DH Reviews TNG thread

[RAMA]

Wow. I love "11001001" and consider it one TNG's finest episodes of the entire series. It's got a sweeping, almost theatrical scale. It has a unique sci-fi species in the Bynars, a terrific action sequence in the theft of the Enterprise, some great intrigue, and beautiful visuals with the Starbase. This is all combined with one of Ron Jones' best orchestral scores. (The scene where the Enterprise returns back to Starbase at the end with the sweeping use of the TNG theme is pitch-perfect.) My rating: 10/10

And, while it's not great, "Too Short a Season" isn't too bad. It has some solid action in it. My Rating: 6.5/10 And, yes, I'm one of the ones who considers "Angel One" a fair guilty pleasure episode. My Rating: 6.5/10 I never cared for "Datalore" though, except the awesome opening music cue that combines to the TOS and TNG fanfares.

Too Short a Season may actually be damaged by its SF trappings...but there's a core of a decent story about terrorism there...the Prime Directive issue is marginally related to that story as well. I'm less interested with the Admiral's anti-aging story but to me the rest of it is enough to give it a good rating.

RAMA

 

[Distorted Humor]

Will be using a ten point system (Though BOBW part 1 might go all the way to eleven! ) And I cannot promise that I will finish TNG before going off and doing a season of DS9 or VOY to give me a break.

You quoted what I said but didn't say anything, so I am not sure what you meant to say.

Season 1 is in the books folks! (Internet usage at work might be a issue for today. (eep!))

"Coming of Age"

Plot Synopsis: Wesley takes the academy entrance tests, while an annoying inspection takes place. In the end Wesley does not make it into the academy, and Picard is offered to be the head of the acadamy, and a bump up to admiral, as there is something fishy going on in starfleet.

Thoughts: While it is cool to see the academy tests, the episode plods along and other then the surprise mental test on Wesley Crusher, nothing exciting really happens. Though for the writers credit, some of the seeds planted in this episode grow into the best episode of the season later on.

Wesley Crusher is a odd character, and I do understand that he was both well liked (He and data had a lot of fan mail) but also well hated. The concept of a younger proto-officer is not as farfetched to me, if it was played correctly. For example, if there was a Jr. ROTC type program (For those who are not from the us, it is a high school military officer training program, similar to the British Cadet program) though that might of not mixed well with what they where going for in starfleet, as it may of been too militaristic. If he was just "a training Cadet" who wasn't a boy wonder, I would of accepted him a lot more. In the end, he was to get a younger crowd and perhaps play off Gene Roddenberry's boyhood fantasies. I was a kid at the time, and we all thought Wesley sucked, and data was awesome.

Robert Schenkkan plays a wonderful "love to hate" character in Lt. Commander Remmick, and apparently he a darn good writer these days.

Best Part: The seeds planted for the future

Not so Best Part: The plot itself is mostly boring, with little threat and little action.

Rating: 4 out of 10

"Heart of Glory"

Plot Synopsis: Find Klingons on ship, see Klingons be Klingons, see Klingon die, RAWWRRR!

Opinion: This is the first of the episodes that really starts to look into what Klingons are. this theme is much better handled elsewhere in later episodes, but it is at least watchable, which is a lot better then some other episodes. The narrative structure at least provides some motion to the story, which the previous episode lacked.

Best Part - I didn't see Wesley or Bun-Troi in this episode, which is always a good thing.

Not so best parts: by todays standards, this, and much of TNG, is very talky, and it seemed that this one was more talky then most.

Rating: 4 out of 10.

"The Arsenal of Freedom"

Plot Synopsis: the enterprise gets a offer that they cannot refuse from arm's dealers who have been killed by there own product.

Opinions: This is a fun, action filled episode, some humor (which trek has a hard time doing) and if you don't think hard, it can be fun to watch. However there are two massive weaknesses. The first is that the Picard-Crusher bit seemed to be short-circuited, and even as a 10 year old, when I was watching it, one of the first things I thought was to say "tell it you will buy it!" early on. Perhaps it would be better if the seller agreed, but needed a down payment, and you had the enterprise crew busily replicating gold coins while surviving attacks? Now that would be fun. Also we have another chief engineer, and he is a do**he named Logan.

Best part - Laforge might get the best bits in the entire run in this mostly forgettable episode.

Worse Part - If a 10 year old can figure out how to solve the problem in 2 mins, and it takes the captain a hour, you have a plot problem.

Rating- 4 out of 10

"Symbiosis"

Plot Synopsis: Picard has a Ethical and Prime Directive issue to face, and drugs are bad, M'kay?

Opinions: as I was watching this episode, I realized it was better then I remembered it, as it is most likely one of the best episodes dealing with the prime directive and it truly has a simple, effective ending. The fact of giving the drugs, but not the coils needed to operate future transactions means that the enterprise can have cake and eat it to. It was also nice to see some Star Trek Movie actors playing bit roles.

This has the famous (infamous??) Tasha Yar anti-drug monolog. I actually think that drugs are terrible, and it is correct that you shouldn't mess with drugs (though later episodes deal with addiction with much more skill without loosing that Trek charm.) I forgot how LONG the monolog was. It went on forever.

Best part - How they solve the issue of the week, quite well written episode. Very functional on the story level.

Worse - the long monolog, and Crosby is no Stewart in delivering lines.

rating - 5 out of 10

"Skin of Evil"

Plot Synopsis: a pool of black tar Kills a non-redshirt crew member, while holding bun-troi hostage. Did I mention that the bad guy is a pool of black tar?

Opinions: Tasha Yar gets killed, and for the rest of her life, Crosby has to wonder "what if". I won't go into the details of Crosby deciding to leave the show, and she does make a infamous comeback later on. However the episode itself is about as appealing as the bad guy, a pool of black tar. Even though you have the shock of a cast member getting killed, that does not maintain the episode, and that shows how truly weak the episode is. For example, Marritza, the guest star in DS9's "Duet" death has 10 times the power of Yar's death, and Tasha Yar was a main listed cast member for 23 episodes! However luckily, the quality of episodes on the home stretch start to improve.

Best Part - the Funeral, it almost, Almost was touching.

Worse part - Armus just does not work, its ALMOST cheesy enough to be funny, but that not what you want when your killing off a cast member.

Rating - 2 out of 10

"We'll Always Have Paris"

Plot synopsis - The enterprise races to respond to a distress call, where the enterprise finds a old flame of Picard, and a major malfunction.


