The Return of The Romulans In Star Trek The Next Generation

Star Trek The Next Generation Season 1 Episode 26 The Neutral Zone

[@senya1672]

I am gul dukat of the romulan warbird

[@jlam3297]

My exact same thoughts.

[@joelquinn5347]

maybe one of his former assignments as agent of the obsidian order... ;)

[@senya1672]

@@joelquinn5347 he despise the order he was in central command

[@joelquinn5347]

@@senya1672 yeah you are right i know, but isnt that what they want you to believe? ;)

[@aennaenn7468]

I thought that was him!

[@bfg2600]

Romulans after end of communication: "Did you see their bridge, total chaos, back talking officers and who was that near the turbo lift "

[@JonatasMonte]

Right? Their bridge looks like a Mall!

[@IrishCarney]

What I'm most impressed by in the end of communication is that without a word or gesture from the two Romulan commanders, somebody else on their vessel knew that this was the right time to hang up.

[@AndrewTaylorNintyuk]

@@IrishCarney That's Romulan Military Efficiency right there

[@acolytetojippity]

@@IrishCarney communications in 'Trek always seem to somehow magically understand and interpret the intentions of those involved. The Romulans probably didn't hear Turbolift guy. Because he wasn't speaking for them to hear. Because the communications equipment in 'Trek is magic.

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@acolytetojippity My favorite is how the camera angles on the viewscreen change between cuts to be more dramatic. That's one smart communication system.

[@Unworshipediety]

_"Once we realized the level of destruction we knew it could not have been you"_ one hell of a line

[@OnlyTwoShoes]

A great foreshadowing of the Borg invasion to come.

[@danieldickson8591]

Also dismissive of the Federation's level of threat.

[@williamr1088]

They are arrogant but luckily Garek was able to fool them into joining against The Dominion.

[@TheCormTube]

Any Romulans who thought the Federation were not any kind of threat to Romulan intentions at this time were short sighted. Commander Toreth said it herself...."Starfleet is neither weak nor foolish"

[@youtubemodsaresnowflakelef7692]

@@TheCormTube But that's not what they're saying. They're saying the Federation is too weak in terms of wreaking such destruction in the mental aspect, rather than the actual force they can bring to bear.

[@richardm3023]

This was the "The Ferengi are kind of a joke and we need a real adversary episode".

[@Arktrooper-5555]

This comment is hilarious this need some more love

[@greatsayain]

If the ferengi were meant to be a real enemy why didnt they make them worse. There was no continuity to be bound by at that point.

[@sterlingholobyte]

@@greatsayain Actually, according to the creators, as quoted in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion book, The Ferengi WERE created to be the "New Alien Threat". One of the producers later lamented that they were "A disappoinment" and said that "If someone is interested in gold, they are not much of an adversary." The Ferengi were why the Borg were developed as a real threat.

[@greatsayain]

@@sterlingholobyte on the one hand thank goodness we got the Borg because of that. In the other hand when they were coming up with the Ferengi they didn't have to make them interested in profit. They could have made them whatever they wanted. Why did they use a concept they came up with and didn't like. Ferengi aren't even fully developed until ds9 and after that we never seen their military again.

[@sterlingholobyte]

@@greatsayain Yeah, I hear ya. And who knows? I guess they just had a bad idea at the beginning of the show there. The Ferengi were kind of silly.

[@kumanon9466]

Those sneaky Cardassians. They have their spies everywhere.

[@metagen77]

Dukat sure gets around, Obsidian Order exchange programm?

[@MIMALECKIPL]

@@metagen77 And Macett - supposed cousin of Dukat.

[@mattfirth987]

Is that cuz the guy on the left is the same cardassian actor ?. Looks like him kinda but cant tell on my phone

[@megabigdump]

Sneaky and run the media and the space banks! Can't be trusted!

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

This must have been back before the Kardashians became airheadedly stupid. This kind of Kardashian show...I could watch.

[@kevindaniel8119]

I loved how an earthling, a businessman from the past can still recognize bullshit.

[@jschenard]

Exactly this

[@kdrapertrucker]

A good skill to have when negotiating a deal. Give me a businessman any day over state department "professional" diplomats.

[@usarkarzts4207]

He later become embassador to the ferengi. And after that secretary of commerce I think.

[@RobwLPOC]

Picard was impressed with how fast he had them pegged down.

[@SamuelSwinton]

@@kdrapertrucker If TNG teaches anything it is that real diplomacy requires tact and respect. This "businessman" style is backwards and outdated, just like the capitalism this man represents. If you don't agree, I'd suggest re-watching the episode.

[@pipikaka3886]

Everybody gangsta till a D'Deridex decloakes after 53 years of Romulan isolation.

[@NPCSingularity]

Romulans don’t come to play games.

[@richardlahan7068]

@@NPCSingularity Actually, Romulans are expert game players.

[@KH4444444444N]

@@NPCSingularity Wtf. Thats exactly what they do!

[@danielk5780]

What we have to keep in mind is that space is 3-dimensional. Yes, the Romulans share a border with the Federation and with the Klingons. But there are other borders and probably other political powers that we, the federation-centric audience, does not know. It's similar to the political situation in the distant past. The people living on the British Islands likely did not know about the Chinese Empire. But they knew people that knew people that knew people that knew about them. So, the Romulans were isolated towards the Federation. But they had (hostile) contact with the Klingons. And they probably also had contact with someone at borders distant from the federation. Space is vast and we can't assume that someone is isolating himself if we don't know the extension of their territory and potential other powers that border their territory that we don't know about directly. And creating that kind of immersion is the failure of both, Star Trek writing and the euro- and america-centric history-education in both respective regions.

