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Dead simple one this. Like the Subject says which are the worst 5 episodes of Star Trek ever (responses of all of Star Trek: Voyager are not welcome).
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"Oh f**k this for a lark, I'm going to swim with the Advanced Navigational Research team"
Attributed to Lieutenant JG Ephiny Coda, Ships Counsellor, USS Agamemnon (Galaxy Class).
I should start this puppy off I suppose so in no real order:
5) Equinox part II. this proves that Janeway's a complet nutter and how a psycho like her even got command of a starship is beyond me.
4) Spock's Brain. so bad I get a headache even thinking about it.
3) Elementary my dear Data. Man I hate those Sherlock Holmes episodes of Next Gen.
2) Caretaker. The episode where the rot set in.
1) Assignment: Earth. A slightly odd selection bearing in mind I actually used Gary Seven in a game a few months back but the episode is so damn awful.
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poster
I think one from each series is enough (though I could write-off half of TOS if I really got going! http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif )
TOS: The Changeling (yeah, Uhura manages to relearn everything in time for next week; makes you wonder why they bother with the Academy!)
TNG: It's a toss-up between "Justice" and "Royale". I'm not sure which I hated more...
DS9: This is easy - pick any of the Ferengo-centric episodes.
VOY: "Threshold" I think - the one where Paris cracks Warp 10 in a shuttle and turns into a lizard. Bleh!
HOw about, just for an extra bonus, we throw in our least favourite characters from each series? Here's mine:
TOS: Janice Rand (can't stand ditzy blondes)
TNG: Guess! (starts with a W!)
DS9: Hmmm...hard to pick - either Zek, "Moogie" or Leeta. Then again, I might list all 3 - I hated them equally.
VOY: Tom Paris - annoying little s**t, basically, played by someone who's not the greatest actor in the world!
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"Every atom in our bodies was forged in the furnace of ancient stars - it is our destiny to return home..."
TNG: Rascals
DS9: The Visitor, The Muse
VOY: Endgame, Future's End (both parts)
1) Voyager: take your pick...pretty equally bad. I stopped actively watching fter the first season, but still occasionally catch part of one; I usually tune out.
2) Spock's Brain. So bad, I use it as a euphemism for 'bloody awful'. "Hey, did you see that episode of (X)?" "Yup, they've just had their 'Spock's Brain' episode."
3) Anything TNG with time travel in it...with the possible exception of the Mark Twain one...
4) DS9: pretty much a tie for the entire first season. Started watching some episodes...there was some life in there.
5)Any episode where people's DNA is changed, but gee...we just give 'em a shot and they're all better by the end of the episode.
1. The Paradise Syndrome (TOS)
Okay, Sabrina Scharf looks good in a buckskin miniskirt. That's about it for that episode.
2. Rascals (TNG)
Missing mass restored by magic transporter. Nuff said.
3. Barclay's Evolutionary Retrovirus (TNG)
Too many trips to this well, thanks.
4. Barclay's Transporter Psychosis (TNG)
Barclay was fine as a shy introvert. How did he get in to Starfleet with his carpet bag full of psychoses?
5. The episode that introduces the concept that a starship can land on a planet. (VGR)
If that was 'The 37's' or whatever, it also started with a truck that had been abandoned in space, yet was giving off exhaust particles and was restored to working condition by Tom Paris.
Quote:
Originally posted by Aldaron:
DS9: This is easy - pick any of the Ferengo-centric episodes.
Come on, "The Magnificent Ferengi" (think that was episode name) was funny as hell! The idea of "Ferengi Commandos" was hilarious.
Actually, I kinda liked Riker's mental hospital episode. Too bad the hospital wasn't in our real world. I liked Relics, Rascals and Time's Arrow too.
Justice and Royale make my dishonorable mention list. So does the speed limit episode of TNG.
Worst characters: TOS, Pavel. TNG, Will. DS9, Jake. VOY: Kate. Pavel and Will weren't really terrible, and Nerys is second worst for DS9.
What's wrong with a starship landing on a planet?
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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.
