• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 4 - 2025 Edition...

F

Frightscape One

Admiral
Admiral
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"
2025 -


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"
 
Another excellent season, probably 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"
 
My first save involves a story where the bad guys' space is invaded and they take someone who is to be recruited as a spokesperson for a higher cause:

"The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"

That's right kids, the benevolent Borg visited the eevil Federation and took Picard to be used as a spokesperson for improving all their lives with ease and grace!

What I love about part two is that it not only holds its own, it's also cleverly doing a spin and role reversal of part one's own plotting and it's awesome.

We didn't need the whizbang battle shown. We knew it happened, and seeing the aftermath of a graveyard of ships is what got to us at the time - what might be if the Borg are not stopped, and how the hell can they be stopped. Note that DS9 would later show the actual battle, and it was okay I guess, but we knew how it largely ended, and the way TBOBW handled the battle offscreen was genuinely compelling on its own. (That said, this confirming that a handful of survivors allow DS9, PIC season 3, etc, to take place...)

The "David vs Goliath' approach is lovely, especially using an analogy of sleep mode to shut down the Borg, which you likely weren't expecting and it's brill, which soon goes into self-destruct move in order to preserve as many secrets as possible so you know there's going to be more Borg out there...

Locutus eyeing up the bridge crew like pieces of meat at a butcher ship was fantastic. For everyone except Data, it's almost deliciously ironic that the Borg call him obsolete when he's got more technological doodads suck to his doodads than the Borg dudes doodads' do! Try saying that while munching on a mouthful of saltine crackers. Well, that, or the Borg know they only want to enhance the quality of life of organic beings and, as Data is not organic, there's no such utility. The Borg are supposed to be complex, adding to their ranks when possible... or they know how often Data can be comprimised, if they saw all 178 episodes of Staaaaaaaar Trek, The Next Generation! :guffaw:


Also, in another dimension, we had Locutus of Bort:
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
(Bonus brownie points for Barclay of Bort being there too...)

A shame that one scene's film was not found, but it's one of the quickest and least consequential scenes. Unless it was found, I do recall that TNG's rerelease had fixed issues from earlier restorations... should look that up to confirm...

What's left:
"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"
 
Last edited:
I know there's a lot wrong with it, but "Night Terrors" is the episode from this season that I just rewatch to death. I love the spooky vibes in this one with also just enough ridiculous notes. This season certainly has "classier" great episodes, but this guilty pleasure is my favorite.

"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"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Drumhead"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"
 
Aww I missed the whole of season 3. The curse of working a 12 hour shift. But I return with a venegeance to save The Drumhead. The drama is divine and the acting is so engaging. Plus Mr Tarses is nice to look at.

"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"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"Half A Life"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"
 
Both "Night Terrors" and "The Drumhead" wouod have been my next save. LOVE those episodes!

So I save "The Wounded" now.

Excellent episode. Great casting for Captain Maxwell. Love the Nebula class ships.

And O'Brien is just excellent here. Episodes like this are why we got him for DS9.



"Family"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"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"
 
I have a particular fondness for anytime Troi gets to tell people to fuck off, so saving "The Loss."

"Family"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"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"
 
"Half a Life" is one of the tightest episodes of the entire show, and one of the few episodes where I wouldn't change anything major. The only potential negative point is that the script is perhaps a bit too 90s-cultural-relativism about it all, but Lwaxana is a powerful enough presence that her strong view is essentially the main one, and more than covers for Picard et al's usual timidity.

"Family"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"In Theory"
"Redemption"
 
Hard to pick the next one. So many wonderful episodes to choose from.

I think I will go with "In Theory".

As you all know, Data is my favorite character, and I love horror. The scene with the woman stuck between decks was a nice horror bit, as well as the idea of the dark matter material just being everywhere, causing mayhem.

It made sense that Data would be in completely new territory here. Almost nobody really knows what to do with their first romance, so all the stuff he was doing was completely believeable. Part of what Troi said was correct: ultimately, Jenna would love Data for HIM, not what he imitates.

And it was fun to see Michelle Scarabelli outside of ALIEN NATION.


"Family"
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"
 
Family was the excellent coda to the BOBW saga Very necessary they should have done it, but the way they went about it was perfect.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"Identity Crisis"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"
 
Two instantly come to mind, others I could easily fight for, others are (not my thing) that make season 1's sense of adventure vastly superior. But that's my opinion and, as with fingers and toes and orifices, we've all got them. So anyhoo, will Suzannah cry for me or thee, or will Suzannah just say "Whee"?

"Identity Crisis"

an AWESOME episode steeped in mystery and cool ultraviolet light costuming to sell a new idea. Also, can you believe that this show is 34 years old? 34 years prior to when this episode aired, "Lassie" was in its third season. How many people in 1991 were discussing reruns of a show regarding a flea-ridden rabid doggie? More on that later but it's safe to say that Star Trek had enough creativity to maintain, and that's pretty impressive in any book... well, the G-rated ones anyway but before I digress let's get back to the episode:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
Gee, a holodeck scene where it's not just really good, it's used to creative effect and not to insinuate a crewmember's sex life? I'm pinching myself because I simply cannot believe it...

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
I can't believe this either, it's a decent Dr Crusher episode in a great mystery episode with great incidental music.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
In another great scene despite the double entendre title line shown, I just can't believe that some fans sideline this great episode (and that's okay, it's fun to read why people save or reject episodes!).

So back to Lassie,
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
Can you believe I'd find a way to segue to THAT?


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



What's left:
"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Devil's Due"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"
 
Last edited:
"Devil's Due" Ardra is such a great villain. I love all her fake-devil theatrics. Back in the day, I kept wishing the show would bring her back, and I remember being so excited when the comic first revealed they'd be doing an Ardra sequel. In a pinch, tie-in media would do!

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Reunion"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"
 
Decisions, decisions...

Suzi Plakston was a guest star who was good in all the roles she played and was excellent as K'Ehleyr so it was nice to see her back. Then we got Robert O'Reilly as Gowron too! Also the introduction of the iconic bat'leth. Combined with good Klingon world-building and a great story, "Reunion" gets my vote this time despite including yet another example of the tired trope of "mother keeps child a secret from father"


"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
"Redemption"
 
Still some solid choices left. Redemption is a very solid story and an important one for cross-series lore. Plus that cliffhanger "Humans have a way of showing up when you least expect them" Sela is one of my favourite villains.

"Brothers"
"Suddenly Human"
"Remember Me"
"Legacy"
"Future Imperfect"
"Final Mission"
"Clues"
"First Contact"
"Galaxy's Child"
"The Nth Degree"
"Qpid"
"The Host"
"The Mind's Eye"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 2 - 2025 Edition...
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
AntonyF
AntonyF
F
The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 3 - 2025 Edition...
2
Replies
29
Views
991
Frightscape One
F
F
The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 1 - 2025 Edition...
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Sakonna
Sakonna
F
The Most Disliked Episode of TAS, Season 2 - 2025 Edition...
Replies
7
Views
984
Frightscape One
F
F
The Most Disliked Episode of TAS, Season 1 - 2025 Edition...
Replies
15
Views
2K
Frightscape One
F
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top