YMMV / Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E9 "The Quality of Life"

• Accidental Aesop: This is another episode, like last season's "The Masterpiece Society," that could be perceived to have an anti-abortion message. Once again, the production staff denied intending to do this and affirmed that they are actually pro-choice.
• Heartwarming in Hindsight:
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks reveals that Exocomps were indeed eventually recognized by the Federation as a sentient species, and some are even joining Starfleet after gaining the ability to speak.
  • Star Trek Online also features recruitable Exocomp duty officers, who are fully accepted as members of your crew.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: In the poker game, Crusher suggests if she wins, that the male opponents Riker, Geordi, and Worf shave their beards, and in turn, they suggest that if she loses, she dyes her hair, with Riker quipping "I've always wanted to see you as a brunette.". In Star Trek: First Contact, the red-headed Crusher starts wearing blonde hair, and in Star Trek: Insurrection, Geordi grows a beard and Riker shaves off his beard (growing it back by Star Trek: Nemesis).
• Memetic Mutation: In the opening poker game, the stills of Geordi putting his hand up and pointing in concurrence have been used as an alternative to the Drake "Hotline Bling" meme.
• Padding: The Teaser was added because the episode was running short. That's why it's not connected to the main plot or even brought up again in the end.
• Values Dissonance: It comes across pretty odd that Crusher is so insistent on insulting the physical appearance of her crewmen, especially after Worf reveals that beards have cultural significance to Klingons. Imagine telling a Sikh man that his beard is silly and outdated! In a modern work setting, her behavior would be considered very inappropriate and rude.
  • Note, though, that these were comments made during an off-duty casual game of cards between good friends, rather than in a professional and official setting.

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