Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes?

PTRACER · November 22 2012, 04:53 AM

I just think the whole premise to it is wonderful. It doesn't matter that it's not in any way rooted in reality, it's just a real classic Sci-Fi story.

My favourite part is surely when they find the body of the US Astronaut and Riker reads out his diary entry. A brilliant piece of writing:

"I write this in the hope that it will someday be read by human eyes. I can only surmise at this point, but apparently our exploratory shuttle was contaminated by an alien life form which infected and killed all personnel except myself. I awakened to find myself here in the Royale Hotel, precisely as described in the novel I found in my room. And for the last thirty eight years I have survived here. I have come to understand that the alien contaminators created this place for me out of some sense of guilt, presuming that the novel we had on board the shuttle about the Hotel Royale was in fact a guide to our preferred lifestyle and social habits. Obviously, they thought this was the world from which I came. I hold no malice toward my benefactors. They could not possibly know the hell they have put me through, for it was such a badly written book, filled with endless cliché and shallow characters. I shall welcome death when it comes."

Any other opinions of this episode?

sbk1234 · November 22 2012, 05:07 AM

I don't share your view, but I applaud your bravery for admitting it freely.

M · November 22 2012, 10:17 PM

PTRACER wrote:

Any other opinions of this episode?

It's one of my favorite episodes from the season! Granted, as filmed, it's quite campy, but Tracy Tormé's original story had much more depth to it. For years I've been trying to get my hands on his original script/treatment. Apparently it was written with a much more serious tone. In this version the astronaut isn't dead, but has been kept alive by the aliens for decades, forced to live inside the Hotel Royale world.

But even the episode as-is has some qualities to it. The whole setting is quite eerie with a lot of atmosphere. And I love the way they try to outsmart the pulp story and get out of the hotel. Also, some funny scenes with Data and the Texan. I'm looking forward to this episode in HD!

If anyone knows about a way to contact Tormé and ask about his original story, please let me know. I'd love to hear about the original story at the heart of this.

Mrs Q · November 22 2012, 11:07 PM

PTRACER wrote:

I just think the whole premise to it is wonderful. It doesn't matter that it's not in any way rooted in reality, it's just a real classic Sci-Fi story.

My favourite part is surely when they find the body of the US Astronaut and Riker reads out his diary entry. A brilliant piece of writing:

"I write this in the hope that it will someday be read by human eyes. I can only surmise at this point, but apparently our exploratory shuttle was contaminated by an alien life form which infected and killed all personnel except myself. I awakened to find myself here in the Royale Hotel, precisely as described in the novel I found in my room. And for the last thirty eight years I have survived here. I have come to understand that the alien contaminators created this place for me out of some sense of guilt, presuming that the novel we had on board the shuttle about the Hotel Royale was in fact a guide to our preferred lifestyle and social habits. Obviously, they thought this was the world from which I came. I hold no malice toward my benefactors. They could not possibly know the hell they have put me through, for it was such a badly written book, filled with endless cliché and shallow characters. I shall welcome death when it comes."

Any other opinions of this episode?

I completely agree with you! I've just posted about it on the unjustly hated episode thread.
It's one of my favourite TNG episodes. I love the entire story.
And it had Data at his cute and funny best, which is always a big plus for me. His gambling scenes are hilarious.

LOKAI of CHERON · November 22 2012, 11:23 PM

No, not weird at all! The Royale remains one of my favourites from S2.

Tora Ziyal · November 22 2012, 11:25 PM

Well, to me it was exceedingly boring and silly, but you go right ahead and enjoy. Differences in taste make the world more interesting.

wissaboo · November 23 2012, 12:48 AM

It's a cool concept.

kolibri · November 23 2012, 01:09 AM

I was actually surprised to realize everyone hated it.

PTRACER · November 23 2012, 01:16 AM

It sort of reminds me of a lucid dream. You realise you're dreaming, so you try to find holes in it...Like when Data asks the Texan to take him to his car, or when Worf moves the slot machines to get at the windows.

I didn't know that M! That story would make it even more eery than it already is.

Dream · November 23 2012, 01:23 AM

"This planet. What do you call it?"
"Earth. What do you call it?"
"We call it Theta VIII."
"How charming."

BillJ · November 23 2012, 01:31 AM

One of my favorite episodes of TNG.

SiddFinch1 · November 23 2012, 03:51 AM

Neither a great episode nor a terrible one. It was okay. Silly but aime enjoyable moments

Mojochi · November 23 2012, 04:14 AM

It's weird to like TNG at all. No one could really fault you for liking a less commonly celebrated episode. I find much of it kind of tedious on rewatch, but I dislike it much less than some of their other episodes. It's one of those that remind me of TOS

BillJ · November 23 2012, 05:23 AM

Mojochi wrote:

It's weird to like TNG at all.

teacake · November 23 2012, 05:42 AM

TNG is my least favorite Trek.

The Royale was one of the few episodes I remember fondly.

So, maybe there is something in that.

November 22 2012, 05:07 AM	#2
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? I don't share your view, but I applaud your bravery for admitting it freely. __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

November 22 2012, 11:23 PM	#5
LOKAI of CHERON Fleet Captain Location: Post-apocalyptic ruins of my once mighty Homeworld.	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? No, not weird at all! The Royale remains one of my favourites from S2. __________________ YOU MONOTONE HUMANS ARE ALL ALIKE... FIRST YOU CONDEMN, THEN ATTACK.

November 22 2012, 11:25 PM	#6
Tora Ziyal Rear Admiral Location: Baltimore, MD, USA	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? Well, to me it was exceedingly boring and silly, but you go right ahead and enjoy. Differences in taste make the world more interesting.

November 23 2012, 12:48 AM	#7
wissaboo Captain Location: canada	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? It's a cool concept.

November 23 2012, 01:09 AM	#8
kolibri Lieutenant Commander	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? I was actually surprised to realize everyone hated it.

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ABOUT US

November 23 2012, 01:16 AM	#9
PTRACER Lieutenant	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? It sort of reminds me of a lucid dream. You realise you're dreaming, so you try to find holes in it...Like when Data asks the Texan to take him to his car, or when Worf moves the slot machines to get at the windows. I didn't know that M! That story would make it even more eery than it already is. __________________ I don't see no points on your ears boy, but you sound just like a Vulcan

November 23 2012, 01:23 AM	#10
Dream Admiral	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? "This planet. What do you call it?" "Earth. What do you call it?" "We call it Theta VIII." "How charming." __________________ TWoP Forums .

November 23 2012, 01:31 AM	#11
BillJ Vice Admiral Location: Greater Cincinnati	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? One of my favorite episodes of TNG. __________________ Boobies are evil!!!

November 23 2012, 03:51 AM	#12
SiddFinch1 Commander Location: State of Mind	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? Neither a great episode nor a terrible one. It was okay. Silly but aime enjoyable moments __________________ Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans: John Lennon

November 23 2012, 04:14 AM	#13
Mojochi Fleet Captain	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? It's weird to like TNG at all. No one could really fault you for liking a less commonly celebrated episode. I find much of it kind of tedious on rewatch, but I dislike it much less than some of their other episodes. It's one of those that remind me of TOS

November 23 2012, 05:42 AM	#15
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Is it weird that The Royale is one of my favourite episodes? TNG is my least favorite Trek. The Royale was one of the few episodes I remember fondly. So, maybe there is something in that. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne