First Time Watching ALL of Star Trek - Episode 165: The Defector (TNG S3E10)

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The Target Audience are watching Star Trek: The Next Generation for the first time! Today we watch season 3 episode 10 - The Defector
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Special thanks to ‪@OpenMawProductions‬ for his graphics, backgrounds, overlays & much more!

[@targetaudience]

NO SUBSCRIPTION, NO PROBLEM! FULL UNCUT Reaction to ‘The Defector’ is now available for individual purchase on Patreon - www.patreon.com/posts/104518225? Full uncut reactions are intended to sync with your own copy of the episode. Episode footage not included

[@miketemple876]

I love how Patrick Stewart was like... "Oh no!...you are NOT doing a Shakespeare episode without me grabbing something out of my wardrobe"

[@CrankyGrandma]

Ron D Moore has a degree in History and Politics, not writing. His knowledge of history, and the humanity of history, is evident in his scripts.

[@Vulcanerd]

Josh and Alex, "Yeah, I think we're ready for a true banger, especially after the last episode." TNG: Challenge... accepted.

[@Asher8328]

As you're beginning to see for yourself, Ron Moore's impact on the quality of the show is significant.

[@Brian-qn7fn]

Not really.

[@Bagofsoup]

100% agreed.

[@SeraphArmaros]

One of the strongest character writers in the series, for sure.

[@Dmarcoot]

@@Brian-qn7fnabsolutely

[@kabnoot]

@@Brian-qn7fn he says with nothing supporting his claim.

[@TheElderBlotch]

James Sloyan (Jarok) is up there with Mark Lenard and Joanne Linville when it comes to complex, excellently acted Romulan characters for me. The rematch with Tomalak and that epic moment when the Klingon ships decloak to back up the Enterprise and Ron Jones' score kicks in is one of the best scenes of the season.

[@gershman23]

Not just as Jarok, Sloyan is a class act thespian, and he will have more say in Trek...not as Jarok, of course.

[@mattstrathis4328]

That dude is excellent no matter what character he plays.

[@headrockbeats]

Easily one of the best recurring actors throughout Trek. Just narrowly beating out Tony Todd, thanks mostly to this episode.

[@TheRealStevenBritton]

Listening to Ambassador G’Kar talking to Captain Picard is a very strange mixing of fictional universes for me.

[@NEXCUSX]

Andreas Katsulas was so great in B5

[@Raja1938]

16:35 the first time in Trek history that we see ships from all three great powers on screen at once.

[@jamesalexander5623]

They could have had the Ferengi arrive and say "Were just here to sift through the wreckage of the Scout Ship to see if there's anything to salvage!"

[@kingleech16]

Unfortunately at this point the Ferengi were still pretty weak tea.

[@chrislayne3598]

Alex & Josh: "I think we're ready for a true banger." Ronald D. Moore: "Then you shall have it."

[@brentaughe7539]

Today is a good day

[@chrislayne3598]

And the day is not yet over.

[@Stardate1312.4]

So say we all!!!

[@Rezinstance]

@@Stardate1312.4 So say we all!

[@this.is.a.username]

@@Stardate1312.4 this is the way

[@TalynOne]

I adore this episode, guest star was great. When Picard calls for that decloack of the Klingons is one the best badass moments in Trek.

[@qam2024]

What I love is Picard gives it away (to us the audience) earlier in the episode with what at the time seems like a throw away line / unimportant routine Bridge chatter with Mr. Worf.

[@geengeklooi]

@@qam2024 It's not so much 'giving it away' but more 'setting up and paying off' imho but yeah It kinda seems to add a lot to Worf's power level to imply that the captain can just say to him; execute plan X and a bunch of ships show up.

[@herbyragan8686]

FYI, the play they were performing at the beginning was Henry V

[@SeraphArmaros]

One of my very favorite Shakespearean plays. King Harry's speech at the Battle of Agincourt... just, wow.

[@Nergalsama01]

And I'm guessing Patrick was very well acquainted to it. :)

[@herbyragan8686]

@@Nergalsama01 very well. Patrick was a trained Shakesperian actor. I highly recommend Hamlet with Patrick Stewart playing Claudius and David Tennant as The Great Dane.

