Star Trek Retro Review: "Yesterday's Enterprise" (TNG) | Alternate Timelines

[@Quake210]

I have to admit I was expecting Steve's shirt to change when the crew's did for no reason.

[@JaySmithAudioStoryteller]

Oh, that would have been so great. It's not like he could have shaved his beard to narrate the Mirror episodes, so... :)

[@MilesDashing]

Missed opportunity.

[@moonkey2712]

Would have been fantastic

[@kevincachia1977]

Indeed, that would have been cool. And I almost certainly would have missed it anyway!

[@jamesmeppler6375]

it did, but it was the same shirt.

[@blkrhino7961]

When Picard's voice drops and he says "the war is going very badly for the Federation" sends chills down my spine.

[@tbirdguy1]

It's so easy to understand why as well. The Federation is never portrayed as super warlike. Its not designed to fight like the Klingon empire... its more like the UN against super advanced Mongol Invaders. The Fed takes months to get consensus and take action. Klingons attack at will whenever and wherever their emperor says. The federation's real strength is in its diversity, and its science and engineering. But not its military capacity.

"Within several months we may all become product testers working at the K'Pow Fun-Time Pain Sticks Company."

[@Tolly7249]

It's so good! He's so serious and so sad, you instantly believe that he knows he's on the losing side of a terrible war.

[@Waffletigercat]

“One ship will make little difference in the here and now.”

[@zugabdu1]

Yeah, it creates a sense of immense stakes. Star Trek throws around words like "duty" and sacrifice around. This episode shows what that means.

[@cantantenoel]

I'm glad you shouted out Rachel Garrett. She didn't have much screen time but she made such a powerful impression in the few scenes she had, I was genuinely upset when they killed her off.

[@patrickdodds7162]

"This is not a ship of war. This is a ship of peace." -- a sentiment I miss so much in Star Trek when presently fans are offered little more than fleet battles, "gritty" characters and Section 31.

[@Vulcanerd]

I have to say Section 31 was one of the worst things that could have happened to Trek by my account. It undermines everything about what Trekkies love about Trek, the optimism, the hope of a better future and of aspiring to higher ideals. It completely undermines it in a way that a better society like the Federation and future Earth are only possible when the cynical and malicious shape the course of events in a way that is utterly antithetical to the Federation we've known and the evolution (not necessarily genetically) that humanity has undergone.

[@ldkellandshaw]

'Let's make sure that history never forgets... the name.... Enterprise'

[@maldaror7097]

What's Enterprise?

[@mikeymur]

@@maldaror7097 A show that was on UPN 2001-2005, eventual became a Star Trek show.

[@andrewmurray1550]

@@maldaror7097 Picard's ship is the Enterprise 1701-D (and in the movies 1701-E). Before Picard was Kirk (NCC1701/NCC1701--A), Pike (NCC 1701 prior to Kirk) and Archer (NX-01) (and Garrett Ent 1701-C, and Harriman Ent 1701-B), all captains of USS Enterprise. There have been at least six named Enterprise, and in Picard's words, "I'm certain this won't be the last ship to bear the name Enterprise....There's plenty of letters left in the alphabet.".

[@MattyFrank]

I was sitting here waiting for a Shooter McGavin reference, and just when I let my guard down, Steve throws out "I eat pieces of shit like that for breakfast". I busted up laughing and just about woke up my wife. That's good content right there..

[@rocketmanVA703]

THIS was the episode that turned the series. I was in my last year in college, in a rather engineer, math, and philosophy major heavy fraternity... we all liked or lived the original Trek, but hadn't yet really embraced STNG... it aired early Saturday evening in our market. That night at our weekly party, Yesterday's Enterprise was all anyone could talk about!

[@thescifiZipacna]

I do feel bad for Denise Crosby sometimes. She quit the show because she didn’t sign up to be a background character, only for the show to eventually evolve into more of an ensemble, with episodes showcasing particular characters. At least she got to come back for this truly excellent showcase for Tasha.

[@Cre80s]

No reason to feel so bad for her. She was taking her career by the horns, and she's done some great films that probably would have been cut off had she been committed to Trek. Also, her character ended up amazingly interesting and consequential despite being in so few episodes. She's done well.

[@TexasCat99]

And she got to come back as a half bread romulan human hybrid baddie for a few episodes afterwards.

[@breach005]

I could see early in how it seemed like more of a joke and even career poison. I think even Patrick Stewart wasn't convinced at first. S1 is pretty rough, and Rick Berman seems like a huge dick.