[@robjackson5245]

@danielk5780 idiot Romulans were the Romans not Chinese.

[@fuferito]

The Romulan Warbird design on TNG was so badass.

[@darthrevan1281]

It even works retroactively because the double hull design resembles 22nd century Vulcan ring ships from Enterprise.

[@LordTalax]

Except for the gapping hole in the middle

[@catman351]

Diderex class.

[@danieldickson8591]

@@catman351 D'deridex.

[@paulcavigliano6388]

The whole show is badass! Now look what we're left with: Limp dick Picard show that never should have been made, and don't start me on the cinematic abortion that's Discovery, and all the woke retards that watch it. Let's see how many mongoloids get triggered by my comment.

[@erentheca]

This scene introduced the D'Deridex class Romulan warbird, the Borg, and, most importantly, Marc Alaimo.

[@spaceflight1019]

Andreas Katsulas was the best Romulan ever! He was also the best Narn on Babylon 5. RIP.

[@Noobsaibot21]

Have to agree with spaceflight101 here. As for Marc Alaimo.... great stuff here. But Gul Dukat was his calling and he nailed it. Just perfectly! Easy pick as the best villain in any Star Trek ever in my eyes.

[@spaceflight1019]

@@Noobsaibot21 Marc Alaimo had such a great dynamic range in portraying Dukat. From being a semi-villain in the beginning, a likeable character, to portraying an angry, grieving father after the death of his daughter (who you could sympathize with) he should have earned an Emmy.

[@Marinealver]

It was not directly indicated the Borg were responsible for these outposts, only implied as the Borg cut out entire colonies when they assimilated federation worlds.

[@spaceflight1019]

@@Marinealver that's true, but the Borg assimilated technology and people. I don't recall it being said that they scoured planets clean. That means that there is another force out there whose intentions are unknown. The only known entity that carried off whole worlds was V'ger.

[@communistpropagandist4608]

I love how Picard responds to the 'dog' insult, not by protesting against the insult, but specifically naming Worf in his response to show Worf isn't a dog to him.

[@leewardstyle]

Such great writing. Worf chirps twice on the bridge, to the dismay of Riker. "Every conversation another battle."--anonymous klingon.

[@HariSeldon913]

And later, Troi's mom will call him "Mr. Woof".

[@thunderboltcougar5626]

Also his rank

[@USMC-cv5sd]

Work should have said, "Your mother and father are dogs !!"

[@danieldickson8591]

@@USMC-cv5sdLucky he didn't. He was borderline insubordinate already, ignoring orders and presuming to speak for his ship.

[@Camcolito]

'Lieutenant control your emotions. Please, open a hailing frequency.' 'Aye Sir, target destroyed.'

[@BioGoji-zm5ph]

"Dammit, Worf. That's the fifth time this month."

[@russelloriely6343]

@@BioGoji-zm5ph Sorry Captain the buttons are on the same control panel and only three feet apart.

[@JasonL77]

Whoops

[@michaellejeune7715]

@@russelloriely6343 "Ever since the last time my console blew up in my face for no apparent reason it's been playing tricks on me."

[@aaronrichards2842]

worf open a hailing frequency...eye sir firing photonic cannon....

[@dannyruiz3329]

"If our intent was aggression, you would not be here now" "To even ask such a question implies we need permission...we do not". "Once we realized the level of destruction, we knew it could not be you". These three lines perfectly describe the Romulans.

[@pwnmeisterage]

Romulans and Vulcans share a lot of traits. Including insufferable arrogance.

[@blizzy78]

Reminds me of Putin.

[@michaelgreenwood3413]

​@@blizzy78 Kinda like how Pakleds remind everyone of Trump.

[@gokublack8342]

@@michaelgreenwood3413 Acts like a goofball for the memes but is actually a genius in business?

[@michaelgreenwood3413]

@@gokublack8342 No, steals everything, and claims it makes him strong.

[@smcneal057]

The reintroduction of the Romulans, and the subtle hint at the coming of the Borg. This was a great episode.

[@robstoppablecosplay]

Agreed. A true gem of the first Season of TNG.

[@GregWampler-xm8hv]

Agreed

[@jayforr6964]

I thought it was the christiline entity not the Borg

[@Exhibitabc]

​@@jayforr6964 It was the Borg. They called out the similarities in Best of Both Worlds.

[@blubblubwhat]

So was it the borg that kept them preoccupied or is it known what did? Must have been quite the foe?

[@herrwagnerianer1739]

Who would have thought that some years later, they would be cleaning Picard's toilettes at his chateau in France.

[@patrickmcshane7658]

Ha

[@Kanthannic]

They arent. STP and STD can call themselves whatever they want but they arent star trek and there aint no new addition to the prime star trek universe since nemesis. Romulus was not destroyed and the romulan star empire is still alive and well. Period. I look forward to when people who actually know and love star trek take charge of the franchise again and create something like the orville.

