6.15 Tapestry

Rating: 2.5

After an attack by aliens at a conference, Picard life functions cease. He finds himself in an area of great light, where he is greeted by none other than Q, who informs him that he is dead. It was Picard’s artificial heart that caused his death in this circumstance. This articficial heart is in use because during his undisciplined youth, Picard took on three Nausicans and was stabbed. Q offers Picard a chance to correct the choices he made in his youth, but when Picard succeeds, he find that in the present, he is safe, but his rank has been reduced to ensign.

Comments

The storyline of Picard’s encounter with the Nausicans was first introduced in the second season episode Samaritan Snare.

In the TOS episode The Enemy Within, a transporter malfunction splits Kirk into two separate beings, dividing his personality into a gentler half, and an aggressive, ‘evil’ half. He learns that without these two halfs together, he no longer possesses the ability to properly command a ship. He needs the aggressive, selfish side. Picard learns something similar here. His willingness to take chances led to an appreciation for every moment in life. Without that, he would have been happy with a safe existence.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard waking up in bed with Q

•    The unusually high level of acting in the supporting cast of Picard’s youthful friends

Quotable Quotes

"Welcome to the afterlife, Jean Luc. You’re dead!"
- Q’s greeting to Picard

"It’s a beautiful story. It gets you (taps chest) right here, doesn’t it?"
- Q, egging Picard on about his telling of the night when he was stabbed by a Nausican