Star Trek Animated
Movies 1-5
Star Trek: The Next Generation Seasons 1-4
Note: These are from brief, unedited comments posted on Facebook. Some of the grammar may be a little clunky – I hadn’t intended on archiving these anywhere, but I’ve popped them here as some people enjoyed them!
Episode 100!: Albatross
Quiet episode making no real use of the animated format. Feels like a live action bottle episode – and in fact the “crew member on trial” is done several times through Trek history. Interesting though, not actually BAD.
Episode 101: How Sharper Than a Serpent’s Tooth
Ok, so this is Who Mourns for Adonais again. And I always get very bored easily of the common TV trope of “native Americans are by nature wise” and it’s scifi extension “…because they once met aliens”. But it’s pretty enough, and an entertaining half hour.
Episode 102: The Counter-Clock Incident
Classic, loads of fun with some great drama and funny moments. Has a lot in it off what makes Trek good, plus of course the fan-service of introducing us to April 🙂
Brief pause now, as I wait 5 years for The Motion Picture… or a weekish until the new 4K set of the first four movies arrives with me.
Farewell episodic Kirk/Spock/McCoy, time to get to the big screen!
“Episode” 103: The Motion Picture (in 4K)
Brief review: I love this film. Grew up hating it because of its slow pace and it’s stylistic differences to II-VI, and now I adore it for the exact same reasons. The leisurely pace gives it a really epic feel, and coming off the back of a TOS marathon I can’t see how TWOK etc are particularly “in keeping” with the classic series either. We’ve basically got three distinctly different styles pre-TNG, and TMP happens to occupy one all by itself. Brilliant character moments (love Kirk being an absolute dick and really showing us how NOT to lead in the first half of the film) and stunning visuals that aren’t matched until TUC TBH.
How’s the 4K remaster? Mostly breathtaking, as you might expect. There is a light amount of grain as to be expected given the source, but no signs of any aggressive DNRing. The colours are excellent (as they usually have been for prior releases of this movie), and the 4K really shows up details I’ve never seen before in models, crowd shots, props and costumes. Partly because I’m concentrating more as the image drags me in more than usual, but I’m sure there’s some stuff that if I bothered to do a side by side just aren’t there usually.
Downside is some of the sequences pushed the technical limits in the 70s too far, and the remaster highlights them. The cutting out of the shuttle in the “20 minute flyby” is more pronounced, the awful grain in the dark scene where Ilia is being kidnapped – all stuff we knew was a bit ropey but just more obvious now. I’m glad they didn’t try and “fix” this stuff, it’s all just part of it, and definitely not a reason NOT to recommend this.
Back to the marathon itself – Star Trek is back! It’s all a bit late-70s but it’s so exciting after a 10 year (or a few weeks in my time) absence of anything live action. Solid plot, great to see the gang back together, and huge kudos for both the music and overall sound design. ❤️❤️
“Episode” 104: The Wrath of Khan (in 4K)
Ah we all know this one. It’s the one with Ricardo Montalban and his amazing chest giving it his all and managing to be absolutely awesome while being VERY close to going so far OTT as to be embarrassing.
No huge review here as everyone who’ll ever watch it will have seen it already a million times. Hell, the Genesis Trilogy of this, Search for Spock and The One with the Whales is what I grew up with and feel is “real” Trek from its constant TV repeats.
Ceti eels are creepy as fuck, and there’s some marvellous human moments especially around Kirk’s age and his relationships with Carol and David, despite this being a big old battle movie, and the special effects budget has been carefully used to reuse bits from TMP and pump more money into the new action. Kirstie Alley is a believable Vulcan, and of course cute enough to trip Kirk up more than once 🙂 And the Genesis animation – Pixar’s first big piece of CG work – still stands up well today (I look forward to seeing it again another thousand times when I reach the TNG s2 finale).
I’ve seen the Theatrical version a BUNCH of times, and the ABC TV version a couple of times. So tonight I’m watching the Directors Cut (the straight to DVD version, tweaked slightly for Blu-Ray, which is mostly identical to the ABC version) for possibly the first time? I like the “new” bits, and even the small ones jump out for me as I know the rest word for word. Although my god Peter Preston calling Kirk as blind as a tiberian bat is SO cringey it makes me want him to die in an engineering crisis.
