TNG NEEDED ENSIGN RO! | TNG Reaction & Review

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The Target Audience are watching Star Trek: The Next Generation for the first time! Today we watch season 5 episode 3 - Ensign Ro
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Special thanks to ​⁠‪@OpenMawProductions‬ for his graphics, backgrounds, overlays & much more!

[@targetaudience]

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country UNCUT reaction comes to Patreon this week - www.patreon.com/targetaudience

[@miller-joel]

"Bigger, Longer & Uncut."

[@tomtortolani8082]

Seems like I've been waiting for this for years.

[@ztomas1]

I don't like uncut, I like them CUT

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@ztomas1 ha ha ha .... me Too!

[@hippusmaximus9319]

Man, I hope you guys did not watch the director's cut. I think it was worse than the theatrical release.

[@cammy5637]

What I find most interesting about this episode is that in the original script it was the Romulans not Cardassians who had occupied Bajor. It was switched because the show runners felt Romulans had been overused, and on a whim decided to reuse the Cardassians since they'd been introduced previously a species the Federation had border tensions with. For those of us with wider knowledge of Star Trek lore, the idea that the Cardassians occupying Bajor was only a thing because someone on a whim decided "nah, we've overused Romulans, change it for.... those guys from 'The Wounded' " is crazy.

[@psychjay]

WOW!! 😮 never knew that. Really gets the “what if” scenarios going in my head LOL.

[@meredithsmyth7059]

It was a good idea.

[@iancrewe8230]

That was a fucking good spot to recognise her as Timison's daughter straight away.

[@ClamBurger66]

For real, I missed it for 30 years

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

​@@ClamBurger66 Agree. Although "Half a Life" came out May 6, 1991 while Ensign Ro was...October of 1991. Okay that's not as much distance as I thought. Still further in time than the time between their watching those two.

[@TheElderBlotch]

Ensign Ro: Great episode, great character, great ramifications. An episode guest starring Guinan, Ro *and* Barclay is my dream.

[@ryannelson1297]

Every time I see y'all react to an episode with the Cardassians, my anticipation grows for the future.

[@Malmstrom87]

I'm really enjoying your Star Trek reactions! It's a new way to enjoy the series again. 😁

[@targetaudience]

Thanks!

[@andmicbro1]

I was never one for reaction videos, but I went down the rabbit hole one time and got addicted to it. It's like watching your favorite movies and TV shows again with a friend who's seeing it for the first time. And I'm glad I found TA, especially since I feel like they really get Star Trek. It helps they are going in release order, so they totally appreciate the little things.

[@christopheralvarez3269]

“Exactly what I asked for!” Proceeds to give it a B.

[@follow_the_money_trail]

B for Bejoran I think? 🤔

[@paulgales8211]

not everything can be an S

[@antoniofernandez7075]

@@paulgales8211 But they gave S to weaker episodes like Brothers or Emissary.

[@christopheralvarez3269]

@ but wouldn’t it if its “exactly” what they asked for?

[@mluso1234]

B is for Banger, it’s a good grade for the episode overall.

[@peterkoester7358]

29:20 In truth, I think the complaint about Ro's earring was more due to Riker's prejudice against Ro herself and less to do with uniform regs. Likely any other Bajoran officer who reported aboard the Enterprise wearing their traditional earring would have been given a pass.

[@sharpaycutie2]

Blame the writers 😂 they fort starfleet allowed that to be worn but there hated tension so they added that scene

[@The_Real_Mr_Al]

Indeed, it would be weird otherwise. Kind of like telling a Jewish soldier that they can't wear their Star of David necklace under their uniform or something. By comparison in-universe, No one ever tells Worf he can't wear his Klingon sash. I doubt Starfleet could really force every single member species to stop their religious and cultural practices. Especially when we repeatedly see Vulcans practicing theirs, so that would just instantly raise concerns about co-founder favouritism.

[@Markus117d]

Assuming it's known to him what the significance is, not many Bajoran's in star fleet, considering they have been occupied by the Cardassians and locked away beyond the Federation - Cardassian border since before the Federation even had first contact with the Cardassians.

