The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 2: 2021 Edition...

[Farscape One]

This is a twist on a game that is played here, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very curious to see the results.

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"

Season Two -

The Child
Where Silence Has Lease
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Measure Of A Man
The Dauphin
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance
Shades Of Gray

 

[Farscape One]

I have a lot of episodes I love from this season, so picking my first save is difficult. But I will pick "Where Silence Has Lease" first.

This episode truly showed just how dangerous exploring space can be, and inadvertantly set the tone for much of season 2. A very creepy vibe throughout the whole episode. Despite the fact it took place almost entirely on the bridge, it was never boring. Winrich Kolbe's first directing of the franchise was outstanding, and illustrates why he kept getting called back over and over again. (He ended up doing 50, second in total only to David Livingston, who did 62.)

Great story and a wonderful villain with Nagilum, who honestly is not a bad guy... just goes about gaining knowledge in a, by our standards, sadistic way.



The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Measure Of A Man
The Dauphin
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance
Shades Of Gray

 

[Seven of Five]

The Measure of a Man is my favourite episode from season two, so it's an easy save.

Guinan's presence in this episode was timely, keeping Picard spurred on to save Data's freedom of movement. I also loved seeing Riker being forced to do his best against his friend.

The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance
Shades Of Gray

 

[Qonundrum]

So I went to the fish store and got some tuna. Might be high in mercury, but it's free of The Dauphin.

Season 2 eschews the Wonderkid aspect and makes Wesley more typical, especially when it comes to the show being a "family" show*... so here he is, still recovering from season 1, complete with an audience that is quietly wanting that SCM to rip all that iron from his bod.. Nice bit o' sci-fi playing with real science and not the Treknobabble that it would create a trope for as well...

More about Wonderkid, Wesley was shown as being so much a panacea magical stick figure in the past, that the level of naivety on display in this outing is almost overrcompensation, but isn't so far over the top that suspension of disbelief is jettisoned as fast as Finney's pod was. Oh wait, wrong installment of the franchise, Finney was in TOS... Wil Wheaton manages to make it work as well.

Actually, the love interest subplot is rather extremely well-handled**, and the plot of her being this important person to be protected was partially redone (and mixed with aspects of Elaan of Troyius) in that season 5 episode with Dr Huer and Xenia Onatopp as well...

Kudos to the acting, which is good all around, but the acting of Anya is so strong that it makes sharp scenes like her overzealous desire to kill someone in sickbay because he has a temporary case of cooties work in the story's favor, where other actors (especially if this were season 1) would render it laughable instead.

We also get to see Salia as not a stick figure but a three-dimensional character, feeling a dilemma. And, again, well-acted.

The ending with her true form, an incorporeal ball of light, is corny yet somehow works.

CGI for morphing wasn't yet accessible, but the effects used were rather good for the time. The blu-rays keep true to the original visuals, which is great.

And who wouldn't want to see Worf and Anya in the ring? (Boxing or wedding, they make for quite an entertaining couple... this episode juggled a lot, and if anything, more of this would have been a hoot, but I sorta like the episode as it stands as well.)

* well, that little issue was as uneven as it got in season 1, and with season 2 it's almost as inconsistent... will eventually get to that...

** I generally loathe "luuurve" stories, if they're showing Jimbo and Tanya fondling around or, if nothing else, when Kirk shows up in how to teach it before telling his precious pupil he's got to go back to the ship and might check back in a few months... ugh, that ain't love, that's-- but before I really digress, for me, the conflict and tragedy and journey to get there seem more interesting, and this episode pulls it off incredibly well - not just because this is in TNG's formative years where they were flopping more than a minnow that plipped out of the bait bucket onto the dock. And yes, I recall a couple Kirk episodes where it was more the journey and conflict (and even tragedy you would never expect to see happen! ***) and not him playing "dine and dash". Which sadly are too few, but I digress again...

