The Acting!!! 👏👏👏

Eh, Janeway, Tuvok and Torres handled their voluntary assimilations like champs in "Unimatrix Zero". Maybe because of the neural inhibitor (though Tuvok's was failing and he had to struggle to hold on), maybe because they didn't get eyes gouged out or arms chopped off... (I'm remembering Seven admitting in an episode that her ocular implant installation was the most painful experience of her life and she still remembers it clearly)...

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AngledLuffa@reddit

we see a very short list of XBs to begin with, and of them, only Picard was used as a weapon against his own friends and colleagues a few hours after assimilation

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salamander_salad@reddit

Hugh got pretty emotional.

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

One of my favorite scenes in the whole series. And to think, they almost didn't make this episode.

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salamander_salad@reddit

Wait, really? I feel like this is an essential episode. We needed two episodes of family-related, low stakes decompression to deal with “The Best of Both Worlds.”

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Regular_Jim081@reddit

Yeah, apparently Gene Roddenberry really didn't want it, He had this idealistic version of future humanity where we were beyond Family confrontations like this.

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LGBT-Barbie-Cookout@reddit

The episode where the child lost his parents and being critiqued by everyone including the fucking counsellor for daring to be sad for too long also springs to mind.

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Kubaj_CZ@reddit

Was it the episode where the kid pretended to be an Android? I'm not sure now, but I think his sadness wasn't criticized, they were just concerned about his coping mechanisms. I'm not sure whether he denied the death, or was just pretending to be emotionless, though.

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BigConstruction4247@reddit

Timothy mimics Data for that reason, plus Data rescued him.

The episode that is being discussed here is another kid (Jeremy) who loses his parents in separate incidents. He end up binding with Worf.

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LoquaciousTheBorg@reddit

What a great choice, just ask Alexander...shoot where did Worf lose him at this time?

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Working_Target2158@reddit

Worf was a doting, loving father to Alexander and spent every spare moment he had with him, even taking him to Deep Space Nine.

The fact that we never saw it doesn’t change what my heart wants to believe.

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LoquaciousTheBorg@reddit

Does...Alexander's actual appearance on DS9 not obliterate that?

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Working_Target2158@reddit

I honestly forgot all about that.

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LoquaciousTheBorg@reddit

So did Worf.

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Working_Target2158@reddit

Zing

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VGuyver@reddit

Probably got locked in the maintenance closet of a Bird of Prey and forgotten by Worf again and became mummified.

Word has a habit of never resisting family unless they visit him.

Kurn, brainwashed and left to fight a war with memory loss.

Nikolai, left on a planet to lead an alien species on a planet doomed to incest and extinction.

Alexander, never heard from again after Jadzia died and the Cardassian War.

Jeremy, pretty much Worf's youngest brother but also abandoned like Alexander.

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LoquaciousTheBorg@reddit

The crew said Alexander you're a fine boy (you're a fine boy) What a good son you would be (such a fine boy) But my life my love and my lady is Enterprise C

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Lock_Squirrel@reddit

The fact that this only has one upvoter aside from my own is criminal....

Much like the fact that Looking Glass only ever made one good song.

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LoquaciousTheBorg@reddit

Thank you, thank you, I take requests tip your waitress...

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BigConstruction4247@reddit

Who?

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Aggravating_Mix8959@reddit

Yeah, that was certainly odd. I liked his scenes with Data, but the rest was too big an ask for a child. Or even an adult. I'm always going to miss my dad!

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BackTo1975@reddit

One of the biggest reasons why TNG started so poorly. Even then, the show never really got beyond this to authentic human relationships. As much as I liked TNG, it always seemed sterile compared to TOS, which was much more human, with all the expected flaws.

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mr_poopie_butt-hole@reddit

It's crazy how many times I've read "Gene didn't want X or Y to absolutely insane things that are now such a part of the fabric of what Star Trek is.

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

Really. This was the fourth episode produced from season 4 because there was a desire to just hit the reset button.

Michael Piller and a couple of the staff writers had to convince Rick Berman they needed something after BoBW, and then they had him onboard and he convinced Roddenberry. I think that's how it happened, I may have some of that slightly wrong.

