Favorite and Least Favorite

[Brie]

I'm surprised (and impressed) this debate has been brought up.

I'm not going to lie if one day my smart phone tuned around and started interacting with me like a sentient being, I would probably fight for it's right to be treated as an equal, and probably reevaluate my life since I'm always on my phone lol

 

[BillJ]

I'm surprised (and impressed) this debate has been brought up.

I'm not going to lie if one day my smart phone tuned around and started interacting with me like a sentient being, I would probably fight for it's right to be treated as an equal, and probably reevaluate my life since I'm always on my phone lol

I wouldn't. Just reformat it and tell Samsung there's a bug in their software.

 

[STEPhon IT]

I'm surprised (and impressed) this debate has been brought up.

I'm not going to lie if one day my smart phone tuned around and started interacting with me like a sentient being, I would probably fight for it's right to be treated as an equal, and probably reevaluate my life since I'm always on my phone lol

I didn't know smart phones existed in 1987 when the show was created.

 

[Melakon]

But THAT'S THE REASON why Melakon thinks Data is his least favorite character...

i wasn't disagreeing with Mel, just stating my opinion on Star Trek AI.

I was joking because his reasons for Data being his least favorite character are preposterous.

I knew they wouldn't be popular, but when current efforts are always trying to make computers smarter, I don't see how speculation into possible results is preposterous.

Whether you like those reasons or not, I still dislike the character.

 

[Orphalesion]

I was joking because his reasons for Data being his least favorite character are preposterous.

"Preposterous"? Now I love Data as much as the next guy, but if someone disagrees, for whatever reason they have the right to and there's nothing preposterous about it.

Now I loved Data because of his sweet nature and wide eyed idealism, but even I think that there was at times (and especially in the movies) too much focus on him that could have been spent to develop the more neglected characters (like Geordie) and at times I just wanted to tell him flat to his face that his longing to feel real emotion was already an emotion.

I kind of liked the "electronic rights" movement storyline he had, though as a child the idea kind of freaked me out. Now the EMH, who's whole storyline was just a rehash of Data'sand who replaced sweetness and idealism with ego, creepiness and smarminess, that's a guy I hate and would have deleted the hell out in Janeway's shoes.

"Kes, you have Sickbay now..."

 

[IrishNero]

I'm surprised (and impressed) this debate has been brought up.

I'm not going to lie if one day my smart phone tuned around and started interacting with me like a sentient being, I would probably fight for it's right to be treated as an equal, and probably reevaluate my life since I'm always on my phone lol

Oh, but to me, my smart phone is already a sentient being.


The great thing about Data is that his quest to learn what it is to be human was, in essence, a mirror into which we could reflect upon what makes us who we are. Though he was a competent Star Fleet officer, he was also a child in many ways, and I've often thought that his character was the most genius of all since the inception of Star Trek. Unlike Vulcans, who have often been less than congenial and wielded logic like a stick, Data never did so out of malice or ill-will. In fact, his logical pursuits in the face of direct combat was often the source of humor. Picard's fatherly benevolence was the heart of the show (a credit to Patrick Stewart because that character could have easily been done in a way that made him look one-dimensional), but we can never over-emphasize Data's influence.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Favourite(s):

Riker - He was anchored to his Imzadi as a Friend with Benefits, which kind of confuses audiences and makes them supose that he's somehow done Deanna Troi wrong, because he's sampled TNG's entire menu of guest-starring women. But he was always forthright with Troi and she with him. I, personally, would've liked to have seen them get married, just to further seperate the show's format from that of TOS. But that's just me. It all worked out for the best, as these two did wed, when they hit middle-age and could no longer pull, like they used to. Otherwise, Riker was a fine officer and an Every Man who was good in a fight and cool to hang out with.

Picard - this character was blessed by Sir Patrick Stewart's portrayal. He would've been sequestered in his Ready Room, signing everyone's cheques and approving the paperwork so that Riker could effectively run the ship, had anyone else been playing him. Instead, Sir Patrick Stewart was always at the top of his game, physically and talent-wise. He set The Standard that the rest of STAR TREK's leads would forever have to try to match.

