I have a lot of things rolling around in my head on Star Trek quotes, but particularly from TNG, which entertained me like nothing else in the series. But if you had to ask the family the all-time memorable line, it would have to be:
"Mr. Worf.... Fire."
And then the "To Be Continued..." flashed up, and we all fell back and yelled, "Nooooo.....!!!!" because we knew it was going to be a long summer.
Still the best TV cliffhanger ever, by our measure.
CRUSHER: Will, he's alive! If we could get him back to the ship, I might be able to restore--
RIKER: This is our only chance to destroy them. If they get back into warp, our weapon is useless.
SHELBY: We'll sabotage them again if we have to.
RIKER: We can't maintain power. We don't have the time. Prepare to fire.
SHELBY: At least consult with Starfleet Command. (turns to Worf) Get Admiral Hanson on subspace.
RIKER: Delay that order, Lieutenant. There's no time.
WORF: Sir, we are being hailed by the Borg.
RIKER: On screen.
PICARD [on viewscreen]: I am LaQutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life, as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will serve us.
RIKER: Mister Worf, fire.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Best of Both Worlds Part 1
Episode 74 aired June 18, 1990
Glad you were sitting on the edge of your seat. I, myself was angry and yawning at the same time. As if Commander Riker would order firing of the Enterprise without even trying...to save his Captain. All other bridge officers fully perplexed in a state of confusion. I saw Part two first, on AFN (American Forces Network) in Germany, and already knew what happened when I finally caught the first part on German TV. Check this out...
The Best of Both Worlds Part 2
Episode 75 aired September 24, 1990
LAFORGE: Deflector power approaching maximum limits. Energy discharge in six seconds.
WORF: Firing, sir.
(A massive ray of energy goes out)
WORF: The Borg ship is undamaged.
SHELBY: Impossible.
COMPUTER: Warning. Warp reactor core primary coolant failure.
LAFORGE: Can't maintain it much longer, Commander.
COMPUTER: Warning. Exceeding reaction chamber thermal limit.
RIKER: Cease fire.
LAFORGE: Shutting down warp engines.
RIKER: They couldn't have adapted that quickly.
PICARD [on viewscreen]: The knowledge and experience of the human Picard is part of us now. It has prepared us for all possible courses of action. Your resistance is hopeless, Number One...
This is where the 'cliffhanger' is supposed to hang! People so concerned about the airdates they miss the heart of the matter. At this point, Picard is LaQutus of Borg, the human ambassador AND the new weapon of hope is a failure. Plus, how do they fight against one of the most successful and experienced Federation ship Captains ever who knows all tricks and systems.
That is a cliffhanger!!! What you all saw was manipulation with the transfer of the 'cliffhanger moment' by 11 lines of script to ruin the moment. Star Trek Constitution states that episodes will be filmed so they can be enjoyed even if watched out of order.
The Menagerie was an exception to honor the roots of Star Trek when they could and was to remain the ONLY two parter. That is why most are not really that cliffhanging. Not until episode 68
Star Trek: Voyager did the Trek cliffhanger concept come into maturity with the Scorpion Part 1 cliffhanger. Just needed a women's touch I guess. Officially, according to those media people of some, that was a mediocre episode of
Star Trek with low ratings. Gimme a break! That was one of the most awesome episodes ever!!!
The reason I say this, Grandpa, is because even you are easily effected by the tiniest manipulation without thinking about it. It still makes absolutely no sense whatsover that Riker was so quick to fire except to manipulate the cliffhanger and ruin it. And they did. All us Trekkies and Trekkers know it, together in our non-v state of TrekSoul. No disrespect, of course, and I am glad you enjoyed the episode but, you only enjoyed it because you, and others around you, were not clearly thinking about it.
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