I finished watching RLM video on the final episodes and I also happened to watch Nemesis later.
I agree with their takes about P3, but I absolutely disagree with this being a better finale than Nemesis because Nemesis was such a lacklustre. It was a good finale for TNG and the crew, imo, but Nemesis wasn't that bad as a final. Honestly, I think Nemesis is often preceded by its reputation of being bad rather than actually be that bad.
-I start with something I don't know if it happens in the original version, but in the Spanish dubbed version, the crew speak with Picard using the informal "you": "tú". Only when he gives a direct order or they're on the bridge, they use the formal version. I'll check if this is not just Beverly, but I think I heard Will using both "tú" and "usted" in different circumstances with Picard. Personally, I like that detail and if it was a thing for the translation, it might have happened because...
-Picard actually did what Q told him. He has a more familiar tone with the main crew. You can tell how comfortable they all feel around him and how they know that some minor banter can be allowed between them.
-And yet, Picard is still Picard. When they are facing the Romulans, he insists on diplomacy first. He also tells Shinzon that he's an explorer, not a warrior. He also shows he's still the same adventurer in First Contact when Lilly tells him she envies the world he's going, and he says he envies her for she's gonna be build the new world. That's Picard to a T.
-The more I think about it, the most it makes sense that the Enterprise is a "war ship" (is not, but they said it feels like it) because the Federation comes from fighting first the Borgs (which they know can come back at any moment) and the Dominion. If their main ships aren't armed up to the teeth, they'd be complete idiots. The movie itself proves that war can happened at any moment.
-Data's death is not meaningless and it goes beyond Brent Spinner's wish to retire Data. Because that's what finally made him human, imo, not having feelings. He gives up his life for his friends and I'm sure he didn't do it because it was a logical reasonable thing to do. He did it to give them a chance. It's quite obvious that Data has progressed into that point at that moment. He "feels" in his own unique way and this proves it. There is even a Bible verse saying there is no greatest love than give your life for others. I have no problem with Data being now "human", but he was human already.
Overall, it's not a bad finale for TNG despite the many flaws of the movie.
-Riker finally "graduates" from being a First Officer and has his own ship and gets married.
-Data does the ultimate human act of sacrifice.
-The Enterprise keeps their adventures with Picard, Geordi, Worf, and Beverly.
-There is an open door to start peace with the Romulans.
Meanwhile, Picard 1 and 2:
-Riker and Troi lost a child.
-Data had daughters?
-Picard is old and treated with disrespect. Geordi, Worf, and Beverly are MIA.
-The Romulan Empire blows up.
Picard 3 actually returned the characters to where they were before Picard 1 and 2. I totally can believe that, once Riker was gone and married and him getting older, Picard could have considered a relationship with Beverly, specially when Geordi and Worf eventually left the Enterprise.
I don't think this "improves" the Nemesis finale, it just follows from there.
