The shit they put O’Brien through on DS9 is just insane.
Its funny to me that the real reason he gets especially picked on is because he is played by such a talented actor. I loved DS9 but Colm Meany is by far the best actor on that show IMO.
Armin Shimerman and Andrew Robinson are great too. By the way, Andrew Robinson is available on cameo for $50:
Think I could get him to do the Vulcan salute and say, “live fast and get fucked or whatever?”
The man is trying to earn an honest living giving birthday wishes. Just let him live his life.
Hell on Wheels…
Watching TNG, I don’t know how Picard doesn’t completely lose his mind after so much trauma.
Living a whole fake lifetime in Inner Light, then having it ripped away. Being tortured by the Cardassians. Being assimilated into the fucking Borg!
Some people just have higher constitution stats. Picard is maxed out. Service and duty above all else, no matter the cost. Even if that cost is a part of himself.
I do love the episodes where he just cracks. The one after Best of Both Worlds when he’s hanging out at Chateau Picard with his family? Fantastic. Seeing him break at the end. First Contact as well when he loses his fucking mind. We kind of need that sometimes because if this dude who can survive anything is fracturing then what the hell does that mean for everyone else.
Lowkey that’s also why the alternate Riker that’s being chased by the borg spooks me so much. Seeing him desperate and terrified… fuck. How bad was that world…
TNG in particular did a great job of stretching the characters by building them up to a definitive version and then showing us, in one way or another, a variant or situation that completely shatters that image. Data and Lore. Alternate Riker. Broken Picard. Troi and Lwaxana. Worf and also Worf but later.
Completely agree. Really strikes something inside to see them so vulnerable and changed.
That being said… the sound that came out of my mouth when I read “Worf and also Worf” can only be described as a guffaw.
I was going to say Worf and Alexander but then I realized that it’s really Worf becoming a dad that shows us the transformed Worf.
Worf before Alexander and Worf after Alexander
I’m really torn on whether or not I think The Inner Light should’ve had more of an effect on him.
The crux of the issue is that in his actual life he was a career guy who never made time for a family.
So, on the one hand, living that life could’ve fulfilled his dream and made it so he could dedicate himself to being Starfleet with no regrets. In a real way, he got to have both.
But on the other hand, if he dismisses that entire life as a hallucination and doesn’t embrace how it felt, it could make his longing-for-a-life-he-never-had that much worse.
Seeing as we never saw him have a complete breakdown over it, and only mentioned it later on in First Contact that he had any regrets about being the last Picard, I can only assume the former was true. (Leaving aside Generations. Why are the odd-numbered Trek films always so goddamn weird?)
If you don’t appreciate The Motion Picture as a movie screen sized hours long version of a TV episode and opportunity for the first real beauty shots of the Enterprise, then you are no real Trekkie. :P
Maybe it’s because I went to see it when it came out as a kid and it following the success of Star Wars simply blew me away. Best opening and intro of a retcon ever (the Klingons of course). Of course I like Wrath of Khan more, but I will defend the first movie every time as a masterpiece too.
Have you considered, that Deanna Troy might have been the councillor for Picard, O’Brien, and Broccoli?
Jesus Christ. Who the fuck is HER therapist?
The final boss therapist.
Gainan
And she saw some shit on her own as well.
Plus she’s a godsdamned empath. How did SHE not go insane?
Growing up under Lwaxana prepares you for the worst.
Um…pretty sure Deanna Troi was the one giving therapy to Jean-Luc. And she saw some shit during that voyage. Seriously, she needs her own counselor.
I think it’s implied that DS9 had multiple counselors but they just aren’t bridge-level personel. Ezri later becomes the most prominent counsellor but we also see O’Brien going to therapy with Telnorri, so it’s implied the station does have dedicated mental health staff.
I would say that technically should give DS9 the upper hand, but Miles’ experiences with Telnorri aren’t exactly great and it does seem like DS9 is always given the bare minimum by Starfleet.
O’Brien went through so much shit that his counselor died before they ever got to meet in person.
The minstrel boy to the war is gone In the ranks of death you will find him His father’s sword he hath girded on And his wild harp slung behind him “Land of Song” said the warrior bard “Tho’ all the world betrays thee One sword, at least, thy right shall guard One faithful harp shall praise thee”