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bbbourb@reddit

Roddenberry wasn't even involved by this point. His health had declined so significantly after his stroke in '89 that he COULDN'T really be involved. He showed up on occasion in S3, but by S4 he was completely out.

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

Piller gave an interview where he said he talked Rick and Gene into it. And Roddenberry of course famously got into a yelling match with Nick Meyer shortly before he passed. Perhaps Piller just included Gene out of respect? More of a "in the loop" situation

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

Ron Moore gave an interview where he said he was in a meeting with Gene, Rick, and Michael, and Gene hated the script. He said it made Picard's parents look terrible, and that brothers in the 24th century wouldn't have this type of relationship. After the meeting, Rick and Michael said they'd keep working on Gene.

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SomethingAboutUsers@reddit

I always get so grumpy about the whole "hand wave away all the trauma of his assimilation" thing other than this episode. They really could have spent a while exploring it, but then again they didn't really do episodic arcs like that back then either.

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Calm_Cicada_8805@reddit

I mean, we did get an entire movie of Picard having protracted PTSD breakdown about the Borg.

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Hondahobbit50@reddit

Which one? Insurrection?

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StationaryTravels@reddit

gif

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Crimson3312@reddit

JEAN-LUC! BLOW UP THE DAMN SHIP!

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crackedtooth163@reddit

NO!

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WhatYouLeaveBehind@reddit

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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crackedtooth163@reddit

smashy smash

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StationaryTravels@reddit

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

Jean-Luc, let Worf blow up the damn ship!

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crackedtooth163@reddit

Well that's a lot more understandable.

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Acceptingoptimist@reddit

One of the better ones too!

They never show the trauma needed to recover from after the whole crew hooking up getting drunk disease, bleeding out on the holodeck, or turning into a spider, but we spend an episode and a movie on his assimilation and it's not enough!

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disconcertinglymoist@reddit

We need a Steven Universe: Future treatment for every single major Star Trek character.

Hell, you could go further and build a whole series around them just getting therapy. It could be riveting if done right. If watch it.

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NebulosaSys@reddit

The fact that Harry Kim never really.. processed the fact that he was not the original Kim on his ship
The fact we never see him process that his counterpart d i e d and that's why he's there.

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WholeAggravating5675@reddit

Star Trek: Troi

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outride2000@reddit

In Treatment meets Web Therapy IN SPACE

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Acceptingoptimist@reddit

Lower Decks hilariously normalized it. Like they've been taken over by ancient mask cultures multiple times and are used to it now.

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Divine_Entity_@reddit

LD played it as with all the constant weirdness you just kinda get desensitized to it. Like getting possessed by a random mask is Tuesday, you atleast gotta remove some sense of self to get over a 3 on the traumatizing scale. (Despite it actually being more like a 7 for normal people)

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outride2000@reddit

Yes, but conversely Shaxs said the reason they don't talk about him coming back to life and treat it as normal is because it's too traumatic. So I do enjoy the balancing act to the handwaving.

Also, we got (AT LEAST) two great captains traumatized by Wolf 359.

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ThorsMeasuringTape@reddit

A whole series that’s basically flashback memories of someone in therapy.

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FS_Scott@reddit

Especially Reg.

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TheSavouryRain@reddit

Arguably the best

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Regular_Jim081@reddit

I'd imagine in the next 400 years counseling is going to get a lot better.

I don't think this is really psychological trauma we were seeing here, I think Troy took care of most of that. I think this was just intense grief and a complete loss of confidence. I think that's why he went home He needed Renee to do what only a big brother could do, kick his butt and remind him who he was.

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Late-Yogurtcloset-57@reddit

*Robert. René was his nephew.

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

I believe you mean Rob-bear.*

*yes I know that's not how it's spelled

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Admiral_Thel@reddit

Even the best possible counselling will not make your trauma disappear. You will still be changed as a person. Therapy just helps you live with it, helps correct skewed thinking, it gives you tools to face what happened and keep going in as healthy a way as possible.

