Same here. It is like Voyager’s THE THAW.
Both art films... two of my favorite episodes
Masks... why all the hate?
- Thread starter TroiFan4ever
- Start date
Both art films... two of my favorite episodes
I have always loved "Masks", and I will always defend it. It's a great episode for many reasons.
1. The mood and atmosphere is very creepy, and very well done. This could be a Halloween episode. (My favorite holiday.)
2. It has the rare distinction of not only finding something from a long dead civilization, but the crew is interacting with parts and personalities from that civilization.
3. A great premise. The ship itself is being turned into an ancient city, complete with people, too. I thought it was very inventive, especially in a season that was low on creativity.
4. Superb use of Brent Spiner's acting abilities. Considering he had no time to really create his characters plus coming directly after another Data heavy episode, it just illustrates how fantastic he is.
5. A rare use of Picard's love of archaeology. It's even a key element in solving the episode.
6. It centers on a culture deeply rooted in mythology. This is more a personal taste than anything, but I love mythology, and Joe Menosky was the go-to mythology writer of the franchise. A reason why he's one of my favorites.
These are just some of the reasons why I also never understood the hate for "Masks". Until I joined this site, I never even knew this episode was so hated.
1. The mood and atmosphere is very creepy, and very well done. This could be a Halloween episode. (My favorite holiday.)
2. It has the rare distinction of not only finding something from a long dead civilization, but the crew is interacting with parts and personalities from that civilization.
3. A great premise. The ship itself is being turned into an ancient city, complete with people, too. I thought it was very inventive, especially in a season that was low on creativity.
4. Superb use of Brent Spiner's acting abilities. Considering he had no time to really create his characters plus coming directly after another Data heavy episode, it just illustrates how fantastic he is.
5. A rare use of Picard's love of archaeology. It's even a key element in solving the episode.
6. It centers on a culture deeply rooted in mythology. This is more a personal taste than anything, but I love mythology, and Joe Menosky was the go-to mythology writer of the franchise. A reason why he's one of my favorites.
These are just some of the reasons why I also never understood the hate for "Masks". Until I joined this site, I never even knew this episode was so hated.
While I'm not a fan of this episode I do like Brent Spiner's different characters.
"Masks" is the only TNG episode I've never watched. Season 7 was such a shit show that when I saw the trailer for this episode, I was immediately turned off. I got as far as the cold open (which was awful, as expected) and bailed.
Every now and then, I think "Wow, there's still one TNG episode I've never seen! I should watch it." But, fuck "Masks". It doesn't deserve the attention.
Every now and then, I think "Wow, there's still one TNG episode I've never seen! I should watch it." But, fuck "Masks". It doesn't deserve the attention.
But.... what if? What if it is actually something you might like? You've seen all the others, why not this one too?
At the time, I was so utterly demoralized by how bad (most of) Season 7 was, I couldn't take another crap episode.
Although, looking at the episode list now, there were more than a few good episodes prior to Masks and most of the bad ones were after. So it was my skewed perception.
Still, I've gone this long. Don't see the need to watch something I know will be bad.
Same guy who said he'd keep watching LDS because only 58% of it was crap, in his opinion.
So, what's your breakdown of S7 TNG?
If I knew there was one episode of TNG out there that I had missed I would most definitely watch it.
Ihat was severely annoying. Like the Ace Ventura of outer space.
Still, there isn't a single TNG episode I won't watch repeatedly. This one in particular is intriguing in that it is a blatant homage to secret societies (e.g., the Illuminati). Just read between the lines...
DATA-MASAKA: You are a fine hunter but I am a powerful prey. You will never catch me.
PICARD: Do you want to be the prey forever?
DATA-MASAKA: I thought I was alone. I thought I would not have to share the sky with you.
PICARD: But without me you are not complete. I know you so well. You live for the chase, as do I. Will you not miss being the hunter, pursuing me, forcing me from the sky so that you can rise again?
DATA-MASAKA: You know me well, Korgano.
PICARD: I think that you are beginning to tire. It is difficult, brightening the sky forever.
DATA-MASAKA: I am getting sleepy. You always do that to me.
PICARD: So that you can wake with the dawn and begin the hunt again.
DATA-MASAKA: Let the hunt begin again. I am eager for that.
Still, there isn't a single TNG episode I won't watch repeatedly. This one in particular is intriguing in that it is a blatant homage to secret societies (e.g., the Illuminati). Just read between the lines...
DATA-MASAKA: You are a fine hunter but I am a powerful prey. You will never catch me.
PICARD: Do you want to be the prey forever?
DATA-MASAKA: I thought I was alone. I thought I would not have to share the sky with you.
PICARD: But without me you are not complete. I know you so well. You live for the chase, as do I. Will you not miss being the hunter, pursuing me, forcing me from the sky so that you can rise again?
