Top 5 underrated episodes

[ToddKent]

Here's a list of 5 episodes I think are underrated. I'm not saying they are great or that they are better than the usual list of TNG favorites (BOBW, Inner Light, Measure of a Man, etc). I'm just saying that they are some of my personal favorites and that they usually don't get their due.

(These are numbered but they are not really in any particular order.)

5. The Arsenal of Freedom
Yes it's a crappy season one episode with crappy special effects but it has a great premise (I loved seeing how some intergalactic commerce works even if it wasn't "current"), a great use of the ensemble (Crusher is competent even though she is injured, Geordie steps up to the plate, the away team does a good job figuring out what's happening).

Bonus points for one of the few saucer separations. At the time I'm sure we all thought that would be SOP.

4. The High Ground
I get the impression that this episode is not well liked by the fans by I always liked it. It had a sympathetic-ish villain(s), another great use of the ensemble (Crusher, Geordie, Riker & even Wesley all have interesting stuff to do).

Bonus points for Picard leaping across the bridge to punch out the terrorist thereby putting to rest any doubts people might have to having a "slightly older" captain.

3. The Survivors
Interesting mystery with a great payoff. The audience follows right along with the characters as we all try to figure out what's going on. One of the first location shoots? A great example of the human character's acknowledging their limitations in the universe when Picard tells Kevin he has no idea how to punish him.

Bonus points for the booby trap and the creepy look on Rishon's face when Picard looks at her and tells her she doesn't exist.

2. Disaster
I'll say it again: great use of the ensemble especially by pulling in the recurring characters like Ro, O'Brien and Keiko. Great use of each character being outside their comfort zone and seeing them deal with it.

Bonus points for Worf becoming an important part of the O'Brien family history and the line "Good! You bore that well!"

1. Homeward
The premise was interesting enough for them to rip it off in one of the movies. Great guest star (Paul Sorvino). An interesting use of the holodeck and some potential limitations and more debate fodder for (or against?) the prime directive.

Bonus points for the gang finally using the their massive amount of technology to solve a problem (for some reason it just never occurs to them).

So there's my list. What about yours?

 

[RAMA]

I'm sure everyone here has episodes off the normal beaten path of favorites...

1. Masks-Criminally underrated. Great conceptually, visually, acting-wise. A high mark of season 7

2. Night Terrors- A perennially disliked episode by many of the creators of the show, its not half bad.

3. Home Soil-Criticized for not being original, its a different story than "Devil in the Dark", with a nifty sapient, non-organic planetary computer.

4. The Chase- Most people like the episode, but few seem to realize it's importance.

5. Clues- Definitely a sleeper. A nice twist or two at the end.

RAMA

 

[SchwEnt]

Where Silence Has Lease

The Defector

The Offspring

The Wounded

The Drumhead


Well, maybe they're not truly underrated. But I don't think they get their fair dues.

 

[TrekAlliance92]

The Naked Now - An amazing score by Ron Jones, some good humor and action bits with some nice character building; Worf comes off really competent and funny in this one

Code of Honor - Another one that gets reviled, but I like it; it's got good bits throughout

11001001 - One of TNG's best, PERIOD. Better to me than "Family," "The Inner Light," "Darmok," etc. Love the cinematic scope--great original aliens, the spectacular spacedock scenes, some nice character touches for everyone, and an incredible score from Ron Jones.

Unnatural Selection - Another underrated favorite of mine. It's a great twist on the "Deadly Years" and one of the best Pulaski episodes.

Devil's Due - One of my all time TNG favorites. I just love it--it's fun, it's got a great antagonist and a good ending

 

[Smellincoffee]

"Disaster" is panned by people? I had no idea: it's a favorite.

 

[Admiral Shran]

5. Gambit - great action and intrigue.
4. Hero Worship - great story and acting.
3. Clues - excellent atmosphere.
2. The Most Toys - outstanding character development for Data. He gets more here than in the rest of the show combined.
1. Masks - excellent atmosphere and acting.

 

[Trek Survivor]

Having rewatched much of it thanks to CBS Action showing it from the start again, I have to say I think much of season one is underrated. People tend to write it off as one whole block without considering some gems hidden within. So:

1) 11001001. Loved the look of the Bynars, great plot, good moments for most of the cast. Typifies the more daring plotlines that the series was scared of later in its run.

2) Time Squared. From season 2, another season I feel is way under-rated. Loved the spooky, unnerving camera shots and effects in this ep, and the way "our" Picard seems to get a little unhinged through the course of the ep.

3) Where Silence Has Lease. Another gem from season 2. Great parts for Riker and Worf, and a genuinely unusual threat.

4) Where No One Has Gone Before. Some great effects, some really odd moments and again, a cool kind of story.

5) The Royale. It seems to be gaining more vocal supporters round these parts now,but I just love this episode. It falls the right side of hokey/bizarre and represents the kind of risks they were prepared to take early on as opposed to the safe and somewhat bland feel of many later eps.