[@peterkoester7358]

@@Markus117d Picard tells Admiral Kennely that any other Bajoran in Starfleet (pointing out there are at least a handfull) would have been a better choice than Ro.

[@Markus117d]

@peterkoester7358 And a handful amongst hundreds of thousands wouldn't be enough for every officer in the fleet to know all about them and their customs.. .

[@racookster]

Cliff Potts, the actor who played Admiral Kennelly, was the kindest of Bruce Dern's crewmates in the film Silent Running. His character didn't live long, but at least Dern did give him a respectful burial in one of the forest domes. Dern's other two crewmates just got blown to atoms, and nobody cared.

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

Not really related but looking it up it seems the Gul was played by Frank Collinson, later of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I don't think I'd have guessed that.

[@elisabethbauman6190]

Everyone is jumping up and down with DS9! DS9! We can’t wait! Here’s the thing - if you take tomatoes, garlic, onions, and peppers, you can make salsa or spaghetti sauce. They’re the same main ingredients, but they differ in the spices and the preparation. I like both, but some people only like one or the other. With the emphasis that Alex and Josh put on pacing, direction, genre, novelty, etc, I find it a lot harder to predict what they’ll like and what they won’t. I’ve felt this way ever since Best of Both Worlds, but since the tail end of Season 4, I just really think they’re dialed in to different criteria that make their reactions less predictable.

[@matthewcollins4773]

Your discussion of the Cardassians around the 26 minute mark, and how much of a threat they are, is on point. They're a younger power that has expanded rapidly. You might say that while the classic three superpowers in this region of space are the Federation, the Klingons and the Romulans, Cardassia is an up-and-coming potential fourth. Not as advanced technologically as the other three, less territory, less resources (their biggest drawback), but not wanting to remain on the "second tier powers" level. They don't want to be Ferengi, Tholians, Talarians, etc. They want to be a bigger fish.

[@follow_the_money_trail]

Rather like Americans, the Cardassians are the unruly, clueless, yet know-it-all teenagers of the galaxy?

[@paulgales8211]

Bro they’re an analogy for the North Koreans and hard communism and fascism. Did you even watch DS9? The federation is also an analogue for Americans with their misplaced optimism and idealism and stubbornly resisting understand cultures they don’t understand or agree with. Also shown very well on DS9

[@fakecubed]

I'd compare them to the PRC. A history of beating up on their smaller neighbors, deeply oppressive system of government, and though they've never been the #1 power, they have the ambition to want to be, which should terrify everyone based on what we've seen about how they treat people under their control.

[@Ansible1000]

@@follow_the_money_trail Yes, but without the resources and infrastructure. Potential Spoilers Below: A closer parallel would be Imperial Germany, the latecomer to the Great Game of power-politics, not as old and seasoned as France or England or Russia or Austria, but very powerful and in a strong position. Hell, they're overtly Fascist, so it's not a leap at all to make the Nazi comparison with the Bajorans playing the role of European Jews. The Bajorans are a far older culture, one of the older civilizations of the Galaxy though not technologically advanced or militarily powerful.

[@RandomNPC001]

Potential spoilers Cardassians have really good tech, but the political/military divide the resources between themselves and give very little to allow the civilians to flourish (that is their biggest drawback) on several occasions we see Cardassian scientists/tech being as good as Starfleet/Federation.

[@Skrubb_Lord]

Finally we start to get into the Bejoran stuff.

[@VolrinSeth]

Bajora, according to this episode....

[@paulgales8211]

​@@VolrinSeth and never said like that again, haha,. its been "bajorans" ever since

[@Anthyrion]

Probably an unpopular opinion: But i never really liked characters like Lwaxana and Ro. I also never really liked the Bajorans. Probably because of the fact, that they are very religious, which i am not.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

@@Anthyrion I got the idea that Lwaxana is pompous but not religious. There are plenty of groups where their ethnic identity and their religion cant really be seen separately even for more secular people. Lwaxana's presence all time fights against the idea that Enterprise is out there exploring. I like Ro, but they really forgave her pretty quickly for causing deaths. That was covered with some strong plot armor.