Opinion - this episode is generally bashed, however, it is surprisingly decent. I was sitting back and kept thinking "you know, its not bad, I seen a lot worse. The time issues are fun, while the romance only slightly works, TNG had a hard time doing romance, and it shows. However there are parts of this episode that just really work, and after a dip in the middle in quality, ends up with a fun ending to reward those who sat though the episode.

Best Part - Data fixing the problem, and seeing the three Data's at the same time, all of them figuring out who is the real one. Darn good special effects from 25+ years ago.

Not so Best part: The romance does not work, though I like this women more then many of Picard's other women.

Rating 5 out of 10

"Conspiracy"

Plot Synopsis - A secret message starts the ball rolling, is starfleet being taking over?

Opinions - Dang this is a good episode. It has everything you would want, and really, this episode is still disturbing and some of the most disturbing trek in all 30 seasons of star trek. parasites, worm eating, phaser battles, and the one of the most visual deaths in Trek, I mean, a guy's head explodes and then out comes the mother worm. YIKES!!!

Also, when Riker comes in, you really do not know if Picard is going to have to save the day, or if Riker is playing for the home team. The visuals of this episode are still striking, the bowl of meal-worms, the parasite entering Remmick's mouth, Remmick head blowing up, and the mother parasite in him.

Shudder, one of the few bits of season one that gives you a emotional reaction. and I am still shocked that it made it on late 1980's TV.

Best Part - other then the visuals at starfleet headquarters, the bit where Crusher, back turned to the camera, then riker wakes up and places a hand on her, commercial break, and Riker comes in, apparently under the control.

Not so best part - I was going to say the stop animation, but the not so best is that they never followed up with this.

Rating 8 out of 10

"The Neutral Zone"

Plot Synopsis - The enterprise finds a freezer ship, wakes up some of the sleepers, and then races to the neutral zone as bases are not responding. There they find...

Opinions - before my rewatching, I always said that this was the best episode of season 1. I have decided it is not, as there are a number of other episodes that are tied with it, and one that is better. However you can tell the cast, writers, and producers are starting to figure out what exactly Star Trek, TNG was going to be about, and it builds up tension as at the time, you don't know if the romulans are going to be ending up as major badguys. The fact that it sets up the first seeds of the Borg is icing on the cake. A fine way to finish off the first season of Star Trek, the Next Generation.

The Best Part - the Romulan warship decloaking and you know it is game time.

The not so best parts - the women who woke up from the frozen state I just don't care about, even if I should. The capitalist is fine, and the country music star is funny, she seems very realistic, but I didn't want realistic.

Rating- 7 out of 10.

Next post will be a season rundown

Edit- added it to this post so I don't "double post"

I tried to like To short of a season, but I agree that the anti-aging plotline ruined the episode for me, if they had some other idea, or just told it without that trapping of SF, it might of been a lot stronger. In hindsight I gave it a slight boost.

Also, Datalore is one of the episodes I don't mind watching again, as I will explain below.

Season 1 Rundown

Classics (9 or 10s) - 0
Great Episodes(7 or 8) - 4
Conspiracy - 8
Where No One Has Gone Before - 7
The Battle -7
The Neutral Zone -7

Good episodes(5 or 6) -5

The Big Goodbye -6
The Last Outpost - 5
Datalore -5
When the Bough Breaks -5
Symbiosis -5

Bad episodes (3 or a 4) - 9
Encounter at Farpoint -4
Justice -4
11001001 -4
Home Soil -4
Coming of Age -4
Heart of Glory -4
The Arsenal of Freedom -4
Lonely Among Us -3
Haven -3

Dire(1-2) -4
The Naked Now -2
Hide and Q - 1
Angel One -1
Too Short a Season - 1
Breaching the threshold of suck (Zero) - 1
Code of Honor

(Note - I bumped up too short of a Season, it not Code of Honor bad)
avg score - 3.6

Episodes that I will rewatch (which may not be the "best" episodes)

Conspiracy
The Neutral Zone
Datalore

Camp counselor award (for episodes that are now fun in a campy sort of way.) Two winners!
Angel One
The Naked Now

 

[Distorted Humor]

Note: had to post this in a second message as this would not fit in my existing post above, as it goes over the word limit. If this is incorrect to post a 2nd part, please let me know what the proper procedure on the board is.

RAMA

That is a very cool database! Just curious, which one is it?

I guess I am a little harsher then you are, though I must admit, Datalore which you really like, I don't dislike.


Also, I have 10(!!! ) episodes to review. This is why I am doubleposting is that I have 10 reviews waiting. Anyone feel free to tell me what you think!

"The Child"

Plot Synopsis: Meet the new doctor, and Troi suddenly gets impregnated and has a child. O yea, there is some plague samples which the Enterprise is transporting.

Opinions: Season 2 was marred by a writers strike, and some "Phase II" scripts where reused, and this is one of them. There also has been changes in the crew. Riker grew a beard (which is good) troi is not as horrific as she was in season one (which is good) and we have a new doctor (mixed). Dr. Katherine Pulaski I just do not like, she is too much like "Bones" Mccoy from TOS and does not do much. Of course, Dr. Crusher spent half of Season 1 being overprotective of Wesley, her character just gets on my nerves. Not that Diana Muldaur is not a excellent actress. Also Laforge as the Chief Engineer makes sense.

As for the episode, Utterly forgettable.

Best part: most of the crew Reshuffle

Not so best part: the majority of the episode is blah

Rating 4 of 10.

"Where Silence Has Lease"

Plot Synopsis: The enterprise is engulfed by a black cloud, and the crew starts to feel like they are rats in a cage as they are tested.

Opinions: ok, I know some people like this episode. I think that this episode is rather stupid, and except for the bridge member who is killed on the bridge, its not that exciting or even curious. (Unlike the curiosity exposed by both humans and the force holding the enterprise. ) It does earn points as its not structurally bad, it just...blah..

Best part: turning off the self-destruct sequence

Worse part: the main plot (yes, I know that fighting words to some)

Rating: 4 out of 10

"Elementary, Dear Data"

Plot Synopsis: Data is enjoying a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and due to a misstating of commands, a new holographic life form emerges, and a classic is born.

Opinon: This is the first true classic of Star Trek, the Next Generation in my review this is the second holodeck adventure that just "Works" and Data as Sherlock Holmes goes so well together that you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride as this is the type of stuff that Star Trek, and more notably, Star Trek TNG can make that can just knock your socks off, while at the same time what other show can pull this off? Not many.

Best parts: The Sets are just amazing for a first run syndication show. and the acting by almost everyone was top notch, and you can sense that everyone is having fun on set, which normally leads to a good episode.

