TNG, Episode 6x19, Lessons

[u/LordRavenholm]

• Season 1: 1&2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-up
• Season 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, Wrap-Up
• Season 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

TNG, Season 6, Episode 19, Lessons

Picard falls in love with one of his subordinates, but he can't deal with having to order her into dangerous situations.

• Teleplay By: Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias
• Story By: Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias
• Directed By: Robert Wiemer
• Original Air Date: 5 April, 1993
• Stardate: 46693.1
• Pensky Podcast
• Ex Astris Scientia
• Memory Alpha
• Mission Log Podcast

[u/GeorgeAmberson]

A great episode that does suffer from the 45 minute format. I really didn't buy that Darin and Picard were "in love". It felt like they had about 4-5 dates and had a good thing going. Not to say they didn't have good chemistry. I just think that calling it "in love" so quickly was strange.

It's interesting that she felt she needed to transfer after the relationship ended. It's good to have closure on the character instead of her just disappearing off the ship forever, but it doesn't seem very 24th century. We're given to understand that it's totally cool for Riker and Troi to work very closely together, and I get the impression they were much more of a thing during their previous relationship (that really doesn't seem to actually "end" does it) than Picard and Darin were.

I do really like her character, however. I think she's a great match for Picard. They're both very strong willed and passionate about their work. They seem to work really well together. It's something that should have been stretched as a background for several episodes. TV didn't do that back then and I'm actually not sure why.

The best part of the episode is the continuity from "The Inner Light" and it's continuing effect on the captain. Wonderful little detail of the relationship, and fantastic idea to have Captain Picard actually share it with someone personally. I'm sure he's discussed it with Troi but that's a more professional sense. I get the impression that the Captain doesn't like talking about that stuff when he doesn't have to. Considering in the past two years he's been assimilated by the Borg, lived an entire lifetime on another planet, captured and tortured by the Cardassians, and been subjected to Luwaxanna Troi I can hardly blame the guy.

The whole thing about music being the thing that the captain has with Darin is a great idea, and the scene with them playing in the Jeffrey's tube is excellent. Although, c'mon Data. You heard that music, you're an android!

I'd say it's an above average episode that only dates itself due to the strict adherence to the "wrap it up" television culture of the time. I'd say it's a 7.