Season 7: Is It Me-?--- Part II

[EnriqueH]

Ok, so I noticed a drop in quality in Season 6 after Season 5. Not that Season 6 was horrible because it definitely had some great episodes, but it was definitely less consistent than Seasons 3-5.

I just started on Season 7 expecting the "hot and cold" consistency to continue, but I just finished Phantasms and I think that---so far---it's pretty enjoyable, though maybe it's because my expectations are lower.

I enjoyed Descent II, Liaisons was interesting (probably because there was a lot of Patrick Stewart), Interface was above average because we learn a bit about Geordi.

I really enjoyed the Gambit two-parter, even if it comes off rather Star Warsish. So far, Gambit is my favorite.

Phantasms was interesting.

So I have to say that, while these aren't mindblowing TNG episodes, they have some interesting concepts and storylines.

 

[marlboro]

I think it was a very good season. There were a handful of bad episodes, but most were solid and several were excellent. Descent, Parallels, Lower Decks, The Pegasus, All Good Things, Preemptive Strike - lots of classic episodes.

I liked Gambit, too. I've always liked Richard Lynch, so it was nice to see him on TNG.

 

[EnriqueH]

In fact, you know what I'm noticing?

I've been watching TNG and DS9 in chronological order, so it's mostly taking on a TNG-DS9-TNG-DS9 order.

And what I've noticed is that DS9's storylines are much more thought-provoking with its social commentary than TNG.

TNG is still entertaining, but it seems that the Powers-That-Be have allowed it to rely on the characters more than the stories. The cast of TNG now wear their characters like a favorite suit and the characters, not the stories, are the main reason to tune in. The problem is that the TNG stories aren't as strong in the thought-provoking way we were accustomed to in earlier seasons.

I'm also noticing that I've had to suppress a slight urge to go full-speed ahead with a DS9 binge watching session instead of my original plan of chronological order. And I'm still only into Season 2! And as I understand, DS9 gets better. Much better.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

To me season 7 was a very polar season. A few really great episodes like Gambit as you mentioned, and a bunch of mediocre to average ones like Liaisons and Interface.

DS9 definitely brought the humans more outside their moral comfort zone than TNG. It had Quark taking the role of the critic of evolved humanity, Kira who lived on a planet that was enslaved which the prime directive prevented them from helping, and Odo as an outsider who has principles which are different from those of the Federation but adheres to them much more strictly. Federation morality is challenged more accurately than it ever is in TNG and we see a lot more of non-evil outsider perspectives.

 

[Mojochi]

S7 is hot & cold too. Some of the worst they ever made are in that season, namely Sub Rosa

But honestly, there was some shaky ones in S5 too, like Imaginary Friend. They've never had a perfect season, though seasons 3 & 4 are pretty darn close

 

[FormerLurker]

Yes, it's you. Wear it with pride.

 

[EnriqueH]

I just saw "Attached" this morning and was totally blown away by how much I liked it.

Best episode of Season 7 so far.

It's in keeping with the theme that the show is now focused on its characters, not so much about social commentary and the usual Trekkian (TNG) themes that have been taken over by DS9.

This could be one of my favorite Picard episodes and definitely one of the best Beverly episodes.

I would've preferred that Beverly go full speed ahead, but if not, it might've helped reference Picard's love experience the previous season in "Lessons".

So far, I think Season 7 is more consistent than 6. If Season 3-5 were a Ferrari going 100 MPH, then Season 6 was like an amateur driver driving the Ferrari with a lot of rough stopping and going. 100 MPH than 25 than 85 than 56 than 75.

Season 7--at least up until "Attached" is kinda like a Ferrari going a consistent 70-80 MPH. Not quite the 100 MPH of Seasons 3-5, but good enough to be in the race.

 

[MikeS]

Ha ha, sorry, I genuinely lost you when you started the car analogy. But yes, I agree that season five is far too over-rated. A good start and end but very mediocre middle. Season six has its gems. Season seven is much less "stop start" and I enjoy it.

