What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'?

Lance · January 22 2013, 11:59 AM

TNG had a good line in what I like to call 'Mindscrew Episodes'. You know the sort of thing, the ones where there's all sorts of weird goings-on and the viewer at home gets thrown lots of curve balls along the way. Literally screwing with the viewers expecations.

Whatever our opinions about his later work, I have to give Brannon Braga his due: he was very good at writing these kinds of stories.

Contenders might include things like "Where Silence Has Lease", "Cause And Effect", "Parallels", "Schisms", "Realm Of Fear", "Genesis", "Violations", "The Game", "Remember Me", "Frame Of Mind". And no doubt many more than I can't think of off the top of my head. You get the idea of the sort of episode I mean, though.

Which of them would you say is your favorite 'Mindscrew Episode'?

For my money, "Frame Of Mind" is the king of them. An excellent performance from Jonathan Frakes is icing on the cake for a story where we, along with Riker, begin to honestly believe that Number One has gone insane. Still gives me chills every time I rewatch it.

Use of Time · January 22 2013, 01:29 PM

Frame of Mind is probably going to be your winner. I guess you could include "Dark Page" to that list. It seems to be a lesser referenced episode but I though it was executed very well while letting L'waxana finally endear herself to the audience. I still get choked up when she has to relive the Kestra drowning. It was a very powerful scene and a wonderful performance by Majel.

BillJ · January 22 2013, 03:02 PM

Night Terrors from season four.

lurok · January 22 2013, 06:26 PM

Cause & Effect is one of my top five episodes (and I think I only have five. If that).

Worf'sParmach · January 23 2013, 06:09 AM

Definitely Frame of Mind

Melakon · January 23 2013, 06:28 AM

Frame of Mind here too. I have a liking for those kinds of stories, was disappointed DS9 didn't do more of them, and appreciated the ones on VOY.

Probably due to seeing Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner when it first aired in U.S.

billcosby · January 23 2013, 07:19 AM

I was going to say Frame of Mind, but Ship in a Bottle also did that job well.

Falcor5 · January 23 2013, 12:38 PM

Frame of Mind is my favorite!! Awesome episode!

WillsBabe · January 23 2013, 06:46 PM

I love 'em all. It's hard to choose....

Probably The Game.

Captain Picard. · January 23 2013, 07:41 PM

lurok wrote:

Cause & Effect is one of my top five episodes (and I think I only have five. If that).

Mine as well

It is funny that other star ship was caught in the same loop for over 70 years!

sonak · January 23 2013, 08:38 PM

another vote for "frame of mind"-very creepy, dark episode for TNG. Not just a good "mind-screw" episode, but one of the best Riker-centric episodes as well.

trekkiebaggio · January 23 2013, 09:18 PM

Frame of Mind definitely, but Schisms does creep me out.

Mutai Sho-Rin · January 23 2013, 11:27 PM

The scene in I Borg where Picard seems to revert to Locutus. That was a "put down the beer and sit up straight" moment.

sadsquid · January 24 2013, 12:58 AM

I'd say Future Imperfect is another episode that fits the bill, I really enjoyed that episode too. Frame of Mind would be my top pick though. In my top 5 TNG episodes.

Mojochi · January 24 2013, 02:21 AM

Face of The Enemy had me off balance for nearly the whole episode, right from the beginning. It was straight out of left field & I just had no idea how that would play out

Clues deserves some mention in this thread too

January 22 2013, 11:59 AM	#1
Lance Captain Location: The Enterprise's Restroom	What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? TNG had a good line in what I like to call 'Mindscrew Episodes'. You know the sort of thing, the ones where there's all sorts of weird goings-on and the viewer at home gets thrown lots of curve balls along the way. Literally screwing with the viewers expecations. Whatever our opinions about his later work, I have to give Brannon Braga his due: he was very good at writing these kinds of stories. Contenders might include things like "Where Silence Has Lease", "Cause And Effect", "Parallels", "Schisms", "Realm Of Fear", "Genesis", "Violations", "The Game", "Remember Me", "Frame Of Mind". And no doubt many more than I can't think of off the top of my head. You get the idea of the sort of episode I mean, though. Which of them would you say is your favorite 'Mindscrew Episode'? For my money, "Frame Of Mind" is the king of them. An excellent performance from Jonathan Frakes is icing on the cake for a story where we, along with Riker, begin to honestly believe that Number One has gone insane. Still gives me chills every time I rewatch it.

