Season 1 and the first 4 episodes

[Kelthaz]

"101010110111" and "Where No One Has Gone Before" for example, nearly drove me to suicide rather than sit through them.

Personally I feel that these two episodes are two of the best episodes of season 1

Really? I know both of those episodes are very popular, but I assumed most people who disliked the first two seasons of TNG also disliked them. To me they are very indicative of what was wrong with the first two seasons. Why do you like those two episodes so much, but dislike the rest (or at least most) of the first season?

 

[bullethead]

"101010110111" and "Where No One Has Gone Before" for example, nearly drove me to suicide rather than sit through them.

Personally I feel that these two episodes are two of the best episodes of season 1

Really? I know both of those episodes are very popular, but I assumed most people who disliked the first two seasons of TNG also disliked them. To me they are very indicative of what was wrong with the first two seasons. Why do you like those two episodes so much, but dislike the rest (or at least most) of the first season?

"101010110111" has an interesting plot and some nice character development for Riker and Picard. It's a lot more solid than most of the other stories in the first season and doesn't really have much of that pretentious "humanity has evolved" junk that Roddenberry liked to push in the first and second seasons, so it's a lot easier to get into since you don't have to worry about getting a message rammed down your throat.

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

I really love the whole series, but the first two seasons are easily the best for me - perhaps slightly more TOS-like in feel. I feel these seasons are woefully underrated and unfairly criticised.

I think that's why I dislike the first two seasons so much. TOS has some absolutely fantastic episodes, but at least 90% of it was damn near unwatchable.

90% of TOS near unwatchable - WOW. But, as others have already stated - each to their own. For me, season 3 of TNG in some ways laid a template for much of what followed in Trek - blandness. Please don't misunderstand me, I love Star Trek as a whole, but sometimes, post Roddenberry, it can feel somewhat generic and homogeneous. For instance, the music. In many episodes it's almost stupefyingly dull - I feel many episodes could benefit from a stronger and more thematic score.

 

[Kelthaz]

"101010110111" has an interesting plot and some nice character development for Riker and Picard. It's a lot more solid than most of the other stories in the first season and doesn't really have much of that pretentious "humanity has evolved" junk that Roddenberry liked to push in the first and second seasons, so it's a lot easier to get into since you don't have to worry about getting a message rammed down your throat.

I do agree that the writing was better in that episode and the characters more fleshed out compared to the rest of season one. Picard, Riker and Minuet sitting in the cafe and talking was a very well written scene. Of course, the problem I had with that episode and the rest of season 1 was the complete lack of a plot. Riker goes on a date with a video game character and the Bynars steal the Enterprise's computer because they filled up their external hard drive with porn. Even setting the self-destruct sequence was dull. Absolutely nothing happens in the entire episode.

The appeal of the episode, to most people I assume, is the hard sci-fi element of it. The idea of a race of binary people completely dependent on their master computer on their home planet is fascinating to some people. I can understand why some people enjoy it so much, but I am a little surprised that someone who dislikes the first season would like it.

90% of TOS near unwatchable - WOW. But, as others have already stated - each to their own. For me, season 3 of TNG in some ways laid a template for much of what followed in Trek - blandness. Please don't misunderstand me, I love Star Trek as a whole, but sometimes, post Roddenberry, it can feel somewhat generic and homogeneous. For instance, the music. In many episodes it's almost stupefyingly dull - I feel many episodes could benefit from a stronger and more thematic score.

Picard you are about to move into areas of the galaxy filled with wonders you cannot possible imagine. And terroer to freeze your soul!

I think that sums up TOS and early TNG pretty well.

I wouldn't call it blandness, but I do know exactly what you're talking about. TOS, and early TNG, was more about adventure and exploring the unknown. Encountering strange lifeforms and exploring places humans have never been before. TNG, and later Treks, became more routine. The episodes became about transporting cargo to a starbase rather than exploring an alien world.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

All that season 1 talk makes me wish Wil Wheaton would remember more stuff for TV Squad! His last post there on the old episodes was in 2008, and I thought waiting for RedLetterMedia's ROTS review was bad...

 

[Kelthaz]

Yeah, I wish he would continue. His reviews were fantastic.

 

[Boxyno1]

"101010110111" and "Where No One Has Gone Before" for example, nearly drove me to suicide rather than sit through them.

Personally I feel that these two episodes are two of the best episodes of season 1

Really? I know both of those episodes are very popular, but I assumed most people who disliked the first two seasons of TNG also disliked them. To me they are very indicative of what was wrong with the first two seasons. Why do you like those two episodes so much, but dislike the rest (or at least most) of the first season?

I don't dislike Season 1, I dislike the first 4 episodes as I've said in the first post, because of the bad dialogue and acting, as well as the poor writing, direction and pacing etc...

Season 1 is decent, but 10101011 is an exciting episode with good tension as well as the Riker/Picard/Minuet scenes, and Where No One Has Gone Before is a pretty good story in my opinion, with interesting use of visuals for when the ship is in the other galaxy.