I officially began my journey through all Star Trek on October 9th...

[Bad Thoughts]

Keep going! Trust Us on this one. The Absolute Last Description anyone will ever use to describe Sisko is "Pacifist Diplomat". Just wait until you hit "In the Pale Moonlight"

In the first two seasons, the writers approached Sisko as a less stable Picard. There are only a few episodes which show that he has the personality he showed in Emissary. By the end of season 2, when ISB was preparing to take over as showrunner, they start dialing in on what makes Sisko unique and complex.

 

[Griffeytrek]

Funnily enough, I can't remember a time when I was very passionate or felt strongly about an on-screen romance, until now.

In Attached, S07E08 of TNG, Picard and Crusher are left stranded on a planet, where they are, hence the title, literally attached to each other through an implant on the back of their neck, allowing each other to read the other's thoughts.

So finally, we get a story where they are forced to come out and admit how they feel about each other, and instead of it being the beginning of their relationship, Crusher cuts Picard off at the pass, and that’s it.

Look, I'm no kind of "shipper", but this whole show's run, I've been anticipating the Captain and the Doctor becoming a couple. And no, it's not because those two characters were written with that kept in mind, but, I mean, we’re talking about two characters who have oozed chemistry from the minute we saw them together in Encounter at Farpoint. At times, you can stick a match between Sir Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden and it would light on its own.

But, since TNG is an episodic show with standalone stories, there's no romance. Whether that's through the will of the writers or another fault of "Roddenberry's vision", I think it sucks. How nice would it have been for these two to just say "okay, it's been seven years, you guys have been waiting for it, let's go for it"? Like, I don't even care all that much about the relationship between Riker and Troi (okay fine, fuck you, I do care a little), again, I'm not much of a guy for romance, but this? Yeah, I've been anticipating this one.

In general, the episode has you smiling all the way through.

Until the ending, when I, at least, throw my shoe at the screen.

I will warn you. Season 7 gets worse with the awkward, odd and forced romantic or relationship interplay between various characters, before it gets better. The only thing more hamhanded in the season is the parade of long lost relatives that is about to begin. I so wish I was joking about this. (No really start counting them. ) I swear to god every single main cast member suddenly will have some never before mentioned long lost sibling show up to cause trouble. Just keep telling yourself "All Good Things" forgives all Season 7 sins. You just have to get there.

And be careful what you wish for. DS9 had far greater latitude at developing ongoing character relationships, since they did not have the weekly reset. It is debatable how well that worked out for them as many of those stories still feel as forced and awkward as some of the TNG ones. (Who would think Tasha Yar "raping the robot" remains one of the romantic high points in Star Trek?)

 

[Forbin]

Terry Farrell is ridiculously hot, my God.

Yes. Yes yes yes.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Did I just watch Crusher committing incest with a ghost?

What the ever living fuck?

It wasn't incest. It was dating your grandma's boyfriend... Sort of, except the guy was really just a parasite making you feel all naughty.

The good news: that episode is pretty much the low point of the season. For me anyway.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Now it can truly be said...welcome to our world.

 

[NCC-1701-B]

Hahaha what a perfect episode for me to read up to, ahh scotlandplanet, because why wouldn't there be a planet based on 18th century scotland? Beverly's orgasm and a sex crazed ghost rapist to boot. Only trek could pull that off.

 

[Tosk]

Plus we now know where Marty McFly and Darth Vader are buried.

And how come Ellen Dow plays Granny Howard as a corpse but the photo was of someone else?
Edit: Scratch that, it's probably so she can look younger (uh...kind of?) in the photo with Beverly from years ago.

 

[Griffeytrek]

Did I just watch Crusher committing incest with a ghost?

What the ever living fuck?

Why yes, yes you did!

If it makes you feel better you have just watched what is arguably the single worst episode of TNG. (It competes with Shades of Grey, which is largely worthless for being a clip show). You can also feel better that the next episode in your rotation, Lower Decks is superb in every way and one of the season and series high points. As for jumping the shark. Yeah it was clear they were running on empty for Season 7. All Good Things is the high point of the season with no doubt.

Rather amazingly if you were to compile a list of the top 5 franchise worst episodes. It would naturally sort to one episode from each show. And each of these is so bad that you really can't not watch them. And all of them seem to play in that similar "Did I honestly just watch them do...?" theme. You will know these episodes when you find them. And they for the most part play around in similarly icky mental territories. The Voyager one is the worst of the lot. But oddly infamously so, so much that it almost becomes fun to watch.

I assume you have also watched The Pegasus, which was one of Season 7's better episodes. Asside from being well written and directed (by Levar Burton) it also shows up or informs a number of future stories in other series. Good stuff there. It remains one of the most hotly debated and discussed Star Trek episodes among the fans.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

In matters of ship operations Dataoitranks her. In situations unrelated she outranks him.
I just never understood why Troi had to get a promotion to Commander to get regular non ermergency conn shifts when we saw Lts do that.
Was that because she was in the medical field and in no way related to ship operations?

 

[The Old Mixer]

Maybe the course just came with an auto-promotion regardless of current rank?

Rather amazingly if you were to compile a list of the top 5 franchise worst episodes. It would naturally sort to one episode from each show. And each of these is so bad that you really can't not watch them.

I dunno...I find it pretty easy to not watch "The Alternative Factor," given its tendency to put me to sleep at any time of the day....

 

[Tracy Trek]

You weren't wrong about Lower Decks, @Griffeytrek, superb episode! Probably my favourite of the season.