[@Anthyrion]

@@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh ^^ That Lwaxana isn't very religious, is clear. I meant the Bajorans, who are religious.

[@vohbovohborian28]

I find that the Cardassians are one of the most well-rounded antagonists. The greatest thing about them is that what say is always true !

[@The_Real_Mr_Al]

ESPECIALLY the lies! 😉

[@richardstarkey2247]

I find it funny how Riker reams Ro out about her earring then in the next scene he sits her in a meeting next to Troi's lowcut bodysuit and across from Worf and his Klingon shoulder sash.

[@Lincynity1]

He's a total hypocrite and have you noticed he's always adversarial and disdainful with women he doesn't think are likely to screw him?

[@donovanbradford8231]

​@@Lincynity1 Also that way with men and two legged being that is able resist his manliness he has instant dislike of.

[@chrisstewart1265]

While reviewing the episode Josh unknowingly wears a sweater that at the bottom has a Klingon logo and a Cardassian logo.

[@mb2000]

And further up it has the Borg logo and a hand doing the Vulcan salute.

[@brei2670]

I don't know about "unknowingly". That thing looks like the Star Trek version of a Christmas sweater.

[@AKCFTW]

The Federation does indeed have pardons for criminal convictions, and Starfleet has the authority to issue those pardons. That’s exactly what you see here.

[@kingdave31]

Ro was almost definitely tried in a court martial, not a civilian trial, since her crime was basically violating the Starfleet UCMJ. So Starfleet would be within their authority to issue a pardon.

[@fakecubed]

It's a little rough, but the writers are definitely trying to set up a new villain and so far it's going pretty well I think. Maybe a little bit of a parallel here with Worf and the Romulans, and now Ro with the Cardassians. Chief O'Brien has his own history with them of course, but nothing as personal as Ro's history. Unlike the Romulans who have a technological advantage over the Federation, at least with their cloaking technology and possibly slightly bigger/better ships, the Cardassians seem to be a bit at a disadvantage. We see them beating up on these Bajorans, but Starfleet seems to have the edge over them. That rogue captain was able to take his ship into their territory and destroy Cardassian ships with relative ease. Perhaps the Cardassians are acting on a bit of an inferiority complex. They send two of their warships to challenge the Enterprise and the slow, unarmed transport, rather than a single warbird decloaking as would be the typical Romulan style. Rather than making arrogant demands and threats, the Cardassian captain (gul) did his best to be diplomatic. It's a unique dynamic for a big new villain to actually seem like the underdog. But we also hear about how the Cardassians behave when they feel they _do_ have the advantage. They would become very dangerous if they ever got a bit more powerful. They're like the school bully that becomes very obsequious when the teacher is around, but anyone smaller than them is in for a lot of hurt when the teacher isn't watching. We know they're smart. We know they're scheming. And we know they cheat.

[@matthewcollins4773]

That's a great analysis.

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

This is kind of the feeling I had. That they're akin to a less developed country that conquers or oppresses another less developed country. Several current situations could fit that like Russian treatment of Tatars in Crimea. Although they also say they are a people civilized before humans but who fell low. Like say the Armenians when they were ruled by Turks or Russians, two civilizations that I think came well after they started. (And that were seen as "sick men of Europe" when they ruled Armenians.) I wanted a more modern example, but I blanked. Maybe the treatment of Assyrians in Iraq up to today?

[@peterkoester7358]

5:00 Then I am happy to imply you will be pleasantly surprised. This episode was the root of a LOT of what we will see in Star Trek for many years to come.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Never Argue with a Cardassian about how many Lights you see!

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@MrDeathpilot Who Elected you the the Determiner of what constitutes a Spoiler? How about you mind your own Bees Wax and let me be clever!

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@MrDeathpilot Look Herr TodPilot My "Spoilers" are NOT Spoilers they are for the enjoyment of those who already know! They can in no way Spoil anything for those who don't know! get It? If you think that's being Clever, I take it as a Compilment!

[@conservativecatholic9030]

@@jamesalexander5623ahh, immediately to the gaslighting when being called out for a spoiler

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@conservativecatholic9030 is your real name Paula?

