To be honest, the basic episode itself was fine, but (and this pains me to say because I'm such an Imzadi shipper) Riker and Troi were unnecessary to the story. Cut the holodeck aspect of it out (or have them watching Archer's speech at the very end as away to remind fans of how everything turns out for the Federation in the end), and maybe expand the episode into the two - hour send off all Trek series finales should get, and I think the basic storyline of that ep works fine. I think having the final episode be about the signing of the Federation Charter was a good idea in concept. I also think Trip's death could have worked on an emotional level. May not have been popular but the scene itself was good and heartbreaking.

Having it as a Holodeck recreation, having Troi outright state Trip's death, and having Riker insert himself as Cook, really did mar the story to such a rediculous degree. Having it set during the two's time on the Enterprise D (as much as I loved seeing those TNG exteriors again), instead of their post - married life on the Titan also didn't do neither the now older Marina Sirtis or Jonathan Frakes any favors. It almost as if Berman knew he would never work on the franchise again and decided to do as much as he could to shit all over it in that finale.