Hey a Riker angst episode, just what I always wanted. :-D yes the clip parts were terrible but hey, can't be as bad as Sub Rosa. The only good thing about that episode was Riker commenting on the fog rolling in on the bridge ;-)
Shades Of Grey - Worst TNG Episode Ever
- Thread starter Similitude
- Start date
A
Amaris
Guest
Aw, I can't be the only person who really likes Riker.
J.
J.
I hated his guts at first. I saw him as a womanizing skirt chasing jerk. But slowly I started to get over that and I started liking the character a bit more.
So I don't hate him anymore, but he doesn't do it for me either. Jonathan Frakes unfortunately never had the acting chops of Patrick Stewart.
A
Amaris
Guest
Now see, I disagree. To me, Riker was the spitting image of James T. Kirk, but later on in the series, he developed his own sense of command and presence.
J.
A
Amaris
Guest
^ I don't know. I kind of liked that one, if only because he really gets it at the end.
Oh, and Marina Sirtis in smoking hot dress equals instant win.
J.
Oh, and Marina Sirtis in smoking hot dress equals instant win.
J.
Did someone just say "The Neutral Zone" was the worst episode?
A
Amaris
Guest
I thought "The Neutral Zone" was a good episode. Not great, but not bad.
J.
J.
This chimes with how I feel about Riker as well. To me he has always been a bit like James T. Kirk's little brother... Just as charming, just as adept at command, but somehow just not quite as sure of himself, somewhat in awe of Picard, never really able to shrug off that man's superiority and rise above it the way James T. could do with Spock. Probably even more overbearingly capable than Kirk, but with a lingering self-doubt that limits him at times.
In some ways TNG is a bit like TOS flipped on its head, with Spock as Captain and Kirk as first officer. Picard's Vulcan-like qualities are pretty well established, and Riker is in many ways the spitting image of Kirk. As a result the mood of TNG is more cerebral, calm and orderly, with its pulse buried much more deeply beneath the skin than in TOS, where Kirk is in command.
On topic, I can never get over Rascals as worst-ever episode for me personally. I just can't ever wrap my mind around why anyone ever thought we would want to watch child-versions of the characters run around for an hour
My brother and I found this episode kinda fun when we were younger. Obviously it isn't one of the series' highlights, but as a clip show it's more pointless filler than outrageously bad episode. I'd rank several below it.
Shades of Grey had some good moments in it too - I liked the small bits with Pulaski, O'Brien, Data and Geordi, and some of Riker's moments in the episode itself.
Many people mention "Code of Honor". Yes, I also agree it was the worst episode of season 1, but personally as I won't have anything bad to say about season 1 in general, all things considered, I still think there are several worse episodes than "Shades of Grey".
"Imaginary Friend" for instance...
Many people mention "Code of Honor". Yes, I also agree it was the worst episode of season 1, but personally as I won't have anything bad to say about season 1 in general, all things considered, I still think there are several worse episodes than "Shades of Grey".
"Imaginary Friend" for instance...
You are most certainly not the only one! Riker is easily my favorite character from The Next Generation.
It's a cheap and nasty clip show, but there was simply no alternative. For that reason, I'd inclined to forgive.
What's Code of Honor's excuse?
As for Riker, I think he was brilliant up to Best of Both Worlds, which is arguably his finest hour. The trouble is that it guts his character, because his character arc in that episode is all about proving that he's good enough to be a captain, and doesn't need to rely on Picard and the comfort zone of the Enterprise. Logically, he should have left the series to finally captain his own ship. He doesn't, and it's a step back for the character. Call it bad plotting in that episode, or whatever, but he was never quite the same afterward.
What's Code of Honor's excuse?
As for Riker, I think he was brilliant up to Best of Both Worlds, which is arguably his finest hour. The trouble is that it guts his character, because his character arc in that episode is all about proving that he's good enough to be a captain, and doesn't need to rely on Picard and the comfort zone of the Enterprise. Logically, he should have left the series to finally captain his own ship. He doesn't, and it's a step back for the character. Call it bad plotting in that episode, or whatever, but he was never quite the same afterward.
I don't think so. What Riker learned in those episodes, and what he showed everybody else, was that he had nothing to prove anymore to anyone, or to himself. He was capable of command, but if he wanted to remain on the Enterprise because of personal preference, then that was his perrogative.
Last edited:
I like Riker, hence the episode is not a total loss for me. I can think of other episodes which I like less.
A
Amaris
Guest
This chimes with how I feel about Riker as well. To me he has always been a bit like James T. Kirk's little brother... Just as charming, just as adept at command, but somehow just not quite as sure of himself, somewhat in awe of Picard, never really able to shrug off that man's superiority and rise above it the way James T. could do with Spock. Probably even more overbearingly capable than Kirk, but with a lingering self-doubt that limits him at times.
In some ways TNG is a bit like TOS flipped on its head, with Spock as Captain and Kirk as first officer. Picard's Vulcan-like qualities are pretty well established, and Riker is in many ways the spitting image of Kirk. As a result the mood of TNG is more cerebral, calm and orderly, with its pulse buried much more deeply beneath the skin than in TOS, where Kirk is in command.
On topic, I can never get over Rascals as worst-ever episode for me personally. I just can't ever wrap my mind around why anyone ever thought we would want to watch child-versions of the characters run around for an hour
Amen!
Anyhoo, "Rascals" was...fun, if very forgettable.
You are most certainly not the only one! Riker is easily my favorite character from The Next Generation.
Ah, that's good. It's good to see at least several people consider Riker their favorite character on TNG.
In fact, I just reached the end of Season Two on DVD, and just watched "Shades of Gray". It actually is a decent episode, and holds it's own quite well. Season Two has become one of my favorite seasons, and I now feel bad knowing Pulaski won't be there next season, as she has grown on me.
J.
Similar threads