The worst in each series:
TOS: Spock's Brain
TNG: De-Evolution
VOY: Warp 10
DS9: That one where a runabout is shrunk
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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.
Nothing's wrong with a starshiplanding on a planet, but the script that it was in (the 37's) was bloody aweful! I literally had to make myself watch it, hoping that something intellegent or plausable might happen. Then I nearly kicked my TV in for robbing my life of one hour that I could have spent reading Shakespeare or E.E. "Doc" Smith
My objection to the Intrepid-class' landing capability is partly aerodynamic (no surfaces to provide lift, so it's direct thrust only) ... and partly structural. I'm just not convinced that four little feet that pop out of the bottom of the secondary hull would support the weight of a starship, nor that the degree to which the primary hull extends forward wouldn't make the thing tip over.
I have to admit that I nitpicked just about everything in that episode, starting with the doofy premise and the pickup truck floating in space.
Bob
Well the 24th century has better materials and has tractor beams and antigravity tech.
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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.
5? I've got 3 from the top of my mind wich are:
TNG: Emergence
DS9: The Muse
VOY: Tuvix
I never really liked TOS "Errand of mercy" and TNG's "journey's end" too.
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Hoping You'll understand all of this :)
Emergence was so-so, but I hated The Muse.
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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.
This ones easy, I also notice that everyone finds it easier to keep to a top 5 here too;
1 - Threshold
2 - The Royale
3 - Spocks Brain
4 - Assignment Earth
5 - 11.59
lets face it, those, and a few others are easily placed on the 'Why the hell make this tripe' pile.
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Dan.
"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"
http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk
OK, I'll play...
1. Spock's Brain
2. Spock's Brain
3. Spock's Brain
4. Spock's Brain
5. Spock's Brain
Seriously,
1. Spock's Brain. When I was a kid, I convinced my dad to watch an episode of Star Trek, because I thought he'd like it and we'd have something to bond about. He agreed. The show was after my bedtime (I taped it). The next day, I asked him how he liked the show. "It was terrible. Something about pain belts and neurosurgery..." Needless to say, we never bonded over Trek.
2. STV: The Final Frontier. Not an episode, but one of the worst things ever produced ever in any medium, so it makes it onto the list by its sheer badness. Whenever my in-the-know friends say something stupid, one of the accepted responses is, "Whydoes... God... need... astarship?"
3. Shades of Grey [TNG]. At least, e.g., The Simpsons have the good taste to apologize when they run a clip show.
4. Galaxy's Child [TNG]. In college, I had finally convinced my roommate to watch an episode of TNG. This was it. See #1 above.
5. Time and Again [VOY]. This was the point where I stopped watching Voyager. I just gave up at this point. A whole new quadrant without any history, and the best they can do are space/time anomolies?
When Spock's Brain comes on Sci-Fi again, I will watch it. Time and Again? I'd punch my mother in the nose if she offered to watch it with me. So why is Spock's Brain #1 when Time and Again is #5? Because I care about TOS, and not VOY. It's just not possible for me to hate Voyager like some others do, because I just gave up on it.
Done. Now I have to take a shower and pop in Balance of Terror.
P.S. Worst characters. TOS: Chekov (boring and even more 2-dimensional than any other character. Only ability of note: Screaming in pain). TNG: Guinan (just plain annoying and pointless). DS9: The Two Daxes (boring boring boring but nifty to look at). VOY: Everyone besides the Doctor and maybe Neelix.
[This message has been edited by Fragon Birg (edited 06-04-2001).]
1 - I cannot remember the title, but the first season Voyager episode that could never have happened...because the only reason for the anomaly was because they got curious about the destroyed world, but the only reason it was destroyed was because they got curious..ARGH!!
2 - Spock's Brain
3 - The DS9 ep with the back-to-nature "stranded" colonists. Kirk would've seduced her or started an insurgency in the hills (possibly both), Piccard would've delivered a speach on the dignity of man that would've shamed them into submission, Sisko...got back in the box. Epitomizes what I disliked about early DS9.
