This is gonna be a big one folks :) CBS: Leave your dirty little hands off of this one

There was a very important plot point that was dropped that you did not discuss: Data said that planet was damaged in the exact same way that the Federation and Romulan outposts bordering the Neutral Zone had been. The Borg were already on our doorstep and Q actually gave us a head's up.

"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate the desires both subtle and gross. _But it's not for the timid."_ That is one of my favorite TNG quotes. Q is absolutely right, too; it's a lesson Picard needed to learn. And as I'm sure most of us already know what an important lesson it is.

I love Picard's "kick in our complacency" line. Starfleet WAS complacent by this time. The Klingons were allies, the Romulans were keeping to themselves, everything seemed cool. They were so comfortable that they even allowed families on board their ships. Q did them a favor by reminding them that space is dangerous.

Fun fact: When the Borg laser out the section of the Enterprise a toilet can be seen on one of the decks, and this is the only time we see a toilet in the entire run of TNG.

A lot of people have concluded, that Q did indeed do this to warn the Federation about the existence of the Borg. He knew that if the Borg arrived after the event of The Neutral Zone, The Federation would not have stood a chance against them.

Finally, The answer to what Happened in The Neutral Zone at the end of season 1.

If I could pick out any episode, that could be a, “game changer“ for Star Trek, it’s this one. Suddenly the audience had to be put on notice; humanity isn’t out of the woods yet. An argument can be made that Roddenberry tried to portray humanity as being above all of our prejudices and, “perfect.” The Measure of a Man showed us that we still weren’t quite over certain prejudices, but Q-Who shows that we are definitely not perfect. We need humility in order to be able to truly thrive. Picard’s line that Q “kicked them out of complacency” is just what the show needed to get to the next level. This is the turning point for TNG. It matures from here on out to produce some really amazing things.

Fun fact: in the conference room scene, where they discuss the Borg and the loss of life with Q, Q was originally supposed to leap out of his chair angrily and respond with his (up to this point) normal theatrics like we saw in Hide and Q… Instead John DeLancie stayed sitting and delivered the wonderfully sardonic line of “oh please.” At which point, a new, better take on Q was born, and with the introduction of the Borg, TNG was kicked into high gear and never looked back.

Now I want a baby Borg with suction cups for my car. Baby Borg on board!

Star trek will never be the same again after this episode.. been looking forward to this one

This is the point where TNG hooks and launches. I am subscribed to about a dozen reaction channels, and this is by far my most favorite!

it is fascinating, to watch people seeing the Borg for the first time.

Q Who is an all-time great and a massive game changer in so many ways. In fact one of my favourite memories when first watching TNG was that I knew both Q and the Borg by reputation including the Borg's simple but iconic ship design but had no idea that Q himself kick-started the Borg's introduction so as soon as that cube popped up onscreen I vividly remember my heart plummeting because, like Picard and his crew, I was utterly unprepared for what was coming...

In my opinion, this was one of the most important Star Trek episodes. It was the first time the show had the Federation facing a true existential threat, one that you feel could actually utterly destroy them. This changed the tone of Star Trek, the realization that there are powers in unexplored sectors of space that are far beyond the Federation, and which are truly alien; they do not think like the Federation, or even the Romulans or Klingons. The same things don’t matter to them. They don’t have the same moral framework, if they have a moral framework at all. There is no reasoning with them, no diplomacy, little communication. They don’t even view the Federation as a threat, which makes negotiation even more impossible, since they will negotiate with the Federation about as much as you’d negotiate with the ants and their insignificant empire that you’re about to dig out. To paraphrase H.G. Wells, they are an intelligence “vast, cool, and unsympathetic.”

This is it. The one I've been waiting for since I found this channel

Enter the Big Bad. The Borg were genuinely terrifying back in the day.

Glad to see you guys recognized that the outposts along the Romulan Neutral Zone were destroyed by the Borg. They've known about the Federation for some time, but now the Federation knows about them. And that's only because of Q--a fact forcing us to reconsider his motivation here.