This is the only of the original movies that already had a 4K remaster, a year or so back, but I’d not seen it, so I’m used to the overly-DNRed Blu-Ray from yonks ago. As such this is a really nice upgrade. The dust and dirt on Ceti Alpha VI (“Thiiiiis is Ceti Alpha V!”) is marvellous and there’s some lovey texture in the set pieces I’d never seen before, particularly on Regula I but also the lovely metal corridors on the refit Ent. The colour balance has always been good as far back as the earliest DVDs but still looks fine here. Alien subtitles (conversation between Spock and Saavik after Kirk boards the Enterprise) are burnt-in, yay 🙂
“Episode” 105: The Search for Spock (in 4K)
I like this one. It often pales next to the action of II and VI, and the outright comedy of IV, but it has a good balance of both which appeals to me. Also as a child of the TNG era, I like that introduces a number of ships and sets that would later get a lot of repeat use in that series (inc the new Klingon ship design), and we get our first “new style” Klingons taking centre stage, after the cameo in TMP. Some highlights: “Don’t call me tiny”, “this isn’t reality – this is fantasy”, “fine, I’ll kill you later”, “you Klingon bastard…”*, the Excelsior breaking, the Enterprise destruction, and pretty much everything McCoy does.
*one of Shatner’s finest moments in the series.
Once again, 4K upgrade definitely worthwhile. Lots of detail brought out, textures and skin tones are beautiful, with a very minimal amount of grain. Definitely recommending this set before I even hit The One with the Whales.
Next up: weeks after the announcement of TNG, comes The Voyage Home, which technically makes this film the last time the Kirk era is officially the “current one”.
“Episode” 106: The Voiyage Home (in 4K)
Ah everyone knows this one. The One with the Whales. Noooooklear Wessels. Spock swimming. Hello computer? Etc.
Grew up with this one constantly on repeat and on an offair VHS (along with II and III) so I know it word for word. Still don’t tire of it. Love the light hearted fun after the serious two before it. Up there with Tribbles etc.
At the time I didn’t realise Paramount seemed to be recycling the same damn “out of towners come to America and hilarity ensues” plot repeatedly during the 80s, but what the hell, it works.
This is the weakest of the 4K transfers but I think it’s the source material. TVH has always looked a little soft. Not sure why, but it’s still the case here – I don’t think it’s poor remastering, just seeing the full quality of the master material. And oh god the panoramic shot of Saavik and Amanda waving goodbye to the Bounty looks HORRIBLE – I’d never noticed how badly printed on they are – that’s the joy of 4K I guess!
Overall for those asking (Rob), yeah, this set is worth it for the visual upgrade.
Star Trek Episode 107: Encounter at Farpoint
Has some good ideas, some stunning model effects and a few funny moments. Unfortunately poorly paced (some obvious padding crowbarred in after the first drafts) and some awful script choices that ruin (a) otherwise perfectly good scenes and (b) character introductions, in particular Picard and Troi who between them must be enough to put anyone off tuning in next week.
Back to 1-line micro-reviews now until I get to another movie, but I just want to get self-indulgent for a moment too to acknowledge this: There are some TV shows that come at just the right time in your youth, and that you rewatch so many times, that they transcend TV. I won’t pretend TNG is perfect – hell, it’s not even subjectively perfect for me. But it definitely is *that* show. It’s a show that feels so real (even when Troi is crying about ‘great joy and gratitood’) that when I try and imagine stepping outside the sets onto a soundstage and seeing the flats behind the walls, it spins me out. Its a show where most individual episodes take me back very specifically to the time and place I first saw them, and the source format from my collection (each one a mix of BBC2 offairs, commercial VHSs, copies from friends and BSB – and to this day I remember which is which). I clearly remember innacurate magazine articles about seasons 6 and 7 as they were being broadcast in the US, because I re-read them so many times. TNG immediately brings back all the sensations of being a young teenager. I remember the first episode I saw, and I remember the last I saw (clue, not Farpoint and All Good Things!). It’s so absolutely entwined with my young life its impossible to watch without it taking me back. If you don’t have a TV show or a film or a book or an album or a work of art that does this to you, it’s really hard to explain. But yeah, TNG. You distracted me from girls in the 90s, but damn you were my first love.
Next up, episode 108, where the crew gets drunk and starts shagging, and episode 109, where a bunch of people of colour yell about vaccines.
Star Trek Episode 108: The Naked Now
Some funny moments, some cringy bits, waaaay too early in the show to be doing a ‘crew acting out of character’ and way too early to be remaking a TOS episode. And Patrick Stewart has never seen anyone drunk before.
Episode 109: Code of Honor
I’ve always hated this BUT… actually it’s quite entertaining and action packed *if* you can ignore the choice to cast all-black actors, which just makes it seem like a racist pos. There’s some dud moments (“Troi you’re my friend and you tricked me!”… “NO vaccine and NO Lt Yar!”) but overall not as bad as its given credit for.
Episode 110: The Last Outpost
The Ferengi are SOOO much better once the writers realise the comic potential. Right now they’re taken far too seriously, and they’re just dumb. Planet Hell set is pretty but very obviously a soundstage.
Episode 111: Where No One Has Gone Before
Beautiful episode visually and in terms of the score. Kosinki is a very enjoyable arsehole. Wesley yet again patronised despite clearly having a better idea of what’s going on than any of the adults (that sweater though, eesh).
