Favorite Scenes from Bad Episodes?
- Thread starter Odo
- Start date
I enjoy it more for the dread that comes across the actors' faces.
I love Quark and Rom carrying the cloaked cloaking device through the corridors of DS9.
One of the only good things in that crapfest of an episode.
Some good picks! - I don't remember Riker's speech - I must have blocked that ep from memory. 
There's lots of fun to be had even in bad TOS episodes.
A critic I enjoy reading, Darren Mooney, once pointed out that if a TOS episode is nonsensical, there's still a good chance it will be enjoyable; but if a TNG episode is nonsensical, it almost certainly won't be fun to watch (or some words to that effect).
There's lots of fun to be had even in bad TOS episodes.
A critic I enjoy reading, Darren Mooney, once pointed out that if a TOS episode is nonsensical, there's still a good chance it will be enjoyable; but if a TNG episode is nonsensical, it almost certainly won't be fun to watch (or some words to that effect).
It's a pity that they stuck the talented Mr. Dunn in such a crappy episode.
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I've always liked that opening continuous shot in TNG's The Child that non-verbally shows us the bridge changes: Data at the Science Station, Worf at Tactical, and Wesley in Geordi's old seat, before we head to the Ready Room to meet the new Chief Engineer.
"BASICS, PART II" - I don't know if this regarded as a bad episode, and it's not a favorite of mine, but one scene that is understated but speaks volumes about a character is when that alien was trapped by the lava. Chakotay, without flinching, drops his tools and weapons and dives right in, saving the alien. Man of action, indeed, and a very courageous one.
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The last three lines of "Shades of Gray"
RIKER: "Of course I know who I am. I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise."
(cue Original Series comedy sequence music)
PICARD: "I'm delighted that you're feeling better, Captain." (indicates Data) "The Admiral and I were worried about you."
DATA: "Captain, I do not believe you have the authority to promote me to the rank of Admiral."
RIKER: "Of course I know who I am. I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise."
(cue Original Series comedy sequence music)
PICARD: "I'm delighted that you're feeling better, Captain." (indicates Data) "The Admiral and I were worried about you."
DATA: "Captain, I do not believe you have the authority to promote me to the rank of Admiral."
The remix is even better!
Agreed with others re: Alexander. "Plato's Stepchildren" is not the worst episode, and suspending disbelief and buying into the situation takes rather a lot, but the high concept of mind control on that level is unquestionably chilling. The Kirk/Alexander moments play into the surrounding scenario as well as rising above it.
After 10 minutes of overly long padding, in "I, Mudd", seeing three Stella units berate Mudd incessantly (and implying up to 500 might do so simultaneously) more than makes up for it.
"Turnabout Intruder" has any Sandra Smith-as-Kirk scene showing some great acting nuance. Ditto for William Shatner-as-Janice, who could easily go into warp with campy OTT yet keeps the performance reeled in. The story's a mess and is also a repulsive one at times, but the acting is kept realistic to the situation and not breaking the fourth wall.
As bad as a lot of season 3 is said to be, there are enough redeeming moments to question such a claim. A bad story can have good moments, but a bad story with no good moments at all -- no single TOS episode is capable of such a feat. Even "Spock's Brain" and not just for the "brain and brain" bit, sad but true...
'Shades of Gray" from TNG has the opening scenes on an alien world that has the perfect claustrophobic feel to it and feels just as authentic. Ironically, the need to cut down on vine animation rendered it all somewhat more frightening as it's not of nowhere that Riker gets stunned, as opposed to the screen showing ADHD vines swaying and wiggling all about that scream the obvious in that one would get hit on (and not in a good way).
Does the following count: "Datalore", as a story, is an example of season 1 being so poor. It's even cheesier than some of TOS season 3's more cheesy offerings. That said, said story is buoyed by first rate incidental music and a core concept that isn't bad in of itself, just not fully developed and contrived... Not to mention the characters being more than ably carried out by Brent Spiner, who sells the sadistic side of Lore extremely well. Some lighting and directorial choices are also above average to help lift-- But, ugh, the script dumbing down of the adults to make wonderWes the only one to figure it out is so contrived and insulting beyond belief that it's amazing anything in this story can even begin stand out... But numerous moments clearly do... And I'll admit, for a bad story, it doesn't go overboard and overindulge Lore either. The WunderKid subplot is what does it in the most.
Agreed with others re: Alexander. "Plato's Stepchildren" is not the worst episode, and suspending disbelief and buying into the situation takes rather a lot, but the high concept of mind control on that level is unquestionably chilling. The Kirk/Alexander moments play into the surrounding scenario as well as rising above it.
After 10 minutes of overly long padding, in "I, Mudd", seeing three Stella units berate Mudd incessantly (and implying up to 500 might do so simultaneously) more than makes up for it.
"Turnabout Intruder" has any Sandra Smith-as-Kirk scene showing some great acting nuance. Ditto for William Shatner-as-Janice, who could easily go into warp with campy OTT yet keeps the performance reeled in. The story's a mess and is also a repulsive one at times, but the acting is kept realistic to the situation and not breaking the fourth wall.
As bad as a lot of season 3 is said to be, there are enough redeeming moments to question such a claim. A bad story can have good moments, but a bad story with no good moments at all -- no single TOS episode is capable of such a feat. Even "Spock's Brain" and not just for the "brain and brain" bit, sad but true...
'Shades of Gray" from TNG has the opening scenes on an alien world that has the perfect claustrophobic feel to it and feels just as authentic. Ironically, the need to cut down on vine animation rendered it all somewhat more frightening as it's not of nowhere that Riker gets stunned, as opposed to the screen showing ADHD vines swaying and wiggling all about that scream the obvious in that one would get hit on (and not in a good way).
Does the following count: "Datalore", as a story, is an example of season 1 being so poor. It's even cheesier than some of TOS season 3's more cheesy offerings. That said, said story is buoyed by first rate incidental music and a core concept that isn't bad in of itself, just not fully developed and contrived... Not to mention the characters being more than ably carried out by Brent Spiner, who sells the sadistic side of Lore extremely well. Some lighting and directorial choices are also above average to help lift-- But, ugh, the script dumbing down of the adults to make wonderWes the only one to figure it out is so contrived and insulting beyond belief that it's amazing anything in this story can even begin stand out... But numerous moments clearly do... And I'll admit, for a bad story, it doesn't go overboard and overindulge Lore either. The WunderKid subplot is what does it in the most.
(not shown: Lore pummeling Worf in a surprisingly chilling moment)
Bonus: Lore's describing why Data was made really fits the series. Almost better than making him fully emotionless in later seasons.
Bonus: Lore's describing why Data was made really fits the series. Almost better than making him fully emotionless in later seasons.
It also sells an alienness that is supposed to induce a feel of unease in the audience. The actors seemed to hate doing it, I'm not going to blame them, but unintentionally or not it does precisely what's needed.
Yes! "MOVE ALONG HOME" really does a great job at showing just how different Gamma Quadrant technology, aliens and values really are. I would like your post a dozen times if it were possible.
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