The Ferengi will be back, but the idea of them as a serious threat is pretty much over. They retooled them into comic relief gremlins - occasionally being SLIGHTLY more threatening, but still played for laughs more often than not. Q Who is a game changer, as others have said. Even aside from being a great Q episode and establishing some stuff about Guinan, the introduction of the Borg will be a massive change to the franchise for good and bad. There will be some retcons along the way about them, too, but the idea of how scary they are - this big, single-minded hive that consumes what's in their path that continually dwarfs our heroes - will never REALLY go away. You have a long journey ahead of you still, but you've taken your first REAL step into the shape of the franchise for the next few series. Measure of a Man showed you guys the level of writing that TNG would later strive for with excellent character stuff as well as philosophical and ethical discussions... but the Borg represent the sci-fi action that forces our heroes to get smarter, more innovative, and show tension and humanity in moments unlike anything else we've seen before. I kind of envy you guys seeing this for the first time and being blown away. Sure, the episode is still great to revisit, but sometimes it never hits you as hard as the first time you saw it.

Geordi says to Sonya... "it's a meeting the captain won't soon forget" Nice foreshadowing.

I cant wait for the discussion on this one. This is one of those shining episodes, not just for the season but for the entire show. There is also Q character development here as well - did he *really* do all of this to show some tough love? Or is he still just being a pain in the buttocks.

This was the VHS rental from Blockbuster that convinced my friend in elementary school that Star Trek could be COOL! RIP those 18 people and the hot chocolate

Q does what Q does best. Makes Picard work to use his mind to further the case of Humanity.

It was the introduction of the Borg that made TNG legit for long time Trek fans.

To quote a character from an entirely different scifi franchise I hope you'll react to some year: "And so it begins..."

Your excitement seeing Q was my exact reaction when I watched this on TV

So you've finally encountered the Borg! I was at a Star Trek convention once, where someone was wearing a homemade Borg costume so elaborate and so perfect that it could have been designed for the actual show.

This is a pivotal episode of TNG, I'll say no more. I'm really glad that you both enjoyed it, Alex and Josh.

The original plan was that Time Squared would be the first part leading to this episode, and we would find out Q was the instigator trying to get Picard into the shuttlecraft.

You will never be disappointed by a Q or a Borg episode. The Borg are terrifying in concept and, by virtue of that, allow Picard and the crew some of their best moments.

The first time I saw this episode, on it’s original airing on TV, I thought that was one of my favorite episodes of TNG up to that point. It became one of my favorite episodes of what was to become my favorite series of all time. I remember new episodes of TNG would premiere on the WPIX-TV station from New York, on Saturdays at 7:00pm, and then you would have a second showing of that episode the following Sunday around 11:00pm. Decades later I still get the same scary thrill for seeing the Borg for the very first time. Bummer I can’t say anything more to avoid spoilers. Only a peek forward as to how good this series gets later on. It’s amazing how this series doesn’t look dated even after it premiered in the later 1980s. It was all just so well done then. Excellence in quality is timeless.

Star Trek will never be the same after this episode. This one episode forever changed the landscape of the Star Trek franchise

This is the episode where the showrunners basically said "Whelp, the Ferengi clearly don't work as the new Primary Villains. Lets try this again, shall we?"

this episode established warp 9.65 as the fastest the enterprise D can go.

Whoopi was a big Star Trek fan since she saw Lt. Uhura in TOS, a black female actor doing an important job on the Enterprise. That was so inspiring for herself, so she asked to appear in TNG just for the passion

I’ve been waiting for months. This is going to be fun. Welcome to TNG as a television force of nature.

Ho boy, it's so hard to not any anything without a hint of spoilers. Like others have said, the Federation is the dominant force in the explored part of the galaxy and thus live very comfortable, virtually fearless lives. Now that begins to change...

Three things to point out: You recently saw the actress that played Ensign Gomez in Total Recall.

This episode is the third of three (the other two being "Elementary Dear Data" and "Measure of a Man") which I've been looking forward to your seeing and reacting, and, as far as I'm concerned, the most important of those three. Your comments right after the credits reflect what I expected you'd think of this one. Looking forward to the wrapup tomorrow.

I love seeing your genuine reactions to Q, the Borg, and this whole season. There are some stinkers in Season 2, but to me, it was the transition needed to really propel the series forward. Looking forward to more reactions!

The Borg aren't a force to be reckoned with, they are the force to which all other forces are compared. You gentlemen just got introduced to Humanity's greatest threat.

This was the other episode after Measure of a Man I was looking forward to your reaction to the most from this season and it did not disappoint. As Data implied, there is or was at least one Borg ship floating around The Neutral Zone. Music by Ron Jones. That's the name you are looking for for awesome scores in episodes like this one, and the Romulan Theme. Man was a musical genius in TNG.

