Favorite out-of-character lines?

[Ragitsu]

Geordi: "That's point three-hundred milliseconds. There's (realisation) Ah, I see where you're going. We shift down and then kick hard into warp nine. Yeah! Come back fighting! Whooey!"

Geordi: "Sure is a damned ugly nothing."

Data: (whispering conspiratorially to Geordi) "Yankee trader."

Data: (heavily emotional) "I think you should be destroyed."

Picard: "Aaaaard klaxon leeeeesss blag blan ar'nik ka'nik. Aaaaard krasulaaa. Rassss trassss trasulaaaah."

(Just kidding on that last one.)

If you couldn't tell, these are all from the first two seasons. The majority of exceptions can be located early on in the series, but it is certainly possible that a writer botched a character later on down the line.

 

[Mudd]

Data's response in "Skin of Evil" was very much in character. He'd repeat it in "The Most Toys."

There is a tension between what others see in Data, what Data says about himself, what Data believes about himself, and who Data truly is. In other words, he's a well-portrayed character.

 

[Ragitsu]

Data's response in "Skin of Evil" was very much in character.

...

There is a tension between what others see in Data, what Data says about himself, what Data believes about himself, and who Data truly is. In other words, he's a well-portrayed character.

I disagree with the line, but even if you think it fits him (even at that point), the naked emotion is just...off. Spiner refined his performance starting with Season 3 and it shows.

He'd repeat it in "The Most Toys."

Fair enough. To me, it came across as Data "crunching the numbers" (so to speak) to the point to where he could logically justify killing Fajo in that moment (i.e., killing one to save others).

 

[Orphalesion]

TROI: Betazoid blood is also practical, Captain. The odds are very good she'd defeat Lutan's wife easily and you would win all the bargaining points you need.

I know pretty much every character is kinda off in code of Honour (and I also know that that is actually one of the episode's least problems) But this statement by Troi is just weird, it's seems a bit too cold and calculating for her (which I understand was the original concept for the character, but apart from this instance, it never really turned out that way)
And that whole "Betazoid blood" part seems like dialogue from TOS.

 

[Ragitsu]

TROI: Betazoid blood is also practical, Captain. The odds are very good she'd defeat Lutan's wife easily and you would win all the bargaining points you need.

I know pretty much every character is kinda off in code of Honour (and I also know that that is actually one of the episode's least problems) But this statement by Troi is just weird, it's seems a bit too cold and calculating for her (which I understand was the original concept for the character, but apart from this instance, it never really turned out that way)
And that whole "Betazoid blood" part seems like dialogue from TOS.

Seems like one would have to dig deep to find daffy lines from Deanna.

 

[Verteron]

PICARD: Five card stud, nothing wild. And the sky’s the limit.

 

[Oddish]

"Muzzle it." [Deanna Troi, "Hollow Pursuits"]

 

[Ragitsu]

"Muzzle it." [Deanna Troi, "Hollow Pursuits"]

That was Proto-Demona!

 

[Orphalesion]

I'd argue this:
PICARD: I understand the allusion. Colours representing countries at a time when they competed with each other. Red, white and blue for the United States. Whereas the French more properly used the same colours in the order of blue, white and red.

Is a bit out character for post-Season 1 Picard, once they got rid of his raging patriotism. It also sounds weird after he berated Q on the "costumes" (military uniforms) of the past in the pilot. It also sounds stupid because he repeats the same colour combination twice. Too bad he didn't mention the British flag too...

Seems like one would have to dig deep to find daffy lines from Deanna.

I mean, she frequently says stupid stuff or has bad dialogue, they all do, but it usually at least fits her character in some way. Even the "Muzzle it" line, we see on some occasions that Deanna has a brash side that comes to light in certain situations (like in the Loss)

 

[Mojochi]

Code of Honour.

