Can you ignore a mistake in a great episode?

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by JesterFace, Aug 8, 2020.

?

Can you ignore a mistake in a great episode?

  1. No

  2. Yes

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  1. JesterFace

    JesterFace Fleet Captain Commodore

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    Can you ignore a blunder or something you might not get your head around in an episode that is just too great to miss? For example 'Redemption' and the tachyon detection grid. I'm not completely sure how it works or how different things people do it affect it. At some point that grid was something that I almost skipped the entire episodes for. ”Just go around the grid.... That graphic of the grid is weird”. Not anymore. I recently watched both episodes and they're just so good the grid doesn't have to work. We know it's there and that's it. Another example could be the antime anomaly from 'All Good Things...'. It has its own thread on this forum, how do the timelines affect each other. That is a perfect ending for the series so I don't let it bug me if there is somekind of twist I don't understand. It just works. Also, Q has something to do with it, Q can do what he wants.
     
  2. Mage

    Mage Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Sure. There's no such thing as perfection. My favorite people have flaws. My favorite shows and movies as well.
     
  3. MrPicard

    MrPicard Jean-Luc's Loving Husband Fleet Captain

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    Of course. I can forgive almost everything as long as Jean-Luc is there to compensate. He’s why I’m watching the show in the first place anyway. ;)
     
  4. amp

    amp Commander Red Shirt

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    Pretty much every episode has some plot holes, retcons and/or flubs. If the story is a good one, I can easily ignore any errors. It's only when the story itself is poor that I focus on the mistakes and goof ups.
     
    Qonundrum likes this.
  5. Qonundrum

    Qonundrum Vice Admiral Admiral

    Easily.

    Heck, even some season 1 episodes have major blunders that aren't as bad if the rest of the episode has enough meat to it.

    Or what amp said. Not all of us look for perfect canonical tie-ins, but will make more efforts to stitch them in. It's all up to the individual viewer and what they want in a style. (TNG seasons 2-onward even retcon its own beginnings at times too... Kllingons were part of the Federation but later became an alliance. TWOK puts in Chekov. TWOK has its issues but the awesome bits (IMHO) are better than the weak points.)
     
  6. Xhiandra

    Xhiandra Captain Captain

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    Obviously. If you look hard enough, you can find plot holes in almost any work of fiction, so if you can't ignore some plot holes and look at what's beyond, you're not going to enjoy much fiction.

    Sometimes, the holes get either too big or numerous to ignore and suspension of disbelief is broken.
     
  7. Tosk

    Tosk Admiral Admiral

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    Sometimes I ignore mistakes in great episodes, and sometimes I embrace them. Either way, a little scuff here and there don't ruin something great.
     
    BillJ likes this.
  8. JirinPanthosa

    JirinPanthosa Admiral Admiral

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    It’s a negative mark but doesn’t ruin an otherwise great episode.
     
    dupersuper likes this.
  9. gakelly

    gakelly Commander Red Shirt

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    Although honestly it is something you really remember about the episode.
    For example, in All Good Things, when Picard has to run over to Worf and ask what the date is. Why wouldn't he just ask the computer. That is one thing I really remember about that episode
     
  10. Vger23

    Vger23 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I can easily ignore errors in mediocre episodes, so I have absolutely no issue with errors in the great ones.

    People whose ability to enjoy a story hinges upon it being error-free generally go through life angry and unentertained.
     
    Kor, fireproof78 and Farscape One like this.
  11. Mojochi

    Mojochi Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yeah, I don't think this is the show for anyone who can't get past a mistake
     
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  12. Oddish

    Oddish Admiral Admiral

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    You have to let errors pass when they're necessary for the story.
    The Inner Light: A civilization that's at about 1950's level technology somehow has the ability to produce a brain hacking device that allows Picard to experience a lifetime in 25 minutes.
    Verdict: It's an amazing story. Let it go.

    The Next Phase: Why didn't Geordi and Ro expire messily from decompression, since the air on Enterprise was unphased?
    Verdict: Meh episode. But still, Ghost had just come out, so Trek did their own version. Rationalize it with technobabble.

    Sub Rosa: An alien plasma Candle Ghost has been seducing Beverly's ancestors for 800 years.
    Verdict: Declare that it never happened.
     
  13. tomalak301

    tomalak301 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah, All Good Things... and the whole Pasture is not the Enterprise error. I still consider it the best series finale of all of Trek.
     
    JesterFace likes this.
  14. Mutai Sho-Rin

    Mutai Sho-Rin Crusty Old Bastard Moderator

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    To expand on that, if you live close to Stanford University or MIT, you're in a scientific hotbed of activity. If you live in a small agricultural town of the 99 or rural Massachusetts, you'r likely to find a vastly different environment. Both can exist on the same planet.
    Also, "mistakes" are a personal choice based on individual values and experiences. I tend to defer to the writers' thinking when watching a TV show or movie. It makes it much easier to join in the story and have fun. Speaking strictly as a fan, not as moderator.
     
  15. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    If it entertains me, I don't care about mistakes.
     
  16. JesterFace

    JesterFace Fleet Captain Commodore

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    Does Pasteur error mean Data says that it appears all tachyon pulses originate from the Enterprise?
     
  17. Kor

    Kor Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    It was an egregious mistake for Bones to show up in TMP looking like some kind of disco fiend. But I forgive it. :sigh:

    Generally, mistakes are rather minor and can be handwaved away. I can't think of anything really glaring in TNG episodes.

    Kor
     
    Herbert likes this.
  18. tomalak301

    tomalak301 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Yes.
     
  19. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    I can also ignore mistakes in horrible episodes.
     
    BillJ likes this.
  20. Serveaux

    Serveaux Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    Among the sellers.
    There aren't any to watch, otherwise.
     
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  21. dupersuper

    dupersuper Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Peak Performance: Worf can create sens-oar illusions because he's the chief of security on the Enterprise: he has the codes and knows the system. How the Hell did he do it to the Ferengi ship? Why can't they just do that all the time then?