[@karlsmith2570]

Here I had thought it was either King Lear or Richard III

[@Nergalsama01]

@@herbyragan8686 Yeah, Patrick played Claudius quite often, as I remember. Including in the BBC production opposite Derek Jacobi. :)

[@jamesknight3070]

When Picard says "Shall we die together?", the crews of the Klingons ships would have been shouting "Let's Effing Go!" (or the Klingon equivalent ;) ).

[@manfredczerny7313]

you would heard that here from the klingon ships: "Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam" // " today is a good day to die!" xD

[@miketemple876]

"Effing Quaplah!" is what the Klingons in the Guy Richie directed show would say

[@jamesknight3070]

@@miketemple876 Ah yeah, I forgot Qapla' was in ST:III, not sure how I forgot given the unique pronounciation Christopher Lloyd used! (Avoiding spoilers =) )

[@thomasharvey1151]

Klingon ships start firing at both of them “Let’s 🤬 do this!!”

[@mjbull5156]

Vortas Captain: "I like this Picard!"

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

There was no way Patrick Stewart was going to let a Shakespeare scene go by without him being a part of it :D I love this episode. The guest star is fantastic (he pops up a few times playing other characters, and he always does a great job. He's one of the first guest stars who's been able to share a scene with Patrick Stewart and give as good as he got), the story is interesting, and I love the sense of uncertainty, right up to the end.

[@EricTheSaylorman]

16:38 the moment the Klingon ships decloak is easily the most badass moment in TNG (up to this point, at least)

[@ODSTGeneralYT]

There is a lot of strong contenders through out the rest of the series, but I would still put it up there for the whole show. There maybe was one or two other moments that immediately come to mind as better.

[@EricTheSaylorman]

​@ODSTGeneralYT there are definitely more and better ones to come, but at least 2 and a third seasons in, it's at the top.

[@red-stapler574]

This episode really establishes what kind of adversary the Romulans are.

[@ajtooley]

I was at a Star Trek convention soon after this episode first aired (I’m old), and Patrick Stewart was the featured guest. In his Q&A the Henry V scene came up, and he said he was genuinely surprised people recognized him under that wig and makeup. We were all like “Seriously?”

[@kingleech16]

Sometimes the Clark Kent effect doesn’t quite work… 😀

[@jeffcampbell3031]

I have been watching this franchise my entire life. I was born into watching the TOS reruns. The thing is you only get to see it for the first time once. It is so fun watching you guys see it for the first time. It helps to recreate that joy again. Have a great day.

[@maxshenkwrites]

Absolutely agree 100%!!!!

[@mattstrathis4328]

So true...

[@morebaileyskim]

Same!

[@andreabindolini7452]

That finale with the Klingons was iconic. I literally screamed the first time I saw it. My appreciacion for this episode grows as the years goes by.

[@greenbrown7776]

It somehow gets better even when you know all the twists and surprises!

[@quoniam426]

Henry V I believe the play was... Romulans have the same blood as Vulcans, remember? Romulans love to play Chess with their adversaries but also with themselves... Devious. Brilliant episode and tension without any shots fired.

[@majkus]

Patrick Stewart's trailer had a sign on it, “BEWARE: UNKNOWN BRITISH SHAKESPEAREAN ACTOR," placed by a castmate shortly after a newspaper review of the premiere of Next Gen described Stewart in those words.

[@vcg73]

I've always liked that Ron Moore opened this episode with Shakespeare's "Henry V", a scene where a disguised King Henry moves among his men on the eve of a great battle. The character that Patrick Stewart is playing talks about how a true leader is ultimately responsible for the fate of his men. It ties very well to Admiral Jarok - a soldier with many battles under his belt - choosing to put the fate of his people above his own reputation and presumed glory in what he believes to be an upcoming war.

[@skumleren]

Tomalak is played by Andreas Katsulas. He is playing one of the main characters _G'kar_ in Babylon 5. With his duo partner in that show, it's probably the best sci-fi character I've seen.

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

MOLLLAAARRRRRIIIII!!!!!!!

[@ssort69]

I would have to agree, J'Kar and Molari from B5 to me have the best overall story and character arcs in televised sci-fi ever, and that is truly saying a lot considering I really mean in ALL sci-fi that has ever been televised.

