# Worst Single Episodes Of Otherwise Well Written Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014 "2009-04-22T20:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/101 "2009-04-25T14:43:17Z")
> [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](#): > > I know what you mean, but it’s supposed to make you cringe. It’s good writing. I guess you’re right…I momentarily forgot what the title of the thread is! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/102 "2009-04-25T16:01:00Z")
I’ll agree with “Unfinished Business”. The first episode with Ellen was pretty bad too. I remember her hanging from the ceiling acting like a 9 year old. I know most people think of Voyager as pretty bad in general…still in relative terms, “Threshold” is just about the biggest piece of garbage I’ve seen on an episodic TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/103 "2009-04-26T10:24:47Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > For start I’ll take “the Mary Tyler Moor Show.” > … > > To me it made little sense. Ted was overly cheap and greedy. He wouldn’t stay if he got a chance for more fame and much more money. And Lou, Murray and even Mary were never overly fond of Ted and they all thought _HE_ was the reason for the shows low ratings. So why would they stop him. . Need asner fast? ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/104 "2009-04-27T16:57:50Z")
I had to have missed the post about the Lost episode centered on the two most pointless characters to appear on that show, Nikki and Paulo, right? Too obvious? Whoever okayed that one should also be fed to spiders and buried in a pit. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/105 "2009-04-27T17:13:12Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > I had to have missed the post about the Lost episode centered on the two most pointless characters to appear on that show, Nikki and Paulo, right? Too obvious? Whoever okayed that one should also be fed to spiders and buried in a pit. See, I disagree for a couple reasons. First of all, it showed that our non-heroes ARE doing something other than waiting to catch a flaming arrow. Second, it had Kiele Sanchez running around and looking hot. Third, we had some survivors who were really terrible people who got their just desserts. Fourth, it was creepy as hell the way it ended… It didn’t advance the mythology or anything, but it was a pretty cool episode, I thought. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/106 "2009-04-27T17:22:57Z")
Classic Doctor Who - The Invisible Enemy. Revived Doctor Who - Love And Monsters ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/107 "2009-04-27T17:41:04Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > See, I disagree for a couple reasons. > > First of all, it showed that our non-heroes ARE doing something other than waiting to catch a flaming arrow. > > Second, it had Kiele Sanchez running around and looking hot. > > Third, we had some survivors who were really terrible people who got their just desserts. > > Fourth, it was creepy as hell the way it ended… > > It didn’t advance the mythology or anything, but it was a pretty cool episode, I thought. > > -Joe Yeah, that was actually a great episode. If only because we got more Arzt out of it. That episode that was all about Jack getting his tattoos was a real stinker. Total filler with really crappy writing. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/108 "2009-04-27T18:41:16Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > That episode that was all about Jack getting his tattoos was a real stinker. Total filler with really crappy writing. PERFECT example. I’m willing to bet that one came in the Season Three slump, didn’t it? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/109 "2009-04-27T19:00:16Z")
It’s never a good sign when Bai Ling shows up. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/110 "2009-04-27T19:19:31Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Missed the edit window. [YouTube has it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kuufdY9M-E). Crap! I really hate it when YouTube just has a red bar that says “This video is not available in your country.” It’s not so bad when the post provides context, like the above, but every once in awhile, someone will write something like “This is the one I hate he most: link”… and it goes to the “not available” thing. Hey, YouTube! Would it kill ya to add the title of the video so we know what it is? Like: “The video “Kirk Kissing Spock” is not available in your country.” ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/111 "2009-04-27T20:23:40Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Crap! I really hate it when YouTube just has a red bar that says “This video is not available in your country.” It’s not so bad when the post provides context, like the above, but every once in awhile, someone will write something like “This is the one I hate he most: link”… and it goes to the “not available” thing. > > Hey, YouTube! Would it kill ya to add the title of the video so we know what it is? Like: “The video “Kirk Kissing Spock” is not available in your country.” Heh. Maybe they’re concerned with licensing. In the USA we have disclaimers on a whole lot of professional sports broadcasts that forbid any “rebroadcast or any other account of the game”. Maybe they’re afraid that “Kirk kissing Spock” would count as “an account”?’ -Joe ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/112 "2009-04-27T20:52:25Z")
Y’all are killing me. Now I feel the urge to go rewatch those older episodes, and I really don’t need another reason to dive further in to this show. Hard to argue the case that \*\*Merijeek \*\*makes though. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/113 "2009-04-27T22:26:05Z")
