The best kind of ending. No bloody, bitter last stand, no heartwrenching goodbyes, no resignations or retirements or reassignments. Just the Captain taking one more step closer to his crew.
That was a cool way to end the series. Their mission still ongoing, ship headed to its next destination...but things still getting shaken up. Nothing will be the same.
Marc Field Actually, it wouldn’t be in his best interest to sit at that table and develop relationships at their level as peers. A captain,General, or Admiral should segregate themselves on a personal level from those he serves with. You maintain a level of respect from those under you. I completely recognize and understand why he didn’t do it for seven years
@Leo Peridot I've read everything. I was hooked by the Sat Evening Posts' serializations (yeah, I'm that old). I even have C. Northcote Parkinson's The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower fictional bio.
@@johnrobinson4445 This sort of comment really annoys me now, there is a massive differnce between the writers of TNG and GoT. the writers behind TNG can actually write their own material ;) GoT could not, ran out of stuff around series 5 in some cases, and then wanted to rush off to star wars (which they lost because of how bad GoT was). But dont compare competent writers with dumb and dumber.
Ah yes, watching this scene again puts a lump in my throat and moisture in my eyes. Especially when Picard takes that long, appreciating look around the table. Ugh, there go the feels again.😢 Best last episode ever.👍
Six years it took to build up to this scene. Six years of the poker game played by this group of characters. There may have been some variation, but Picard was always vacant. Six years of this running scene. All building up this this final scene in the final episode. It felt like it was always building towards this, and yet it still feels like a surprise. One of the best final scenes in television history.
Shortly after this scene ended, Captain Picard was permanently banned from the game when he was caught pulling an Ace out from under his shirt while performing the Picard maneuver.
@@Goodthrust69 I sure hope Kalenz and everyone else here saw that scene when the pissed off Riker said that to Picard, so we all know you're joking.🤣 czcams.com/video/mcme3dPXARc/video.html
Love this scene. No one gets blown up. No special effect. Camera isn't moving like mad. Audience can connect with eyes and emotions. Quality TV, R.I.P.
@@manictiger DS9 doesn't have sentimental moments?? The connections among the characters are the strongest out of the big 3 TNG era shows! With plenty of sentiment that follows. Because it did focus more on long term character development and more frequent dips into daily life. With that said...there's no denying TNG's slight remoteness was the perfect set up to this gorgeous ending scene payoff. As for the writing, while DS9 is my favorite, I'd call it dead even on overall writing quality - TNG had some serious lows and even more serious highs, while similarly DS9 had plenty of unevenness even in the later seasons full of the longer story arcs we all loved.
Some of these TNG shows made you really think. Like the "Measure of a Man". I found it ironic it was Whoopi's character that revealed to end result of the intent behind Dr Maddox wanted to build X amount of Data's. As a black guy, I wanted to run out of the room when that got revealed.
The little pause when he looks around the table. Quite possibly the best way ever to end a series ever. Just a slight pause and then a zinger of a line before the pan out. *chef's kiss*
I’m a grown man with a family and a pretty good job. The show to me was and still is, a wonderful escape. It takes you to another place. The cast was great and the writing was great. They made shows that had relevant political causes but it was never in your face. This scene still makes me misty. It so good for so long. I still watch it regularly.
Agreed. Next Gen was a big part of my childhood. Back then there weren't spoilers all over the internet to accidentally find out what was going to happen in a 2 parter. These new trek shows will never have the chemistry that TNG and TOS characters had with each other.
Realistically, Data should always be the best at poker or pretty much any other skill based game. The one thing you might suggest is that he doesnt "understand" human feelings but he has great observation and his processing alone should put him leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else at calculating the probabilities.
@@MP-db9sw But bluffing and even interpreting "honest" bets isn't just about probabilities - especially for people who are playing for fun and not for money and might not follow the "correct" plays. Poker is a great game for him because there's so much opportunity for other players to act irrationally and move the game in directions he couldn't predict. The classic joke from the robot playing badly is "I folded, because it was unlikely you would've bet so highly without good cards." Obviously Data is much more sophisticated than that but there's still an element of being difficult to interpret a bet.
@@themisbabalis I think I could agree with this. Even though "Nemesis" was a somewhat difficult movie to follow, JJ Abrams version of the movies almost felt like they took place in an alternate reality.
Buck_Williams they literally did though. The new Picard series (which isn’t good by the way) follows the main timeline after Romulus was destroyed in the first reboot movie. The only things in JJ “universe” are the three movies. Why they won’t just make a series on a starship with standalone stories for each episode is beyond me. Or at least spread things out and make compelling stories like DS9. Make Star Trek...Star Trek! Not some convoluted storyline with too much going on. FFS, one of the best episodes in television history is just Picard struggling to defend his crew member's humanity (measure of a man).