[@derzool5267]

I concur, best character and story arc in sci-fi, still to this day. Andreas Katsulas was an incredible actor, but also Peter Jurasik / Londo Mollari. Great chemistry together. Their collective story paired with their incredible acting skills is the best in sci-fi. Better than any Star Trek, and this is a huge Trek fan saying that.

[@thepaladinauthoryoutube]

" She will grow up believing her father is a traitor... *but she WILL grow up.* " My heart breaks every time.

[@jmarie9997]

@@thepaladinauthoryoutube Especially since... in about 20 years...

[@ClamBurger66]

Unless Romulans take out families.

[@willvgo2950]

5:15 Green blood was established a long time ago. Romulans are an offshoot of Vulcans.

[@JamesDatWork]

This is the episode that made me a believer in TNG ... I was a casual viewer, but from this episode onward TNG became peak Trek for me. The score, the acting, the lore, the ships, etc

[@ptah956]

Seasons 1 & 2: "I don't get why everyone said it was bad, we're having a great time" Practically every season 3 episode: "I think this is my favorite one so far!"

[@mjbull5156]

With the exception of the one before this.

[@sunkorg]

James Sloyan is such an expressive actor. He really helps make this one of the greatest Trek episodes of all time.

[@ryannelson1297]

The way his eyes get red as he's realized everything he did was for nothing. Absolutely brilliant

[@qam2024]

I'm surprised though the majority of his work was just voice overs, most notably the Lexus commercials.

[@pauld6967]

Your assessment is correct. We were indeed waiting with the classic "If you think that was something, you ain't seen nothing yet!"

[@deeesher]

Tomalak was played by Andreas Katsulas, who was in the Harrison Ford movie, The Fugitive. But to me, he'll always be G'Kar from Babylon 5, where he should have won all the awards 👏👏👏

[@derzool5267]

B5 was and is criminally underrated. In every aspect.

[@richardsteiner8992]

@@derzool5267 Maybe not the pilot, but it got a LOT better...

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

Honestly, in my top five episodes of TNG. The actor that plays the defector is amazing. Great performances by everyone.

[@AndrewLakeUK]

For some reason there are quite a lot of TNG episodes like this one for me. I vaguely remember the plot and forget how good it is until I watch it again. There are just too many fantastic episodes.

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

@@AndrewLakeUK That's the secret to the show's longevity- that roll of the dice for a real gems- but knowing it might be an Alexander episode!🤪

[@AndrewLakeUK]

@@jasoncaldwell5627 no, no, not the mud bath, anything but the mud bath.

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

@@AndrewLakeUK Season seven was such a shitshow- you can see where each actor demanded an episode focusing on them. There's probably the least number of good episodes in that season. Like five.

[@DoctorWhoBookClub]

At 11:52, is that the Romulan twin planet of Remus/Romii in the sky? First mentioned in Spock’s briefing in Balance of Terror, you can also see the twin worlds in the Romulan logo you uses as a background in a previous episode. The bird of prey’s talons are each grasping one of the twin planets. 🪐🦅

[@cookiemadison8529]

The Shakespeare scene is Henry V. In that scene the king is pretending to be light-hearted about the coming battle in order to keep the soldiers feeling relaxed.and confident--despite his own doubts and worries. Thinking of his crew before himself--exactly like the captain of a Federation ship...and maybe what the Romulan is thinking in trying to protect his daughter. I guess Ron Moore knew what he was doing.

[@joonaa2751]

The green blood was already established in TOS (We didn’t see a bleeding Romulan there, but we know they’re related to Vulcans)

[@jamesalexander5623]

Are there No Vulcans on the Enterprize?

[@aaronbraegen8651]

This is the strength of continuity. The Enemy and The Defector are sibling episodes, each complementing the other.

[@schizowallflower]

One of my favorite lines in all of Star Trek, "Shall we die together?"

[@daveheesen9174]

it takes a while but Piccard is consistantly shown to be a total bad-ass in accountants clothing

[@kereminde]

@@daveheesen9174 Diplomatic, but when the time is exactly right... can and will remind people why he commands the flagship.