Not so best Parts: It does not have any major or really even minor faults, it is just that it does not have the gravity of say, Measure of a Man or BOBW. you never get the sense that the doctor is in true danger.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

"The Outrageous Okona"

Plot Synopsis: The enterprise finds a Ruffian type who is running from the law and a (Apparent) shotgun wedding, the side plot is that data tried to find humor.

Opinions: The space Ruffian plotline is not as bad as I remembered, and is cute in it own way, and if they had focused and filled out that, instead of the side plotline, this would of been a much better episode. The data programming the holodeck to learn about humor is...dire. All points of this episode go to space ruffian plotline.

Best Part: seeing a young Terry Hatcher in a starfleet uniform.

Not so best part: Data =/ Humor...ugg

rating: 2 out of 10

"Loud as a Whisper"

Plot Synopsis: A diplomat with a telepathic "chorus", who are killed in negotiation, and thus leaving the diplomat speechless.

Opinion: This is in no way a great episode, it trudges along and is a bit of a "Paint by the numbers" episode. However there is nothing here that makes it utterly cringe inducing (like say, the previous episode, or chunks of season 1) and if any series weakest episodes are as strong as this, it is on not a bad path as long as there are better episodes.

Best part: There are not many episodes about being hearing impaired, and it good TNG hit on this. The rehabilitation of Troi is in full swing to a decent member of the crew.

not so best part: this episode could of been so much better.

Rating 5 out of 10

"The Schizoid Man"

Plot Synopsis: A away team beams down to a planet that had a short distress beacon, Graves, Data's "Grandfather" is on the planet and is dying. Data begins to act strangely upon return.

Opinion: I know that this is not a fave episode by some as it gets knocked down by voters in a lot of polls. However this is not a bad episode, and it is a bit of a guilty pleasure. First off, Suzi Plakson gets your attention as Dr. Selar. I am not disagreeable with Crusher 2.0 in season 3-7, but I would of been just as happy with Dr. Selar becoming CMO. More importantly, the character of Ira Graves is a ton of fun, it is good too see that in the world of honorable star fleet and paradise, there are class A jerks like Ira Graves still running around, and you have no problem understanding why he was exiled to his own world, but I never find him annoying, as say, the smiler character in DS9's "Second Sight". That and Data being able to play a Dirty old man and the over the top is also highly entertaining.

Best Part:
"I can safely say, that to know him, was to love him. And to love him, was to know him..", Dr. Selar, and Data with a beard.

Not so best part: That the federation ability to transfer knowledge like this is never brought up again in TNG (as far as i can remember.)

Rating 7 out of 10

"Unnatural Selection"

Plot Synopsis: The enterprise finds a ship, the USS Lantree, with all crew dead of old age. And find a colony of augmented children, and the race is on to find the cause and cure as more people start to age.

Opinion: This is not a bad episode, even if it is moralizing. Star Trek never much went for the genetic engineering angle, and this episode plods along. I dock points for technobabble fixing the issue instead of a cute idea and since I never much care for season 2 doctor, I was thinking "It would of been sweet if they had the doctor die and Dr. Selar took over", what might of been.

Rating: 4 out of 10

"A Matter of Honor"

Plot Synopsis: Riker goes on board a Klingon ship to serve as first officer, while the Enterprise has its own visiting officer.

Opinion: This is a strong episode, and shows the series is starting to get its own legs. Most of the episode is about leadership and the structures of the other ships, and the side plot of a hull eating bacteria (Drug resistant Flesh (ahem, Hull) eating bacteria is NASTY in the 24th century) never becomes a distraction, it is how Riker will get the problem solved under a vary alien system of command.

Best Part: Riker eating food with his Klingon shipmates.

not so best part: Not sure the Benzite is the best one to have on the enterprise.

Rating 6 out of 10

"The Measure of a Man"

Plot Synopsis: A commander wants to disassemble and study Data, and a case is heard to decide for once if Data is Property or a man.

Opinion: This is a excellent episode of star Trek, and one of the best in the entire run of all the star treks ever. Everything is well played, Patrick Stewart gets to use some fine acting chops, and even Riker gets to carry some weight and you sense the distress as he carries out his duties. Even Commander Maddox, who is the supposed "bad guy" comes off as a astute, serious man who no evil intentions, just not seeing data as who he is. With items like the IBM computer Watson being built, it is starting to be more appropriate and on topic then ever.

Best Part: Patrick Stewart's speech defending data, starting low key, and the climax of "... Starfleet was founded to seek out new life – well, there it sits! ...waiting." of course, someone calling Picard a Pompous ass also gets a note.

Not so best part: None, it might be thought slow by todays standards, but today standards be darned.

Rating: 10 out of 10

"The Dauphin"

Plot synopsis: The enterprise is escorting a women and her escort, and Wesley Crusher starts to fall for her.

Opinion: Ok, i know this episode is hated by many. It is the hidden gem of TNG, and this is why.

First off, guest star, Jaime Hubbard is amazing wholesomely hot. Secondly, Wesley is actually written as a smart, geeky honest kid, and you do not want to strangle him. Thirdly, The Riker/Guinan bit teaching Wesley to Flirt is golden. In addition, having worf almost backhand a old women gets me smiling each time. In case I have not mentioned it, Jaime Hubbard is hot.

Also, the really bad special effects are so cheesy that they are now priceless, and add to what is now a lighthearted episode.

Best Part: "That is how the Klingon lures a mate."
"Are you telling me to go yell at Salia?"
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar...and they hurl heavy objects...and claw at you..."
"What does the man do?"
"He reads love poetry." [Worf regains his composure.] "He ducks a lot."
...
"Go to her door. Beg like a Human."



Not so best part: Ok, the shape changing is cringeworthy.

Rating: 7 out of 10

(goes and ducks a lot for giving "The Dauphin" a seven..)

 

[Distorted Humor]

NOTE: Once again I have finished a set of reviews, and I cannot edit into the existing last message due to word limit.

As a note to any readers, for the first time in a long time I am spending Easter Weekend by myself, as I ended up being the only fool to stay in town, So if you where wondering, No, I do not have a life, an thus I been grinding though Star trek episodes. I have finished Season 2.

"Contagion"

Plot Synopsis: The sister ship of the Enterprise blows up, and then the computer systems start to go heywire and it is a race to see if they can fix the ship before it joins its sister ship in blowing up.