I was a fan since I watched ST TOS in engineering college. Most of us young engineers wanted to build the cool gadgets we saw on the series. For me, the best line EVER was in COTEOF. The line is spoken by Spock after McCoy yells at Kirk for grabbing him. thus preventing him from saving Edith Keeler. McCoy says, "You deliberately stopped me, Jim. I could have saved her. Do you know what you just did? " Instead of Kirk answering, Spock says, "He knows, doctor. He knows." Talk about a tear-jerker of a line! (Actually, two lines) Day-um! It shows you what good writing is. Most any other writer would have had Kirk reply to McCoy with a line like, "I had no choice. I'll explain later." Or he could have said, "I had to choose between saving her... or saving the future." Then the camera pans to a puzzled-looking McCoy. Instead, the writer has Spock delivering the last line. Spock could have said, "He did what he had to do, doctor." But instead, purely for dramatic effect, Spock says, "He knows, doctor." Dramatic pause. Eye blink. Looks down at the ground. Looks at McCoy. "He knows." I also think this might have been the finest acting done by the principles on the series. All three of them were trained, stage actors. This gave them all, especially Nimoy, a chance to show off their acting chops. As proof of the quality of this episode, is there anyone who has seen this episode and doesn't remember it? People may forget some episodes, but this one just jumps out as a classic love story between Kirk and Keeler.(Great casting choice with a young Joan Collins). But it also is a love story between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. The way they hug and dance around when they finally see each other shows their camaraderie.
"So that some things never happen." I always thought this was more Riker telling Worf to stay away from Troi. Worf was always aware of Riker's feelings; so this ending when Worf says "agreed" Worf's actually saying, "fair enough, I respect you so I'll stay away." Hence the Worf/Troi thing was over and Troi/Riker started again in the movies. Riker and Worf have so much respect for each other.
@SilentGunman I agree with you. It was clear right from the pilot episode that Riker and Troi had a rich history. So when Troi and Worf became a thing, it didn't feel right to me. But I think the writer's explored it because of the parallel episode when Worf kept jumping into different timelines (I may be wrong about that). But after Riker's words at the end of the finale, Riker and Troi finally became a thing again after they reverted back to their emotions in the events of Insurrection; not my favourite film, but a great way forward for the couple. :)
@SilentGunman Totally agree. That's why I fell in love with Star Trek... There are always possibilities, and it's great to explore the possibilities. Star Trek did it so well.
I'm not even a Star Trek fan and I could appreciate how huge this seemingly always professional captain taking a load off with his crew is just by this scene
In Picard's defense after the events on the stargazer I think He was afraid to get close. Even more so after most of his academy friends were killed while he was locutus.
Kirk was the "Cowboy Captain" ... He was the one that was more likely to take action than find the most beneficial solution. Picard was the "Father Captain". That entire crew was his family. From the youngest civilian all the way to Riker, Picard viewed it as his duty and responsibility to keep them safe. It is hard to be both Father and Friend to those that look to you for guidance and protection.
I always felt that Picard was very close to his crew. He did many activities with them in the holodeck and even doing Shakespeare stuff with data. I was their leader first for sure but I never felt a lack of friendship
*Looking at Star Trek then and Star Trek now , (Discovery) ....is like night and day. The stories then were so profound and inspiring. So many fond memories that I still remember decades later....unlike that "other" Star Trek abomination.*
@@Excalibur01the thing is, Star Trek has always touched on politics in its own way. You have to look for it sometimes but it’s always been there. I just think older Star Trek incorporated it better
My second favorite. When Thomas Sullivan Magnum stands up after watching himself and his daughter walk down the beach, turn around, and turn is off with his remote is mine. Though, the ending of Newhart was pretty epic, too.
The only other series that comes close IMO is The Wire. But ever since 6 Feet Under a lot of shows have done this flash-forward for their series finales that I find to be a bit of a cheat in terms of providing closure (excluding 6 Feet Under that had a very specific purpose for doing that). Even The Wire did it a bit, although a particular character walking up a flight of stairs might be the greatest 10 seconds of television I've ever seen. But I can't think of a better scene like this in any show, where the episode ends at the end of the specific story of the episode, and it just happens to be the final one. There's this wonderful open-endedness to it whereas most series would want to find closure for each of its characters.
After so many shitty endings, especially to my favorite show that even got a whole shitty final season, it's good to see one of the best endings ever made
"How we all change and drift apart." You mean like all humans and career military officers, respectively? The fact that the Enterprise had such a stable command staff for so long is kind of shocking, really.
I think it was Shelby that pointed it out that Riker was "in her way".... and thus meaning he was in the way of the other bridge officers on the Enterprise. If Riker accepted command of his own ship, Data would immediately be moved as the XO, Worf and Troi may start dabbling more into command, probably allowed O'Brien to return to Operations as he did on DS9, etc.
There is absolutely no way the Enterprise bridge crew stayed together during the Dominion War. Riker would have been ordered to take command of a warship, no more choice. Most of the senior bridge crew, including Troi, would also be given commands, with the exception of Geordi, Data and Barclay who would have been pulled back to Starfleet Headquarters to work in the Engineering department to propose modifications to existing starships to make them more war worthy. Picard would be given a crew of young up and coming junior officers to operate the Enterprise, which would have been assigned to a war zone. His experience would be used to train a revolving door of young officers to turn Starfleet training into real world experience so they could take other commands. Meanwhile the Enterprise itself would have been the flagship of one of the main Federation fleets, if for no other reason than Picard, perhaps their most experienced Captain, commanded her. Avoiding a promotion to Admiral would have been virtually impossible for Picard. They could no longer spare his feelings, they needed his experience too badly.