There can be no such thing as "the counsellor took all the psychological trauma away" unless human beings in themselves have changed beyond recognition.

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TheHighSeer23@reddit

I don't think the idea was that COUNSELING has improved in some separate way. Roddenberry's vision was that humans in Star Trek will themselves develop socially so that interpersonal conflict is rare and psychologically so that things like death and so on are accepted and do not actually cause trauma. Starfleet especially is populated by exceptional people who are highly resilient. However, since they are also in contact with the CRAZIEST situations and are met with unforeseeable and exceptional situations, Starfleet has recognized that counselors are necessary... and of course, counseling would have improved as a result of the human (or other species) psyche's improvements.

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BobSki778@reddit

Robert is his brother. René is his nephew.

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jakeod27@reddit

I’m sure therapeutic techniques will get better. Whether or not someone is in the emotional right spot for it to be effective is another question

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QualifiedApathetic@reddit

It was definitely a factor in his initial reaction to Hugh, but yeah, the writers had to fight to even do "Family" because the networks hated not being able to show episodes in whatever order suited them in syndication.

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Yochanan5781@reddit

Also, Roddenberry objected because of his "there won't be interpersonal conflicts in the future" vision

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bbbourb@reddit

Roddenberry had nothing to do with this. He was out of the writer's room by the time Season 3 started due to his health and indirectly to his ham-fisted interference with the S1 and S2 scripts. Family is S4: E2, after Roddenberry was more-or-less out of the picture. The "interpersonal conflicts" restriction went out the window after S2.

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TheHighSeer23@reddit

He remained in an advisory role for some time after Season 2, until his death. He read scripts and gave input. His opinion of the script for this episode is documented.

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DOHC46@reddit

That's an unrealistic view that Gene Roddenberry held. Now, I think that was a great episode because it exposed the conflict and trauma, but also showed the healing and reconciliation. I think that is more human, and makes for a very compelling story.

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

Yeah Roddenberry's views .... he didn't understand "the Bonding" because he felt humans wouldn't grieve.

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Divine_Entity_@reddit

It is a cool utopian vision.

Its just conflict is great for stories, and saying "this type of conflict doesn't exist, ever" is a limitation on what kinds of stories you can tell. (Not that limitations can't lead to better stories)

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Spacefreak@reddit

Interestingly, I mostly watched TNG in syndication when it was on Spike TV in the early 2000s, and despite having seen the series 3 times over, I didn't see this episode until I binged in college on DVD box set with my friends.

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Accomplished_Ad_1965@reddit

I love that this recurring to an extent. I always get messed up about Geordi being tortured and brain washed being totally forgotten

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Hondahobbit50@reddit

Same thing with uhuras brain being completely wiped in TOS series and she's just...fine the next episode

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freylaverse@reddit

I agree, but Picard is also definitely the time of man to bury himself in his work and avoid letting his trauma show until he absolutely can't take it anymore.

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Aggravating_Mix8959@reddit

We do see he has regular sessions with Troi.

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typicalredditer@reddit

I recently had the thought that if TNG were made today (or god help us, remade) the natural arc would have been for Picard to struggle for some time with the aftermath of the assimilation, but to have it resolved by the incident from Inner Light. The Borg took his life and identity. The Inner Light gave him essentially a second life with new experiences he chose to give up to pursue a life in Starfleet. It would make him whole, essentially.

But really we just have to take it for what it is - 90s tv didn’t do serialized storytelling like that. It’s just a function of medium. It has some benefits and also some drawbacks.

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HariSeldonsIntern@reddit

This is really insightful and it makes it wonder if it helps explain why The Inner Light hits so hard.

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Vnxei@reddit

This is one of the few bits they really do address, imo. Like half of all episodes are about some traumatic or world-altering event thay they wrap up in 40 minutes and then move on from.

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Tdragon813@reddit

I think he mentioned it a few times, and yes, the movie dealt with it and being in his head still.

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Nobodyinpartic3@reddit

It basically has all the emotional beats for Picard from Best of Both Worlds. We got basically one scene with Picard going through the emotional weight of what was going on otherwise.