[@houseofsledge6891]

Alex: "Whats the first word of his name? Admiral." Me:

[@bradh1235]

The actor that played the Cardassian Gul Dolak has been in a ton of stuff as the odd looking guy...most notably in The Happening when he played "guy who likes hotdogs".

[@BaronesaReturns]

Ro Laren is one of my absolute favorites and a childhood crush

[@Reece_Hart]

"People wait years to be assigned to this ship" People also wait years to be offered their own commission as captain yet here you still are Riker after constantly rejecting the promotion.

[@MrJerks93]

@Reece_Hart From his perspective he was exactly where he needed to be. He saved the Federation, but likely would have not survived thr assault in the Melbourne. If the future is about self-actualization he discovered it wasn't ambition that drove him, but his desire to be the best. And the Enterprise is the best place for that.

[@sharkdentures3247]

Every time I hear that line I think of some version of, "One Man's treasure is another man's trash". (would make a great comeback) Just because something is viewed as important (or a "high honor") to ONE group of people, doesn't mean ALL groups feel the same way.

[@Lincynity1]

Yet Wesley got a seat on the bridge while still a school kid and got made an ensign before he even got to the academy.

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

@@Lincynity1 Well Wesley is an exception as he was the Kwisatz Hadderach, just without the violent jihad side. (Season 1 basically implied he was some kind of greater being and the next Traveler episode confirmed he has mental powers of some kind.)

[@Lincynity1]

​@@ThomasReeves-s7uso what? That doesn't make him qualified for a bridge post ahead of officers who had trained for years for the opportunity.

[@TheHortoncrow]

This came out not too long after the Iran Contra affair. Just for context.

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

The Bajorans are the Palestinians of the Alpha quadrant. That's my opinion...

[@SWOLEX_1]

I have heard jew and nazi comparisons with regard to bajorans and cardasians as well ​@@escapetheratracenow9883

[@TheHortoncrow]

@@escapetheratracenow9883 and this episode is about the Federation using a different people for a proxy war, just to get involved and not look like the bad guys.

[@jonburgett626]

I always took these episodes to be an allegory of the ethnic cleansing we saw during the breakup of Yugoslavia. We saw the Serbs beating up on the Croats and Bosnians while our own diplomats and peacekeepers were woefully inadequate.

[@briansammond7801]

@@escapetheratracenow9883 agree

[@richardb6260]

Michelle Forbes got to be a regular fixture on Sci Fi in the 90s and 2000s. She had prominent roles, not only in TNG, but Battlestar Galactica, Lost, True Blood, and Orphan Black among others. One of my favorites of her Sci Fi appearances is in the 90s Outer Limits episode "A Stitch in Time", a terrific award winning episode with a stunning performance by Amanda Plummer (daughter of Christopher Plummer, an actor I'm sure you're acquainted with by now)

[@peregrine5327]

I love how much these guys love Guinan.

[@danielbretall2236]

Good science fiction entertains you. Great science fiction makes you question yourself and the society you live in.

[@donovanbradford8231]

It's a good episode for sure I think the actress playing Rob knocked it out of the park for sure. I do love the contrast between her and everyone else on the ship. It's also a good set up for not only the Bajorans but really starts getting into the Cardassians that while not a super power like the Federation, Romulans, or Klingons, they're still a regional power that should be taken seriously.

[@charlesmclain6558]

I like how they dance around the line of freedom fighters and terrorists. The situations are so similar that its easy to brush off someone when it is convenient. This episode is probably the first one to hint at the Caedassian Unions depth of intrigue .

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

Roddenberry did the same with the West and the USSR 25 years earlier.

[@peteuplink]

Uhura wore ear rings!

[@tyharris9994]

Michelle Forbes is a rare and special talent similar to a unicorn or even a Pegasus...

[@cliftonwebb3295]

It sounds as if you agree with my opinion that she is sexy as hell

[@Philbert-s2c]

@@cliftonwebb3295 She's a fantastic actress. Doesn't hurt that she's also gorgeous. If anybody hasn't seen "Berlin Station" they need to.