[@Sport4Life]

Kanthannic1227 you do realise that this is a work of pure fiction ?

[@mrcoiganable2988]

Funny joke but Picard aint Star Trek, its made for liberal sjw kids.

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

@@Kanthannic agreed.

[@christopherofarrell8665]

I love the way when Worf goes off on his entirely unprofessional rant, Picard just tells him to control his emotions and open the frequency ... but the XO gives him a near death glare that he holds until he carries out the orders - and for a few seconds more. Riker promising that there WILL be words about this after the crisis is over. Like a good XO should.

[@curtyeomans8446]

compare this to his reaction in the scene where Q shows up on the bridge after he's turned into a human, and Worf says "Die" after Q asks what he must do to prove he's human.

[@danielanderson2893]

@@curtyeomans8446 That one word line may be my favorite of all the episodes of TNG. I can remember my dad and I laughing hysterically at it when I was a little kid 🤣

[@matthewcaughey8898]

But im sure the captain decided that Worf had good reasons for speaking up as he so rarely does

[@markfox1545]

@@danielanderson2893 - sadistic little bleeder, weren't you? 🤣🤣

[@Ideo7Z]

Traditionally the XO is the one responsible for discipline and good order on naval vessels. He doles out punishments for any violations of rules or bad conduct by crew members. He's the bad cop to the Captains good cop

[@aaronmehaffey6251]

I love the way he delivers that line: "They haven't got a CLUE!" Like he sees straight through them and isn't afraid to call them out!

[@A_Small_Game_Cat]

When an ordinary human from the past has better skills than the current ships counsellor.. Suck it Troi,lol

[@marks47]

It's not canon, of course, but he ends up as an ambassador in a novel. He becomes the Federation expert on the Ferengi.

[@junbh2]

@@A_Small_Game_Cat Everyone sees it, he's just the only one blunt enough not to care about saying it in front of them.

[@alanguages]

@@A_Small_Game_Cat A big reason PC culture would not work, if there was going to be a show of strength and the possibility of war.

[@danieldickson8591]

The character was a wealthy man from the 20th Century, who, as he said, built his life around knowing what was going on. Reading people would have been an essential skill in negotiation.

[@user-pl4iq3sb6v]

You have to admit, this was a great ending for the first season.

[@lordjager924]

This ending makes up for sitting through the pointless cryogenic pod people scenes 🖖

[@Deadpool_64]

And the end of season 2 was a clip show, yay...

[@capnheehee8103]

I might be opening myself up to an angry mob, but I'm among the camp that believes that Gene Roddenberry himself was part of what made the First Season really uncomfortably cheesy (it wasn't the 1960s anymore, but he couldn't seem to stop living in it). This a good example of a mixed early episode in which part came from Gene, and part from the newer partners on the franchise. The cheesy stuff was usually Gene's producing influence, the more poignant and interesting things like the dynamic on the bridge in this moment was the influence of the newer people.

[@gregholman2431]

@@lordjager924 Indeed. This episode is like two episodes in one (perhaps mini-episodes). The two main portions of the wholesome episode have little to do with each other (almost nothing at all to do with each other). The first main portion of this episode seems much like filler, basically, and it is not at all vital to the series, basically. The much later main portion of this episode is the real meat of the episode, for sure, and it is perhaps the only reasonably decent-to-good part of the episode, really.

[@matrix128500]

@@Deadpool_64 That was only because of the writers strike, they couldn't do much else.

[@Audioholics]

"Silence your dog captain." Classic line.

[@JanetStarChild]

The captain is a dog?

[@LukeLovesRose]

That's enough to get a Romulan killed on a Klingon ship

[@deepak3303]

Over melodramatic today probably

[@ga1226]

R r r racism!

[@Robert_Douglass]

*Klingon growl...*

[@Jadefox32]

I just realized the Romulan commander is the same actor who played Gul Dukat in DS9. He is very good as an antagonist.

[@Ontir]

Remembering Anthony James, the Romulan (who isn't Mark Alamo) on your right. I just learned he passed away two days ago. An actor friend said he was known as "the bad guy with a heart of gold." Watching this again, yesterday, I looked at his body language and thought, "He's Tal Shiar!" This is a great performance which impacted the franchise far beyond this one episode. It's too bad they didn't bring him back.

[@michaelbeltran2969]

i'm old enough to remember seeing him play many villains in many shows in the 80's. a very iconic actor. RIP

[@omarcaal8152]

It's a shame that these 2 Romulans were never seen again. IMHO, they made a good first impression & I for one, would of liked to have seen more done with these 2 characters.

[@andysahs1599]

The character Anthony James played was Sub Commandeer Thei .

[@stevenmyers6439]

Was he not in any other episodes of Star Trek? I don't remember him being but I might be wrong

[@andysahs1599]

@@stevenmyers6439 That was the guy who played Commander Tebok

[@sublimeade]

Anyone: gains access to bridge Riker: "Get that man off the bridge" Security: nah

[@matthewbradley3395]

It kills me every time I see it. TWO security men tussling with the rich guy from the 21st century. They were ORDERED by Picard to "Get that man off my bridge!" Yet...BOTH of them stand there looking like dumb asses because Mr. Richy Rich objected and said, "I'm not going anywhere!" Riker or at least Worf (head of security) should have reiterated the Captain's command. "Follow your orders! Get that man off of the bridge! NOW! Or all three of you will be tossed in the brig!"

