Unfortunately "Tapestry" had John DeLancie which brings any episode down a notch or five.
Best Picard episodes?
- Thread starter ReadyAndWilling
- Start date
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
Tapestry. Best episode of the series.
I haven't seen Chain of Command mentioned yet, so I'll go with that one. Warner and Stewart were great together, and I think it's the only episode of any series where it really got the horrors of torture right without being gratuitous. And for good measure you can see part one because I find Part 1 a bit underrated.
Anyone who likes Q is wrong but ok.
If loving Q is wrong, then I don't want to be right!
Use of "here, here" is probably correlated with liking Q, deriving as they do from a common cause.
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Everyone has a right to "their" own opinion, but some opinions are based on more careful observation than others.
It's similar to reactions to laugh tracks in TV comedies. Some people like laugh tracks, but such opinions are based on lack of sophistication: these people only have to have things explained overly explicitly in order to understand them because they do not watch shows carefully. As a person learns more about comedy and about acting, he finds laugh tracks increasingly annoying because they overemphasize what he would have been able otherwise to infer.
De Lancie's overacting - his broad humor, grating voice, obnoxious body language - is like a laugh track in that it is easy to appreciate for careless viewers. But that exact same overemphasis makes the portrayal annoying for people who pay close attention and who thus do not want obvious dramatic points belabored. A great actor like Spiner or Stewart can portray more with a slight change in the tilt of his head than de Lancie can in five minutes of hamming.
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And some people's opinions are based solely on what entertains them. And since we're discussing a TV program, that is the first criteria they'll use in judging an episode.
It's why an episode like The Inner Light fails for me, it doesn't entertain me.
Geeze, give the Condescension a rest and stop insulting people with this "Unsophisticated" insult. Your posts are coming off as extremely childish. I've read posts by 10 year olds that are more mature than yours.
Throwing around insults calling other people careless and unsophisticated viewers does the exact opposite of making you look Intelligent and educated
It's why an episode like The Inner Light fails for me, it doesn't entertain me.
And that, sir, is your right.
As they say, different strokes. Just because someone doesn't agree, doesn't make either correct, because a person's likes are subjective.
Don't sweat it Sindatur. I learned long ago not to feed them. Besides, even though I might be wrong, between n.... and You Will Fail, it sounds like there is an echo in here. Just sayin.
And some people's opinions are based solely on what entertains them. ...
It's why an episode like The Inner Light fails for me, it doesn't entertain me.
Yes, yes, I understand that "Inner Light" fails for you, and that you think that "Pen Pal" is one of the great Picard episodes, etc. etc. etc.
And I understand you have a right to those opinions. For some odd reason every third poster in this message board seems terrified of being denied the right to his opinions, and posts that crucial fact.
But can't you understand that your opinion of shows like Inner Light are based only on the fact that you are viewing the shows in a superficial, careless manner? Just look at your posts - all you ever say is that you "like" or "dislike" an episode - you are not able to analyze comprehensively the different artistic facets of an episode in an objective way. That emotional reaction to the gestalt of an episode is one pretty clear sign of an unsophisticated viewer: you have not learned how to watch each detail and how to separate out or even discern great acting, great writing, and so on, and to articulate exactly the strengths and weaknesses of each facet of the craft's expression. Even apart from acting, you do not seem to notice major plot flaws in episodes, such as Pulaski's comment to Worf in Pen Pal, which I discussed elsewhere. This pattern - ignoring key plot points, failing to appreciate great acting - comes from watching carelessly. You are missing so much in each episode that you could be seeing if you just looked.
If you want to learn to be "entertained" as you put it by the better episodes, like Inner Light, there is simply no shortcut other than learning to watch episodes more closely. If you don't want to do that, that is your prerogative; if you do, I have a post with suggestions to start here: http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=6001261&postcount=84 . And of course, if you learn to appreciate the subtler episodes, like Inner Light, that exact same education will teach you to dislike the inferior ones, like Pen Pal (as well as unsubtle characters like Q or Wesley).
Also, it befuddles my why so many posters here are so defensive about being called unsophisticated viewers. Surely you realize most people, by definition, are not that sophisticated in their viewing. And you must realize that if all you can post about is whether you "like" or "dislike" some episode or character, that your analysis is superficial, right?
I mean, do you honestly believe, looking at your comments, that any of your TNG opinions are sophisticated or based on close analysis? If not, can't you see how much more you would appreciate the show if you learned to watch it more closely?
I am concededly a bit new to this board and it seem amazing to me, this place. First, that so many posters have opinions that show they completely misunderstand TNG specifically and even how to watch drama in general. Second, that they all seem convinced that they are deep, sophisticated dramatic analysts and instantly become furious if someone suggests to them, hey, maybe they should perhaps watch some of these shows a bit more carefully. I mean, not only are the opinions naive, but you all think they're brilliant! It's bizarre.
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I have never seen anyone put it like this, but I think it makes a ton of sense, especially the bolded part.
Agreed. Until this thread, I didn't realize there were people out there that don't like Q.
And some people's opinions are based solely on what entertains them. ...
It's why an episode like The Inner Light fails for me, it doesn't entertain me.
Yes, yes, I understand that "Inner Light" fails for you, and that you think that "Pen Pal" is one of the great Picard episodes, etc. etc. etc.
