The Most Generic TNG Episode...

[JirinPanthosa]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy
Allegiance
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Identity Crisis
In Theory

Redemption
New Ground

Removing A Matter Of Time. The future historian, actually a conman thing is unique.

 

[Farscape One]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy
Allegiance

Suddenly Human
Identity Crisis
In Theory
Redemption

New Ground

"Transfigurations" has evolved out of this list. Watching a species literally evolve from humanoid form to another form is rare.

 

[Discofan]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy
Allegiance

Identity Crisis
In Theory
Redemption

New Ground

"Suddenly Human" is unanthropomorphized. Picard (who hates children) is forced to take charge of the most annoying kid of the galaxy, who stabs him!!! That's definitely unusual!

 

[Armus]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt
Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy
Identity Crisis
In Theory
Redemption
New Ground



I have some Allegiance for Allegiance. Although stories where the Captain is kidnapped and studied by aliens is not original, this episode has a refreshing take on alien abduction. Picard and his fellow prisoners all represent different reactions to authority, and it was amusing to view them react differently to the situation.

 

[Sakonna]

Well, my personal most generic ep is gone! Which was "Transfigurations." That one is so bland and undistinguished to me, even if I've JUST seen it I can never remember anything about it (I can usually recall that it's a Beverly episode involving... aliens? And that's all I got)

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt
Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy
Identity Crisis
In Theory
New Ground

I will get rid of Redemption Part 1. Even if primarily focused on one or two characters, the season finale cliffhanger consistently provided good material for the full ensemble. In this one, Troi, Beverly, AND Geordi don't even have lines!

 

[Armus]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt
Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy
In Theory
New Ground

Axing Identity Crisis. It's one of the few spooky episodes from season 4. Geordi mutates into a glow in the dark lizard because an alien species reproduces that way. No technobabble, simply reproduction. Beautiful.

 

[Farscape One]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Bonding
The Enemy

New Ground


"In Theory" has been proven a solid hypothesis. An android in a romantic relationship? I'm surprised it took this long to be taken off the list.

(I am also surprised that TNG is almost done, while ENTERPRISE with 80 less episodes, isn't even 1/4 of the way done. I guess we know who the favorite child is...)

 

[Sakonna]

@Farscape One, wondering how long till I can take another turn, what are the voting frequency rules on this game? Are we using the same parameters as the Least Liked/Most Disliked Games, which was... at least 6 hours and votes from 2 other posters before you vote again? If I recall correctly, I could be misremembering that.

 

[Farscape One]

Your memory is good, but I haven't established any rules on frequency.

My own personal rule for myself is I wait until at least one person voted, no matter how much time. So I go by that.

 

[Discofan]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Enemy

New Ground

"The Bonding" splits. Adding insult to injury a kid loses his mother and then becomes Worf's godson (sort of), maybe Alexander and he can get together and start a club.

 

[Armus]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt
Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
New Ground

Releasing The Enemy. Never before have three storylines within one episode, Geordi's adventure on the planet, Picard's brinksmanship with Tomalak, and Worf's decision to let a Romulan die, worked so well together in an episode. Letting Worf stick to his hatred and having the Romulan die was a bold choice at the time.

 

[Discofan]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt
The Ensigns of Command
New Ground

"Evolution" is devolved (and not de-evolved as Data kept saying!!!). Wesley meets a much older version of himself and screws up his lifetime experiment! That's Wesley Crusher for you! Of course, things get back to normal on time and we get the all is well that ends well ending!

 

[TommyR01D]

(I am also surprised that TNG is almost done, while ENTERPRISE with 80 less episodes, isn't even 1/4 of the way done. I guess we know who the favorite child is...)

Indeed, my Voyager thread took four months to complete, including a week for the run-off poll.

 

[Discofan]

Indeed, my Voyager thread took four months to complete, including a week for the run-off poll.

It takes time to truly enjoy an activity. I know I will miss these when it's over.

 

[at Quark's]

The Icarus Factor
Manhunt
New Ground


Eliminating The ensigns of Command.

Perhaps there isn't a single unique identifying feature in this episode:

The Federation voluntarily evacuating a colony because of a treaty while the colonists resist ? Happens in at least one other episode.
Woman falling in love with Data? Done.
Data having to convince unwilling humans? Done.
Picard finding a solution based on a juridical footnote? Not sure if it happens in another ep, but certainly not shocking.

And yet, all in all I think this episode is too entertaining and memorable to end up as 'most generic episode'. I had to look up the other three, to see what they were about again, but this one I could clearly remember.

 

[Sakonna]

Heh, these are all notably distinct to me! But I'll kick "Manhunt"... fish people! I can't think of many other episodes that were so tossed-off with their jeopardy plots. ("Oh, these two, the comic relief? They're actually terrorists plotting to kill everyone. But we can arrest them right now, so that's over as quickly as it was introduced") In fact, I'm gonna dial that scene up on Netflix now, so good...

So that leaves:

The Icarus Factor
New Ground

 

[TommyR01D]

Having not seen either of those, I'm not sure I'm qualified to vote on the winner.

 

[Farscape One]

I would like to do a poll on these final two like what was done on the VOYAGER thread, but I don't know how to do that on a reply post.

 

[Discofan]

I would like to do a poll on these final two like what was done on the VOYAGER thread, but I don't know how to do that on a reply post.

I think it can only be done by the person who started the thread.


Which is you!

 

[Armus]

I think New Ground is more generic than The Icarus Factor.

The Icarus Factor was the first time TNG did a purely personal show with no jeopardy subplot whatsoever. Riker turns town his second command, fights and forgives his father, who was once Dr. Pulaski's lover, while Worf gets hit with pain sticks because Wesley was kind enough to research Klingon tradition.

New Ground is the episode where Akexander moves on board the Enterprise and Worf faces the challenge of raising a humanized Klingon child. I don't remember much about the episode except that Worf and Alexander fight a lot.