Absolute Worst Voyager Episode Ever?
- Thread starter Zameaze
- Start date
I'm on crappy dial-up, so I can't look at that video. Therefor I don't know if it's a joke thing or the actual episode. I'll answer anyway.
Threshold (2/10)
The Fight (2/10)
Collective (2/10)
Death Wish (2.5/10)
Warlord (3/10)
Barge of the Dead (3/10)
Tsunkatse (3/10)
Repression (3/10)
Cathexis (3.5/10)
Looking at my ratings, those would be my contenders. I have a 3-way tie for suckiest. I am going to choose The Fight. That episode was a mess, and the fact that I can't stand boxing didn't help it either.
Threshold (2/10)
The Fight (2/10)
Collective (2/10)
Death Wish (2.5/10)
Warlord (3/10)
Barge of the Dead (3/10)
Tsunkatse (3/10)
Repression (3/10)
Cathexis (3.5/10)
Looking at my ratings, those would be my contenders. I have a 3-way tie for suckiest. I am going to choose The Fight. That episode was a mess, and the fact that I can't stand boxing didn't help it either.
Withers
Captain
A lot of people would answer this with Threshold or one of the more boring episodes that didn't have a lot of impact after the fact. I agree- those are terrible episodes of Voyager and most of them are examples of what Trek did wrong in regard to the wasting of episodes that could have been better spent on other subjects. There is one episode that, to me, stands out as worse than that for not only what it did to the characters, but also because of the implications about the writing of said characters, and because it was a silly plot to begin with.
My vote for absolute worst Voyager Episode ever goes to Tuvix.
First of all, it makes Janeway out to be a real bitch and it makes all of the crew who didn't stop her accessories to murder (with the exception being The Doctor.) What a horrible situation to put our heroes in. Why would we want them painted in that light? It's fine when it happens to Sisko or Archer because something important is happening and hinges on their decision. In this case, however, it's just because Janeway felt more strongly one way than the other. Nothing significant would have changed had the Tuvix character been allowed to live (save for we wouldn't have had any more annoying Tuvok or Neelix episodes.) So, there's that aspect; nothing of consequence changed based on her very heartless decision. It painted the heroes of Voyager in an unflattering light for very little reason.
Secondly, there's Tuvix himself. This character supposes that by adding one or two character traits from the other, each of the founding parts would be 100% improved. If Neelix were a little more orderly and focused he'd be a decent chef and would be more pleasant to be around. If Tuvok were a little more creative he'd be better at tactical situations. These are things that either of these characters could have learned on their own (and should have in certain cases based on how, apparently, limited they were in self reflection.) It's an implication I'm not comfortable with because it says the writers didn't do their jobs or that they wrote the deficiencies in the characters (which all Trek characters have) way to conspicuously.
Finally, it was just a stupid idea. I hate episodes of Trek where the gimmick is obvious and it doesn't get much more obvious that combining the two polar opposites on the show into one character. "Star Trek: Voyager- what mischief will they get inta' next?" It just played off as way too convenient for me.
So, yeah, when I think about the episode of Voyager that is the worst it isn't necessarily because I think of it as unwatchable but because of what is implied between the lines, what it does to the over all image of the characters and how silly the initial plot of the story was. I can think of no finer example of those things all bound up in 42 minutes than Tuvix.
...Threshold was super terrible though. No disputing that.
My vote for absolute worst Voyager Episode ever goes to Tuvix.
First of all, it makes Janeway out to be a real bitch and it makes all of the crew who didn't stop her accessories to murder (with the exception being The Doctor.) What a horrible situation to put our heroes in. Why would we want them painted in that light? It's fine when it happens to Sisko or Archer because something important is happening and hinges on their decision. In this case, however, it's just because Janeway felt more strongly one way than the other. Nothing significant would have changed had the Tuvix character been allowed to live (save for we wouldn't have had any more annoying Tuvok or Neelix episodes.) So, there's that aspect; nothing of consequence changed based on her very heartless decision. It painted the heroes of Voyager in an unflattering light for very little reason.