[@russellharrell2747]

‘Contender for best episode this season’ Dude, that’s gonna be a stacked bench by the time of the finale,

[@miguelvelez7221]

There's bangers yet to be discovered.

[@rhaedas9085]

Only a few more to one of my all time favorites. They're going to lose their minds.

[@tobbiecassin]

​@@rhaedas9085I think we are all waiting for THAT one!.

[@Bagofsoup]

And soon enough: let history never forget, the name…

[@ODSTGeneralYT]

@@tobbiecassin I love how little doubt as to which episode he is talking about, that we all have.

[@shinyagumon7015]

The fun thing about watching this channel is rediscovering some excellent Star Trek episodes I had just completely forgotten. Like this one is great, great hook, great suspense, great resolution with the Klingons saving the day.

[@theverysinfulcaterpillar5788]

This is I think possibly the most underrated episode of the series, and not because people don't look highly upon it - they do - but because I think it's just so much better than even the positive praise it receives. There are so many good things about it. The klingons decloaking is easily a top 5 moment in the entire series and possibly a top 5 moment in the entire franchise. Personally I think it might be the TNG's best individual moment.

[@greenbrown7776]

It is truly a great Star Trek moment. And building off "The Enemy" was brilliant. Nice balance between truly isolated episodes and too much serialization.

[@chrisbullard5901]

Josh and Alex, the play Data is rehearsing is “Henry V”, known for the St Crispin’s Day speech as he rallies his troops “once more unto the breach!”

[@fakecubed]

That whole scene has a lot of related things to the rest of the episode.

[@mjbull5156]

Quote is from the right play, but the wrong speech. St. Crispin's is the "band of brothers" speech.

[@AT4W]

As we've said, THIS is the highs of TNG when it's firing on all cylinders. The overall quality is improved, but the Defector is where you've hit the new high bar, and you've got a few episodes that'll clear it and then some ahead of you. Sloyan will appear in a few other parts across Trek, but the Defector really is the best of them. From what I've read, originally it was supposed to be another Sherlock Holmes scene instead of Henry V, but the Doyle estate had issues (copyright law is weird in cases like this, especially since it's international) so it was changed and all the better - connecting the "If the cause be just an honorable" bit to Picard's dialogue makes it a stronger script and character bit for Picard, who has the weight of the universe on his shoulders to decide if he's going to go down in history as the guy who started a new war with the Romulans - and in turn turning Tomalak's attempts at manipulation back on him. The back and forth with whether Jarok is the real deal feels good - we have JUST enough evidence to support either side of the possibilities, but the idea that they set about this elaborate ruse to both test Jarok's loyalty AND potentially score the capture of the Federation flagship is one that wasn't really brought up and makes it all the better when it's revealed. The reveal of the Klingons is one of those top tier moments of TNG for me - not just because they had hinted at it twice in a very subtle way that Alex picked up on for the second one, but also just because while not DIRECTLY referenced, it clearly sets the stage for the ongoing Romulan and Klingon stuff later on. Glad you guys enjoyed it so much!

[@karlgrimm3027]

It’s easy to miss but in TOS they said that Romulans are descended from Vulcans and Vulcans have green blood.

[@DamonCzanik]

I always wondered if their ships being green might be their way of striking fear. Perhaps they feel it's the most intimidating color. Our blood is red, and we see red as danger, warnings, and to stop. Perhaps green their equivalent meaning. Of course for for us, it just means "Let's Go!". But for the Romulans? Maybe "We are the danger!"

[@twisted_mentat8810]

This. This was one of the episodes that Trek fans circled on their metaphorical calendars for you to react to, because it is just THAT good. The story arc of Data/Picard and Henry V being woven throughout, real tension, real uncertainty as to whether to trust Jarok (even before they know that it's him), a great score, the twist... It's episodes like this that are why so many were saying "just wait til season 3".

[@greenbrown7776]

It's hardly the only banger episode of S3, but yes -- this episode exemplifies the best of S3 and of TNG.

[@wyrmshadow4374]

Funfact, Romulan ships are blood colored

[@VegetaLF7]

....holy shit how have I never pieced that together? They're offshoots of Vulcans and have green blood. Their ships tend to be green, ergo blood colored. Their ships are to them what a human ship being painted red is for us.

