{"id":6532,"date":"2016-09-19T06:14:42","date_gmt":"2016-09-19T06:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/619-Lessons"},"modified":"2016-09-19T06:14:42","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T06:14:42","slug":"619-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relivethemajesty.com\/index.php\/2016\/09\/19\/619-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"6.19 — \u201cLessons\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n

6.19 — \u201cLessons\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Plot:<\/strong> Picard develops reciprocal romantic feelings for the ship’s new stellar cartographer, Cmdr. Nella Dolan. The pair shares music together. But will they be able to share danger and still sustain their relationship?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thoughts:<\/strong> The very nostalgic teleplay for this episode is written by two freelance fans of the series, Ron Wilkerson and Jean Louise Matthias, who do their best to find evocative callbacks to previous episodes. We have Picard and Crusher sharing breakfast (I\u2019m assuming it was breakfast), Data playing chamber music, “Tea Earl Gray hot,” the night watch established in \u201cData\u2019s Day,\u201d Fr\u00e8re Jacques, and a set of extremely thorough musical, visual, and narrative callbacks to \u201cThe Inner Light.\u201d There\u2019s even a reference to Wesley Crusher. Just about the only things they don\u2019t work in are references to Locutus, the Klingon Succession, or an appearance by Spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I suppose these reminisces are welcome in that TNG is generally poor at continuity, and can use the help. All the sentiment is a little much for me, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As for the main story–I\u2019m afraid my dominant thought is \u201cStop being such babies!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Look, either dating a subordinate is against the rules, or it isn\u2019t. If you\u2019re going to do it, be grown ups. Make a plan. Think about consequences in advance and give clear messages to the crew, including establishment of screening procedures if necessary. Don\u2019t react to the prospect of facing danger together as if you couldn\u2019t possibly have thought of it beforehand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why can\u2019t Picard handle the idea of his girlfriend having a dangerous assignment? Why isn\u2019t it equally plausible that Nella would have a problem with the dangers faced by Picard? He\u2019s the one who has been kidnapped by the Borg and zapped by alien probes and stuff. Loving someone in the 23rd century ought to include respecting your partner’s choices and his or her professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How dangerous is the profession of stellar cartography, anyway? I would think the prospect of death in this line of duty is farfetched. Although, for an exploration\/science vessel, the Enterprise<\/em> does have frequent conflicts with Romulans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I am amused that, during his meal with Crusher, Picard appears to be eating kale. It is the superfood of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I enjoy all the music in this episode. Less so the laconic pace and lack of meaningful conflict. I give TNG points for trying something new. Well, not entirely new. Remember \u201cWe\u2019ll Always Have Paris\u201d (TNG 1.24)? We can at least agree that this episode is an improvement over that one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 out of 5 astonishing high-tech electric piano keyboards.<\/p>\n\n\n

http:\/\/memory-alpha.wikia.com\/wiki\/Lessons<\/a>