The Most Disliked Episode of VGR, Season 6: 2021 Edition...

[Farscape One]

This is a twist on a game that is played here, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "THE FIGHT"
2018 - "FAVORITE SON"
2019 - "SPIRIT FOLK"
2021 - "FURY"


Season Six -

EQUINOX, PART II
SURVIVAL INSTINCT
BARGE OF THE DEAD
TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY
ALICE
RIDDLES
DRAGON'S TEETH
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
LIVE FAST AND PROSPER
MUSE
FURY
LIFE LINE
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Farscape One]

Season 6... no season in the franchise is as schizoprenic in terms of quality as this one. We start out great, go to meh, to good, to bad, to awful, to great, to bad, to good, to horrible, to great, to bad. A rollercoaster of quality.

I will save the first gem of the season... "SURVIVAL INSTINCT". This was the only one Ronald D. Moore did for this show, and it just underscores why he was sorely missed.

Some great humor moments in here, which is a hallmark of Moore. Like the plant grabbing Janeway, or her asking Tom and Harry if they won the fight.

But the real meat of the story is Seven. Great story, great guest cast, and Jeri Ryan in her usual high quality acting.

It's a sad ending, but it's actually a hopeful and good one... they got what they wanted, and can live again. Really live, if only for a short while.

Damned shame the writing environment was not conducive to having Moore stay.


EQUINOX, PART II
BARGE OF THE DEAD
TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY
ALICE
RIDDLES
DRAGON'S TEETH
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
LIVE FAST AND PROSPER
MUSE
FURY
LIFE LINE
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Oddish]

I will save Life Line, because it has Barclay, Deanna, and two Robert Picardo characters.

EQUINOX, PART II
BARGE OF THE DEAD
TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY
ALICE
RIDDLES
DRAGON'S TEETH
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
LIVE FAST AND PROSPER
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Sakonna]

"Dragon's Teeth" A cool adversary -- one which it would have actually made sense to keep running into! So, naturally, they're the ones we never see again.

EQUINOX, PART II
BARGE OF THE DEAD
TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
LIVE FAST AND PROSPER
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Farscape One]

My next save is one of my all time favorites of the series... "TINKER TENOR DOCTOR SPY".

Fantastic comedy, and just some great character beats for The Doctor, who in the end just wants to be the best he can be for his friends and crew.

It also has a special personal place in my heart because when I met Robert Picardo, he actually sang the Vulcan aria (the funniest teaser in the ENTIRE franchise) with me! My camera died just before I got to him, so I couldn't record it. But I will never forget that experience.


EQUINOX, PART II
BARGE OF THE DEAD
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
LIVE FAST AND PROSPER
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Seven of Five]

Barge of the Dead is one of my favourite B'Elanna episodes and continues the strong start to the season. Outside of Day of Honor, B'Elanna hasn't really embraced her Klingon side, and we know she tries not to engage with it. So forcing her to go on this quest on the barge, to save her mother's honour, is great viewing.

Roxann Dawson is her usual brilliant self.

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
LIVE FAST AND PROSPER
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[at Quark's]

Since I see no absolute favourites jumping out at this point, I'll save Live Fast and Prosper.

To be honest, I don't think it is an absolutely stellar episode of Voyager, just average, but certainly not the worst of the lot, and therefore a safe choice.

Why this particular one, then? Well, because it is simply a fun idea: people trying to scam off on the good name that Voyager apparently built up for itself in this region. Once again, its most redeeming feature is that this episode doesn't take itself seriously and just aims at giving 45 minutes of entertainment without higher goals. Nothing wrong with some lighter fare every now and then, as long as it's done well.


EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
BLINK OF AN EYE
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Removing Blink of an Eye. The Voyager episode so good it was shamelessly copied by Orville. Just a cool idea, really well executed. You just wonder where they are now cause they should have passed another thousands of years by the next episode.