[@wyrmshadow4374]

@@VegetaLF7 I realized it when I heard one of their ship classes was called Bloodwing. Named for a green raptor on Romulus. Wait a minute, how is that blood.... oh I see.

[@matthewcollins4773]

Yep. Vulcans paint their ships a soothing red, while Romulans paint theirs an aggressive blood-green...

[@fyrestorme]

RIP Andreas Katsulas (Romulan Commander Tomolak). Such a great actor. Also played G'Kar on babylon 5

[@dunringill1747]

His performance of G'Kar is top tier.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Spoiler Alert : He also played the One-Armed Man in "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones!

[@miller-joel]

They are not ready for B5.

[@auckalukaum]

The TNG era, especially under the auspices of Ron Moore, really flesh out the Klingons, Romulans, and later the Cardassians, as fully formed societies with depth and nuance.

[@donovanbradford8231]

A great episode for sure. The climax is so awesome, the writing, acting, and even the surprise that Picard has for the Romulans with the squad of Klingon ships for the Romulans😎. I hope this episode shows you guys what mamy fans were talking about post seasons 1 and 2 the quality definitely goes up where you find episodes like these far more frequently throughout each season now.

[@brocktree4]

I understand that Alex and Josh love the characters of TNG so much that they would be happy with an episode with no plot, just the characters going about their lives. But can we agree that this episode is better than Picard helping Data stumble through Shakespeare for 45 minutes? XD Glad you liked the episode, fellas. Keep up the great content! Engage!

[@maxshenkwrites]

It could never be a whole episode, and A&J KNOW that it could never be a whole episode, but the fact that they wouldn't mind if it WAS tells you how beautifully, deeply, perfectly conceived these characters are.

[@brocktree4]

@@maxshenkwrites No arguments on that point.

[@miguelvelez7221]

Elite level TNG. No more, no less. A "bottle" episode that hinges just on character and world building with the whole cast pulling their weight and the guest stars being top notch. Favorite moment is Picard and the Romulan admiral alone. Oh, and of course the moment leading up to Worf and Picard pulling the Uno Reverse card is epic. And guys... THERE'S EVEN BETTER EPISODES STILL TO COME.

[@RedmoonIndustries]

I love this episode..... that moment when you hear the Klingon theme music.... "Will you extend the appreciation of the Federation and my personal gratitude to the Klingons"

[@rhaedas9085]

I always love that the Klingon theme that is used over and over and is so well known by fans now was the first music heard in the first ST movie (still one of the best opening scenes ever).

[@fakecubed]

The Klingon music from this era is so great.

[@Zikar]

A great episode that really amps up that Cold War tension, keeps your on your toes about exactly who Jarok is and what he really knows. The final confrontation is just fantastic and an excellent example of how not having a big ship battle is often better for the story.

[@richardzinns5676]

Data's hairpiece in the first scene is to make him look like Laurence Olivier in the 1940's movie of Henry V.

[@mjbull5156]

Or to make him look like a famous painting of Henry V. Apparently, he did really have that bowl haircut.

[@actor_jim]

It took me way more watches than I want to admit to realize that Picard's line about "If the cause is just and honorable" is a direct throwback to Data's lines as Henry the Fifth at the start of the episode. The score even throws in a bit of the Shakespearey score from that scene to accentuate it, and I never realized until a very recent rewatch.

[@TheNeilBlack]

That final standoff is one of my favorite scenes in all of Star Trek. The moment when the klingon warships decloak and we realized the romulans aren't just courting war with the Federation, but also with the Klingon Empire, was such a shift in galactic politics. The Federation has an actual ally that's willing to stand beside them in battle.

[@greenbrown7776]

YES!

