Geez, look up the ancient archives, I defended Masks at least 3 separate times.
RAMA
RAMA
Defending The Episode...
- Thread starter Farscape One
- Start date
I was not aware someone else also defended "Masks".
I stand corrected, and I thank you for helping defend a great episode.
I see "Justice" and "Sub Rosa" have been mentioned. I just got back from a hectic work night, so I'll give those a shot later today.
(Those are good challenges, especially the latter one.)
I stand corrected, and I thank you for helping defend a great episode.
I see "Justice" and "Sub Rosa" have been mentioned. I just got back from a hectic work night, so I'll give those a shot later today.
(Those are good challenges, especially the latter one.)
In that respect, I would consider Shades of Grey the worst of them all. In all other reviled and infamous episodes, they at least tried to come up with something interesting. They might have gotten it horribly wrong, insulting a lot of fans, but at least they tried. OK, there was a writer's strike just before this one was produced if I recall correctly, but still.
‘Profit and Lace’ is just woeful and was offensive even for the 90’s. Given how militant and powerful the trans lobby is now, as well as the rise of ‘cancel culture‘, it’s a wonder it hasn’t been yanked from Netflix. But even it had some good moments and gave us the Slug-o-cola jingle.
"Justice"... I never found this one as bad as so many people have said over the years. It's certainly not among the best, but it's not the bottom of the barrel, either.
1. Picard and Data in that lounge was a great scene. Those two always played well together, and you can see how greatly Picard respects him here in the way he apologizes. This is a thread that gets revisited many times in TNG, and this was the first time.
2. McFadden really brought it here, especially the scenes in the corridor and Sickbay. This also highlights the inherent danger of bringing family on a starship, something we rarely see in this series. TNG needed to show this aspect more often, so it really stands out here, despite it being more an afterthought.
3. Picard's speech at the end to the Edo lord is a good one, and I loved Riker's quick summary at the end. It's a wonderful message. A nice Picard/Riker one-two punch.
"Sub Rosa"... this one is much harder to defend. I don't particularly like it much, either. But...
1. We get some family history for Beverly. And speaking of Beverly, despite the ridiculousness of the episode, Gates McFadden REALLY threw herself into the plot. You have to give her credit for that.
2. It was also a nice callback to season 1's "The Arsenal of Freedom", when Beverly talked about her teaching about the roots and herbs. TNG was very subtle in their continuity and callbacks, but for those of us who paid attention to the episodes when they first aired (this is the time before dvr), it was a nice reward.
3. I love the idea of a weather control system, and it's clearly something implemented on many worlds, but we virtually never see or hear about it. We actually get to see it here, a very rare instance. This helps piece together how Federation planets live, which we barely get even hints or whispers about. Any episode that helps us find out how Federation society in general is, no matter how odd the episode, that justifies its existence.
1. Picard and Data in that lounge was a great scene. Those two always played well together, and you can see how greatly Picard respects him here in the way he apologizes. This is a thread that gets revisited many times in TNG, and this was the first time.
2. McFadden really brought it here, especially the scenes in the corridor and Sickbay. This also highlights the inherent danger of bringing family on a starship, something we rarely see in this series. TNG needed to show this aspect more often, so it really stands out here, despite it being more an afterthought.
3. Picard's speech at the end to the Edo lord is a good one, and I loved Riker's quick summary at the end. It's a wonderful message. A nice Picard/Riker one-two punch.
"Sub Rosa"... this one is much harder to defend. I don't particularly like it much, either. But...
1. We get some family history for Beverly. And speaking of Beverly, despite the ridiculousness of the episode, Gates McFadden REALLY threw herself into the plot. You have to give her credit for that.
2. It was also a nice callback to season 1's "The Arsenal of Freedom", when Beverly talked about her teaching about the roots and herbs. TNG was very subtle in their continuity and callbacks, but for those of us who paid attention to the episodes when they first aired (this is the time before dvr), it was a nice reward.
3. I love the idea of a weather control system, and it's clearly something implemented on many worlds, but we virtually never see or hear about it. We actually get to see it here, a very rare instance. This helps piece together how Federation planets live, which we barely get even hints or whispers about. Any episode that helps us find out how Federation society in general is, no matter how odd the episode, that justifies its existence.
The Mighty Oddish approves.
Stargate also had some really well done clip shows.
TOS Spock's brain
TOS Turnabout intruder
TOS Turnabout intruder
I've defended the last 15 minutes or so of Justice as well, it really almost saves the whole episode...almost.
Fun with Masks:
https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/masks-why-all-the-hate.140025/
RAMA
Spock's Brain works if you just look at it as a campy and fun episode.