[@pufthemajicdragon]

If Nutrek wanted me to sign up, all they would have to do is make a TNG-styled show with Tasha as the captain of her own ship. Alternate timeline shenanigans of course, but I would still watch it.

[@comentedonakeyboard]

And therefore Sela went out to avenge her.

[@jonnybatman007]

Imagine the mindfuck for Picard: You've known this person for years. Trust them implicitly. and for 20 years history plays out one way. Then one day your old friend walks up and says, "yeah... none of the last 20 years is right. Got nuthin' for ya but a vibe. Fix it."

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

Exactly. What must that have been like ..must be ...will be. Whatever.

[@st.anselmsfire3547]

What's even weirder is that, because of some weirdness in Picard Season 2, we know that in this timeline, the events of Time's Arrow also happened, just probably slightly differently.

[@DamienPalmer]

@@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh Wasda been.

[@Tolly7249]

I love that he believes her once he's thought about it. It says so much about their friendship in both timelines. He *listens* and takes action.

[@a35362]

"We are all going to get killed in this war, one way or another. We know time travel is a thing. What if we make a choice right now... and we keep the war from ever happening??"

[@jayrev1254]

I’m glad you mentioned the subtle character changes, Steve. I particularly like what I have to think was Frakes’ choice to have Riker act much more antagonist and impatient with Picard. It’s those little details that add yet another layer to this well crafted episode.

[@dm121984]

It really works so well that all the characters are close to their prime timeline versions: everyone is themselves but in a bleaker universe where they are slowly being ground down as the war is destroying the federation.

[@_WillCAD_]

Yeah, even on first viewing I noticed that WarPicard and WarRiker are not nearly as close or as trusting as the Real ones. In fact, I almost got the impression that they didn't like each other much and got on each others' nerves.

[@Blimbus-Blombo]

It reminds me of Riker in that one episode with all of those enterprises showing up (can’t remember the name of the episode) and one of them is captained by Riker and he DOESNT want to go back to his timeline because of how badly it’s going against the borg. It reminds me of the desperation Frakes played in that scene.

[@astrowuff]

Maybe he's more on edge because Troi isn't there, maybe she's dead?

[@starwolf99]

It mirrors Riker's antagonism with Jellico. Picard in this timeline is far from fatherly due to the war.

[@simonmoody8400]

The way Riker is clearly uncomfortable while he is being evasive with Captain Garrett also speaks to his respect for her

[@starryskies_warpdrivenights]

I love this episode, one of my favorite Trek time travel stories. Seen it several times. It wasn't until today that I even realized Geordi is in the wrong uniform at the end. I always get a new piece of Trek knowledge from your videos. Thanks Steve.

[@TexasCat99]

Spotting errors and goofs on TV shows and movies became much easier worth the internet. Sharper picture quality and easy access to any or most episodes. Of course, some fans would have noticed with their VHS recordings... But again no internet to easily spread the word. I didn't know about the uniform until just now. And I've seen that episode at least three times back then

[@_WillCAD_]

"Several"? That's all? It's been 35 years, I think I've seen it about 35 times, maybe more. It's definitely a top-tier episode of Trek.

[@rmdodsonbills]

I remember watching this episode in first run and yeah, it was just as impressive at first blush as Steve makes it out to be here. The transitions between timelines worked, Guinan being the only one who remembered the old timeline worked, Worf loving prune juice worked, Tasha getting the chance to die for something meaningful worked. Just great stuff all around. Personally, I'm a big fan of alternate timelines generally, so I always enjoy getting to see how the characters turned out under different circumstances. And I'm also a fan of time-travel logic and enjoyed seeing how this all played out and following the chain of causality. Just excellent stuff all the way through.

[@tangent_mechanic]

This episode has everything. It's got spatial anomolies, time travel, love, sacrifice, moral dilemmas. Edit: And explosions...

[@TexasCat99]

Explosions. You forgot it has explosions. And the pew pews!

[@tangent_mechanic]

@@TexasCat99 That's very important. I did forget that.

[@DawnDavidson]

It’s the Princess Bride of ST episodes! 😂

[@Scerttle]

20:20 lmfao this is exactly why Steve is 1 of 2 Star Trek reviewers I watch.

[@jackmalvern2394]

me too. when you have to pause the video because you don't want to miss what Steve says next.

[@MadSpectre47]

Audibly laughed out loud while nodding in agreement.

[@KayleighBourquin]

Who's the other one?

[@fplgregfrost]

Top 10 best ever Star Trek episode? It's up there for me.

[@noahLogue-x5l]

Fuck yeah almost #1 on my list

[@thefunctionofjames]

I'm so glad to hear you rave about this episode. Absolutely a must watch episode of all of Star Trek. Great guests, great story, great character choices.

