Worst TNG episode ever?

[Ludovic]

Kirk's clenched double fists, he punches guts,
...and doesn't afraid of anything.

[simster]

Kirk and Kang at Engineering laugh after slaughter

[Intergalactic Gladiator]

Admirals with goats, LaForge has photos.

[simster]

Kirk and Kang at Engineering laugh after slaughter

On second thought - this should really just be -

"Kirk and Kang In Engineering"

- if we're trying to follow the gist of the show - that the allegory itself was enough to convey the whole story to someone familiar with them - too many words and you're giving away too much.

"Kirk and Spock at PonFarr" -

Bart, his shorts eaten.

[Chimera]

A meme, beaten like a dead horse.

[carnivorousplant]

Spock and McCoy, fal tor pan.

[Ludovic]

Spock and McCoy, fal tor pan.
Spock and McCoy, Fat Al Porn.

[Marley23]

A meme, beaten like a dead horse.
Fonzie, on water skis.

[Elendil's Heir]

Hitler in his bunker, raging humorously.

[Raguleader]

Hitler in his bunker, raging humorously.

XBox Live and Hitler, parting ways.

[Elendil's Heir]

Gray cat, craving cheeseburger.

[DrFidelius]

All your bases, belonging to us.

[Elendil's Heir]

Opal, being greeted by Dopers.

[DrFidelius]

Hampsters, dancing

[carnivorousplant]

All your bases, belonging to us.

I concede defeat.
There ain't none better.

:)

[Fried Dough Ho]

I keep checking back to this thread to see if this silly Darmok banter has ended and hoping for some intelligent discussion...

:dubious::dubious::dubious:

[carnivorousplant]

Fried Dough Ho, frowning, hands on hips.

[a35362]

Well, we've already established that "Shades of Gray" and "Sub Rosa" were the worst episodes ever, so there's nothing more to discuss and we've moved on. ;) :D

[Chimera]

Heretic. Worst ever is "The Outrageous Okona".

[Elendil's Heir]

No, no, no! For that you must die. It's "Code of Honor," obviously.

[Chimera]

I defy you to tell me that a Star Trek episode with Joe Piscopo in it is not the worst ever.

[a35362]

Heretic. Worst ever is "The Outrageous Okona".

No no no no. We have already established that Bill Campbell is a good guy and also gorgeous (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2854394624/nm0001004). Any episode with that kind of interest can't be that bad. Hey, our own Anamorphic even made a movie with him, so there!

So it's not a bad episode, just dumb. "Shades of Gray" was a clip show and "Sub Rosa" was some kind of cheesy romance novel pasted into Star Trek. Those were the worst because they weren't even trying.

[Snooooopy]

I defy you to tell me that a Star Trek episode with Joe Piscopo in it is not the worst ever.

The mere presence of Joe Piscopo isn't enough. It's Joe Piscopo being portrayed as actually amusing that really sinks things. I mean, if he was in an episode where he was an evil alien who was gruesomely torn limb from limb by a pack of wild beasts at the end, that arguably could be one of the very best episodes. It would likely win a host of awards, in fact.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Death Rays, 1920s Style.

[BigT]

No no no no. We have already established that Bill Campbell is a good guy and also gorgeous (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2854394624/nm0001004). Any episode with that kind of interest can't be that bad. Hey, our own Anamorphic even made a movie with him, so there!

So it's not a bad episode, just dumb. "Shades of Gray" was a clip show and "Sub Rosa" was some kind of cheesy romance novel pasted into Star Trek. Those were the worst because they weren't even trying.

Shades of Gray was a writer's strike problem. I don't know what their excuse could be for Sub Rosa.

[carnivorousplant]

Death Rays, 1920s Style.

Fried Dough Ho, Stamping Her Foot.

[Annie]

C'mon...... Orgasmatron PS3's outstunk orgasmatron Scottish plasma ghosts any day.

[Ranchoth]

Shades of Gray was a writer's strike problem. I don't know what their excuse could be for Sub Rosa.

Apparently, Jeri Taylor (the episode's writer) really likes Gothic Romances. She even tried to go back to them with Janeway's holonovel in Voyager.

