Episodes that got better or worse after repeated viewings

[Vger23]

I thought Pulaski was an infinitely more interesting and engaging character than Crusher.

Crusher was essentially a cardboard cut-out. I'm not sure I could assign any unique or engaging character traits to her other than "mother" and "doctor." She has always gone into the Travis Mayweather bucket of horribly-developed and unnecessary main cast members from my perspective.

YMMV of course.

 

[Oddish]

Except for Deep Space 9, all of the early Trek series had characters who fell into that bucket.

 

[Vger23]

Except for Deep Space 9, all of the early Trek series had characters who fell into that bucket.

I’d agree if you limited it to Berman-era series. I’m not sure TOS, DSC or PIC have those characters.

TOS maybe, just because the supplemental characters were really just glorified extras for the most part , but even they were pretty rich and colorful compared to some others.

 

[Oddish]

I’m not sure TOS, DSC or PIC have those characters.

I said EARLY Trek. I haven't really watched DSC and PIC that much because I want to watch them on a proper screen, not a smartphone. My PS4 could not have died at a more inopportune time.

And I definitely consider Scotty, Uhura, Chekhov, and Sulu to be underdeveloped characters.

 

[Mres_was_framed!]

That’s how I feel about “Measure of a Man”. Boring, sloggish and unfathomably overrated…living more off its collective reputation than on its actual merits.

That’s not to say I don’t like it…but it’s an average TNG episode from my POV

Imagine that episode in the context that Starfleet knows the Borg are coming, and, thanks to the Hansens and the run-in with the Conspiracy parasites, has an unclear picture of what the Borg will be like, and that fear is what motivates them to want to learn more about Data, or even judge him as an artificial life form. If we throw in the fact that later we find out the Borg Queen has a special interest in Data, and want to stretch it a bit to imagine Starfleet suspects the Borg would have that special interest, the episode takes on new meaning.

 

[Pikirk_Janesisko]

I thought Pulaski was an infinitely more interesting and engaging character than Crusher.

Crusher was essentially a cardboard cut-out. I'm not sure I could assign any unique or engaging character traits to her other than "mother" and "doctor." She has always gone into the Travis Mayweather bucket of horribly-developed and unnecessary main cast members from my perspective.

YMMV of course.

I prefer Pulaski too. Lot of more character development in one season than six for Crusher. But I was surprised at how much Beverly Crusher do on season 1. She does have a lot of scenes with Picard and Wesley. In episodes like "Symbiosis" she's pretty important. After she returned, except for a couple episodes, her main purpose became to explain biological technobabble. Or when in "Descent", when they had absolutely nothing to do with her... Now she's commanding the ship! Oh well...

 

[Oddish]

That and...
1. Let's do it < Make is so.
2. Calling her "sir" was just... urghhh. Glad Janeway put a stop to that crap early.

 

[Vger23]

I said EARLY Trek. I haven't really watched DSC and PIC that much because I want to watch them on a proper screen, not a smartphone. My PS4 could not have died at a more inopportune time.

And I definitely consider Scotty, Uhura, Chekhov, and Sulu to be underdeveloped characters.

But they're not main characters. They're background characters who are given a little life and extra lines as time goes on. It's not like Bernan-era Trek where the casts became an ensemble and everyone gets a feature episode or two during a season. TOS was Kirk, Spock and Bones with the others there to support...not to be featured characters. They don't even get billing in the opening credits.

So, yes they may be underdeveloped, but it's not comparing apples-to-apples when you're talking about characters like Crusher.

Crusher, Mayweather, etc were main characters and part of those show's ensembles, which means more development, involvement, and personality is required there.

 

[Vger23]

Imagine that episode in the context that Starfleet knows the Borg are coming, and, thanks to the Hansens and the run-in with the Comspiracy parasites, has an unclear picture of what the Borg will be like, and that fear is what motivates them to want to learn more about Data, or even judge him as an artificial life form. If we throw in the fact that later we find out the Borg queen has a special interest in Data, and want to stretch it a bit to imagine Starfleet suspects the Borg would have that special interest, the episode takes on new meaning.

But that's not how it was....so it doesn't take on new meaning.

It's just boring. I find "I, Borg" to be boring and over-rated as well.

 

[Orphalesion]

I’d agree if you limited it to Berman-era series. I’m not sure TOS, DSC or PIC have those characters.

TOS maybe, just because the supplemental characters were really just glorified extras for the most part , but even they were pretty rich and colorful compared to some others.

