Why the hate for Masks?
- Thread starter FreddyE
- Start date
I didn't find Spiner's acting all that great in it, just the usual over-the-top acting he normally did when he got to play a character other than Data. The episode for me is just silly and doesn't make sense on numerous levels.
Agreed. I was going to chime in and call it over-acting, and that's exactly what it was. But you already nailed it.
No hate from me on this one. I've always enjoyed the episode a lot and struggle to comprehend why it ranks so highly on "worst of" polls. Again, I accept I'm in the minority here, but I do find Spiner's performance to be compelling and extremely well executed.
I just saw it again a few days ago. Very bizzare episode but i found it enjoyable and interesting. I liked Spiner's performance. He was playing characters from that planet's mythology so a little over the topness seemed appropriate.
I just find it weird. Sometimes shows were just so off the wall. It wasn't horrible, just weird. It takes adjusting to even seen Brent Spiner in any role other than Data. Seeing Data with emotions and acting out of character was just weird. It was interesting, but weird.
After a sigh of disappointment and a dramatic roll of the eyes, I filed it in the that was bollocks box and barely gave it another thought, except when given cause to ponder season seven, where I momentarily recalled its rubbishness and promptly closed the box lid.
Yeah...it may be a bit of overacting, but appropriate here. The different personalities he takes were supposed to be jarring and strange. I must confess that my opinion might be influenced by the fact that the first time I saw that episode it was in its german dubbed version (although I have watched it un-dubbed by now). The german voice actors always tended to play everthing a bit more understated then the original back then.
I don't think it's as bad as some people make out. It did get resolved pretty suddenly though.
I'm not sure this is the type of episode where a cleaned up version will affect your opinion, but who knows.
I liked it, concept-wise at least. The idea of a balky library probe re-designing the ship is interesting.
It "redesigning the ship" is one of the things that bugged me. It converted several decks and sections of the ship into a huge temple. That, even given all of the Treknology we see, is just... a bit absurd. You can't tell me the removal of those bulkheads, conduits and other spaceshipy things would have catastrophic impacts on the ship's operation beyond the minor annoyances we see in the episode.
And then everything just fades back to normal at the end, those room and such just go right back to how they're supposed to be. One of the dumber elements of the episode and, really, probably the element that makes the episode unlikable to me the most. Well, that and the over-acting by Spiner. It's really, really, cringe inducing watching him chew scenery like a dinner-theater actor in Willy Wonka's playland.
And then everything just fades back to normal at the end, those room and such just go right back to how they're supposed to be. One of the dumber elements of the episode and, really, probably the element that makes the episode unlikable to me the most. Well, that and the over-acting by Spiner. It's really, really, cringe inducing watching him chew scenery like a dinner-theater actor in Willy Wonka's playland.
I disliked it for the fact of it being the latest, and lamest in a long line of "something takes control over Data" episodes.
It's not the cleaning up of the episode that I think will change my mind. I just haven't seen it since it aired so maybe the passage of time will make a difference.
Almost an exact duplicate of this thread occurred about a year ago. I think I give many good reasons why it shouldn't be hated. I stand by everything I said. I can't wait to see the beautiful episode in HD!!
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=140025&highlight=Masks
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=140025&highlight=Masks
This.
Personally, I quite liked that episode. It touched on the ancient beliefs of worlds and civilizations long dead that found a way to live again through Data; albeit temporarily. It was still a very good watch. It gave Brent a whole new canvas to paint on with Data; a chance to show his "real colors" as an actor as it were.
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