Conspiracy

[chris32482]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a crappy episode? I remember not liking it very much when I first saw it, but then recently I've been reading the DS9 relaunch books and the parasites play a role in a couple of those books, and I also noticed that Conspiracy was on a lot of people's top 20 list, so I watched it again. I still thought it sucked.

The concept itself isn't that bad, and for the first 20 minutes or so it's kind of interesting. But the directing and the acting is just atrocious. The fight scene between Riker, Worf and the infected admiral (forgot his name) is hilariously bad. I mean, why would the parasite go through the trouble of getting aboard the Enterprise just to alert everyone of his presence by attacking half the crew? The whole episode was just silly to me.

 

[jgdst]

But it has Remmick's (sp?) exploding head. Surely that must redeem it for you?

EXPLODING HEAD? No? Nothing?

Oh

I did like the way even in the first season TNG was toying with multi-episode arcs. It's a pity they didn't become a more regular thing as it gave some of the more questionable season 1 episodes a reason to be rewatched. It was 100% the best Trek ever, but it was a pretty good start I thought.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

It's dark and ugly and memorable. So much of season 1 was forgetable and fluff.

 

[Mott the barber]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a crappy episode? I remember not liking it very much when I first saw it, but then recently I've been reading the DS9 relaunch books and the parasites play a role in a couple of those books, and I also noticed that Conspiracy was on a lot of people's top 20 list, so I watched it again. I still thought it sucked.

The concept itself isn't that bad, and for the first 20 minutes or so it's kind of interesting. But the directing and the acting is just atrocious. The fight scene between Riker, Worf and the infected admiral (forgot his name) is hilariously bad. I mean, why would the parasite go through the trouble of getting aboard the Enterprise just to alert everyone of his presence by attacking half the crew? The whole episode was just silly to me.

Yes some of the choreography was lame (especially Picard and Riker dodging the phaser fire down the hallway), but I think what made this episode a fan favorite was the fact that it brought with it a pervading sense of doom that those bugs were out there and already infected the higher ups at Starfleet. The ending was certainly creepy when the ship pulls away and you can still hear the transponder signal supposedly left for the rest of the parasites. I'm glad they turned them into the Borg though.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I didn't see this episode during its initial run, but it does have the benefit of being very unlike the reason of the first season. It also provided some nice continuity, following on from "Coming of Age."

Yeah, it's weird and dark and violent and creepy, and that's why people like it. It's not a "great" episode, but the very different tone of it sure counts for a lot. They tried to do something different, and I can always appreciate that, even if it doesn't totally work.

 

[HRHTheKING]

I would have preferred it to be a Starfleet rogue attempt at a takeover, rather than being under the influence of crappy little pink aliens.

 

[QuasarVM]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a crappy episode?

Not sure if you're the only one, but this is one of my favorite TNG episodes of all time!

 

[TheGodBen]

Is it up there with Best of Both Worlds, The Inner Light or The Defector (my personal favourite)? No, but it is probably the best episode of the first season. If you watch the show in order without skipping any of the crap, Conspiracy stands out. It manages to be both serious and fun, and it is the only episode of Trek with an exploding head if I remember correctly.

When people make these top 20 lists they will often try to get at least one episode from each season for the sake of balance, and so Conspiracy will probably be that episode for most people. Great episode? No. Fun episode? Hell yeah!

 

[QuasarVM]

Is it up there with Best of Both Worlds, The Inner Light or The Defector (my personal favourite)? No, but it is probably the best episode of the first season. If you watch the show in order without skipping any of the crap, Conspiracy stands out. It manages to be both serious and fun, and it is the only episode of Trek with an exploding head if I remember correctly.

When people make these top 20 lists they will often try to get at least one episode from each season for the sake of balance, and so Conspiracy will probably be that episode for most people. Great episode? No. Fun episode? Hell yeah!

I agree GodBen!

It was a creepy episode...and well built up to with the "mini-arc" described by another above...

Sure the FX would be better if created today, but I think the episode works on several levels...

I like the ending too. They should've made a movie to follow up this episode -- it would've been TNG's true "Wrath of Khan" moment since this episode hinted at a comeback by these creatures.

Redesign em...update the FX and make the first Trek "Creature feature"... that could've saved the TNG films.

Paramount should hire me to save TNG.

I know how to do it.

 

[Unicron]

I would have preferred it to be a Starfleet rogue attempt at a takeover, rather than being under the influence of crappy little pink aliens.

That was the original idea, but Roddenberry wouldn't allow it. It didn't fit with his view that humans by TNG should essentially be perfect and that all conflicts had to come from outside sources.

 

[QuasarVM]

I would have preferred it to be a Starfleet rogue attempt at a takeover, rather than being under the influence of crappy little pink aliens.