Opinion: This is almost a "Do over" of a first season episode("The Last Outpost"), with the Romulans taking over for the Ferengi as the ship that is struggling across from the Enterprise. Although the way t o fix it seems obvious (basically reboot the system) it is a fun episode, and has a fun Indiana Jones in Space feel as they try to figure out how to end the issues. Also, as a fast paced TNG episode, it has aged a lot better then a lot of early episodes, as the MTV generation caused plot lines to go quicker as no one has a attention span anymore. Also, a Episode will gain points if there is a good explosion, and for the Pre-CGI era, the USS Yamato blowing up is amazing for a TV show, that is ILM quality effect. Season 2 is on its strong run, before the writer strike sends script quality down.

Best parts - the adventure and pace

Not so best parts - It is basically the same plotline from Season 1, just told much better.

Rating: 8 out of 10

"The Royale"

Plot Synopsis: Data, Worf, and Riker find a revolving door, and find a bad novel has come to life.

Opinion: This is a solid outing of the show in it's second season. I think its a like it or hate it episode, and I happen to like it. It never takes itself as too seriously, so it is a fun hour of TV and good popcorn fare. Data playing craps is also fun. This was a common episode in WJZY's Syndication of Star trek when I was growing up. I swear, it played once a month. I seen this episode at least 10 times.

Best Part - Finding the body of the NASA astronaut and the cheese.

Not so best part - it is never clearly stated on how the NASA ship got so far out into space.

Rating 5 out of 10

"Time Squared"

Plot Synopsis: The Enterprise is trapped in a time loop, and Captain Picard must end it, there can only be one!

Opinion: This is a workmanlike episode, but for one reason or another, I didn't like it. It also may very well be a "Like it or hate it episode" and I hate it, but I will not punish it too harshly due to my dislike. I am always surprised that there is a shooting and not say, restraining the captain to prevent the loop from happening.

Best Part: The Special effects for the Vortex are STILL good 25 years later. Not many Special effects are that special.

Not so best part: I never really find too much tension in the episode.

Rating: 4 out of 10

"The Icarus Factor"

Plot synopsis: Riker meets his dad, and Worf is acting more annoyed then normal.

Opinion: This is a mostly bad episode. I didn't care for Riker's issues, I thought the outfit for the sport was silly, and was sorely tempted to fast forward though sections, which is never a good sign. The Word section saves this from being a total waste, and that is what you remember, Klingon's Pain sticks. I really can't wax poeticly on this episode, there is less meat in this episode then in a .39 cent hamburger.

Best Part - Work and Pain sticks, crazy Klingon rituals.

Not so best part - the entire Riker and his dad plotline.

Rating: 2 out of 10

"Pen Pals"

Plot Synopsis: Data find a pen-pal, and breaks the prime directive

Opinion: This is another yawner, and almost stopped my marathon of star trek except for the pure awesomeness of the next episode. I just never cared for the alien, as I am a cruel 21st century person, and not a Idealistic 24th century I guess.I will talk about the Prime Directive.

The Prime Directive is a good idea, I understand it concept, but if World X is going to be blown up, to no fault of its residents, why wouldn't the federation try to save a race from total obliteration. Then again, good ideas do go bad and I could see this could be one of those "yes it is stupid, but the bureaucrats in the federation..." but that is Human drama, and there was a real push to that there is little human drama on TNG. At least the Prime Directive is brought up, unlike in say, Justice.

Best Part: "In your position it's important to ask yourself one question: 'What would Picard do?' "(In the 24th secular world, Picard is Jesus! (It is a joke folks))

Not so best part: the general plotline. Zzzzzzzzz

Rating: 3 out of 10

"Q Who"

Plot Synopsis: Q returns, and suddenly is much more serious as he sends the smug Enterprise to meet a new threat, the Borg....

Opinion: After a couple of bad episodes, they hit this one out of the park. A new threat, and a darn scary one at that, and there are some stuff that even today give me the goosebumps. Instead of talking about it, just go and watch it, if you don't like it, you may not have a pulse. The Borg is the signature threat of TNG.

Best Part - Meeting the Borg, and the moment where you see the Borg nursery. that still makes you go "O my..."

Not so best part - the debate in my head if this is a Classic episode, or just a VERY VERY Good episode.

Rating 9 out of 10

"Samaritan Snare"

Plot Synopsis: Laforge is kidnapped by a "stupid" race the Pakled. While Picard and Wesley go on a long shuttle ride to replace his heart. (his physical heart, not some weird Picard/Wesley slash fanfiction)

Opinion: Some people hate this episode, some people love this episode. I find it a episode that is worth watching one time in a blue moon. The Pakled is campy and annoying, while the Picard/wesley bits are slow and talky. It is a odd combo that leaves a disjointed episode. It sets up a great episode later on, and it has a funny line or two but in the end it is not the strongest run of a episode in Star trek, but it is far from the worse. However, somewhere in me I feel like I watched a Star Trek Episode where the joke is on Mentality disabled people, and that seems to be very Un-Trek.

Best parts: "I stood toe-to-toe with the worst of the three, and I told him what I thought of him, his pals, his planet and I possibly made some passing reference to his questionable parentage." - the younger, Badass Picard, before he became a diplomat. I kinda wanted to see more of this after season 2, when Picard became more calm.

Honorable mention goes to the "Crimson force field", I wonder how many takes it took without snickering.

Not so best part - that it the Enterprise CMO that saves the day (of course!) and it seems that it is almost a "Joke on Slow people" which is distasteful.

Rating: 3 out of 10

"Up the Long Ladder"

Plot Synopsis: The Enterprise finds two colonies in danger, and solves the problem with a interplanetary shotgun marriage.

Opinion: It had been a long time since I seen this episode, as I saw it a lot as a kid growing up, and I fondly remembered it. However perhaps as a adult, or perhaps instead of sitting back and eating popcorn I thought about it, this episode has a LOT of issues.

1.) the Neo-luddites are badly stereotypical Irish.
2.) Riker commits murder twice, and doesn't even raise a eyebrow.
3.) while the "Big love" of polygamy was attempted for humor, it really does not need to be in the fixing of the problem. (The advance society could clone extra males and females from the neo-luddite community and be monogamist)

and that is just the start. Actually, this episode is embarrassing. And I used to like this episode as a kid. Perhaps It was the cloning, as I always though cloning was a cool idea. And the having one ship have Neo-luddites and a advanced colony was a cool idea.

Best Part: the guest star and Riker had more chemistry then normal. even if the best chemistry was with a holoprogram from season 1.

Not so Best Part: Riker killing clones. REDRUM!

Rating: 2 out of 10

"Manhunt"

Plot synopsis: Troi Mother is back. All hands abandon ship.

Opinion: This one is a little better then some of the other Troi mom episodes, and it is silly, as it is intended to be. However, nothing really happens, and its means that it stumbles from one set piece to the next, and so your glad when the episode ends.

