Things like this also come to an end
725/726: All Good Things... I guess any series that has a shot at a memorable ending is probably a good series. A lot of shows get cancelled or become so bad or different over time that the ending is just a formality. So I guess the goal is just to not have that happen. Then you get to pick your own ending. I think the secret is just to hit the right level of ambition, which should be set slightly above a normal episode. If you underplay it, the ending can be forgettable or disappointing. If you overplay it, you can get outside the scope of the show and it can seem ridiculous. The consensus is that "All Good Things" is a terrific finale and I'll agree because it hits just the right level of ambition. The story actually becomes three stories, told in parallel, of three different time periods in which the Enterprise encounters a strange anomaly in space...
(Here's where we break to discuss the principle flaw of the episode, that the most stereotypical TNG plot is: the Enterprise encounters a strange anomaly in space. And in the end, they try some radical new physics thing, reversing some device to create a beam of never-before-heard-of particles to destabilize it.)
...And in the end, they try some radical new physics thing, reversing some device to create a beam of never-before-heard-of particles to destabilize it.
So while it's disappointing to see the final TNG episode have such a traditional story, the three parallel encounters angle keeps it fresh. Present-day Enterprise, slightly-younger Picard first assuming command of the Enterprise, and old possibly senile Picard all face the problem from different perspectives. Further, we learn that Q is manipulating things in the background. Gradually the three Picards piece together the situation and figure out the anomaly is working backwards in time, and will eventually destroy the roots of humanity, and they do some other fancy physics thing and avert it. Q is happy, there is a tidy character moment at the end, and we presume that the Enterprise will continue indefinitely. All in all, this is what we expect from Star Trek. The episode expands the scope of their normal mission without getting too heavy handed, it's a good story and a great sci-fi idea (if kind of a magical ending). But the episode gets its greatest mileage by rewarding us for our long history with these characters. If you've actually watched all 178 episodes to get here, it's worth it. 5 out of 5.
I can't believe I've finally finished it. Three and a half years! Not constantly, nor is it anything to get worked up about anyway because all I actually did was just watch 178 hours of TV. I did intend to watch the whole series when I started, and definitely planned to do so casually, taking breaks when it didn't seem interesting and watching a lot when it did. But this is how long it takes to watch a seven-season show if you average about a show a week. Know this.
Overall, it was worth it. I enjoyed the show consistently. But it's not an all-time favorite, even though I've watched more episodes of TNG than I've watched of any other show, ever, by far [interesting subject, I'll estimate in a later post]. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. It has few classic episodes. Mostly it's like tea (as so prominently featured in the series). It's always good and it's the kind of thing that you like best as a stalwart consumer. You rarely have a cup of tea that is so wonderful it knocks you over, but if you drink it a lot you depend on it and gain a long-term appreciation of what it's all about. Contrast it with what I think of as the best show ever, The Wire. The Wire is the best wine I've ever had. Life-changingly good, but not something you can have at any time. And as wonderful as it is, having a lot at once is damaging. There's a place in your life for something constant, that always works, and doesn't overwhelm you.
TNG manages to maintain this warm consistency even with little in the way of overarching narrative. There are pervasive themes and ongoing conflicts but a random viewer can pretty much watch nearly any episode and get 90% of what there is to be gotten about it. Essentially it's just good sci-fi stories and characters that I got to know over time.
Deep Space Nine? Voyager? Enterprise? I was thinking there was no way I would probably ever watch any of these, but to be honest, I'm kind of wondering about Deep Space Nine. (Voyager and Enterprise aren't even in the discussion at this point.) Knowing the characters, I might get a lot more out of DS9 than I ever got from occasional viewings years ago. Eventually I'll give DS9 a try and see what happens.
(Here's where we break to discuss the principle flaw of the episode, that the most stereotypical TNG plot is: the Enterprise encounters a strange anomaly in space. And in the end, they try some radical new physics thing, reversing some device to create a beam of never-before-heard-of particles to destabilize it.)
...And in the end, they try some radical new physics thing, reversing some device to create a beam of never-before-heard-of particles to destabilize it.
So while it's disappointing to see the final TNG episode have such a traditional story, the three parallel encounters angle keeps it fresh. Present-day Enterprise, slightly-younger Picard first assuming command of the Enterprise, and old possibly senile Picard all face the problem from different perspectives. Further, we learn that Q is manipulating things in the background. Gradually the three Picards piece together the situation and figure out the anomaly is working backwards in time, and will eventually destroy the roots of humanity, and they do some other fancy physics thing and avert it. Q is happy, there is a tidy character moment at the end, and we presume that the Enterprise will continue indefinitely. All in all, this is what we expect from Star Trek. The episode expands the scope of their normal mission without getting too heavy handed, it's a good story and a great sci-fi idea (if kind of a magical ending). But the episode gets its greatest mileage by rewarding us for our long history with these characters. If you've actually watched all 178 episodes to get here, it's worth it. 5 out of 5.
I can't believe I've finally finished it. Three and a half years! Not constantly, nor is it anything to get worked up about anyway because all I actually did was just watch 178 hours of TV. I did intend to watch the whole series when I started, and definitely planned to do so casually, taking breaks when it didn't seem interesting and watching a lot when it did. But this is how long it takes to watch a seven-season show if you average about a show a week. Know this.
Overall, it was worth it. I enjoyed the show consistently. But it's not an all-time favorite, even though I've watched more episodes of TNG than I've watched of any other show, ever, by far [interesting subject, I'll estimate in a later post]. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. It has few classic episodes. Mostly it's like tea (as so prominently featured in the series). It's always good and it's the kind of thing that you like best as a stalwart consumer. You rarely have a cup of tea that is so wonderful it knocks you over, but if you drink it a lot you depend on it and gain a long-term appreciation of what it's all about. Contrast it with what I think of as the best show ever, The Wire. The Wire is the best wine I've ever had. Life-changingly good, but not something you can have at any time. And as wonderful as it is, having a lot at once is damaging. There's a place in your life for something constant, that always works, and doesn't overwhelm you.
TNG manages to maintain this warm consistency even with little in the way of overarching narrative. There are pervasive themes and ongoing conflicts but a random viewer can pretty much watch nearly any episode and get 90% of what there is to be gotten about it. Essentially it's just good sci-fi stories and characters that I got to know over time.
Deep Space Nine? Voyager? Enterprise? I was thinking there was no way I would probably ever watch any of these, but to be honest, I'm kind of wondering about Deep Space Nine. (Voyager and Enterprise aren't even in the discussion at this point.) Knowing the characters, I might get a lot more out of DS9 than I ever got from occasional viewings years ago. Eventually I'll give DS9 a try and see what happens.