The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 5 - 2025 Edition...

[Frightscape 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"
2025 -


Season Five -

"Redemption II"
"Darmok"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"Disaster"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cause And Effect"
"The First Duty"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"I Borg"
"The Next Phase"
"The Inner Light"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Frightscape One]

Season 5 had some excellent episodes, as well. (Though I do think this was TNG at its most preachy.) I have several that are immediate saves for me, but I am starting with "Darmok".

This is a superb story. One of my favorites of the franchise, and exactly why Joe Menosky is one of my favorite writers. It's simply about learning to communicate despite differences, coming together, and forming a bond. Exactly what STAR TREK is about at its core. Few episodes in the franchise so precisely capture the essence and spirit of the franchise like this one does. From start to finish, this is pure gold. Especially since I love mythology, this is a win. Throw in a great guest star like Paul Winfield, and you just added the cherry on top.

Always a rewatch for me. Always.


"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"Disaster"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cause And Effect"
"The First Duty"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"I Borg"
"The Next Phase"
"The Inner Light"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Starflight]

Though I do think this was TNG at its most preachy

Yeah, this is what puts me off the season (and the show in general from this point). Writers like Menosky can still put out great episodes in this era though.

I'll save "Disaster", it's silly fun in a way that TNG started to have trouble doing by this point, everyone gets something good to do, and Midwife Worf is one of his finest moments.

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cause And Effect"
"The First Duty"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"I Borg"
"The Next Phase"
"The Inner Light"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Faintly Macabre]

I am, generally, not a fan of Wesley who suffered from poor writing but "The First Duty" is a good Wesley episode. It's age-appropriate for a start. We get a look at Star Fleet Academy, an introduction to Boothby and one of Jean-Luc's finest speeches. Sito Jaxa will appear later in a very good episode and both Lower Decks and Prodigy refer back to it.

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cause And Effect"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"I Borg"
"The Next Phase"
"The Inner Light"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Cause and Effect is handily my first save for this round. A very enjoyable time travel adventure, one of my favourites of this season.

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"I Borg"
"The Next Phase"
"The Inner Light"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving another easy save... "The Inner Light".

Excellent story, and that ending never fails to make me shed at least a single man tear.


"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"I Borg"
"The Next Phase"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Cyfa]

Oh! Sorry I'm late. I've only just realised these TNG games are going on
My first save is "I Borg" because of the most adorable Borg ever to grace the screen (with the possible exception of the Borg babies Boimler saves in that simulation). And also because Picard as Locutus again is rather chilling

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification I"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"The Next Phase"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

As Romulans are my favourite alien race, I have a few choices but I will go for Unification 1 a great episode for showing civilian Romulans are still much like everyone else with the gossipy proprietress even though secrecy is a part of their society with fake front doors.

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"The Next Phase"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Qonundrum]

Romulans at their peak, Geordi and Ro at theirs, what's not to like?

"The Next Phase"

The story wisely walks a tightrope between fantasy science, real science, and philosophical talk. Only Ronald D Moore could manage to make a story like this engaging without having people think into the real-life physics too fast or much, which are a problem to varying extents, but as most of the make-believe Treknobabble counters other make-believe Treknobabble and only indirectly brings up real science at most and their paths don't quite cross, it's far easier to buy into this story and its themes for longer than I ever could for "Disaster"'s, which took me out of the story so many times for integrating real science so atypically poorly for this show and especially by this season* that I lost count, which was more than seven times to be sure**...

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When season 1 gets the basics right but not season 5... but I digress even farther, let me digress from that with this:

And since I couldn't find The Count from Sesame Street, it's for the best as I dig The Pointer Sisters far more:

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etc

* Geordi with his VISOR can't see the bulkhead's warming up, he gets suck vs blow wrong as those are too common and tied to his character, then comes Dr Crusher who tells everyone to breath in deeply before they depressurize (which would lead to lung air sacs exploding and other cool things, no the trick here is to exhale as deeply as possible before depressurizing... )

** all that said, the Ro scenes were really solid and made up for a lot.


What's left:
"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Power Play"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Starflight]

Of the ones left, "Power Play" is probably my favourite, not an amazing episode but an enjoyable pulpy thriller.

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"Unification II"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Well since you were all so polite to leave it for me I will claim responsibility for saving the entirety of Unification. Well 2/3 of it as the case is nowadays.

"Redemption II"
"Ensign Ro"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Qonundrum]

Of the ones left, "Power Play" is probably my favourite, not an amazing episode but an enjoyable pulpy thriller.

