Game The Most Disliked Lwaxana Episode

[Sakonna]

Next up in these themed elimination games: "Lwaxana Episodes"

THE RULES. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. Below is a list of the Lwaxana episodes from TNG and DS9. Eliminate your 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.

Leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode just because you feel it would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win.

Enjoy!

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: "Ménage à Troi"
TNG, Season 4: "Half A Life"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 7: "Dark Page"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"

 

[eschaton]

This will be a quick game.

Eliminating Half A Life. By far the best Lwaxana episode - which finally showed that she had some depth as a character (and Majel had some depth as an actor). It's an undersung gem penned by Peter Allan Fields, who - pound for pound - was probably the best writer in all of Star Trek.

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: "Ménage à Troi"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 7: "Dark Page"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"

 

[Qonundrum]

Dang. There are a few that are easily saved, but any episode that magically turns green blankets into entire dresses for genders the Ferengi deem unworthy of having clothing--

TNG, Season 3: "Ménage à Troi"​

-- oh wait, I'm supposed to give reasons FOR saving the episode. Oops!

And not because Lwaxana is tortured, which is actually a fairly grizzly scene.

It actually starts out as "a typical Lwaxana" (read: "fun", and/or "f-wordingly horrible") episode that takes a sharp left turn and adds a genuine sense of threat.

And Ethan Phillips really shows some range as when he's not playing super-sickly-happy Neelix (though his reasoning for being so is sound), he's back in time a few years knocking it out of the park as an actor relishing villainous roles. The guy's good.

That and, really, who wouldn't want to do it with Riker and Troi at the same time? Oh wait, the episode's title is a bait and switch and there I go again misreading things... Oh shucks...


What's left:

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 7: "Dark Page"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"

 

[frankieteardrop]

I'll go with DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"

The Jake stuff in this episode is abysmal, but the Lwaxana/Odo B-plot makes it worth a save.

It took me a while to warm up to Lwaxana, mainly because of her behavior towards male characters, which is often played for laughs instead of acknowledged as the awful sexual harassment it really is. Her association with Odo started out in similarly off-putting territory, but it wound up developing into a really beautiful friendship between two lonely people who find comfort in each other's company. Both know a thing or two about putting on a public face to greet the world, while masking complicated inner depths.

This friendship reaches its peak in "The Muse," with Odo really going above and beyond to help out his friend, and I always appreciate seeing Lwaxana with her guard down, in contrast to her usual boisterous self.


What's left:

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 7: "Dark Page"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination

 

[Qonundrum]

This will be a quick game.

There's a double entendre worthy of a BBC comedy just waiting to happen...

Eliminating Half A Life. By far the best Lwazana episode - which finally showed that she had some depth as a character (and Majel had some depth as an actor). It's an undersung gem penned by Peter Allan Fields, who - pound for pound - was probably the best writer in all of Star Trek.

Along with those (great reasons too BTW), Fields was a gem behind DS9 too, also noting the magnificence of Ira was behind TNG Season 3...

The plot of mandatory suicide is not quite "Logan's Run", a bit more sledgehammery, but probably hit home for anyone approaching 60 that was watching it. It should actually be of interest to even kids, who should be grateful Carousel doesn't stop by when age 30 does.

 

[CommanderTrip]

I am going to remove "Dark Page". The shift in tone of Lwaxana's role from lighthearted annoyance to tragic loss does pull you in if you have not seen this episode before. (and wasn't Kirsten Dunst in this one)
While there are no big set pieces or big action sequences, the story is pretty profound and dramatic. You really felt for Majel as Lwaxana while she is grieving and mourning the loss of her child. Marina Sirtis and Majel Rodenberry were beautiful together in this one. (and it has a nice little nod in one of the best episodes of Picard's first season.)

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Dark Page".

I've said it on another thread, but it bears repeating... this episode is a great Lwaxana one. The relationship between Majel and Marina is genuine, and it shows. Both gave it their all here, and this shows so much as to why Lwaxana is the way she is.

Sad revelation at the end and great performances that makes me shed a single man tear or two.


What's left:

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination

 

[Qonundrum]

In the right mood,

TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"​

is entertaining. It's superficial, absolutely not meant to be taken seriously on any level because it's crass in any number of ways...

Lwaxana saves the day at the end in a good scene.

Majel definitely is acting so over the top it's got to be deliberate - like or dislike, I think she knew when to ramp it up and chew through that scenery after adding a dash of garlic and a pound of butter...

Mick Fleetwood is the latest rock star from the 1960s wanting to be in a Star Trek episode... though covered in a big hideous outfit that nobody could see him in, which adds a certain allure...

But at least Wes gets to realize people see him as being ugly after whining about how ugly the piscine people are, and until that day in 1988, nobody knew Worf liked to eat fish...


What's left:
TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination

 

[Sakonna]

I'll save "Fascination", which I adore, I think it's so joyous and fun.

I'm surprised to realize I have some level of fondness for all of these (the full list, not just what's left) -- I am firmly in the pro-Lwaxana camp.

That and, really, who wouldn't want to do it with Riker and Troi at the same time? Oh wait, the episode's title is a bait and switch and there I go again misreading things... Oh shucks...

