Star Trek: The Next Generation, S02e09 “Measure of a Man” A classic Star Trek courtroom scene, in which Picard argues to defend the rights of the android Data. (4:30 long clip which includes a bit of questioning before the main monologue. Useful for context) https://youtu.be/ol2WP0hc0NY
A very different kind of Star Trek monologue, from Deep Space 9’s “In the Pale Moonlight”. Captain Sisko does war crimes, and then wrestles with his morality in his personal log. He concludes that he “can live with it”. https://youtu.be/K-YyL7X4CWw (2 minute long clip)
In my view, these episodes are some of the best that Star Trek has to offer, but in very different ways. Deep Space 9 has a much darker tone as a series overall than The Next Generation, and that variation is very cool.
The library cop on Seinfeld, played by the excellent Philip Baker Hall:
Let me tell you something, funny boy… You know that little stamp? The one that says New York Public Library? Well, that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole helluva lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I’ve seen your type before – flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking… Why’s this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me… Maybe. Sure, we’re too old to change the world. What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers. Doesn’t he deserve better? Look, if you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you’d better think again. This is about that kid’s right to read a book without getting his mind warped. Or maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld… Maybe that’s how you get your kicks… You and your goodtime buddies… I’ve got a flash for you, joy boy. Partytime is over.
Craig Ferguson’s Opening monologue on Britney Spears alcohol fueled bender when she shaved get head, 2007
Very high on my list is the anti-religion rant in Mr Robot, spoken by the protagonist Elliot.
“[…] All religions are just metastasizing mind worms […] If I don’t listen to my imaginary friend, why should I listen to yours? […]”
Some recent ones:
- Luthen in Andor.
- Tywin while slaughtering a deer in Game of Thrones.
- Multiple monologues by Rust in True Detective while Marty does his annoyed face.
- Legazov’s closing testimony in Chernobyl.
What is it about society that disappoints you so much?
Oh I don’t know, is it that we collectively thought Steve Jobs was a great man even when we knew he made billions off the backs of children?
Or maybe it’s that it feels like all our heroes are counterfeit; the world itself’s just one big hoax. Spamming each other with our burning commentary of bullshit masquerading as insight, our social media faking as intimacy.
Or is it that we voted for this? Not with our rigged elections, but with our things, our property, our money. I’m not saying anything new. We all know why we do this, not because Hunger Games books makes us happy but because we wanna be sedated. Because it’s painful not to pretend, because we’re cowards.
Fuck Society.
Mr robot S01E01
The opening scene from the Newsroom about why America is not the greatest country in the world. It’s such a good self evaluation and gives hope for the future
Damnit! That was the only one I could think to post!
It was pretty good speech up until the end when he started saying the USA used to wage war and pass laws for moral reasons. That not only whitewashed USA history but also felt like a precursor to MAGA.
I think that’s an uncharitable take on his position. He’s criticising bush era wars like in Iraq and implying the second world war, which is very much a moral war for the USA.
He is invoking a romanticised past but that’s his whole character arc - believing in the America that could be, that ostensibly was, and how far they’ve come from their values.
The connection to MAGA is superficial. His speech is properly quixotic- designed to inspire the best in national identity, even if it’s foolish
Pretty much everything Aaron Sorkin has done has at least one great monologue in it.
The Lempire speech from The Fall of the House of Usher.
Free Churro (Bojack Horseman S05E06) is essentially a 20 minute monologue/eulogy from bojack as he struggles to come to terms with his mother’s death
What an emotional roller coaster, especially at the end when:
SPOILER
it cuts to his POV and is shown he was giving the eulogy at the wrong animal’s wake
Ned Beatty explains capitalism in “Network.”
That is excellent, usually it the ‘Im mad as hell’ monologue that gets the spotlight from this movie!
Jon Stewart after 9/11 and later Stephen Colbert after J6. Those men really love their country and fellow humans.
You see, in Russia, there are two words for truth. Pravda (правда), is man’s truth. Istina (истина), is God’s truth. But there is also nepravda (неправда), untruth. And this is the weapon the leader uses; because he knows what they don’t. The truth is whatever he says it is.
-Yuri Gurka (Goran Bogdan), Fargo series; Season 3 Episode 4 “The Narrow Escape Problem”
Captain James Flint speech in the Black Sails series finale. Bo’s speech at the final fight in the Lost Girl series finale.
The two from Midnight Mass about death and afterlife.