Season five was definitely the worse. I might start a thread "season 5 - is it just me?"...

 

[EnriqueH]

Do it!

 

[EnriqueH]

Force of Nature---The case against warp drive. Interesting idea and attempt at addressing the whole ozone layer thing. Ok episode.

Inheritance---Data's mom. I wasn't too crazy about this episode and kept thinking the whole time that she would end up being evil, but that twist ending was very effective. Ok episode.

Parallels---Loved it. From Riker's initial, "I love surprise parties!" to Riker's scary, Borg-overrun alternate universe. Ok, ok, I know this is a Worf episode and it was filled with great moments for him. Now that I think about it, I thought his best episodes always involved the Klingon Empire or Gowron, Kurn, or other Klingons. It was nice to see an EXCELLENT episode where it's just Worf.

The Pegasus---Nothing like a great Riker episode. Terry O'Quinn was phenomenal.

Homeward---Ok, so this is the first subpar episode of the season for me. I liked the premise of challenging what the Prime Directive means and the cold realities of what the Prime Directive can mean---standing idly by while a planet and millions die that could've been saved if you had interfered. This was the first time I can remember Star Trek showing us that horrible downside to the directive and it was a highlight moment in an otherwise hokey episode. I tried to think about what made the episode hokey and I've come to the conclusion that Worf's plastic surgery is absolutely ludicrous. It's like something out of a bad Star Trek novel. Everytime I looked at Michael Dorn's normal face, it took me right out of the episode. The other INCREDIBLY DISTRACTING quality of the episode was Paul Sorvino, an actor that I otherwise like. He was good in the role, but his lack of Russian accent stood out like a sore thumb. I tried to self-rationalize that, "Well, maybe Nikolai, like Worf, was adopted." (Was he? I don't remember them mentioning it, but I guess it could be that Nikolai isn't biologically linked to his parents.) Anyway, now that I think about it, it was a good episode ruined by Worf's unfortunate make-up explanation and Sorvino's lack of a Russian accent.

Sub Rosa---I just saw this a couple of hours ago and don't understand why it's considered so bad. The whole romance thing isn't my cup of tea, but there was enough ghost story in it to keep me entertained. I enjoyed the idea of a planet colony modeled after Scotland. And I rather liked that it had a lot of Patrick Stewart. I enjoyed the "Picard coming to the rescue" angle. I like Beverly, and I think it's a shame the ladies in the show didn't get better episode, but I think they both played their roles very well. Anyway, these 45 minutes went by surprising fast for a "bad episode". I thought Homeward was worse, but if these two are the worst Season 7 have to offer, then I think the reason of the season wwill be in ok shape.

 

[FormerLurker]

It isn't explained in-universe, but I always got the impression that once the Rozchenko's moved to Galt(a farming colony, as I recall) they weren't around Russians or Russian speakers, so Nikolai and Worf were never exposed to the accent the way their parents were, and never picked it up. Remember, they moved either soon after Worf was adopted by them, or immediately before.

 

[TV's Frank]

Both Season 6 and 7 have shaky starts, in all honesty, but I have been surprised a bit more in what I've enjoyed in revisiting the latter season. For example, the episode "Liasons" features some of the most genuinely funny moments for the cast. Of the first half of Season 7, I found only "Dark Page" uninteresting. It's not that this episode is bad, it actually is great to see Sirtis and Ms. Roddenberry have different dramatic material to work with, I just found it all a bit more dull.

What I am finding in Season 7 is evidence of the writing staff treading water under difficult, stressful circumstances and also just throwing various genres against the wall to see if anything sticks. "Eye of the Beholder" is a murder mystery story mixed with a mind-f*ck dressing akin to "Phantasms" but the mix doesn't always quite work for the length of the episode. I give the staff credit for trying new what they could with weird genre splices, family members and the Troi-Worf romance, outside of killing main characters.