I can still clearly remember being a kid and asking my parents, what does this title mean? They handled it well, they managed to explain it very age-appropriately.

The Jake stuff in this episode is abysmal, but the Lwaxana/Odo B-plot makes it worth a save.

It took me a while to warm up to Lwaxana, mainly because of her behavior towards male characters, which is often played for laughs instead of acknowledged as the awful sexual harassment it really is. Her association with Odo started out in similarly off-putting territory, but it wound up developing into a really beautiful friendship between two lonely people who find comfort in each other's company. Both know a thing or two about putting on a public face to greet the world, while masking complicated inner depths.

This friendship reaches its peak in "The Muse," with Odo really going above and beyond to help out his friend, and I always appreciate seeing Lwaxana with her guard down, in contrast to her usual boisterous self.

Love this. I am happy I am not the only one who appreciates their story in "The Muse."

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"

 

[Sakonna]

The guys who do the Greatest Generation podcast did this great audio tribute to Lwaxana at the end of their pod on "The Muse." It makes me a little teary-eyed everytime I listen to it.

It's the very end of this, it starts 2:25 from the end...

https://maximumfun.org/episodes/gre...-ds9-ep-269-write-horny-edit-sober-ds9-s4e20/

(And I always recommend this podcast, too. The only Trek podcast I've ever actually enjoyed! As you can tell from the title of this one, they don't take themselves too seriously)

 

[Farscape One]

I am also a big fan of "FASCINATION", which was going to be my next save.

I am torn between "THE FORSAKEN" and "Cost Of Living" for different reasons.

I will save "Cost Of Living".

We see a super boystrous Lwaxana, but it is a facade of a very lonely woman. She does love life, and she wants to share that love and wants to help Alexander enjoy life. The B story was lame with the metal eater, and the Lwaxana stuff could have been a little better, but I give a lot of credit to Majel for this outing... this was produced only a couple months after Gene Roddenberry passed away.

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"
DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"

 

[Qonundrum]

Next to be taken to its namesake,

TNG, Season 1: "Haven"​

Lwaxana makes an instant hit, which is why some of the humor is ramped up in her season 2 outing.

If nothing else, Yar's scene in the dining room with that hair is always a reason to watch.

Actually, the backdrop - about the Tarellians - is fairly grounding and pretty dark too.It balances out the episode, which isn't the greatest but I've got a soft spot for it despite some corniness.


What's left:

DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"

 

[Sakonna]

Hey, we got that one down in under an hour! And another photo-finish ending, @Farscape One saves "Cost Of Living" as @Cutie McWhiskers saves "Haven", making "The Forsaken" the winner! I like "The Forsaken", but I kind of like all of these, so that was going to happen.

I'll be back with the full winners post and the next list later today, but first, I need to drag myself out of bed and take a shower...

 

[Sakonna]

Posting momentarily: "The Most Disliked Episode From The Hollywood Reporter's 100 Greatest Star Trek Episodes"

MOST DISLIKED "WINNER"LOSERS, 2020
"HEY, THIS PLANET IS JUST LIKE EARTH!": TOS, Season 1: "Miri"
SEASON PREMIERE: TNG, Season 7: "Descent, Part II"
LWAXANA: DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
ROMANCE OF THE WEEK: DS9, Season 3: "Meridian"
FERENGI: DS9, Season 7: "The Emperor's New Cloak"
CARDASSIANS: VOY, Season 2: "Investigations"
HOLIDAY: VOY, Season 4: "Day Of Honor"
HOLODECK: VOY, Season 6: "Fair Haven"
TIME TRAVEL/ANOMALY/LOOP: VOY, Season 6: “Fury”
MAQUIS: VOY, Season 7: "Repression"
BARCLAY: VOY, Season 7: "Inside Man"
Q: VOY, Season 7: "Q2"
2-HOUR/2-PART: ENT, Season 1 & 2: "Shockwave"
VISIT TO EARTH'S "PRESENT": ENT, Season 2: "Shockwave, Part II"
KLINGONS: ENT, Season 2: "Marauders"
HALLUCINATION/ILLUSION: ENT, Season 3: "Extinction"
VISIT TO EARTH'S PAST: ENT, Season 4: "Storm Front, Part I"
CAST CROSSOVER: ENT, Season 4: "These Are The Voyages..."
MIRROR UNIVERSE: DIS, Season 1: "What's Past Is Prologue"
INTRODUCTION OF RECURRING ALIENS: DIS, Season 2: "An Obol For Charon" (the jahSepp)
ROMULANS: PIC, Season 1: "Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

TOTAL SHOW WINS
TAS, Short Treks, & Movies - 0 wins
TOS, TNG, and PIC - 1 win each
DIS - 2 wins
DS9 - 3 wins
ENT - 6 wins
VOY - 7 wins

 

[Seven of Five]

I missed this one entirely. I would have saved The Forsaken early on if I saw it earlier, as I love how Odo opens up to Lwaxana in it.

However, Lwaxana is definitely like chalk and cheese. Some of her episodes are amongst the worst episodes, whereas some are heart-warming, and offer a different side to her.