The Most Disliked Episode of VGR, Final Round: 2021 Edition...

[Brobdingnag]

.... a professional wrestler a break at acting outside the ring.

In a manner of speaking, he was still inside a ring, so basically, his acting consisted in just... being himself.

 

[Farscape One]

I will say this about The Rock... he was a terrible actor at this point in his career.

But he has grown considerably in his acting skills since then. Definitely a clear difference between "TSUNKATSE" to today.

 

[Sakonna]

As for "Tsunkatse," it just seems so [obscenity] ridiculous to write and produce a ST episode solely for the purposes of (1) cross-promoting ST and professional exhibition wrestling (I can't imagine two more different target audiences), and (2) giving a professional wrestler a break at acting outside the ring.

I find it delightful that when "Tsunkatse" was originally produced, it was Voyager that was slumming with a pro-wrestler.

Watch it for the first time today, and it's the worlds biggest movie star slumming in cheesy sci-fi.

"Tsunkatse" is one I hated at the time and have changed my tune recently -- I found it a very fun rewatch a year or two ago. A lot of cool visuals & aliens in this one, and some great guest performances. A very solid episode, for me. I also like how it's a rare Seven-centric episode that has nothing really to do with the Borg or Borg-related issues.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I will say this about The Rock... he was a terrible actor at this point in his career.

But he has grown considerably in his acting skills since then. Definitely a clear difference between "TSUNKATSE" to today.

Also worth noting he was probably specifically instructed to just do his wrestling character.

Tsunkatsae is an okay episode. At the time it was just more obvious they were desperately pandering to the audience of the WWE lead in they had. Voyager was the most blatantly ratings conscious Trek show and Tsunkatsae was its most blatantly ratings conscious episode.

 

[Farscape One]

One other thing to note is that VOYAGER is the only series in the franchise that launched a network. In fact, I think it's the ONLY show on UPN that lasted more than 5 years. The fact it had STAR TREK to its name is likely the only reason it lasted as long.

Same can be said about ENTERPRISE, because that show had even more cards stacked against. (People switching more and more away from main networks, a network head that didn't even like STAR TREK, no break for the franchise, etc.)