Beverly…hmm. The writers realized some time in the third/fourth seasons they didn't have much for her to do apparently, beyond scraped elbows and hysterical pregnancies, so they made her a part-time dancer and theater director.

It's interesting. Guttenberg, one of the biggest stars of the 80's, vanishes like Keyser Soze ("and like that…he's gone!). He reappears on Veronica Mars like nothing happened.

Eh
"The Chase"? Like I said last week, exciting title boring episode. Just going 'round and 'round in circles. The Klingon in this episode is played for laughs; just a thin stereotype. Picard's professor is a douche. I can't believe the writers have already started to mock these supposedly noble warriors,…

@alurin - I don't think Shatner wore a hairpiece during the original run; probably some time between Star Trek 2 and 3…

Also in "Symbiosis", the male in the party of drug dealers is Khan's right hand man from Star Trek II.

Can we find a picture of Willis planting his palms on his cheeks in a combination of shock and frustration?

"I'll send your regrets…"
Ultimate bad-assery! The best episode of season 6 because, as I noted last week, we have a hero-model. No ensemble necessary. No meetings. No consultation. No pondering philosophical equations to be disseminated among non-essential staff. No essentially unnecessary commentary or…

Actually I preferred Kirk's muscle-polo shirt alternate used later in the movie. He has a wristwatch communicator, too.

She's a slightly interesting version of Crusher, even bears a resemblance; they could be mistaken for sisters, but she has musical talent so Picard jumps all over that. She's also a bit on the motherly/matronly side treating Picard as a precocious child/musical prodigy and he gets turned on by that.

This is fantastic! A lot of these actors appeared on TNG is featured roles. Roy Thinnes from "The Invaders" and Patrick Bauchau from "Carnivale" were considered for Picard. Tim Russ (Tuvok) for Geordi, Jenny Agutter (I think, misspelled) for Beverly, Keiko was considered for Yar? Wow.

I don't agree that Pulaski was a full-on bigot; even if she were, what difference would it make? Looking at the 24th Century under a microscope, we see all kinds of bigotry. The Klingons are full-on bigots, even to their allies and yet they are handled with dignity and respect by the writers. As the 2nd season wore…

She only "wrecked" the show by introducing a character that audiences would have more in common with or identify with than say a Keiko or a Troi. Beverly was boring.

My father was not around - an alcoholic, violent deadbeat. I never knew him. Let's wrap Worf's circuitous father-worship logic around that one. I suppose in the 24th Century there are no asshole dads, eh?

@Lurky "cranky bigotry", as you put it would have at least been interesting and provided conflict and explanation.

I always thought if Data were to dream, it would look like a barrage of ones and zeros a la Bender … and then there would be a two in there.

Ensemble…
I was re-reading Handlen's classic Star Trek recaps and I noted how the subtle catalyst of performance can drive a story. If, as it appeared, a classic Star Trek episode could move swiftly along (and many times there were plot holes), it might have been due to the fact that it wasn't an ensemble piece.

Well, to be fair Roddenberry was never the secret motivating force behind the success of Star Trek or the spin-offs and movie franchise. The showrunners, people like Robert Justman, Gene Coon, Edward Milkis, D.C. Fontana, John Lucas, Harve Bennett, Nicholas Meyer, Maurice Hurley, Rick Berman, not to mention all the…

Yes, but they all represent a breakdown in discipline that leads to somebody getting (or almost getting) killed, and since this was right before Picard's first deep space assignment, it would seem 1.) Starfleet Academy inspires recklessness 2.) said recklessness is considered a plus for Starfleet officers and 3.)…

The space flute love story - "one time, at band camp…"

HELP! I JUST ESCAPED FROM KEVIN SPACEY'S BASEMENT!