I'd definitely say that, at the very least, Chekov "X vas inweted in Rushah!" was one note and superfluous. Same with Scotty to some extend. I mean it depends, in Chekov's case whether you count accents as "colourful" or not.
And let's not forget Nurse Chapel, if you count her as a character on the same level as the Bridge Crew and Scotty. Chapel had virtually nothing, even her attraction to Spock was not really focused on.

Zulu and Uhura I see more like I see Dr.Crusher; characters that had the potential to be very interesting, but just never got the focus they deserved to properly blossom.

In PIC, I gotta have to say Legolas Elnor kinda faded into the background a lot and didn't get as much focus as I would have liked to see for our first Romulan main character.

 

[suarezguy]

The trouble with Prime Directive episodes like Pen Pals and Homeward is that the Prime Directive is used to create drama, so the characters have to go up against their rule to do the right thing. They ultimately save as many lives as they can and this is portrayed as being good (because it is). But Picard is a true believer in the Prime Directive, so that means he has to start off believing in the wrong thing, and considering that the fate of whole civilisations are at risk in these stories that's a whole lot of wrong.

"Homeward" the civilization did not survive aside from 1 village.

I'd say that's because its core story (the Boraalans being brought to safety with the help of the holodeck, even if they don't know it), with Worf and his brother bickinering along the way as leaders of the 'trek' is quite a good story in itself. It's just that the writers needed to frame that conflict and they apparently could think of nothing better than having Picard adopt this ridiculous rigid stance about the Prime Directive to do so. I'm sure that with a little tweaking, the same story could have been told without slaughtering Picard's character.

Nikolai was willing to save a few people in significant part because he impregnated one of the women but while doing so was not sure if he was willing to stay around to raise the child, I don't think he comes off looking particularly good or better.

 

[SithHappens]

Already mentioned but Inner Light, loved it the first time i saw it, but i now feel like i probably wont ever watch it again, the last time i watched i was bored and found it a bit sickly.

 

[Amaris]

Just watched "Samaritan Snare" (thanks Pluto TV!), and liked it when I watched it years ago, and for me it still holds up, and I may like it even more now. I did genuinely laugh out loud when towards the end, when Geordi says "I can't believe my friends are trying to kill me!" and the Pakled captain replies "believe it! They are violent!"

I mean, it hit me just right and I just laughed straight from my gut.

 

[Farscape One]

"Teeth are for chewing."

Best line of that episode.

 

[Legate Duhmar]

Pulaski was an infinitely more interesting and engaging character than Crusher.

I fully agree with this statement and Pulaski is among the best parts of season 2. It was more interesting to have a female foil for Data and Picard among the crew, too bad she did not get along with the cast at all on set.

 

[Vger23]

I fully agree with this statement and Pulaski is among the best parts of season 2. It was more interesting to have a female foil for Data and Picard among the crew, too bad she did not get along with the cast at all on set.

I’ve never heard this before. Where is this documented?

 

[DonIago]

I was wondering the same.

 

[Farscape One]

There have been interviews in the past where Muldaur stated she wasn't really welcome or treated very well while there. It basically has to do with the fact she replaced McFadden, who Mauruce Hurley fired at the end if season 1. Apparently, they took it out on Diana Muldaur as the one who took out a member of the TNG family.

 

[Mres_was_framed!]

But that's not how it was....so it doesn't take on new meaning.

It's just boring. I find "I, Borg" to be boring and over-rated as well.

I last watched the extended cut on Blu-Ray, the last time I watched "Measure of a Man," and it references the starbase seen in the episode was new because it had been built in response to the bases destroyed near the Neutral Zone (later, we learn by the Borg). Since we know that in Season two they were looking for a new villain after they were not satisfied by the Ferengi, and coming soon after an episode where Ira Graves, a top "cyberneticist" was consdiered "priority one," it sure seems, on a rewatch, that this episode fits with the theme that the Borg are coming. I know others may disagree, but this is an episode that seems to be a lot better, when you know some later episodes.

Some Borg episodes are compelling. As far as "I, Borg," I don't really see what people see that makes it a standout. It is an interesting theme that Picard must confront a vulnerable Borg, but that, rather predictable plot twist is about all the episode seems to have.

 

[Vger23]

I think "Clues" is an episode I've grown to appreciate more as time as gone by. I thought it was "ok / interesting" when I first watched it....but on repeat viewings, it's a really cool and compelling Star Trek story.