Least Favourite(s):

Lwaxana - It's just very sad seeing an old lady in Mid-Life Crisis ... pretending (& dressing like) she's still in her early twenties, believing every Man in the entire galaxy is lusting after her. It's made even worse by the fact that she (some-how) had attained the rank of Ambassador. What Leader would ever take her seriously, especially with her boisteriousness and inappropriate attire? The fact that she's Deanna's mother AND Gene Roddenberry's wife means that she's not going anywhere, either. That's what makes this jagged, little pill so difficult to swallow, for me. Had she been portrayed by anyone else but THE Mrs. Roddenberry, herself, this Lwaxana would've been written off and dismissed almost immediately.

Barclay - he is meant to represent the typical STAR TREK fan. Where's the "logic" in putting off your own audience, this way? And besides all of that, it's a wonder he ever made it in STARFLEET, at all. He should've never made the grade, as it were and would've been weeded out immediately. I mean, yes ... he's a sweet guy, but he'd have to be, wouldn't he? Out of necessity. I get that TNG wanted to show an imperfect Human, to get away from the usual, but they went about it entirely wrong - he's not even fun to watch.

Favourite Episode: A Matter Of Honor
Least Favourite Episode: Manhunt

These are not absolute, as my ranking of these shows is rather fluid, because - let's face it - even the worst episode is still TNG:

The best damn STAR TREK series ever made ...

 

[Brie]

Favourite(s):



Barclay - he is meant to represent the typical STAR TREK fan. Where's the "logic" in putting off your own audience, this way? And besides all of that, it's a wonder he ever made it in STARFLEET, at all. He should've never made the grade, as it were and would've been weeded out immediately. I mean, yes ... he's a sweet guy, but he'd have to be, wouldn't he? Out of necessity. I get that TNG wanted to show an imperfect Human, to get away from the usual, but they went about it entirely wrong - he's not even fun to watch.


The best damn STAR TREK series ever made ...

I personally loved the character or Barkley, It was nice to see his character evolve throughout the show from the most teased character to someone who actually felt they belonged.

 

[OldManDoom]

Favorite character is a tie between Picard and Data. Favorite episode is really hard to say. The Best of Both Worlds two part is amazing but, I also love Conspiracy. Least favorite character is easy, Alexander. Least favorite episode is Haven or Sub Rosa.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I personally loved the character or Barkley, It was nice to see his character evolve throughout the show from the most teased character to someone who actually felt they belonged.

Well ... I'm sure you are not alone in your appreciation of the Barclay character, as he even made it into the TNG movies, with FIRST CONTACT. Off hand, I don't remember if he appeared in anything else, but I believe not.

 

[Orphalesion]

He was in Voyager, but that show negated a bit of his character development and had him stalk Troi while she was on holiday.

I really liked Barclay as well, when each of the regulars was always so high and mighty he was the guy I could identify most with as a teen since I was a lot like Barclay until Uni. Man, his comment about pretending to be interested in a plant wakes memories

 

[2takesfrakes]

I see! Well, I don't really identify with any of the characters on STAR TREK, per se. But, because TNG - more than any other series in the franchise - covers alot of ground regarding The Human Condition, it's inevitable, is it not, that a certain situation, or line of dialogue will remind me - inadvertantly - of something that's been on my mind, or happening in my life. I don't see myself in Frakes, or his alter ego Riker, but I'm a fan of "both" of them.

And when it comes to Barclay or Lwaxana, I don't hate them, really. I mean, I like the actors playing them - I really do! But their respective characters aren't fun for me to watch and I dread it when I have to watch shows they're on, for variety's sake, to get more TNG in my system. Then, I'm cringing and fast forwarding alot, as I feel bad for the actors, you know? Had Ambassador Troi been dignified and cool and had Holm been a bad-assed body guard and companion for her, that would've interested me much more. At least LaForge's character benefitted from Barclay, in that Geordi's failings and shortcomings (with women, especially) seemed a little less embarassing for him ...