Star Trek Episode 112: Lonely Among Us
Eerie soundtrack. Basic plot. Some cool visuals. Beverly Crusher’s weird-ass headgear. Patrick Stewart is fun. Filler episode but not a bad one as such. Episode 113: Justice It’s like someone saw TOS and tried to parody it. Plenty of nice chests both male and female. First of many appearances of Tillman (between Trek and Bill and Ted, it lead me to desperately wanting to visit – and finally did in 2019 ❤️). Mostly a good plot as long as you care about Wesley (even money by this point in the show, and his line about “some games I don’t know how to play yet” doesn’t help his cause). The Edo god is a great effect.
Star Trek Episode 112: Lonely Among Us
Eerie soundtrack. Basic plot. Some cool visuals. Beverly Crusher’s weird-ass headgear. Patrick Stewart is fun. Filler episode but not a bad one as such.
Episode 113: Justice
It’s like someone saw TOS and tried to parody it. Plenty of nice chests both male and female. First of many appearances of Tillman (between Trek and Bill and Ted, it lead me to desperately wanting to visit – and finally did in 2019 ❤️). Mostly a good plot as long as you care about Wesley (even money by this point in the show, and his line about “some games I don’t know how to play yet” doesn’t help his cause). The Edo god is a great effect.
Star Trek Episode 114: The Battle
Still trying to take the Ferengi seriously, but this has a great plot to back it up (unlike The Last Outpost), and some fabulous visuals. One of the few s1 episodes I can keep returning to.
Episode 115: Hide & Q
Thank god for DeLancie because this looks and feels cheap as shit. Q elevates this episode to being reasonably enjoyable, but this definitely features the Planet Hell set at its worst.
Episode 116: Haven
LOVE Majel in this role! Some awful lines which she manages to pull off. Another highlight in an otherwise dodgy season, even if the Troi-Riker-Miller love triangle is clunky. And yay, Planet Hell again, this time with a beautiful purpley background.
Episode 117: The Big Goodbye#
A fun idea (and at this point we haven’t done the ‘holdeck failure’ plotline to death) and its clear the cast are enjoying it. We’ve clearly discovered Brent’s excellent comic timing – the fun side of Data we see here is the one we see recurring through the rest of the show. There’s some hot Picard/Crusher stuff here which… well, we know it goes nowhere. Sigh.
Episode 118: Datalore
Mixed feelings. I love the Lore character and the concept. Some stupid plot holes (really? Data can’t figure out how to use contractions? Until this point I thought he was just being polite), Wesley is just awful again, and the cheery “AGREED!” at the end became a cliche between a couple of us many years ago. But yeah, fair episode. And Roddenberry’s last onscreen writing credit.
Episode 119: Angel One
TNG Season 1 is in many ways TOS-lite. None moreso than here. OK, the matte painting is gorgeous and comes back a LOT. And Frakes is clearly having the time of his life. But otherwise? Just horrible.
Star Trek Episode 120: 11001001
Some beautiful visuals of the starbase and the Enterprise, and I love the idea of Riker getting distracted by a holodeck hottie… The Bynars are an intriguing idea but ultimately not particularly exciting villain.
Episode 121: Too Short a Season
A bit of a cliched plot – sci-fi has explored old people getting young and young people getting old *so* many times. But Clayton Rohner is bloody fabulous in this and really elevates it.
Episode 122: When the Bough Breaks
Meh, what we really need right now is a decent Wesley episode to make up for the awfulness they’ve given him so far. And this is quite a decent episode (especially for Jerry Hardin), and it focusses on Wesley. He’s still very much on trial but he’s getting there…
Episode 123: Home Soil
I gather this episode isn’t highly thought of. I really enjoy it – exciting, intriguing, and ‘ugly bags of mostly water’ is just awesome. I think it’s probably because it’s very clearly Devil in the Dark Redux it gets a worse rap than it should.
Episode 124: Coming of Age
Another Wesley episode, and this one’s a bit more like it. He’s much more appealing here, and they play up the worst past of his nature to some level of comedy (“You’re lucky you’re cute or you could be obonxious.” / “Did you hear that? She said I was cute.”) The B-plot of the investigation into Picard is great and a rare bit of story-arcing for this era of TV, referring back to previous adventures and setting up a later s1 episode that sadly goes nowhere…
Episode 125: Heart of Glory
I’m not a huge fan of Klingon-themed episodes, they’re just not that interesting a species (with some notable exceptions, such as the Worf/Duras arc later). This is a rather typical fare, with some good action adventure but not much depth. Meh.