[antonio107]

LaForge (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Geordi_La_Forge) started out as an LT (jr grade), but he did get promoted an awful lot.

For some reason I was instantly reminded of Rush Limbaugh's attack on Lando Calrissian, and how he claimed he was appointed to the Bespin Mining Facility, because of affirmitive action. :D

[Raguleader]

For some reason I was instantly reminded of Rush Limbaugh's attack on Lando Calrissian, and how he claimed he was appointed to the Bespin Mining Facility, because of affirmitive action. :D

Which is funny, because the canon explanation, IIRC, is that he won it in a card game. :D

[antonio107]

Which is funny, because the canon explanation, IIRC, is that he won it in a card game. :D

I thought he won the Millennium Falcon in a card game!

[Raguleader]

I thought he won the Millennium Falcon in a card game!

That too. He also lost it in a card game, interestingly enough. Actually, he won and lost the danged thing in a series of card games with Han in one book before finally saying "Screw it, it's your ship, Bros before Ships!"

[antonio107]

That too. He also lost it in a card game, interestingly enough. Actually, he won and lost the danged thing in a series of card games with Han in one book before finally saying "Screw it, it's your ship, Bros before Ships!"

Ah yes, I remember reading the "Han Solo Trilogy" back in high school, and seeing something about that. Solid books, IMO.

[jayjay]

I thought he won the Millennium Falcon in a card game!

<SW Geek>A sabacc (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Sabacc) game, specifically.</SW Geek>

[Robot Arm]

No no no no. We have already established that Bill Campbell is a good guy and also gorgeous (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2854394624/nm0001004). Any episode with that kind of interest can't be that bad. Hey, our own Anamorphic even made a movie with him, so there!And according to IMDb, heir to the Champion spark plug fortune and second cousin of Bruce Campbell.

A pedigree like that has got to qualify him for some kind of geek demigod status, doesn't it?

[emmaliminal]

I rewatched TNG Season 1 on YouTube this week, and I have to nominate "Too Short a Season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Short_a_Season)" for Worst. It's the one you've probably forgotten where a geriatric ambassador has to be flown in specially by the Enterprise to save the day, and ends up a) not saving the day b) killing himself with an alien youth drug overdose for absolutely no reason. It's utterly dull and not even interesting to make fun of. Crappy old-age makeup, unflattering costumes, the three speaking guest roles all played by actors who suck and aren't interesting to look at even with the sound off -- and the story makes no sense. Not nonsense, it's not absurd; just painfully stupid. The main cast has almost nothing to do, and what they do do does nothing to advance their characterizations. The freakin' LIGHTING even sucks. Even given the lameness of the season as a whole, even given the writer's strike, that one's a stinker.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yeah, I remember that. Pretty crappy episode... but 'twas no "Code of Honor."

[Chronos]

A pedigree like that has got to qualify him for some kind of geek demigod status, doesn't it? If he's only a second cousin, I think that makes him a hemidemisemigod.

[Morbo]

the three speaking guest roles all played by actors who suck and aren't interesting to look at even with the sound off

No way! The aging guy was in Just One of the Guys, classic 80's comedy with the girl who goes undercover as a boy, plus Billy Zabka as the bad guy, and Sherliynn Fenn as the slutty girl.

The other guy was the Klingon who started the fight in the TOS episode The Trouble With Tribbles, but more famously (for me) was the Russian from WKRP who wanted to defect after falling in love with Bailey. ("Hold me closer, tiny dancer!")

[NoClueBoy]

I always thought that episode with Lucy baking the giant loaf of bread was pretty stupid.

Ooh! Remember the 'very special episode' with the little girl's imaginary friend? That one sucked, too.

But, the clip show has to be worst ever, just because it was a clip show. Eliminate that and there's about 4 that are tied for last.

[kevinflynn]

The first one is "Angel One" and the second is "The Outcast". Both are deeply steeped in the Roddenberry tradition of dropping anvils. "Angel One" was "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" bad..."Let's show everyone what modern American society would be like if sex roles were reversed!" Which would have been somewhat relevant as a TOS episode, but was kind of "meh" in the late 80s.