There's a difference between diverging career paths and broken friendships. Riker and Worf ended up bitterly resenting each other over Deanna, Beverly and Picard ended up as estranged ex-spouses, etc.
I have seen this scene before I watched the series and always was amazed how unique the finale was. It ended just like a normal episode with the crew still on the Enterprise going off to other adventures, before the movie of course.
The last sentence Troi says to Picard should've been said by Crusher instead. There was always an underlying, unexplored, mutual attraction between the two characters. I think it would've been a nice final interaction for Crusher and Picard to have in the show's ending moments.
I've watched this clip many times and it's funny I come on this comment now, because I was just thinking I like how their two reactions work in complement. Crusher just has an incredibly warm and pleased smile, without a word you can see she's happy he's finally come around and probably that he's still growing and opening up even after knowing him so long. Troi expresses an explicit affirmation of the group's feelings toward him. They both seem to fit somehow. Anyway we're probably both overanalyzing it, it's warm fuzzy feelings all around, but that's what went through my head this time :)
This scene always reminds me of the one in Christmas Carol, the version with Patrick Stewart playing Scrooge, when he finally accepts his nephew's invitation for Christmas. He's so good in it. It's actually my favorite adaptation.
Just occurred to me, I watched TNG as a kid and was my first introduction to Star Trek. But now, at 40, I'm older than any of the main crew were when the show started with the exception of Patrick Stewart.
I remember this ending like it was yesterday. How many of us have that moment I time were we wish we had done something different. The future is the only thing we can change… choices…
I love the difference between when Troy joins and when Picard joins. With Troy they tell her the rules and go on as normal with very little changes. With Picard the atmosphere changes, everyone is unsure how to proceed so they give him the deck and he naturally tells everyone what game they're playing.
I was in the 3rd or 4th grade when they announced it was ending. I'd watched it since I was 3, virtually as long as I could remember, and it was the first time I realized that a TV show could end. It was a gut punch, man lol
@@AlexLifeson1985 can't say I feel the same but each of us are entitled to our own opinion thankfully. I thought they did a great job with bringing things to a close for the TNG characters which a lot of their fans really wanted especially after Nemesis.
Picard always had the right balance. He was friendly with his crew but he was never their friend. This scene showed that the series was coming to an end and he could at last let himself be friends with the people he had worked with for so long.
The whole scene is great. The shot of the enterprise at the very end appears that the hull is not as smooth as it was in season 1. To me it looks like the ship has weathered many obstacles - I find that a nice touch and attention to detail.
This actually, in reality and by production shoot, is the very last scene the 7 shot together on set. Usually production order doesn't follow the edit order of a film or show. This time it did. So that overhead pan out is *_the_* last shot on ST:NG.
Beautiful. How to end a much-loved, long-running show. As others have said, no tragic death, no change to the basic premise of the show, no tears. Just a reaffirmation of the history that these seven people share, and their love for each other. Over a late-night poker game. Touching, clever and wholly satisfying.
This is really something you appreciate as an old man watching this ending. As you look into the abyss that will consume us all, you start to really get desperate on warning the younger people of your own regrets and mistakes. Imagine it like this. There is a wood chipper at the end of a conveyor belt. When you are young, you have more energy to run the opposite direction and space to have options to delay things. In fact you can do nothing and STILL have more options to change things. On the other hand when you are closer to the edge, you have less room and less options. You wish you did things differently. You wish the younger people would wastes what you release now you wasted,
one of the things that makes this scene special is that it mirrors Sir Patrick Stewart's growth as a person during his time on TNG. just like how Picard was all business during the earlier seasons, Sir Patrick Stewart was also all business during the early seasons, often reprimanding his co-stars when they goof around. but as time went by, as the crew got to know each other more and became friends, Sir Stewart learned to have fun, let loose, and goof around with the rest of the crew, just like how Picard decided to join the poker table
Funny, last time Picard joined the poker game, Riker responded by holding a meeting with the senior crew to discuss what was wrong with him & discussed a potential mutiny. But apparently he was "always welcome"...
![Eminem - Houdini [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22tVWwmTie8/mqdefault.jpg)
That moment he stops and looks around the table makes me tear up every time.
Ditto.
After all these years, that scene still rips your heart out. (in a good way)
Same
Agreed
Ditto. The perfect ending to a perfect series.
The sky's the limit!
The best kind of ending. No bloody, bitter last stand, no heartwrenching goodbyes, no resignations or retirements or reassignments. Just the Captain taking one more step closer to his crew.
As a DS9 fan I feel personally attacked :P
But yeah this one's pretty unbeatable.
PALS
Awesome ending. It took him 7 years to sit at that table. Better late than never.
That was a cool way to end the series. Their mission still ongoing, ship headed to its next destination...but things still getting shaken up. Nothing will be the same.
