Game The Most Disliked Episode Directed By Mike Vejar

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by Sakonna, May 27, 2020.

  1. Sakonna

    Sakonna Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    Next up in these themed elimination games: EPISODES DIRECTED BY MIKE VEJAR. Trek's sixth most prolific director! (Got to keep at the directors till we get to Frakes at least :bolian:)

    THE RULES. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. Below are the Star Trek episodes directed by Mike Vejar. Eliminate your FAVORITE or the one you deem the 'BEST.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed.

    Leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.


    No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode just because you feel it would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win.


    Much thanks and credit to @Farscape One, for having the director credits literally memorized. :bolian:
    Enjoy! :bolian::beer::bolian::biggrin::bolian:

    TNG Season 1: "Coming of Age"
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Rocks and Shoals"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    DS9 Season 7: "The Changing Face of Evil"
    DS9 Season 7: "Tacking Into the Wind"
    VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "The Void"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  2. Sakonna

    Sakonna Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    "Rocks And Shoals"! I love this one, and I think it's a marvel of physical production. Even without the behind-the-scenes interviews, you can tell the conditions in all these exterior locations are BRUTAL.

    This is one of the perfect eps -- I have not one complaint about it. (Well, maybe one tiny nitpick -- Garak gives up spinning cover stories waaaaaaaay too quickly once captured by the Jem'Hadar. Garak would have had several hours of lies, at minimum, ready to go!)

    TNG Season 1: "Coming of Age"
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    DS9 Season 7: "The Changing Face of Evil"
    DS9 Season 7: "Tacking Into the Wind"
    VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "The Void"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  3. Bad Thoughts

    Bad Thoughts Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Location:
    Bad Thoughts
    Saving Changing Face of Evil. Love it. Love it today. Love it tomorrow. Love it until you realize how cool of a political story this episode is.

    TNG Season 1: "Coming of Age"
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    DS9 Season 7: "Tacking Into the Wind"
    VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "The Void"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  4. Farscape One

    Farscape One Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Location:
    Farscape One
    My first save on this list is "TACKING INTO THE WIND".

    It closed a LOT of storylines, kept the rest of the final arc going, and was quite probably the best of the final 10 episodes. Excellently written by Ronald D. Moore, and even better directed by Vejar.

    (Interesting coincidence... this is the 4th DS9 episode penned by Moore that Mike Vejar directed. I always wondered if Moore had some mojo to get his episodes slated to be directed by him, because I know he always loved Vejar's work from his scripts.)


    TNG Season 1: "Coming of Age"
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "The Void"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
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  5. Seven of Five

    Seven of Five Stupid Sexy Flanders! Premium Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2001
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    Oops, too slow to save Tacking into the Wind.

    I'll go for Year of Hell, Part II instead then. It's a shame about the inevitable reset at the end, but the episode is a visual treat. Voyager is an absolute mess, and Janeway's steely determination gets her to the end, and in spectacular style.

    Mulgrew herself is great, as are the majority of the cast. Seeing Chakotay sympathising with Annorex was an interesting story choice.

    TNG Season 1: "Coming of Age"
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "The Void"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
    Sakonna and Farscape One like this.
  6. Qonundrum

    Qonundrum Vice Admiral Admiral

    I always found something engaging about

    TNG Season 1: "Coming of Age"

    This is another example of season 1 TNG being all over the map just like a caffeinated ping pong ball. Ftom being corny sci-fi on some occasions, to others indulging Gene's wishes... then you have the after school special entries - of which this one qualifies.

    And it's not half-bad.

    All things considered.

    The direction definitely has some verve going in its favor, taking a decent pair of storylines and making something better than the sum of their parts. And I like parts.

    Yes, the entry requirements are a bit lax and tight. And very few - academy sizes don't seem to be that great if the entry process is like this. Then again, when I had to go back to college the initial entry exams were one-person-per-room, only a handful of rooms existed, and it's an entry thing. Must be nice to have people sharing a same room and helping each other out.

    It also starts a mini-arc, culminating with "Conspiracy", that's of perfect length. Season one, for all its blunders, was quietly taking risks and doing different things in other ways and they're easily overlooked.

    Yes, there's a wooden actor afoot, or two if one includes the Vulcan. That happens in TV shows. Wooden acting, that is, not the presence of Vulcans.

    The vignette tests on display are pretty nicely done. Especially when Wesley deals with the tall dark and yummy guy with the webbed hands - the one clue that gave Wesley the indication as to how to respond because, thankfully, everyone in a species all have identical traits. (Okay, this show is as glorified as it is an oversimplified Petri dish examining human nature and allegory and that simply has to be kept in mind. Roll with its limitations-in-43-minute-format and there's still stuff of interest. Not all cultures are the same, even with differences therein. But for the sake of the story and time and other constraints, it still works reasonably well.)

    The 24th century equivalent to "The Kobayashi Maru" isn't as on the same grand scale as TWOK, but also succeeds in what it needs to do - in setup and execution.

