Tapestry
- Episode aired Feb 13, 1993
- TV-PG
- 45m
When Captain Picard's artificial heart fails, he is offered the rare opportunity to go back in time and set right the mistake that led to his demise.When Captain Picard's artificial heart fails, he is offered the rare opportunity to go back in time and set right the mistake that led to his demise.When Captain Picard's artificial heart fails, he is offered the rare opportunity to go back in time and set right the mistake that led to his demise.
- Penny Muroc
- (as Rae Norman)
- Ensign Armstrong
- (uncredited)
- Crewman Martinez
- (uncredited)
- Ensign Kellogg
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
When the show begins, Picard is dying as a result of some sneak attack. His fake heart has given out and the Doctor is trying desperately to keep him alive. Then, suddenly, Picard awakens and he's in what could be Heaven...that is until he sees that the part of God is being played by Q! Here Q is welcoming him to the afterlife, but Picard naturally believes that this is one of Q's tricks once again.
Over the course of the show, Q allows Picard to time travel back to his impulsive period just after he's graduated from Starfleet Academy. This is because this is a HUGE regret for Picard--when he got his original heart destroyed in a foolish fight with some Nausicaans (which was alluded to in the prior episode). Picard always felt ashamed of this incident and his stupid youth--yet through the course of many flashbacks to his past and present, Picard comes to realize that his mistakes actually made him a better man and better leader.
As I mention in the summary, this episode is highly reminiscent to Dickens' "A Christmas Carole" with Picard seeing alternate paths for his life. It ends much differently and has many wonderful moments (the best is when Picard awakens after a night of hot sex--you just have to see that one!). All in all, very memorable and a great episode about who the Captain really is down deep.
This is a great Picard backstory episode with an 'It's A Wonderful Life' concept.
The plot and themes reflect the choices an individual makes that shapes their life. It's impossible to watch it and not reflect on moments from your own past and wonder what if you'd done certain things differently. In this context, much like the episode 'The Inner light' it can be very poignant episode to watch (depending on the individual).
I cannot go into too many plot specifics without spoiling. However, it's safe to say there is a strong celebration of rugged individualism in the depiction of Picard's character and this is portrayed quite cleverly by his alternate life.
The presence of Q works very well and his cynically funny observations are delivered with great timing in all his scenes. Both John De Lancie and Patrick Stewart are in great form throughout the episode.
Great episode for a rainy day! Watch once daily in place of your ordinary antidepressant.
Did you know
- TriviaPortraying the afterlife caused some technical problems. With John de Lancie in a white robe on a white background, the production crew were concerned that Q would appear as a floating head. Both actors were aware of the difficulties in the shot, and even de Lancie felt it made his performance in some scenes more subdued than usual. The staff thought this was perfect for a more serious Q episode.
- GoofsAs Picard chats with Q in the "afterlife", they pause their conversation and watch a visual recreation of the "young" Picard fighting with a bunch of Nausicaans. After the young Picard hits the first Nausicaan, he (the Nausicaan) falls backward and, as he hits the ground, his long black wig comes off. The Nausicaan then quickly rolls out of the camera shot, leaving the wig behind. (This all happens very quickly and is easier to see in slow motion.)
- Quotes
Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard: You having a good laugh now, Q? Does it amuse you to think of me living out the rest of my life as a dreary man in a tedious job?
[turbolift doors open, and Picard finds himself back in the otherwordly realm with Q]
Q: I gave you something most mortals never experience: a second chance at life. And now all you can do is complain?
Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard: I can't live out my days as that person. That man is bereft of passion... and imagination! That is not who I am!
Q: Au contraire. He's the person you wanted to be, one who was less arrogant and undisciplined in his youth, one who was less like me. The Jean-Luc Picard you wanted to be, the one who did *not* fight the Nausicaan, had quite a different career from the one you remember. That Picard never had a brush with death, never came face to face with his own mortality, never realized how fragile life is or how important each moment must be. So his life never came into focus. He drifted through much of his career, with no plan or agenda, going from one assignment to the next, never seizing the opportunities that presented themselves. He never led the away team on Milika III to save the ambassador, or took charge of the Stargazer's bridge when its captain was killed. And no one ever offered him a command. He learned to play it safe. And he never, ever, got noticed by anyone.
[turns to walk away]
Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard: You're right, Q. You gave me the chance to change, and I took the opportunity. But I admit now, it was a mistake.
[Q stops walking, looks back over his shoulder]
Q: Are you asking me for something, Jean-Luc?
Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard: Give me a chance to put things back the way they were before.
Q: Before, you died in sickbay. Is that what you want?
Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard: I would rather die as the man I was... than live the life I just saw.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Star Trek: Nemesis Review (2009)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
Details
- Runtime
- 45m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1