[@karlsmith2570]

@@matthewbradley3395 actually it was Commander Riker who ordered security to get Ralph Offenhause off the bridge

[@matthewbradley3395]

Point taken But it's a distinction without a difference. A junior officer or ensign received an order from a superior officer and failed to follow it. Try that in the USN or the Marines. You'd be a Seaman or a Private in fast fashion.

[@karlsmith2570]

@@matthewbradley3395 yeah, that's true Having grown up in a military family, I'm certainly aware of the consequences for not following orders

[@BrotherDerrick3X]

Riker: Worf, get this veQ off the bridge.

[@rajzakku8829]

Wherever Alaimo passes by, everyone's lives become a lot more complicated.

[@Mike-tw1pi]

There is so much truth in this simple statement.... halfway through binging S3 of DS9 right now.

[@Zhortac]

Except when Data cleaned him out at the poker table

[@neneshubby]

Picard “Why is your hair fashioned in that manner?” Romulans “We were researching Earth’s musical history from the mid 1960’s”

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Your Dave Clark Five, in particular, and possibly your ... Ringo Starr. *_children's choir music_*

[@maxpower2511]

I think Dukat played every single race...he was even Bajoran lol

[@samsonguy10k]

His name's Marc Alaimo and he did hold the distinction of breaking William Campbell's standing at portraying multiple races on Star Trek. But I think Jeffrey Combs beat that a long way.

[@jimhuffman9434]

That means Dukat is really a Changling!

[@Hutch5321]

Romulans: "We are back! However, we didn't have time to change out of our pajamas."

[@BioGoji-zm5ph]

What was up with those big-shoulder outfits anyway? They look ridiculous.

[@KLamki1]

TNG Federation: literally wear pyjama suits.

[@rodan9773]

CAN'T UNSEE lol.

[@LordZontar]

@@BioGoji-zm5ph Obviously in the last revolution on Romulus all the tailors and coturiers, along with the hairstylists, were taken out and shot.

[@kuribayashi84]

Interestingly, the Uniforms the Romulans were wearing in this episode look very close to their TOS-Outfits.

[@MrSharper802]

Marc Alaimo by Wikipedia count has him playing 6 different roles on TNG and DS9. Look at his work in TV. He had a role on almost every hit TV show at one time or another. Amazing career for a character actor.

[@scottfw7169]

Somewhere, some time ago, read an article which showed that number of character actors were better off financially than some big stars, because the character actors were always, constantly, working, and had a very steady income stream.

[@williambell3304]

The Romulans are interesting to me. Where the Vulcans sought control of themselves through dedication to logic, the Romulans opted for strict martial discipline. But with outward actions strictly controlled, paranoia seems to have set in.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

In other words, Romulans gave full vent to their emotions.

[@williambell3304]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver Yes, but attempted to impose a societal control mechanism to compensate.

[@sgt_subtext2391]

Romulans are the best race in Trek. I love them. They decide to not suppress part of themselves, they're exiled from their home world by a cult of religious extremists who impose the teachings of Surak, and ten thousand years later the Romulans built an Empire that rivals and in many ways is superior to a simple coalition that their Vulcan parents helped to set up. They did this by embracing who they were, believing they were better than everyone else, through cunning, and military dominance. Love love love the Romulans!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@sgt_subtext2391 Yet everyone in their society snitches on each other, a large percentage of their citizens are 'disappeared' for minor and harmless reasons, everyone lives in fear, and everyone cowers from their government, the various secret police forces, the military, and each other. Romulan society is a failed success.

[@micbear9334]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver are the romulans supposed to be the Russians?

[@Yuurei21]

The Romulan Warbird is both beautiful and absolutely terrifying .

[@ronchu4453]

yea too bad those werent the warbirds sent to help the Enterprise in Nemesis.

[@michaelmorton5698]

Four times the size of a Galaxy-class, using a quantum singularity as a power source.

[@DiscoRaptor]

@@ronchu4453 As much as I love the D'Deridex warbirds, by the time of Nemesis they were severely outdated... post-Dominion War ship designs tended to be smaller, faster and sleeker. Didn't help to be a massive target anymore, no matter how tanky the ship. They got annihilated by the Jem'Hadar, and even in Voyager three D'Ds struggled with an Akira and a couple of Defiants, even before the Prometheus joined in.

[@danieldickson8591]

@@ronchu4453 I really enjoyed the Warbirds from Nemesis. Such an intriguing contrast to the hulking D'Deridex, those were fast, agile and graceful. Watching their elegant maneuvers was an esthetic pleasure.

[@matth.2916]

@@danieldickson8591 Agreed. The Valdore or Mogai class warbirds in Nemesis were beautiful ships. While their on-screen time was limited to "NPC fodder," they had a grace to them that the D'Deridex lacked. The old "double D" was a great weapon of terror and a good-enough ship, but when enemies can't be cowed by fear, something more small and agile often works better.

[@1337penguinman]

I think Roddenberry's initial vision for the series was going to be Starfleet and the Romulans teaming up to defeat the Borg. Larger than life enemies was always kind of his thing.

[@spaceflight1019]

They never got that far, but the Romulans were a big help in the Dominion War on DS9.