Marc Field Actually, it wouldn’t be in his best interest to sit at that table and develop relationships at their level as peers. A captain,General, or Admiral should segregate themselves on a personal level from those he serves with. You maintain a level of respect from those under you. I completely recognize and understand why he didn’t do it for seven years
I still wonder who won that game of cards
@Leo Peridot Captain Bush's death nearly shattered him.
@Leo Peridot I've read everything. I was hooked by the Sat Evening Posts' serializations (yeah, I'm that old).
I even have C. Northcote Parkinson's The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower fictional bio.
"And the sky's the limit." Great line to end on. Really captures the overall optimistic tone of this series.
Second star to the right, and straight on til morning.
Damn right
And then Picard debuted...
@@jamesk9321 And season three ended it all on another great note
This is one of the best series endings in the history of television. Absolutely awesome.
the best. some real meaning behind it. especially what Q says about what truly awaits humanity... so true in real life
Sad that Dumb-and-Dumber of GoT infamy did not take the lesson.
@@johnrobinson4445 This sort of comment really annoys me now, there is a massive differnce between the writers of TNG and GoT. the writers behind TNG can actually write their own material ;) GoT could not, ran out of stuff around series 5 in some cases, and then wanted to rush off to star wars (which they lost because of how bad GoT was).
But dont compare competent writers with dumb and dumber.
Ah yes, watching this scene again puts a lump in my throat and moisture in my eyes. Especially when Picard takes that long, appreciating look around the table. Ugh, there go the feels again.😢 Best last episode ever.👍
@@LoriCiani hold me 😭😭😭
As picard looked around the table, you could tell he had love and admiration for these men and women sitting there! Great ending to a great series!
Well said!
And android.
Six years it took to build up to this scene. Six years of the poker game played by this group of characters. There may have been some variation, but Picard was always vacant. Six years of this running scene. All building up this this final scene in the final episode.
It felt like it was always building towards this, and yet it still feels like a surprise.
One of the best final scenes in television history.
Shortly after this scene ended, Captain Picard was permanently banned from the game when he was caught pulling an Ace out from under his shirt while performing the Picard maneuver.
lol
It's comments like this that make me read the comments. LOL
@@williambrown7203 just 1 of the many faces of cptn Picard that we never knew of.
Lets call this the PiKE(c)ard maneuver.
Yep, this made me laugh.
"I should have done this a long time ago..."
"You're all fired! Get off my ship!"
It's high time for Riker. That's for sure.
Get rid of captain obvious troi also.
@@Kalenz1234 SHUT UP! AS IN CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND STOP TALKING!
@@Goodthrust69 I sure hope Kalenz and everyone else here saw that scene when the pissed off Riker said that to Picard, so we all know you're joking.🤣
czcams.com/video/mcme3dPXARc/video.html
It's amazing how Patrick Stewart is such a great actor that he elevates everyone along with him.
@Leo Peridot I stand by what I said. Notice that none of the others did anything along with him after.
Love this scene.
No one gets blown up.
No special effect.
Camera isn't moving like mad.
Audience can connect with eyes and emotions.
Quality TV, R.I.P.
Are you saying you don't like Discovery? Now that's great television. If you can't appreciate it, RIP people who can appreciate quality TV.
@@HowDidIGet3700Subs Discovery is terrible.
This kind of stuff was what made TNG and Voyager special to me. DS9 was clearly better-written, but I just like the sentimental moments so much more.
@@manictiger DS9 doesn't have sentimental moments?? The connections among the characters are the strongest out of the big 3 TNG era shows! With plenty of sentiment that follows. Because it did focus more on long term character development and more frequent dips into daily life. With that said...there's no denying TNG's slight remoteness was the perfect set up to this gorgeous ending scene payoff. As for the writing, while DS9 is my favorite, I'd call it dead even on overall writing quality - TNG had some serious lows and even more serious highs, while similarly DS9 had plenty of unevenness even in the later seasons full of the longer story arcs we all loved.
The way that Geordi, Worf, and Data look at each other when Picard mentions his card playing days as a youth 😁
While he's press shuffling the deck too lol.
I believe that was classy Picard speak for "I'ma about to take you all to the cleaners."
@@marygraniti7409
"I dabble a little" [Cleans Riker out after 5 hands]
As a grown ass man, I still choke up remembering seeing this as the final scene of TNG.
Same here bud..same here. I also miss the 90s, when everyone use to watch the same shows and would wait a week to see the next episode.
Some of these TNG shows made you really think. Like the "Measure of a Man". I found it ironic it was Whoopi's character that revealed to end result of the intent behind Dr Maddox wanted to build X amount of Data's. As a black guy, I wanted to run out of the room when that got revealed.
I choke up the moment the music kicks in.
A REAL MAN shows his emotions and doesn't care the outcome from others...
A perfect ending to a perfect series. I love how Picard rings the door to ask to enter, then humbly walks in.
He doesn’t approach as a captain, he approaches as someone wanting to join some friends.
Who’s here watching this after Picard S3, E10? ❤❤❤
Saw it. 🖖
After all these decades, this scene means a lot more now in front and behind the camera.
Perfect ending to a perfect show. I really miss the quality of TNG.
