Yeah, Walter was a swinger, or close to it, in the seventies.  One time he told an anecdote about sleeping with Yoko Ono, I think?  So it's a little weird he only knew the G-rated definition of "beaver hunt."

That's when "Happy Endings" really lives up to the name.

That's a good parallel, although I'd point out that in the stretch of DS9 Visitor played multiple parts too.

When you think about it, the odds favor at least a couple of the founding fathers being gay.  No reason Pat Henry couldn't be one of them.

Derek's obnoxious tendencies seemed to be dialed down quite a bit from his other two appearances.  Maybe it's so he'd be more sympathetic in his arc with the Moynihan character.

For what Ruthie sees in Ben, I'd say it's 90% protectiveness, 10% liking the young farmboy type.

That is quite the dick move.

Who knows?  Maybe Tommy Westphall or Franklin Richards will cancel all of existence.

You hear the phrase "Art Carney plays a drunk" and naturally the first thing you think of is "tipsy Ed Norton."  And he is so very far from that here.  It's as good a performance as I've seen of someone who is just on this side of giving up and destroying himself.  He really is what makes the story work.

It's also interesting that Sykes is the most overt racist in the story and he's played by a Hispanic actor.  Old Man Gallegos, on the other hand, is played by a Russian.

I don't think so.  He can make extra money by swindling, but I think his rope business is legit. You don't get repeat business by selling shitty rope.  If towns find that broken nooses are a regular occurrence, they'll find another rope dealer.  And perhaps use his product on you.

That one's more than a little creepy in spots, which is kind of admirable.

Screw the Twain-off.  I wanna see Holbrook as the Lizard King.

I think if this episode has a clear predecessor in the Trek lineage it's "Day of the Dove".  Similar themes of people being manipulated into following their worst impulses.  As it happens it's less hammy and more devious here.

"I don't remember being invited to your wedding, so we're about even on hurting each other."

That was a nice touch.

"I've loved you since there was a Soviet Union and only one Damon Wayans."

Yeah, that's probably an example of being unintentionally topical.

"I am not a good negotiator."

I loved that Brad and Jane made up/made out at the bar and the other guy was still trying to hit on her.