Episode 126: The Arsenal of Freedom
A real guilty pleasure. I find this one a very easy watch and lots of fun, despite one of the worst soundstage-‘exteriors’ in Trek history and cheesy plotline. Vincent Schiavelli is always a joy to watch, there’s some more hints at Picard/Crusher which is about to vanish until the final season, Geordi gets a moment to shine and through that plot we get some good leadership lessons.
Episode 127: Symbiosis
Mixed feelings. Very heavy-handed moralising (especially Tasha’s speech) but it’s a neat concept, Gates McFadden gets a rare early moment in the spotlight and Merritt Buttrick is fabulous.
Episode 128: Skin of Evil
Tasha’s death is cool and well handled. Can’t help feeling if that hadn’t happened, this would be a bit of a forgettable episode. At least until Shades of Gray anyway: “Data something’s got meeeee!”
Episode 129: We’ll Always Have Paris
Meh plotline and an attempt AT LAST to add some humanity to Picard. Gorgeous visuals with the multi-Data scene at the end (the first season’s visuals are among the best designed the franchise has ever had – there’s some lovely looking ones, such as this).
Episode 130: Conspiracy
Love it! Creep villain, and very different type of plot to anything before, sending TNG into its own, out of the shadow of TOS. “it DOES like you” is chilling. And the gross sequence at the end that BBC2 cut from the copy I relied on for years (but partly reinstated for Shades of Gray).
Episode 131: The Neutral Zone
Another highlight. The Romulans are immediately awesome and – despite really barely appearing in TOS/TAS, make it clear here that they are going to be one of THE villains to watch for TNG. The plot with the frozen humans is fab too – humour and heart both there in spades. I just want a low mileage pit woofie now.
(At this point if I were watching strictly in US airing order, I’d chuck The Cage in now. But I won’t).
Episode 132: The Child
Could be so good but too much going on. New character and location in Guinan/Ten Forward (and her relationship with Wesley). New CMO and her relationships with Data and Picard. New role for Geordi. Permanent role for Worf. New beard for Riker (OK, that’s not a biggie). Plotline about rape and rape-pregnancy, which frankly could have had a LOT more time spent on it. I really like the possibility of all these things but they should have been split across the first few episodes of the season.
Episode 133: Where Silence Has Lease
Weirdly, I always remember this episode as being about Nagilum, even though he doesn’t appear until two-thirds through. The stuff before he shows up is super-creepy and probably a lot stronger (plus includes one of my favourite examples of “standing set used to represent somewhere else”). Then it turns into a “godlike being toys with the crew” plot we’ve seen a million times before. Only thing that elevates the final part is Picard’s wonderful ruminations on life backed by twinkly classical music.
Episode 134: Elementary Dear Data
Nice concept. Muldaur and Daniel Davis are fantastic. Watchable episode as long as you don’t think too much. Stupid plot hole 1: We can breathe consciousness into a hologram just by asking the computer to create an opponent capable of outwitting Data? Stupid plot hole 2: Would have been a much easier bet with Pulaski just to erase one of the novels from Data’s memory than relying on the computer try create a new Holmes-type mystery. But maybe I’m just thinking of that scene from Red Dwarf…
Episode 135: The Outrageous Okona
A-plot couldn’t care less about. Impossibly handsome and charming lead bleh whatever. Very TOS in the worst way.
B-plot a nice part of Data’s journey, but falls into the classic trap of having self-described “comedy” in a drama written by a non-comic (Guinan’s sense of humour is bloody awful – Data was fine not to laugh at the ‘noid joke). Fortunately they allowed Piscopo to improv a bit, so he gets some good bits here and there, but still not “the greatest comic of all time” or whatever he’s meant to be.
Episode 136: Loud as a Whisper
A quiet (no pun intended) thoughtful episode. Quite thought provoking. Not hugely memorable but I admire their attempt to do something different. Unintentional funny moment: Picard grabbing a deaf guy by the ears and shouting “Listen!”
Episode 137: The Schizoid Man
It’s not a sci-fi show until the amazing W Morgan Sheppard shows up. Shame it’s not for longer, but he makes way for a great comic turn from Spiner (the eulogy is SO quotable). Some interesting concepts.
Episode 138: Unnatural Selection
Urgh. Boring. Such a shame this is “the Pulaski episode” as she’s a fine character – but as soon as she’s given centre stage it’s with this tedious “characters age fast” plotline, solved with the old magic transporter trick.
Episode 139: A Matter of Honor
One of the Klingon episodes I really enjoy – they all seem to be having so much fun with it! The plot on the Enterprise isn’t as good, but it’s nice they’re starting to give Wesley more things to do that don’t involve him being obnoxious.
Episode 140: The Measure of a Man
After several rather tame ‘courtroom drama’ attempts in TOS, TNG has a bash… and nails it, not least of all because of Patrick Stewart’s outstanding performance. The moment between Data and Riker in the final scene had me in tears today too.