*** Margaret Armen wrote both the best and worst examples of Kirk and his love life on screen, I must say... but, again, wrong franchise. It's nice to see this episode have a breather and develop something of some depth, and with Wesley instead of Riker - the guy who's been the stereotype Kirk trope plenty of times and such would have not been suitable as the figure for Salia to have that conflict and growth with.


What's left:
The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance
Shades Of Gray

 

[Qonundrum]

I have a lot of episodes I love from this season, so picking my first save is difficult. But I will pick "Where Silence Has Lease" first.

This episode truly showed just how dangerous exploring space can be, and inadvertantly set the tone for much of season 2. A very creepy vibe throughout the whole episode. Despite the fact it took place almost entirely on the bridge, it was never boring. Winrich Kolbe's first directing of the franchise was outstanding, and illustrates why he kept getting called back over and over again. (He ended up doing 50, second in total only to David Livingston, who did 62.)

Great story and a wonderful villain with Nagilum, who honestly is not a bad guy... just goes about gaining knowledge in a, by our standards, sadistic way.

This episode really nails the mystery, allure, and danger of what may be in outer space and dimensions beyond. Something a lot of season 2 does eminently well, on numerous occasions...

The vibe is perfect. Nothing feels like padding, which is something of a feat.

The pre-credits teaser is a lovely throwaway, since to open up with the ship approaching the void would be hokey.

Anything with Kolbe and Livingston is going to be watchable either which way.

Picard's discussions with not-Troi and not-Data, and Nagilum, are wonderful scenes.

And despite being a quick trip back to the well of "let's use the self-destruct trope for a thrill", they did it right.

As far as bottle shows go, this one's a top tier entry for sure.

If anything, Wesley chose a great time for a potty break, as TNG never discussed bathrooms and all of a sudden Wesley is gone from the bridge, replaced by a stick figure, who is killed for dramatic effect, then Wesley magically appears again in the next scene as if nothing's happened. Which is why my headcanon states he has type 1 diabetes and used that little hidden alcove in Picard's ready room because that's where one of the ship's toidy units is located.

 

[Sakonna]

So many good ones! But I'll save "The Emissary" This is one I go back to again and again and it always satisfies. The first great Worf episode. K'Ehlyr is a fantastic character, criminally underused. This ep also has fantastic atmosphere -- a particularly delicious example of that "eerie lonely deep space" vibe that I love so much from season 1/2 of TNG.

The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Peak Performance
Shades Of Gray

 

[Vger23]

Damn some of you have weird tastes.

I’m pulling “Contagion.” Like @Farscape One said about “Where Silence Has Lease,” this was one of those episodes that truly highlights the dangers of exploring deep space. TNG got way too far away from that in later seasons, and S2 has some of the best offerings in that lane.

The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Peak Performance
Shades Of Gray

 

[Farscape One]

My next save was going to be "Contagion", for the reasons stated and also it brought us Picard's love of archaeology, which was a good plot point here.

So I go to "Peak Performance", which is a true highlight of this season. I honestly feel THIS should have been the season finale. EVERYONE got used very, very well here. There's nothing not to love about this one.

I always loved David Kemper's script, and he would go on to be the big guy for FARSCAPE.

This episode busts a lot of others up.

The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Seven of Five]

Q Who is next. It introduced the Borg. and showed them as a genuinely creepy threat. The way Q so flippantly tosses the ship into Borg space is well done as well.

Going back to The Emissary, it's not a favourite episode or anything but I loved Susie Plakson as K'Ehlyr. She was the perfect romantic foil for Worf. I loved their plan at the end to help the Klingon ship to wake up not too cranky after their long nap as well.

The Child
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[oldtrekkie]

I am saving Elementary, Dear Data, the last good one IMO of the season. The rest is at best... meh.

The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "Time Squared" next. Again, space is dangerous... and it's also mysterious and wondrous. It's refreshing to have an anomaly NOT be explained at the end.