I try imagining using a Ron Jones-style score for this one, helps a LOT. The main story is fairly good, excellent for season 5, but the "music" is like a downpour at an outdoor wedding. It may be TNG's "now" style and season 5 had the most viewers, but if nothing else the music was a downer as far as tonal shifts went, no pun intended.

 

[Qonundrum]

I never met a Ro I didn't like, unless it was called "caviar" as there's something fishy about that, but I digress:

"Ensign Ro"

The latest attempt at "person who doesn't fit into the clique" trope is the best, even if she's only in a handful of episodes between seasons 5-7 and mostly in 5.

And it's not just Ro who is a standout, the double-act of Ro with Guinan is a reason why many would tune in as the characters and actors playing them just sparkle throughout. Guinan almost took it upon herself a as a duty, unlocking the soul that was Ro.

Also note, the planet brought up in "The Next Phase" has a different numeral assigned than in this one, but I won't notice if you won't.

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See what I mean about Guinan and Ro?

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More Guinan Goodness(tm).

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Really good writing. Really good Star Trek. And yet, despite all that, Picard still doesn't keep a chalkboard, a box of 64 pipeces of chalk, and about 255 lines on the chalkboard where each line involves "the evil admiral of the week" trope, but at least in this story it's all used to good dramatic effect and has some depth. IMHO, Ro should have been in DS9, but also IMHO Kira did make the role her own soon enough and it allowed Trek to be a slightly larger universe as a result...


What's left:
"Redemption II"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Conundrum"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Starflight]

This season's tougher than I thought, a lot of just-okay ones left.

"Conundrum" is a solid episode, good concept and well-paced. McDuff being so obviously an intruder should be a point against the episode, but honestly, the obviousness just makes it funny.

The aliens hijacking both the ship and crew to use in their war always sticks in my mind as a really cool idea. I kind of feel bad for the McDuff alien; hostile though he was, there was so much riding on him and you just know his race gave him hell after he failed.

"Redemption II"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"Ethics"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "Ethics".

This episode fully encompasses all the reasons why Crusher is my least favorite CMO in the franchise.

But it does have quite possibly Frakes' best acted scene with Worf when he tells him he isn't going to assist in the ritual. I also love how Picard actually understands Worf and hus reasonings. (In fact, I am in complete agreement with Worf.)

Good episode overall.



"Redemption II"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Masterpiece Society"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Qonundrum]

I could play games and rescue a story that feels like a leftover from season 1 but given the season 5 touch, but

"The Masterpiece Society"

Is just too strong a story to ignore, even if it feels like a cynical response to "Pen Pals".

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(Where's Riker to tell Geordi to get some sleep so he won't fight fatigue while fighting gravimetric wibblies! That aside, it's a powerful Geordi scene.)

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(I love it when writers remember that Geordi's VISOR is remembered and can be used positively to the plot. Twice, in this story.)



What's left:
"Redemption II"
"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Carrying on my pattern Redemption 2 is my next save. A solid conclusion and an important story for DS9.

"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"New Ground"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Qonundrum]

This season's tougher than I thought, a lot of just-okay ones left.

"Conundrum" is a solid episode, good concept and well-paced. McDuff being so obviously an intruder should be a point against the episode, but honestly, the obviousness just makes it funny.

The aliens hijacking both the ship and crew to use in their war always sticks in my mind as a really cool idea. I kind of feel bad for the McDuff alien; hostile though he was, there was so much riding on him and you just know his race gave him hell after he failed.

A great episode for sure and great points you bring up! My only quibbles are the reuse of the Edo god thing from "Justice" is a minor letdown, and then did Ro think of going to sickbay to get tested for anything after her night with Riker? But this is the 24th century, cooties don't exist anymore so it's really just the f/x reuse that had people scratching their heads at the time.

 

[Starflight]

I'll save "New Ground" (and probably "Cost of Living" later, if nobody else does). The Alexander arc in this season is one that I quite like, it gives Worf a chance to be vulnerable by confiding in Troi which does a lot for both characters. Worf abandoning the military school idea but reframing it as "the greater challenge is to stay here" is one of my favourite character moments he gets.

"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"Hero Worship"
"Violations"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "Hero Worship".

While the child casting was not great (TNG suffered this throughout its run), the concept is great. Data really does embody all you can ask for with a hero.



"Silicon Avatar"
"The Game"
"A Matter Of Time"
"Violations"
"The Outcast"
"Cost Of Living"
"The Perfect Mate"
"Imaginary Friend"
"Time's Arrow"