The little pause when he looks around the table. Quite possibly the best way ever to end a series ever. Just a slight pause and then a zinger of a line before the pan out. *chef's kiss*
Almost 30 years later they all play poker again!
I loved seeing the crew back together and the Enterprise-D!
"And the sky's the limit..."
PeterDivine James Bond: Sky’s The Limit
The final episode of Picard ending in the same way was a perfect end for TNG. I will miss these characters. But we can always rewatch it.
Same here. Everything coming full circle.
More like they ripped it off their own show
@@Ken-fh4jcThey didn’t rip it off it was a throw back.
Easily some of the best television ever! This scene says it all. Self reflection, camaraderie, personal growth. The true Star Trek.
Quite honestly one of the best endings to any series ever.
I’m a grown man with a family and a pretty good job. The show to me was and still is, a wonderful escape. It takes you to another place. The cast was great and the writing was great. They made shows that had relevant political causes but it was never in your face. This scene still makes me misty. It so good for so long. I still watch it regularly.
The "never in your face" is what separates old Trek from new Trek imho. The new series tries way too hard to be relevant.
Agreed. Next Gen was a big part of my childhood. Back then there weren't spoilers all over the internet to accidentally find out what was going to happen in a 2 parter. These new trek shows will never have the chemistry that TNG and TOS characters had with each other.
The expression on his face when he looked at them around the table --- WOW
Riker: I cheat....
Data s look: Priceless!!
Of all the people at the table who could have figured out that Riker was actually cheating, it would have been Data.
Data has that look like, 'you son of a bitch'
Realistically, Data should always be the best at poker or pretty much any other skill based game. The one thing you might suggest is that he doesnt "understand" human feelings but he has great observation and his processing alone should put him leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else at calculating the probabilities.
@@MP-db9sw But bluffing and even interpreting "honest" bets isn't just about probabilities - especially for people who are playing for fun and not for money and might not follow the "correct" plays. Poker is a great game for him because there's so much opportunity for other players to act irrationally and move the game in directions he couldn't predict.
The classic joke from the robot playing badly is "I folded, because it was unlikely you would've bet so highly without good cards." Obviously Data is much more sophisticated than that but there's still an element of being difficult to interpret a bet.
Here after the Picard finale:)God I’m gonna miss these guys.
I like how it went full circle with the Picard finale.
Me too.
That garbage is not canon and doesn't even come close.
Best way to end a series like this
THIS is the true ending to TNG. Let's forget that nemesis ever exist.
I'd rather have Nemesis than the crap JJ A gave us...and Discovery.
@@themisbabalis I think I could agree with this. Even though "Nemesis" was a somewhat difficult movie to follow, JJ Abrams version of the movies almost felt like they took place in an alternate reality.
Buck_Williams they literally did though. The new Picard series (which isn’t good by the way) follows the main timeline after Romulus was destroyed in the first reboot movie. The only things in JJ “universe” are the three movies.
Why they won’t just make a series on a starship with standalone stories for each episode is beyond me. Or at least spread things out and make compelling stories like DS9.
Make Star Trek...Star Trek! Not some convoluted storyline with too much going on. FFS, one of the best episodes in television history is just Picard struggling to defend his crew member's humanity (measure of a man).
For some reason it's Troi's line "You were always welcome" that always makes me tear up.
It's a great delivery. Just completely full of warmth. And knowing that she speaks for the whole table.
One of the best shows on television, and the best Star Trek series. Doesn't matter that it wasn't the first. It was the best.
Yeah TNG was great but sorry nothing will ever top TOS! 🙂
@@guysalzmann9302 I grew up with TOS, and experienced TNG as an adult. The winner is . . . TNG!!!
I'd go with DS9 !
Seeing 'The Ready Room' for Picard 3x1, and Stewart citing that line as one of the most memorable for him to this day, is just wonderful.
I love the look on Crusher's face when Picard asks to join them.
Me: "There's no perfect way to end a TV show..."
Star Trek: TNG: "Hold my beer...."
MASH
1 of the best moments in star trek history :)
I was a fan since I watched ST TOS in engineering college. Most of us young engineers wanted to build the cool gadgets we saw on the series. For me, the best line EVER was in COTEOF. The line is spoken by Spock after McCoy yells at Kirk for grabbing him. thus preventing him from saving Edith Keeler. McCoy says, "You deliberately stopped me, Jim. I could have saved her. Do you know what you just did? " Instead of Kirk answering, Spock says, "He knows, doctor. He knows."
Talk about a tear-jerker of a line! (Actually, two lines) Day-um!
It shows you what good writing is. Most any other writer would have had Kirk reply to McCoy with a line like, "I had no choice. I'll explain later." Or he could have said, "I had to choose between saving her... or saving the future." Then the camera pans to a puzzled-looking McCoy.
Instead, the writer has Spock delivering the last line. Spock could have said, "He did what he had to do, doctor." But instead, purely for dramatic effect, Spock says, "He knows, doctor." Dramatic pause. Eye blink. Looks down at the ground. Looks at McCoy. "He knows."