[@nomadicsynth]

"Star Trek Generations is an ok movie and I'll die on that hill" - James T Kirk

[@jamesmeppler6375]

he didn't die on the hill, but he was still buried on it. Picard put a bunch of rocks on him since he couldn't dig in the ground! lol and if that area is often that hot, then they could probably go back in Star Trek Picard, and he would be mummified

[@astrowuff]

Actually he didn't die on that hill. Bill Shatner wrote several books where the romulans take his body and reanimate him and then he has a bunch of crazy adventures. You just can't kill Bill.

[@DawnDavidson]

@@astrowuff😂

[@jamessatter7418]

The absence of Troi in the alternative timeline says a lot. It reinforces that counselors are a new role on starship and probably weren't added in the alternate timeline. She is probably back on Batazed working as a psychologist.

[@KayleighBourquin]

Probably a trauma psychologist, handling survivors of the war

[@Willpower-74205]

Assuming that Betazed hasn't already fallen to the Klingons. I don't even want to think about what her life and her mother's life would be like then. 😳

[@KayleighBourquin]

@Willpower-74205 Betazed falling could be why the war is going badly, the Klingons are using telepaths to predict Starfleet tactics

[@Willpower-74205]

@@KayleighBourquin Something to keep me awake at night.... 😳

[@jamesmeppler6375]

or that theres no use for counselors on a war ship. They still had therapy on a screen with a therapist some where else. But it does tell its more focused for war. But why is there still a bar tender? There's no use for a pub on a warship. Unless alcohol is acceptable. Definitely no room for some PEACEFUL Alorian. So this potential future doesn't actually make sense.

[@chrisblake4198]

The cut to Tasha was the cold open wasn't it? I seem to remember it being a hard cut into a commercial break, and that was such a power move. Even for a kid who was a Doctor Who fan in addition to Star Trek, it was maximally disorienting to have the commercial break to ponder what was going on. I love that they used Guinan so well, completely reasonable to sense what was broken without being able to quantify it.

[@paulannable3734]

I watched TNG on the BBC - no adverts!

[@SeventhSwell]

Another fun review. Thanks! One thing I'd add is that it's not just Guinan and Data providing reasons to send Enterprise C back. Picard himself tells us, by way of telling Captain Garrett, that Starfleet is losing so badly that defeat is inevitable and one more ship in the present won't make any difference. I think giving us three solid reasons for Picard sending Enterprise C back makes the decision a lot more believable and understandable. If it were just Guinan's intuition it would feel pretty ridiculous. If it were just Guinan's intuition and Data's speculation it would be more believable but not really satisfying. Having Picard also knowing that Starfleet is losing and Enterprise C can't help that by staying in the present? Chef's kiss. It would no longer make sense for Picard to not send the C back.

[@KassFireborn]

And it makes sense for the Ent-C crew, too: if someone told *me*, "Uh... you can do fuck all to help here and now. I'm sorry, but that's how it is, we're just way past one ship mattering. I can't actually promise going back will do anything, but it might?" then I too would be like, "I hope I at least get a plaque or something for my heroic death, because here we go. I'd rather die for at least a chance of a difference." And I'm not even in Starfleet, which seems to naturally select for a certain amount of heroic self-sacrifice types.

[@DrDnd4nyer]

This episode was great on first watch. And the designer of the Enterprise C did a great job of making the C look like the D's predecessor in a very believable way. Just top notch all around.

[@davidheckjr]

This was the episode when TNG became a must watch, couldn’t miss it kind of show for me. And, it was followed by “The Offspring,” another fantastic episode that rocked me to the core. That 1-2 punch was the moment TNG became the iconic show that it is.

[@tbirdguy1]

The Offspring makes me cry like a baby... Thank you for my life... I need a tissue!😢😢😢

[@kenhallermd8897]

One of the miracles of that era of television production is that so many series would churn out up to 26 episodes in a season and so many of them would be really good. Season 3 of TNG is where things really started cooking with the latter half of that season including not only “Yesterday’s Enterprise” but “The Offspring,” “Hollow Pursuits,” “The Most Toys,” “Sarek,” and “The Best of Both Worlds Part 1.” In the era of streaming, it might take two or three seasons (not years, since they might be spread over four to five years) to create 26 episodes, often without as high a batting average.

[@pufthemajicdragon]

It's a lot easier to make more episodes when your show has character and story and depth and heart instead of just really expensive CGI that takes 6 months to render. I miss those days.