    The subplot with the Luke Skywalker-wannabe running away, complete with 1987 mullet action action action, with Picard telling him how to pilot the shuttle, is actually magnificent - to the point I even go along with the otherwise cornball clapping when he's saved because the execution and direction is that robust. Like my salad dressing. Mmmm, robust Italian dressing on romaine with some tomatoes and jalapenos and empty calorie croutons, nom nom nom....

    This is good stuff and I'm not yet finished boring you to tears with this essay! :o

    I definitely need to do a re-watch; being one of the few Wesley-centric episodes not involving "the virus from the old Enterprise", I'd swear this was one of the season one episodes where Wesley is checked out by a crewman of the same gender in the corridor - this harks back to Gene's own discussions from the past in using people as "objects" in his shows (I had the link to 'Inside Star Trek' in another post and gave the time index to where he cites his belief, with resounding applauds from the audience.) In a future where people are deemed more than objects but (a) attraction and relationships are more than just the objects of one's desire, and (b) I'm missing the connection between both elements. Unless I just figured part of it out, albeit a few decades late. In either case, TNG sadly ditched the somewhat subtle "crewperson checks out another regardless of which parts they got" trope by season 2. Looking back, it's unfortunate - occasional and momentary nods are better for the story than long drawn-out 43 minute soap opera escapades hyperfocusing on that - regardless of orientation - manage to flop every single time. Apart from arguably "Lessons" where Picard plays his flute from "The Inner Light". Indeed, as much as I appreciate "The Dauphin", most don't and it still qualifies as a reason why exploring romantic and/or sex lives is usually going to have a more mixed response than most episode formats. But that episode had Wesley's lust interest discussed what the thing in his hand could do to him with a nice piece of exposition... no, that's not a hidden reference to the cringe moment in "Justice" where a baseball bat is described (with hilarious results).

    So, yeah, despite season 1 being a hodgepodge and schizoid mess, this one is still in the A/A- category for season one standards, or B/B+ for TNG overall.


    What's left:
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "The Void"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  7. Farscape One

    Farscape One Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Location:
    Farscape One
    Saving "THE VOID".

    Always loved this episode, it's among the few really great gems of season 7. It takes the idea of "ALLIANCES" a lot further, and it works in spades.


    What's left:
    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Repentance"
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  8. Qonundrum

    Qonundrum Vice Admiral Admiral

    :techman:

    It's Trek's core tenets consolidated into a 43 minute thrill ride. Almost makes me wish they did a 2-parter for this one instead of "Unimatrix Zero". VOY was really starting to splutter but they still had some great ideas up their sleeve, and only VOY could have done this one. Maybe DS9 if by some contrived reason they were in the Gamma quadrant and far away from the Dominion or wormhole back to Federation space... but with VOY it felt natural.
     
    Farscape One likes this.
  9. kira_nerys

    kira_nerys Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2018
    I am binging voyager at the moment and just finished watching "Repentance" which I will save. I teared up a little at the end where I felt moved by Seven and the relationship she developed with the prisoner. I felt the title applied to her repentance as well. I didn't like the way they shoved the Benkaran subplot in which deserves more thought and consideration but I still thought it was a good episode.

    DS9 Season 5: "The Darkness and the Light"
    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  10. Sakonna

    Sakonna Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    "The Darkness And The Light" The climax in particular is wonderfully atmospheric. It's a great, unsettling story in this one.

    Never a fan of the decision to actually kill Furel & Lupaza, though.

    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Pathfinder"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  11. Brennyren

    Brennyren Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2003
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    I love "Pathfinder" from beginning to end! Unlike a certain much-despised episode of Enterprise, it manages to build a story primarily around its TNG guest star (in this case, Barclay) while still creating meaningful drama for the series it's actually on. Seriously, Dwight Schultz as Barclay is one of Trek's great recurrers. Richard Herd (R.I.P.) as Admiral Paris is a solid guest star as well, and more sympathetic than his predecessor in that role. And even though the Voyager crew are unaware of Barclay's frantic efforts on their behalf until the very end, we as viewers know exactly what's at stake, which gives all of the Earthbound scenes a sense of urgency.

    There are so many good choices in this episode, from showing how Barclay's own flaws and foibles work both for and against him; to giving Admiral Paris oversight of Project Pathfinder; to making Barclay's supervisor Harkins no villain, but a man who is sincerely concerned for him; to letting Barclay form a few mistaken impressions of how things (and people) are on Voyager. The hard-won first "live" contact is well-earned, and close to a tearjerker; the final scenes on Voyager, and on Earth, are also well-deserved, and thoroughly heartwarming.

    I couldn't "dislike" this episode if you paid me.

    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    DS9 Season 7: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
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  12. Seven of Five

    Seven of Five Stupid Sexy Flanders! Premium Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2001
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    I love Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang, and I have a blast watching it every time.

    They did a great job on the period setting, and I get a kick seeing everyone's role in the setup.

    DS9 Season 5: "Empok Nor"
    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
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  13. Farscape One

    Farscape One Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Location:
    Farscape One
    I always loved "EMPOK NOR", so it is saved.