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TomCBC@reddit

Agreed. Best of Both Worlds isn’t a two-parter, it’s a trilogy as far as I’m concerned.

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Patch86UK@reddit

I know things hit differently when binging a box set/streaming versus original weekly broadcast, but honestly it's perfect. Coming out of the massive high-octane action-packed drama of Best of Both Worlds, and suddenly you're hit with this slow, muted character study entirely set in rural France exploring PTSD, depression and loss.

Honestly my favourite Star Trek episode, and it's all about that context.

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JaggedGorgeousWinter@reddit

I enjoy a lot of Nu Trek, but having only ~10 episodes a season means we miss out on episodes like this. It’s nice to have time to sit in the aftermath pf a major event before moving on to the next big thing.

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Andu_Mijomee@reddit

I loved that Robert was up to the task in this moment, too.

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Ndot9@reddit

I’m late to the game on this one, but this resonates with me on several levels. I loved this episode when it aired when I was a teen. Seeing this gives me some reflection to recent events in my own life. First off I’m not taking the time to look it up but isn’t Robert the older brother? I feel like he (given the writing and the dialogue) knew exactly what Picard needed to hear?

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Most-Ad-9465@reddit

Yes to both questions. Robert knew the real reason captain Picard came home even though Picard didn't fully know it himself.

Truly masterful writing of a sibling dynamic. His older brother was the only one who understood that the stoic captain Picard had to get angry enough to break his composure enough to access his trauma. Robert seems like a bully but he knows that's what jean luc needs. That's what he's always done for his little brother so he understands that that's the real reason for jean luc's visit home.

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mr_mxyzptlk21@reddit

The familial ties were done really well. Robert being aloof, and almost judgemental at Jean-luc's being Starfleet, but still being there for his brother, and letting him get it out... and being his FRIEND and standing by him (and then getting drunk with him).

I'm thankfully closer to my brother than this portrayal, but I've known others that when the chips were down, no matter how distant, or different, the sibling bond was strong. This hit those notes perfectly.

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Riyeko@reddit

thr sibling bond was strong.

Strong enough for both of them to act like two idiot teenagers who got caught doing something incredibly stupid lol

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Sivalon@reddit

“He fell down… and then I fell down… and then we fell down..”

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semperknight@reddit

What the Borg did to Picard was worse that rape.

It wasn't just his body they violated. The stole everything he spent a lifetime to build and used it against what he most cherished (the Federation).

What made Picard different from Sisko, Kirk, and other captains is how hardcore he was about the values of the Federation. Picard could never do what Sisko did for Garak when he murdered two people. Picard rather the Federation be destroyed by the Dominion than let it live with lies and deceit.

The Federation was also closely tied into his values of the Picard family (we saw this in the first movie when his brother and nephew are killed in a fire).

Imagine being forced to destroy a large portion of the fleet and kill so many Federation officers. I'm shocked he didn't crack sooner.

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Ecstatic_Lab9010@reddit

Did Sisko really believe it was Picard doing all that?

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TheHighSeer23@reddit

I wouldn't say worse than. I would say very similar to.

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opinionated-dick@reddit

This is my interpretation of it, and just how important sci fi story by analogy is, because it effectively conveys the trauma associated with rape, on a tv show broadcast midweek tea time.

The Borg did exactly that. Stripped him of his agency, his individuality, his will, and forced him to commit acts of repulsion. And in doing so mutilated him and left him with guilt and the endless mental cycle of could he have just fought harder against it.

I’m really pleased they didn’t fly off like the whole Borg encounter didn’t happen, they stopped and dwelled. It was a first step in moving trek towards partial string continuity.

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w0mbatina@reddit

I actually found the acting in this scene really bad. Like, one of the worst performances of the entire show.

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BackTo1975@reddit

As great a coda as this episode was, it also served as too neat of a wrap up to what Picard went through.

The Borg assimilation would’ve dramatically altered his character. It should’ve changed Picard in fundamental ways that would’ve been obvious in every episode, at least in one way or another. But this was pretty much left behind, only to be trotted out the odd time when convenient for the plot of a Borg episode, and of course for First Contact.