[@daniellanctot6548]

*_SOOOO Many great quotes in this one:_* - _"The Federation credo: EXPLOITATION!"_ - _"What a fool I've been to come looking for courage in a layer of cowards!"_ - (All the Klingon and Romulan swearing!) - _"You have already betrayed your people, Admiral!"_ - _"There comes a time in a man's life that you cannot know... when he looks down at the first smile of his baby girl and realizes he must change the world for her... for all children."_ - _"She will grow up believing that her father is a traitor. But she will grow up"_ - _"If the cause be just: They are willing to give their lives!"_ - _I" expected more from you than an idle threat, Picard"_ - _"Shall we die together?"_ - (And pretty much the entire "Word Game" of Chess between Picard and Tomalak is just 😘🤏 *'Chef's Kiss'*)

[@redmatter]

Some fun trivia… in Henry V which Data was performing at the beginning of the episode, there’s a scene where Henry dresses himself as a commoner and goes walking among his people to understand what they really think. As you noticed the opening scene has a holodeck character that is a thinly disguised Picard. And of course the episode deals with the deception of the Romulan Admiral cloaked as a low ranking officer, the deception of the Romulans and Picard’s deception involving the Klingons. You will find that many times the cold open of a TNG episode this point forward often provides some idea as to the themes to be dealt with in the episode. It’s a neat little thing that they started doing during the Ronald Moore era.

[@danielceo4694]

This is a great episode. I'll save some comments for when you guys premiere the deep dive discussion. But I just wanted to leave a comment about the beginning. I love seeing Data trying to re-enact a scene from Henry V. It was always a fave scene for me. But rewatching it now and seeing Sir Patrick playing the role of a soldier reminds me of when I saw him perform live on stage in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the Royal Shakespearean Company--they had performed Anthony And Cleopatra. Patrick Stewart starred as Mark Anthony and it was so refreshing to see a group of actors perform this material who study Shakespeare on a daily basis...not to mention how exciting it was to see Sir Pat in action before my very eyes!

[@this.is.a.username]

RIP the late great Andreas Katsulas. Cannot wait for you to see him as G'Kar

[@SeraphArmaros]

I love they included the little detail of the time delay from the Starfleet transmission. The Enterprise is exploring far away from Earth, and even with Subspace transmissions it can take hours for a message to be received.

[@lynnkain]

This is one of my favorite episodes. This smacks of the tension during the Cold War.

[@XRos28]

Sir Patrick Stuart was a Shakespearian stage actor before coming to television, so his casting as a Shakespeare character is on the spot here. You were so quiet and open mouthed so much that you could have swollen a mosquito at the peak point of the episode... Are you IN AWE of this episode, by any chance? It is a great one, for sure, "one to write home about", as they say.

[@greyinvader]

TNG at its finest. You wanted a banger episode and you got it! Picard: "Shall we die together?"😮

[@williamozier918]

This is one of the episodes I refer to as a John Gresham novel IN SPACE! I love these episodes!

[@ldifalco2010]

Just a great episode. Nerd alert: The helmsman wore the old style uniform. Not so obvious but before the Klingon ships de-cloaked, the score introduced a theme similarly used for the Klingons. Very crafty. Just an example of great scoring and how it can set a mood and hint at things to come in the story. Also, recall Picard in his ready room calling for Worf to join him but you never say that scene. Obviously we know now what that conversation was about.

[@brad9189]

The nice thing about that brief scene where Picard asks to speak to Worf is it’s designed to be quickly forgotten by the audience but then immediately remembered again as relevant when the Klingons decloak. Very well executed. Foreshadowing scenes are sometimes really obvious and that can lessen the impact of the twist when it does happen.

[@pigs18]

"I'm ready for a banger." A certain Sheamus quote comes to mind.

[@VonWenk]

Alex's reaction to the Klingon ships decloaking is pretty much the same reaction I had watching this episode. I remember liking this episode, but I'd forgotten Ronald Moore had written it.

[@legionaireb]

3:22 - The play is Henry the Fifth. Patrick Stewart is a classically trained Shakespearian actor, so having him play a direct role in the scene was a given, even if he was already in the scene as Picard.

[@williampilling2168]

The play was Henry V, and the scene when the Klingons decloak is one of the best twists in the series, imho

[@bunnygrill]

Closer and closer to the episode I'm waiting for

[@frankb3347]

I think we all know which one you mean. I am looking forward to them reacting to that one.

[@andrewshannon4950]

​@@frankb3347Do we? There are at least four "I can't wait for them to get to that episode"s in this season, plus I suspect they'll absolutely love the episode whose title is a huge spoiler.