[@dashkataey1740]

Actually, I believe the Romulans were reintroduced because the Ferengi didn't make compelling villains.

[@farscape1714]

But knew how to make money.

[@Novusod]

@@dashkataey1740 That is correct.

[@spaceflight1019]

@@dashkataey1740 , I would agree with you. Early episodes attempted to portray the Ferengi as cannibals but when they were finally seen they weren't visually intimidating. Re-imaging them as uber-capitalists worked out quite well.

[@Mockthenerd]

This one ship strikes more fear than 218 Picard warbirds.

[@insertanynameyouwant5311]

same goes to Enterprise also

[@PaiSAMSEN]

This scene got right where the Picard (the show) got wrong. They have already shown how the Enterprise is the most powerful ship in Starfleet. Then the crew predict that Romulan ship will possibly be equal to Enterprise earlier in the episode. Before the encounter, they show how, at least in one area, the warbird surpass the Enterprise. And then they reveal the warbird, letting us getting a very clear look at both vessels, complemented by a really clear music and clear look at crew's facial expressions. It certainly did a job better than dumping hundreds of object onto the scene without having us getting a good look at any of them. Like...did you even notice that, in the 218-ship fleet, they are 3 different kinds of Warbirds?

[@177SCmaro]

​@@PaiSAMSEN That's a huge problem with cinema in general nowadays. They focus almost completely on shallow, bombastic, out-doing each other in scope. Star Wars did the same thing in the last movie by dumping hundreds of Rebel ships and Imperial Star Destroyers on screen at once and somehow they had far less presence and meaning then a single Star Destroyer did chasing Princess Leia's ship in A New Hope even though each one was half again bigger then the old ISD and could blow up a planet on it's own. It's literally quantity trying to hide a lack of quality.

[@robjackson5245]

Cardassians are more scarier and evil!

[@cranbers]

yeah I loved this design why they got rid of it in the movies and Picard is beyond me.

[@ComputerJunkie00]

I've always liked how Romulan ships, particularly in scenes like this, have this kind of ghostly, ethereal quality to them.

[@IrishCarney]

Yeah, as a kid I imitated that wavery sound effect a lot with mouth as I wiggling my toy Warbird in the air to make it seem like it was cloaking or de-cloaking.

[@danielcostanza4628]

Micro Machines

[@danieldickson8591]

It's like a ghost ship suddenly materializing out of empty space. Very intimidating.

[@Daedalus-BC308]

"We are back." This line is bested in dramatic density only by the command to fire at the Borg cube that Riker gives at the end of "Best of Both Worlds Part 1"

[@garycannon4644]

Such a damn good scene and fantastic acting on Mr alaimos part. Dude was entirely calm, never raised his voice and yet his presence was very much threatening

[@gedias1]

Explains why he played so many characters.

[@dhunter1133]

If you've ever met him in person, his presence is very much threatening; it may just be a persona that he puts on for his own amusement, but he comes across as a little nuts. And I've met enough actors in my time to believe the ones that act nuts out of character probably are.

[@danieldickson8591]

Alaimo in this episode radiates smug, condescending arrogance, the certainty he's completely dominant, and that his even talking to you is a courtesy.

[@markequinox]

A show that never gets old, never gets boring & is constantly rewatchable.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Weeeeeell ... "Sub Rosa," "Masks," and a lot of the Wimpley episodes.

[@nonaurbizniz7440]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver Yeah there were a fair few stinkers early on but by the third season the dynamics of the current universe had been laid out and they started to do recurring themes like the borg though tng never really had more than a two episode main story. Ds9 took the long term story form made popular with babylon 5 and rolled with it.

[@thcollegestudent]

I miss the class and maturity Star Trek once had. This would lay the foundation for what would later become "The best of both worlds."

[@dmanc85]

So glad they turned those shitty little insects into what they then developed into the Borg! But I don't understand how a basic exploration vessel in the Delta Quadrant with one emergency medical hologram was able to turn a Borg into what Seven was but in STP they made the XB's look all ugly and deformed even after 20 years of research and development into removing Borg implants from former drones?

[@damianjblack]

@@dmanc85 Romulans don't care about aesthetics, probably.

[@manfredullrich483]

"best of both worlds" Isn't that "chicks with dicks", according to Randall from Clerks??🤭😜😋

[@AgentExeider]

It's funny how they started dropping hints of the Borg this early in the series. And yes, rewatch the dialogue talking about HOW the ourtposts were destroyed, "As if some great force scooped them off the planets." He's describing how the Borg operate. And in best of both world's Shelby even says "The readings match that of the previous outposts that have been destroyed."

[@aspeltaofkush3540]

I’d be angry too if I had to wear that Korean boy band bowl cut.

[@spaceflight1019]

Moe would have fit right in...

[@karlsmith2570]

@@spaceflight1019 Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk

Rumour has it the Tal Shiar monitors citizens even inside their homes. Any attempt to get a decent haircut, and they disappear, without a trace.

[@johnw2026]

@ sounds like a planet full of Mormons! 😆

[@jnichols3]

@@spaceflight1019 As would Pete Rose.

[@Trek001]

Thirty years I have watched this episode - only JUST noticed the two Romulans waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy the hell at the end of the corridor

[@dalethelander3781]

Same for me.