[@DawnDavidson]

@@pufthemajicdragonyeah. The effects are great, but maybe not worth what we’ve lost in other ways. 😢

[@phatphracker]

When I saw this video pop-up, I was thinking, "how can he possibly get controversial in his review of this 'iconic' episode. I clicked on it a bit eager to see that but am not disappointed with the way Steve reviewed this classic. In complete agreement with Steven and many others concerning the place this episode holds in our hearts and the franchise's history, I'll be watching it tonight. This is one episode that never gets old. If it does, "that will be the day."

[@albertmartinez2539]

Data: The Klingons will arrive very soon. Picard: How soon? Data: 9 or 10 hours. Picard: That's *soon*? Data: Space is big, sir. Really, really big. You think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's peanuts to space. Sir.

[@MrZauberelefant]

I know that quote or a derivative from battlefleet Gothic. The rulebook

[@alyzu4755]

I thought it was "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

[@KassFireborn]

Unless JJ Abrams is directing. Then it's... well, perhaps not so much "small" as "has very strange properties."

[@wordmakersworkshop]

Also, props to Richard Castillo; a fine member in the line of people to command the Starship Enterprise.

[@miker4016]

Love this episode! Missed opportunity to have Worf in command of one of the Klingon ships… Also, this would’ve been a better plot for generations and the TOS crew

[@wordmakersworkshop]

I love this episode. As much as Shatner's Kirk loved the Enterprise, it's Stewart in TNG who sold the idea of the Enterprise as a thing of legend, and a home to belong to. He got several chances to really sell it and he absolutey nailed "Let's make sure that history never forgets the name, Enterprise"

[@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319]

Yesterday's Enterprise is definitely one of my favorite TNG episodes. But as far as timey wimey shenanigans go within the Star Trek universe, my favorite episodes in the TNG pantheon would have to be Cause and Effect, and, as cliche as it might be, All Good Things.

[@JRFrancisco20088]

Awesome episode. Saw it when it first aired on a VHS cassette in 1990 (Yeah. I'm old). Had to work that day and taped it to watch later. Blew me away. Hoping it would be a 2-parter, but it still rocked. Lieutenant Castillo has the same last name as me. That sealed the deal. Top 5 episode of Star Trek all time.

[@BrianBates128]

I'm so glad to hear you call out how slow it was for Enterprise C to get to the rift. JUST GOOOOO!

[@jpotter2086]

Time dilation :D

[@Tolly7249]

This episode is so good. Everyone puts their all into their roles, Denise Crosby gets a way better send-off than she did the first time, the set work and costume work are flawless, the story is tense while still having room to breathe... It's bloody fantastic.

[@brianyoung157]

I love how essentially Star Trek this episode is with a message of doing the right thing is hard and may well get you killed but can change the world

[@davypi2]

Are you saying that there are times we we must choose between what is easy and what is right?

[@jpotter2086]

Here from 9min into the future to watch yesterday's Shives. Mmmmmm, day-old Shives ....

[@AndrewD8Red]

One theme in this episode is "Guinan telling Picard he has to send the Enterprise back, or else all the proceeding decades of war would be his fault." Later, in Reunification, Guinan tells Picard "yeah, she's Tasha's daughter. Everything that's happening here and now is your fault."

[@jpotter2086]

Time pressure eliminates overthink and can result in genius!

[@dm121984]

I'm amazed to hear about the rushed production because the episode is so good and so close to flawless that it it seems like everything must have gone right for it. The writing, directing, acting and production (costumes and sets mainly) all work smoothly together to show an amazing hour of TV that is still a stand out favourite to me and many trekkies.

[@poozizzle]

The Guinan of it all is always fascinating to me.

[@ekaterinalexiescanln9105]

Excellent use of Shooter McGavin (Happy Gillmore) references 😂

[@iesmeh]

One of my favorites. I remember being completely enthralled when this aired.

[@thegreenmanofnorwich]

Even though I've seen it dozens of times, I still find it enthralling now!

[@Starfoxfan-rg6iz]

One of my favorite episodes from tng, also the enterprise c is seriously underrated

[@TexasCat99]

It's meh. Ant but the original concept of the 1701C is much better. What they made for the episode was a lot easier and cheaper to build.

[@josebrown5961]

I hoped that they would do a series that took place on 1701-C. Of course I wanted the B first but there was a lot of drama that they could have done, still could… Edit: No offense but I HATE it when the word underrated is used. In this case it doesn’t fit. The C has only been seen in this episode, how is it underrated? It isn’t “rated” at all. It went back to a firefight that it was totally outmatched and of course it lost. That in no way makes it underrated, it was a fine ship like every ship with the name Enterprise.

