Movies and TV What was your favorite episode of Star Trek: TNG? - Page 12

**RealSNR** · 03-16-2011, 06:42 PM

Okay okay okay... quit calling me late to the party. I do this with every popular show out there-- I start watching after it's been off the air for at least a few years. I did it with Frasier, Red Dwarf (although there are new episodes being made) and now I'm doing it with the Star Trek franchise. Back off. I know there are Star Trek fans on this forum, and if you've noticed my posting style (although I have no idea why you would) a lot of my posts are Star Trek-centric. This is why:

My job in the past few months had late hours, so I'd get home and be able to watch one episode per day at 1 in the morning. But man, it was great. I just turned it on one day and started watching and never stopped. Anyway, the series has run its cycle now. I've seen all seven seasons plus the movies (except for Insurrection, which I'll get around to eventually). I've also seen the new one by JJ Abrams. At the moment I'm slowly progressing through DS9 and a handful of the original series.

But until I get through it all, I know TNG is pretty much the only series beloved by ALL Trek fans, not just some.

Here are my personal top 5 episodes in no particular order. I couldn't rank them accurately.

1. "The Most Toys" (S3E22)- There's nothing incredibly powerful or ground-breaking about the plot or the way it was written. But it's very dramatic and quite colorful, which I think is what Star Trek is all about. I kind of have a weakness for Data-centered episodes, and this one is particularly good. It's odd, esoteric, and particularly intense considering he's being held captive as an object in a collection of toys, when really he's the being with the highest code of ethics on the entire rogue ship

2. "The Silicon Avatar" (S5E4)- Perhaps the most tragic of all the TNG episodes. I mean, TNG does this all the time where something bad happens but it ends on a hopeful note- Tasha Yar's death, Worf's vengeance against Duras, etc. Not in this one. It ends on a tragic note, with the doctor now only left to her own madness and questioning of her actions for the rest of her life.

3. "Yesterday's Enterprise" (S3E15)- This episode is on most peoples' lists. I normally hate causality/time travel shit in sci-fi movies/stories. It almost never works out. Here it DOES work out and it's absolutely brilliant. People claim that Picard's decision-making is totally irrational and not at all what a starfleet officer would even consider. Well guess what? He's Picard, and when his back is to the wall he often makes decisions that violate starfleet regulation/the prime directive. And it's not THAT unrealistic. He knows what Guinan is capable of and he also knows that the Federation is going to lose the war. May as well send Tasha Yar back, right?

4. "The Chase" (S6E20)- This is one of those episodes that years from now will be considered genius in a Jules Verne kind of way. This is exactly what science fiction is all about- create a universe and try to explain it. If/when humans discover life elsewhere in the universe we're going to have to answer some real tough biological questions. In the Star Trek universe, this one does a brilliant job of it. I was totally blown away. That takes some real creative-ass minds to think of that kind of shit.

5. "I, Borg" (S5E23)- I chose this borg episode instead of The Best of Both Worlds mainly because it exposes a different side to the story instead of just "We need to find a way to kill the borg nao!" And that different story is: "When we DO find a way to eradicate the borg, are we going to have the balls to do it?" Picard's actions in this episode come up time and time again later in the series/movies (especially First Contact, obviously) and here is one of the most questionable decisions he makes in his entire career as captain of the Enterprise. And yet it's so well-written that viewers of this episode more often than not finding themselves siding with Picard, even though they face a fictional race/character who is more violent, hated, and ire-raising than Nazis.

These are just some episodes I brought up. I'm not bringing up more incase this thread dies quickly. I've already wasted enough time typing this out as it is.

**notorious** · 04-17-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Inner Light
Time's Arrow
Pegasus

TNG is superior to DS9 overall, but the last episodes of DS9 are fantastic.

"In the Pale Moonlight" is some of the best 45 minutes of TV I have seen, and IMO is the equal of the best TNG episodes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas_Dave

The best Star Trek episode in my opinion is in the DS9 franchise... "In the Pale Moonlight"

Agreed.

Dark, dark story from what is normally a "Sunshines and Lolipops" franchise.

IrishGal · 04-17-2011, 05:37 PM

I actually liked Wesley's character, he brought something new to the show, and showed that it is okay to be a genius and showing it.

Adept Havelock · 04-17-2011, 06:38 PM

Paging Ensign Crusher, President Roslin requests you meet her party by airlock 12-A. [/mashup]

durtyrute · 04-17-2011, 08:02 PM

The very last episode of the series was the best to me. Shit it was better that the movie was.