The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Royale
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Seven of Five]

I love the design of the kid in Pen Pals, as it was something genuinely alien. I also really like the relationship between Data and Sarajenka.

The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Royale
The Icarus Factor
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Vger23]

I'm saving "The Royale." I know this one never makes the fan favorite lists...but I put it in the same category as "Where Silence Has Lease," "Time Squared," "Contagion," and "Q Who" as a cool, off-the-wall, creepy, "yes everyone, deep space is weird and possibly dangerous" episode, and I loved those a lot more than the TNG soap opera episodes in the later seasons.

It also has some GREAT Worf lines

"WE call it Theta 8"
"How did a being like you come to be here?"
"Perhaps these turbolifts could take us there." (I say this under my breath nearly every time I am waiting for an elevator)
"Commander, some curiosities..."
(asked if he wants room service) "NO."

It's getting tough now...there's probably only one episode left here that I'd go out of my way to save. S2 is definitely highs and lows. It has some of my favorite TNG episodes in it, but it also has some absolute clunkers. It reminds me of TOS S3...really high "highs" and really low "lows."

The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter Of Honor
The Icarus Factor
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Farscape One]

That was going to be my next save. Love the creepy vibe in it.

Saving "A Matter Of Honor" next. It was a good look at life aboard a Klingon ship. Also liked having another Benzite here... they were not used enough in the franchise.


The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
The Icarus Factor
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Vger23]

That was going to be my next save. Love the creepy vibe in it.

Saving "A Matter Of Honor" next. It was a good look at life aboard a Klingon ship. Also liked having another Benzite here... they were not used enough in the franchise.


The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
The Icarus Factor
Samaritan Snare
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

And you, in turn, took what would have been my last save! There are 1-2 others here that are 4-6 on a 10 scale (at best)...but that's about it.

 

[Seven of Five]

Samaritan Snare isn't a classic episode, but I did love the scenes between Picard and Wesley Crusher on the way to his operations. The Pakleds were a fun enemy as well.

The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
The Icarus Factor
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

Samaritan Snare isn't a classic episode, but I did love the scenes between Picard and Crusher on the way to his operations. The Pakleds were a fun enemy as well.

The Pakleds are back in Lower Decks. They are Strong! They are also still stupid.

 

[Seven of Five]

Yes, I'm loving season two of Lower Decks! Pakled really are the perfect enemy for an animated comedy.

Though I still wonder how they ever made it off their homeworld in the first place.

 

[Sakonna]

"Unnatural Selection" Over in one of the TOS threads I was talking about how I haaaaaaaaaaaaate rapid aging stories -- with one exception, this one! It's a great episode for Pulaski and a powerful dose of awesome season 2 space spookiness.

The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Schizoid Man
The Icarus Factor
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray

 

[Qonundrum]

Batter up! Unnatural Selection is a great outing for Dr Pulaski, which also takes the silly "aging rapidly" sci-fi trope and gives it a surprisingly good gasp at life. Or one certainly better than magical radiation with a quick cure... yeah, the transporter gets a new trope thanks to this episode, but here it feels authentic and not a crutch or go-to "get out of plot free" device. Season 2 had a knack of starting out plot tropes with panache but letting them fizzle badly later on...




On edit: Ninja'd! So my real next outing is The Schizoid Man because it's got another novel take on an old trope, that of plopping a conscious mind into a robotic body. TOS did something like this in season1, but it's such shlock that it's hard to rewatch. TNG does it a lot better, right down to pesky minutiae involving newfound strength.

The ending is nicely melancholy too.

Best of all, Data's special ability from season 1 is barely touched on, and one doesn't need to see "Naked Now" to appreciate all they want or otherwise from it.

What's left, surprise, surprise:

The Child
The Outrageous Okona
Loud As A Whisper
The Icarus Factor
Up The Long Ladder
Manhunt
Shades Of Gray