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
PATHFINDER
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Oddish]

I read somewhere that this was a schizophrenic year... awesome episodes, good ones, decent ones, and trash... all mixed together like a mystery meat stew. I'll save Pathfinder, for though some of the Barclay scenes were tough to watch, given that I deal with some of the same issues he does, his final vindication and Voyager's first contact with home are sweet indeed.

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
GOOD SHEPHERD
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[at Quark's]

Removing Good Shepherd. It's nice to see some Voyager crewmembers that had a bit more trouble fitting in, and seeing Janeways attempts at making them fit in better (and ultimately, probably make them feel more at home on the ship). Even though that concern does come a bit late. I mean, Janeway bragging before taking command she could walk the corridors blindfolded (Relativity), but after six years of command can't find her way on deck 15? Sounds like she hasn't divided her attention over all parts of the ship (and crew) equally those years ...

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
MUSE
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Seven of Five]

Muse is one of my favourite Joe Menosky episodes, as we see B'Elanna's shuttle crash affect a man to write plays about her.

EDIT: I removed Good Shepard from the list as well as me and at Quark's posted at the sane time and I missed it.

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Oddish]

Even though that concern does come a bit late. I mean, Janeway bragging before taking command she could walk the corridors blindfolded (Relativity), but after six years of command can't find her way on deck 15? Sounds like she hasn't divided her attention over all parts of the ship (and crew) equally those years ...

Been watching TrekCulture videos much?

 

[at Quark's]

Been watching TrekCulture videos much?

Not that I recall, name doesn't ring a bell. But I'll google them

 

[Oddish]

Go to YouTube and check out "Worst things Janeway has done". It states almost word for word the issue you mentioned with "Good Shepherd".

 

[at Quark's]

If I do that, I get a video just barely a month old by TrekCulture, which makes me absolutely certain I haven't seen it. (unless there is an older version that Youtube doesn't show me).

I can't entirely preclude the possibility that there's an older source we both got it from (and I forgot). But I might just have had the same thought independently, as well.

 

[Oddish]

That's the one. I guess you and TrekCulture just coincidentally think exactly alike.

Of course, given #1 on the list, you could arguably make a similar accusation regarding me.

Although eligible to remove another one, I'm going to wait. I like to have at least 4-5 people go before I chop another one. The list remains:

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
MEMORIAL
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "MEMORIAL".

This was a great concept done well. But possibly the most impressive thing about this episode was the acting of Beltran, McNeill, Wang, and Phillips. They ALL did a phenomenal job here. Their trauma felt completely real.

And while it can be argued Janeway essentially will allow people going forward to suffer without consent, she did place warning markers. And I did love the nice touch of Neelix being the only one saying those colonists deserve to be remembered... given his past, it makes the most sense he would be the one to advocate that. I'm glad the writers remembered.


EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
RIDDLES
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Brobdingnag]

Saving "RIDDLES", one of those rare instances of a non-annoying Neelix and a very unusual Tuvok.

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
ONE SMALL STEP
THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO

 

[Brobdingnag]

About "Riddles". I think it poses the same problem even more acutely than Tuvix did. Why does a certain individual have more of a right to exist than another? Of course, this time Tuvokish (sort of Tuvok) saved Janeway from the dilemma by volunteering to undergo the procedure that would annihilate him but imagine if she did it again (which probably) she would, force Tuvokish to give up his life because of some twisted sense of value that some lives are more worth saving than others... Personally, I think it's the definition of fascism, right there. Janeway is nothing but a jackbooted autocrat.

 

[BoTWoT]

Saving THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY. Interesting twists and turns all the way to a nice moment of Seven realizing she's finally an individual, but is part of the family. It's really a nice turning point for the character.

EQUINOX, PART II
ALICE
ONE SMALL STEP
FAIR HAVEN
VIRTUOSO
TSUNKATSE
COLLECTIVE
SPIRIT FOLK
ASHES TO ASHES
CHILD'S PLAY
FURY
THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
UNIMATRIX ZERO