The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 7: 2021 Edition...

This is a twist on a game that is played here, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

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"


Season Seven -

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part I
Gambit, Part II
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Parallels
The Pegasus
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Masks
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike
All Good Things...

 

Season 7 had the worst issue a series could have... burnout. Overall, I find this to be a less successful season than any season, including season 1. However, there are multiple gems that make the rest of the season worth it.

And I'm going to start with the finale, "All Good Things...".

This was a brilliant way to conclude TNG. I'm sure I don't have to go into any more details.



Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part I
Gambit, Part II
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Parallels
The Pegasus
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Masks
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

I often forget how weak season 7 is, although there's some good moments in here. I'm removing The Pegasus. It provided an interesting backstory to Riker and is a good script. The tension between Riker and Picard flows naturally, without being forced and its premise is very intriguing.

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part I
Gambit, Part II
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Parallels
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Masks
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

I like season 7 more than most, but I can't deny there's a fair number of clunkers here. But a lot of highlights as well!

"Parallels" is a series high point. It's such a clever gimmick in this one. Great work from the production crew on differentiating the universes.

And it is GREAT to have a Worf-centric episode that takes a break from being about Klingon politics, honor, rituals, etc, and just lets him battle some weird space stuff.

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part I
Gambit, Part II
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Masks
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

My next save is likely going to be a controversial choice... "Masks". Like DS9's "MOVE ALONG HOME", I know I'm one of the only people who defends this episode, and I am perfectly fine with that. There is a LOT to love about this episode.

First, it is heavy on mythology. I love mythology, and it is a staple of Joe Menosky. (One of the reasons he is one of my favorite writers.)

Second, Picard's love of archaeology is front and center. It's always a treat to see Picard's hobbies take a more central role. Plus, it's actually an essential part to how the episode is solved.

Third, I love Brent Spiner's acting! He was superb here. He accomplished a difficult task, and this was directly after another episode centering on him.

Fourth, it's a really awesome concept. The entire premise was outstanding and quite different. Very high concept, and the execution was well done.

Fifth, the vibe that was created by the director. Robert Wiemer tended to helm really out there or creepy episodes ("Violations", "Schisms", "Parallels"). He did an outstanding job of creating a mood that suited the episode.

So as you can see, there are many reasons why I consider this one of my favorite TNG episodes. It's ALWAYS a rewatch, and it gets saved here.



Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part I
Gambit, Part II
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

Coming to the rescue of "Phantasms", because it had Troi with mint frosting, Beverly drinking Riker, Worf taking a cake break, and Sigmund Frood.

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part I
Gambit, Part II
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

Saving Gambit, Part I. I really think it's an underrated episode, one where multiple deceptions interacting with each other.

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part II
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

Lower Decks. A realistic portrait of what it'd be like on the enterprise from the perspective of officers who aren't privy to the knowledge of the senior staff. Episode goes all in on the dangers of life in starfleet with permanent consequences as an ensign sacrifices her life in black ops covert mission.

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part II
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

"Phantasms", "The Pegasus", and "Lower Decks" were each my next ones to save. So I'm going to save my other gem of the season.

"Dark Page" is a terribly underrated episode. Not only is it great by taking Lwaxana seriously, but it explains so much about her character! She lost her child... that has to be the worst thing for a parent to go through. It not only explains why she was so overbearing with Deanna, but also why she was so over the top with her zest for life. It's definitely a thing for many people who go through horrible tragedies to go the route she did.

I also firmly believe Neelix is not only an homage to Lwaxana Troi, but a soul twin of hers. A very cheerful, over the top person who also doles out good advice and has a very tragic background? I also feel Neelix was a good character when taken seriously... just like Lwaxana.

As I've gotten older, it's harder and harder for me not to shed a single man tear when she reveals to Deanna what happened. So this is an easy save for me.



Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part II
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

I’ll save Gambit Part 2. I like this one as a 2-parter infinitely more than Descent or Times Arrow. I also like the cloak and dagger stuff Picard and Riker have to engage in, and the interesting little insights into ancient Vulcan culture.