[@seanrichardson7295]

@@josebrown5961 In my head-canon, they immediately retired the B because it killed Kirk on its maiden voyage.

[@Willpower-74205]

​@@josebrown5961 There's a Trek novel called Well of Souls by Ilsa J. Bick. In it, we not only get to know more about Captain Garrett, but we also meet her original command crew. Highly recommended! 🖖😎👍

[@josebrown5961]

@@Willpower-74205Thanks I will pick that up!

[@jamessatter7418]

Beverly's line about not knowing if they even exist in the other timeline foreshadows the fatalistic mindset that will get her into trouble the following season in Remember Me.

[@hancocki]

Thank you Steve for acknowledging the great importance of Worf's newfound beverage of choice in this episode. One of my favourite quotes from the whole series. 😊

[@MilesDashing]

1:25 "THIS scary space whirlpool seems to bother Guinan a lot more than average." What a ridiculous line. What a ridiculously Star Trek line. 😂

[@bkayser05]

I'm always shocked that this is not a 2 part episode. There is so much unexplored in this episode while also setting up so much for future episodes as well. Hard to believe it was all done in under 45 minutes

[@TexasCat99]

The story works well for 45 minutes. No fluff. But yes, it would be cool to have explored more of the alternate timeline... But as usual, they did not know how good this episode was going to be. I don't remember most of the 170+ episodes. But this one is easily the top 10 I can think of and enjoyed.

[@DawnDavidson]

I think the compressed time is part of WHY it’s so good. There’s nothing unnecessary. It’s always better to leave people wanting more, than wishing for less. I SUCK at doing this a lot of the time, but it’s still true and this episode showcases it.

[@TexasCat99]

@DawnDavidson A good opposite example is Netflix's Rebel Moon. Both movies are 2 hours long and so much nothing, boring. Besides being sci-fi channel Friday night movie storytelling. The extended version adds 70 minutes to the combined films. Much of the added content improved the blood and explained things. Perhaps some of those should have been included in the original cut and removed garbage. The extra Gore was gory but nothing disgusting. The added to sex scenes did nothing for the movies. And I do like a good sex scene. But they felt out of place and adding about 7 minutes. I will never watch them again. Yesterday's Enterprise, always enjoyable

[@zugabdu1]

Tasha Yar got more characterization in this one episode than in every episode where she was in the main cast pit together. It's an interesting look at what might have been had Crosby stayed on the show.

[@breach005]

At least its kind of cool they kept the continuity of this episode that let Crosby come back as her half Romulan daughter Sela. The Time Police were probably pissy with Picard on that one

[@rocketmanVA703]

That is my favorite Picard quote... "Not good enough, dammit, not good enough!!"

[@Cmdr1962]

I love that Riker and Picard basically hate each other in this timeline. It's also a 'reset button' episode that somehow feels impactful.

[@andrewmurray1550]

Is this the one where Riker says "Shut up Picard! As in close your mouth and stop talking!".?

[@knowpassword]

Never noticed that about Jordie's uniform before until you mentioned it.

[@RogerPlankton1975]

Ah the episode that resulted in me asking my parents to get me some prune juice, and I learned I did not like prune juice 😅

[@ThomasstevenSlater]

Looks like you weren't a warrior

[@DawnDavidson]

I suspect a lot of kids of yesteryear thought similarly about canned spinach. 😂

[@DarthLocutus0]

This episode, along with setting the chain of events in motion that eventually results in Sela, also gives us one of Picard's best one-liners. "Let's make sure that history never forgets the name 'Enterprise'".

[@jpotter2086]

Episode? This was a practice run at a TNG movie. The naval action was wooden, as it always was for TV, they didn't have ILM on hand for TV production, but everything else .... the extra model work, the lighting, the writing, the makeup, the pacing, the stakes ... still hard to believe they fit all thin in into a 1-hour runtime .... less commercials!

[@dm121984]

I love this episode; each member of the crew is different from the prime timeline but not radically so; they've all been fighting a brutal war against an implacable enemy and are more hardened versions of themselves and we get to see Picard give his life hoping the result will be a better future for humanity and the federation. It manages to show the excitement of battle whilst being a fundamentally anti war episode. And it was fun getting to see Tasha again in one of the good seasons.

[@jackabug2475]

I started watching this less than an hour after Steve posted it, but I have nothing to add -- Steve said it all!