Episode 141: The Dauphin
Nice they’re still trying to do some good stuff with Wesley after making him so awful last season. Wil does good here, especially in his scenes with Guinan (her bit at the end about love always being different is a great moment, and Wheaton’s on fire throughout). Silly monsters are silly.
Episode 142: Contagion
Always been a favourite of mine, mainly because it looks so pretty, plus Carolyn Seymour yay. Just don’t focus so much on the plot. Wouldn’t fly these days. Computer virus delivered by a skanky USB stick that no-one seems to notice, all fixed by turning it off and on again.
Episode 142: The Royale
LOADS of fun. I’m fairly sure this episode is awful but it’s a guilty pleasure. The cast seem to be having a ball and I get swept up with it every time.
Episode 144: Time Squared
Oh how much do I love this one? Absolutely wonderful! So creepy, marvellous music, lighting and visuals, great concept (time travelling a few hours! Genius!). Good performances. Doesn’t matter that it doesn’t really make sense, I could watch this on loop happily.
Episode 145: The Icarus Factor
Father/son stories usually get me right here *beats chest*… but for some reason not this one. I struggle to care. About anything that happens in this one really.
Episode 146: Pen Pals
Nice idea, sadly ruined by whiny alien girl. “Data where ARE YOUUUUU?”
Episode 147: Q Who
Instant classic. The Borg are bloody terrifying in this one – mysterious and non-negotiable, unlike the watered down “1980s Cybermen” Voyager turns them into. One of the best scores. DeLancie is fab despite playing second fiddle to the new villains. And where does Ensign Sonya Gomez go 🙁
Episode 148: Samaritan Snare
Before ‘Darmok’, surely the most quotable TNG. “We look for things. Things to make us go.” Love love love the Pakleds, what a lot of fun this episode is, with a surprising twist for the enemies and a fun ending with the Crimson Forcefield.
Episode 149: Up the Long Ladder
I quite like the plot about the clones, I guess. The drunk Irish group are just awful (although Maurice Hurley apparantly backed it, so who am I to speak). The “Do you no’ loik gurrls?” scene is simultaneously hot and cringemaking – very confusing.
‘Episode’ 150: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
I love all the TOS movies, and this is no exception, albeit it’s the weakest. It’s not actually a bad movie, it just suffers (particularly in the effects) from budget issues. I really like the Mad Max vibe Nimbus III gives off (complete with Uhura channelling Tina Turner), I find the Kirk-Spock/Spock-Sybok brother parallels great, there’s some really funny moments (“Sulu look! The sun’s come out!”), Lawrence Luckinbill is very engaging, the “mission to find God” is SO Roddenberry you could argue this is the most TOSlike of these movies, the Klingons are all sexy, the mountain climbing is beautiful… what’s not to love? I might love the others *more*, but this is still great.
Also fun noting that now we’re firmly in the TNG era (and therefore this is the first time Star Trek is telling a story outside chronological order, with the possible exception of The Menagerie, with every previous story occuring sequentially), some of the sets start to cross over. It’s far more obvious in TUC but the corridors in particular here are very clearly Ent-D.
Any film that can inspire this work of genius is OK by me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkBVDh7my9Q
Episode 151: Manhunt
Loads of fun. Majel is on form even more than in Haven. Overall plot isn’t really important, it’s just an excuse for horny Lwaxana. Although the show is stolen by Deanna explaining about the quadrupled sex drive, and Riker’s giant grin.
Episode 152: The Emissary
I always overlook this episode – but it’s a really strong vehicle for Dorn and Plakson is really watchable – shame she doesn’t come back more often.
Episode 153: Peak Performance
I’d forgotten how many LOL moments Worf gets. Right off the back of The Emissary it’s like someone finally realised Worf is hilarious. Plus Wesley (for the first time?) gets to save the day without being obnoxious. The whole episode has such a great sense of fun about. Plus Brocksmith’s make-up just amplifies his naturally weird look, which is fab
Episode 154: Shades of Gray
Bad end to a bad season. But look, given what they had to work with, it’s reasonable. Clip selection is fine, performances in the new material is all good. Obviously it’s a shit episode but compared to clip shows in other series it’s pretty good. “Data, something’s got meeeeee!”
Episode 155: Evolution
New series! Gorgeous visual to open the show with. Gates is back (and looking beautiful, I might add). New uniforms (tweaked a few episodes down the line). Troi’s lovely blue floaty dress (if you’re going to accept her out of uniform, at least put her in something flattering). Slightly changed arrangement to the theme. Amazing new title sequence (although the stars inside Saturn’s rings gives away where we cut back to the old, which is a minor but really annoying glitch). Even a new cinematographer leading to brighter bolder colours. But unlike The Child which brought with it a host of new/changed characters, most of the obvious changes are aesthetic only, so Evolution has more of a chance to breathe. And we quickly realise that with some behind the scenes changes, TNG has finally stepped up a notch and got into some really good quality stuff. Ken Jenkins makes a great guest star, and it’s really brave of the writers to finally let Wesley really mess up in his pursuit of success – something that will pay off down the road.
