Scariest Episode of TNG

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by Rory1080p, Jan 23, 2014.

  1. Rory1080p

    Rory1080p Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    what was it in your opinion?

    for me it has to be Identity Crisis

    http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Identity_Crisis_(episode)

    it creeped me out so much, particularly the bit on the holodeck with the shadows, that and the aliens they turned into, the atmosphere was very creepy and to this day I can't watch it on my own :eek:
     
  2. MakeshiftPython

    MakeshiftPython Commodore Commodore

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    I can't think of an episode of TNG, or any episode from Trek, that was actually scary. "Night Terrors" was probably as close as they got to making a real sci-fi thriller story. I suppose ENT's "Impulse" could be seen as a zombie-like thriller.
     
  3. Rory1080p

    Rory1080p Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Night Terrors definitely had it's scaryish moments, for me the thing with Identity Crisis was more how much it creeped me out rather than being scary per se (I don't generally get scared by stuff anyway tbh, most horror films do nothing for me, but I get creeped out by things!)
     
  4. tomalak301

    tomalak301 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    My Scary episode was actually Eye of the Beholder. I think I had nightmares over the whole reveal scene for a week and Pierce's "You know what you have to do" was freaking disturbing. I also get a little scared over Dark Page, especially angry Lwaxana Troi.
     
  5. Strange Citizen

    Strange Citizen Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    I love threads like this...scary things are always interesting. :devil:

    In fact, I created a thread about this kind of stuff a couple of months back - I could place a link to it in this post, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do that or not. Either way, that thread kinda trailed off after a while, but it could be interesting if it was revived...

    Anyway...

    For me, it is the morgue scene in Night Terrors, and that episode as a whole, which seals the deal. A group of cadavers in death shrouds sitting up on their slabs might sound scary, but considering they don't do anything but that, it shouldn't be all too terrifying...except it is, and from my observations it's precisely because they don't do anything other than sit up that it's so horribly creepy. Less, in so many cases, is more.

    And of course, the whole premise of the episode - that is, being trapped aboard your own ship, which cannot move due to a mysterious alien phenomenon, with only a ghost ship full of people who went insane and brutally murdered each other for company, and no apparent way to escape, while also slowly beginning to lose your minds and become increasingly fearful of something truly unknown...I.E Worf's eerie conversation with Troi where he, the most powerful warrior and a Klingon, is terrified of "something out there which we cannot fight" (which, of course, isn't even real, and so the actual danger is of losing control of one's mind)...it really milks the whole "space can be frightening" thing brilliantly and horrifically.

    I also agree with the OP about Identity Crisis. In terms of its scariness, creepiness and eerie, uncomfortable atmosphere, I think that episode is underrated. In some ways it's even worse than something like Alien, because anyone who's infected with that parasite will end up as nothing more than a creepy animal, wondering around in the dark on a desolate planet...forever. :eek:

    Other than that, while Schisms is obviously scary, the episode "Remember Me" is quite terrifying in a psychological sense. Just watch it, imagine yourself in Doctor Crusher's shoes, and you'll see what I mean.
     
  6. bbjeg

    bbjeg Admiral Admiral

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    Cause and Effect freaked me out the first time I saw it, I was young though.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2014
  7. jimbotron

    jimbotron Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Manhunt. Imagine, a crazy horny old woman comes on board and wants to marry any guy who has a heartbeat (and one who didn't). :lol:
     
  8. Cyke101

    Cyke101 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    As an adult, Skin of Evil was kind of campy, but not without its charms. As a 6 year old, the episode scared the crap out of me. A demonic black oil monster (nevermind that it could barely move in humanoid form) with a laundry list:

    -mentally torture Troi
    -suck in Riker
    -impervious to phaser fire (this is a big deal to six year olds. Phasers are cool).
    -could move around in oil slick form
    -could block transporter beams

    Killing Yar was almost like the least of those worries; it was very much a display of his power, but I knew someone always dies during these things. But the moment that sold me was when Riker's face popped up in the oil slick and then sunk back down in despair.
     
  9. milojthatch

    milojthatch Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    For me the scariest is Genesis. That episode still creeps me out!
     
  10. Jeyl

    Jeyl Commodore Commodore

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    - Ron Jones' eerie score
     
  11. BeatleJWOL

    BeatleJWOL Commodore Commodore

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    Probably the one episode of Trek in all its forms I will never watch.

    That or The Deadly Years (for completely different reasons, naturally).
     
  12. StolenThunder

    StolenThunder Poster Premium Member

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    Phantasm always creeped me out when I was a kid, but maybe the morgue scene in Night Terrors is the single most jumpy moment.
     
  13. Cyke101

    Cyke101 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Indeed, thanks for adding that to the list. I'd also add telekinetically controlling Data against his will to fire on anyone. Nobody was safe!
     
  14. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    "Code of Honor"
     
  15. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I thought "Conspiracy" was pretty creepy.
     
  16. USS Excelsior

    USS Excelsior Commodore Commodore

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    Schisms was disturbing, even more so when it was a mystery at first.
     
  17. Tiberius

    Tiberius Commodore Commodore

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    The exploding head in Conspiracy creeped me out the first time I saw it.

    The holodeck scene in Schisms is also pretty creepy. "I've been in this room before..."
     
  18. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Inspired by the working on TNG thread I rewatched Q Who? and have to say that still creeps me out. I think it's that whole alien thing, they don't care who you are, aren't driven by any passions or whatever, they can't be appealed or distracted. I know later Borg episodes contradict that in some ways but in this first meeting anyway they are pretty terrifying.
     
  19. oberth127

    oberth127 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Probably 'Night Terrors', at least it did freak me out at the time when I first watched it. Now it doesn't really have an effect. Love the episode though.
     
  20. 2takesfrakes

    2takesfrakes Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    "Where No One Has Gone Before"

    The Traveller's lusting after Wesley so openly was obscene and had me completely creeped out.