And I understand you have a right to those opinions. For some odd reason every third poster in this message board seems terrified of being denied the right to his opinions, and posts that crucial fact.
But can't you understand that your opinion of shows like Inner Light are based only on the fact that you are viewing the shows in a superficial, careless manner? Just look at your posts - all you ever say is that you "like" or "dislike" an episode - you are not able to analyze comprehensively the different artistic facets of an episode in an objective way. That emotional reaction to the gestalt of an episode is one pretty clear sign of an unsophisticated viewer: you have not learned how to watch each detail and how to separate out or even discern great acting, great writing, and so on, and to articulate exactly the strengths and weaknesses of each facet of the craft's expression. Even apart from acting, you do not seem to notice major plot flaws in episodes, such as Pulaski's comment to Worf in Pen Pal, which I discussed elsewhere. This pattern - ignoring key plot points, failing to appreciate great acting - comes from watching carelessly. You are missing so much in each episode that you could be seeing if you just looked.
If you want to learn to be "entertained" as you put it by the better episodes, like Inner Light, there is simply no shortcut other than learning to watch episodes more closely. If you don't want to do that, that is your prerogative; if you do, I have a post with suggestions to start here: http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=6001261&postcount=84 . And of course, if you learn to appreciate the subtler episodes, like Inner Light, that exact same education will teach you to dislike the inferior ones, like Pen Pal (as well as unsubtle characters like Q or Wesley).
Also, it befuddles my why so many posters here are so defensive about being called unsophisticated viewers. Surely you realize most people, by definition, are not that sophisticated in their viewing. And you must realize that if all you can post about is whether you "like" or "dislike" some episode or character, that your analysis is superficial, right?
I mean, do you honestly believe, looking at your comments, that any of your TNG opinions are sophisticated or based on close analysis? If not, can't you see how much more you would appreciate the show if you learned to watch it more closely?
I am concededly a bit new to this board and it seem amazing to me, this place. First, that so many posters have opinions that show they completely misunderstand TNG specifically and even how to watch drama in general. Second, that they all seem convinced that they are deep, sophisticated dramatic analysts and instantly become furious if someone suggests to them, hey, maybe they should perhaps watch some of these shows a bit more carefully. I mean, not only are the opinions naive, but you all think they're brilliant! It's bizarre.
I'm going to repeat what I said in the other thread: it's not your opinions that are ticking people off, it's the way you convey them. The condescension, the superiority complex, the hostility, the accusations. Everyone here has an opinion or an idea, and that's fine. You want your opinions discussed and accepted? You'll have to calm down on the language of provocation. Ideas can be exchanged here, and minds can and often do change, but not when one looks to incite conflict. It is illogical to keep posting like that and expect people to bend over to accept your ideas. The great irony here is that for all your posturing, you fail to grasp the simple concept of civility and diplomacy.
I dare you to notice other posters who share your opinions and ideas (and yes! They exist!) -- and why they seem to get a greater response of acceptance than you. Notice they don't get called out by mods even after pages and pages of civil discussion with posters who disagree with them. Ask yourself why that is? Answer that and you'll find the community a much happier place. Talk to people as if they're equals, not inferiors. Tiberius and I hardly agree in that other thread, but I feel we can talk despite our differences because we can keep it civil -- I know where's coming from in his observations, and I don't agree with them, but I don't think he's my inferior in the slightest. Your condescension prevents the exchange of ideas, and the lack of exchange prevents any sort of growth for any involved.
That's gonna be my last reply to you for a while. This is up to the mods, not me. But consider this just some friendly advice. People come here to relax, converse, and exchange ideas, not to be lectured and belittled from a high horse. In the meantime, I'm taking a walk to cool off.
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Wait, are you saying that people don't have a right to an opinion unless it's carefully considered and analyzed to death? Talk about holier than thou.
ReadyAndWilling
Fleet Captain
thanks, yah i saw Genesis a while ago and really enjoyed it.
i'll try and check out 'Gambit' soon.
Superficial, careless manner?
I'm not required to say anything more than whether I like or dislike an episode. But you want analysis? What the hell, let me count the ways The Inner Light fails...
1. Jonathan Frakes. Once again his ability to act serious reminds you of someone who is constipated and unable to pass stool.
2. Riker. His actions are non-sensical and there wholly to add urgency to an episode that lacks any.
3. The probe. This probe has traveled light-years and just happens upon a humanoid that it can link up with. Talk about coincidence. This makes the coincidences in Star Trek 2009 look downright practical.
4. The doctor, the administrator, the wife and Kamin's best friend are all white. The only person of color we see is stuck in the background. Talk about diversity.
5. Stockholm Syndrome. The episode at its' core is about mind rape. Picard is forced to live a life that he hasn't chosen to live. The scene with the flute at the end is him empathizing with his captors. People would've been ill to see Troi empathize with Jev at the end of Violations and rightly so. It's no different here. Plus, this is the second time in two seasons we've seen Picard mind raped.
Does Patrick Stewart give a good performance? Of course he does. And I would expect nothing less given Stewart's record up to that point. The Inner Light was the series 125th episode. But if you think this is his finest performance, then you've missed alot of great episodes.
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