Descent, Part II
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit, Part II
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

I disagree about "Masks." Enough said.

That being said, I think I'll save "Descent Part II." Give Beverly Crusher some credit in command! Not to mention seeing Hugh Borg again.

Liaisons
Interface
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike

 

I honestly think season 2 is better than season 7.

Some great ones, and one or two good ones, like All Good Things... Parallels, Lower Decks, Preemptive Strike, Gambit and Dark Page perhaps. The rest is a sea of mediocrity unfortunately.

At least with season two, which is still rough around the edges, they were still being ambitious. Space was still scary as well!

I'll save Preemptive Strike, which had one last great hurrah for Ro.

Liaisons
Interface
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence

 

I couldn't agree more.

With that stated, I'm saving "Inheritance". I can totally understand why Noonien Soong would want to keep his wife 'alive'. It shows that an emotion chip can be stable as well as set up the idea of imprinting memories of a person onto an android. I like that Lal was mentioned again because "The Offspring" is one of my favorite episodes (I cry EVERY SINGLE TIME!).

Liaisons
Interface
Attached
Force of Nature
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence

 

"Genesis"! Yes, the whole premise is stupid, but it's such a satisfyingly creepy outing. I can't resist any version of this setup, one or two characters walking around the eerie ship where things have gone mysteriously and terribly awry...

I am up right now in the middle of the night because it's morning in the time zone I'm working remotely in. I really wish I was instead up watching "Genesis"! It's the perfect dead-of-night rewatch.

Liaisons
Interface
Attached
Force of Nature
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Thine Own Self
Eye of the Beholder
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence

 

Season 2 > (5 + 6 + 7 combined).

Since a 23-way tie is not allowed, I am saving Thine Own Self. The Data subplot where he's on the planet and hauling some metal spreading radiation known as "magicinium" in the same way a skunk emits pew and nobody knows what it is because they're not as advanced* so they come up with some amusing conclusions, there are some moments of creepiness -- and unlike "Gambit" they put money into this one to show Data's synthetic "epidermal" covering removed. The Troi subplot isn't much better; the show really was wearing out and it was time to jump ship, which is what a lot of the writers did when they went to DS9.

* which would be more likely than not; usually with TNG we see other species on par, slightly greater, one vastly greater, and some slightly lesser. Not to the extent of this episode, but don't think I'm going to try to justify an episode where the fam beams on down to the planet of the newly-electrified protozoa that led to the formation of life on the entire planet via that sweet sweet process known as abiogenesis**.

** sorry, no time to make a funny. Give me 4.3 Gya and I'll think of something...

What's left to be baked:
Liaisons
Interface
Attached
Force of Nature
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Eye of the Beholder
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence

 

The rest is meh for different reasons. I'll save "Emergence" because at least it was a creative idea, and it's always a treat to have Picard be a part of anything Shakespeare in an episode.


Liaisons
Interface
Attached
Force of Nature
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Eye of the Beholder
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines

 

This is a hard choice. I'll save Attached as at least it tried to do something with the Picard/Crusher romance.

Liaisons
Interface
Force of Nature
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Eye of the Beholder
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines

 

At least Sub Rosa gave us this, albeit a few decades' later...



That's a ton better than some of the other stories, which were retreads or worse back then and are so bad that they can't create the level of hilarious entertainment made by video reviewers a third of a century later**. So, yea, Sub Rosa is dreadfully bad but not dreadfully bad enough, which is bad...

** by the next generation!

What's left:
Liaisons
Interface
Force of Nature
Homeward
Eye of the Beholder
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines

 

And does it better than their set piece in "The Naked Now". Then again, what couldn't?

 

I came here to save "Thine Own Self" or "Sub Rosa", but both are already saved!

Eesh, I do tend to think the badness of season 7 is generally overstated, but looking at this list of remaining eps, maybe not.

I'll save "Liaisons", for

WORF: Ambassador Byleth is demanding, temperamental, and rude.
DATA: You share all of those qualities in abundance. Perhaps you should try to build on your similarities.

Interface
Force of Nature
Homeward
Eye of the Beholder
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines