Star Trek The Next Generation appreciation thread (1 Viewer)

[Nick Martin]

I had forgotten that a science fiction channel here airs this show, mostly because I stopped watching the channel altogether. I didn't know what was on it.

Anyway, I see this episode called "The Loss", about how Troi temporarily loses her empathic powers. I never liked Troi because of those abilities, and there was a scene where Riker perfectly nails the reason why - her superiority and advantage over people. The control and the ability to manipulate. The problem with the scene was that there was no resolution to it. Troi says something like "that's not true" and they left it there. Guess they were too close to having the characters have genuine conflict over the issue.

As for the rest of the episode, I just couldn't grasp what the hell everyone was talking about. Cosmic strings and three-dimensional universes and points of view...I had forgotten just how "tech" the show was. I laughed about that, thinking "okay...."

I've always liked "Insurrection". Its more gentle nature was quite nice. Joystick was a bit much but rather than be upset by it (and I assume most were) I laughed and went along with it.

 

[Kevin Hewell]

I loved how Riker read her the riot-act.

 

[Bryan^H]

I second THE ROYALE as a great episode. This one in particular has been singled out as a bad episode by many. It's fun, smart, and feels more like an original series episode. Man, I love season 2.

 

[JediFonger]

can som1 remind me what the royale was about again?

 

[Nick Martin]

The Royale (episode - Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki)

 

[Ockeghem]

Bryan,

You may have hit on another reason why I liked The Royale so much. The episode is similar to TOS with regard to the overall 'feel' of the script and scenes. I also love how the premise -- in an almost Ray Bradbury-esque (or perhaps Kurt Vonnegut?) fashion -- becomes reality as time moves (in this case) forward in consort with the storyline. That's the aspect that I find particularly appealing in The Royale. Beyond that, I liked the guest stars -- Noble Willingham for one -- that appeared in the episode. And the gangster-like atmosphere was a nice touch, lending an edge to the story, as was the lighting used in the pre- and post-casino scenes. Those reminded me of The Empath in some respects.

 

[Nick Martin]

I haven't read this whole thread, so correct me if I'm wrong:

Are some of you basically saying you like "The Next Generation" - specifically its earlier episodes BECAUSE of how much it reminds you of the Original series?

 

[Ockeghem]

For my own part, I am not saying that with regard to the topic at hand. Some episodes (very few) from the earliest seasons remind me of TOS. The story lines, with the exception of the two similarly-titled episodes from season one that parallel both TNG and TOS (neither of which I listed in my brief list of favorites above) are why I appreciate the earlier seasons of TNG as much as I do.

That being said, I can think of several instances whereby TNG (all seven seasons) does remind me of the original series. And when this is the case, I find it to be a very positive characteristic of TNG.

 

[Bryan^H]

Not really. TNG is certainly it's own show. The fact that this particular episode feels like a TOS episode is not an insult. Having a thread on TNG without some references to the show that made it possible in the first place is outlandish. Can't we like both series? Am I in the wrong thread?

 

[Nick Martin]

No no, I just get the impression that it's that connection that is what's so favorable about it, especially earlier season episodes.

A lot of "that" in my sentence.

I'm not a fan of TOS, and yet I loved the features.

Even "Final Frontier".

 

[JediFonger]

thanks for the reminder. now i remember watching this =P. i'm pretty sure i've seen every single ep of TNG during its original syndicated schedule.

re: TNG&TOS. i like star trek, even the animated series. so anything trek, i will experience it once, even if don't grow to like it as much as i do TOS. an example of that is Enterprise. as good as it was, never lived up to the full potential of the other series that i've seen.

 

[Bryan^H]

Just watched "Home Soil" from season 1. I'd forgotten what a fantastic episode this is.
Great acting, utterly riveting story, and the strong sense of wonder put this at the top of the list for TNG episodes(of the first few seasons).
Also, big, big props to Mike Okuda for doing such a great job on the scenic art in this one.
Episodes like this make me proud to own the series on dvd, and even justifies the clunky episodes.

 

[Ockeghem]

I will eventually get around to watching the entire run of TNG again some day. We finished it not too long ago, and loved it. As I think I mentioned in some thread, TNG Season One was the very first DVD (the boxed set) I ever purchased.

Yeah, Home Soil is a wonderful episode. I still get some chills watching the segment where Data enters the room and has to 'face' the robotics:

 

[Nelson Au]

Hey guys! Nice to see this thread still has some life. I've been watching a few episodes recently in the 3rd, 4th and 5th seasons.

I always liked Home Soil, though it was kind of rough in its execution. It's very TOS-like in that they realize that there is a life form and they do solve the problem without retaliation. I liked the lines, "Mostly bags of water". But it was also kind of a rough line! Lacking in refinement. But probably kind of appropriate since the alien doesn't speak English!

 

[Ockeghem]

^^^

Nelson,

You're being too kind. I think it's "Ugly bags of mostly water."

 

[Nelson Au]

You're right, I didn't recall the exact line.

 

[Bryan^H]

Originally Posted by Ockeghem

^^^

Nelson,

You're being too kind. I think it's "Ugly bags of mostly water."

I think the computer had a hard time translating the microbrain dialect.
But I agree, that line could have been rewritten for better effect.

 

[Ockeghem]

Nelson, Bryan,

I remembered that line because in college a few friends of mine and I used to kid each other with it every so often. Good times, good times.

I watched an episode of VOY tonight (Flashback), but I should probably be in the appropriate thread to discuss that one.

 

[Sam Favate]

I do miss this show. Going to rewatch all seven seasons beginning in the new year.

We all have our personal preferences for shows in the franchise, but I think the early years of this show were the closest to Gene Roddenberry's idea of what he wanted the future to look and feel like.

 

[Ockeghem]

^^^

I wouldn't disagree with any of that. And I love just about all of Trek.