[@steveespinola7652]

Me too, how the heck did miss those two Romulans guys in the back?? LoL 😁

[@Trek001]

And now we've seen them, there are so many questions - Did they survive the Dominion War? Were either of them a part of the Battle of the Basen Rift? Are they alive after the supernova?

[@darthrevan1281]

Maybe the Romulans were too paranoid to stream a live video feed from their bridge, so they used a random computer terminal just around the corner from the restroom?

[@cameron120587]

"Do you understand my meaning captain? We ... are back!" One of the best lines ever!

[@larsdols3157]

I absolutely adore the design of the D'Deridex class Warbird.

[@vendigo76]

Marc Alaimo also appeared as Frederique LaRouque in S5 episode "Time's Arrow: Part I" as a French card shark in a poker game involving Data in San Francisco in late 19th Century Earth...

[@moviebuff3000]

I think he also had one other big role on Star Trek too.

[@marks47]

And the first Gul to visit the Enterprise with the horrible "helmets" and hair in the makeup.

[@annagalati34]

I missed that. I will have to rewatch it. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@asdffdsa541]

I miss the Ron Jones' Romulan Theme. They need to bring this and his Borg theme back.

[@SuperJames16]

I loved First Contacts Borg music!! And Voyager's Borg sound effects. Too bad they're not in use now

[@damianjblack]

God yes. They should have used his Borg theme in ST: Picard. There's actually a clip floating around that substitutes the Ron Jones theme in that show.

[@alexcrayfish]

A great way to introduce the borg by only hints through talking

[@CCJJ160Channels]

And really early in the series too. Brilliant

[@xkonvictedable]

Good Lord, such an amazing scene! The way they give the atmosphere of the scene such tension and menace with how they introduce the Romulans, while the "Boogeyman in the closest" that's the Borg is still unknown but very much present. They don't make em' like they used to.

[@logicplague2077]

No...no, they do not.

[@PaiSAMSEN]

Back when creators know how to create tension with only 2 ships on the scene.

[@Paulafan5]

"Pew-pew!"

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

The tension I felt in _Picard_ was "how much more stupid can they make this?" I was rewarded.

[@mrizwan7566]

Now they can copy paste ships

[@logicplague2077]

Nah, you know this scene would have been better with 10,000 shuttlecraft.

[@patrickturner6878]

Riker was about to give Worf a smackdown for his back talk.

[@JettMann8]

Marc Alaimo is so damn cool, he just can't turn off the smarmy excellence

[@jasonwhite7905]

I'll never forget this epic reveal since when I was a child. The tension before while trying to lock down the war bird, then the percussion of the music, the expressions on the officers, the size difference of the two sides, the low howel of the Romulan engines, as well as a prelude to the reveal of the Borg. Gives Mr chills even in my 40s.

[@ZantherStone]

I would relive that security officer of duty. He had a whole commercial break to get rid of the civilian yet he just stood there staring at the screen.

[@Marinealver]

Yeah, but later he became a strategist to counter the aggressions of the star empire.

[@ZantherStone]

Maldus Alver How does that change that the security officer just got distracted? Or are you saying he intention thought that the civilian would be helpful in their strategy. If it was luck the he ended up being helpful, the security officer should still be disciplined. He did a poor job. Civilian could easily have mouthed off with some other thing at made more of a problem.

[@garysmith3037]

I mean, if you want to talk about security, why would there be no access code for the turbolift in regards to secure locations, especially during a Red Alert.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

The stage was set for three antagonists here: the Romulans, the Borg, and the actor who would eventually play one of Trek's few good recurring villains.

[@johnmunro4952]

Coolest looking ship in star trek history.

[@justinkasy7422]

I was thinking the same thing! And to think, all without 3D computer models! It blows me away that writers and designers can be 50x more inventive today, yet what they come up with is usually so over the top, its off-putting and detracts from intimidation this ship brought.

[@DutchGuyMike]

Star Trek Online has some real good ships too.

[@kdrapertrucker]

It was originally supposed to be taller then wide with the warp nacelles at the top and bottom.

[@tomdumb6937]

Are you joking? Duhhh... Use the void space you idiots! Can you imagining walking on that ship?

[@emanemanrus5835]

I think the designer had a fascination on the aston-martin logo, if you see the warbird's wings plant from above.

[@manoflemancha2407]

The Romulans ship design was pretty cool

[@chrisstetsko5020]

I would've liked to have seen Ralph Offenhouse make a return visit on TNG and/or DS9. I've often envisioned him as being the Federation ambassador to Ferenginar, or being employed as some kind of negotiator.

[@danieldickson8591]

I believe in official ST books, he was.

[@LostMercenary99]

Star Trek was never quite the same again without the excellence that is Ron Jones and his sick music.

[@orionslaver432]

This is how you introduce a villain faction.

[@goldsmith1210]

I wish they would’ve brought back Ralph Offenhouse. He was a very intelligent character and could’ve done well no matter what time he was inserted into.

[@toomanyaccounts]

he was brought back in EU material. He became the fed expert on the Ferengi and rebuilt the Federation after it was devastated by a Borg invasion

[@superguy6892]

@@toomanyaccounts Awesome, that guy vs the Ferengi... Awesome...

[@tetefather]

@@toomanyaccounts I'm assuming this was after the destiny series? Could you please tell me the name of the book?

