisper

• The Schizoid Man

“The Outrageous Okona” – Perhaps the joke was not funny

The Enterprise encounters a charming but mysterious rogue named Okona, whose small cargo ship seems to bring trouble wherever he goes. Two alien factions accuse him of theft and kidnapping, each demanding justice.

As Captain Picard investigates, it becomes clear that Okona’s charisma hides a complicated personal mess involving romance, family expectations, and political embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Data explores human humor by trying to learn stand-up comedy from a visiting comedian on the holodeck. The episode mixes a swashbuckling guest character with an early look at Data’s ongoing quest to understand humanity.

Things we discussed:

• The continuing exploration of Data’s humanity

• Not as bad as The Child or Code of Honor

• Forgettable

• What a non-comic might think stand-up comedy is

• Timely political references

• A poorly-written romance novel

• SeaQuest D.S.V.

• Worf’s effectiveness

Sometimes an episode just doesn’t work.  Sometimes they swing and miss.  This felt like one of those episodes.

“Loud as a Whisper” – Turning disadvantage into advantage

The Enterprise transports Riva, a renowned mediator known for negotiating peace between warring planets. Riva is deaf and communicates through a trio of telepathic interpreters who express different aspects of his personality.

When tragedy strikes during the mission, Riva must confront the possibility that his ability to mediate has been destroyed. Counselor Troi helps him rediscover another way to communicate, leading to a powerful moment where Riva adapts and continues his mission.

The episode explores communication beyond language and the idea that understanding others often requires more than just hearing words.

Things we discussed:

• How does an acting ensign get to pilot the fleet’s flagship?

• Nepotism in the 24th century

• Geordi’s choice

• Freud’s separation of the mind

• Troi’s abilities

• Geordi and ChatGPT prompts

• Transporter capabilities

Sometimes we can find strength in our perceived weaknesses.

“The Schizoid Man” – What does it mean to be human?

The Enterprise transports the brilliant but difficult cyberneticist Dr. Ira Graves, whose mind has begun to deteriorate due to a terminal illness. Fascinated with Data’s positronic brain, Graves secretly transfers his consciousness into the android’s body to escape death.

Initially reveling in his newfound immortality, Graves soon begins to exhibit increasingly erratic and domineering behavior while inhabiting Data. As the crew realizes what has happened, Graves must confront the ethical consequences of his actions and the question of whether preserving his mind is worth sacrificing Data’s identity.

The episode explores ego, mortality, and the meaning of personhood.

Things we discussed:

• Another great Brent Spiner performance

• What does it mean to be human?

• The story of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz

• What is consciousness?

Lots of discussion points and questions, fewer answers.

Final Thoughts

This week, we learned:

• Worf is already more effective than Tasha ever was

• Prompting people is a lot like prompting AI

• Seriously – the story of the Tin Woodsman from the original Wizard of Oz novel is one of the most messed up stories ever

We are cruising along through Star Trek: The Next Generation.  These episodes all had a very “Original Series” feel to them, but not like The Naked Now.  TNG still feels like it’s figuring out what it is, but it is getting closer.

As always, remember – Never give up!  Never surrender!

Listen to this episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Where we are on our Trek:

Last week we covered:

• TBG Episode 041 – Star Trek TNG S02E01-03 The Child, Where Silence Has Lease, Elementary Dear Data – “Not Very Effective” | First Time Watch-Through

Next week we will continue with:

• TBG Episode 043 - Star Trek TNG S02E07-09 Unnatural Selection, A Matter of Honor, The Measure of a Man – “If You Don’t Give this Episode at Least a Six…” | First Time Reaction

If you want to see my journey from the very beginning, start here:

• TBG Episode 000 – Star Trek – “What am I doing and what do I already know?” | First Time Watch-Through

• TBG Episode 001 – Star Trek TOS S01E00-01 The Cage, The Man Trap – “The Failed Pilot” | First Time Reaction

• TBG Archive

Also, be sure to check out Nate’s and my other podcast – The In Lap with Aaron and Nate – to listen to us discuss all things Formula 1 on race weekends, wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Star Trek TNG S02E01-03 The Child, Where Silence Has Lease, Elementary Dear Data – “Not Very Effective” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 041)

First-Time Watch – Star Trek: TNG Season 02, Episodes 01-03

Welcome to another episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast, in which I – a newbie to the Star Trek universe – am watching through Star Trek from the beginning, in release order, and discussing with some of my long-time Trekkie friends.

This week, we get:

• New characters and Star Trek grows a beard

• Word of the day: Effective

• The unchanging concerns over AI

We covered:

• The Child

• Where Silence Has Lease

• Elementary, Dear Data

“The Child” – Is it worse than Code of Honor?  Not quite…

Deanna Troi is impregnated by space dust that is curious about the human experience.

