Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG season 1

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by Lance, Nov 21, 2013.

  1. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Oh, really ...

    Well, there were exceptions.
     
  2. LMFAOschwarz

    LMFAOschwarz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    I wasn't disagreeing with you, 2T...I was just noting that there were exceptions, whether by accident or design. Of course I suppose it makes a difference if a script calls for 'night'!
     
  3. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Go on ... disagree with me! I want to get a heated debate going. Maybe I'll start a thread over whether or not Gene Roddenberry ever employed The Casting Couch during the original run of STAR TREK.
     
  4. LMFAOschwarz

    LMFAOschwarz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    We'd have to make it over something we disagree on, though! :lol:
     
  5. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    ... HA!!!

    Just a bit of Arsenal of Freedom trivia, here:
    The very beautiful Asian helmsman with the cute voice is, or was, married to David Soul, who played as one of the young Feeders of Vaal with the most lines, I think, in THE APPLE. They have a daughter, as I recall, who's a singer of some note.
     
  6. LMFAOschwarz

    LMFAOschwarz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    A "singer" of some "note" :guffaw:

    I did not know that, and yes, she was very cute!

    And that they have a daughter. I guess he kept on "imitating the strangers"! :)
     
  7. MakeshiftPython

    MakeshiftPython Commodore Commodore

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Except TNG (and even the best of TOS) had done much more convincing indoor set alien worlds other times despite budget constraints, which is why I say the one in "Aresenal" is below standards.
     
  8. SpHeRe31459

    SpHeRe31459 Captain Captain

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Yes it badly needed a matte painting or something. Not the random color cyclotron backlight against the stage wall, that we saw so often in TOS, especially in S3 as they tried to save money.
     
  9. JirinPanthosa

    JirinPanthosa Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Arsenal of Freedom is easily my favorite season 1 episode.

    It's hard to say why. Mostly because it gave the crew a more interesting enemy to overcome, I guess. It's the first time we see the Ent-D crew thinking like Kirk and using clever tactics to overcome a problem.

    I don't think any of the alien world sets from the first two seasons are very good, honestly. Just a flat, boring set with a lot of dry ice.
     
  10. Timewalker

    Timewalker Cat-lovin', Star Trekkin' Time Lady Premium Member

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    What's wrong with the BC forests? :confused:

    I used to go hiking on Vancouver Island and in the Rockies. I love the forests in that province, and I'm pleased to see them when they turn up in TV shows. They're a reminder of some really nice holidays.


    Something that's irritated me for many years about this episode. Why does the title refer to "freedom"? Is there some part of the story that deals with freedom (or the theme of freedom) that I totally missed? :confused:
     
  11. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    I suspect "Freedom" refers to America's justification for possessing the very Weapons of Mass Destruction which this episodes claims ever to abhor ...
     
  12. CorporalCaptain

    CorporalCaptain Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Good catch. The series of improvements could also be taken as a metaphor of the arms race.
     
  13. Lance

    Lance Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    ^ I think the usage of 'Freedom' in this context is possibly supposed to be ironic. At least, I hope so... :eek:
     
  14. CorporalCaptain

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    ^ That is ironic. :cool:
     
  15. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Having Picard and Crusher spending quality alone time in the very bowels of the Arsenal Complex almost makes me wish this had led to something more substantial happening between the two. But, as we all know only too well, after Tapestry, when Sir Patrick Stewart got to Screen Kiss with a hot 20 Something, all he - and, by extension, his alter ego, Picard - wanted to get with was Smokin' Hotties. Forever lost was this narrative thread of romance for Picard and Crusher. More's the pity ...
     
  16. Timewalker

    Timewalker Cat-lovin', Star Trekkin' Time Lady Premium Member

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Ah, that explains why I didn't get it. I'm Canadian.

    I remember thinking at the time I watched it during its first broadcast that the title was stupid and should have simply been shortened to "The Arsenal."
     
  17. MakeshiftPython

    MakeshiftPython Commodore Commodore

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    From what I understand, something was gonna happen between the two under that cave but Roddenberry, for whatever reason, nixed the idea. That's why nothing happens during their whole subplot, so the only thing we get hinting towards whatever romance was this line of dialogue.

    PICARD: You were part of that colony. I didn't know that. But then there must be a lot of things about you that I don't know.
    CRUSHER: Quite a few.

    On paper it wouldn't look like anything, but it's emphasized by a close up of Crusher with Gates hinting that she's holding something back. I think it's too bad Roddenberry didn't allow it to happen, and that we wouldn't get anything that really shifted their relationship until "Attached" all the way in Season 7.
     
  18. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Bev and Johnny could've had some really strong episodes, first season. Maybe GR felt that there was no hype for audiences to witness an old fart and a cougar getting it on. His instincts could be so right ... it certainly was their destiny to never know the heat of a luxurious bed, together. Then the good captain started going for the cookies ... the young women in the short skirts ... and when that happened, it was finish for any chance Bev & Johnny had.
    More's the pity ...

    [​IMG]
     
  19. The Old Mixer

    The Old Mixer Mih ssim, mih ssim, nam, daed si Xim. Moderator

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Wasn't the phrase "arsenal of freedom" used as a slogan in the sales pitch?
     
  20. MakeshiftPython

    MakeshiftPython Commodore Commodore

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    Re: Reason why I think 'Arsenal of Freedom' is the best ep of TNG seas

    Yeah, the automatic greeting transmission says "Welcome to Minos, the arsenal of freedom."