[@toomanyaccounts]

@@tetefather there were several. TNG Debtors' Planet which was published in 1994. Star Trek A Singular Destiny published in 2009. TNG Collateral Damage published in 2019.

[@CaraBolsaSTUDIOS]

COMUNICATIONS AND CONSELOR

[@dying101666]

I just love Marc Alaimos voice at 4:23. edit: binging DS9. his voice is like music. i could listen to it all day.

[@jamesricker3997]

This was also the first hint of the the Borg venturing into the alpha quadrant. When Q introduced Picard to the Borg, it was actually his way of warning the federation about the Borg.

[@Moose6340]

That shot does a great job of illustrating just how freaking BIG a D'Deridex is. They are massive ships.

[@JaredRay_1701]

The perfect setup to introduce the Borg

[@hendrixisgod777]

The moment when you realise that looking at the back of two characters heads watching a view screen is more entertaining than anything Trek has produced in the last ten years.

[@Fosten12]

screen dialogue is what made star trek great

[@kaicreech7336]

Um, lower decks exists

[@garycannon4644]

@@kaicreech7336 that show still cant find its audience lol just no

[@kaicreech7336]

@@garycannon4644 you seriously don't know how popular lower decks is? lol dumbass

[@gicking3898]

Dukat gave an excellent performance in this scene. It's a classic.

[@Spacegoat92]

An interesting contrast. The first time we see the Romulans in the TNG universe, Worf says they are without honour. The last time we see the Romulans in the TNG universe Worf says the Romulans fought with honour...

[@Joeybsmooth]

Then in DS9 the Fed tricks them into siding with them in a war.

[@eddieschwab864]

@@Joeybsmooth it's a faaaaake!

[@megavolt67]

@@eddieschwab864 Yeah, they owed Garak big time for saving their bacon on that one, lol.

[@toddwatson7381]

Yes!! It shows people and their opinions can change through experience!!! Nice call on those 2 lines!!

[@Spacegoat92]

@@eddieschwab864 It's REEAAL!!!

[@johnmunro4952]

My favourite star ship design from TNG. Absolutely stunning.

[@W-Ostr]

Borg cube is better. ;)

[@jamesknight3070]

TNG arguably had the best ship designs all round; Quad Nacelle Constellation Class, Weapons Pod & Sensor Configs of Nebula Class, Cardassian Galor Class, Klingon Vorcha Class, etc, etc, etc. =D

[@paceyplodder5911]

Tension created through good acting and dialogue and supported by minimal cgi.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

No CGI. The glow effects are rotoscoped.

[@asheer9114]

Because in the days this episode was made CGI were practically in their infant stage... and were limited to lcars and minor effects impossible to show via practical ones.

[@Gunnar001]

Pacey Plodder Back when Star Trek was intelligent science fiction with well-written characters and stories.

[@dalethelander3781]

@@TheMrPeteChannel I believe the models used on TNG were internally lit.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

@@dalethelander3781 ahhhh.

[@DarkDestroyer98]

It's pretty cool that they were seeding the Borg here.

[@trebleking1641]

The 20th century guy's on the ball, ain't he? He sussed those Romulans out pretty quickly...😎

[@jrwbtw]

The Romulan subcommander sitting to the right: The wonderful character actor, Anthony James. He darkens every scene he's in!

[@yanni2112]

I loved him as the bad guy in a Clint Eastwood western where the town was named Lago "He shot my ear off!"

[@1993bahamut]

It was necessary.

[@jrwbtw]

It's been just over a year now since he passed on. Farewell!

[@pauljensen5699]

Best. Entry. Of. A. Star Trek villain.

[@johnclaybaugh9536]

More complicated indeed. The reason the outposts had been destriyed was the fact that the borg had destroyed them.

[@lukez9721]

I’m glad they decided to bring back the romulans. They usually make things interesting

[@kuribayashi84]

I love how quickly Offenhouse managed to cut through the Romulan's bullshit. This is the only time the two different elements of this episode really connected.

[@johnsondadj]

The soundtrack is very ominous.

[@edinfific2576]

And too loud at the beginning.

[@rockerboyrage1609]

I love how the Romulan Warbird seems to roar when it moves.

[@SuperBookMonkey]

So true. Federation ships are always so silent running but as an aesthetic. Romulan ships are always about being imposing instead.

[@redbones6046]

I love how worf notices the Romulan ship before it even appears😂😂

[@blockmasterscott]

You know, I NEVER noticed that!

[@robjackson5245]

Initially I thought it was the Borg or Cardassians

[@Thy_Boss]

"I am Commander Tebok! and this is my shoe, Freestyle Reebok." "Oh ho very nice"

[@gasaholic47]

This scene alone saved the first season. So many of the first season episodes were disastrous.

[@edwardbliss8931]

I like how security is so shocked at the appearance of a Romulan ship, he forgets to restrain him

[@zentat]

One of my fav scenes from all of Trek.

[@logicplague2077]

That intro music was so badass.

[@ulphil08]

Little did we know that this episode was the beginning of our introduction to the Borg

[@ianhilmer2493]

This was when the Borg was a mysterious red herring!🧐

[@LoganHunter82]

Just love that music when Romulan warbird decloacks

[@geonerd]

The Romulan theme music is just perfect!

[@PhillipLemmon]

This is the dude that plays Gul Dukat! Great actor RIP

[@TheNextDr]

I don't believe Marc Alaimo is dead.