I can’t believe no one else has mentioned the series ender of _Seinfeld_. Too obvious? Or maybe someone did and I missed it. _The West Wing_ episode that introduced Lily Tomlin as the President’s new secretary added insult to injury after the death of Mrs. Landingham. I never really liked Tomlin in that role anyway, but the first episode – or that story line anyway – was a stinker. _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ was not very well written for much of the first season, but the episode that sticks out in my mind is the one where a race of Amazon women treat petite men like sex objects and we’re supposed to care why? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/114 "2009-04-27T23:19:45Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > South Park: A Million Little Fibers. Horrible and unfunny. One of only two episodes I can’t bring myself to re-watch(the other being Scott Tenorman). Heh–weird. I agree 100% on Fibers but I disagree (for me) 100% on Scott Tenorman which I’d easily put in my top 3 favorites. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/115 "2009-04-27T23:34:25Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Heh–weird. I agree 100% on Fibers but I disagree (for me) 100% on Scott Tenorman which I’d easily put in my top 3 favorites. 🙂 I secretly loved Fibers, (most fans don’t). Scott Tenorman was just ‘ok’ imho, (most fans loved it). ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/116 "2009-04-28T00:16:06Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > PERFECT example. I’m willing to bet that one came in the Season Three slump, didn’t it? > > -Joe Yep, right in the middle. The whole episode was basically the writers taking the long way around to get Jack back to the main island. It didn’t help that the ads billed it as revealing THREE BIG MYSTERIES, and it only revealed two. One of which was “What Jack’s tattoo meant” which was not really a mystery since he had it before the show). > [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > I can’t believe no one else has mentioned the series ender of _Seinfeld_. Too obvious? Or maybe someone did and I missed it. That episode was bad, but there were some really bad ones during the first couple seasons. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/117 "2009-04-28T16:07:46Z")
Fenris: > [@](#): > > Heh–weird. I agree 100% on Fibers but I disagree (for me) 100% on Scott Tenorman which I’d easily put in my top 3 favorites. Ah, Fenris, but I didn’t say the Tenorman episode was BAD. I just said I can’t bring myself to re-watch it. It was a riot, until the very last scene, which pretty much had me in stunned silence. Cartman is an evil character, but for a 9-year-old to knowingly murder two people and cook them and feed them to their son, and instead of some sort of comeuppance, the episode ends with him triumphant…how exactly do I re-watch that and enjoy it? And then watch the subsequent episodes in which the rest of the cast treat him exactly the same as they ever did? It’s too cringeworthy for me. It is not at all a badly written episode, but my mind just can’t bear re-watching it. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/118 "2009-04-28T17:03:16Z")
The one episode I really hate from Angel is [The Girl in Question](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_in_Question). The show was rolling nicely toward the series finale, when it came to a screeching halt so Angel and Spike could have their retarded Italian adventure. It also managed to suck all the menace out of Angelus and made him into a whiny little girl. The episode ignored all character growth that had happened to Angel and Spike, and made them look like self centered assholes. The Immortal was just a stupid pointless character, and the Italian branch of Wolfram & hart was unbelievably ridiculous. > [@shy\_guy](#): > > I agree that “Black Market” was goofy, but at least the concept behind it was cool and made sense. The only way a black market makes sense if you’re smuggling goods to a closed market where the goods are hard to get legally (like the Sovjet union) from an open market (rest of the world). The reason why the Galactica fleet were short on medicine was not because of some artificial constraints, but because there was not enough medicine period. Where the hell did the black market get their goods? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/119 "2009-04-28T18:07:17Z")
> [@](#): > > The only way a black market makes sense if you’re smuggling goods to a closed market where the goods are hard to get legally (like the Sovjet union) from an open market (rest of the world). The reason why the Galactica fleet were short on medicine was not because of some artificial constraints, but because there was not enough medicine period. Where the hell did the black market get their goods? I’m not familiar with the episode, or even the series, but at a guess I’d say it was from the same place Harry Lime got the penicillin he was peddling - it was stolen from the legitimate suppliers. Selling legal drugs illegally \*can \*make sense, and and it is \*possible \*to base a good story on it. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/120 "2009-04-28T20:19:49Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > Y’all are killing me. Now I feel the urge to go rewatch those older episodes, and I really don’t need another reason to dive further in to this show. Hard to argue the case that \*\*Merijeek \*\*makes though. And in case it helps, Kiele Sanchez is HOT. > [@Palindrome(etc](#): > > Star Trek: The Next Generation was not very well written for much of the first season, but the episode that sticks out in my mind is the one where a race of Amazon women treat petite men like sex objects and we’re supposed to care why? Amazon: And the sentence is DEATH! Fry, Others: Aww! Amazon: By snu-snu! Fry, Others: Woohoo! -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014.md?page=7)