“Remember Me” (4×05)
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Some episodes I barely remember from when they originally aired in syndication, but this one I remember viscerally. The idea that everybody I know and love could disappear, and nobody else left would even remember them, disturbed me as a young child in a way that more overly horrific concepts didn’t.
It’s a great showcase for Gates McFadden, who was badly underutilized for most of the show’s run. I love the way Crusher doggedly continues to work the problem, even as the evidence of her being insane seemingly mounts.
And I love how the community aboard the Enterprise-D is celebrated through its absence. When she remembers the crew members who have disappeared, it’s not their duties or job functions she talks about. It’s all of the personal quirks and qualities that make the Enterprise feel like a home.
It’s also provides a good exploration of the relationship between Picard and Crusher. The Picard of the pocket dimension acts on Beverly’s word far longer than would seem logical, and that’s an indicator of the trust that exists between them.
Impacts on Star Trek Continuity:
This episode furthers Wesley’s journey toward becoming a Traveler, which finally pays off in the second season of “Star Trek: Picard”. In the context of this episode alone, it’s one of the weaker aspects, playing into the early season trope of Wesley being special and saving the day when all of the experienced professionals cannot. Of course, in this case, he also created the problem that he had to be the Chosen One to solve.