Game The Most Disliked Romulan Episode/Movie

[Cyfa]

After some humming and hahing, I'm saving TNG Feature: "Star Trek Nemesis" instead of a TNG episode. Nemesis has a lot to like in it (and a lot not to like), but it's the Battle of the Bassen Rift with the Romulans coming to Enterprise's aid that is the main reason for this save. Oh, and the wily Commander Donatra, of course. Plus, I love their fancy new uniforms!

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 1: "The Neutral Zone"
TNG Season 4: "The Mind's Eye"
TNG Season 5: "The Next Phase"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
TNG Season 6: “The Chase”
DIS Season 3: "Unification III"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part1

 

[Seven of Five]

Unification III was a really good follow-up to the original two-parter from TNG. I loved the universe building episode in DIS after they moved to the future, and I enjoyed seeing Burnham's mother again.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 1: "The Neutral Zone"
TNG Season 4: "The Mind's Eye"
TNG Season 5: "The Next Phase"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
TNG Season 6: “The Chase”
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part1

 

[Sakonna]

"The Next Phase" is another I just loved as a kid. Such a great character pairing in Geordi and Ro. The Romulan scheming is effectively used.

Always liked that one...and anything that features Tomalock is pretty awesome (I don't see "...All Good Things" on this list)

We've played this list three times now, and literally every time @Farscape One and I go back and fourth on "All Good Things..." Maybe I'll add it to the master for next time -- it is a very tiny cameo, but it's also true that it's a memorable appearance from the first recurring Romulan. There was significance to them bringing him back for the first time in years, brief as it was.

They really should have used Tomalak more. And -- this one's probably a minority opinion -- I needed more Sela as well!

TNG: "Timescape" - I love it!
The Romulans aren't the dastardly lot they're first thought to be, Picard's crone fingers, and Troi is awesome - both in regaling the others about the conference, and being the most knowledgable about Romulan ship systems thanks to her time spent on one in "Face of the Enemy" (continuity!!!)

Probably my favorite convention experience was one with Marina Sirtis, after "Timescape" had been shot but before it first aired. She went on for a bit about the delightful absurdity of Troi being a Romulan expert, and how they suddenly started giving her technobabble the minute Troi's cleavage went away. I got so excited to see this episode from the way she talked about it, and it did not disappoint.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 1: "The Neutral Zone"
TNG Season 4: "The Mind's Eye"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
TNG Season 6: “The Chase”
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part1

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

TNG Season 4: "The Mind's Eye" had two jobs. Job #1 was to set up Redemption by reminding people of Worf's discommendation, showing the Romulans conspiring with a Klingon and introducing a shadowy villain. Job #2 was to tell a great story. I think it did alright.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 1: "The Neutral Zone"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
TNG Season 6: “The Chase”
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Summer Solstice]

Saving "The Neutral Zone" - I like that Ralph Offenhouse immediately knows that the Romulans don't know what's happening either.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
TNG Season 6: “The Chase”
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Seven of Five]

The Chase is a lot of fun. I enjoy seeing Picard geeking out over his gift from Galen. The hunt for the secret shared genome was nicely executed as well, involving a few different races.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Sakonna]

"The Impossible Box" was a season 1 Picard high point. Such great, exciting sequences on the Artifact.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Birthright, Part II" because of Data's dreams. Bashir working with Data was nice. They played well off each other.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Vger23]

The first 3 episodes of PIC S1 haven’t gotten nearly the love they deserve.

“Maps and Legends” was a great episode. Saved.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Vger23]

The Chase is a lot of fun. I enjoy seeing Picard geeking out over his gift from Galen. The hunt for the secret shared genome was nicely executed as well, involving a few different races.

TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part I"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Maps & Legends”
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “The Impossible Box”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

Honestly, the general plot of “The Chase” could have easily been expanded to an epic 2-parter, feature film, or even serialized season story for streaming Trek.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Choosing TAS Season 1: "The Survivor"
The Vendorians are cool.

TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “The End Is The Beginning”
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Sakonna]

I also think season 1 of Picard had a great opening. I loooooooved that slow paced unfolding of the story in the first three. "The End Is The Beginning" is saved.

TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
DIS Season 4: "Choose To Live"
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Seven of Five]

Choose to Live is my next save. DIS S4 wasn't perfect, and could easily have been told over 10 episodes instead of 13. That said, it was probably my favorite season yet.

Spoiler

The return of Burnham's mother was a good moment, especially seeing her have to deal herself with a member of her own order, the Qowat Milat, who murdered a member of the Discovery crew for dilithium.

I didn't mention in saving Unification III that I loved how Vulcan was now Ni'Var, being home to Romulans as well. Spock would have been proud that his work on Romulus was complete.

TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
TNG Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Farscape One]

My final save for this game is "Birthright, Part II".

People unfairly talk about Worf here. I saw nothing wrong with him teaching young Klingons their own heritage.


TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I'm going to save PIC Season 1: “Broken Pieces”, because Rios' holograms are awesome.

TAS Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
PIC Season 1: “Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

 

[Sakonna]

I will save "Et In Arcadia Ego", on the strength of the AWESOME production work on Coppelius. That was a season 1 TNG planet perfectly updated for a modern series. I loved it (everything else about the episode is terrible).

BUT it does beat the Romulans being tricked by a balloon in "The Practical Joker", possibly my least favorite TAS ep.

"The Practical Joker" wins!

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I was hoping someone would pick that. TAS finally gets a win!

 

[Oddish]

And the little known animated series joins the Hall of Shame.

 

[Sakonna]

Hey, one win for each of the three animated series!

Oh, the 2020 winner of this game was this years runner-up: "Et In Arcardia Ego, Part 1." I didn't even realize that. And of course it's already won one of the games this year. No love for that one! (Also, uggggghhhhh do I hate typing that title)

Posting the next one now: "The Most Disliked Episode Directed By Winrich Kolbe"

MOST DISLIKED WINNERS, 2022
MAJEL BARRETT APPEARANCE: TOS, Season 3: "And The Children Shall Lead"
'HEY, THIS PLANET IS JUST LIKE EARTH!': TOS, Season 3: "Plato's Stepchildren"
ROMULAN: TAS, Season 2: "The Practical Joker"
ROMANCE-OF-THE-WEEK: TNG, Season 6: "Aquiel"
KLINGON: TNG, Season 6: "Birthright, Part II"
HOLIDAY: DS9, Season 3: "Meridian"
CARDASSIAN: DS9, Season 6: "Sons & Daughters"
MIRROR UNIVERSE: DS9, Season 6: "Resurrection"
FERENGI: DS9, Season 6: "Profit And Lace"
COMEDIC/LIGHT-HEARTED: DS9, Season 6: "Profit And Lace"
JEFFREY COMBS APPEARANCE: DS9, Season 7: "The Emperor's New Cloak"
HOLODECK: VOY, Season 6: "Spirit Folk"
MAQUIS: VOY, Season 7: "Repression"
BARCLAY: VOY, Season 7: "Inside Man"
2-PART/DOUBLE EPISODE: VOY, Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
RECYCLED TITLE: ENT, Season 1: "Terra Nova"
DIRECTOR DAVID LIVINGSTON: ENT, Season 3: "Harbinger"
SEASON PREMIERE: ENT, Season 4: "Storm Front, Part I"
VISIT TO EARTH'S PAST: ENT, Season 4: "Storm Front, Part II"
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER'S 100 BEST EPS: ENT, Season 4: "Home"
TIME TRAVEL/TRAVELER/LOOP/ANOMALY: DIS, Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIRECTOR JONATHAN FRAKES: DIS, Season 3: "There Is A Tide..."
TREK NOIR: PIC, "Broken Pieces"
CAST CROSSOVER: PIC, "Et In Arcardia Ego, Part 1"
BORG/XB: PIC, "Mercy"
COUPLE: LD, Carol Freeman/Admiral Husband
REGULAR CHARACTER: PRO, Drednok

TOTAL SHOW WINS
ST, SNW & Movies: 0
TAS, LD & PRO: 1 win each
TOS, TNG, & DIS: 2 wins each
PIC: 3 wins
VOY: 4 wins
ENT: 5 wins
DS9: 6 wins