The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, 2023 Edition - Season 4...

[Farscape One]

Welcome to our bi-yearly 'Most Disliked Episode' games! Now that the 'Least Disliked Episode' games hosted by BlueStuff (who inspired me to create these games, so thank you very much for paving the way) have concluded, we can begin the opposite side of that coin.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "Shades Of Gray"
2018 - "The Outrageous Okona"
2019 - "Code of Honor"
2021 - "Journey's End"
2023 - "Aquiel"


Season Four -

"The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"
"Family"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"Data's Day"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Drumhead"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Farscape One]

Another excellent season, possibly the best one of TNG. (Season 3 being the other contender, in my opinion.) My first save of season 4 is, unsurprisingly for me, "Data's Day".

Never mind the fact it centers on Data (which if you don't know by now is my favorite character), it's a genuinely good, fun episode.

We get the secondary story of O'Brien's wedding, which was fun to see. Nice homage to Kirk's in "BALANCE OF TERROR".

And how can you not love Data learning how to dance?! And Crusher got a fun new nickname that never left my head once I heard it... the 'dancing doctor'.

The Romulan plot was a nice one, and showed just how cunning and smart they are.

I love this episode, from start to finish. And Data's voiceovers were all just pure gold. Especially his last one...

"If being human is not simply a matter of being born of flesh and blood, if it is instead a way of thinking, acting, and feeling, then I am hopeful that one day I will discover my own Humanity. Until then, Commander Maddox, I will continue learning, changing, growing, and trying to become more than what I am."

THIS is why Data represents the very best of STAR TREK, and scifi in general.


"The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"
"Family"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Drumhead"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Brennyren]

"Family" was that all-too-rare TNG episode that actually told the story of what happens next, and huzzah for the wonderful work of Patrick Stewart and Jeremy Kemp as the Picard brothers, muddling through trauma and their own contentious relationship. Huzzah too for Theodore Bikel and Georgia Brown as the most loving -- and most human -- parents an orphaned Klingon could ever hope for.

"The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Drumhead"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Qonundrum]

A few are great and must be saved.

"The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"

Is a very easy pick.

Just like my nose.



I really do like pt 2 more than pt 1. Pt 1 loses the guesswork once Picard is said to be wanted - by name, though it's still a jawdropper when he's revealed as Locutus. Like how we all know that the coyote will run off the cliff and we still laugh anyway. We hear they want Picard and we all go brown trousers time when he's revealed at the end.

You'd also think the Borg would have more cats as pets with the built-in laser pointer toy and all...

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Seriously. But as far as cat laser pointers go, that one cost $2000 back in 1990.

Indeed, here is the deleted scene of his pet cat, Meowcuteus:

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But pt 2 gets around "how to beat the big bad" in a neat way and doesn't feel contrived or by-the-numbers, which is the cheap way that gets used too often. Thank mesh networking and Unix sleep mode for all that. It's also a near-complete reversal of pt 1 and it works marvelously.

What's not yet assimilated:
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Drumhead"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Vger23]

I’m saving “The Wounded.” It was a tense, Star Trek spin on “Hunt for Red October” that introduced us to the all-important Cardassians and was a fantastic O’Brien episode.

Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Drumhead"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "The Drumhead" next.

Outstanding episode. Brilliantly acted all around. Frakes hits another home run directing.


"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Qonundrum]

The story is cheese and full of holes, more than the most of TOS that it's ostensibly paying homage to as it's episode #80 and all that, but:

"Legacy"

Still works for its character development and hair gel. Indeed, just 5 minutes more with Ishara and, had Yar been alive, they could all be on The Jerry Springer Show in a genre-crossing sequel!

What's left:
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Night Terrors"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Sakonna]

My highlight for this season is "Family", but it's already saved.

So I'll go "Night Terrors." I watch this one TO DEATH. I just watched it again a day or two ago. "Stupid spooky" is one of my favorite subgenres of Trek (see also: "Sub Rosa", "Genesis", "Persistence Of Vision")

I weirdly stream "Night Terrors" in hotel rooms a lot. If I am trying to go to sleep in a hotel room, "Night Terrors" is probably on.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Brennyren]

Must get these quibbles off my chest:

1) There is no reason you need to tow a barge in space! Just shove it in the right direction and momentum will do the rest.
2) Radiation is not the kind of thing where one minute you're fine and the next you're dead -- and even if it were, the time periods for, say, an adult Klingon warrior and a small Human child would not be the same.

That said: I loved the whole interaction between Picard and Wesley in "Final Mission." I found it deeply affecting, and I think it's Wil Wheaton's best work on TNG. Patrick's excellent, as always, but this is really Wil's show.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Oddish]

"Remember Me" is my first save, in a walk. The whole episode is unsettling, and Picard vanishing just plain freaks me out.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"The Loss"
"The Wounded"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Brennyren]

Somehow "The Wounded" ended up back on the list, despite @Vger23 having removed it earlier -- also "Final Mission," though that one was probably because my post went up just one minute before @Oddish's. . Posting the corrected list.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"

 

[Farscape One]

Sakonna, thank you for saving "Night Terrors". I know many hate that one, but I love it, and happy someone else loves it like I do!

Must get these quibbles off my chest:

1) There is no reason you need to tow a barge in space! Just shove it in the right direction and momentum will do the rest.

There was an asteroid belt between the planet and sun, so the Enterprise had to navigate it at least past that... otherwise, the barge could easily have either been destroyed there or worse yet, hit it enough so it goes back in the direction of the planet.

Your second point... I can't really argue that one.


My next save is "In Theory".

It's a good Data episode, and a good horror vibe with the dark matter nebula. Particularly the woman stuck between decks. Good job directing, Sir Patrick!



"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"

 

[Vger23]

I like “Clues” quite a bit. TNG always does the “creepy sci if mystery” so well, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I loved trying to figure out why Data would be intentionally lying to his shipmates.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"

 

[Vger23]

The story is cheese and full of holes…

You mean like Swiss cheese?

 

[Seven of Five]

Reunion is the next awesome chapter in the Klingon politics saga, and it's easily as good as Sins of the Father. I like that it brought K'Ehleyr back, even if she was brutally murdered by Duras.

Picard chewing out Worf at the end was a great scene.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Qpid".

A really fun episode. Lots of funny moments and lines, like Worf breaking Geordi's mandolin and saying, "Sorry." Or his perfect delivery of, "Captain, I protest! I am not a Merry Man!"


"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"

 

[CitadelZombies]

Reunion is the next awesome chapter in the Klingon politics saga, and it's easily as good as Sins of the Father. I like that it brought K'Ehleyr back, even if she was brutally murdered by Duras.

Picard chewing out Worf at the end was a great scene.

Agree with all of this, and it also introduces us to Gowron for the first time.

On that note, I'll save "Redemption" as it's a good continuation of the story, we get the return of Kurn and the introduction of the Duras sisters, all great characters.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"

 

[Oddish]

Saving "First Contact". The icky "bang an alien" scene brings it down a bit, but the rest of the episode gives us an interesting perspective of how first contact would happen, and the obstacles that would come with it.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"

 

[BlueStuff]

I’ll save First Contact… if you make love to me.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Future Imperfect"
"The Loss"
"Devil's Due"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"

 

[Oddish]

I’ll save First Contact… if you make love to me.

Beat you to it, but I like your version better than mine.