Don't you dare reference that episode with European spelling. It in no way deserves that level of class & distinction lol

 

[Ragitsu]

I'd argue this:
PICARD: I understand the allusion. Colours representing countries at a time when they competed with each other. Red, white and blue for the United States. Whereas the French more properly used the same colours in the order of blue, white and red.

As much as I detest patriotism/nationalism/glorified tribalism, if I had to interact with a patriot, I'd gladly choose Season 1 Picard: he's the most thoughtful of the bunch.

 

[JediKnightButler]

I realize it was a (probably untruthful) representation, but Riker yelling “You’re a dead man, Apgar! A dead man!” (A Matter of Perspective) was really over the top for him LOL.

 

[Herbert]

Geordi: "That's point three-hundred milliseconds. There's (realisation) Ah, I see where you're going. We shift down and then kick hard into warp nine. Yeah! Come back fighting! Whooey!"

Geordi: "Sure is a damned ugly nothing."

Data: (whispering conspiratorially to Geordi) "Yankee trader."

Data: (heavily emotional) "I think you should be destroyed."


If you couldn't tell, these are all from the first two seasons. The majority of exceptions can be located early on in the series, but it is certainly possible that a writer botched a character later on down the line.

Given that early on, their characters weren't yet fully developed, especially season one, how can these lines be considered out-of-character? Sounds like you are retroactively calling them out-of-character based on what they would become later on. Kinda of a pointless exercise based on hindsight but at least you didn't invent some batshit crazy reasons to explain why this happened so you got that going for you.

 

[Herbert]

I realize it was a (probably untruthful) representation, but Riker yelling “You’re a dead man, Apgar! A dead man!” (A Matter of Perspective) was really over the top for him LOL.

I think it's pretty clear that Apgar was lying through his teeth throughout that entire episode. No reason to give him any benefit of the doubt.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

Given that early on, their characters weren't yet fully developed, especially season one, how can these lines be considered out-of-character? Sounds like you are retroactively calling them out-of-character based on what they would become later on. Kinda of a pointless exercise based on hindsight but at least you didn't invent some batshit crazy reasons to explain why this happened so you got that going for you.

Why is it necessary for you to criticize the poster? His observations are his alone and don’t need your approval.

 

[Oddish]

Don't you dare reference that episode with European spelling. It in no way deserves that level of class & distinction lol

Kode of Hnrrr?

 

[Herbert]

Why is it necessary for you to criticize the poster? His observations are his alone and don’t need your approval.

And his observations are apparently not subject to scrutiny either?

I suppose if my post was as follows...

"Given that early on, their characters weren't yet fully developed, especially season one, how can these lines be considered out-of-character? Sounds like you are retroactively calling them out-of-character based on what they would become later on. Kinda of a pointless exercise based on hindsight"

..it would have been okay? Fair enough. I can admit when I cross the line.

 

[Ragitsu]

I realize it was a (probably untruthful) representation, but Riker yelling “You’re a dead man, Apgar! A dead man!” (A Matter of Perspective) was really over the top for him LOL.

Riker catches a beatdown from an alien fellow that bears an eerie resemblance to one of Doctor Seuss' Whos. Maybe he should have spent more time practicing Anbo-jyutsu or Tai-chi chuan instead of hanging out in Holodeck Four.

 

[Mojochi]

I like inventing batshit crazy ideas to make the narrative more cohesive. It's not like it couldn't use the help. I don't always agree with everyone's but what difference does it matter? It's all in good fun, & isn't that one of the main reasons we drop by here?

 

[Herbert]

I like inventing batshit crazy ideas to make the narrative more cohesive. It's not like it couldn't use the help.

But that's just it. The narrative wasn't meant to be cohesive. Writers and producers weren't interested in that. They were, and are, interested in telling stories and those stories don't necessarily fit a cohesive narrative. There was no Director of Continuity watching over 50+ years of Star Trek to make sure all the puzzles pieces fit together nicely.

isn't that one of the main reasons we drop by here?

Certainly not all of us. Quite a few of us, I'd say, don't come here for that reason.