Same deal with the lifetime on the flute planet. Nobody was just walking away from that with the flute memento and some fond memories. That would’ve mentally destroyed anyone.

It’s one of the reasons why I never could accept Inner Light as believable, because the impact of what Picard went through would’ve ruined him. At the very least, they should’ve included a bit at the end with Crusher using some medical device on Picard to lessen the impact of the alien life he just led, throw in some babble about it being used to lessen mental trauma, make the brain process the experience more like a dream, etc.

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dka2012@reddit

Those two were brilliant here.

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Unusual_Entity@reddit

One thing that bothers me about the end of BoBW2 is that Picard should not have simply been in his ready room, back in command at the end of the episode. Captain Riker should have been commanding the Enterprise, at least until the end of Family when Picard decides Starfleet is the place to be.

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TheHighSeer23@reddit

Fake it 'til you make it, bro.

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Tomaquag@reddit

"Family" was a great episode for many reasons. Seeing him dealing with the Borg Trauma of course. So important. But I also loved just seeing him on Earth, seeing his family's vineyard and hearing about the project his old friend was working on. Fleshed out the world a bit. A wonderful episode. Unforgivable that they would later wipe out his family. Another reason I don't re-watch "Generations". Removed from my Head Canon. "Boop!" Gone.

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Sereni-tea42@reddit

That was easily one of the best episodes.

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Aggravating-Try1222@reddit

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trev2234@reddit

She has no idea what happened, but I do

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Low-Palpitation-9916@reddit

"But at least I'll always have my brother and his sweet boy to lean on, and I'll never have to worry about those borg again."

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typing-blindly@reddit

Family is one of my favorite episodes, and this scene is a big part of why I love it so much.

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noneckjoe123@reddit

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qtjedigrl@reddit

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caveman69420@reddit

And now we come to ACTTWO

Gesundheit

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laker9903@reddit

Dammit! You beat me to it. Dadders are fast.

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Johnsendall@reddit

It’s my favorite scene. It should have been a whole season. In this case I’d have loved some 21st century Trek and Riker remained Captain for the first half of season 4 while Picard recouped.

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Ok-Fondant810@reddit

This exchange always gives me chills and all the feels!

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CruisingForDownVotes@reddit

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andychef@reddit

The aristocrats!

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Gloomy-Dependent9484@reddit

I feel like Shakespearean acting is underrated in this day and age.

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Captain4verage@reddit

Severely. It think the youngest one i can think of thats still active in Hollywood is Ralph Fiennes and he is 60-something iirc.

I wonder why. So many great actors were at the RSC. Ian McKellen, Jeremy Irons, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith and i bet i forgot a bunch.

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FOARP@reddit

Jude Law is in his 50’s.

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ThePegasi@reddit

I genuinely think it’s one of the reasons we see lots of British actors doing well in America. Acting over here still has a strong foundation in theatre so people you see on screen will more often have worked on stage as well.

I’ve heard comments from actors doing it the other way around, having only worked on screen and then doing stage productions, about how much of a wake up call it is. No multiple takes, you have to do it right first time. And then do the same thing night after night for a whole run. And as such you have to learn how to roll with mistakes.

But that’s more general and I definitely agree about Shakespearean acting in particular. It really shows in Stewart’s generation. If you wanted to be an actor, whether stage or screen, experience with Shakespeare wasn’t some niche auteur thing, it was bread and butter stuff.

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Mattpaintsminis@reddit

My favourite (not saying best, just favourite) acting moment is at the end when Robert hugs Picard goodbye, showing his true feelings on his face only during the embrace when noone can see, and returning to his usual stony demeanor immediately afterwards.

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GiantNinja@reddit

Right?!? I was watching Steve Shives retro review on this episode (love his breakdowns/reviews) and he pointed that out and it was something I had got but didn't really realize if that makes sense. Such a great end to the episode... and he gives him the wine and tells him to not drink it alone... so good, no notes

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wswink@reddit

Really wild how Picard season 2 just casually overlooks that this terrific episode even happened. Brother and nephew don’t even get a mention in season 2’s story-at-large

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time_vacuum@reddit

This type of episode is exactly what was missing from Enterprise after the end of the Xindi arc. Going straight from saving the Earth from the Xindi into another multi-episode arc with nazi time travel was just too much. They needed an episode of soul searching sore leave to let the characters (and the audience) process the previous season before diving into the next thing.