Secondly, there's Tuvix himself. This character supposes that by adding one or two character traits from the other, each of the founding parts would be 100% improved. If Neelix were a little more orderly and focused he'd be a decent chef and would be more pleasant to be around. If Tuvok were a little more creative he'd be better at tactical situations. These are things that either of these characters could have learned on their own (and should have in certain cases based on how, apparently, limited they were in self reflection.) It's an implication I'm not comfortable with because it says the writers didn't do their jobs or that they wrote the deficiencies in the characters (which all Trek characters have) way to conspicuously.
Finally, it was just a stupid idea. I hate episodes of Trek where the gimmick is obvious and it doesn't get much more obvious that combining the two polar opposites on the show into one character. "Star Trek: Voyager- what mischief will they get inta' next?" It just played off as way too convenient for me.
So, yeah, when I think about the episode of Voyager that is the worst it isn't necessarily because I think of it as unwatchable but because of what is implied between the lines, what it does to the over all image of the characters and how silly the initial plot of the story was. I can think of no finer example of those things all bound up in 42 minutes than Tuvix.
...Threshold was super terrible though. No disputing that.
-Withers-
The Fight, hands down.
This is the only episode in the entire franchise that actually put me to sleep; and it did it twice. It took me three attempts to get through it!
I used to say it was the worst episode EVER, not just the worst Voyager episode. Of course, then I saw the ENT finale.
This is the only episode in the entire franchise that actually put me to sleep; and it did it twice. It took me three attempts to get through it!
I used to say it was the worst episode EVER, not just the worst Voyager episode. Of course, then I saw the ENT finale.
Wow, Withers, I never quite got my mind around it that way. I'm forced to agree with you. The episode made Janeway almost, but not quite, entirely unlike a human being. Well written--hear, hear.
It's always interesting to me to read someone's take on an episode like Wither's take on Tuvix. It's fun to see how the other side sees it.
If I made a list of my top 10 episodes of all Trek, not just Voyager, Tuvix would probably make that list.
I loved the tenseness of the situation that Janeway was put in. That look on her face as she walked out of sick bay after the deed is done was priceless. She had seemingly made that decision too easily, but once she was alone away from the crew and could release her emotions, she looked about ready to throw up. Then it was evident how difficult a decision it really was for her.
I also thought that Tom Wright was brilliant in the role of Tuvix.
Anyway, you like what you like, and you hate what you hate. I'm sure it doesn't help if you dislike the Tuvok and Neelix characters either. Kind of like how my distaste for boxing increased my disdain for The Fight (it didn't help Tsunkatse either).
If I made a list of my top 10 episodes of all Trek, not just Voyager, Tuvix would probably make that list.
I loved the tenseness of the situation that Janeway was put in. That look on her face as she walked out of sick bay after the deed is done was priceless. She had seemingly made that decision too easily, but once she was alone away from the crew and could release her emotions, she looked about ready to throw up. Then it was evident how difficult a decision it really was for her.
I also thought that Tom Wright was brilliant in the role of Tuvix.
Anyway, you like what you like, and you hate what you hate. I'm sure it doesn't help if you dislike the Tuvok and Neelix characters either. Kind of like how my distaste for boxing increased my disdain for The Fight (it didn't help Tsunkatse either).
Lately I've been thinking it's the Unimatrix Zero two-parter. That entire mess sums up everything that Voyager did wrong as as a series. Reset button, dropped plot threads, forgotten characters, people acting out of character ... it's fun to watch, but upon further thought, very unsatisfying. Classic Voyager-at-its-worst.
There are a few episodes that are unwatchably boring or just plain ridiculous, but UMZ is in a class by itself.
There are a few episodes that are unwatchably boring or just plain ridiculous, but UMZ is in a class by itself.
I don't hate The Fight as much as everyone else seems to, but then, I'm very fond of Chakotay. I can admit bits of it were deeply stupid, but there were parts I liked, too.
The only episode I turned off halfway through because I was about to doze off from boredom was Tsunkatse. Even Janeway went on holiday to escape that episode. And Janeway never goes on holiday.
There are a handful of other episodes I can't stand, and will never, ever watch again - but I wouldn't necessarily say they were the worst, they're just not to my taste.
The only episode I turned off halfway through because I was about to doze off from boredom was Tsunkatse. Even Janeway went on holiday to escape that episode. And Janeway never goes on holiday.
There are a handful of other episodes I can't stand, and will never, ever watch again - but I wouldn't necessarily say they were the worst, they're just not to my taste.
