Worst TNG episodes ever

[Sho]

Definitely "Sub Rosa".

As for "The Royale", I have a strange relationship with that episode. For some reason, the universe is frequently conspiring to have me watch it: For years, whenever I would switch on the TV and TNG happened to be on, it would be "The Royale". When I went to visit a friend who had borrowed my TNG DVDs and he happened to be watching them as he bid me into his apartment it was "The Royale". And so on. I've probably watched it a dozen times now.

What can I say. I used to hate it, but now it's like an old friend and reliable companion .

 

[RAMA]

Definitely "Sub Rosa".

As for "The Royale", I have a strange relationship with that episode. For some reason, the universe is frequently conspiring to have me watch it: For years, whenever I would switch on the TV and TNG happened to be on, it would be "The Royale". When I went to visit a friend who had borrowed my TNG DVDs and he happened to be watching them as he bid me into his apartment it was "The Royale". And so on. I've probably watched it a dozen times now.

What can I say. I used to hate it, but now it's like an old friend and reliable companion .

That one is in my bottom 15 I believe, didnt quite make my list.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Great episode! Gene Roddenberry married Majel in a Shinto-Buddhist wedding because he had a great respect for Asian traditions FYI. Which is why they used it here. He was also an agnostic. What better way to thumb your nose at Western religious tradition!

RAMA

I know about the Roddenberry wedding. I am also agnostic.

Each to his/her own, of course. (My argument against this episode is part of a bigger argument of how Asian Americans were portrayed in Trek overall). I should say "are portrayed" because a couple of friends and I pointed out some things with John Cho's portrayal in Trek 2009.

One can argue that Keiko is "Western" herself, so there wasn't a reason to have her 1. Wear chopsticks in her hair, whatever that was supposed to mean. 2. Be dressed up as an Asian war bride.

You almost expected them to go one step ahead with a faux Japanese accent, bowing, etc...

On the other hand, one could argue against the alleged racism in "Code of Honor" and say: It was thumbing its nose at Western ideals, and it represented Roddenberry's great respect for Africans and African Americans.

(In the case of Keiko: Her character, I think, was a bit improved in DS9, from what I recall; even though she is part of the stereotype of having the Asian women primarily opposite the white male, she still came off as tough).

Still. Each to his/her own...

 

[Dr. Crusher]

Reading this has reminded me of so many odd episodes. "The Royale" was a really strange idea that perhaps looked better on paper than it did when it was actually filmed. "Devil's Due" was a more clever idea that again was probably a better on paper concept.

I love Lwaxana Troi's character, but "Menage a Troi" didn't make any sense to me.

I liked "Genesis," actually, probably for the inital creepy factor one experiences the first time you see the episode. I know a lot of people don't like "Sub Rosa," and I can hardly be considered impartial, but I didn't think it was as bad as a lot of people do. I will say that it was another "odd" idea--I can fully admit that.

 

[popeyepete1960]

"Rascals" has my vote. That kid playing Picard still haunts me in my nightmares. Ever notice he doesn't swing his arms when he walks...sort of reminds me of a Seinfeld episode. And then there is his voice, well.......

 

[Worf'sParmach]

I had to register and come out of lurkdom to add just one title to this thread:

AQUIEL

That is all.

 

[RAMA]

Great episode! Gene Roddenberry married Majel in a Shinto-Buddhist wedding because he had a great respect for Asian traditions FYI. Which is why they used it here. He was also an agnostic. What better way to thumb your nose at Western religious tradition!

RAMA

I know about the Roddenberry wedding. I am also agnostic.

Each to his/her own, of course. (My argument against this episode is part of a bigger argument of how Asian Americans were portrayed in Trek overall). I should say "are portrayed" because a couple of friends and I pointed out some things with John Cho's portrayal in Trek 2009.

One can argue that Keiko is "Western" herself, so there wasn't a reason to have her 1. Wear chopsticks in her hair, whatever that was supposed to mean. 2. Be dressed up as an Asian war bride.

You almost expected them to go one step ahead with a faux Japanese accent, bowing, etc...

On the other hand, one could argue against the alleged racism in "Code of Honor" and say: It was thumbing its nose at Western ideals, and it represented Roddenberry's great respect for Africans and African Americans.

(In the case of Keiko: Her character, I think, was a bit improved in DS9, from what I recall; even though she is part of the stereotype of having the Asian women primarily opposite the white male, she still came off as tough).

Still. Each to his/her own...

There are cases of female submissiveness to men in ST, as well as some Asian submissiveness mainly in TOS (Elan of Troyius), but I don't believe this is the case here...it has a lot to do with a touch of rebelliousness as I pointed out in my post, and its nothing more than a sweet moment for Roddenberry carried over for the show. I don't really understand some of your points...Majel was Western and she wore Shinto garb....

I did actually counter the racism argument from Code of Honor before, it doesn't hold any water.

RAMA

 

[Joel_Kirk]

There are cases of female submissiveness to men in ST, as well as some Asian submissiveness mainly in TOS (Elan of Troyius), but I don't believe this is the case here...it has a lot to do with a touch of rebelliousness as I pointed out in my post, and its nothing more than a sweet moment for Roddenberry carried over for the show. I don't really understand some of your points...Majel was Western and she wore Shinto garb....

My point was that Asian stereotypes are more than "Asian submissiveness." (And, I don't recall Majel Barrett wearing Shinto garb in a Trek episode).

Quentin Tarantino has a love of blaxploitation cinema, so he had (or "has") his black characters use the "n"-word...as if all black individuals speak that way, or agree that word should be used...outside an academic setting. (Just because he--Tarantino--uses it, and some black individuals agree or like him using it doesn't make it right...so it is with Roddenberry or whomever wrote/concocted the idea of Keiko and the way she was portrayed onscreen in that particular episode). The context could have been "innocent" (if that is even the proper term, I want to use) but looking at it in from a bigger picture...of how Asian men and women have been portrayed in American media...well...it just adds to stereotypes.

I did actually counter the racism argument from Code of Honor before, it doesn't hold any water.

Awesome.

 

[Newton]

"The Loss" causes me intense mental anguish. The worst of the "Troi" episodes, and they're all bad.

 

[RAMA]

"The Loss" causes me intense mental anguish. The worst of the "Troi" episodes, and they're all bad.

It was pretty bad.

I don't find Acquiel to be awful, but rather ordinary. Liked the colony alien though.