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GalaxyZeroOne@reddit

This episode might be my favorite TNG episode. (Inner Light obviously up there) The other storylines are touching too and this scene is just so good.

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bbbourb@reddit

Such a necessary episode that almost didn't happen thanks to network interference. Aside from 2-part cliffhangers, networks didn't want shows that were eligible for syndication to have any semblance of serialized plot (until DS9 and Babylon 5 broke that wall).

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Groady_Toadstool@reddit

Robert was the absolute worst!

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MetalTrek1@reddit

I went through an incident about 30 years ago, where I tried something in my personal life and which didn't work out. I was very down on myself. This episode helped me get through it. One of my favorites.

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biophazer242@reddit

This, coupled with the beginning of Generations when he learns about the fire, are some really emotionally moments with great acting from Stewart.

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ChancellorWorf@reddit

Dang. Even the still photos make me tear up!

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Grizzlei@reddit

My wife and I started our first TNG watch recently and this episode was certainly the one I was most excited to rewatch again. Just a really stellar exploration of Picard and a nice breather after everything that had transpired.

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NaiRad1000@reddit

I remember as a kid this being very jarring for me. It’s one thing for a hero to lose but it’s another to hold on to that guilt and actually starting crying. Kinda taught me that everyone can have those moments or worthlessness

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HariSeldonsIntern@reddit

Same. I think 12 year old me went from "this is kinda boring" to "why am I crying?"

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ImpossibleFloor7068@reddit

That's a big thing missing from these subs and posts about the show - the education. I got all the education I need growing up on TNG, and it's full-on appreciation to this day decades later.

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PurpleJager@reddit

Brothers, Chains of Command, Sarek.....all highlights of Sir Patrick Stewart's exceptional acting skills

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Trax-M@reddit

Don't forget his reaction in Generations the scene with Troi in which we learn about Rene and Robert,

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ComesInAnOldBox@reddit

What bothers me most about that is the man is told he's the last surviving member of his family through a goddam email.

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HariSeldonsIntern@reddit

Typical Starfleet

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Riyeko@reddit

Not to trauma dump, but my mother told me about my brothers death with a voicemail.

His face and the multitude of emotions walking across it is accurate and just peak acting. It hits harder now after my brother has passed, and it makes me cry every time.

Patrick Stewart is absolutely one of my most favorite actors.

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AngledLuffa@reddit

the scene where his family gets fridged because the writers couldn't think of any non-shitty way to make getting old an emotional burden? where apparently a planet blanketed in sensors, with transporters that can get you out in a second, has places where you can somehow burn to death in a house fire? i wish i could forget that scene

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dmsanto@reddit

I mean, he may not have been full Amish, but Robert was pretty tech-averse. At least for the 24th century.

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EM05L1C3@reddit

One more, there are four lights

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multificionado@reddit

And in every case, he was having emotional breakdowns (this crying in Brothers, the torture in Chain of Command, the loss of emotional control in the Sarek episode).

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Latverianbureaucrat@reddit

The way he grasps that flute at the end of The Inner Light. (Frakes is also quite good in that scene—he silently nods and exits the room in order to leave Picard alone, it’s very sensitively done.)

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9CaptainRaymondHolt9@reddit

Then he decided to fight back

https://i.redd.it/nsal6mjtr71g1.gif

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Planet_Manhattan@reddit (OP)

Atreideeeeeees!!! :)

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DelilahCJ@reddit

Hell the borg hijacked his dna

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Reasonable-Editor903@reddit

Watching this scene was so heart breaking when I first saw it. Really shows the PTSD of the Borg.

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EndStorm@reddit

That episode and that scene was just incredible. Such a good follow on from BOBW.