4 - The TNG ripoff of the TOS Psi2000 virus episode.
5 - Threshold
Characters
The only ones I've ever really disliked are Wesley and, to a much lesser extent, Deana. I'm OK with all the other characters.
I really can't stand any episode in which the character I can't stand evolves into some higher form of life--such as when Wesley becomes a traveller or when Kes turns into a beam of light.
My other big dislike was any episode of Voyager with Q in it. What was that whole "I want to have children with Janeway" thing about, anyway????
That's the two big dislikes. Other stinkers include Spock's Brain, the gangster episode of TOS, and the episode of TNG when Deanna is impregnated by that entity.
Alison
I only have two to mind..
The first: The second TNG episode: "The Naked Now." The biggest problem, apart from it to soon breaking lesbian Trekkie hearts shattering illusions that Tasha 'wasn't straight', it was just too darn soon in the series to start showing the repressed desires of characters we hadn't become externally acquainted with.
Apart from that, it was pretty much dumb, and stopped me from watching Next Gen for three years.
It didn't help that I found the pilot episode rather marginal, to begin with.
And I rather *liked* Spock's Brain. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif
"Brain and brain. What is brain?"
Kitch factor? Maybe. But too loveable.
Second least favourite is the episode when Tasha dies. (Skin of Evil?) Basically, people arguing with an oil slick/morality parable was *not* a good enough way to spend an hour, never mind kill off a character.
Another one high on my list was a great episode until the end, when Riker falls in love with a genderless J'naii (forget the episode name,) and there's all that drama, especially the touching thing about Worf backing Riker up, ...then they cop out by having Riker's lover reprogrammed in the end, and lose all interest. Personally, I think they should have taken that relationship a lot further.
In similar vein, when they introduced the Trill, Dr. Crusher fell in love with a symbiote, and when that symbiote ended up being transplanted to a female Trill, the episode suddenly ended, with no explanation, further drama, or anything, only the supposition that two female bodies couldn't possibly continue a romantic relationship; which again made a lot of the PC agenda of early Next Gen seem a little hollow.
Some of these episode endings are more disappointing, than part of a 'bad' episode, but, hopefully, future Trek series won't be quite so squeamish about major characters having romantic interests with non-crew people encountered in episodes, ..and relationships, that can stick around for a while instead of seemingly being forcibly returned to status quo by the time the next episode begins.
The characters that I dislike generally do not belong there. Early-Riker, Troi, Wesley and Neelix.Quote:
Originally posted by Captain Preas:
Characters
The only ones I've ever really disliked are Wesley and, to a much lesser extent, Deana. I'm OK with all the other characters.
But I detest Vulcans. Even Spock drives me around the bend some time.
[shock and gasps of horror from the crowd]
Yes, I am a heretic.
Any species that is as intellectually advanced as the Vulcans are would not 1) call themselves logical, and 2) would not believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
The Vulcans (at least on the show) do not behave logically; they behave stoically. Stoicism is an ancient human ethical theory that says that emotional restraint is the key to living well. (Cole's Notes Very Extremely Short Introduction to Stoicism)
Often enough, a Vulcan character displays acceptable inductive logic. They rarely display deductive logic. Never mind any of the new-fangled logics that humans have developed in the 20th century. And a species as logical as the Vulcans are supposed to be very much further in the advancement of logics and logical theory.
Additionally, logic and emotion are not diametrical opposites.
As to the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few. This concept is acceptable if one is choosing to sacrifice oneself to save others.
It is not acceptable if the many decide to implement it as a rule.
If the Borg Queen came along and said, "I will leave the UFP alone, if you just give me (insert cast member of your choice here)", the many are not morally justified in giving up that cast member.
Assume the UFP knows she would keep her word. It is very much in the interest of the many not to be assimilated. What is one litte sentient in comparison to all those billions?
The UFP Charter grants freedom to all and the many deciding for the few undermines their rights as sentient beings.
Well, here they are and why:
TOS
City On The Edge of Forever: Crap! Utter crap after they enter the Guardian, I cannot see how one person can lead to Hitler winning.