[@ChrisS-no3ft]

Another fantastic score by Ron Jones. This was directed well, acted well, and written well. It had mystery, action, intrigue and great character scenes in between it all. The pacing was great. Almost a perfect episode.

[@WereMike]

The chess moves and the brinksmanship of this episode are so satisfying.

[@SupremeCleave]

"Then you shall have it." Classic.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

Henry V - definitely a BANGER. - I guess the connection is that Data is portraying Henry V, Plantagenet King of England the night before the battle of Agincourt pretending to be a common knight to be able to test the feelings of his soldiers. It is an episode about hidden things and preparing for a consequential battle.

[@fakecubed]

Exactly. It's not just some random scene to fill out the runtime or show what the crew does when they're off duty. It's the perfect set-up for what's about to happen.

[@fakecubed]

One of my favorite episodes of Star Trek of all time. Even knowing every twist in the story, I'll still just randomly put this episode on to watch it again. Great writing, great character acting. That alliance between the Federation and Klingon Empire is coming in pretty clutch, too. It really changed the balance of power, and put the Romulans at a disadvantage. Maybe that's part of the reason why they've been so quiet over the last however many decades. Perhaps they needed to regroup and develop new strategies. But like they said at the end of season 1, now they're back.

[@levirouse1701]

One of the TNG’s best. 💯

[@kevinsommerfield6341]

I love these kind of world building/continuing episodes where you don't introduce some new crazy alien but build on the existing lore. A nice meat and potatoes diplomacy/politics/military episode.

[@greenbrown7776]

100%

[@martinpaternoster]

This is one of my favorites. Engaging characters, focused plot and a poignant close. Ron Jones was often a standout composer on the show.

[@destinycaptain247]

The BOP reveals was HUGE when this episode premiered 1/1/90. Ron D. Moore kills it again.

[@NerdDad5000]

I was waiting for you to reach this one. So good. My goto episode.

[@ChristopherMurphy1969]

One of my personal favorites. This is S-tier Star Trek. Ronald D. Moore's talents are on full display here and it's right around this episode that ST:TNG took the torch from the OS and ran with it. An absolutely perfect Star Trek episode from start to finish.

[@TheSpanishInquisition87]

The Romulans are so devious. They are always one step ahead. I love that this whole episode is a Romulans psy-op.

[@MegabyteUnleashed]

This episode is easily top 10 of the entire franchise for me. The subtle setup of klingons halfway through, with a blast of their theme when they decloak. The intrigue of what's going on with jarok and what he's giving up for a better world for his daughter, the crushing realisation at the end for him, the acting all round, Ron Jones showing why he's the greatest of trek composers for the shows. So good.

[@targetaudience]

Special thanks to www.youtube.com/@OpenMawProductions for our new reaction overlay as well as all of his graphics, backgrounds & much more he has done for us! Go subscribe to his channel.

[@ThatSlowTypingGuy]

That side by side was neat. I was wondering if this was the firs time it had been used or if I just hadn't been paying attention before.

[@torresilk4277]

Spock’s blood is green too.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Romulans and Vulcans are Cousins!

[@elizabethpalladino8301]

One of my favorite episodes in all of Star Trek!!! I'm glad you loved it too.

[@greenbrown7776]

Same here. Best of S3 so far and a definite key episode for giving S3 its reputation.

[@Vulcanerd]

petaQ (also spelled "Pahtak", "Pathak", "p'tahk", "p'takh", "patahk", "pahtk", "p'tak", or "p'taq") was a commonly used Klingon insult though I don't think they've ever defined exactly what it means. If I had to speculate, it probably impugns the target's honor or some such? Tohzah was another undefined Klingon insult while veruul was a Romulan insult, analogous to the Klingon word "pahtak" (petaQ). Also, thanks Memory Alpha!

[@allthingsnerd.4484]

According to the Klingon dictionary, petaQ literally means something like "weirdo", stemming from the verb "to be weird", but it accumulated so many extra cultural connotations over time that a direct translation is difficult, and it is actually quite a serious insult. It’s basically the Klingon N-word.😂

[@ThePendragon1998]

I thought it meant 'animal'.

[@jamesalexander5623]

I thought it meant POS!