I also think this might have been the finest acting done by the principles on the series. All three of them were trained, stage actors. This gave them all, especially Nimoy, a chance to show off their acting chops.
As proof of the quality of this episode, is there anyone who has seen this episode and doesn't remember it? People may forget some episodes, but this one just jumps out as a classic love story between Kirk and Keeler.(Great casting choice with a young Joan Collins). But it also is a love story between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. The way they hug and dance around when they finally see each other shows their camaraderie.
@@The22on Agreed
Riker: So that some things never happen.
Worf: Agreed.
Referring to their feud in the future.
Face palm
Thanks Sam. No one could figure out why he looked at Worf after saying that..............
"So that some things never happen." I always thought this was more Riker telling Worf to stay away from Troi. Worf was always aware of Riker's feelings; so this ending when Worf says "agreed" Worf's actually saying, "fair enough, I respect you so I'll stay away." Hence the Worf/Troi thing was over and Troi/Riker started again in the movies. Riker and Worf have so much respect for each other.
@SilentGunman I agree with you. It was clear right from the pilot episode that Riker and Troi had a rich history. So when Troi and Worf became a thing, it didn't feel right to me. But I think the writer's explored it because of the parallel episode when Worf kept jumping into different timelines (I may be wrong about that). But after Riker's words at the end of the finale, Riker and Troi finally became a thing again after they reverted back to their emotions in the events of Insurrection; not my favourite film, but a great way forward for the couple. :)
@SilentGunman Totally agree. That's why I fell in love with Star Trek... There are always possibilities, and it's great to explore the possibilities. Star Trek did it so well.
It was just so amazing to see how much Captain Picard had evolved throughout the TNG series, I've never been more proud of him 🙂
1:54 that side-eye Data gives Worf when Picard says "I used to be quite the card player in my youth" kills me every time
All Good Things is probably the best episode of the show, and this ending is just so delightful. Picard/Riker 2024
Oh, it was All Good Things. I sincerely dislike that episode. Which is probably why I couldn't place this poker scene at all.
I'm not even a Star Trek fan and I could appreciate how huge this seemingly always professional captain taking a load off with his crew is just by this scene
1:57 The most heart warming moment in STTNG.
next sence picard win all there money
David: 👍
It's the camera move honestly. So perfectly done.
@@peterjensen6844 Good point! Even without seeing their faces, we can really feel Picard seeing all their faces.
"You were always welcome.."
That's where the tears always come.
It never fails, every dogon time. Hits me right in the heart
Such a good ending
The one thing Kirk had over Picard, he was friends with his crew. Here, Picard starts to fix that.
Yeah,. but I do believe Kirk's crew was just a tiny bit smaller than Picard's crew!
In Picard's defense after the events on the stargazer I think He was afraid to get close. Even more so after most of his academy friends were killed while he was locutus.
Kirk was the "Cowboy Captain" ... He was the one that was more likely to take action than find the most beneficial solution.
Picard was the "Father Captain". That entire crew was his family. From the youngest civilian all the way to Riker, Picard viewed it as his duty and responsibility to keep them safe.
It is hard to be both Father and Friend to those that look to you for guidance and protection.
I always felt that Picard was very close to his crew. He did many activities with them in the holodeck and even doing Shakespeare stuff with data. I was their leader first for sure but I never felt a lack of friendship
@@stephenjenkins3995 Look at how he reacted to Yar's death and how it affected him through the entire series.
Oh boy, this aged like perfect wine after Season 3 of Picard...I wonder how many lives Star Trek changed for the better....
I should've done this a long time ago.
You were ALWAYS welcome.
So...five card stud, nothing wild...and the sky's the limit.
*Looking at Star Trek then and Star Trek now , (Discovery) ....is like night and day. The stories then were so profound and inspiring. So many fond memories that I still remember decades later....unlike that "other" Star Trek abomination.*
These were actual characters. They were not trying to emulate real life drama or current era politics.
Star Trek TNG told universal human stories. It will always be better.
@@Excalibur01the thing is, Star Trek has always touched on politics in its own way. You have to look for it sometimes but it’s always been there. I just think older Star Trek incorporated it better
@@wardog_3 yes
25 years later and it's still an emotional moment.
IMHO the best ever ending to a series
My second favorite. When Thomas Sullivan Magnum stands up after watching himself and his daughter walk down the beach, turn around, and turn is off with his remote is mine.
Though, the ending of Newhart was pretty epic, too.
The only other series that comes close IMO is The Wire. But ever since 6 Feet Under a lot of shows have done this flash-forward for their series finales that I find to be a bit of a cheat in terms of providing closure (excluding 6 Feet Under that had a very specific purpose for doing that). Even The Wire did it a bit, although a particular character walking up a flight of stairs might be the greatest 10 seconds of television I've ever seen. But I can't think of a better scene like this in any show, where the episode ends at the end of the specific story of the episode, and it just happens to be the final one. There's this wonderful open-endedness to it whereas most series would want to find closure for each of its characters.
@@mykull1090 last episode of growing pains and family ties.
@@mykull1090 Actually the last scene of Quantum Leap was tough.
