Masks! (S7, Ep 17)

[Geetha Stachowiak]

OMG what an incredible episode! Hated it years ago, love it now. The symbolism is so powerful. I guess it's because the range of characters seen within Data encompass most of our emotions that watching felt so satisfying - at least that's my theory. I assume it gets so much hate because it's not typical (or, 'hard') science fiction. Awesome use of lighting as well. TNG was well scripted, for sure

 

[saladdays]

Yeah, I don't get the hate for this episode either. I do understand that it may not work for everyone, but I enjoy the mythological aspects of this show a lot, and it's one of the few episodes that Brent Spiner gets more leeway as an actor.

 

[Doctor Bombay]

I've never had a problem with it. As stated above, Spiner got to break out a little in this one, and that makes great.

 

[Geetha Stachowiak]

It's a pity he had to be so one-note in TNG. But it was a pivotal role. I remember him in Independence Day - he was great in that cameo as the nutty Area 51 doctor. Other than that I guess all he's done (lead roles or at least ones that were memorable) is in episodic shows. Too bad he did not do more movies... or at least court more lead roles. Oh well.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000653/

 

[Nakita Akita]

OMG what an incredible episode! Hated it years ago, love it now. The symbolism is so powerful. I guess it's because the range of characters seen within Data encompass most of our emotions that watching felt so satisfying - at least that's my theory. I assume it gets so much hate because it's not typical (or, 'hard') science fiction. Awesome use of lighting as well. TNG was well scripted, for sure

I just hated it because it looked like some sort of audition tape.
Also I hated that the ship took on the appearance of a Mayan temple or Egyptian temple etc.
the shop would have had to been in "dry dock" for a year to fix all of that, talk about the weekly ' reset ' button.
And lastly it wasn't very Space like.
I thought it would have been better if each of the weird characters taking over Data had taken over others. Like one take over Troi, one take over Data, one take over Geordi, like that.
It seemed like it was the last season and the producers wanted to make sure that Spiner had a chance at getting other job offers so they let him demonstrate his acting ability.

 

[Geetha Stachowiak]

Holy s* this is SO much more fun than work!!!! Too bad I gotta email them in a few. I'm sure they're all plotting my exit

Yes, I totally see what you mean. I hated the episode years ago for those self-same reasons. And I love your take on Spiner's job situation - hilarious! Although it did not bother me that Data got all the personalities. For me it added to the creep/ scary factor, that all these powerful forces were warring within an android with such a pivotal role on the ship. But it would have been interesting to see each crew member with a different personality... then again, at one time or the other in various episodes, they all were transformed by alien personalities. GOD I love that episode! I think I'll watch it again tonight with the lights off.

 

[Nakita Akita]

-----GOD I love that episode! I think I'll watch it again tonight with the lights off.-----

Wear a "Scream" Halloween mask while you watch it too!!!!

 

[Geetha Stachowiak]

What... I love this group! It's so entertaining here, I hope it lasts.

 

[Danny99]

It wasn't the best of TNG, but it definitely wasn't as bad as some make it out to bed. It always entertained me. The story just needed to be tightened up a bit if anything.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Brent Spiner said his acting in that episode was, "Some of the most preposterous acting ever done on a television set," and the cast couldn't stop laughing at him as he was filming it.

I wanted to like the episode for being something different than other TNG episodes, but most of that season felt like they were just trying to do variety for the sake of it, rather than doing it with excellence. "Masks" was a prime example of that.

 

[Nakita Akita]

Brent Spiner said his acting in that episode was, "Some of the most preposterous acting ever done on a television set," and the cast couldn't stop laughing at him as he was filming it.

I wanted to like the episode for being something different than other TNG episodes, but most of that season felt like they were just trying to do variety for the sake of it, rather than doing it with excellence. "Masks" was a prime example of that.

Yes, over the top, artificial, forced, ludicrous, and silly premise.

 

[JesterFace]

It's summertime so I'm in my TNG mode right now.
This episode isn't on my "regulars list" but I think I'll watch it soon, perhaps tomorrow, inspired by this thread.

 

[Athena28]

I've always liked it.

 

[Geetha Stachowiak]

It was an unusual episode - quite different from the routine. I loved that. Plus it's so very abstract and dark. All wonderful things. I guess I really enjoy symbolism, especially because I think this world is symbolic of things far greater than we can ever imagine. Do any of you ever think about death that way? As an answer to the great mystery?

 

[Tosk]

Masks is far from TNG's worst, but I find it to be extremely mediocre and it doesn't help that it's part of a very weak season overall. Season seven may have a handful of hits, but boy does it have a bunch of misses.

 

[Mojochi]

Brent Spiner said his acting in that episode was, "Some of the most preposterous acting ever done on a television set," and the cast couldn't stop laughing at him as he was filming it.

And it was obvious to me on the 1st viewing, & I've never gotten past it, to find anything otherwise to value about the episode. It literally played like a favor to Spiner for having had to be creatively stifled in range for 7 years, & it ended up being the hammiest acting of maybe the whole show, and felt like he was just winging weird voices on the fly, because of how quickly an episode gets shot. Gratuitous ostentatiousness is no way to showcase skill I'm afraid

 

[JesterFace]

I watched this one today, as predicted earlier. Last time I watched this episode was a long time ago and today I got reminded why I have skipped it many times, it was weak.

But, why do so many people say Spiner went overboard with his acting, I think his different characters were the best part of this episode.

 

[Tosk]

But, why do so many people say Spiner went overboard with his acting, I think his different characters were the best part of this episode.

Both things are true. Unfortunately.

 

[Marsden]

I haven't watched this in a looong time, but one of the things that bothered me was it was like "The Inner Light" turned to 11, another alien force beamed consciousness into one of the main characters, the difference being there was several and they were controlling the character rather than put him in a coma. The resolution seemed similar as well. Not the same, but, oh it's this one and then it was done and everything is just back to normal.

 

[Nakita Akita]

I watched this one today, as predicted earlier. Last time I watched this episode was a long time ago and today I got reminded why I have skipped it many times, it was weak.

But, why do so many people say Spiner went overboard with his acting, I think his different characters were the best part of this episode.

Sort of like the Slap Stick being the best part of the Three Stooges.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I always liked this episode. Was it in the top 20, or 50? Probably not, but nowhere near the worst.

I like the idea of some alien tech reconfiguring the ship. Even ancient aliens could be more advanced than our 24th century species.

It's a pity he had to be so one-note in TNG. But it was a pivotal role. I remember him in Independence Day - he was great in that cameo as the nutty Area 51 doctor. Other than that I guess all he's done (lead roles or at least ones that were memorable) is in episodic shows. Too bad he did not do more movies... or at least court more lead roles. Oh well.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000653/

Pierre the ostrich keeper in Dude Where's My Car was a....weird role for Brent.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Makarov]

I actually love this episode, even more than some of the common fan favorites. It'd be in my top 15, maybe top 10 episodes. I like the ship being changed throughout the episode and Picard figuring out this mystery. It just seemed really imaginative to me.