 

[Mojochi]

For me it's

The Drumhead

Half A Life

The Enemy

Sarek

The Defector

Are all far less noted than they ought to be

 

[BillJ]

Symbiosis
The Royale
The Most Toys
Where Silence Has Lease
The Neutral Zone

 

[Angel4576]

My five;

The Drumhead - Just love the 'crucible/Salem' atmosphere that Satie perpetuates around her investigation. Jean Simmons is brilliant, as is Patrick, and the two of them bouncing off of each other just makes this such a fantastic episode.

Pre-emptive Strike - I always loved the 'Maquis' storyline, simply because of the moral ambiguity around the whole DMZ situation, and the notion that The Federation might actually have been in the wrong for once. Plus, I always liked Ro, and this is her swansong.

Who Watches the Watchers - Fantastic view from behind the duck-blind, and a decent examination of the necessity of the PD. I really wasn't much for this episode on the original viewing, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it ever since.

The Wounded - Despite his actions, I actually had a lot of sympathy for Maxwell in this one, especially seeing as he was most likely right, and the Cardassians were indeed up to no good. From memory one of the first episodes where O'Brien actually had something meaningful to do.

The Masterpiece Society - Again, another brilliant examination of the need for the PD - the Enterprise, through it's noble intentions ended up wrecking the colony that they were trying to save.

 

[ToddKent]

Those are definitely my backup 5. I guess I have a top 10 list now.

 

[mr.peany]

i do love "Power Play" and "Clues". Neither seem to get much attention.

 

[Gojira]

Clues
Devil's Due
Remember Me
Booby Trap
Galaxy's Child

Not sure if these are all underrated but they are among my favorites.

 

[doubleohfive]

I have a special place in my heart for the aforementioned "The Royale." Maybe its the cheeseball factor, maybe its the jazzy score by Ron Jones, maybe its the pulp element of the casino and its characters... but it just works for me. It's not terribly good, and certainly not what I'd call well-written, but it's still fun to watch now and again.

 

[Bad Atom]

"The Most Toys" - Easily one of the best Data episodes. The scenes about Data's apparent death are more moving than his actual death in Nemesis. And Saul Rubinek is alternately funny and disturbing as Kivas Fajo.

"Legacy" - Often overlooked in the consistently great fourth season, a great story about trust and betrayal (nicely foreshadowed in the charming opening poker scene) and another example of good character work with Data.

"The Survivors" - Not really underrated around here but I'd put it in my top 10. Or 5. I love how Picard is ahead of the audience for most of the story, a rarity for TV.

"Contagion" - Don't know why this one doesn't get more love. Intrigue, mystery, action and humor all in one episode!

"Timescape" - Not really a disliked episode, but it's a lot of fun and a great twist on time travel stories. The opening scenes are very funny as well.

 

[Admiral Shran]

The Masterpiece Society - Again, another brilliant examination of the need for the PD - the Enterprise, through it's noble intentions ended up wrecking the colony that they were trying to save.

I can't disagree more. If they had followed the Prime Directive and not gotten involved at all, the colony would have been destroyed.

It's better to be alive and changed, then to be dead.

When Picard goes off about how it's a perfect example of the need for the PD, I can only facepalm. It's a perfect example of the absurdity of the PD.

 

[JWD75]

Night Terrors
Clues
Time Squared
Where Silence has Lease
The Most Toys

 

[Angel4576]

The Masterpiece Society - Again, another brilliant examination of the need for the PD - the Enterprise, through it's noble intentions ended up wrecking the colony that they were trying to save.

I can't disagree more. If they had followed the Prime Directive and not gotten involved at all, the colony would have been destroyed.

It's better to be alive and changed, then to be dead.

When Picard goes off about how it's a perfect example of the need for the PD, I can only facepalm. It's a perfect example of the absurdity of the PD.

It's a tricky one, and that's why I love the episode.

I think if anything, what this episode shows you is that sometimes the PD can't provide an answer either way. By the nature of the situation that they faced the fate of the colony was always going to be in the balance. They either did nothing, and the colony was destroyed, or they intervene and almost completely destroy the society anyway, albeit without anyone actually dying.

Wasn't that the point of this episode though, it was the fate of and life and death of their 'masterpiece society' rather than any individuals within it.

 

[Farrens]

Does the PD even apply here? This was a human colony not an alien culture. More a legal question regarding the status of humans that are not associated with the federation.

As for the topic at hand my top 5 has been mentioned repeatedly, most notably The Wounded and Masks. The only episode that came to mind that hasn't been mentioned so far is Thine Own Self. Good Data episode and a rare Troi development episode.

 

[Angel4576]

I think that's the point that Riker makes to Picard at the end of the episode. Strictly speaking, no the PD didn't apply, however from a conscience and principle point of view Picard argued that it did, largely because the group in question were a unique, self-contained colony rather than a bonafide human colony of Earth.