It was originally intended to have Q reveal that the anomaly of "Time Squared" (the "time loop episode") was a test created by Q. The line never made it into the final cut of this episode however.

I love how watching you two react to these episodes reminds me of what it was like seeing the for the first time while I was in grad school. This blew EVERYONE away. And I'll add my agreement that the score for this episode was above and beyond. All around gorgeous work.

And the rabbit hole begins.... Great reaction guys. Can't wait for more.

Fellas -- this is one of the CLASSICS we've been waiting for you to see! "A Matter of Honor" and "Measure of a Man" and "Q Who" are all next level, especially the last two. A trio of very different episodes with high quality being the main commonality.

As I used to record these episodes back in the day, The night it aired, I believe I watch this one 3 or 4 times in a row. it was that good. Glad you guys like it as much as the rest of us did on first broadcast.

After you guys constantly bringing up the lack of music, you finally get to my favorite scored episode in the series. “They Will Be Coming” is one of my favorite music pieces.

`funny moment with my first wife took place during this episode. when worf was sneaking up behind q in 10 forward, and picard said "mr. worf" then gestured toward the door for him to leave, she said "worf go lay down". was like 33 years ago, and i still remember it as one of the funniest things i ever heard.

Federation and starfleet ships use forcefields to seal hull breaches. I think doors and the like are still used but forcefields are standard. Emergency forcefields for said breaches I assume are automatic. Just an FYI

Picard said at the end "Maybe Q did the right thing for the wrong reasons". What do you think? Why do you think Q did this?

This proves to be an extremely pivotal episode, not just for TNG but for all other Star Trek programs and movies going forward. Be prepared!!

I love it! I love it!! I LOVE it!!! I've been SOOOO waiting to see your reaction to this episode!!! You brought back ALL the thoughts and emotions when I saw this live for the first time! I simply cannot WAIT for you to watch the rest of this series unfold!!! You guys make it SO much fun!!!!

Truly, another landmark episode. Another example of why Picard is my favourite Captain; this time showing his confidence is tempered with wisdom and more importantly, with humility.

We all knew this was a next level episode when we saw it.

Q is teaching Picard, and humanity as a whole, a lesson... Preparing them for things yet to come... Not just a lesson about the Borg threat lurking out there... Not just a lesson for the TNG series alone either...

Okay on second thought you guys should make a T-shirt with Josh in uniform looking like Riker and have a baby Borg on his back with Alex's face.

The second Borg that shows up on the ship looks at Picard like a cat on your coffee table that stares you in the eye... then knocks off your glass.

I like the economy of storytelling in this one. It's not explained why Deanna wonders where Picard is and it's not needed. Likewise, the implication of the empty 10 Forward is that Guinan closed it.

Get ready and strap yourselves in guys! I've been waiting for you to get to this episode. Just as you said TNG just stepped it up another level, The Borg bring terror, fear and death anywhere they go.

I got to meet John DeLancie last summer. Wonderful man with a great sense of humor.

This is how I prefer Q to be handled. When he's not simply there for the laughs, but when he actually has something useful to say to Picard, or even to teach. Mind you, I always enjoy John de Lancie being around, but this episode and another down the line really stand above the rest.

TOS introduced the Klingon and the Romulan Empires as good villains. TNG gave us the Borg Collective.

Great reaction, fellas! This episode casts one of the longest shadows of any episode in Season Two. It impacts every other season of TNG, some of the movies, *all* of Voyager, some of DS9, all of ST:Picard. It's hugely important. Also, one of you guys made an offhand remark about "versions of humanity's future" which I'm not going to get into, but much later down the road, you're going to chuckle at it. The Borg remind me a lot of the Cybermen in Doctor Who; you can make your own judgments about that. If you think Season 2 is bringing Trek to the next level, wait until you see Season 3.

I seriously can’t wait for you guys to get deeper in, and especially, to work in Deep Space Nine. Pretty sure DS9 was crafted partially from fragments of Alex’s DNA.

If you're gonna watch all of TNG for the first time, I am SO HERE FOR THIS! You have a new subscriber.

Alex: "Also, there's a human soul in there" is low key one of the highlights of this video lol. It's not out of the realm of possibility in Star Trek. Ira Graves anyone?