Best Part: Riker and troi talking about older Betazeds sex drive.

Not so best part: the Dixon hill bits.

Rating: 3 out of 10

"The Emissary"

Plot Synopsis: Worf meets K'Ehleyr, Worf likes K'Ehleyr, Worf and K'Ehleyr scream, throw objects, and do the whole Klingon mating rituals (Which do not involve begging like a human), Worf and K'Ehleyr save day.

Opinion: This is a solid episode, and Suzi Plakson is back, as K'Ehleyr, a half human half klingon woman. This is a solid episode, though the Klingon Sleeper ship you just have to accept and stop worrying about how much logic that has to have.

Though as a funny note, when I was a kid and watching this episode, my grandfather was watching it with me, and I just offhand metion "yea, she gets killed later on in a much better episode" on speaking about K'Ehleyr. Grandfather response "Good, she a #$()#$" still find it funny as my grandfather NEVER cussed in front of us, even if he was a New Yorker who knew how to.

Best Parts: K'Ehleyr

Not so Best Parts: The whole Sleeper ship being 70+ years old is a stretch, I didn't buy into it, but it did leave a fun ending.

Rating: 6 out of 10

"Peak Performance"

Plot Synopsis: the Enterprise has war games, and then Ferengi show up.

Opinion: They are still trying to make the Ferengi as bad guys, and it just not working. Though I find Sirma Kolrami as a wonderful "Love to hate" character. This is a "popcorn" epsiode, do not think hard about it and enjoy the ride, as if you think too hard it will start to fall apart.

Best Part: Wesley is useful for the 2nd time in the series in a believable manner.

Not so best part: Ferengi showing up as villains who might threaten the Enterprise. They just do not work.

Rating: 5 out of 10

"Shades of Gray"

Plot Synopsis: Ugggg

Opinion: This is a clip show, and almost did not review it as it is a clip show. However instead of just calling a spade a spade. (For example, the crew flying to Archer IV and saying "Remember when..." they decided to put Riker into danger and try to make a episode out of it. I fell asleep at 1am watching it, woke up, and had to rewatch it after the chores, and had to go watch "The wounded" as brain bleach.

Best Part: Closing Credits

Not so best parts: As soon as you find out it is a clip show.

Rating: ZERO out of 10

Season Wrapup

Classics (9 or 10) - 3
"The Measure of a Man" - 10
"Elementary, Dear Data" - 9.5
"Q Who" -9

Great episodes (7 or 8) - 3
"Contagion" - 8
"The Schizoid Man" -7
"The Dauphin" - 7

Good Episodes (5 or 6) - 5

"A Matter of Honor"- 6
"The Emissary" - 6
"Loud as a Whisper" -5
"The Royale" - 5
"Peak Performance" -5

Bad Episodes (3 or a 4) - 7

"The Child" -4
"Where Silence Has Lease" -4
"Unnatural Selection" -4
"Time Squared" -4
"Pen Pals" -3
"Samaritan Snare" -3
"Manhunt" -3

Dire Episodes (1 or 2) - 3

"The Outrageous Okona" -2
"The Icarus Factor" -2
"Up the Long Ladder" -2

Breaching the threshold of suck (Zero) -1
"Shades of Gray" - 0

Avg Score - 4.93 (Major improvement)

Episodes I will watch again if on TV

"The Measure of a Man"
"Elementary, Dear Data"
"Q Who"
"Contagion"
"The Schizoid Man"
"The Dauphin"
"A Matter of Honor"
"The Emissary"

Camp counselor award (for episodes that are now fun in a campy sort of way.) Two winners!

"The Dauphin"
"The Royale"

 

[Armus]

I thought the Admiral's anti-aging was really dramatic: everytime you saw The Admiral he looked younger and they milked it for all the dramatic effect they could get out of it. Rob Bowman did a great job directing. I still get chills when the 30-something Admiral is revealed in the dimly lit conference room and he confesses to Picard that he sold the weapons to Carnas.

 

[Distorted Humor]

I thought the Admiral's anti-aging was really dramatic: everytime you saw The Admiral he looked younger and they milked it for all the dramatic effect they could get out of it. Rob Bowman did a great job directing. I still get chills when the 30-something Admiral is revealed in the dimly lit conference room and he confesses to Picard that he sold the weapons to Carnas.

Glad you liked it, this of course is my personal reviews, and I hope some people disagree with me. Glad you enjoyed it, then again, I adore one of the episodes that normally put into the "Really bad" category. I just never could connect with the guest star, and thus, really did not care what happened to him.

Some Season 3 reviews.

"Evolution"

Plot Synopsis: Wesley the boy wonder makes some nanites, who take over the ship and almost ruin a science experiment, and also may be new life.

Opinion: Not bad, not great, a solid outing for the crew of the starship enterprise, Dr Crusher has returned, and we are now in the crew setup for the main part of Star Trek, TNG.

Best Part: Data communicating as the Nanites

Not so best part: Wesley

Rating: 5 out of 10.

"The Ensigns of Command"

Plot Synopsis: A legalistic race, the Sheliak tell the federation that there is a illegal human colony on a world they should have. Data is sent down on a shuttle to talk them to go home.

Opinion: This is another decent outing, and I find it charming in many ways, as it is a major "growth" episode for Data. He shows strong diplomatic Skills in getting settlers to leave there homes while Picard works the interstellar legal system to buy more time for a evacuation.

Best part: Data vaporizing the water supply

Not so best part: the love interest that goes no-where for data.

Rating 6 out of 10

"The Survivors"

Plot Synopsis: the Enterprise finds a entire world glassed over, except for one house with a old couple...

Opinions: This is a dark episode by Star Trek, TNG standards, with a man facing up that in a moment of righteous anger, he commited genocide. I don't know if this is really a "Surprise" ending as I have seen this episode so many times, but the image of one patch of green in devestation, and the music in Troi's head will stick with you for a long time.

Best Part: The good space battles, and the heartbreaking issues that this episode deals with.

Not so best part: other then being creepy, the troi bits did not work well.

Rating: 7 out of 10

"Who Watches the Watchers"

Plot Synopsis: A native sees too much, and a major breach of the prime directive occurs.

Opinion: I really struggled with what I think about this episode, in many ways, it a good episode, and in many ways, it is a flawed episode. I am still not sure if I like this episode or dislike this episode. Still, I have seen much worse in Star Trek.

Best Part: the whole "duck blind" idea.

Not so best part: There is nothing here that makes me want to go and rewatch it. and being boring is bad.