"When you're unsure how to end an episode, just toss in a fake God entity for melodrama " - Gene Roddenberry
I don't think a night in sickbay is so bad. I find the actual core of the episode -the Captain choosing to spend a night in sickbay and having to put up with all Phlox's alien habits- entertaining enough. It's just that the 'excuse story' woven around it to arrive at that situation (Porthos peeing over those sacred trees, the aliens being heavily offended, those injectors requiring Archer to make an apology, the desperate medical procedures to try to save Porthos etc) is so silly and contrived.
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Good challenges. Both episodes are tough to defend. But...
"SPOCK'S BRAIN"
1. This episode utilizes the entire main cast well. (Not during a lot of the episode, but they definitely got more to do in the episode than normal.) When Kirk is trying to decide which planet to go to, each give logical, valid reasons for their choices given their areas of expertise. Uhura, I feel, gives the best observation when she asks why Spock's brain... which I think was the unconscious reason why Kirk picked the right planet. I love watching episodes where the entire crew gets utilized well.
2. Spock's brain was stolen... that is a horror concept. I love horror, and while the execution is not as good as the idea, it was enough for me to love the horror aspect of having such a vital piece of yourself removed. Particularly as a kid when I first saw this. TOS didn't dip into horror often, but when it did, I remembered it well.
3. For much of the episode, our heroes did not have Spock and his vast knowledge and problem solving skills to resolve things. This was a very rare case, and it was great to watch them do things with the proverbial one hand tied behind their backs.
"TURNABOUT INTRUDER"
1. I've noticed people tend to watch movies and shows from decades ago and judge them by the standards of today, or at least the 21st century. I think it not only detracts from enjoying the product, but is being unfair to it, as well. Look at the time STAR TREK was produced. Few shows or movies were as inclusive with their cast. How many had a black woman in charge of a highly important department? (I mean this seriously... communications is an incredibly important department. I'm certain many, if not all, current and former military reading or posting here would agree.) Or have a Japanese AND a Russian officer working side by side with Americans? Except for South America, EVERY habitable continent is represented in the senior staff. This, more than any other reason, is why I think this episode gets so much hate... because it's viewed as misogynistic. And viewing from that lens, I can agree on that point. But I feel that is wrong and unfair. Make Janice Lester a man, and it could easily be a rival from Kirk's Academy days or early career trying the exact same thing. (Hell, we have seen that before with "COURT MARTIAL".) I bet the general opinion would be very different.
2. Speaking of Lester, I actually thought it was a smart idea to have the villain be a former love interest of Kirk. And frankly, if she kept a cooler head, her plan could have actually succeeded. How many people would have gotten as far as they did against Kirk? Damned few. In this way, it could be argued this episode was not misogynistic because the woman villain nearly outwitted our heroes. That rarely, if ever, happened during that era.
3. Watching William Shatner descend further and further into madness as Lester is honestly a treat. He did an excellent job. This was a good showcase of Shatner's abilities. I must also give a lot of credit to Sandra Smith, who I felt captured the essence of Kirk in her performance. I really enjoyed watching the two in scenes together.
4. This is more of an unconscious thing, but this episode had a nice full circle callback to its very first aired episode, "THE MAN TRAP". Both dealt with an archaeological expedition.
It's not the God entity at all...its the themes in Picard's speech and the question of punitive punishments and absolute law that make it interesting. The God entity is just an excuse for defining the themes.
RAMA
What about "Code Of Honor"? I actually think it's impossible to defend this episode, because it has absolutely nothing going for it beside being the only real Tasha episode beside "Yesterday's Enterprise" 
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Okay, I actually don't think "Code of Honor" is as bad as so many have said. It's not TNG's best, but not their worst either.
1. Seriously, the casting choices for the Ligonians is the only problem. Had they gone with anyone else, like Japanese since there's shades of feudal Japan in there, I don't think it would have gotten the flak it gets.
2. As you pointed out Unimatrix Q, it's the only real original timeline Tasha episode. (She did get some good scenes throughout the season, though.)
3. We get a good glimpse at Data and Geordi's friendship here. This is the first time we see them as pals, as the friendship grows into them being best friends. I have a soft spot for Data, as it's likely been apparent over the years, so scenes that feature him always get a thumbs up from me.
4. Troi got some good use, and it was in her actual job. Both when she was using some psychology to get Yar to be aware of her ego to help be objective, and while advising Picard in his diplomatic relations. Her character got the shaft a lot in later years, but this was not one of those times, and it's a good reminder of why she actually deserves to sit in the center area of the Bridge.
1. Seriously, the casting choices for the Ligonians is the only problem. Had they gone with anyone else, like Japanese since there's shades of feudal Japan in there, I don't think it would have gotten the flak it gets.