Nice to see them actually stick with a death and not come up with a "we're picking up a lifeform!" ending, which, funnily enough, is featured in the episode after this, Thine Own Self. Shannon Fill is, not only stunning to look at, but a wonderful actress. Usually, a guest star wouldn't make as big of an impact as she did, especially in her character's death, which hit a lot harder emotionally than it should have. I'm surprised her acting career never really took off after this.

Aside from her character though, I loved the young cast that featured in this, especially the waiter, Ben.

I really liked the character of Ben.

Lower Decks is one of my favorite. Did anyone feel like Sito may have thought she had to take the mission to make amends for what happened at the academy?

@Griffeytrek , I think I know what your top 5 worst episodes for the franchise are for TOS, TNG, and VOY. What's your pick for DS9 and ENT?

 

[Griffeytrek]

I really liked the character of Ben.

Lower Decks is one of my favorite. Did anyone feel like Sito may have thought she had to take the mission to make amends for what happened at the academy?

@Griffeytrek , I think I know what your top 5 worst episodes for the franchise are for TOS, TNG, and VOY. What's your pick for DS9 and ENT?

For DS9 it is undoubtably "Profit and Lace" which is just uncomfortable and wrong in every way inhumanly possible. And while there is much to choose from in Enterprise Ick territory, ultimately the worst for me was the straight up WTF'ery of "These Are The Voyages". And yeah Voyagers "Threshold" outshines them all in every way possible. The episode you must watch twice, just to confirm that you did indeed watch what you think you watched.

 

[Griffeytrek]

Speaking of Thine Own Self, how ridiculous is it that Troi is now commander and outranking both Data and LaForge? Data is second officer, so technically, he still outranks her in the line of command (which is why he SHOULDN'T be calling her "sir", as Troi suggested in the end (that's another reason why she shouldn't be commander, she doesn't even understand the proper line of command!)), but it's still ridiculous. Tactical and strategic planning would be out of her field.

There is rank, and then there is position. Troi is technically of superior rank to Data. But she is also a specialty officer who falls differently in the hierarchy. Note her blue uniform. She falls under the auspices of Medical. Similarly Dr. Crusher is a full Commander, as was Dr. McCoy. But notice you never saw McCoy assuming command over Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott? Data will give them the respect and deference due their rank, hence "sir", but unless either is specifically assigned to command the bridge for a duty shift (which we see Troi seeking to qualify for here, and Dr. Crusher sitting a few late night bridge rotations in another episode simply to maintain her certifications and credentials.) Data is the superior officer with regards to the Ship due to his role as Command Second Officer. (Troi and Crusher are role specific superior officers with regards to the crew.) It can likely be reasoned that this is part of the reason why Crusher and Troi are typically addressed by title rather than rank. "Councillor" and "Doctor". Similarly it is likely why Picard long permitted Troi her more casual attire on the Bridge as it avoided the problem caused by a high ranking non command officer who someone might look to in case of an emergency. I mean once you put her in full uniform with Commanders pips somebody might accidentally expect her to drive the ship or something, without thinking. And then where would you be?

 

[Griffeytrek]

You weren't wrong about Lower Decks, @Griffeytrek, superb episode! Probably my favourite of the season.

Nice to see them actually stick with a death and not come up with a "we're picking up a lifeform!" ending, which, funnily enough, is featured in the episode after this, Thine Own Self. Shannon Fill is, not only stunning to look at, but a wonderful actress. Usually, a guest star wouldn't make as big of an impact as she did, especially in her character's death, which hit a lot harder emotionally than it should have. I'm surprised her acting career never really took off after this.

Apparently Jeri Taylor had wanted to leave her death a bit ambiguous. Kenneth Pillar insisted that no it had to be firm and have meaning. And then after they saw her performance he was so impressed that he was kicking himself. They did have plans to simply say the pod was empty and bring her back as a Cardassian Prisoner for a DS9 story, but they never quite got around to that. And the story that they planned for her eventually morphed into their annual "Torture O'Brien Episode" instead.

 

[Tracy Trek]

For DS9 it is undoubtably "Profit and Lace" which is just uncomfortable and wrong in every way inhumanly possible. And while there is much to choose from in Enterprise Ick territory, ultimately the worst for me was the straight up WTF'ery of "These Are The Voyages". And yeah Voyagers "Threshold" outshines them all in every way possible. The episode you must watch twice, just to confirm that you did indeed watch what you think you watched.

I thought maybe Move Along Home from DS9 made top 5 worst list. I'm not sure I remember Profit and Lace. Since it has profit in the title, I'm guessing it was something Ferengi related. I've said before that the TOS episode Spock's Brain is the grand-daddy of Threshold.

 

[The Old Mixer]

"Quark in drag" ring any bells?

 

[Tracy Trek]

OK, I think I recall it now.

 

[Forbin]

Things that have been seen cannot be unseen.

 

[The Old Mixer]

OK, I think I recall it now.

You're best to stop there and not search the depths of your memory any further.

 

[Griffeytrek]

I thought maybe Move Along Home from DS9 made top 5 worst list. I'm not sure I remember Profit and Lace. Since it has profit in the title, I'm guessing it was something Ferengi related. I've said before that the TOS episode Spock's Brain is the grand-daddy of Threshold.

Not wanting to spoil too much for Shalala (look away now)


Profit and Lace involved Quark having a sex change. Yeah they went there. And astonishingly it is still out icked by Threshold!