Rating: 5 out of 10

"The Bonding"

Plot Synopsis: Kids mom dies, then she appears, kid gets confused and will need therapy for a LONG time.

Opinion: Uggg, This episode just has never worked for me, as I just ...don't care. I know some like it as it has a TOS feel to it, but by now TNG needs to have a TNG feel, and I just found it Unexciting. I put the blame on the teen actor, not that he was bad, just that I didn't care.

Best Part: the candle lighting bits.

Not so best parts: There is nothing worse then being boring, and I found this one lacked excitement.

Rating: 4 out of 10

"Booby Trap"

Plot synopsis: The Enterprise is caught in a trap, and can Laforge, Chief Creep of the enterprise, figure out how to solve it before everyone face melts off due to radiation?

Opinion: I like this episode, there is tension (something that was lacking in the last few episodes) and the guest star is star trek regular Susan Gibney (Though I like her in DS9 more, apparently she was almost cast for Voyager..)who does a wonderful job, and there is "Star Trek Humor" which has its own candance with the Ship in the bottle bits.

Now, Laforge comes off as a creep. I hate to say it as its Mr. Freaking reading rainbow with a hair-beret over his eyes, but he does come off as creepy. However, as a kid, it lead to a funny thing. I never thought of it as a interracial kiss, I thought it was a "Hot girl and creepy guy kiss" Then again, Laforge most likely WOULD be creepy.

Ok, I might be selling the creepyness too much. If I was in the holodeck with a girl that looked like Susan Gibney, I would be a creep too.

The conclusion of this is also good, with a bit of almost hard science thrown in to solve the issue of the week.

Good parts: Susan Gibney, the plot, and the ship in the bottle joke.

Not so good parts: Radiohead filling my ears with "I am a creep..."

Rating: 7 out of 10.

"The Enemy"

Plot Synopsis: Romulans crash on the wrong side of the Neutral zone, and Laforge and the romulan have to work together to stay alive, as one has eyes, the other has the brains.

Opinions: This episode would get good ratings even without what I am going to focus on.

Worf NOT giving blood is brilliant. I was shocked, angry, and loved that choice. On occasion for drama, you have to have something unexpected to happen, and while it is not impossible for Worf not to give blood (Picard would give his kidney away if that meant peace, that is who he was, so he would of giving blood, but Worf is not Picard) And this is something that perhaps TNG did not do enough of, is do stuff like that.

Also, when Laforge is working with rocks, a phaser, and dirt, I remember a DS9 line where "Federation engineers can make replicators out of rocks if you give them enough time" or there about. I like resourcefulness.

Best Part: Worf refusing, and most of the planetside action.

Not so best part: hard to locate, it is a great episode

Rating 8 out of 10.


As a note: I been working though TNG awefully fast, I might switch to voyager for a break or at least mix it up.

 

[Warped9]

^^ I've found it can help to not write a review immediately after watching the episode. It helps me to reflect and get my thoughts together.

I was curious as to the differences in our perceptions. The following episodes I liked a bit or somewhat more than you:

"Haven" ***
"Where No One Has Gone Before" ****
"The Last Outpost" ***
"Too Short A Season" **
"Datalore" ***
"Angel One" **
"11001001" ****
"Heart Of Glory" ***
"The Arsenal Of Freedom" ***
"Symbiosis" ****
“Skin Of Evil” ***

The following I liked less than you did:

"Justice" *
"The Battle" **
"The Big Goodbye" **

The rest we were pretty close in agreement even if sometimes perhaps for different reasons. And note that I'm using a 5 point rating systems so to equate things I just divided your grades in half (eg: 7 out of 10 becomes 3.5 of 5)

 

[Distorted Humor]

^^ I've found it can help to not write a review immediately after watching the episode. It helps me to reflect and get my thoughts together.

I was curious as to the differences in our perceptions. The following episodes I liked a bit or somewhat more than you:

"Haven" ***
"Where No One Has Gone Before" ****
"The Last Outpost" ***
"Too Short A Season" **
"Datalore" ***
"Angel One" **
"11001001" ****
"Heart Of Glory" ***
"The Arsenal Of Freedom" ***
"Symbiosis" ****
“Skin Of Evil” ***

The following I liked less than you did:

"Justice" *
"The Battle" **
"The Big Goodbye" **

The rest we were pretty close in agreement even if sometimes perhaps for different reasons. And note that I'm using a 5 point rating systems so to equate things I just divided your grades in half (eg: 7 out of 10 becomes 3.5 of 5)

I guess the biggest outliers is that i do not LOVE datalore, which its a fun little episode, and I like "The Battle" when most people do not.

As for reviewing, I am going to slow WAY down, as first, I Was watching too much Star Trek, but also I am watching B5 for the first time and I rather watch 2-3 episodes of a good show I have not seen then 2-3 episodes that I have seen. So I will be updating at a much slower pace now that I worked though a lot of the episodes I dislike. None of your selections are like "What does he see in that episode?" or "Why does he not like that episode?".

 

[Warped9]

^^ Star Trek allows a broad variety of story types and so for me while I have certain kinds of stories I like or prefer I'm also trying to judge it on execution, how well do they tell the story in a given episode.

I'm also interested in being engaged by a story. Even if I'm already familiar with it I can still be engaged by how they go about getting their ideas across, the mechanics of the story.

 

[Distorted Humor]

^^ Star Trek allows a broad variety of story types and so for me while I have certain kinds of stories I like or prefer I'm also trying to judge it on execution, how well do they tell the story in a given episode.

I'm also interested in being engaged by a story. Even if I'm already familiar with it I can still be engaged by how they go about getting their ideas across, the mechanics of the story.

I try to do the same thing, for example, I never felt engaged by Angel one, and that is one reason why it was hurt in the ratings. For example, on of the things I love about BOBW part I is that it build up tension with first Riker talking about leaving to take a command, you meet Com. Shelby (Who I always loved as she was a strong, smart women who was NOT a love interest, something trek did not do enough of) then when Picard is captured you realized that you could easily go with a Riker/Shelby as everything has been set up, when at first your thinking that they where hinting that Riker might go. While in the meantime the most feared bad guys in trek are on the doorstep. That is a well written episode that gets you into it strongly.

I am also starting a policy that I will wait 24 hours to digest episodes before I comment on them. I think if I gave 24 hours I would of given Datalore a better rating. Also the speed is going to be slower as I am working though B5 and a occasional voyager episode as I am at the point where I have seen every episode for the next three years, most of them more then once, and I rushed though the rough parts of season 1 and 2 so when I did slow down like I am now, I would not loose all interest in the effort.