After so many shitty endings, especially to my favorite show that even got a whole shitty final season, it's good to see one of the best endings ever made
"How we all change and drift apart."
You mean like all humans and career military officers, respectively? The fact that the Enterprise had such a stable command staff for so long is kind of shocking, really.
I think it was Shelby that pointed it out that Riker was "in her way".... and thus meaning he was in the way of the other bridge officers on the Enterprise.
If Riker accepted command of his own ship, Data would immediately be moved as the XO, Worf and Troi may start dabbling more into command, probably allowed O'Brien to return to Operations as he did on DS9, etc.
There is absolutely no way the Enterprise bridge crew stayed together during the Dominion War. Riker would have been ordered to take command of a warship, no more choice. Most of the senior bridge crew, including Troi, would also be given commands, with the exception of Geordi, Data and Barclay who would have been pulled back to Starfleet Headquarters to work in the Engineering department to propose modifications to existing starships to make them more war worthy.
Picard would be given a crew of young up and coming junior officers to operate the Enterprise, which would have been assigned to a war zone. His experience would be used to train a revolving door of young officers to turn Starfleet training into real world experience so they could take other commands.
Meanwhile the Enterprise itself would have been the flagship of one of the main Federation fleets, if for no other reason than Picard, perhaps their most experienced Captain, commanded her.
Avoiding a promotion to Admiral would have been virtually impossible for Picard. They could no longer spare his feelings, they needed his experience too badly.
There's a difference between diverging career paths and broken friendships. Riker and Worf ended up bitterly resenting each other over Deanna, Beverly and Picard ended up as estranged ex-spouses, etc.
I have seen this scene before I watched the series and always was amazed how unique the finale was.
It ended just like a normal episode with the crew still on the Enterprise going off to other adventures, before the movie of course.
The one thing I loved about star trek tng is the relationships between the cast. They genuinely loved each other. On and off screen.
False
Well damn I hope you find a few more things to love about it, they're definitely there :P
There definitely was a true camaderie among the tng cast
The last sentence Troi says to Picard should've been said by Crusher instead. There was always an underlying, unexplored, mutual attraction between the two characters. I think it would've been a nice final interaction for Crusher and Picard to have in the show's ending moments.
@Paul Kryder You guys are both right.
True
I've watched this clip many times and it's funny I come on this comment now, because I was just thinking I like how their two reactions work in complement. Crusher just has an incredibly warm and pleased smile, without a word you can see she's happy he's finally come around and probably that he's still growing and opening up even after knowing him so long. Troi expresses an explicit affirmation of the group's feelings toward him. They both seem to fit somehow. Anyway we're probably both overanalyzing it, it's warm fuzzy feelings all around, but that's what went through my head this time :)
I love Beverly's smile after Picard says he wants to join them
"Is there a problem, sir?" Great delivery by Riker. The right amount of surprised "uh oh" in his voice.
"Well bless my soul"
"Number One, I've come to poker, if you'll have me,"
Picard's version of a Christmas Carol, with Q as the spirits.
“I used to be quite a card player in my youth…”
That look on Rikers face is priceless after Picard said that lmao!
And then he proved it in the Picard finale 😁
Crusher was beyond smoking hot in the last season, I have a thing for red heads but god dam.
Teenage me had a serious thing for her. Oh and Gillian Anderson...
@@zoidberg444 GA just got better with age. She's 51 now and looks better than most women 20 years younger. Gates was the same in her 50s also.
Oh yeah. She definitely fell under the "classy" subset of 'sexy'.
Same
@@RobsonRoverRepair GA is a lesbian though.
Every time I watch this scene it brings a tear to my eye.
This scene always reminds me of the one in Christmas Carol, the version with Patrick Stewart playing Scrooge, when he finally accepts his nephew's invitation for Christmas.
He's so good in it. It's actually my favorite adaptation.
Agreed, Stewart makes a wonderful Scrooge. His pain when he sees his younger self rejecting his fiancee is palpable.
That proud look by Crusher, knowing him the best
Beverly was at her hottest in this season.
In Worf voice: "Agreed"
@@emailalpha6437 In Worf voice: "Delicious"
What the fuck. Not only was she never hot, but this the last season and she's at her oldest. Man people have some weird ass attractions.
@@Demonizer5134 Are you serious? She's gorgeous!
Id let her eat more than just my soul.... 😂😂😂
Nearly 30 years later, they played again.
I like the little touch that Riker's chips are spread out while every one else has neat stacks. Careless, but also a display of success.
He's just raked in a big win. no time to stack them yet...
I love that Riker's game was draw with deuces wild but Picard's was stud and nothing wild but no limit. Perfect.
Best ending to the best show ever.
Just occurred to me, I watched TNG as a kid and was my first introduction to Star Trek. But now, at 40, I'm older than any of the main crew were when the show started with the exception of Patrick Stewart.
The best series finale in all of TV.
Yes, this was a wonderful ending for an epic show.
Masterpiece of television science fiction
My favorite moment is the look riker gives at 1:52 after Picard said he used to be a good card player.
As in, "We're all f****d, now"!
"In my youth"
He was 53 years old when he said that.
