Finally continuing on my journey to be one with my nerdy background, here are my roving thoughts on episode 2 of TNG. I make no promises as to their clarity, lucidity, or validity, but they are what I'm thinking of, 2 pints in.

• Is there any logic for Stardates?
• Is that supposed to be a sexy voice from the Tsiolovsky? And are those noises supposed to be from the ship?
• Riker is a pretty boy
• That is an extremely cheesy music cue but oh well, it's a product of its time
• Data doesn't blink, huh.
• Is the Enterprise supposed to be a big ship?
• Geordi's little handheld computer is great, I want one. Apparently Data has one too?
• Aw yeah sexy frozen people
• Can Geordi see that their temperature is low?
• Riker's got a great "concerned" look
• OK hearing that opening, I definitely know it's been referenced a million times. Good to finally definitely know where it comes from.
• As a once-violinist, I'm surprised at how big a part the strings get in this opening theme.
• OK this seems like those parasites that make animals thirsty, or make ants seek high places to spread spores, or make humans love cats beyond normal
• YES WE HAVE A PROBLEM DOCTOR
• I can't tell if I love or hate Data right now
• WAIT THEIR EMBLEMS JUST COME OFF? I think a GB crew member talked about how stupid it was in Detroit, that robots could just remove their one defining trait with a screwdriver.
• Wil Crusher you're a dweeb and I hate you.
• Does this virus propagate through kissing? Cuz that was a lot of awkward face touching.
• I think I like the way Riker *gets* Data.
• They get to re-use ship names? Interesting. I'm gonna guess that the Enterprise was used for previous Star Trek series.
• Is it the holding of hands that spreads things?
• Yes I definitely hate Wes. Doesn't even matter who's controlling him, he's a prick.
• It's crazy that they don't have more safeguards against insubordination or imitation like this.
• HA, he was gonna rhyme with Venus.
• Pretty busy... FUCKING!
• All of this seems like they don't know how to effectively quarantine... which in today's current events is a big deal.
• Yes, Yar, because Data brings love and joy and tenderness.
• SOCIAL. DISTANCING.
• ... is this entire episode an anti-alcohol message for teens?
• It seems like every episode is going to be one step away from disaster, huh?
• Hey, I make incredibly good (poor) decisions while drunk!
• I live for that awkward wave.
• Wait they didn't try overriding earlier? Why not?
• Hell yeah, the day is saved by Worf, Riker, and... a tier3 blonde extra?
• Every bit of the sickness and concern about contagion just rings extremely true right now.
• RIP othership, your frozen orgy will be forever lost to time.
• Poor Asian guy, never got cured. Guess he'll play Jenga 'til his eventual death.
• Aw, they fawkin. Who? Everyone!

A bit too tired to come up with wrapup thoughts, but hey, I enjoyed the episode and while they don't answer every question or redeem every character's actions, they do enough of a job justifying why characters did what they did and why they're not just shitty. I think.

As a self-proclaimed nerd, it had long been a mark of shame to admittedly know nearly nothing about Star Trek. Growing up, I'd picked up through cultural osmosis certain names, terms, and concepts. Picard, Kirk, and Spock; the holodeck and docking; phasers set to stun and various beamings up and down. However, the closest I'd ever been to Star Trek proper was having the J. J. Abrams movie on in the background while I had lunch at a friend's house.

And so, one Sunday night, while enjoying more bourbon than I probably should have, I pestered Giant Bomb Infinite's chat (God bless their patience with drunk me) to ask: what is Star Trek, and how should I jump in? Most responses pointed to hopping in with The Next Generation, with many pointing out that it starts off rough and refines itself 2 or 3 seasons in. There were also explanations of the various series involved, who certain key characters were, and whether or not the franchise was like Power Rangers or various anime series/franchises.

With this in mind (and far too much bourbon in the bloodstream), I began the endeavor to jump headlong into Star Trek. And so, here are my thoughts and takeaways of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1, Episode 1 (and one day more may follow):

• Hah, this CG is kinda corny but in a way I can appreciate.
• Data's schtick isn't very funny. Maybe it was funnier at the time?
• I've heard the name Q before, he seems like kind of a dick.
• Humanity is kinda shitty, I get it. I feel like I don't need a TV show to remind me of this.
• Of course the trial is completely nonsensical. I don't actually get the Shakespeare reference, but I'm sure it's clever. Picard seems to have to face a ton of tough decisions early on.
• Wow Q is a dick.
• Riker is neat. I'm assuming he acts like a second protagonist.
• Does he have the hots for Crusher?
• This Will is a dork. Like a 12-year-old me, but fortunately I was never put into television.
• Gaining some respect for Riker. He seems very upright, putting his duty above the letter of the law.
• What is with some of these outfits? This guy in the short tunic must've felt really silly back then.
• I kinda respect what they're doing with CG. Definitely silly by now, but it was probably legit back in the day.
• Wait is there a thing between Crusher and Picard? Also Will is a bozo. Shut up.
• Jordy seems cool. I also really dig whatever he's wearing on his face.
• Man, Q really really sucks.
• OK the holodeck seems like a Danger Room but it can be used for whatever? Why is Data using one if he's assigned to a task?
• There are names and locations that I do not have the mental capacity to care about or remember right now. I have a feeling this won't get any better.
• It seems like the entire thing boils down to Picard figuring out what's really going on and making the right decision. Not quite like a whodunnit, but he's still solving the mystery and letting things play out the way he finds to be right.
• So... Is the entire episode about 2 cosmic jellyfish getting it on?

And now for the questions raised:

• How much focus does this series have on romances? It seems to be setting up Picard + Crusher and Riker + Troy, and they seem fine (except William is a pain and I wish he wasn't a part of this).
• Is there going to be a common theme with the Enterprise getting involved with more powerful beings?
• Is a phaser just a remote control? Is the phaser scalable from personal stunning to siege bombardment?

And last but not least, some of the thoughts that I guess they wanted us to take away from the episode:

• Should anyone have to bear the sins of their predecessors? Is making amends/reparations our responsibility?
• Where is humanity headed?
• Are our concepts of right and wrong objective truths or just what we find convenient?

Anyways, in the end, this first episode was cool. I think I get why Star Trek as a franchise has persisted throughout the years, and I hope to watch more and enjoy more. Just please, tone down Will and Q.