While I am sure I watched Lessons in it's original run, it isn't one I remember. To be fair I don't think 11 year old me was as interesting in Picard's love life and I am today. Previous episodes have only dealt with his emotional distance and have stayed away from him being attached. While, other than The Inner Light which this episode heavily references. Maybe that experience opened him up a bit to the idea of being romantically involved with someone. This episode also points out how kinda strange it is that he and Beverley are so close yet refuse to move past friends, although she is clearly jealous at the idea of another woman getting in her way.
The episode opens with Picard coming onto the bridge during the night watch, but he isn't there for work. Presumably having trouble sleeping Picard is working on his archaeology hobby and asks that Data contact a colleague for him, but is informed communications are down for a stellar cartography project. In his ready room he learns both the library computers and replicators are down as well, all because of stellar cartography. He heads down to investigate but when he enters the lights are off and a woman is telling her assistants what to do. She isn't happy at his intrusion and is beginning to scold him when the lights come on and she sees who it is. She makes him some herbal tea with a special recipe she created and he learns she is Nella Darren, head of stellar cartography. The next morning Beverley and Jean Luc are having tea together and we learn he has chosen Nella's tea. After tea the two of them head to Ten Forward for Data's concert and Picard is surprise to see Nella playing the piano in the concert.
After the performance the two of them discuss music and she learns he plays as well. Later that day she shows up in his quarters with a fold up piano and the two of them start playing duets together. After playing together for a few days she takes him to a remote Jefferies tube that she claims has the best accustics in the ship. The two start playing together and can be heard from engineering, until they take a break to kiss. Later that day though in a turbolift the two are talking romantically until it stops to let in another crew member and Picard abruptly breaks off the conversation. After having a talk with Troi though he decides to make their relationship public and she is still a bit hurt but agrees.
Suddenly there is a distress call from a colony. The planet suffers fire storms and this time they are especially bad. They need to evacuate the colonists now. At the planning meeting Nella offers to lead a team with special deflectors to try and buy the colony more time. It will be dangerous but she insists on leading the team. They get the colonists out on time but her team is trapped on the surface. Picard assumes she must be dead and begins to mourn when he gets a call that there are survivors. She is among the very last to come back. After they talk and decide their relationship can't work while they are working together on the same ship, especially with her under his command. Before she leaves she makes him promise not to give up his music.
Review: Not one of those episodes that makes a top ten of all time list, but a solid emotional Picard episode. It also goes a long way to help the audience understand why Picard has stayed single so long as captain.
6 out of 10
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