[@trekkieraccoon3343]

I like how in this episode during the final battle when geordi's in engineering how the panel explodes and then the coolant leak happens it's almost exactly the same as the scene in Generations so then the Enterprise was always ment to be destroyed by klingons causing a warp core breach just the situation was different cause of the time screw up now thinking of it make sense since it was the same director

[@damienwilliams2947]

Yesterday’s Enterprise is when you know TNG has found its stride. It’s the turning point from the rough early seasons to the classic show it becomes

[@AxelLeJeff]

I loved your fluid use of the universal hand gesture for using the deflector dish in an unconventional yet plot-convenient way.

[@joed9305]

Another possibility with the final Geordi scene in the wrong uniform is that his scene may not have originally been at the end. It could have been she discussed with Geordi to determine if she would have wanted to know Tasha was actually dead before telling her (would she want to know?).. And Geordi would have explained she was fierce and would want to know the truth. But then they decided it played better at the end for a fade out, even with the wrong uniform. But, yeah, great episode. And you didn't even mention the other cool part about this episode. Other than setting up a link to Tasha's original character, it also set up the Sela story arc later.

[@Rocketsong]

Good idea, but Guinan is wearing the purple dress she wears in the prime timeline. In the altered timeline she is wearing blue/indigo.

[@Sephiroth144]

Ten minutes after the Warrior's Drink introduction... DAMN YOU GUINAN! echoes from the Ten Forward restroom

[@jimwilson278]

This episode was my "The Visitor." I still occasionally repeat Tasha's last line to Captain Picard. I've heard Denise Crosby say at two different cons (20 years apart) that it's her favorite episode.

[@iainhewitt]

There's an interesting point to be made about this episode. Prior to it, the Klingon Empire and the Federation were always referred to as Allies. That doesn't happen afterwards. This was probably just the writers forgetting about it or just deciding what they wanted the relationship to be, but in universe, it makes perfect sense the intel extracted from Tasha and the crew of the C enabled the Tal Shiar to work in the background in subtle ways to prevent such a strong alliance, at least until the Dominion War, by which time, all bets were off.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Huh, you’re right. Just searched the transcripts (assuming my boolean is good). I never noticed that before. Probably because DS9’s “Way of the Warrior” had the Klingons saying they were the Federation’s allies before calling it off midway through. Then a few DS9 episodes go “now we’re no longer allies” after that.

[@DorifutoRabbit]

I do love the shot over Picard's shoulder when the timeline shifts, very effective

[@paul-gs4be]

Imagine how strict Captain Jellico is in this alternate timeline.

[@Gabriel-ci7db]

5 shifts at least. Get it done

[@ComradePhoenix]

"Counsellor, I expect a certain formality from my officers at all times. Including off-hours." "I'm sorry?" "Wear your uniform to sleep."

[@lunatickoala]

Jellicoe acted the way he did because he was preparing Enterprise for combat, for precisely the sort of situation that was occurring in this alternate timeline. When told that Riker was the best pilot, he all but kowtowed to an insubordinate ass because he wanted the best person available to carry out the mission. If anything, he wouldn't need to be as strict because his subordinates would actually carry out his orders.

[@glamourweaver]

@@lunatickoalaI think the degree Jellico and the Enterprise crew clashed demonstrates the inherent failure of the Federation combining its military and its scientific/exploratory fleet. Jellico is exactly who you want staring down the Cardassians in a border conflict. And he’d be helpless negotiating a philosophical conundrum with a sentient shade of blue. He demands discipline from his crew that Picard doesn’t but Picard encourages collaborative creativity from his crew that Jellico’s style doesn’t get. They both belong in command in separate fleets with separate missions.

[@Willpower-74205]

​@@lunatickoala Jellico also refused to acknowledge that Picard was a prisoner of war because that would let the Cardassians know that the metagenic weapon mission was officially sanctioned by the Federation. It may have seemed as though Jellico was throwing Picard under the bus (and some could argue that he did), but he wanted to maintain his power play against the Cardassians until he could find a way to thwart their plans. Once that was done, getting Picard back was the icing on the cake. In a game of wolf vs wolf, one of them will eventually roll over and show its throat. Jellico was the wolf who didn't. 🖖😎👍

[@JaySmithAudioStoryteller]

This is the episode that introduced us to the gorgeous Enterprise-C. While the novels are great, I wish we had seen more of her in Star Trek after this episode. It feels now a lot like "Strange New Worlds" in that we know what's going to happen to Pike and the crew of 1701, but it would be great to see the adventures leading up to this moment. Also, I have decided that the degree to which Steve LOVES or HATES an episode is presented by how wet his lips get by the end of the episode. Dude was practically frothing this time. :)

[@kevinkarmann1239]

After The Visitor and City on the Edge of Forever, this is my third favorite Trek episode. A case could be made for, say, The Inner Light, but this one gets me slightly more…. The whole idea of sacrifice for a future that none of these characters can hope to see. It is very similar bur also completely different from Kirk allowing Edith Keeler to die or Jake obsessing over his father's loss giving his life (in more ways than one).

