# I think I may have just rewatched a racist ST:NG episode. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935 "2016-07-14T22:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/21 "2016-07-15T08:36:23Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > The flow of the story line didn’t make sense. Every time I watch that episode, I yell at the TV: “NO, GODDAMMIT! LEAVE WESLEY WHERE HE IS … oh shit, they went and moved him anyway!” :mad: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/22 "2016-07-15T08:43:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Nothing racist about a Red Shirt death. We should be happy that Starfleet was finally enlightened enough to employ black navigators, rather than consigning them to the Engineering decks! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/23 "2016-07-15T10:22:57Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Knowing Kirk, I suspect it was more “Oh, damn, the GIRL is dead!” regardless of her color. Or he might have been even more upset if she was a green girl. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/24 "2016-07-15T10:33:27Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > The early TNG episode [Code of Honor](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Code_of_Honor_(episode)) is notorious for being racist. Yar is kidnapped by black savages and forced into a fight to the death. That’s the one I thought this thread would be about. Even for the late 80s it feels pretty weird that no one who had a say seemed to notice how wrong it was while they were making it. Not an accusation, but since the OP watched all of season 1, do you think “Code of Honor” isn’t worth mentioning as a racist episode whereas “Where Silence Has Lease” is? Or are you really just complaining about the quality of the writing of the early seasons in general but wanted a spicier thread title? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/25 "2016-07-15T10:34:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > As much as I like John de Lancie, I really couldn’t stand that character. Oh, look, he’s infinitely powerful, and yet cares about humans because humans are just so gosh-darn important. > > I mean, I might find a Petri dish full of amoeba interesting, but I’m not going to lecture them on the evolution of their political and economic systems. [. . .] I never thought that looking after Jean-luc took any more of Q’s immense attention than if I made sure a particularly interesting specimen was in the reliable incubator . ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/26 "2016-07-15T11:56:21Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > That’s the one I thought this thread would be about. Even for the late 80s it feels pretty weird that no one who had a say seemed to notice how wrong it was while they were making it. > > Not an accusation, but since the OP watched all of season 1, do you think “Code of Honor” isn’t worth mentioning as a racist episode whereas “Where Silence Has Lease” is? Or are you really just complaining about the quality of the writing of the early seasons in general but wanted a spicier thread title? Yeah, I was just being facetious. It’s more about the horrible writing. Point well made about “Code of Honor” though. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/27 "2016-07-15T14:07:04Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Yeah, I was just being facetious. It’s more about the horrible writing. > > Point well made about “Code of Honor” though. I don’t think we need go any farther than \*"Troi! You’re my **friend** , and you \*\*tricked \*_me!"_ I cringe just \*thinking \*about that line! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/28 "2016-07-15T14:08:51Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > Or he might have been even more upset if she was a green girl. 😉 You mean, like Yvonne Craig? Yeah… :o Yvonne Craig, mmmmmmmmmmmm! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/29 "2016-07-15T14:10:04Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I never thought that looking after Jean-luc took any more of Q’s immense attention than if I made sure a particularly interesting specimen was in the reliable incubator . Maybe he just had a “thing” about mature pseudo-Frenchmen… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/30 "2016-07-15T14:15:09Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > Red Shirt Lives Matter _“Och, Watkins, ye poor lad!”_☹ ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/31 "2016-07-15T14:24:44Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > The early TNG episode [Code of Honor](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Code_of_Honor_(episode)) is notorious for being racist. Yar is kidnapped by black savages and forced into a fight to the death. > > Personally I found the episode [Justice](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Justice) to be slightly racist. In this episode the crew find themselves in a sort of paradise where everyone runs around half-naked and has sex all the time. The show prided itself on its diversity, but this “paradise planet” is filled with nothing but white, blond-haired Aryan übermenschen. Notoriously bad episodes, but I don’t see what’s wrong with aliens looking the same, instead of just happening to have the same politically correct ethnic mixes as Earth. What a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/32 "2016-07-15T14:49:53Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > At one point, Geordy says: “Keep the cheese, I just want out of the maze”. This remark went virtually noticed. > > Later on in the episode, Dr. Polaski says: “Rats in a maze!” of course this piques Picard’s interest as he asks for further explanation. To which she explains the obvious: “It’s like we’re test subjects in a lab experiment.” > > Well, duh! Geordy just pointed that out not more than 10 minutes ago! :smack: I’d suspect bad editing - moving shots and dialogue around after shooting in a different sequence. Which comes from bad writing in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/33 "2016-07-15T14:52:21Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > In this episode the crew find themselves in a sort of paradise where everyone runs around half-naked and has sex all the time. The show prided itself on its diversity, but this “paradise planet” is filled with nothing but white, blond-haired Aryan übermenschen. You’re just jealous. I personally would love to live on such a planet! :o ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/34 "2016-07-15T14:55:22Z")
I’ve used that “By Any Other Name” reference before. I mean, a BLACK dude in a RED shirt and he makes it through the whole episode. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/35 "2016-07-15T15:25:55Z")
Actually an old trope. If there’s a black guy he’ll probably be the first one killed. Watched some weird Japanese science fiction movie and as soon as they introduced the black character I said to myself “He’ll be dead in 15 minutes”. I was right.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/36 "2016-07-15T16:28:39Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Just keep reminding yourself that _Measure of a Man_ is in season 2. It gets better. One of the few bright spots in a season of suckitude, made all the worse by the presence of Pulaski. Where’s an open turbolift shaft when you need one? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/37 "2016-07-15T16:52:18Z")
I’m sure I’m just being nitpicky, but I kind of have a problem with Measure of a Man too. It had already been established that Star Fleet viewed Data as a sentient life form. He should have never had to go through that trial in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/38 "2016-07-15T17:39:32Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I’m sure I’m just being nitpicky, but I kind of have a problem with Measure of a Man too. > > It had already been established that Star Fleet viewed Data as a sentient life form. Not unanimously. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/39 "2016-07-15T18:00:15Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > After sitting through yet another craptastic episode (I think it was the one in which Riker worked out his issues with his father by boxing with him), I said to my wife, “If next week’s episode isn’t any better, I’m going to stop watching.” > > The next episode, which ever it was, was not bad, so we stayed with it. I got turned off of ST:NG from the very first episode, the premiere. At first, things were going OK, then I began to notice all of the commercial breaks. By the end of two hours, I felt like I had just watched three hours of commercials. I vowed then that I would never watch that show. I think I may have been exposed to a few episodes, but I certainly did not tune them in. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935/40 "2016-07-15T18:14:37Z")
Netflix it, baby. No commercials. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-have-just-rewatched-a-racist-st-ng-episode/759935.md?page=3)