My eyes well up when the music starts as he looks around the table realizing he should have always been there
I remember this ending like it was yesterday. How many of us have that moment I time were we wish we had done something different. The future is the only thing we can change… choices…
When Picard says "I used to be uite the card player in my youth", the look that Data gives him is "watch him when he deals"
As Poker was a recurring theme in this series it was a wonderful way to end! Especially that last line!
Picard: _I should've done this a long time ago_
Deanna: _You were always welcomed_
Let the tears flow, every stinkin time
I remember sitting with my Dad and brother watching this show and we all said that the poker game was the perfect way to end this show.
I always tear up as Picard looks around everyone...
OOPs, that's already been said...
When he looks around and comments that he should've done it long ago (joined them playing Poker), it was a really touching and heartfelt moment.
I love the difference between when Troy joins and when Picard joins. With Troy they tell her the rules and go on as normal with very little changes. With Picard the atmosphere changes, everyone is unsure how to proceed so they give him the deck and he naturally tells everyone what game they're playing.
I love Riker's worried glance at everyone "are we all about to get detention??"
"We are explorers. We explore our lives, day by day."
I was totally gutted when I realised the show was no more :-(
I was in the 3rd or 4th grade when they announced it was ending. I'd watched it since I was 3, virtually as long as I could remember, and it was the first time I realized that a TV show could end. It was a gut punch, man lol
@@aibohphobe Same I was 11 when it ended and never missed an episode! And Generations was the first film I ever see at the cinema! Great times...!
@@2490debrick
Dude I was 38 and my marriage was on the rocks and when it finally ran aground... thank god for reruns
This is why ST Picard wasn't necessary. What a fantastic ending to a fantastic series.
This is just about the most correct statement to make about STP.
Do you still feel the same after watching season 3 of Picard and especially that ending?
@@Rhinomssy yes, season 3 was stupid. The fact that it was better than 1 and 2 changes nothing. I enojyed the enterprise D.......that's it.
@@AlexLifeson1985 can't say I feel the same but each of us are entitled to our own opinion thankfully. I thought they did a great job with bringing things to a close for the TNG characters which a lot of their fans really wanted especially after Nemesis.
Picard always had the right balance. He was friendly with his crew but he was never their friend. This scene showed that the series was coming to an end and he could at last let himself be friends with the people he had worked with for so long.
This scene is just as beautiful as the "Inner light" episode.
The whole scene is great. The shot of the enterprise at the very end appears that the hull is not as smooth as it was in season 1. To me it looks like the ship has weathered many obstacles - I find that a nice touch and attention to detail.
This actually, in reality and by production shoot, is the very last scene the 7 shot together on set.
Usually production order doesn't follow the edit order of a film or show.
This time it did.
So that overhead pan out is *_the_* last shot on ST:NG.
Beautiful. How to end a much-loved, long-running show. As others have said, no tragic death, no change to the basic premise of the show, no tears. Just a reaffirmation of the history that these seven people share, and their love for each other. Over a late-night poker game. Touching, clever and wholly satisfying.
To me, this is the best scene in Star Trek history
it defenitly is the best ending scene of any show i know. i feel said because it is ending, but good because of the positive outlook on the future.
This is really something you appreciate as an old man watching this ending. As you look into the abyss that will consume us all, you start to really get desperate on warning the younger people of your own regrets and mistakes. Imagine it like this. There is a wood chipper at the end of a conveyor belt. When you are young, you have more energy to run the opposite direction and space to have options to delay things. In fact you can do nothing and STILL have more options to change things. On the other hand when you are closer to the edge, you have less room and less options. You wish you did things differently. You wish the younger people would wastes what you release now you wasted,
The table they are using is really too small for the number of people playing.
I started getting antsy when Troi walked in, including the Captain is just absurd. don't they have some kind of future expando-table.
@@jerodast if it deployed by accident everyone but Data would end up in sick bay.
I exactly the same thought. Also, 5 card stud is really a crappy poker game
You'd think Riker would have worked something out on the holodeck that was suitable...
This is addressed to *all* of you: *PICKY-FUCKING-PICKY!!!*
The poker scene in every show or videogame is always fun to watch. Man I want to see the banter.
one of the things that makes this scene special is that it mirrors Sir Patrick Stewart's growth as a person during his time on TNG.
just like how Picard was all business during the earlier seasons, Sir Patrick Stewart was also all business during the early seasons, often reprimanding his co-stars when they goof around. but as time went by, as the crew got to know each other more and became friends, Sir Stewart learned to have fun, let loose, and goof around with the rest of the crew, just like how Picard decided to join the poker table
I am not sure how they could have ended this amazing series any better than this.
Thank you for posting this wonderful scene.
✌
Just perfect. Made you want to live up to this vision of us, humanity, finally a family.
Funny, last time Picard joined the poker game, Riker responded by holding a meeting with the senior crew to discuss what was wrong with him & discussed a potential mutiny.
But apparently he was "always welcome"...
I think it's awesome how well this scene dovetails with Tapestry.
EDIT: AND NOW THE ENDING OF PICARD
Watching this post for the first time.
It was followed by an Masterclass ad for learning poker.