The Fight and Cathexis (the one where Chakotay's soul gets disembodied, wtf?) stand out for me. I was so bored I struggled to keep watching.
Tuvix, I think, is a good episode, but it did make me feel uncomfortable, especially the scene where he's hauled off the bridge.
I wouldn't rank Unimatrix Zero as one of the worst, but having Janeway, Torres and Tuvok willingly get assimilated was one of the worst decisions the writers of Voyager ever made, in my opinion. The Borg are supposed to be scary!
Tuvix, I think, is a good episode, but it did make me feel uncomfortable, especially the scene where he's hauled off the bridge.
I wouldn't rank Unimatrix Zero as one of the worst, but having Janeway, Torres and Tuvok willingly get assimilated was one of the worst decisions the writers of Voyager ever made, in my opinion. The Borg are supposed to be scary!
Sadly each and every one of them
Absolutely. I think any decent person with a soul would have felt uncomfortable.
Well, Voyager did have its share of bad episodes, like "Endgame", "The Gift" and "Mortal Coil". Episodes which makes "Threshold" look like a masterpiece in comparision.
But the worst episode was "Fury". Not only the worst Voyager episode but the worst episode ever in any TV series.
But the worst episode was "Fury". Not only the worst Voyager episode but the worst episode ever in any TV series.
Mortail Coil? Dang, I liked that one. It was one where they actually used Neelix's character effectively, IMO.
I thought "Mortal Coil" was horrible.
First Neelix is killed but brought back to life by Seven, who as usually is using her super-powers to save the scene. Then we have Braga, pouring his atheist propaganda over us and at the same time crushing poor Neelix's hope to see his loved ones again. Depressing and horrible.
As for "Threshold", that episode was at least funny here and there and would have been acceptable if they had added some scenes in which Paris is waking up, realizing that it was all a nightmare caused by eating too much of Neelix's food befoer going to bed. There was at east one episode which was ten times worse than "Threshold".
Threshold was definitely the worst but I also hated "Virtuoso" in season six where the doctor wants to leave the ship to be an opera singer. I just find that episode cringe worthy. It makes the doctor look selfish. He doesn't give a shit about any of the people on Voyager. And the aliens were just stupid and uninteresting. They reminded me of the Pakleds - "Can you make it go?"
I also hated every scene in the later seasons between Tuvok and Neelix that was exactly like the scenes in season one. That is, they were always irritated by each other and having the same conversation about logic and order versus fun and friendship and the scene was played for laughs. They never grew or gained a deeper understanding of each other as the seasons went on.
There were many episodes where they did seem to forge a unique bond (i.e. Tuvix, the episode with the tether, the episode where Tuvok loses his mind and Neelix becomes his closest friend, Haunting of Deck 12 where Neelix helps Tuvok out the Jeffries Tube, etc.) Moments like these will change a relationship so I found it frustrating that Tuvok and Neelix didn't share a special understanding. In fact, I found some of their comments to each other in later seasons almost cold or uncalled for. When you've been combined with another person, I think you share a unique bond! Even in the episode where Neelix leaves the ship for good, Tuvok still doesn't understand why Neelix would want to dance. I think it would have been interesting to see the two start as total opposites who can't stand each other but end as two friends who have a unique connection. Miles and Julien come to mind.
I also hated every scene in the later seasons between Tuvok and Neelix that was exactly like the scenes in season one. That is, they were always irritated by each other and having the same conversation about logic and order versus fun and friendship and the scene was played for laughs. They never grew or gained a deeper understanding of each other as the seasons went on.
There were many episodes where they did seem to forge a unique bond (i.e. Tuvix, the episode with the tether, the episode where Tuvok loses his mind and Neelix becomes his closest friend, Haunting of Deck 12 where Neelix helps Tuvok out the Jeffries Tube, etc.) Moments like these will change a relationship so I found it frustrating that Tuvok and Neelix didn't share a special understanding. In fact, I found some of their comments to each other in later seasons almost cold or uncalled for. When you've been combined with another person, I think you share a unique bond! Even in the episode where Neelix leaves the ship for good, Tuvok still doesn't understand why Neelix would want to dance. I think it would have been interesting to see the two start as total opposites who can't stand each other but end as two friends who have a unique connection. Miles and Julien come to mind.
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