 

[Orphalesion]

It's perfectly alright not to like characters, everybody has a different taste No need to justify. Sometimes I don't like a character and can't really explain why, they just make my skin crawl.

I'm a fan of Lwaxana, but I agree that she could have been much better. There were shades of a better character in her when she made her first appearance in Haven, but ho later fell under the rug a lot of the time.

Imagine for instance if Lwaxana would have been this really cool lady who's calm and asensible and more down-to-earth than half the cast and who just put on a show in "Haven" to piss the Millers off so much that they release her daughter from the arranged marriage.
That was actually my impression when I first saw the episode, sadly later Lwaxana episodes proved that impression to be wrong...

 

[Brie]

I couldn't stand Lwaxana in TNG, every episode with her just annoyed me so much, but then in the episode where you learn of her "other child" or when she appeared in DS9 and you got to hear her back story and you learn more about her, you really understand why she is the way she is. In that episode and in DS9 you really connect with her on a more personal level, seeing her as she really is (unguarded and broken) made me really like her.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Lwaxana's personality peccadillos became an idée fixe with those responsible for what we saw of her onscreen and the later justifications for it - rather than watering it down, or getting rid of it, altogether - didn't do a lot to mitigate that for me, personally. But even I have to concede that she wasn't completely without sympathy. The "other" child, being but one example. And yes, in HAVEN, "they" did seem to want to walk a line, there, as to wanting to show how they really wanted her to behave - like a silly cow - verses moments where she was allowed to sort of imply that it was all an act where there was a method to her madness.

For example, her big "talk" with Wyatt. It was stupid ... I'll grant you that, but it did seem to suggest that she was still in touch with Reality, some way. But, as fate would have it, the viewer-response to Lwaxana, or lack thereof, emboldened the TNG production staff into letting her run amok as a complete whackadoo. What really chafes my ass, though, is that as Ambassador, she's of such rank and status that the ENTERPRISE crew can't do shit to contain her, as long as she's not a threat. I do like Orphalesion's suggestion about how she could've been otherwise BUT ... hey ... that's Hollywood for you. What are you gonna do - you know? What can you do ....

 

[TPT]

Most Favorite: Mr. Data. He's the one that drew me into TNG and to the world of Star Trek, so he'll always be one of my most favorite characters. Such a fascinating and endearing character that is well written and well acted.

Least Favorite: I can’t think of any at the moment.

 

[Trek Survivor]

These are not absolute, as my ranking of these shows is rather fluid, because - let's face it - even the worst episode is still TNG:

The best damn STAR TREK series ever made ...

100% agree with this!

 

[jimbotron]

The bottom of the barrel TNG episodes are better and more watchable than the average episodes of VOY and ENT, in my opinion.

 

[Kilana2]

It's perfectly alright not to like characters, everybody has a different taste No need to justify. Sometimes I don't like a character and can't really explain why, they just make my skin crawl.

I'm a fan of Lwaxana, but I agree that she could have been much better. There were shades of a better character in her when she made her first appearance in Haven, but ho later fell under the rug a lot of the time.

Imagine for instance if Lwaxana would have been this really cool lady who's calm and asensible and more down-to-earth than half the cast and who just put on a show in "Haven" to piss the Millers off so much that they release her daughter from the arranged marriage.
That was actually my impression when I first saw the episode, sadly later Lwaxana episodes proved that impression to be wrong...

The most annoying thing regarding Lwaxana (and I like her, too) is, that she had different actresses who did the dubbing voice for her in the German episodes. She had several voices, both TNG and DS9. Some of the voices didn´t match to neither Majel Barrett nor to Lwaxana. Some of them did, but having different dubbing is annoying. I should watch it in English .

 

[HarryM]

Favorite character: Data
Favorite episode: The Inner Light

Least fave char: Wesley
Least fave ep: Angel One