 

[Warped9]

Watching two different shows breaks things up I think and helps you see things a bit differently. I LOVE Babylon 5 even though it has some rough moments. It's my second favourite SF series after TOS.

Presently I'm revisiting TNG while also revisiting TOS. It's odd how I started doing this because presently I've been watching 6th and 7th Season TNG (which I'm finding generally lacklustre) mixed in with 1st Season TOS (which is generally very good). It's also really accentuating the distinctive differences between the two series.

 

[Armus]

Warped9: This may be taking this thread off topic, but what Babylon 5 episodes do you recommend to someone who has never watched the show before? What's its appeal? I may have watched 3 episodes when it was on in the 1990s.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Warped9: This may be taking this thread off topic, but what Babylon 5 episodes do you recommend to someone who has never watched the show before? What's its appeal? I may have watched 3 episodes when it was on in the 1990s.

Kinda curious myself, though I am starting B5 myself, and I was recommended to watch it from season 1, episode one, and the first season has some bumps, and season 3 I been told is some of the best SF ever put on TV.....

 

[Warped9]

Season 1 B5 starts a tad rough, but smoothens out within about half a dozen episodes. In fact I came to B5 about midway through Season one and was hooked within two or three episodes. I feel like I'm one of the few who actually rather liked Geoffrey Sinclair in Season 1.

Seasons 2, 3 and 4 are the series best in my opinion although it's worth watching Season 1 because it lays a lot of groundwork. I advise not to watch the TV film In The Beginning until after you've watched the five seasons because although it's quite good, and as a prequel to boot, it gives too much away that could spoil the series for you. It's best appreciated afterward.

Season 5 can be inconsistent with highs and lows, but never bad.

Episodes that come immediately to mind that I quite like: "Passing Through Gethesame" and "Gropos" and "Comes The Inquisitor." But there are so many good ones I couldn't hope to name them all.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Ok, the next batch of TNG is ready!

"The Enemy"

Plot Synopsis - Laforge is left on a planet due to a emergency, where he finds a romulan, and there bodies are slowly falling apart. Meanwhile, a standoff occurs in orbit.

Opinion - This is a highly underrated episode of TNG, you have Laforge surviving on a planet, where two enemies working together to survive, but on the enterprise you have something shocking go on.

Worf refuses to help the a romulan in sickbay, even if it means very bad things could happen. This is almost shocking at this point in Trek, as it seems almost anti-trek, yet at the same time reinforces the trek ideals by Laforge saving the day, and his life, by working with a untrusted enemy. This is also in my mind a pivotal moment, where TNG went from "TOS Phase III" to its own show.

Best Parts - Laforge building a mold and melting rocks to get out of a pinch, and Worf refusing to help.

Not so best parts - none really.

Rating - 8 out of 10

"The Price"

Plot Synopsis - A Stable wormhole is found, and parties come to try to negotiate having access to this key pathway. One negoatator becomes a love intrest to Troi.

Opinion - They still don't know what to do with Troi, and it shows. However, while in no way great, this is not a bad episode. It just tags along from one act to the next with a few laughs and a "surprise" ending, but it not bad popcorn fare.

Best Point - The Shuttle is lost in the Delta Quadrant when the Wormhole moves.

Not so best part - The chemestry between Troi and the guest star is only so-so.

Rating - 5 out of 10

"The Vengeance Factor"

Ploy Synopsis - The crew trace a attack to a little known world, with clan conflicts common.

Opinion - This is a unique plot, and while it does have weaknesses, it is solid and tells a good story. The "Heart attack on touch" and the near Clanicidal <sp> warfare brings the tension, and for one of the first times ever, you sense the heartbreak at love lost in TNG.

Best Part: "Your ambushes would be more successful if you bathed more often!" It was also fun to see the "Seedier" parts of the galaxy. Also, Riker you can tell still hurts about what he had to do to Yuta.

Not so best part: Picard does NOTHING as Riker vaporizes a women.

Rating 6.5 out of 10

"The Defector"

Plot Synopsis - The enterprise is near the Neutral zone and finds a Romulan defecting. Are the Romulans prepping for a attack on the federation?

Opinions - As a note, I am a fan of "Hunt for Red October" and I find the Cold-war type drama of a defector and a cold war threatening to go hot as highly compelling drama. Season 3 is when TNG grew wings and began to fly as a top notch drama. This episode is well thought out, well acted, and solid story telling and action mean that this is a classic of TNG.

Best Parts - When the poor defector finds out his entire defection was just a test of loyalty.

Not so best parts - I cannot find fault in this episode.

Rating 10 out of 10

"The Hunted"

Plot Synopsis - The crew is looking into if a world is ready for federation membership, and uncovers a inconvenient truth.

Opinion - This is not a barn-burner like the previous episode, but it is still a solid episode. I remembered it as only "Ok" but on my rewatch I found it much better then I remembered it, as it is a meditation on veterans and the issues they face. I forgot how good Season 3 was.

Best Part: "My improved reflexes have allowed me to kill eighty-four times. And my improved memory allows me to remember each of those eighty-four faces. Can you imagine what that feels like?"
"I am incapable of any feeling."
"Well, then I envy you."

Not so best part- For a episode with a lot of action, it dragged at times, more so then it should of.

Rating - 6 out of 10

"The High Ground"

Plot Synopsis - Terrorist Kidnap Dr. Crusher to help with them with side effects of their new weapon.

Opinion - Times have changed since 9/11. Prior to 9/11, this look at terrorism didn't really blink a eye. Today this would be a shocking look at terrorism. What does that say about our society in the last 20 years?

Best Part - This is the first good crusher episode, and this is the first time I re-noticed that Worf gets beat up each time there is a fight.

Not so best part - little too northern Irish in feel to me. Yawn...

rating 5 out of 10.

"Déjà Q"

Plot Synopsis - Q looses his power. Seeks Asylum with the Enterprise.

Opinion - Q episodes are a mixed bag, some are quite good, and some are as limp as a wet noodle. This is a pasta salad episode. Also there is bad orbital mechanics in the episode with the moon. (If you want to raise the moon, you would push it up when its orbit is LOW, not at its high point. ) But in the end this is a "Fun" episode, and grab some popcorn and enjoy it for what is is.

Best Part - Data Laughing

Not so best part - The lightness of the Q issue is poorly offset by a major issue with a moon. It just feels wrong to making jokes while planetary doom was at issue. Now a once in a lifetime scientific experiment would of worked much better.

Rating 5 out of 10

"A Matter of Perspective"

Plot Synopsis - Riker is accused of murder, and the holodeck is used to figure out what happened.