DATA-MASAKA: You know me well, Korgano.
PICARD: I think that you are beginning to tire. It is difficult, brightening the sky forever.
DATA-MASAKA: I am getting sleepy. You always do that to me.
PICARD: So that you can wake with the dawn and begin the hunt again.
DATA-MASAKA: Let the hunt begin again. I am eager for that.
Masks is definitely a bottom ten TNG episode but that still makes it better than like 75% of VOY and Enterprise. Just to keep it in perspective.
S7 of TNG is also still really good, just not as good as most of what came before.
S7 of TNG is also still really good, just not as good as most of what came before.
I kept watching Lower Decks because there were glimmers of potential. I wanted to see if they managed to get ahold of their show or not. And because it was low commitment - a short season of short episodes. I definitely won't be tuning into Lower Decks Season 7 if it slides back into consistent poor quality.
By the time "Masks" rolled around, I was able to spot a stinker a mile off. It looked horrible and, by reputation, most people rightly hated it. That still means I watched 99.4% of TNG, even its bad episodes. But forgive me for skipping one episode that I knew was going to be a waste of time.
Descent 2: Horrible
Liaisons: Horrible
Interface: Actually, not bad and underrated
Gambit: Fun!
Phantasms: Mediocre
Dark Page: My memories of it are vague, but bad
Attached: Good
Force Of Nature: Horrible and insulting
Parallels: Great!
The Pegasus: Great!
Homeward: mediocre
Sub Rose: batshit insane
Lower Decks: Great!
Thine Own Self: Solid, if fairly routine
Masks: N/A
Eye of the Beholder: Bad
Genesis: Horrible
Journey's End: Bad
Firstborn: Mediocre
Bloodlines: Bad
Emergence: Bad
Preemptive Strike: Good
AGT: Great
"Masks" wasn't perfect by any means but I still enjoyed it. It dared to do something DIFFERENT. It wasn't just a spaceship-of-the-week thing. I was fascinated by an artifact that old - almost a billiion years, IIRC - turning up.
And I'm rather ashamed to admit that it took me longer than it should to pick up on the fact that Masaka is the sun and Korgano is the moon.
And I'm rather ashamed to admit that it took me longer than it should to pick up on the fact that Masaka is the sun and Korgano is the moon.
Well if Seasons 2-6 are good, I don't care if we get one clunker.
No seasons are immune. Each season has its fair share of awful episodes and at least a half-dozen more that are deeply mediocre and forgettable.
Season 7 is 50% crap.
Prefer Season 1 and 2 to the later seasons, honestly. Unpopular opinion for sure.
Your precognitive powers are amazing!
I definitely won't be tuning into Lower Decks Season 7 if it slides back into consistent poor quality.
I remember "Masks" being a bit bizarre, but not worthy of "hate." And just briefly glancing over this thread gives me the urge to watch it for what is probably the first time since TNG ended its first run.
I'd say more like 10% is crap.
MY S7 thoughts:
Descent 2: A letdown
Liaisons: Had its moments (mostly concerning Worf).
Interface: Mediocre
Gambit: Didn't see, but it's on my to-do list
Phantasms: Liked it.
Dark Page: Not bad.
Attached: Pretty good.
Force Of Nature: Below average
Parallels: Introduced Worf/Troi
The Pegasus: Pretty good
Homeward: Not as bad as some think, but character assassination at its worst.
Sub Rosa: So bad it's good.
Lower Decks: A gem in a mediocre season.
Thine Own Self: Had some real issues.
Masks: Pretty good, I thought.
Eye of the Beholder: So bad it's awful.
Genesis: Decent.
Journey's End: Not the way I wanted to see Wesley off.
Firstborn: Below average.
Bloodlines: Forgotten, don't want to watch it again.
Emergence: A cop out.
Preemptive Strike: Didn't see it, don't want to.
AGT: A very engaging finale.
Descent 2: A letdown
Liaisons: Had its moments (mostly concerning Worf).
Interface: Mediocre
Gambit: Didn't see, but it's on my to-do list
Phantasms: Liked it.
Dark Page: Not bad.
Attached: Pretty good.
Force Of Nature: Below average
Parallels: Introduced Worf/Troi
The Pegasus: Pretty good
Homeward: Not as bad as some think, but character assassination at its worst.
Sub Rosa: So bad it's good.
Lower Decks: A gem in a mediocre season.
Thine Own Self: Had some real issues.
Masks: Pretty good, I thought.
Eye of the Beholder: So bad it's awful.
Genesis: Decent.
Journey's End: Not the way I wanted to see Wesley off.
Firstborn: Below average.
Bloodlines: Forgotten, don't want to watch it again.
Emergence: A cop out.
Preemptive Strike: Didn't see it, don't want to.
AGT: A very engaging finale.
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