Episode 156: The Ensigns of Command
Another solid episode. Nice to see Data take centre stage in an episode that in many ways doesn’t *need* him to be an android for the plot to work, it just adds some depth. Plenty of believable characters and Ard’rian is adorable. And I adore Picard loving messing with the Sheliak at the end – his examination and dusting of the Enterprise plaque while they wait is comedy gold.
Episode 157: The Survivors
“Good tea. Nice house”. I’m sure I saw a variation on this plot in a similarly named animated episode a few weeks ago 😉 this is solid though – the plot twist is genuinely surprising, Haney is always very watchable, I don’t think I’ve seen John Anderson in anything else but his monologue at the end is outstanding in writing and performance, and the torturing of Troi with a music box is straight out of a horror movie.
Episode 158: Who Watches the Watchers
Some great moralising. The return of Vasquez Rocks (yay). Ray Wise being brilliant. Not much to say about this one but it’s a really good episode.
Wait, did I just watch a straight run of 4 damn fine episodes in a row? That’s gotta be a first…!
Episode 159: The Bonding
As someone who lost a parent at a young age (around the same age as Jeremy as it happens) this episode speaks to me a LOT. Wesley’s confrontation of Picard is particularly moving. Only minor issue I have is that they could have made this a sci-fi-free episode and focussed just on the kid (as I believe the first draft was) without the “alien mother” plot.
Episode 160: Booby Trap
Fun episode. Cool soundtrack, great to see the Ent-D mid-build, Susan Gibney is adorable, the Geordi/Guinan stuff is great, and the actual “a-plot” is exciting enough. Another solid s3 entry.
Episode 161: The Enemy
Lots to love about this. Another Geordi episode so soon is a bit weird, but it shows a different side to him. Brilliant Worf stuff, and marvellous seeing Picard wrestling with his own morals. Shame Troi was cut after the first draft (more below). Yay Andreas Katsulas!
Episode 162: The Price
Aaah that’s what they were saving Troi for. An awful romance with the hypnotically blue-eyed Matt McCoy (who is stronger when working with better scripts). I really like the IDEA here, and of course it lays early groundwork for both DS9 and TNG, but the script itself is sadly weighed down by the poor Troi/Ral dialogue, which Sirtis does admirably with.
Episode 163: The Vengeance Factor
Fairly uninspiring background plot of two factions having peace brokered by Picard blah blah blah… but the performances from The Gatherers is fun, and I remember the twist at the end being truly jaw-dropping when I was a kid. So much so that I’m not sure if it’s actually any good or if I just love it because I remember loving it.
Episode 164: The Defector
Just marvellous. Couldn’t care less about the big Romulan plot that this sits on (although good to see Katsulas coming back so soon, doing a bit of world-building), but the script and performance from Sloyan is just sublime. This isn’t a big political war movie, this is a small story about a man trying to do the right thing for his daughter, and ultimately losing everything. Hugely moving.
Episode 165: The Hunted
An important moral message, although not an episode that I get along with hugely well. Cool ending though.
Episode 166: The High Ground
Infamously skipped by the BBC during its first run, so I missed it. Similarly to The Hunted, I appreciate the depth of the plotline but my attention tends to wander a bit. Objectively I appreciate this is a good episode but it’s not one I return to often.
In summary, four of my favourite episodes of any Trek series, all in one batch. I could gush about each of these for hours but I might just keep these VERY brief and wait for the comments thread…:
Star Trek Episode 167: Deja Q
Comedy highlight of the whole series. Sure there’s a bit of a serious plotline in there about bullies getting their comeuppance, but this is mainly a real opportunity for some brilliant comic work from DeLancie, and some lovely moments from the rest of the regular cast.
Episode 168: A Matter of Perspective
I’m a sucker for the unreliable narrator trope, whether its used for comedy or drama potential. So of course this is my absolute favourite of the many Trek courtroom drama episodes, despite a plot hole you could fly a runabout through. The subtle variations on each scene, each of them somewhat plausible to the point where you really start to question what actually happened. Frakes gets some moments to shine here. I know most people approaching this block would be most excited about the next episode, but for me it’s a toss up with this one. Absolutely riveting every time. “I’m ready to leave, NOW’.
Episode 169: Yesterday’s Enterprise
Exciting, tense, creative. Maybe the first real attempt to do a ‘Mirror Mirror’ type episode for the new series, showing the differences in the crew’s personalities having grown up in a different timeline. Awesome lighting, clearly the inspiration for ST:Generations. Creepy score. TASHA YAR! Prune juice. Yay!
Episode 170: The Offspring
Same moral quandary as The Measure of a Man and stands up to the earlier episode really well. Extremely moving, even before I became a parent myself. Now it speaks to me on a different level and moves me to tears every time.
Episode 171: Sins of the Father
As a kid the Worf/Duras trilogy kinda bored me. Not sure what I was on about really – this is fabulous! Tony Todd is great, and it’s the old “Star Trek courtroom drama” with a cool twist. Dorn and Stewart are absolutely on form.
Episode 172: Allegiance
A fun episode – back to the early-s3 “not a classic but more confidently it’s own thing”, which is fine and much better than s2 still. Fake Picard is very entertaining. Oooh more Beverly/Jean-Luc stuff, will it go somewhere this time?! Oh. No. And I think this might be the last time until Attached?
Episode 173: Captain’s Holiday
Love love love that they’re trying something really different here. I find the episode overrated but I appreciate the effort, and there’s some great bits in it – Riker’s attempts to get Picard laid, and the cool “enemies from the future” plot device.
Episode 174: Tin Man
Harry Groener is just fantastic in this, and elevates what could be a pretty good episode to being a great one. Some stunning visuals too. Another “not the best” but definitely a solid entry in a solid season.
Episode 175: Hollow Pursuits
Growing up I always thought of this as a comedy episode (and it still is). Now I can relate more to Barclay I appreciate what a great performance Schultz puts in, and what dicks everyone else is to him (intentionally or otherwise). Also, I’ve had counselling – I don’t recall on our first session her putting the lights down and sitting close to me to put a tender hand on my arm. Deanna, you’re a lawsuit waiting to happen. But yeah, that aside, gold!
Episode 176: The Most Toys
Great concept, and Rubinek is super creepy – great job for such last minute casting. I love the moment where Data sits down off-camera, very slick editing choices. And the open-ended ending is great. I firmly believe Data was going to kill him, but I’m also really glad they made it a little unclear.
Episode 177: Sarek
All hangs off some amazing and moving performances by Lenard and Stewart. The rest of the episode is 🤷🏻♂️ but it’s just a great big excuse to get a couple of fine actors showing the terror of having a decaying mental state. Brilliant.
Episode 178: Ménage a Troi
Silly but fun. Not a favourite but a nice lightweight episode to follow up Sarek and soon before BOBW, which we really needed! And yay for Wesley finally getting that promotion!
Episode 179: Transfigurations
A neat idea, bit low-energy. Nothing especially outstanding going on here, although nothing wrong either. Would have been a highlight of the first two seasons, but we’re at a point now where we’re expecting much more. Great scene with Worf teaching Geordi the art of love though.
Episode 180: The Best of Both Worlds
Episode 181: The Best of Both Worlds Part II
Well, yes, here we are. The first half of this story is pretty damn epic. The build up is nice and slow and eerie, aided by Ron Jones’s score and quiet moments like the scene with Picard and Guinan. THAT cliffhanger still resonates today (c’mon, you’re all reading this and hearing “Mr Worf- FIRE” “duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh DUUUUH duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh DUUUUUH”… followed by a quick change of hairstyles). The Shelby/Riker stuff is really entertaining, and gives Frakes something very new to do. FWIW, I ALWAYS cringed at the line “just an old man’s fantasies” – that was NEVER cool. The second half suffers a little from “we threw all the balls in the air without a plan on how to catch them” – clearly Piller figuring “ah, this is a problem for FutureMichael to deal with”. But it’s still great – TNG at its most action-packed, especially the rescue of Picard. Sure, the Borg have suddenly inexplicably changed their tune with the Cybermen-style desire to assimilate people, but it’s a fair evolution.
Episode 182: Family
Brave idea. At the time it would have been perfectly normal for a drama show (especially Trek) to just move on as if nothing had happened – dealing with the repercussions to Picard from BOBW felt pretty revolutionary. And WELL worthwhile. All the stuff with the Picard family is just great – highlights in particular Picard breaking down from laughter to tears after the mudfight and his distress at having lost control of himself to the Borg (shortly after followed by getting rather drunk – a neat parallel on the theme). Plus the line “I fell down… and, he fell down, and… we both fell down… together”. Just as I’m holding back the tears then, I get hit with the extra whammy of Wesley getting to say goodbye to his father, which absolutely hits me in the gut every time. Unfortunately the episode is dragged down a bit by The Comedy Jews(TM), which is thing I’ve just never found funny. Nice to see some extra fleshing out for Worf though. And whoda thunk at the time we’d be back at the vineyard several decades later!
(These were meant to be 2-line micro-reviews BTW – SO much I could say about BOBW and Family, I had to really crunch down to even these rambles).