[@getnohappy]

Don't forget the Ambassador class is a lovely shop model!

[@hewh0wearspants]

Have you ever since I saw the Andrew Probert concept art for the Enterprise-C? It that kinda ruined the Sternbach model for me I mean, I get _why_ they went with that model (easier to produce on a TV production budget/schedule), but oh what I'd give to see a production model of the Probert sketch in action

[@CAP198462]

Two things I would like to add. This episode was another opportunity to see the glorious maroon uniforms from ST:II Wrath of Khan. Even if it’s the no shirt underneath version, it’s a treat. The design of the ambassador class Enterprise. Edit thanks Steve, I don’t remember if it was Certified ingame or Spacedock who said it but the story of the designing of the Ambassador class is interesting.

[@TheMule47]

truly one of the best hours of Trek ever. among the many iconic moments and lines you mentioned, the one that sticks with me the most, that i think sums up the Enterprise-D, TNG, and Trek as a whole, when Gunan is trying to convince Picard of the changes to the timeline, describing how it is supposed to be, Picard scoffs at it sayint eh Enterprise is a warship. Guinan's reply: "This is not a ship of war, this is a ship of peace!"

[@thetruerift]

I think the two best bits here for me are Guinan's "I do know it was a meaningless death" speech to Tasha, and Picard's snide little "That'll be the day..." towards the end.

[@holman725]

One of the best episodes of the entire series…📺

[@elisekehle8520]

God this episode is so good that even Steve's mocking narration of the Picard-Garrett conversation gives me goosebumps

[@PeBoVision]

I can still remember my shock and excitement over the Tasha reveal pre-opening credits. It was a truly jaw dropping moment. My only complaint is in going back to the regular brightly-lit sets. The darker lighting of this episode (and the next-gen movies) feels more natural than the fluorescent-vibe of the series. But that might just be 50 years of working in office-towers turning me off of bright lights in a work environment.

[@donaldwert7137]

12:52 The hand gesture accompanying the technobabble.

[@ryancraig2795]

Here to say the same, lol

[@donaldwert7137]

@@ryancraig2795 It's the Easter eggs...

[@jayrev1254]

“Mommy”! I’ll never not hear that now. 🤣

[@OutlawLotus]

I love Yesterday’s Enterprise, and it cemented the Ambassador class as one of my all time favorite standard bearers of Starfleet design. The episode is easily in my top three all time favorites, right between Surrender of S3 Picard and In the Pale Moonlight from S6 of DS9. Top trek right there, and you put it right; it’s iconic.

[@Ryukuro]

This episode was pretty interesting. I find star trek deals with time travel pretty well.

[@paulannable3734]

Until the televisual excrement of Picard S2. Why is that dross still in my brain?

[@justinfiorenzio7112]

Would love to see a Star Trek film , crossover time line s between the To.S an the Kelvin timeline s

[@justinfiorenzio7112]

With George Takei, Sulu, an the Excelsior,

[@SiriusMined]

I love the Clerks reference. By the way, I went to high school with Brian O'Halloran. We used to play D&D in the library.

[@fruitofthelum5815]

Steve, I've watched your videos about Star Trek on and off for a while now, and I have to say I love your passion and how you can derive some light-hearted humour from even the most serious episodes. It's so endearing! Keep it up! Also, best of luck tomorrow!

[@McFlingleson]

The first time I saw this episode, I didn't remember that Worf said "a warrior's drink" when he tried prune juice, and I heard people quote that line and I didn't realize it was an actual quote but thought they were just satirizing the kind of thing Worf would say. That being an actual quote from Worf makes it a lot funnier to me.

[@v_gta957]

Yesterday's Enterprise is my fave episode of TNG. I built a model C when I was a kid. Best episode.

[@DavidWesley]

I remember watching this episode when it aired. I was absolutely floored.

[@Chayat0freak]

When Quentin Tarantino was being rumoured to be directing a star trek movie he was asked in an interview what kind of movie he'd want to make. This is the episode he said he'd want to remake as a feature for all of the reasons Steve mentions in this video.

[@Datan0de]

Yes, yes, YES! This is hands-down my favorite non-Best-of-Both-Worlds episodes of TNG, and possibly all of Trek. I often skip your retro reviews, but this one was an immediate watch.

