The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, 2023 Edition - Season 6...

[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 Six -

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"Schisms"
"True Q"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Face Of The Enemy"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Frame of Mind"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"
"Timescape"
"Descent"

 

[Farscape One]

This was a really, really good season. Hard to pick my first. I'm tempted to go with an obvious Picard episode.

But given my love of horror and creepiness, I have to start with "Frame of Mind".

This might be Jonathan Frakes' best performance as Will Riker. No matter what anyone says about him, you have to give Frakes credit for always going all in on a concept or episode. He totally nailed the madness he was feeling. Plus there's always something unsettling about an asylum.

Not to mention this is Brannon Braga at his best. His script was excellent. I found no flaws with it. Couple that with the always excellent James L. Conway as the director, and this ends up as one of the best episodes of TNG. (Hell, it's so good that Braga basically redid it for VOY with "PROJECTIONS". Frakes even directed that one, too.)


"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"Schisms"
"True Q"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Face Of The Enemy"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"
"Timescape"
"Descent"

 

[CitadelZombies]

I'll save "Face Of The Enemy"
An excellent showcase for Troi, an excellent espionage episode. Really good Romulan episode.

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"Schisms"
"True Q"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"
"Timescape"
"Descent"

 

[Qonundrum]

My first pick, albeit after my nose:

"Descent"​

I do appreciate "I, Borg" for doing something different - even if it changed characters and their motivations just to fit the plot. But the culmination of that, for better or worse, is a halfway decent Borg story at the tail-end of season six.

Why is the Collective now falling apart?
How extensively?
What's up with these distressing changes and even random attacks?
Why does Data now have "emotions"?
Why does he say it feels good to kill?
What's Lore doing at the end?
and
Where's the peanuts and popcorn, as this is almost exciting stuff!

Honestly, the Borg becoming vicious, psychopathic killers should be downright terrifying. Even their new ship design is a hallmark of terrific aesthetic design. They give themselves kinky names as well.

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Nice teaser! "Did it feel good to kill?" is downright chilling. They were onto something big with this neat twist.

But:

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1960s Doctor Who was more regularly exciting and less by-the-numbers templated cookie cutter waffle in design. Yup, that latter-half approach to TNG, complete with bean-devourin' frogs on a log in a bog farting incessantly as incidental music, drags it down more than it deserved to.

But even then, it's still a compelling setup. What will part two bring? I'll eventually prattle on about that, regarding Staaaaaaaar Trek, The Next Generation!

What's left:
"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"Schisms"
"True Q"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"
"Timescape"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Schisms".

TNG did horror and creepy really, really well. This was an excellent alien abduction episode, and it was the best use of the holodeck in the franchise. That scene was positively chilling.


"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"True Q"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"
"Timescape"

 

[Orac]

So many mediocre episodes..

I'll save Timescape - another existential horror story by Brannon Braga. (his specialty)

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"True Q"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Qonundrum]

So a Lion, Scarecrow, and a Tin Man (not Gomtuu), went into a bar:

"True Q"​

I can never get enough of Q. "Really?", you're probably not asking? Well, my response can only be "Well, Q'Betcha." And this season has not one, but two Q stories!

The story more than nods at "The Wizard of Oz", right down to:

1. A tornado
2. in Kansas
3. Ends up in a strange and magical place where weird things happen
4. Uncle Arthur loves to pay visits
5. An allegory more effective than "The Outcast" (but possibly unintentionally so)
6. wasn't the Q girl named "Dorothy"? Well, 3 if not 4 out of 6 ain't bad

Plus, the writers "went there", in a scene that - while not decidedly "meta" - is so far out of left field that even Uncle Arthur would salute in honor:

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Also, Arthur had a long day when walking by:

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(I bet Arthur wasn't the only one who died laughing... )

What's left:
"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Relics"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Relics".

The Dyson Sphere simply demands a follow up on a series.

The meat of the story is Scotty. A great reminder that feeling useful is important in a person's life... particularly as they get older. James Doohan was excellent here.


"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Chain Of Command, Part II"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Seven of Five]

Chain of Command Part II is a pretty harrowing journey for Picard, and I particularly like the effect on the characters a change in command had.

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Tapestry"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[BlueStuff]

Tapestry has its faults, but it's a tremendous showing for Sir Patrick.

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"A Fistful of Datas"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Sakonna]

A sentimental favorite, the one I think I always save first in season 6 - "A Fistful Of Datas"

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"The Chase"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "The Chase".

It's a good hunt for answers, and goes a long way toward explaining why there are so many humanoids. Always a treat to have Picard's archaeological hobby front and center.

Another directing win by Frakes.


"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Ship In A Bottle"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Qonundrum]

"Ship In A Bottle" - it pretends Dr Pulaski never existed and while it's been a while, I'm certain that there's a small logic flaw regarding the bottle in the bottle trick. Regardless of whether there is or not, it's fun to see Daniel Davis virtually try to destroy the ship again.

What's left:
"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Lessons"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Sakonna]

"Lessons" is a lovely episode, so moving. The very rare ROTW that actually works - something practically unheard of in this franchise.

"Time's Arrow, Part II"
"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Oddish]

Saving "Time's Arrow Part 2". Not as strong as the first, and while Data having a 500-year-old head was a clever resolution, Picard's message to the future was a bit contrived. But, Mark Twain was great fun.

"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Starship Mine"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[CitadelZombies]

I'll save "Starship Mine". It's basically Die Hard on the Enterprise. It makes little sense sometimes but is a fun, dumb hour of Trek.

"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Birthright, Part I".

Worf realizing his heart has no room for shame was good, but my favorite part of this is Data discovering dreams. And his scene with Picard when he asks for advice was great, as always. Those two always were great together.



"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Chain Of Command, Part I"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll save Chain of Command, Part 1 because, despite it not being as strong as the conclusion, the setup here was fascinating. Picard, Worf and Crusher all mysteriously reassigned, and are training hard. There's a new captain, who likes things his way and rubs the senior staff up quite a bit.

Troi being put in a uniform is great as well.

Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"Rascals"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Brennyren]

I'll save "Rascals" for the child actors, who were so well-cast and who so well captured their characters that it almost felt as if the adult actors had literally been de-aged.

"Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"
"Second Chances"

 

[Vger23]

I largely consider S6 to be the weakest of the series. And you all have taken care of pretty much all the “good” ones thus far.

Let’s see….I will save “Second Chances” because Riker is my favorite TNG character and this was a pretty good Riker episode as they go….getting back to the original ideas for the character and extrapolating them into a different direction.

Realm Of Fear"
"Man Of The People"
"The Quality Of Life"
"Aquiel"
"Birthright, Part II"
"Suspicions"
"Rightful Heir"