[@mightyrrt]

I see what you did there.

[@samuelrossiiii5187]

Maybe she's a unicorn pegusi!!!

[@DataCab1e]

Almost perfect timing, Michelle Forbes' birthday was yesterday.

[@adamaroslin]

3:13 Admiral Cain

[@mb2000]

Notice how when they first beam to the refugee camp, Ro is wearing a one piece uniform with the zipper at the back. When she goes to give her jacket to the girl, it’s suddenly changed into a two piece with a front zipper. The miracle of 24th century clothing technology!

[@jackasslawyer]

All I heard was Ensign Ro and zippers

[@CraigAnSi]

Got to love cut scenes

[@MatthewBluefox]

Keeping up with the Cardassians can be a full-time job.

[@kojiattwood]

Well played 😂

[@johnrhodes7812]

They would need a more Hawkish captain.

[@libertubey2199]

Alright, Mr. watching the promo on Me-TV's sister station (no spoilers here).

all female crew ??? with males subservient ? haha

[@krunkcleanup2949]

Riker doesn't like Ro's earring but he doesn't mind Deanna walking around in her pajamas...

[@amicooke1790]

5:11 We didn't get characters like Ro before this point because Gene basically forbade any conflict among the crew. By this point in production, Gene's health was failing, and he was no longer invlolved. Once Gene's limitations on storyteling were relaxed, they could introduce this type of character and arc.

[@tpw84101]

In his description of what he hopes for Cardassians he perfectly describes the (redacted). So looking forward to their reactions to Ds9.

[@webstersempire]

Funny that Riker won't let Ro wear her earring, but Worf can wear his baldrick! 🤔

[@tjkhanks]

I was just gonna say the same thing. It must be the Starfleet directive 12.... plot convenience. 😅 Although Riker wouldn't have this problem, I wouldn't want to tell Worf to take it off. 😂

[@mb2000]

And Troi can wear whatever the hell she wants!

[@tjkhanks]

@mb2000 WOW! I completely forgot about that. Starfleet Directive 12 strikes again. 😁

[@MrJerks93]

There's a uniform code, but captains may give special dispensation for individuals to wear things outside of the regs. Riker could allow it, but Ro's reputation and the fact that he wasn't in the loop make him aggro about it. As XO, he manages the crew.

[@rafetizer]

Riker has it out for Ro before they even meet so he's looking to bust her chops over every little thing.

[@derekramsaroup3883]

It must be close in the release order now to the premiere of Star Trek :Deep Space Nine ,which grew out of the events of this episode....

[@MikeytheGeek7711]

Michelle Forbes was in Battlestar Galactica too. She was the captain of the Battlestar Pegasus that they encountered. In the original Battlestar Galactica, the captain of the Pegasus was played by Lloyd Bridges.

[@luminiferous1960]

Re 3:33, In TOS, Lt. Uhura famously wore lime green hoop earrings, which are seen in The Man Trap and in Charlie X, establishing very early in the series that wearing earrings while on duty was not against regulations in the TOS era. Of course the regulations may have changed by the TNG era.

[@scottredding7357]

Ro was a great character to add. The tone was too much "everyone gets along in space, we all love each other," and the show needed someone with a bit of piss and vinegar.

[@valcoren]

I'm starting to believe that Josh has an eidetic memory

[@MrJerks93]

Ah, the Starfleet Badmiral. I'm sure this will be the last one we ever encounter.

[@Wolf_Dominic]

Perfect example, of a great, not perfect, but still great episode.

[@cookiedestroyer2801]

Cardassia and Bajor get along just like English and Irish or Japanese and Koreans.

[@CraigAnSi]

Japanese and Chinese.

[@jackasslawyer]

Are we going to ignore the elephant in the room due to recent events? They're directly a representation/allegorical J's and P's.

[@jamesalexander5623]

The French and the Germans.

[@CraigAnSi]

@@jamesalexander5623 really? Do they still hate each other?

[@fakecubed]

China and Tibet.

[@flnthrn2]

Judith Mossman 😎😎

[@koalabrownie]

The Uwe Bollians?

