I never understood why "The Royale" got so much flack. It's one of those early-season TNG episodes that relishes it's own weirdness, and I think it does so really well.
It's an interesting concept, has some genuine creepiness and mystery, and Worf gets some amazing comedic gems ("We call it Theta 8," "Perhaps these turbolifts can take us there," and his interactions with the room service caller). The idea of being surrounded by a bunch of NPC's is really ahead of its time, actually.
It's hit or miss at times, but it's a clever use of the "fish out of water" that doesn't feel overdone or using an oversized mallet to say "ha-ha-ain't-I-funnee" (which TFF sadly descended into). The big reveal/climax (paraphrased) where aliens rescued a human and put him in this simulation under the misguided belief that the book reflected real life is very tragic, and - tragic element aside - may have been partial inspiration for that late-90s historical document called "Galaxy Quest".
Say what you want about "Code of Honor", it has a laser cage spiked ball catfight. If anything can make a movie or TV episode so bad it's good, it's that.
The episode is a misfire, but most of the "catfight" isn't bad. And given the use of fluorescent lights to simulate flesh-tearing razors as the cost to superimpose cel animation or then-possible CGI overlaid (since direct integration was not cost-effective), the dangers OF the set do make the scene that much more tense, if not as accidental 4th wall happenstance.
The basic plot idea that Picard would ditch his prime directive while Lutan adheres to his code of honor is also interesting, despite the poor scripting and handling of it. If nothing else, Kirk would be more in-character to react that way.
I feel like there can be a general, unmerited disdain for episodes that feature what I call the "A Piece of The Action" factor, when instead of space or alien world themed settings, Star Trek uses the much more affordable period sets/costumes of Earth. It takes a special kind of plot to put our futuristic astronauts in those scenarios & have it play well to a sci-fi audience, who are eager for space fantasy. Time travel concepts help a lot. Holodeck stories pick up some of the slack (which The Royale flirts with being)
It'd be interesting if "A Piece of the Action" had been made without as much overt comedy. it almost feels self-aware as the TOS trope of "Previous starship captain left something behind and contaminated the locals". Actually, "Patterns of Force" is a great example of the same trope played utter serious. Both stories have their fans and detractors, so it's nice that the same trope could largely be carried out similarly - just change the historical reference and name of captain. One way or another, the story will ♪
rub you the right way ♫ /ThatsNotTheJohnGillReferenceYouWereExpecting.
I'm always forgiving of this aspect, IF there's some kind of good concept behind it, especially since I understand that it's helpful budgetarily. I wouldn't rank The Royale as the best of those, but it's got something to go on, tying it to the dead astronaut, in an inventive way. It's a smarter premise than just "Oh, this world is inhabited by 20s gangsters, because cultural pollution" lol.
^^this
Plus, it was recent when I'd read that Maurice Hurley had rewrote it (to the dismay of Torme) and Hurley's changes had a positive impact, as well as reduction in humor to allow the more dramatic/tragic angles have more weight to them (IMHO, YMMV).
My only gripe with this episode is Picard so snobbishly finding the book to be crappy. My dude... You play a noir detective on the holodeck! How much better written can Dixon Hill possibly be? I've seen some of those programs, my guy.
LOL! Great point. Picard, being enlightened 24th century and all, doesn't seem to be the type (especially post-season 2) to be so selective as such. I do wonder, though, and in accidental and abstract hindsight, if "Dixon Hill" can work as a loose metaphor regarding the quality of TNG seasons 3-7 whereas "The Royale" is metaphor for seasons 1-2. Same genre (or in this case, same series) but the tone and style of both being so different at times. Heck, TNG1-4 vs 5-7 is another schism in its own ways too. Yet both "Hill" and "Royale" are the same genre... even in the 24th century, it still shows how entertainment is based on the audience's preferences. A shame Picard never really got interested in Holmes beyond donning a top hat to tell the sentient hologram to "go away" ...