Omega Glory: Good right up until they enter with an American flag, parallel development, RIGHT!
TNG
The Royale: been stated earlier, better
Naked Now: Great idea, until WESLEY messes it up.
The First Duty: Wesley should have been tossed out on his butt.
DS9:
Invasive Procedures: I am not buying the evacuation due to a stor, but a commando team can sneak in an steal a symbiote.
Voy:
Flashback: Simply for Janeway's speech dissing the TOS Federation and Starfleet. I might have accepted it if she wasn't so TOS herself, prone to action over words.
That's about it, with the exception of the current versions of the first and fifth films, (the first gets new footage, and if we al lucky 5 will get the original ending.) I like ALL other Star Trek eps. Call me sick wierd or too forgiving.
Alright worst 5
TOS: The one with the teenage kid with massive powers. Hated the kid, hated the episode.
TNG: Can't say for sure, but most of the first couple of seasons were pretty hokey.
DS9: Again can't narrow it down to a single episode. But I'm sure it's in the 'Boldly staying where no one has stayed before' era somewhere.
VOY: Endgame. While it does have the merit of being the last load we have to endure from this series. It is by far the smelliest.
I pray the writers of this episode doesn't infect the next series or I fear greatly for the future or rather past of Trek.
TOS: Shoreleave. McCoy dies but he gets better, Kirk plays with an illusory old school buddy, and worst of all, Hikaru Sulu doesn't seem to think it's that strange that he finds old police revolver, loaded, in the bush.
TNG: The Pegasus. 'Fleet wasn't allowed to research cloaking tech, but some guy came up with a working phase cloak system in his spare time?
DS9: Valiant. Let's send a ship of cadets to go sink the Bismarck! Let's watch them decide to continue their mission when all the trained crew are dead! Let's not. Wasn't there a Vulcan aboard ship who had the ability to think straight?
VOY: The Omega Directive. There's a molecule, you see, and it can blow up the galaxy. Starfleet captains have orders to destroy these molecules without the help of their crews. Only captains know about this. Brevet captains, who will eventually be sent back to their previous roles as first officers or whatever and would thus be a security risk, must get to sit and watch their ship shut down. Oh, and this molecule (not atom!) can be safely destroyed with a photorp.
Worst Scenes: "Insurrection" gets both my #1 and #2! First, Riker and Deeana in a hot tub. Second, Riker runs down to Radio Shack and picks up a Wingman Extreme thinking that 1990's joystick technology will save the Enterprise. Who directed this, anyway? Ah, it's Jonathan "Too Cool" Frakes!
It seems many people dislike Insurrection, but I think there are some good ideas in it. Data not having been a child, for one, and the Baku's desire to leave tech behind and live peacefully. But the whole 'fountain of youth' stuff is rediculous. And Picard argues that the Baku are the 'natural' owners of this planet! Not to mention Rikers Ego-trip...
I've been watching TNG since I was eleven or twelve years old, and Riker was one of my role-models (no, this is no joke!), and one of the reasons I've stopped shaving. And now the BASTARD shaves!! Argh...
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'Who would have thought... A brave Ferengi!'
Gowron, to Quark, son of Keldar.
Okay, here's my modified 5 worst Star Trek episodes (as always in no particualr order):
1) STV: Endgame.
2) TOS: Spocks Brain.
3) STV: Threshold.
4) DS9: Can't remember title, epsiode about colony who didn't use technology.
5) TNG: Elementary, my dear Data.
And my least favourite characters from Star Trek:
TOS: Kirk
TNG: Wesley Crusher
DS9: Kai Winn
VOY: Kes
ENTERPRISE (on principle because of the name): Phlox (or whatever stupid name they're calling the CMO).
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"I hate all monkeys, Me.
From Chimpan-a to Chimpan-zee"
Troy McClure, The Simpsons.
I've just seen this one a week ago and I agree, it was quite ridiculous when they started the america vs communist stuff.Quote:
Originally posted by Homer:
TOS
Omega Glory: Good right up until they enter with an American flag, parallel development, RIGHT!
