#tng Devil's Due

[filmjunky-99]

s t a r t r e k t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n created by gene roddenberry [devil's due, s4ep13]

'Of all the impudence.' - ardra

'Impudence? Impudence is pretending to be Fek'lhr of Klingon.' - picard

[geekysteven]

[spockvarietyhour]

Didn't want to intrude on this post but:

[neopuff]

that scene in devil's due was very funny. like honey no wrong coworker

[landfilloftrash]

I liked when he just leaned sideways from behind the wall; that entity was fuckin eaaaavesdroppingggggg

original post by @vorta-vortex ! 

[gildedsunshine]

i'd love to see Q appearing in devil's due

"oh picard. don't tell me you believe this woman could ever be as powerful as me. did you not notice her ship in orbit?"

[stellarred]

Just watched Devil's Due tonight, and I just relish the scene in the conference room that takes place after Ardra makes her appearance on the Bridge when she makes frequent passes at Picard.

During the senior crew conference when they are discussing Ardra and what she might actually be, Beverly asks if she could actually be Q.

Ardra was pushing hard to come onto Picard throughout the episode, so it's funny that the crew was considering for a moment that she actually was Q.

[rei-ismyname]

If Ardra had been able to keep her frankly wild Picard thirst under wraps she probably would have gotten away with her planet stealing scheme. I understand, but damn!

[earhartsease]

watching a tng ep and it's so funny to us thinking there are people out there showing this to their grandkids or whatever and saying "look! that one's me!"

[startrekplotnthemes]

Season 4 Episode 13 Devil's Due

The Enterprise rendezvous with Dr. Howard Clark who has been staying on Ventax II when it is revealed that the planet is in a state of emergency. It is revealed in the planet's history that a bargain was made with a devil-like entity named Ardra 1000 years ago. In exchange for the millennium of prosperity it was written that she would come back and claim the Ventaxians as part of the bargain. Right on cue, before Picard can assuage these fears Ardra shows up demonstrating her powers and claiming the time has come due.

Things quickly escalate as Picard insists she is a fraud and Accost Jared, leader of the Ventaxians, attempts to submit to her per the contract. Returning to the Enterprise Picard finds her there as well claiming the Enterprise, which is in orbit of Ventax II is also forfeit to her ownership. She attempts to seduce Picard and returns him to Ventax II when he does not comply with her wishes. Fed up with her nonsense, Picard calls for a Ventaxian arbitration. Ardra, having observed Data agrees to the hearing provided Data acts as the impartial judge.

The trial is going poorly, with all the arguments Picard makes easily undermined as Ardra demonstrates her powers. Before things get to dire Geordi shows up with the deus ex machina revealing that Ardra is projecting herself from a shielded ship. With this information Picard is finally able to reverse the dynamic, stealing her powers and proving this Ardra to be a false deity. She taunts him on the way out looking forward to seeing him again.

This episode features a villainess much more inline with the original Star Trek. A shocking seductress interested in the hardy spirit of the Enterprise captain. While more of a secondary plot Data also gets some time to develop working on both his acting abilities and his humanity is played around with, when Ardra calls for him to be a judge and provide objective information. It is the classic example of an imitator or deceiver attempting to sell her lie to others using unknown means. One interesting element is that Ardra takes on multiple forms including one that is monstrous and more masculine though her base form is that of a criminal it is fascinating to see the various forms she takes in selling her role as the devil.

[filmjunky-99]

r e m e m b e r i n g

Marta DuBois

15 December 1952 – 8 May 2018

⚘️

[pic: dubois as ardra, devil's due, tng]

[neemie101]

I think your theory’s sound! I can’t remember which episode, but when Data is with Picard acting out A Christmas Carol, they have a discussion about method acting. Data mentions using acting to try and create emotional awareness. Basically, if he can learn how to mimic the physical response, he thinks he’ll be able to understand the emotion.

Definitely in line with your theory!

i have this theory that data can feel emotions, but he's unaware of it because he cant feel the physical symptoms of emotions. like when we're anxious we sweat, hands shake, we get nauseous, face flushes– if i couldn't feel those physical symptoms would i even be able to tell the difference between anxiety versus sadness versus excitement etc etc...? i would feel very robotic about it too. i dont know, our thoughts are filtered through a body and they expect data to have those same body filtered emotions. i think he has the capacity to be even more in tune with his emotions and wants and needs than a biological human because he cant rely on the physical symptoms, he has to truly know whats in his brain.

[automatic-bazootie]

Thinking about TNG s4e13, "Devil's Due", when Picard starts doing his dramatic lil pretend-omnipotence schtick

He snaps his fingers when he uses his fake powers, just like Q does. Picard acts like he hates his ass but he definitely at least thought "damn, that does look really cool actually". It's so silly

[landfilloftrash]

there’s comedy potential here

[pluralzalpha]

Galactic Gazetteer: Ventax II

Class: M

Quadrant: Beta

Inhabitants: Ventaxians

Affiliation: independent, good relations with the UFP and Klingon Empire

Appearance: TNG "Devil's Due" (1991)

Fun fact: beset by environmental disasters and pollution in the 14th century, until the Ventaxian devil Ardra allegedly promised a thousand years of peace and prosperity in a trade.

Another fun fact: someone turned up claiming to be Ardra in 2367 demanding to take over the planet in accordance with the ancient contract.

Fun fact 3: first contact with Ventax II was made by the Klingon Empire in 2297 or 931 AA (After Ardra). Klingon architects and craftsmen were hired to build housing on the planet.

[spockvarietyhour]

Yep, Voyager's Nothing Human started off as an earlier version of Wrongs Darker than Death or Night, or at least the idea of Dr. Crell Moset was. (something abt experimenting on children and sending them into the future.

The Child being turned into a TNG episode was a direct result of the 88 Writer's Guild Strike, they dusted off the episode and adapted it Deanna. The script's original authors got a chance try their story again some years ago in the fan series Star Trek New Voyages (aka Phase II) and one of them - Jon Povill - also got to direct it. It was a much stronger episode in its original concept and I'm glad I got to see it.

That Voyager's "Remember" is a reworked TNG/Deanna Troi script makes sooooo much sense. Weird Telepathic Aliens? check. Erotic Dreams? Check. More Chakotay and B'Elanna scenes standing in for Will and Deanna? check check check....