We start the episode with a distraught Picard being bounced around through time, unaware why as the episode starts, going from his first day on the Enterprise as Captain of the federation flagship, the present as a Captain older and wiser and twenty years time as a retired wine maker back in his beloved France. To wrap things up even more Q appears and has apparently placed humanity back on trial as a savage warlike race. However this time it is Picard himself who has caused the destruction and unravelling of the universe itself, although he has no idea how?
When I first saw this double episode adventure I was a major fan of the series and having been largely disappointed with series 7 was hoping I would get a big finish to the series and I was not disappointed. The story is great and continues very much in the vain of the last Q episode "Tapestry" arguably up there as one of the best Q episodes ever.
The performances by the cast are verging on perfect as they have got to the point where the characters are like a favourite suit that you were with pride and panache, because you know that whatever happens, you're gonna look great in it. The effects are great and there are some truly fantastic images and moments that are so well written that it brings home everything that we love about trek. The direction is flawless and the ending is so amazing that it almost makes me cry.
Better than all the next gen films out together and so sad that they couldn't do it on the big screen. However for non-next gen aficionados check out the best eps from the first seven series before you see this one, as you have to get the meaning from the other shows before you can appreciate this.
It was the best series ending till "Doctor Who's Army of Ghosts and Doomsday" but it's the best finale to a series that wraps everything up beautifully. Happy Days!