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Hoping You'll understand all of this :)
What about the episode with the space hippies in TOS?:D
Oooh shiny resurrected thread !!! Let me play too:
TOS : The Omega Glory. Come on, what exactly was this story about ? It looks like three stories patched together only to have Kirk stammer the US constitution. Urk (not that I have anything against the US constitution, but I don't think it has much to do in Trek).
TNG : Any of the first season. I think Angel One could win the palm, though. I hate when it seems the writer's shouting at me "Hellloooo?? We are doing an episode about equal rights here, do you see ?? Hellooo ? What do you want for it to be more obvious ?"
DS9 : The one where Quark dresses as a women (Profit and lace, IIRC). Cross dressing jokes, really.... and people complain because of the decon scenes in ENT... :rolleyes:
VOY : Not seen all of it, but Resistance wins it. Yeah, I know lot of people liked it, but I really don't see what's so enthralling in seeing a poor madman win the heart of Janeway and Tuvok screaming in pain. Oh well...
Not seen enough of ENT to comment, so I'll keep it at that. Of course, any TNG first season episode is a candidate, as is half of TOS and any Ferengi episode in DS9.
AHHH!!!! My Eyes! Ahhh!!! My ears! Bad impromptu hippie music; kill me!!!! Please!Quote:
Originally posted by Space_Cadet
What about the episode with the space hippies in TOS?:D
Hmmmmm
Spocks Brain
Nuff Said.
Shades of Grey
Definitely enough said
Justice
The one when they had the chance to kill of Wesley Crusher.... and didn't
What You Leave Behind Pt 2
Well the last twenty minutes of it anyway - waaaaaaaaay to much sentimentality for my taste, shame as Pt 1 and the first half of Pt 2 was fantastic but still. The end totally ruined it for me. Sorry.
I'd pick one from Voyager but there are too many episodes to make a choice from I'm afraid.
Ones mentioned that I like:
Elementary dear Data
The Visitor
Ones mentioned that I dislike:
Deevolution
Warp 10
Disagreements about generalizations:
DS9 Ferengi episodes: I liked Little Green Men
TNG time travel: I like all of them
Worst characters update:
Kirk
Trip
Characters mentioned that I like:
Guinan
Jadzia
Bad Enterprise episodes:
rogue planet with green plants
other disagreements:
I like Vulcans
Instead of listing the five worst episodes....I will also go by category for each series.
1. TOS- anything where---- a certain--captain--speaks--in broken-----paced----sentences. That is----the ---most annoying----part.
2. TNG- Time Travel...period. About as easy as putting on a pair of socks.
3. Hard to say....I loved DS9.
4. Anything involving those overgrown Oompa Loompas known as the Kazon.
5. Enterprise--tough to say....need to see more, but like what I see so far.
Respectfully,
General Chang
Enterprise - Unexpected: Strange aliens flying in ships with trippy 60's decor, have cloaks, and apparently run on engine exhaust. Klingons getting holodecks 200 years before they mass-marketed. D-7 model being used for the Klingon battlecruiser. This episode also started the trend that every race has higher tech than the humans.
TOS - Spock's Brain: Not much to add that hasn't been said by hundreds of people throughout the years. There are probably a worse TOS episode out there but this just sticks in my mind.
DS9 - One Little Ship: I hate "Incredible Shrinking Cast Member" episodes that seem to slip into any sci-fi show. I was waiting for Rick Moranis to show up. Bad.
TNG - Rascals: Another of those "sci-fi schtick" episodes that creep into sci-fi series (you know, turned into babies, shrunk, mutated into lemurs, etc). Select members of the crew are turned into babies. This was compounded by the fact that the Enterprise, Galaxy-class starship and flagship of the fleet is captured by 2 aging Bird of Prey commanded by cowardly Ferengi. Ugh.
Voyager - Threshold: Paris does what thousands of Federation scientists have been unable to do and does it on a ship without reliable power or supplies. Then he turns into a lizard and mates with the captain. Probably the worst Trek episode ever, in my personal opinion.