Episode 183: Brothers
LOVE the ‘stealing the Enterprise’ stuff at the start (particularly the cascading forcefield, and for some weird reason the ‘lock’ scene with Stewart dubbing Spiner). The rest of the Data/Lore/Soong stuff is pretty cool, speaks to Spiner’s acting talents, and has some genuinely moving and amusing moments. Lore is suddenly a petulant teenager which is weird, but never mind. B-plot makes no sense – two kids left aboard the ship with Riker looking after them, and allowed to play near some deadly berries which are just there waiting for any bugger to take them? And Beverly’s awful final line.
Episode 184: Suddenly Human
Thought provoking idea. Humdrum episode. This is one I’d skip out of sheer disinterest if I wasn’t marathoning.
Episode 185: Remember Me
This is one I can watch again and again. Creepy, twisty-turny, contains one of my favourite Trek lines ever (sorry R Alan Siler!) and another (when the computer describes the nature of the Universe). Good opportunity for Crusher to take centre stage. Not the best episode of the show but one of half a dozen that’s just really easy entertaining viewing.
Episode 186: Legacy
Mediocre episode raised by having Tasha’s sister in it. Would we care if it wasn’t her? Probably not. Meh, it’s OK. And yay, more episodes of TNG now than of TOS.
Episode 187: Reunion
Strong episode. Great follow-up to SotF. Good opportunity for some growth in Worf if only they didn’t write Alexander out almost immediately.
Episode 188: Future Imperfect
Yay! Lots of fun to be had here. Of course all the future stuff is great, and even better that because it’s a simulation they can get away with going batshit without worrying about canon. Riker getting angry at the holocrew is hilarious, and the double-layered twist is clever.
Episode 189: Final Mission
Some tender moments between Crusher and Picard, which is nice to stretch Wheaton before he leaves, although they stuff about him only doing all this to impress Picard is a bit overkill. Not a favourite episode of mine, but not bad.
Episode 190: The Loss
I always thought this one was a bit shit, but today I’m appreciating it a lot more. The plot of coming to terms with a disability resonates strongly as I’ve seen friends over the years age and discover new physical and mental quirks to live with. It always annoyed me that Troi just became such a petulant child for losing her special power, but I realise now that (mis)reading of the episode is PRECISELY what the episode was about. Marina Sirtis does a fabulous job here. Definitely re-assessing it now.
Episode 191: Data’s Day
Cool concept. The actual plot leaves a bit to be desired but it’s all just hanging off the gimmick of the structure. Some really funny moments for Spiner (and McFadden). Shows up that classic issue of unplanned non-serialised 90s series as we suddenly discover a recurring guest actor is engaged and here’s his fiancée and we’re supposed to care despite no introduction.
Episode 192: The Wounded
Hey, O’Brien’s suddenly a main character. Similarly to above, now we have a “hey here’s a recurring villain that’s totally been around for ages that we’ve never mentioned”. Good intro for the Cardiassians though and third time lucky for TNG’s new recurring aliens (Ferengi too non-threatening, Borg way TOO threatening).
Episode 193: Devil’s Due
Dig the 60s Trek vibe (yes, I know this is a Phase II rewrite but even then it would have been an old fashioned episode). Silly but entertaining and funny in places.
Episode 194: Clues
One of my favourites. Really mysterious, and the twist when Picard finds out HE’s behind Data’s orders is awesome. We’ve spent the whole episode thinking that maybe Data HAS been commandeered by an evil force (shades of Brothers again) and then hit with that – great! Not sure the point of the Dixon Hill stuff.
All together now:
Breaking your leg hurts like HELL, right. Hell.
They do it beLOW the knee. Lo. Hello.
They do it twice – twice TWO. Hello to.
And jigsaw must mean you – hello to you.
Episode 195: First Contact
Great mix of comedy (especially Riker being faced with an opportunity Kirk would never have passed up) and some deep stuff about xenophobia (which still hits home today, sigh). Plus Carolyn Seymour being awesome. Brilliant!
(Half way through TNG now)
Episode 196: Galaxy’s Child
An excellent companion piece to Booby Trap. Susan Gibney is fantastic. Although completely unbelievable she’d ever calm down after finding that Geordi apparantly made a sexbot of her. And the b-plot about the ACTUAL Galaxy’s Child is kinda meh.
Episode 197: Night Terrors
Gets a bad reputation unfairly. There’s some things that don’t hit the mark, namely Troi flying around in front of a green screen, but the concept is a sound and different one. I like it.
Episode 198: Identity Crisis
Creepy holodeck scene. Very cool UV visuals. The rest is kinda padding but I love that holodeck stuff so much it’s still an episode I look forward to. (See also Schisms).
Episode 199: The Nth Degree
Great to see Barclay back, really good vehicle for him. Cool effects. And hey, floating head in the middle of the galaxy? My head canon says STV’s “God” was a Cytherean.