I’ve been waiting for your reaction on this one as I just watched it a month ago!

Neat little bookend placed at the start; the ensign's "first impressions are the most important" with the captain thinking his morning's ruined over a little spill.

This is where TNG really starts to gel into something very special indeed…. You guys are SOOO lucky to be watching this for the first time. 🎉

The lesson of this episode is when Picard said "I need you!" and Q said "That was a difficult admission to make." We are most capable in life when we make agreements with and cooperate with others.

You said you'd love to see the decisions behind the scenes... oh boy. Once you're past Season 3, I'd say, you should check out an incredible documentary narrated by William Shatner about the tumultuous first couple of seasons of TNG. It's called "Chaos on the Bridge," and it is pure crack for Trekkies.

It's nice to have a heads up when someone like the Borg is knocking at your door. Thank you Q.

This is the start point of a tonal shift that later trek would deal with. To this day it’s still one of my top 10 episodes.

The scary thing about Q's power is that if he so desires he could make the entirety of the ship's population endure an eternity of the most constant gruesome and unbearable pain without dulling of the senses, blacking out or dying.

I really liked how they were subtle in showing the Borg power at first. For example, they're at red alert, shields are up and a Borg just casually transports into engineering with no trouble at all.

Funny thing, I’m watching your reaction video for the second time and not only did I just now realize how brilliant the little bit of foreshadowing with Sonia saying “please” to the replicator. Seen this episode so many times, but that part never clicked until now.

Mix that with Data's comment "It's identical to what happened to the outposts in the neutral zone" In other words, how long has this been planned? you have to wonder, eh?

I love the look on your faces when they did the pull-out shot inside the Borg cube. Completely immersed! I love it. Also, I wonder if the lack of background music in the last episode was because they were running behind schedule and couldn't add the score where it normally would have been?

Ultimatly this episode shows Qs nature not as a bored trickster god but a tough love teacher whos showing his student his complacency and giving perhspse the most precious of gifts.

Still some bumps yet to come, but I feel like this is the point where TNG really starts to figure out what it is.

In post-production, Guinan's fingers were supposed to have swirls of energy when she curls them at Q. Obviously they skipped it.

And so, it Begins - Kosh

This one is a lock for any "must-watch TNG episodes" list.

With all the new revelations, it's fun to laugh with the humorous moments. Great lighting, sound, directing, intensity. As Worf could possibly say: " Less family , more sci-fi!" 🎉

Here we go!! Been waiting for this since you started TNG! LET'S GOOOI!! When people say start with season 3, this episode is always a caveat

Another BIG ONE. And so... The 24th Century version of the Plague reveals itself. I was a kid and I thought from the jump this "thing", the Borg, were just creepy. So much else good to GREAT in this episode. Picard's end plea to Q, the recekation of Whoopi and Q's past... TA... Measure Of Man, Q Who... Those episodes from season two which are less frequent become THE STANDARD going forward.

Easily one of my favorite Trek episodes. A rare example of a "deus ex machina" executed correctly without undermining dramatic payoff.

The camera work in this one is pretty great. Always nice when the director decides to do something new instead of the same 5 or 6 shots we get every other week.

Aha! Q Who - TNG finally begins in earnest...

You guys are in for a serious treat. The Borg is the most terrifying enemy you could imagine encountering, but it took me well into my adult years to fully appreciate that.

This was the FIRST episode of TNG that gave me that feeling of anticipation in my gut that usually came with going to see a new Star Trek film in the theater!

Whatever you may think about Q as a character be it bad guy or misunderstood good guy or just flat out trickster every time he shows up he has a lesson to teach

The Time Squared shuttle was #5, the shuttle Q commandeered here was #6.

The tone and excellence of this episode influences everything that comes after this. TNG and beyond.

love how guinea went from seeing the borg out her massive window to going in the back room to look at it from tiny computer monitor

Good for you two. You never should avoid any ST episode just because people tell not to see it. For is an okay episode, not some to be avoided . Even it may be better than expected. Keep watching all of them. 😊

Fun Fact! The Borg were originally supposed to be bug people.

This episode was one of the early ones that told the audience that TNG could become awesome. And then the 3rd season hit and kept knocking it out of the park, over and over again.

I've been looking forward to your reaction to this one, and you didn't disappoint.