[@allenrubinstein3696]

I'm actually surprised you didn't mention that the timeline mucking led to Crosby returning as a recurring villain -- speaking of evil twins!! It added yet more layers to this remarkable bit of television - both cleaning up the mess the first season made of Yar's pointless, perfunctory disposal and then finally giving Crosby a decent reason to continue appearing on the show!

[@maksrants4594]

I like how you jokingly highlight my pals and I also joke about how Picard listens to Guinan a lot. We can only imagine when the only Admiral not engaged in evil subplots calls Picard and says “I have noticed in a lot of your senior officers reports how often you seem to talk to your bartender about sensitive topics not for civilian consumption. But perhaps even more alarming is how often it seems this bartender informs your decision making as the Captain of the Federations flagship. Care to explain?”

[@joels5150]

I appreciate you tying in the Shooter McGavin reference with Christopher McDonald’s guest appearance. I’d forgotten how much of a sarcastic sick Ryker was in this episode…😂

[@hancocki]

18:04 To save others having to look it up Yesterday's Enterprise aired February 19, 1990 Ghost hit theatres July 13, 1990. So yes, Whoopi Goldberg may have spent several months in 1989/90 talking to ghosts.

[@Orrenn]

I'm just sitting here, playing a video game, listening to this video in the background and I'm crying. Reminding me of this episode when I'm half paying attention and getting that strong of an emotional response says more about this episode than I ever could.

[@benjaminscott8198]

Since this came out on Halloween, every time you say time... whirlpool, I start singing Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[@seantlewis376]

Yesterday's Enterprise is one of my favorite episodes, and it totally sets up the appearance of Sela years later. Great stuff!

[@dashisqueer]

A fabulous review of a fabulous episode, and a fabulous Pat Stew / Picard impression. ❤

[@neiladam2832]

Poor old Tasha. She died a pointless death, gets revived in an alternative timeline, then nobly goes off to a heroic death, only to be taken prisoner by the Romulans and then used as a comfort girl to some Romulan jerk. She then gives birth to a daughter who grows up to be a senior member of the Romulan Gestapo. Sheesh!

[@augiegirl1]

More than that, information that the Romulans got from Tasha about the future is likely why Picard was chosen as the template for Shinzon.

[@neiladam2832]

@@augiegirl1 OMG! Of course! Not only didn’t Tasha have a shit life, she caused a shit film to be made….

[@Willpower-74205]

Poor girl can't catch a break in either timeline. At least Star Trek Online gave her some extra material. 🖖😎👍

[@MrZauberelefant]

Excellent Picard voice, Steve!❤

[@eldridgebrown3907]

Wonderful video! I quite agree with you. This is one of the best episodes of Star Trek overall. Thanks for mentioning the hard work of the director. The directors of stage, TV and film, have to be incredibly good or have an excellent understanding of at all of things to pull all the pieces of a productions together. This episode was tight. There was no wasted time. And it got it's hooks into the viewer quickly and didn't let go. A bad or mediocre director could have easily ruined this.

[@kevinward246]

This episode is top tier TNG.

[@JonathanEzor]

I'm not much for rewatching anymore, but I've rewatched this one numerous times. It *IS* that good, yup. Thanks, Steve.

[@thecynicaloptimist1884]

Absolutely perfect episode! I love that "let's make sure history never forgets the name Enterprise!" works in both contexts of both the C and the D fighting to preserve the future in their own way. This is just a personal preference thing, but I always felt the episode should have ended with Guinan asking _Worf_ to tell her about Tasha Yar. Worf's absence is the most obvious change after the C comes through, and he always had more interactions with Yar anyway than Yar and Geordi. Yar and Worf always had a mutual warrior's respect, and Yar's exit in _Skin of Evil_ proved that she had earned the respect of one Klingon warrior, while this episode proved she'd earned the respect of the entire Klingon race (whether they knew her name or not). It makes more thematic & bookending sense for it to have been Worf at the end.

[@robertlisenko2962]

This episode made me a Star Trek fan. Previously I had been a sci-fi fan who preferred swash buckling explosions of Star Wars, but this episode showed Star Trek could do war, but they choose a better future. When Picard lays out the certain defeat of the good guys, my childhood brain was shocked. I was so relieved to see them back in the regular timeline, launching probes, doing exploration. It opened my mind to the idea cool space fights aren’t the biggest joy of sci-fi, it’s the science, and I think later watching the Jordi/Data problem solving dynamics helped me become a software engineer

[@comchia4306]

This, and Best of Both Worlds, are my favourite Star Trek stories of all. I love how this episode makes me want a whole miniseries of this universe. I also love the Wing Commander style feel of the militarised Enterprise-D.