7.25 All Good Things... (Parts 1 and 2)

Rating: 4

Troi and Worf’s hallway kiss is interrupted by a frenetic Picard, still in his sleeping garments and convinced that he is slipping back and forth in time. In all time jumps, he is being heckled by a rag-tag group of humanoids that no one else can see. As he becomes more aware, he suspects that an anomaly in the Devron system may be the key. In the future, he seeks help from Geordi, Data, and Dr Crusher. The jumps are being caused by Q, who put Picard and humanity on trial in the first episode of the series (Encounter at Farpoint), and has been judging humanity and the Enterprise ever since. Judged as having failed the test of ‘usefulness’ by the Continuum, humanity has now been sentenced to death. But it is not the Q that will pass sentence; Picard’s creation of the anomaly will cause disruption to the beginning of human life on earth.

Comments

This episode was co-written by Ronald D Moore and Brannon Braga.

It’s a Braga script, so it has to have alternate realities or time travel, but Moore helps to ground it.

This is an ambitious and marvelous episode, filled with great lines and wonderful drama and action, marred only by the fuzzy logic of time travel.

Nits

Riker states that Starfleet tried to decommision the Enterprise, but that one of the perks of being an admiral is that you can choose your own ship, inferring that he singlehandedly was able to avert the decommission. In a military system, it seems unlikely that any one admiral could wield this much power.

Memorable Moments

•    The bridge design of the Pasteur (Beverly’s ship)

•    Picard’s wonderful delivery when he gets Worf to allow them into the Neutral Zone. Patrick Stewart jumps seamlessly from yelling to whispering, and it’s all note-perfect

•    Riker’s from-below attack on the Klingon battle cruiser

Quotable Quotes

Worf: I have always found the Black Sea at night to be a most…stimuating experience.
Troi: Worf! We were walking barefoot on the beach, with balalak music in the air, ocean breeze washing over us, stars in the sky, a full moon rising, and the most you can say is ‘stimulating’?
Worf: It was…very stimulating.

"Within a matter of minutes you have accumulated over two days worth of memories."
- Dr Crusher to Picard

"It’s time to put an end to your trek through the stars – make room for more worthy species."
- prophetic words from Q to Picard

"Q’s interest in you has always been very similar to that of a…master and his beloved pet."
- Data to Picard

Worf: You have always used your knowledge of Klingon honor and tradition to get what you want from me.
Picard: Because it always works, Worf! Your problem is, that you really do have a sense of honor, and you really do care about trust and loyalty! Don’t blame me for knowing you so well.
Worf: Very well! You may cross the border. But – only if I come with you. I am familiar with the Neutral Zone.
Picard: Terms accepted.

Picard: Q? What is going on here? Where is the anomaly?
Q: Where’s your mommy? I don’t know!

"Mr Data, you are a clever man…in any time period."
- Picard

Picard: What about my crew?
Q: The anomaly, my ship, my crew, I suppose you’re worried about your fish, too. Well, if it puts your mind at ease, you’ve saved humanity – once again.
Picard: Thank you.
Q: For what?
Picard: You had a hand in helping me get out of this.
Q: I was the one that got you into it – a directive from the Continuum. The part about the helping hand, though – was my idea.