The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, 2023 Edition - Season 7...

[Farscape One]

Welcome to our bi-yearly 'Most Disliked Episode' games! Now that the 'Least Disliked Episode' games hosted by BlueStuff (who inspired me to create these games, so thank you very much for paving the way) have concluded, we can begin the opposite side of that coin.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "Shades Of Gray"
2018 - "The Outrageous Okona"
2019 - "Code of Honor"
2021 - "Journey's End"
2023 - "Aquiel"


Season Seven -

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Phantasms"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Parallels"
"The Pegasus"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Lower Decks"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"
"Preemptive Strike"
"All Good Things..."

 

[Farscape One]

TNG season 7 had the worst issue a series could have... burnout. Overall, I find this to be a less successful season than any season, including season 1. However, there are multiple gems that make the rest of the season worth it.

And I'm going to start with the finale, "All Good Things...".

This was a brilliant way to conclude TNG. The perfect finale for the series. I'm sure I don't have to go into any more details.


"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Phantasms"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Parallels"
"The Pegasus"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Lower Decks"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"
"Preemptive Strike"

 

[Qonundrum]

So glad that "All Good Things..." was saved first. This is a beautiful, heartfelt sendoff. Yes, it has a couple nitpicks. No, they don't come close to ruining any of it.

"The Pegasus"

is my first, since there's one or few in particular I don't mind all winning in a 10-way tie.

"Pegasus" has the influence of DS9 rubbing off on TNG, since all the better story ideas went to DS9 and TNG was left to tread.

It also ensures that Riker has more of a backstory than what everyone on Risa saw. And it's not a perfect one, either. This is definitely one of Riker's best stories. And a very solid one for TNG as well, even if it's another "evil admiral of the week" plot, it's done extremely well.


What's left:
"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Phantasms"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Parallels"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Lower Decks"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"
"Preemptive Strike"

 

[Seven of Five]

Lower Decks is one of the few great ones, so I'll save it. It was so gripping and fun they made a series about it.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Phantasms"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Parallels"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"
"Preemptive Strike"

 

[Oddish]

"Phantasms" is creepy-weird but awesome. Only downside is that watching it makes me hungry for cake.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Parallels"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"
"Preemptive Strike"

 

[BlueStuff]

I'll go with Preemptive Strike - Ro was a great character and this was a fitting end to her TNG arc. It also set up the incredible Imposters nearly 30 years (!) later.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Parallels"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Seven of Five]

Parallels is a lot of fun so that's next. I love Worf getting increasingly confused with each jump, and seeing the differences between each alternate timeline is cool.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part I"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[CitadelZombies]

Well, all of my favourites for this season have already been saved. The rest of season 7 is pretty weak. I'll go for "Gambit, Part I", fun mystery into Picard's 'death', and it's kind of fun seeing Robin Curits back in Star Trek.


"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Homeward"
"Sub Rosa"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Sakonna]

It’s not currently as heavy in my rewatch rotation as it once was, but I still have to start by saving my beloved “Sub Rosa.”

Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Homeward"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Genesis"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Qonundrum]

This is becoming like a buffet, where one can pick and choose any number of entrees, like "whale blubber supreme", "skunk surprise", "raccoon roadkill rump roast", et cetera...

"Genesis"

is saved next, even though it's not a torpedo-shaped suppository that KHAAAAAAAAAN! wants to test out on Kirk.

The science is a load of reindeer droppings marinating in mouthwash that Rudolph threw up*, but the direction and camerawork excels and the horror element is so good that it's easier to roll with the proceedings. Even with the treknobabble.