That was the original idea, but Roddenberry wouldn't allow it. It didn't fit with his view that humans by TNG should essentially be perfect and that all conflicts had to come from outside sources.

Well, you kinda got that later with Section 31...

Meh...I like what ended up as broadcast better.

 

[Triskelion]

Cool epi. "We seek peaceful coexistence!" I can still remember that line years later. I always wondered when the other shoe was going to drop regarding that final signal. But between this, the Trills, and the Gou'a'uld, I think SF has touched the brain bug trope enough for a while. (I'm probably forgetting some - did B5 do it too)?

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Cool epi. "We seek peaceful coexistence!" I can still remember that line years later. I always wondered when the other shoe was going to drop regarding that final signal. But between this, the Trills, and the Gou'a'uld, I think SF has touched the brain bug trope enough for a while. (I'm probably forgetting some - did B5 do it too)?

Sort of...
Londo got under the control of the Drakh when they put a Keeper on his shoulder. Just saw that episode.

 

[BolianAuthor]

The dining room set at Starfleet Headquarters was cool.

 

[RobertScorpio]

It's dark and ugly and memorable. So much of season 1 was forgetable and fluff.

You pegged it Phaser...the rest of the season was only a vision as to how bad PHASE II might have been had it been produced. Season one, to me, is Phase II filler...

now..as for this episode? It was dark and ugly and memorable, just as you called it. And it is the only episode from that season that I have watched in the past year...

Rob
Scorpio

 

[chris32482]

Not trying to argue, as I know everyone has different tastes, but I think there are several episodes in Season 1 better than Conspiracy. I personally like:

Encounter at Farpoint
Justice
Datalore
Heart of Glory
The Nuetral Zone

 

[RobertScorpio]

Not trying to argue, as I know everyone has different tastes, but I think there are several episodes in Season 1 better than Conspiracy. I personally like:

Encounter at Farpoint
Justice
Datalore
Heart of Glory
The Nuetral Zone

I could make an argument for most of those too...but Justice??? I hope it was for the EYE CANDY that you gave it such a high rating over Conspiracy...

Encounter at Farpoint was just okay for me...not as good as DS9-Voyager-Enterprise Pilots...IMO
Datalore? too campy for me...
Heart of Glory--I like this one too...though the 'reuse' of TMP Klingon ship graphic is kinda cheap looking
Neutral Zone was a good one..and I am glad you reminded me of it because I liked the guy who had all the investments. May use him in a Shuffle the Deck side plot I have going on in my mind...thanks!!!

Rob

 

[Red Ranger]

The dining room set at Starfleet Headquarters was cool.

That scene is one of the best in the ep -- they serve the food, and when Picard takes the lid off, he's faced with a cup of worms. The look of disgust on his face is priceless, as is the obvious delight the others take in scarfing down the worms! Yuk! I do like the ep and also think it's one of the top eps in the first season, along with my other faves 11001001, The Big Goodbye, Heart of Glory, and The Arsenal of Freedom. -- RR

 

[Raoul the Red Shirt]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a crappy episode? I remember not liking it very much when I first saw it, but then recently I've been reading the DS9 relaunch books and the parasites play a role in a couple of those books, and I also noticed that Conspiracy was on a lot of people's top 20 list, so I watched it again. I still thought it sucked.

The concept itself isn't that bad, and for the first 20 minutes or so it's kind of interesting. But the directing and the acting is just atrocious. The fight scene between Riker, Worf and the infected admiral (forgot his name) is hilariously bad. I mean, why would the parasite go through the trouble of getting aboard the Enterprise just to alert everyone of his presence by attacking half the crew? The whole episode was just silly to me.

Eh. I suppose the fight scene was not the greatest. But really, what other choices did the Admiral have but to fight Riker and then Worf? It's not as though he went out of his way to do it. He was surprised by Riker, who pretended to have been possessed by one of the parasites. When he determined Riker was faking, the admiral naturally was going to attack Riker and then Worf happened along to get his butt kicked as well.

As for why I like it, beyond the creepiness of the episode like other people have mentioned, I liked it because it was atypical for the show. Instead of trying to open a dialogue with the parasites and talk through their problems, the answer was simply to blow them away.

 

[chris32482]

Not trying to argue, as I know everyone has different tastes, but I think there are several episodes in Season 1 better than Conspiracy. I personally like:

Encounter at Farpoint
Justice
Datalore
Heart of Glory
The Nuetral Zone

I could make an argument for most of those too...but Justice??? I hope it was for the EYE CANDY that you gave it such a high rating over Conspiracy...



Rob

I mostly just like the premise. The idea that a civilization could achieve a peaceful society by maintaining a swift and merciless justice system is fascinating to me. Makes me wonder what our own society would be like if our justice system was a little less... lenient.

But the eye candy was nice too though.