Things we discussed:

• The start of Abbie loving these characters

• Simple changes could have made it seem much less space-rapey

• Character changes

• Twilight

• Debating character growth

• Riker’s beard

There are better ways to explore the human experience.

“Where Silence Has Lease” – Did we ever make it out of the Matrix?

The Enterprise is trapped in a void with an entity that is exploring the limits of humanity.

Things we discussed:

• How primitive Picard and crew are

• A better exploration of humanity

• The Expanse comparisons (Abaddon’s Gate)

• A worse version of Q?

• An uninspiring villain?

• Learning all that you need to know

Another Talosian Illusion incident?  Did the Enterprise and crew get out?  Or is everything from this point forward occurring in the Void?

“Elementary, Dear Data” – AI versus humanity

Sherlock Data’s mysteries are too simple, so a new holodeck program is set up which becomes self-aware.

Things we discussed:

• AI conversations today versus the late-1980s

• Recitation does not mean understanding

• Near consensus

• Exploring Data’s humanity

• Working with your hands, transcending time

• Is Data capable of original thought?

• Sherlock Holmes and copyright issues

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  The conversations surrounding AI have seemingly not changed.  The same conversations were had during The Original Series, Next Generation, and today.

A few other points

• Gregg has some explaining to do (when he comes back)

• Star Trek/Star Wars bar trivia

Final Thoughts

This week, we learned:

• Abbie and I know more about Star Wars than Nate

• Different effectiveness in stories exploring humanity

• AI conversations have not meaningfully changed in the past 40 years (60 when we consider the same conversations from TOS)

A generally strong start to the second season (The Child notwithstanding).  Looking forward to more.

As always, remember – Never give up!  Never surrender!

---

Listen to this episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Where we are on our Trek:

Last week we covered:

• TBG Episode 40 – Star Trek TNG S01E24-26 We'll Always Have Paris, Conspiracy, The Neutral Zone - "The Biggest Trekkie" | First Time Reaction

Next week we will continue with:

• TBG Episode 42 - Star Trek TNG S02E04-06 The Outrageous Okona, Loud as a Whisper, The Schizoid Man – “If I Only Had a Heart” | First Time Reaction

If you want to see my journey from the very beginning, start here:

• TBG Episode 000 – Star Trek – “What am I doing and what do I already know?” | First Time Watch-Through

• TBG Episode 001 – Star Trek TOS S01E00-01 The Cage, The Man Trap – “The Failed Pilot” | First Time Reaction

• TBG Archive

037 - 11001001, Too Short a Season, When the Bough Breaks

This week:

• 11001001, Too Short a Season, When the Bough Breaks

• Nate concedes a point

• Season 1 has been underwhelming, but we have the best episode yet

• More commentary on the medium of network or syndicated TV

• The holodeck

• Abbie’s anesthesia dream

• Deliberate scientific inaccuracies in Star Trek

• An unrelated story in the Star Trek universe

• 21st century ozone hole

• An appropriate use for Wesley

• What is a society?

• Stories that would work for other series

• Nate really hates Code of Honor

• Looking ahead

035 - Dammit, Wesley!

This week:

• A tribute to Scott Adams

• Where No One Has Gone Before, Lonely Among Us, Justice

• Abbie realizes how annoying Wesley is

• Similar to The Original Series, but different enough

• Thoughts and prayers to get home

• What is the time range of this iteration of the Enterprise?

• Curiosity

• Stoic philosophy

• Self-proclaimed experts and hubris

• Confidence without arrogance

• A body-swap episode?  No way!

• Sherlock Data

• Sometimes efforts and attempts just don’t work

• Security fails again

• Detectives’ Credo and Bayesian analysis

• Unbelievable!!!!! The Movie rabbit hole (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIaySADwGp4)

• A better job telling an ok story

• Prime Directive

• Captain’s Calculus

• Did Picard consider just surrendering the ship?

• Life is an exercise in exceptions

• Wesley is smart but naïve

• The death penalty

• Broken Window Theory

034 - Never Give Up...Sometimes Surrender

In this episode:

• The Naked Now, Code of Honor, The Last Outpost

• I feel like we’ve seen this before

• An homage?

• Gregg’s 9s and 10s and his one problem with the series

• Gregg doesn’t like Wesley

• Stories are more refined

• Too early to have a “different characters” episode?

• Visionary vs executor

• Aaron’s Data moment

• Feeling like Original Series episodes

• Issues with Tasha Yar

• Even bad Star Trek is still great Star Trek

• Prime Directive discussion

• Minimal character development and bad storytelling

• Terrible ship security

• The Ferengi

• TNG villains

• Picard surrendered the Enterprise

• TNG vs TOS beginnings

• Expectations moving forward

• Swearing in Star Trek

• Excited for more