* which also explains his red nose

What's left in the crock pot:
Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Homeward"
"Thine Own Self"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Cyfa]

I'm in a bit of a quandry because "Dark Page" is about Lwaxana which would normally mean a pretty much instant save amongst this lot, but "Thine Own Self" has Deanna ordering Data to address her as Sir!
Despite Majel's awesome turn as Lwaxana once again (), DP is rather bland and cheap-looking, so I'm going to save "Thine Own Self" for the aforementioned Troi-promotion, but also for the fabulous dress that Dr. Crusher gets to wear while retrieving Data

Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Inheritance"
"Homeward"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Sakonna]

I love "Inheritance." Fionnula Flanagan is just so good in everything she does, including this.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Masks"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Oddish]

It's getting harder and harder to pick, but I'll go with "Masks". Watching Brent Spiner bring all those different mythological characters to life was kind of fun.

Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Gambit, Part II"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[CitadelZombies]

I'll save "Gambit, Part II" for pretty much the same reasons as Part I. Its a decent conclusion to the story.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Dark Page"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Farscape One]

Thank you, Oddish, for saving "Masks"! I had actually prepared a lengthy post on why I was saving it because it was going to be my next one, but I guess I can delete it now.

In fact, all of the ones I would have picked after "Masks" has been saved, except one. And it's "Dark Page".

"Dark Page" is a terribly underrated episode. Not only is it great by taking Lwaxana seriously, but it explains so much about her character! She lost her child... that has to be the worst thing for a parent to go through. It not only explains why she was so overbearing with Deanna, but also why she was so over the top with her zest for life. It's definitely a thing for many people who go through horrible tragedies to go the route she did.

I also firmly believe Neelix is not only an homage to Lwaxana Troi, but a soul twin of hers. A very cheerful, over the top person who also doles out good advice and has a very tragic background? I also feel Neelix was a good character when taken seriously... just like Lwaxana.

As I've gotten older, it's harder and harder for me not to shed a single man tear when she reveals to Deanna what happened. So this is an easy save for me.


"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Journey's End"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Vger23]

Ok…let’s see here….I can do this!


I think I’m saving “Journey’s End” which is a much better version of Star Trek: Insurrection (which seemingly mined ideas from this episode and “Homeward”) because it has stakes we care about (Wesley, the Cardassian treaty). It also has some nice performances, a few genuinely tense moments, and a nice conclusion to Wesley Crusher’s story with the return of The Traveler.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Interface"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Qonundrum]

Two come to mind, but Geordi's mom being played by the wonderfulness of Madge Sinclair far and outright beats everything that's left.

"Interface"

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That teaser does make it look exciting as well. Kinda funny how TNG's first half had bog-standard teasers but more exciting episodes overall, whereas the latter half nailed it with the teasers but the actual episodes were as boring as watching moldy wallpaper peel slowly from the walls of a humid room that's found in a disused motel in Encino, why not.

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The generic tinned vomit muzak aside (bad enough in season 5 but this reuse just sets a new low), this is otherwise a good scene, with the mystery and horror elements! Wouldn't it be neat if the latter-half episodes were given scores with tonal quality that reached into the scenes instead of being slathered disjointedly and (distractingly bad) in the background?

What's left:
"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"
"Emergence"

 

[Oddish]

Will save "Emergence", for the audacious idea of the ship actually coming to life and thinking for itself. And the scene with Data and the taxi cab.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Eye of the Beholder"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"

 

[Cyfa]

There are only three left for which I have any good feelings for (and then only parts of the episodes), so I'm going to save the least annoying overall: "Eye of the Beholder". The 'it was all a dream' - or, in this case, it was all a telepathic projection - is an overused trope, but we get to see more of Troi doing her thing and only she could 'save the day'.

"Descent, Part II"
"Liaisons"
"Attached"
"Force of Nature"
"Homeward"
"Firstborn"
"Bloodlines"

EDIT: I have just realised that instead of Riker going to the nacelle control room and trying to talk Daniel Kwan down, he could have just beamed him away remotely.

 

[Qonundrum]

Will save "Emergence", for the audacious idea of the ship actually coming to life and thinking for itself. And the scene with Data and the taxi cab.

No more audacious than a non-sentient computer's holodeck system inadvertently creating a sentient being (Moriarty), as well as technology inconceivable to the humans until Barclay learns it from a Cytherian probe then tells the computer what to go do with it, followed by none of this ever being used ever again...?