The worst part is, the episode didn't even show it!
There are a few levels of "stupid" in this episode, mostly involving the contrived setup to get 'em kidnapped, but I'll remain on the positives.
It's TNG's best episode to show them as villains. I'd say second-best except "The Battle" is a bit more tried and true as a trope and not daring to be inventive - but it did it solid enough. This third season escapade i doing something fairly different and ekes out the win despite its foibles.
Ethan Phillips by far makes and steals the show. Wish he got to do more.
Well, okay, here's one negative: Lwaxana and Troi are stripped and put into a cell (good effect though one can just about see where the strings were that held up the dresses to achieve the multi-layered effect. It's a very minor nitpick, it's still visually well done.) They're allowed blankets, which they promptly wear as makeshift clothes. A couple scenes later, Lwaxana's blankey is now a full-tailored dress and this is long before any headway was made. No pun intended.
Majel clearly steals the scene where Picard/Stewart borderline hams it up royally (but somehow keeps it juuuuuuust in check (on Staaaaaaar Trek, The Next Generation!)). The scene is otherwise so cringey it feels more like an extended outtake they were forced to use. Or when doing the weekly teasers, for Staaaaaaaaaar Trek The Next Generation!
The torture scene actually worked. Amazing, given how this episode flip-flops between comedic and serious tones.
Troi and Riker almost burst laughing when Picard reaches "8" in his countdown.
Troi's dress she wears in this episode looks so much better as a civilian outfit than all her others combined.
And Riker's a hottie in that shade of blue...
What's left to be plucked like a rose:
TNG Season 3: "The Bonding"
TNG Season 5: “New Ground”
TNG Season 6: “Birthright, Part I”
TNG Season 6: “Descent, Part I”
TNG Season 7: “Descent, Part II”
TNG Season 7: “Interface”
TNG Season 7: “Homeward”
TNG Season 7: “Firstborn”
TNG Season 7: “Bloodlines”
TNG Feature: "Star Trek Nemesis"
DS9 Season 1: “The Nagus”
DS9 Season 2: "Rules Of Acquisition"
DS9 Season 2: “The Alternate”
DS9 Season 4: “Indiscretion”
DS9 Season 4: “Bar Association”
DS9 Season 5: “The Begotten”
DS9 Season 5: “Ferengi Love Songs”
DS9 Season 6: “Sons And Daughters”
DS9 Season 6: “Profit And Lace”
DS9 Season 7: “Image In The Sand”
DS9 Season 7: “Shadows & Symbols”
DS9 Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
DS9 Season 7: “The Dogs Of War”
VOY Season 2: “Tattoo”
VOY Season 3: “Coda”
VOY Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY Season 5: “Once Upon A Time”
VOY Season 5: “Thirty Days”
VOY Season 6: “Collective”
VOY Season 7: “Q2”
ENT Season 2: “Horizon”
ENT Season 2: “The Expanse”
ENT Season 4: “Awakening”
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 1: "Vaulting Ambition"
DIS Season 1: "What's Past Is Prologue"
DIS Season 1: "The War Without, The War Within"
DIS Season 2: “Point Of Light”
DIS Season 2: “Light And Shadows”
DIS Season 2: “The Red Angel”
DIS Season 2: “Perpetual Infinity”
DIS Season 2: “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1”`
ST Season 1: “Runaway”
ST Season 1: “The Brightest Star”
ST Season 2: “The Girl Who Made The Stars”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning” [spoiler tag your elimination reasons]
PIC Season 1: “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1” [spoiler tag your elimination reasons]
TNG Season 3: "Ménage à Troi"
There are a few levels of "stupid" in this episode, mostly involving the contrived setup to get 'em kidnapped, but I'll remain on the positives.
It's TNG's best episode to show them as villains. I'd say second-best except "The Battle" is a bit more tried and true as a trope and not daring to be inventive - but it did it solid enough. This third season escapade i doing something fairly different and ekes out the win despite its foibles.
Ethan Phillips by far makes and steals the show. Wish he got to do more.
Well, okay, here's one negative: Lwaxana and Troi are stripped and put into a cell (good effect though one can just about see where the strings were that held up the dresses to achieve the multi-layered effect. It's a very minor nitpick, it's still visually well done.) They're allowed blankets, which they promptly wear as makeshift clothes. A couple scenes later, Lwaxana's blankey is now a full-tailored dress and this is long before any headway was made. No pun intended.
Majel clearly steals the scene where Picard/Stewart borderline hams it up royally (but somehow keeps it juuuuuuust in check (on Staaaaaaar Trek, The Next Generation!)). The scene is otherwise so cringey it feels more like an extended outtake they were forced to use. Or when doing the weekly teasers, for Staaaaaaaaaar Trek The Next Generation!
The torture scene actually worked. Amazing, given how this episode flip-flops between comedic and serious tones.
Troi and Riker almost burst laughing when Picard reaches "8" in his countdown.
Troi's dress she wears in this episode looks so much better as a civilian outfit than all her others combined.
And Riker's a hottie in that shade of blue...
What's left to be plucked like a rose:
TNG Season 3: "The Bonding"
TNG Season 5: “New Ground”
TNG Season 6: “Birthright, Part I”
TNG Season 6: “Descent, Part I”
TNG Season 7: “Descent, Part II”
TNG Season 7: “Interface”
TNG Season 7: “Homeward”
TNG Season 7: “Firstborn”
TNG Season 7: “Bloodlines”
TNG Feature: "Star Trek Nemesis"
DS9 Season 1: “The Nagus”
DS9 Season 2: "Rules Of Acquisition"
DS9 Season 2: “The Alternate”
DS9 Season 4: “Indiscretion”
DS9 Season 4: “Bar Association”
DS9 Season 5: “The Begotten”
DS9 Season 5: “Ferengi Love Songs”
DS9 Season 6: “Sons And Daughters”
DS9 Season 6: “Profit And Lace”
DS9 Season 7: “Image In The Sand”
DS9 Season 7: “Shadows & Symbols”
DS9 Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
DS9 Season 7: “The Dogs Of War”
VOY Season 2: “Tattoo”
VOY Season 3: “Coda”
VOY Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY Season 5: “Once Upon A Time”
VOY Season 5: “Thirty Days”
VOY Season 6: “Collective”
VOY Season 7: “Q2”
ENT Season 2: “Horizon”
ENT Season 2: “The Expanse”
ENT Season 4: “Awakening”
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 1: "Vaulting Ambition"
DIS Season 1: "What's Past Is Prologue"
DIS Season 1: "The War Without, The War Within"
DIS Season 2: “Point Of Light”
DIS Season 2: “Light And Shadows”
DIS Season 2: “The Red Angel”
DIS Season 2: “Perpetual Infinity”
DIS Season 2: “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1”`
ST Season 1: “Runaway”
ST Season 1: “The Brightest Star”
ST Season 2: “The Girl Who Made The Stars”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning” [spoiler tag your elimination reasons]
PIC Season 1: “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1” [spoiler tag your elimination reasons]
).