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

Michelle Forbes is an interesting actress. She plays some memorable characters but not for particularly long as she doesn't want to get too "stuck" in a character and wants to try new things. I think "Homicide: Life on the Street" may soon be on streaming and if so I hope someone reacts to it. She also had roles in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica, Orphan Black, and some others. On the earrings I kind of got the vibe they were being stricter with Ro than normal because they didn't want her to be there. That they might have let it slide if she came in as a friendly Bajoran with no criminal record. Although why they have to "let it slide" at all is a bit odd if it's a cultural or spiritual thing rather than just a personal fashion thing. Yet looking it up I guess Sikhs in the US military were not officially allowed to wear turbans until 2017. (I was surprised it was that recent.) I feel like the British allowed it earlier though. Although skipped in the reaction I have at times paraphrased, "Holtza is nobody. He's the token Bajoran that respectable people invite to symposiums and diplomatic soirees. But he has no real influence" in various online discussions. Outsiders to a group will assume someone is "a good representative" because they are charming or think like them when the group in question (Catholics, Muslims, conservatives, the disabled, whatever) has little interest or no respect for the guy they are talking about. Addendum: I love that you guys love Guinan. I used to follow a Trek reviewer who seemed to hate her for some reason I didn't get. And more recently I'll see people who dislike Whoopi Goldberg the person and then from that say they dislike the character. I don't think I'd agree with Whoopi on much, but I can still grant she's a fine performer. It seems dumb not to.

[@TotalRandomReviews]

This is a great episode, and I am glad you guys liked it. I have no further comment on it lol BUT I am curious, I know you guys are watching this in release order, does that mean you will start Deep Space Nine in release order or are you going to finish TNG first then move on to DS9?

[@euodiaclitterhouse4726]

Majel Barrett's name is pronounced "Madge-el" rhymes with badge

[@PandezPanda]

Commenting for the algorithm !

[@louisemckn]

Growing up in Belfast in the '80's/90's the Bajorans really resonated with me and I love Ro, you're right she was definitely a great and much needed addition, so glad you guys got to meet her! The Cardassians definitely give the Romulan's a run for their money in some aspects. They're a great love to hate them Marc Alaimo has to be my favourite portrayal... well 2nd but no spoilers ;)

[@charlesballiett6800]

The beginning A door has opened

[@charlesballiett6800]

You guys got " SO MUCH " good stuff coming your way

[@s_1884]

So much to unpack in this one... In the future 🙂 Of what can be talked about now - The whole earring thing is a bit of a headscratcher. You mentioned Roddenberry influence fading, but this part I wonder. TNG had an attitude mostly okay but not on duty with culture, then kinda anti religion. Feels like France and public servants being banned from religious symbols. I guess with no particular direction in that field in future the writing got generally more tolerant on religion?

[@JoeMama410]

B is a good grade for this episode. Solid all the way through but a little clumsy at points.

[@magafett596]

I hope they watch Star Trek 6 movie before episode 7 of this season…

[@tmcgrenere]

Kardassians!!!

[@KenGascoigne]

0:06 Mot

[@michaelgonzales1845]

Mmmm Ensign Ro (admiral cain)

[@dirus3142]

The bit with Ro's earings is like Riker telling a Jew to remove their yamika.

[@BenDowdy]

@@dirus3142 yarmulke.

[@LiveFreeOrDieDH]

I would tag this as a minor spoiler, since it has not yet been established that the earring is religiously significant. In hindsight, it does make this problematic.

[@Lincynity1]

​@@LiveFreeOrDieDHevery Bajoran in this episode is wearing an earring. It obviously holds cultural significance even though it hasn't been expanded on.

[@nicks.5552]

This is exciting! I think y’all will enjoy most of the Cardassian episodes going forward. There’s one in particular that is one of my favorite episodes because of Patrick Stewart’s performance.

[@thomasfahey8763]

Thirty years on this show is more relevant than ever.. All I can say is strap yourselves in.

[@KenGascoigne]

2:06 You're beginning to notice too eh?

[@stevesalyer6261]

Picard's Aunt Adele was named after Assistant Director Adele Simmons. 🙂

[@monkeytime9851]

They like inner turmoil? How long till they get into DS9?

[@GeneBateman1970]

Scottie had his kilt for dress uniforms in TOS

[@tkopp10976]

Not doing the SxExx title anymore?

[@tomtortolani8082]

Uhura had those little green hoop earrings.

[@williampilling2168]

The ships barber, is from a species that doesn't have hair.

[@williampilling2168]

@MrDeathpilot Thats true. Maybe Bolian men become barbers just to talk to the ladies.

[@matthewcollins4773]

​@@MrDeathpilot The occasional female is seen with hair, though all the males and most females are bald. Not sure if that's natural or a cultural thing.

[@paulgales8211]

I love TNG even season 1 and 2, disregarding the couple super cringe episodes. But it I never really noticed until watching you guys react, just how much better the writing got season to season. Production sure, but the writing I feel improved even more than the production did.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Ro is a great addition and this is a season 5 great, and Ro using the word "assimilate" is interesting! Ro and Guinan is the best pairing since... ever! Even the music is a solid improvement. A or A+ TIER, Trek is back on track!

[@luminiferous1960]

Speaking of Worf being allowed to wear a special sash, what about Deanna Troi being allowed to wear an unique, non-regulation low neckline uniform? Is that allowed just because she is half Betazed or because she had an affair with Riker? I would have liked Ensign Ro's response to Riker telling her to remove the non-regulation earring to have been "I will after you tell your ex to wear a regulation uniform."😆Of course, Ro hadn't even met Troi at that point, so it would not have made sense unless they used it to indicate that Ro had studied up on the leading officers aboard the Enterprise.

[@julianozaur444]

7:00 ngl I almost forgot about how Guinan maxed out her speech 😂

[@vincentsaia6545]

What barber doesn't have opinions?

[@Ol-T1864]

Admiral Cain from Battlestar Galactica boys.

[@goldenshark3182]

Yeah no, Admiral Cain is Lloyd Bridges, always has, always will be.

[@Ol-T1864]

@ was legit disappointed that Cain was such a villain in the new one. Lloyd Bridges may have been a jerk and blowhard in the original but my god he was still a hero. “The other battlestar!”

[@kerry-j4m]

I LOVED her role on BSG as Admiral Cain,yes,she was a psycho-killer ( killed her XO in front of the crew because he disobeyed a direct order ) but-GREAT-acting by forbes and lots of screen time too.When BSG debutted on tv I thought it was the greatest sci-fi tv show on at that time.

[@Ol-T1864]

@@kerry-j4m 100% Michelle Forbes is a force. She did a great cop show called Homicide: Life on the Streets, she plays a tough but cool coroner that ends up in an abusive relationship but stays in it for awhile. She was amazing in the show.

[@kerry-j4m]

@@Ol-T1864 I'm gonna see if youtube has this show on their channel,gonna give it a look see.

[@JAYWALKER1000]

Deep Space 9 is a possibility

[@gearspider]

Michelle Forbes also plays a significant role as Admiral Cain in Battlestar Galactica, which was the best Space Opera up until The Expanse, in my opinion.

[@goldenshark3182]

Nu-BSG is not better than TNG or any Star Trek series before 2005.

[@gearspider]

@@goldenshark3182 I was a 90s kid, TNG got me into Space Sci-Fi, but Voyager really drew my imagine about really being out there in the Galaxy, and BSG-Reboot reminded me of that. Firefly is always #1 All Time though 😁

[@fakecubed]

I wasn't watching their Nu-BSG reactions, but I think they stopped watching before they got to Admiral Cain. It wasn't a great series for them. They also watched the first episode of The Expanse, but sadly didn't continue. That _is_ a reaction series I'd watch. I think they'd really like it too, if they got a bit further with it enough to get hooked.

[@gearspider]

@@fakecubed Yeah I think The Expanse especially isn't the best pilot episode, sorta like Game of Thrones in that way, rough start but boy does it get epic.

[@jakem5037]

A lot of really great episodes this season!

[@KenGascoigne]

7:47 Immediate Blatent Extreme Accusations LOL

[@airmaildolphin7013]

Lt. Saavik in the Wrath of Khan had a little red earring. In the Trek novels, this marked her as an unbonded Vulcan female (in other words she did not have a fiancé who would undergo Pon Farr at a later date.)

[@channelwacke]

You don't want full-on WWE Backstage Raw in your Star Trek? Boy, are you going to loathe Discovery. It's Jersey Shore in space.

[@richierich398]

I come for the reaction, but I stay for the discussion.

[@laurensb1b]

there's dozens of us!

[@VonPatzy]

She was fine as Timison’s daughter but it was hard to see past the Cindy Lou Who makeup they gave her. There isn’t much acting you can do to combat some of the decisions the prosthetics chair makes.

[@blitzblotz9303]

Ro was the typical 90s girl. College sophomore. Probably listens to alternative music, like Fiona Apple. Cynical. Crazy piercings were a new thing in '92 and they gave her the big hippy earing

[@EmbassyNerdcore]

"What if the helmsman was Alanis Morissette"

[@CraigAnSi]

I wish I was in high school in the early to mid 90’s. I only got there in 97 though.

[@SophieGreene91]

Hey Josh, sorry about the Shaka when the walls fell crack(ed) last week! ❤ You are both so amazing you two guys thank you for the great reviews I'm going on deployment soon I'll be looking forward to seeing all your videos again when home. See u Best ! ❤🙏 Sophie Greene IDF🌷

[@BasiliskOne]

That outro song is friggin amazing!

[@wisconsinfirenerd]

Ro was such an excellent addition to TNG at this point. I don't think it's an accident that she and the other best supporting character of all time (Barclay) are both unique challenges to the established dynamic of the Enterprise crew.

[@paulanerruhrpott6188]

What happened to your opening Statements? You are going right into the episode.

[@psychjay]

Hopefully it’s just the more limited time for the holidays.

[@laurensb1b]

just skipping the part that people skip anyway

[@dirus3142]

The situation of cardasia, and Bajor is analogous to: Japan and all subjigated countries from 1931 to 1945, Germany of the same time frame, the English control of Ireland through the late 90s, China with Tibet, and Uyghars, countries under Soviet control.

[@samgradyfilm]

And, you know, that other big one.

[@stevenjeanson8889]

The cave set was affectionally known by the cast as “planet hell”. This was because it was reused many times, but the cast sometimes didn’t know what mess or muck the set designers we’re gonna put them into on that set from week to week.

[@TheArmase]

I love Laren. She is exactly what they needed for the ship. So great!

[@briansammond7801]

Ro. Not Laren . She literally had a scene about what to call her when using 1 name.

[@TheArmase]

@briansammond7801 I was referring to her by her first name. That is all.

[@Isengardtom]

The GOAT reaction team. Always a treat to watch your Star Trek videos. And with so much content to go still.

[@targetaudience]

Appreciate that!

[@markjz2011]

My favorite episode has always been "The XYZ Factor" perfect episode.👍🏼👍🏼

[@IAMtheSpaceNinja]

Another awesome reaction. TNG and Star Trek has reached "Full Burn" now as it rockets to heights some would say have not been reached since. These are the GOLDEN YEARS of Trek. I feel like it is both rare and refreshing to find a reaction channel where the hosts are so thoughtful AND fun. Lets all follow their example and continue to foster a positive and welcoming community, not just here, but in all of our lives. :-)

[@Blazingstoke]

I don't think I've ever not liked Michelle Forbes in a role. I wish she'd done more (or at least more of the stuff I watch)

[@karlgrimm3027]

It’s great that a species that would become so important to the Star Trek universe got a great episode to introduce them. The first Trill episode was disappointing.

[@destinycaptain247]

I… did not love Ro. But I’m glad you like her.

[@aaronwellman6473]

The new outro song!!

[@vincentsaia6545]

Uhura always wore earrings (even though she didn't have to) although it can be assumed that Starfleet regulations regarding personal appearance could have changed in the intervening eighty years.