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Redbettyt47@reddit

This is great episode and really highlights how good the acting, writing, and direction was on this show. Robert and Picard’s characters immediately seemed like not-close brothers within a moment, due to how they approached their interactions in such a realistic way. There was no lengthy exposition to explain their relationship. Picard just walked up to his brother who responded with obviously familiar disdain. Like real-life family, the rhythms were already there with no need for formalities, even after 20+ years apart. Fantastic acting on both their parts.

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Drive7Nine@reddit

Patrick absolutely killed this scene.

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laker9903@reddit

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9CaptainRaymondHolt9@reddit

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Fonz136@reddit

This is the single best episode of TNG. The acting is superb.

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wskelding@reddit

Shit this episode still hits hard !!

I remember seeing this when I was MUCH younger, I think about 8 or 9, and I didn't enjoy it at the time, because I was a kid and I just wanted to see cool adventures on the Enterprise. But when you rewatch it as an adult, that's when you really get it and can absolutely appreciate just how damn good this episode is !!

It's the same as Inner Light, Chain of Command, Sarek, as episodes that you maybe don't enjoy when you're younger as you simply aren't old enough to truly appreciate the acting and story that's being told.

Think I might have to watch this tonight after work !!

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adamwnotanumber@reddit

I start the episode at this scene, Patrick Stewart's performance is iconic and inspiring

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flamingfaery162@reddit

There are 4 lights!

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NeilSilva93@reddit

Patrick Stewart was covered in real poo for this scene. That's the dedicated actor that he is.

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German_Granpa@reddit

r/thishappened :-)

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Temporary-Life9986@reddit

This scene prepared him to play the poop emoji.

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Zorpfield@reddit

gif

Let's hope it's just mud

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ZapMaster117@reddit

I wish we'd gotten a scene of Sisko actually apologizing to Picard. He never realized just what Picard went through, and just used him as his scapegoat.

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Malnurtured_Snay@reddit

And what do think Sisko was "scapegoating" Picard for?

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ZapMaster117@reddit

For the death of his wife by the Borg. Picard was another one of their victims, but Sisko ignorantly blamed him.

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Magnus_Helgisson@reddit

THAT made me realize sir Patrick is one of the best film actors of all time. Before that I saw him in stuff like the X-Men where it wasn’t too expressive of a role, I heard him in his voice acting jobs etc. But this, oh my god, when his brother was winding him up, Picard literally shook with anger and I didn’t need to hear the text to now that his gonna hit him.

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AveryLakotaValiant@reddit

Yea, scenes like this are my favourite

It's often the subtle scenes which have the most impact, like when he's rescued from the borg, he replicates a cup of earl grey, goes to drink it, but stops, then just stares out of the window

You just know he's been permanently affected by what happened (god, who wouldn't be lol).

The Drumhead trial scene is a good one to, this quote in particular:

"You know, there are some words I've known since I was a schoolboy: "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." Those words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie, as wisdom and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged."

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prefim@reddit

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PurpleHairedGamer@reddit

This was so gut wrenching

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MovingTarget2112@reddit

A very big factor in TNG’s success is the brilliant acting of Sir Patrick and Brent Spiner. I see them as equals.

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esgrove2@reddit

The scene where Picard mud wrestles in shit then cries about the Borg. Surprisingly one of the best scenes of the franchise.

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OhHeyItsOuro@reddit

Most of the time Jean Luc is superhuman, an absolute paragon and shining symbol of what humanity can be if we embrace Federation-like ideals. And, sometimes, that makes it difficult for me to relate to him. Maybe it's shame, maybe it's skepticism, I'm not sure. But it makes those moments where Sir Patrick gets to show the depths of his emotional acting skills hit so much harder. The absolute violation of mind and body is so clearly communicated it's agonizing, and all without any explicit display. Not to say that there's no room for those in Star Trek, or good storytelling in general, but he's just so good that it's unneeded here.

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Separate_Recover4187@reddit

Is OP also a Steve Shives fan? Or just coincidence he released his release of Family this week? Haha

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Planet_Manhattan@reddit (OP)

Indeed I am 😁 but as a sheer coincidence, I just happened to be watching this episode during my binge watch 😁🥰😁

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