Ups & Downs From Star Trek: The Next Generation 6.20 - The Chase

Now that we know more about The Progenitors, let's revisit the episode that gave inspiration to Discovery's 5th and finale season. Here's Seán with the Ups & Downs!

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[Ghostie.]

Cancelling Lower Decks was a crime and someone should be jailed for it.

[annieworroll]

I liked that the Romulan was the one to reach out at the end. DISCO S5 tied in to that very well with his scientist being the one to kick subsequent events off.

[MultiMackD]

I'd like to think in hindsight, that final exchange between Picard and the Romulan commander was essentially the TNG version of "You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend."

[LAJohn]

One of my favorite and underrated episodes of TNG… Watching the Romulan Captain reaching out to Picard and being humbled after a monumental discovery, gave me new hope.

[jpwphoenix]

I love that we actually get the Cardassians, Klingons and Romulans together in one episode (and one place later!). Also, gotta love the use of the Cardassian transporter effect from DS9 here in TNG.

[krikorajemian]

Watching this episode when it first aired, I remember being surprised they jammed this whole story into a single episode; it felt like it should have been a two-parter at least. Glad they eventually revisited it.

[samzick]

I like that in Season 7s The Gambit, Picard chooses to go by the alias "Galen"

[trekon]

I remember Marina complaining about a fan complaint coming in during TNG's airing about there being too many aliens that looked human. Being supportive of actors who often have difficulty getting jobs and properly paid even when they do get the job, she replied with that's because actors are human shaped. I feel like the writer's took that comment to heart and cleverly wrote this episode about the progenitors to make it tie in. See, that's what good writing looks like. You don't ignore canon. You fill in the gaps with credible explanations.

[infowarriorone]

Classic Next Gen. Love these retro ups and downs.

[bridge]

In case you didn't notice: Gul Ocett ist played by Linda Thorson. Some may remember her as Tara King, Emma Peels successor as partner of John Steed (Patrick Macnee) in the sixth season of "The Avengers".

[davidjames]

Please keep doing these TNG ups and downs! Such a great trip down memory lane.

[matthewwilkes]

I love these, but I think you've gotten a bit off track with the downs. Galen's response and the destruction of the biosphere are bad, but they work in the context of the episode. I actually think they're both good things to have in, as they make it feel more fleshed out, demonstrating the complex motivations others have.

[herbertholland]

The thing that I always liked about this episode, is that it can be used to explain how all these various alien races, can successfully create hybrid offspring.

[bongmuon]

Theory on the sculpture being treated badly in the movie. It was such a valuable artifact that Picard donated it to a museum but kept a replicated copy on the ship. That being an object he can replicate from a replicator any time so he just throws it to the side in that scene

[lesm]

Put another way, "The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself."

[doorofnight]

I've always really loved this episode. That final discussion with the Romulan Commander, and the line "you are a testament not to our greatness, but to our existence" gives me chills.

[kenzieduckmoo]

[Still discussing how the ship spore-jumped at the end of Discovery, in Dolphin]

[MikefromTexas]

James Callis is so underutilized as an actor. He was my pick over Ruffalo for the MCUs Dr Banner.

[andrewschwarz]

Progenitors and/or Preservers... It's a thread woven throughout both canon Trek and Beta canon. Let us not forget Lorca's whirlwind tour for Burnam of the mycelial network... when he says "the Moons of Andoria!..." and we get a flash of a Preserver obelisk?!? And again STO... which tied them together directly during the Tzenkethi adventures and we see a Chase-style Preserver/Progenitor in front of a TOS-style Preserve obelisk.

[AndrewDRed]

I loved the interaction between Picard and the Romulan commander, right off the back of him and Bev lamenting that nobody else appreciated how significant it was.
Then he call Picard, says he's on his way home and says:
"Maybe we are not so different... In our hopes... Our fears... Well then perhaps; one day."