[@caroletwi9851]

petaQ literally means 'you act weird ', so it's like saying 'weirdo.' However, being 'weird' in a Klingon context means to act un-Klingon. So the Romulan said about the most insulting thing he could to Worf, since he especially values his Klingon-ness. Another thing that flies under the radar at this point in the season: when Worf tells Picard that he's being hailed by the Klingon ship, it's the BortaS. Remember this ship's name. We're playing the long game with Ronald D. Moore!

[@FreakDaMIghet]

The stand off at the end is one of my favorite moments in all of Star Trek because it is one of the few times that the Federation and Klingon alliance actually comes into play. Up until now, they've been TELLING us they are allies, but almost every Klingon we've met have either been hostile rogues or very suspicious of the Federation. But here, we see the Klingons coming to the Enterprises aid, preparing to back them in a near impossible fight against the Romulans. The idea of a former sworn enemy now being the Federation's closest ally is just really cool to me.

[@r.j.sullivan2104]

The moment when Picard and Alex took a drink in synch was my favorite unplanned moment.

[@j.chappel1160]

“More security! More security!” It’s coming quick!

[@BlindPidePiper]

Yes, this was a good one but it still gets better!

[@GeorgeBratcherIII]

In a future, you cannot yet imagine, but will see once you have finished your quest of watching every Star Trek there is, this is just a beater-licking episode giving you a taste of the frosting, because the cake isn't finished baking and it's not time to decorate it yet! You have so much MORE that one day you will look back and see and say, "Yeah, this episode was EPIC, but it was a beater-licking frosting episode compared to everything else we have finished watching once the cake was ready and we ate!" My best offer to not SPOIL anything for you, but give a glimpse into what is coming!

[@txheadshots]

"Shall we die together?" Picard speak for "F around and find out" And it won't be the last time he says that, in different ways

[@dongilleo9743]

This is one of the best ST:TNG episodes in my opinion, because it features a really great actor portraying a character that becomes the protagonist of the story, while the Enterprise crew steps somewhat back, not quite, but almost to supporting character roles. This is Jarok's story, and it has all the depth and wretching emotion of a Shakespearean tragedy; a man of prominence, success, and high rank is moved to sacrifice everything to protect and save his daughter, his people, only to find he has been tricked, fooled, and that it was all for nothing.

[@pokes404]

Outside of the obviously transcendent, elite-tier episodes (which I won't name here to avoid any kind of spoilers but anyone who has watched TNG knows the episodes I'm talking about) this might be my favorite episode of the entire series. It has everything I love about TNG: great Picard moments, some mystery elements, believable stakes and tension, a fantastic performance from a guest star, a thrilling showdown of words and clever outmaneuvering at the end, and a conclusion that is bittersweet yet still hopeful. That Ready Room scene with Picard and Jarok is still one I will pull up on KZbin every once in a while and rewatch. It was memorable for me as a kid in the 90s ... it hits on an even deeper level now that I'm a father. This is an episode that I feel gets overlooked a lot amongst all the other great episodes of TNG, but it's one that has remained stuck in my brain ever since the first time I watched it.

[@thomasgrimm1664]

I'd honestly forgotten about this one right up until the Klingons showed up. S3 has some good episodes!

[@mjbull5156]

Well, if you are going to do Shakespeare and you have a Shakespearean actor in the cast, you may as well use him. Certainly the Romulans have green blood, they originated from the Vulcans. I was laughing a bit when you said "The Enemy" was the best Romulan episode knowing this was coming up so soon after.

[@kwebb121765]

I'm just betting Patrick insisted on it.

[@cmtosh2409]

This is one of my absolute favorite episodes, probably in my top 10 for all of star trek

[@GalacticGod]

This episode as a whole is great but I really love the ending. Everything comes together perfectly.

[@WakeRoberts]

By far one of THE best episodes

[@greenbrown7776]

Somehow, it just gets better with repeated viewings, even when you know the reveals.

[@MakotoAtava]

16:35 The legendary "Romulan Standoff"

[@mfpmaniac]

The story was great, the guest actors absolutely brilliant. You were waiting for some good Romulan episodes? You get two in quick succession. Welcome to the golden period of TNG!