    An unsettling episode with great mood atmosphere and lighting. It was fun seeing a different side of Garak, despite it being drug influenced. (Though the drug just accelerated what is already there, as Garak pointed out.)


    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
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  14. Qonundrum

    Qonundrum Vice Admiral Admiral

    Another eponymous effort:

    DS9 Season 6: "Valiant"

    There are some plot conveniences (especially for such a new ship design and how Jake and Nog are rescued in the nick of time) but I never understood why some hate this episode so. It's an interesting enough story, even with the contrivance of getting the cadets to run the joint. Even more so, they don't become outright "Lord of the flies... in space!"

    The ending was a gut-puncher with gusto. Both endings, rather - and the final ending is left sufficiently open-ended to let the viewer decide about Captain Cadet. I do wonder if Collins and Nog had their roles reversed if it would have been less heavyhanded , but that would be far more difficult and contrived to sell and the episode already used its "get into plot free" cards, which were used wisely enough since the meat of the episode more than makes up for their being save on cue. (Tropes and cliches can be inevitable, if something else is unexpected it generally makes up for it and then some and that's the beauty of it.)

    There is an interesting character study in this episode as well. Commander sniffing uppers in a truly shock moment, underlings who are showing fear and needing encouragement - and how the encouragement is delivered...

    Okay, the moment when they all do the singalong chant of

    is a bit cringey but kudos to the actors by putting in their all. Most of us wouldn't be able to do that scene... a cringey scene or not, these things do cultivate a sense of unity and togetherness as well.

    Lastly, it's a shame Collins' first name is Dorian. There's a story or two about a Dorian and trust me, it never gets old...

    Just not the one you're expecting, how Wilde is that? :devil:




    Now, who else just thought of a ham and cheese sandwich on hearty whole grain bread? :drool::devil:




    What's left:
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
    Brennyren, Seven of Five and Sakonna like this.
  15. cosmic mouse

    cosmic mouse Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2017
    Location:
    Tube 32
    VOY Season 5: "Latent Image"
    I always liked this one: it's a good ep for the EMH and for Janeway, who shows a multitude of patience for what the Doc is going through. Maybe brings about some decent questions regarding memories and their value, and power, for better or worse as well as pondering the EMH and his ability to evolve. Nice exchange between Janeway and Seven too, and I am always a sucker for those.


    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  16. Sakonna

    Sakonna Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    "Cold Station 12" is 1/3rd of the Enterprise high point. Brent Spiner was so great as the villain.

    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 6: "Muse"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
    Seven of Five and Qonundrum like this.
  17. Brennyren

    Brennyren Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2003
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    As a serious theater geek, I could never let "Muse" go down to defeat. Such a wonderful presentation of the power of story, and of the real-life factors that work both for and against it. Kelis's presentations were strongly reminiscent of Greek theater, from the masks and the stylized acting to the use of the chorus. I loved it! And since his masterpiece was a version of the story of Voyager, we saw the links between that ancient storytelling and its more modern counterpart.

    I also liked how B'Elanna, at first understandably resistant, gradually came to see the value of what Kelis was doing, and ended as a willing collaborator.

    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  18. cosmic mouse

    cosmic mouse Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2017
    Location:
    Tube 32
    VOY Season 6: "Tsunkatse"
    Another day, er, hour, another VOY save... I am also a sucker for Seven kicking some ass in that gold jumpsuit... wait a minute, did I post that or just think it? I gotta think of a lie quick... ah! The Rock, yeah, that's it...
    Seriously: I wish they had paired Seven and Tuvok more frequently on away missions: even though they ran into trouble on occasion there was some decent interplay between the characters. Maybe they did pair them and my brain is fogged. Nope, it's fogged for another reason: carry on!

    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 6: "Child's Play"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  19. Sakonna

    Sakonna Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    "Child's Play" is one of those stealth underrated Voyager episodes. I love the world-building of what happens to these aliens that just happen to be in the shadow of a Borg transwarp conduit.

    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 4: "Observer Effect"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
  20. Farscape One

    Farscape One Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Location:
    Farscape One
    "MUSE" was the last solo Joe Menosky episode. Clearly, a lot of meta writing there... with his excellent use of mythology, which was a Menosky staple. Also has the bonus of having STARGATE SG-1's Bra'tac in it. Thanks for saving it, Brennyren! (It was going to be my next one. :) )

    My next save... "OBSERVER EFFECT".

    I always liked this episode. Great performances all around, and cool story and tie-in with the Organians.


    VOY Season 6: "Barge of the Dead"
    VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    VOY Season 7: "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    VOY Season 7: "Friendship One"
    VOY Season 7: "Renaissance Man"
    ENT Season 1: "Unexpected"
    ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
    ENT Season 1: "Shadows of P'Jem"
    ENT Season 2: "Marauders"
    ENT Season 2: "The Catwalk"
    ENT Season 3: "Rajiin"
    ENT Season 3: "Carpenter Street"
    ENT Season 3: "Stratagem"
    ENT Season 3: "Cold Station 12"
    ENT Season 4: "The Aenar"
     
    Seven of Five and Brennyren like this.