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Cause and Effect

I was browsing through the TV listings the other day, and noticed my favorite Star Trek the Next Generation episode was on. I couldn’t watch it right then, so I recorded it. Yesterday I finally got to it. It’s called “Cause and Effect”. I think it was the first time I saw the endlessly-repeated-scene plot device. The show starts with the Enterprise exploding. After the commercial break, we see some of the crew playing cards. A bunch of stuff happens, the Enterprise explodes, and it goes to a commercial. Then back to the cards, stuff, and explosion. When I first saw it, it blew my mind. I enjoyed watching it again yesterday.

As a bonus, it has Kelsey Grammer as a guest star.

He's the captain of a starship from 80 years in the past.

7 Comments

  1. Lauren

    I think I remember watching that and being mad because it was so confusing. I wonder if it’s on Hulu?

    Kelsey Grammer looks so disinterested, like he cares nothing for the plight of the Enterprise. Have a heart, Fraiser.

  2. Peggy

    So are you just going to leave us hanging? Why was the same scene repeating over & over in between commercials … AND did Ned Ryerson get punched in the nose in any of these scenes?

    • Brad

      Spoiler alert: I didn’t say the end in case anyone reading this post wanted to watch the episode themselves.

      They were encountering a rip in time that Kelsey Grammer’s ship was coming through. They would crash into each other and explode, causing the rip in time to loop. The Enterprise was caught in the loop for 17 days. The Bozeman, which was Kelsey Grammer’s ship, was from 80 years in the past. That’s why he’s wearing an old-timey uniform.

      • Peggy

        Oooooohhhh….I don’t get it.

        But now I want to watcht he episode.

        • Carol

          “I don’t get it” – that’s what I usually said after another “Dr Who” episode would end, but I kept watching the following Sunday night for years. Finally threw in the towel on that one.

    • Jill

      Peggy, I love that you know who Ned Ryerson is. I think you and I would get along very well. 🙂

  3. Carol

    Anything with Patrick Stewart can play over and over and over and… and I’m good with it. (Insert broad grin here.)

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