"The Outcast" blows on several levels. It's trite. It's stupid. And it's a massive cop-out. It was supposedly Paramount's nod to fan demands that the issue of GLBT acceptance in the far future be shown, but they couldn't just have the occasional same-sex couple holding hands in Ten-Forward to show that. Noooo...they have to make it the centerpiece of its own episode (probably so they could point to it and say "SEE? We did it!" and then promptly forget about the issue and the demands), and then cloak it in metaphor that's simultaneously onionskin-transparent and mud-opaque. And then, in the end, send ENTIRELY THE WRONG MESSAGE as the titular outcast rejects Riker's rescue attempt and lets hirself be co-opted back into her repressive society. Thanks, Paramount!

First off, do a search for top 10 worst or whatever. You will be shocked at the sheer lack of MASK being there!!! I think it's because it was so crappy nobody watched it to remember it to put it on the crappiest show list.
Shades of grey was a cop out for sure but it wasn't horrendous. What makes it on the top 5 is that it was a season finale.... BOO.

But The Outcast wasn't a bad episode. I think you have to look at it through 1993 eyes. Also I think his wife probably put him up to the task. (for those who may not be aware his love interest in the episode is actually Frakes' real life wife.)

I think Angel One is overHated. I find the hot chick from KnightRider good eye candy and those half-fags are fuggin hysterical! Tell me you weren't laughing your ass off the night it aired and those wisps were running about with their ballet cups on.... hysterical. "CASTING FOR TNG! 8am-3pm only! Must be effeminate and stand no taller than 5'4" Blondes a plus. MALES ONLY"

[Chimera]

You joined in order to resurrect a zombie and then use a slur in your post? :dubious:

[Skald the Rhymer]

You joined in order to resurrect a zombie and then use a slur in your post? :dubious:

I'm not sure why this surprises you.

[Morbo]

But The Outcast wasn't a bad episode. I think you have to look at it through 1993 eyes. Also I think his wife probably put him up to the task. (for those who may not be aware his love interest in the episode is actually Frakes' real life wife.)

Ignoring your horrific slurs for a moment, this part is in fact incorrect. Frakes' real life wife is Genie Francis, famous for her role as Laura on General Hospital. She was not Soren in Outcast, nor did she appear in any episode of TNG.

[twickster]

Welcome to the SDMB, kevinflynn. You're welcome to share your opinions, but leave the homophobic slurs out of it, please.

...those half-fags are fuggin hysterical! Tell me you weren't laughing your ass off the night it aired and those wisps were running about with their ballet cups on.... hysterical. ...

Thanks,

twickster, Cafe Society moderator

[foolsguinea]

This.

I think most of TNG season 1 & 2 are pretty bad and painful to watch today.They were pretty bad and awful when they came out, too.

[NoClueBoy]

Ugly bags of mostly water!

[Elendil's Heir]

The Trek thread, resurrected.

[Raguleader]

Scylla and the Blimp, at Midnight.

[friedo]

I saw Darmok for the first time in a while last night, and have concocted the following fanwank:

They are telepaths, who use spoken language only for ceremonial purposes, thus their spoken language is confined to their myths and legends. They use telepathy for everything else, and therefore could develop modern technology, but can't communicate telepathically outside their species, so they are forced to learn spoken language by marooning Picard on a planet with a monster.

Makes perfect sense, right?

[NoClueBoy]

Morbius and Adams, with the Krell machine

[pancakes3]

But does the beast have to be so dangerous. And invisible?

[friedo]

But does the beast have to be so dangerous. And invisible?

It wouldn't really get the point across if it was a teddy bear, now would it?

[silenus]

Oh, I don't know..... (http://i.imgur.com/65q2x.png)

[pancakes3]

It wouldn't really get the point across if it was a teddy bear, now would it?

Like one of these teddy bears?

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121210010119/memoryalpha/en/images/7/78/Anya,_Raging_Monster.jpg

(from the dauphin)

[mlees]

But does the beast have to be so dangerous. And invisible?