**notorious** · 04-17-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by durtyrute

The very last episode of the series was the best to me. Shit it was better that the movie was.

I don't know. First Contact was fantastic.

**RealSNR** · 04-21-2011, 01:14 PM

Yeah, I think this is funny. What of it?

When Picard says "Q'pla!" and Worf looks over at Geordi is ****ing priceless humor

**RealSNR** · 05-23-2011, 11:59 PM

I've got some free time in these summer months, so I'm going to take a shot and see if I like Deep Space Nine.

I know you guys have said the back half of the episodes are the best. Would you recommend starting at the beginning then and wading through the boring stuff just so I've got the continuity in place?

Hammock Parties · 05-24-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

I've got some free time in these summer months, so I'm going to take a shot and see if I like Deep Space Nine.

I know you guys have said the back half of the episodes are the best. Would you recommend starting at the beginning then and wading through the boring stuff just so I've got the continuity in place?

Yes.

Season 1 is pretty brutal but after that it picks up nicely.

The show has a lot more heart than TNG.

**RealSNR** · 05-24-2011, 12:08 AM

Interesting. I'll remember that.

If you had to rank each series 1-5 how would it look? I notice that each list looks different nearly every time for every Trekkie. My buddy who got me interested told me it went like this for him:

TNG
Voyager
Original
DS9
Enterprise

keg in kc · 05-24-2011, 05:10 AM

Mine would be DS9, TNG, Original, Enterprise and

Voyager

ReynardMuldrake · 05-24-2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

I've got some free time in these summer months, so I'm going to take a shot and see if I like Deep Space Nine.

I know you guys have said the back half of the episodes are the best. Would you recommend starting at the beginning then and wading through the boring stuff just so I've got the continuity in place?

It's a quality show. There are a few stinkers but in general all of the seasons are good quality. [I hate the Sisko emissary storyline though.]

Don't skip any. The later seasons have much longer story arcs and the first few seasons are fairly episodic, but there wasn't a single season I didn't enjoy. You will also miss out on a lot of character development if you skip the early seasons.

Hammock Parties · 05-24-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Mine would be DS9, TNG, Original, Enterprise and
Voyager

This.

JD10367 · 05-24-2011, 07:42 AM

Avery Brooks was a badass as a bald Hawk in "Spenser: For Hire". When they hired him to captain the new "Trek" series I was pumped. Then the first season started, and here was this laid-back wimp with testicle-fuzz on his head. I was sorely disappointed. Once they allowed him to shave his head and be bald again, his character became more badass Hawk-style and the show was much better.

**loochy** · 05-24-2011, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warispeace

It's a quality show. There are a few stinkers but in general all of the seasons are good quality. [I hate the Sisko emissary storyline though.]

Don't skip any. The later seasons have much longer story arcs and the first few seasons are fairly episodic, but there wasn't a single season I didn't enjoy. You will also miss out on a lot of character development if you skip the early seasons.

This.

There is actually a good amount of tie in and history discussed in the earlier episodes that help you make more sense out of the later episodes. There is good character development with not only the DS9 crew, but also with the Bajoran religious leaders such as Kai Winn, Vedek Bareil, and the political situation with the Cardassians, Federation, and Bajorans.

Discuss Thrower · 05-24-2011, 09:53 AM

The eps of Ds9 I got to watch were usually nop notch. The good: Badass Sisko, Dominion War, Bashir/O'brien bromance, comedic aspects (usually at Worf's expense), Worf joining the cast, the Maquis... Ogling at Leeta and Dax to a lesser extent.

The meh: Odo's existential crisis

The bad: Allamariane, count to one...