2. As you pointed out Unimatrix Q, it's the only real original timeline Tasha episode. (She did get some good scenes throughout the season, though.)
3. We get a good glimpse at Data and Geordi's friendship here. This is the first time we see them as pals, as the friendship grows into them being best friends. I have a soft spot for Data, as it's likely been apparent over the years, so scenes that feature him always get a thumbs up from me.
4. Troi got some good use, and it was in her actual job. Both when she was using some psychology to get Yar to be aware of her ego to help be objective, and while advising Picard in his diplomatic relations. Her character got the shaft a lot in later years, but this was not one of those times, and it's a good reminder of why she actually deserves to sit in the center area of the Bridge.
An episode that's fairly well regarded: "Before and After."
1. Why exactly did Kes keep going back once the treatment started? And why did she stop and reverse? It seemed like a nonsensical bit added for dramatic effect.
2. Human/Ocampa romances do seem a little... ah, disturbing, given that Ocampa mature at one, reproduce at four, and die at nine. This was amplified by the fact that Linnis and Andrew both had appeared to have the same abbreviated lifespan.
3. Does Tuvok really, really, really like yellow? Because in this episode (as in "Resolutions") he should have been wearing red.
Now, a lamented episode: "Non Sequitur."
1. It's nice to see Earth again, and a part of Starfleet that we don't normally see: the people who design the nifty toys that Trek characters zoom around in.
2. We see that under other circumstances, Harry could have had a stellar career: he was close to making lieutenant after only 8 months. At that rate, his "Nightingale" prediction was right... he could have easily been a LCDR within seven years.
3. We also see a "there but for the grace of God" moment for Tom, the life he would have had without Janeway's intervention.
4. The Vulcan Mocha guy was actually pretty funny too.
1. Why exactly did Kes keep going back once the treatment started? And why did she stop and reverse? It seemed like a nonsensical bit added for dramatic effect.
2. Human/Ocampa romances do seem a little... ah, disturbing, given that Ocampa mature at one, reproduce at four, and die at nine. This was amplified by the fact that Linnis and Andrew both had appeared to have the same abbreviated lifespan.
3. Does Tuvok really, really, really like yellow? Because in this episode (as in "Resolutions") he should have been wearing red.
Now, a lamented episode: "Non Sequitur."
1. It's nice to see Earth again, and a part of Starfleet that we don't normally see: the people who design the nifty toys that Trek characters zoom around in.
2. We see that under other circumstances, Harry could have had a stellar career: he was close to making lieutenant after only 8 months. At that rate, his "Nightingale" prediction was right... he could have easily been a LCDR within seven years.
3. We also see a "there but for the grace of God" moment for Tom, the life he would have had without Janeway's intervention.
4. The Vulcan Mocha guy was actually pretty funny too.
I'll try to defend that one. They got saddled with throwing together an unplanned episode, at the last minute, to make up for budgetary usage on episodes like Q Who? They shot it in 3 days with only 3 sets, & under the constraints, the simplest format in use at the time, to deliver such an episode, was a clip show (Common for the era)
It is undeniably bad, even for a clip show (M*A*S*H managed some unusually good ones, for example) However, they often have those planned in advance, unlike how TNG got hit. For what it was, they stumbled through it fairly enough. I doubt anyone could've done any better in the time they had, & under the circumstances. The original script was actually better than what we saw, but they couldn't afford it all.
When thinking of this episode, I try to remember that where they came up short here on budget for shooting & writing, &.... everything else... they did so because they went deep into their pockets for Q Who? earlier in the season, & we should all be thankful they did, because it is not only an outstanding season 2 episode, which wouldn't have been possible without making up the balance on this episode, but it also provided a story arc that gave an endless well of material for the next 2 decades
Shades of Grey was the payback for getting Q Who? & thereby the entirety of the Borg story arc, among other episodes that season, which they'd spent more on than the norm. Sometimes you gotta rob Peter to pay Paul.
I have to say, I'm one of those unusual folks that didn't mind "Shades of Grey". I mean, it's no "Best of Both Worlds", but I never had a particular issue with it.
I thought it was a fun ride down memory lane. I always liked the part where Geordi is reaching for the branch and he says to Data "I'm counting on the fast (whoosh) android reflexes of yours". I like how he even managed to get the rest of the sentence out
.
It's disappointing it's the last time we will see Dr. Pulaski and it's not the best season closer to be sure. But I never disliked it.
I thought it was a fun ride down memory lane. I always liked the part where Geordi is reaching for the branch and he says to Data "I'm counting on the fast (whoosh) android reflexes of yours". I like how he even managed to get the rest of the sentence out
. It's disappointing it's the last time we will see Dr. Pulaski and it's not the best season closer to be sure. But I never disliked it.
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