I assume that's what Morphius' ID thought was frightening. It's possible everyone's monster would be kinda unique to them. (Giant spiders, The Blob, your mother-in-law's moustache...)

[carnivorousplant]

But does the beast have to be so dangerous. And invisible?

The version of Forbidden Planet with the invisible beast was censored in Australia.
I believe that is why it glowed in the laser fire.

[Intergalactic Gladiator]

Like one of these teddy bears?

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121210010119/memoryalpha/en/images/7/78/Anya,_Raging_Monster.jpg

(from the dauphin)

Is that something that beat up Worf? :D

[carnivorousplant]

Is that something that beat up Worf? :D

I think it's the Klingon Prom.

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

Scylla and the Blimp, at Midnight.

You said that in post #182 (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13044995&postcount=182)! :D

[panache45]

The worst episode? First, eliminate any that aren't about Wesley.

[Raguleader]

You said that in post #182 (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13044995&postcount=182)! :D

D'oh... :smack::D

[silenus]

Is that something that beat up Worf? :D

That subset of Creation would include little children, furniture and Tribbles.

[Elendil's Heir]

That subset of Creation would include little children, furniture and Tribbles.

And any alien trying to take over the Enterprise.

[BigT]

How about The Naked Now? I think Wikipedia is generous in calling it a sequel of The Naked Time and not a complete remake. That's an awful episode.

Seeing the thread resurrected made me realize that I never answered the actual question. I don't know about then, but, in reading this thread, this was the one I thought of. Not only for the ripoff, but also because


It was only the second episode and they had one with people acting out of character
The ridiculous excuse to get Data infected, too, which made him seem too human
The false setup of the TOS solution not working
The deus ex machina ending where, out of nowhere, they suddenly can fix it. People claim Voyager does this all the time with their technobabble, but they really don't.

The only redeeming feature is how Data's full functionality was used to prove he was sapient (and emotional, though he'd never admit it) in Measure of a Man.

[Elendil's Heir]

...The only redeeming feature is how Data's full functionality was used to prove he was sapient (and emotional, though he'd never admit it) in Measure of a Man.

He and Tasha could certainly have provided an interesting courtroom demonstration for the defense.

[carnivorousplant]

He and Tasha could certainly have provided an interesting courtroom demonstration for the defense.

She had been whacked by the Tar Baby by then.

Well, Gene Roddenberry didn't like her taking her clothes off for a magazine.
Whatever.

[Nancarrow]

The Trek thread, resurrected.

Nancarrow, his tubs of toffee ice cream emptied.

[carnivorousplant]

Carnivorousplant, at the wreck of a beer truck.

[NoClueBoy]

Bottles empty, his pants unfurled!

[NoClueBoy]

BOTTLES EMPTY! His PANTS UNFURLED!

[terentii]

Gene Roddenberry didn't like her taking her clothes off for a magazine.

This, I find hard to believe. Paramount executives, yep; Roddenberry, no. No way!

I've been watching TNG on Space lately; all of the episodes are from the last couple of seasons. Prior to this, I had seen every episode up to number 100 but very few of the later ones. I'm surprised to see that the quality of the series actually went down after 100; for the last week or so, it seems like they were just marking time.

Nothing can match the sheer awfulness of the first couple of years, though. The episode I remember (and hate) most was the one with the blow-dried "Amazon" women in their Jeannie outfits seducing Riker while the "men" on the planet doused themselves with perfume.

Real Amazon women are six feet tall with braided hair and high-top sandals and steel brassieres ... you know, like on the old Star Trek!

[jayjay]

Nothing can match the sheer awfulness of the first couple of years, though. The episode I remember (and hate) most was the one with the blow-dried "Amazon" women in their Jeannie outfits seducing Riker while the "men" on the planet doused themselves with perfume.

Real Amazon women are six feet tall with braided hair and high-top sandals and steel brassieres ... you know, like on the old Star Trek!

That would be Angel One, mentioned near the beginning of the thread. Horrible anvilicious episode...

[Robot Arm]

D'oh... :smack::DRaguleader, his face palmed.

[Elendil's Heir]

Elendil's Heir, reminded of bad Trek from days of yore.