03-16-2011, 06:42 PM
RealSNR Special Teams ACE!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $905208	What was your favorite episode of Star Trek: TNG? Okay okay okay... quit calling me late to the party. I do this with every popular show out there-- I start watching after it's been off the air for at least a few years. I did it with Frasier, Red Dwarf (although there are new episodes being made) and now I'm doing it with the Star Trek franchise. Back off. I know there are Star Trek fans on this forum, and if you've noticed my posting style (although I have no idea why you would) a lot of my posts are Star Trek-centric. This is why: My job in the past few months had late hours, so I'd get home and be able to watch one episode per day at 1 in the morning. But man, it was great. I just turned it on one day and started watching and never stopped. Anyway, the series has run its cycle now. I've seen all seven seasons plus the movies (except for Insurrection, which I'll get around to eventually). I've also seen the new one by JJ Abrams. At the moment I'm slowly progressing through DS9 and a handful of the original series. But until I get through it all, I know TNG is pretty much the only series beloved by ALL Trek fans, not just some. Here are my personal top 5 episodes in no particular order. I couldn't rank them accurately. 1. "The Most Toys" (S3E22)- There's nothing incredibly powerful or ground-breaking about the plot or the way it was written. But it's very dramatic and quite colorful, which I think is what Star Trek is all about. I kind of have a weakness for Data-centered episodes, and this one is particularly good. It's odd, esoteric, and particularly intense considering he's being held captive as an object in a collection of toys, when really he's the being with the highest code of ethics on the entire rogue ship 2. "The Silicon Avatar" (S5E4)- Perhaps the most tragic of all the TNG episodes. I mean, TNG does this all the time where something bad happens but it ends on a hopeful note- Tasha Yar's death, Worf's vengeance against Duras, etc. Not in this one. It ends on a tragic note, with the doctor now only left to her own madness and questioning of her actions for the rest of her life. 3. "Yesterday's Enterprise" (S3E15)- This episode is on most peoples' lists. I normally hate causality/time travel shit in sci-fi movies/stories. It almost never works out. Here it DOES work out and it's absolutely brilliant. People claim that Picard's decision-making is totally irrational and not at all what a starfleet officer would even consider. Well guess what? He's Picard, and when his back is to the wall he often makes decisions that violate starfleet regulation/the prime directive. And it's not THAT unrealistic. He knows what Guinan is capable of and he also knows that the Federation is going to lose the war. May as well send Tasha Yar back, right? 4. "The Chase" (S6E20)- This is one of those episodes that years from now will be considered genius in a Jules Verne kind of way. This is exactly what science fiction is all about- create a universe and try to explain it. If/when humans discover life elsewhere in the universe we're going to have to answer some real tough biological questions. In the Star Trek universe, this one does a brilliant job of it. I was totally blown away. That takes some real creative-ass minds to think of that kind of shit. 5. "I, Borg" (S5E23)- I chose this borg episode instead of The Best of Both Worlds mainly because it exposes a different side to the story instead of just "We need to find a way to kill the borg nao!" And that different story is: "When we DO find a way to eradicate the borg, are we going to have the balls to do it?" Picard's actions in this episode come up time and time again later in the series/movies (especially First Contact, obviously) and here is one of the most questionable decisions he makes in his entire career as captain of the Enterprise. And yet it's so well-written that viewers of this episode more often than not finding themselves siding with Picard, even though they face a fictional race/character who is more violent, hated, and ire-raising than Nazis. These are just some episodes I brought up. I'm not bringing up more incase this thread dies quickly. I've already wasted enough time typing this out as it is.
Posts: 91,788

04-17-2011, 05:37 PM	#167
IrishGal Loyal Fan Forever Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SE Kansas Casino cash: $10004900	I actually liked Wesley's character, he brought something new to the show, and showed that it is okay to be a genius and showing it.
Posts: 46

04-17-2011, 06:38 PM	#168
Adept Havelock Obligatory Thoughtcriminal Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Flux,awaiting an observer Casino cash: $10004900	Paging Ensign Crusher, President Roslin requests you meet her party by airlock 12-A. [/mashup] __________________ No matter how cynical you are, it is impossible to keep up. -Lily Tomlin I'd rather be a climbing monkey than a falling angel. -Terry Pratchett
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04-17-2011, 08:02 PM	#169
durtyrute MVP Join Date: Mar 2011 Casino cash: $7136085	The very last episode of the series was the best to me. Shit it was better that the movie was.
Posts: 5,831

05-24-2011, 05:10 AM	#175
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	Mine would be DS9, TNG, Original, Enterprise and Voyager
Posts: 58,682

05-24-2011, 07:42 AM	#178
JD10367 Cheaterlover* Join Date: May 2009 Location: RI Casino cash: $10010716	Avery Brooks was a badass as a bald Hawk in "Spenser: For Hire". When they hired him to captain the new "Trek" series I was pumped. Then the first season started, and here was this laid-back wimp with testicle-fuzz on his head. I was sorely disappointed. Once they allowed him to shave his head and be bald again, his character became more badass Hawk-style and the show was much better.
Posts: 12,916

05-24-2011, 09:53 AM	#180
Discuss Thrower "You like to drink?" Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: "I like to drink." Casino cash: $1786869	The eps of Ds9 I got to watch were usually nop notch. The good: Badass Sisko, Dominion War, Bashir/O'brien bromance, comedic aspects (usually at Worf's expense), Worf joining the cast, the Maquis... Ogling at Leeta and Dax to a lesser extent. The meh: Odo's existential crisis The bad: Allamariane, count to one... __________________ Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South
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