January 22 2013, 01:29 PM	#2
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Frame of Mind is probably going to be your winner. I guess you could include "Dark Page" to that list. It seems to be a lesser referenced episode but I though it was executed very well while letting L'waxana finally endear herself to the audience. I still get choked up when she has to relive the Kestra drowning. It was a very powerful scene and a wonderful performance by Majel. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

January 22 2013, 03:02 PM	#3
BillJ Vice Admiral Location: In the 23rd Century...	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Night Terrors from season four. __________________ "You know. 1966? Seventy-nine episodes, about thirty good ones." - Phillip Fry describing Star Trek, Futurama

January 22 2013, 06:26 PM	#4
lurok Commodore Location: Lost In The EU Expanse	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Cause & Effect is one of my top five episodes (and I think I only have five. If that).

January 23 2013, 06:09 AM	#5
Worf'sParmach Commander Location: Plano, TX	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Definitely Frame of Mind __________________ Obsessing over every detail in the Star Trek Universe since the 1990s Check out my fanfic (pretty please ): http://www.fanfiction.net/~ginomo

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January 23 2013, 06:28 AM	#6
Melakon Commodore Location: Unmarked grave, Ekos	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Frame of Mind here too. I have a liking for those kinds of stories, was disappointed DS9 didn't do more of them, and appreciated the ones on VOY. Probably due to seeing Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner when it first aired in U.S. __________________ "Every time you think, you weaken the nation." --Moe Howard

January 23 2013, 07:19 AM	#7
billcosby Commodore Location: billcosby	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? I was going to say Frame of Mind, but Ship in a Bottle also did that job well. __________________ My 1st Edition TrekCCG virtual expansion: http://billcosbytrekccg.blogspot.com/

January 23 2013, 12:38 PM	#8
Falcor5 Fleet Captain	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Frame of Mind is my favorite!! Awesome episode!

January 23 2013, 06:46 PM	#9
WillsBabe Vice Admiral	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? I love 'em all. It's hard to choose.... Probably The Game. __________________

January 23 2013, 08:38 PM	#11
sonak Rear Admiral Location: in a figment of a mediocre mind's imagination	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? another vote for "frame of mind"-very creepy, dark episode for TNG. Not just a good "mind-screw" episode, but one of the best Riker-centric episodes as well.

January 23 2013, 09:18 PM	#12
trekkiebaggio Vice Admiral Location: Dancing to the Jailhouse Rock	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Frame of Mind definitely, but Schisms does creep me out. __________________ Angelic Hellfire - My novel. Man of Yesterday - My blog, in which I'm writing a superhero story.

January 23 2013, 11:27 PM	#13
Mutai Sho-Rin Moderator Location: Orange, CA USA	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? The scene in I Borg where Picard seems to revert to Locutus. That was a "put down the beer and sit up straight" moment. __________________ Into the sands of blood comes the Sho-Rin, master of the Mutai. Babylon 5 - TKO

January 24 2013, 12:58 AM	#14
sadsquid Lieutenant Junior Grade	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? I'd say Future Imperfect is another episode that fits the bill, I really enjoyed that episode too. Frame of Mind would be my top pick though. In my top 5 TNG episodes.

January 24 2013, 02:21 AM	#15
Mojochi Fleet Captain	Re: What was TNG's very best 'Mindscrew Episode'? Face of The Enemy had me off balance for nearly the whole episode, right from the beginning. It was straight out of left field & I just had no idea how that would play out Clues deserves some mention in this thread too