[@PhillipLemmon]

@@TheNextDr oh well if he's not then great but since the star trek movies. Shows casts keeps dying off I can't keep track. Lokp

[@MTalac]

He is dead???

[@Gohan-chan]

@@MTalac No no, Marc Alaimo is still alive, at least as far as the world knows.

[@MTalac]

@@Gohan-chan thx

[@andrewtaylor940]

It’s always so wild seeing Marc Alamo in roles other than Ducat.

[@jimmybrice6360]

at 2:40, my all-time favorite star trek line. i find it quite humorous and telling that it took a 20th century man 2 seconds to correctly analyze the situation. how little we change !!

[@josieldeassis]

Another thing that has not changed: Blacks make his best job as security guards

[@Tonydjjokerit]

One of the best Star Trek episodes ever!

[@Vandal_Hawk63]

"The boys are back in town"

[@josephroland2622]

Obviously in case you maybe didn't pay close attention in future episodes it was the Borg that attacked these outposts. This is a really good example of some really great foreshadowing on the part of the writers

[@googleuser4720]

0:37 A throwback to Star Trek 2009

[@peterhansen-limbert8548]

I personally think that the music played when the D'Deridex vessel decloaks is the best part. It's tense, suspenseful, and so Romulan in every way

[@obsidianfury5133]

I agree

[@IAMBIGLION]

Dukat: The early years

[@kellyrayburn4093]

Nope. Marc Alamo: the Trek early years. This isn't Dukat. This is Cmdr. Tabok. Yes, they are played by the same actor, but the characters are two different people.

[@raytoons]

@@kellyrayburn4093 It was a joke. Same actor.

[@kellyrayburn4093]

@munuc Whatever you want to think.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

@munuc Or an Antican spy. Or a card sharking spy from the late 1800's. Or a police officer spy from the 1950's. Or another Cardassim spy...

[@kxmode]

20+ years later, Picard is the Romulan's greatest friend and ally.

[@MiG2880]

... According to a cheap spinoff show. 🙄

[@mrcoiganable2988]

Dont know what you are watching but it aint Star Trek

[@BritneyLaZonga]

Oh get your IDIC together. It has its heart in the right spot.

[@kxmode]

@@MiG2880 The special effects used and the people they hired tells me the show is anything but cheap. "Spinoff" is a stretch considering it expands the events of the prime timeline established in the Star Trek reboot about Spock's involvement in helping the Romulans by accidentally creating the instability in the Romulan star, which ultimately leads to the destruction of Romulus and Remus. ST:Picard shows the aftermath.

[@kxmode]

@@mrcoiganable2988 According to your opinion. I've been a fan of Star Trek since TOS. Seen all the movies and TV shows including Discovery. It's Star Trek whether you like it or not.

[@heyguyswhatshappening6210]

i like how riker still stares at you for 10 minutes after the conversation has ended lol

[@sethcourtemanche5738]

Seeing the d'deridex class warbird decloak in your face has got to be a scary sight

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Unfortunately, the Romulans reliance on using visual intimidation and fear did not work on the Dominion. Those warships were being wasted left and right far quicker than the Federation and Klingon counterparts. The Romulan's tactics worked with its alpha quadrant allies, but they were exposed for weakness with the Dominion.

[@1SCme]

Romulans primarily relied on a single species to man their warships, and unlike the Klingons they had more emphasis on pursuits other than glory in battle, limiting the poll of potential manpower. In addition, for decades they went through internal strife, which likely saw some areas lag. I believe the size was an effort to make up for smaller numbers with higher survivability and firepower (reference German tanks in WW2), the shorter range reflected their belief in the effectiveness of cloaking.

[@bigben8502]

The Federation and the Borg were the only multiracial empires in Star Trek.

[@KaiserFranzJosefI]

​​@@bigben8502 The Dominion is also multiracial

[@oldtwinsna8347]

They also used the Remans as ground troops per Nemesis dialogue, and notably in the Dominion war.

[@kxmode]

Interesting trivia: The Romulan are modeled after the Romans; hence the name. They have (or rather had) a circular chamber filled with senators. Interestingly, the Romulans never had a Caesar.

[@FawzieK]

The Romulans were named after the Romans, yes, but they were originally modeled on the 1960s Chinese, the way the Klingons were modeled on the 1960s Soviets/Russians.

[@raytoons]

@@FawzieK The Klingons were originally modeled after the Chinese and later the Russians. The Romulans have a senate, and their leader was a "Praetor", just like the Romans. The Romulans home planets are Romulas and Remus, the same names as the founders of Rome in Roman mythology.

[@TheKEITHD07]

They did have a Praetor. ....oh wait, that was the Remans

[@raytoons]

@William HutchinsonGood one! Lol!

[@Elthenar]

Sela was fairly close to being a Caesar.

[@adrianrussell7769]

Damn, Marc Alaimo sure knows how to convey authority and menace. Definitely was the right choice for Dukat!

[@marks47]

Hmm. Who besides Combs got to "be" four different species? Romulan, Cardassian, Human, and Bajoran.... (Yeah, I'm counting Sisko's vision and Dukat's "alterations")

[@aaronsmith7946]

I saw this episode on television today. Turned it off when it went to a commercial....right where this picks up...hours later, recommended to me