Opinion - Except for one issue, this episode works on so many levels. However due to the issue, the entire episode almost falls apart. We know Riker is a horn-dog who in the great tradition of Kirk has gone to strange new worlds, meet strange new people, and Go warp speed with them. But you just don't see riker going nuts over the girl. Thus you never really think that Riker did something wrong, which would of made this episode from good into a classic.

Best Part - the over the top comments in the Halo-riker. And the reveal works well.

Not so best part - the fact that the women who supposedly Riker killed for does not have the Mojo for you to think that is the case.

Rating 6 out of 10.

 

[Armus]

"A Matter of Perspective"

Plot Synopsis - Riker is accused of murder, and the holodeck is used to figure out what happened.

Opinion - Except for one issue, this episode works on so many levels. However due to the issue, the entire episode almost falls apart. We know Riker is a horn-dog who in the great tradition of Kirk has gone to strange new worlds, meet strange new people, and Go warp speed with them. But you just don't see riker going nuts over the girl. Thus you never really think that Riker did something wrong, which would of made this episode from good into a classic.

Best Part - the over the top comments in the Halo-riker. And the reveal works well.

Not so best part - the fact that the women who supposedly Riker killed for does not have the Mojo for you to think that is the case.

Rating 6 out of 10.

I always liked this episode. Riker comes across quite sympathetic. You can tell Picard is sensitive to his plight even as he has no choice but to go through the trial proceedings. The character's versions of what happened at the Station each twist the story to put themselves in the best possible light. The differences are significant and very subtle. The writing and acting here is very strong. In Riker's version, Apgar's wife made all the eye contact, she came on to him, and Riker tried to avoid a fight with Apgar. In her version, Riker leered at her, made continual passes at her, even tried to rape her and he assaulted and threatened Apgar. In Apgar's version, he is the more macho figure who confronts Riker and his wife, and he beats up Riker who screams out "you're a dead man Apgar, a dead man!" The episode makes it clear that Apgar's wife wasn't lying: she really believed her version is the way it went down but it is hard to believe three versions of the truth could be so different. Was Riker acting inapproprietely? Was she? In Apgar's version it was a mutual attraction. The Kriger wave stuff I never really understood, but this episodes captures something of human subtleties and characterization in a way that stands out for TNG.

It's a flawed but very enjoyable episode.

 

[Armus]

"The Defector"

Plot Synopsis - The enterprise is near the Neutral zone and finds a Romulan defecting. Are the Romulans prepping for a attack on the federation?

Opinions - As a note, I am a fan of "Hunt for Red October" and I find the Cold-war type drama of a defector and a cold war threatening to go hot as highly compelling drama. Season 3 is when TNG grew wings and began to fly as a top notch drama. This episode is well thought out, well acted, and solid story telling and action mean that this is a classic of TNG.

Best Parts - When the poor defector finds out his entire defection was just a test of loyalty.

Not so best parts - I cannot find fault in this episode.

Rating 10 out of 10

My only problem with this episode is that the audience is way ahead of the characters. The first time I saw it I knew the defector was truly trying to defect and that he should be trusted. The crew seemed a little cold and harsh to him. I suppose the encounters with the Romulans in "The Enemy" had left a bad taste in their mouths, and the Romulans were known for deception... but still...there is something a little off here. Anyway, I like that they brought Tomalak back. This episode was a nice echo after "The Enemy."

 

[Distorted Humor]

It's a flawed but very enjoyable episode.

I agree, there was a classic there to be had if it had worked right, and something did not. Shame really.

My only problem with this episode is that the audience is way ahead of the characters. The first time I saw it I knew the defector was truly trying to defect and that he should be trusted. The crew seemed a little cold and harsh to him. I suppose the encounters with the Romulans in "The Enemy" had left a bad taste in their mouths, and the Romulans were known for deception... but still...there is something a little off here. Anyway, I like that they brought Tomalak back. This episode was a nice echo after "The Enemy."

Well, there a few points on this...

1) Till close to the end he was lying, and I am sure Troi could sense that he was lying. Of course, he was lying about his rank, but that another story.

2) His first story did not make sense that someone of his rank would know all that he knew, until of course we learn who he really was.

3) It would not be past the romulans to fake a defector to get the enterprise into the Zone to get a victory and Glory for the empire. Taking out Starfleets flagship would be a great victory, and since it was out in the zone, Starfleet would of buried the loss and moved on.

4) By half way we know that the romulans LET the defector go (slowed down so the ship would make it to federation space), and if your the captain and you know the other side let someone escape, you would suspect it is a setup.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Ok, can't edit my last post since it been there a while, so here is some more reviews....

"Yesterday's Enterprise"

Plot Synopsis: The Enterprise-C comes out of a Rift, and time changes for the worse, and Yar is back.

Opinion: ok, I Have to admit, I love this episode. My only regret is that this isn't the last send-off of Denise Crosby. The subtle changes (and not so subtle changes) and one of the best Pre-CGI TV battle sequences ever knocks this episode into the classic. The old adage of little choices having big effects is shown here in spades.

Best Part - The time-shift as the C flys onto the screen.

Not so best part - himm...that wesley didn't die on screen.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

"The Offspring"

Plot Synopsis: Data creates a child, and bitter-sweet conclusion.

Opinion: This is yet another excellent episode of TNG. For today's MTV audience it might seem slow, but I enjoy the pacing and since I have a soft spot for Data episodes, I have no problem sitting back and enjoying it. I always thought the "visual selection" part was really cool.

Best Part: Riker hitting on Lal, and Data's response.

Worse part: Nowadays I kinda wish there was a multi-episode arc, make it even more heart-wrenching when Lal suffers a failure. However that is not the TNG way.

Rating: 8 out of 10

"Sins of the Father"

Plot Synopsis: Worf Family is facing being dishonored. Worf challenges the ruling, risking his life.

Opinion: Not as good as a true classic, but still a very good episode. This is more of a episode of politics, but also you get to see a layer of toughness in Picard, and sacrifice in Worf. This is also setting up the great episode in later this season (or is it season 4) where much that is established here is put into play.

Best Part - Picard showing his warrior side.

Not so best parts - It is a little talky for some.

Rating: 8 out of 10

 

[Warped9]

I have to disagree about the battles in "Yesterday's Enterprise." I thought they were rather lame, a big disappointment in what is otherwise a very good episode. To hear that ships are hundreds to thousands of kilometers apart and then to see them on top of each other like toys in a bathtub totally destroys suspension of disbelief. I thought it looked stupid.