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RSS icon Comments on The Opening Scene of my Third Favorite Star Trek Episode of All Time

1

I think somebody forgot to budget for the explosion.

Posted by elenchos | August 11, 2008 6:22 PM
2


Oh, yeah, right...you mean your favorite "Next Gen" episode. Not like the real Star Trek episodes or anything.

Posted by John Bailo | August 11, 2008 6:28 PM
3

The Next Generation is (slightly) superior to ToS.

There. I've said it.

And you know it is undeniably true.

Posted by Jonathan Golob | August 11, 2008 6:37 PM
4

It's totally true.

And this is def. one of my top episodes (slightly behind Inner Light, I think).
I actually still remember where I was sitting, which chair, the time of day, who was in the room, etc the first time I saw this particular opening scene, this wonderful little bit of geek porn.

Posted by torrentprime | August 11, 2008 6:43 PM
5

@1: Special effects for this episode were done by Billy!

Posted by Ziggity | August 11, 2008 6:43 PM
6

What are your top 2 episodes?

My guesses are The Inner Light and Yesterday's Enterprise...but there are a lot of good ones

Man, it's been years since I watched the show...suddenly I have the itch.

Posted by berselius | August 11, 2008 6:58 PM
7

Fine, call me a moron, but I can't place this episode. Is this the time loop one?

Posted by Joseph J. Finn | August 11, 2008 7:31 PM
8

SpikeTV used to play this in the "extra" 2am-3am time slot when daylight savings time reset in fall. I always thought that was cute.

Posted by Alan | August 11, 2008 7:39 PM
9

@5 Are you retarded? This show is from 1992. wikipedia_link, pretty amazing special effects for television. And in fact TNG had the highest budget for a television show for its time.

Posted by pragmatic | August 11, 2008 7:49 PM
10

Its a bit extensive, but I remember reading this in a Playboy circa '94. http://www.webtender.com/handbook/games/startrek-tng.game
I think ill look for the seasons on ebay now.

Posted by Fortuna Mandolin | August 11, 2008 8:11 PM
11

@9: "...and in episode 6-19, the gravitational damping fields on the holodeck are completely disregarded without even a bit of explanation."

Being retarded would give me an excuse for still living in my parents house. What's yours?

Posted by Ziggity | August 11, 2008 8:17 PM
12

Um, The New Generation can easily and handily shortened to "STT to the motherfuckin' NG." Thanks for your cooperation.

Posted by bronkitis | August 11, 2008 8:17 PM
13

I just watched it again. Man did that explosion suck.

I think they budgeted enough to buy all the Black Cats they needed but it was around the 4th of July and the staff pilfered most of them.

Dirk Benedict used to do that same shit, as you might remember.

Posted by elenchos | August 11, 2008 8:20 PM
14

@11 Hey dickhead, I only remember that episode because of the mention by Joseph J. Finn of the time loop issue, so I looked up episodes on wikipedia, a total of 30 seconds to figure out which one and from what year/season. I'm not the author of the wikipedia page numbnuts, I just know how to use a computer.

Posted by pragmatic | August 11, 2008 8:29 PM
15

The Sci Fi channel has been playing TNG on Monday nights, this one was just on a few weeks ago. A dormant section of my nerd psyche has been reawakened. I'm hoping my crush on Wil Wheaton won't.

Posted by madamecrow | August 11, 2008 8:42 PM
16

I don't care whether she's Ensign Ro or Admiral Cain. I love you Michelle Forbes. Will you gay marry me??

Posted by #1 fan!! | August 11, 2008 8:47 PM
17

When I was ten I wanted to be Ensign Ro.

@15: I'm so with you. I adored Next Gen as a kid, and seeing them again after over a decade has seriously re-awakened that. I'm actually surprised at how well they hold up.

Posted by Abby | August 11, 2008 8:51 PM
18

Oh my gawd, the Slog is geeking the fuck out today.

Yeah, that was a great episode. I've been thinking lately about how brilliant that series was.

Posted by violet_dagrinder | August 11, 2008 9:01 PM
19

hank you Mr. G and for the reason you cite.

And I bet "Darmok" is on that list along with this one and "Inner Light".

Posted by mike | August 11, 2008 9:19 PM
20

This is your THIRD favorite episode??... Dr. Golob, I realize you're a foot smarter than most of the human race, what with your advanced degrees and all... But, Lord almighty, dude! We need to talk.

Posted by James | August 11, 2008 9:20 PM
21

"Cause and Effect". Yes, this is a great episode. Although I have to admit, I was never one of those people who hated Voyager.

Posted by iain | August 11, 2008 9:28 PM
22

I admit it. I've been re-wathing TNG from the top by getting it from netflix. This episode is definitely in my top five, along with Inner Light and Darmok. I seem to remember being a pretty big fan of All Good Things... and the one where everyone "de-evolves," because that's just fucking cool.

Slog IS nerding the hell out, and I like it.

Posted by bearseatbeats | August 11, 2008 9:37 PM
23

@22--Ah! The one where everyone de-evolves! I forgot that one. Someone turns into a spider, right?

Posted by madamecrow | August 11, 2008 9:43 PM
24

@23: I think it was Barclay. And Picard goes all lemur, which is sad.

We should have Slog Happy Hour at a gay bar, but instead of gay porn, we should play Star Trek (nerd porn) on the TV.

Posted by Greg | August 11, 2008 9:48 PM
25

The explosion wasn't great, yet the soundtrack and the sound effects people went to town nonetheless.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | August 11, 2008 10:01 PM
26

"Balance of Terror" is the best episode. Sure it is plageristic take-off on all submarine/frigate duels movies to that date but that is part of Star Treks success. People relate to it not because it is truly futuristic sci-fi but rather somehow familiar with mythological themes. The stuff of legends etc, etc.

Posted by Zander | August 11, 2008 10:17 PM
27

Re: the cheezy explosion--

Factor in the fact that they had to shoot SEVERAL explosions for this single episode and cut the budget some slack.

Posted by Andy Niable | August 11, 2008 10:20 PM
28

I can't do the episode names, and bow down in geek respect to those of you who can, but the episode where Worf shifts through various realities on his way back from a tournament was great, especially the scene of a crazed Riker screaming about how the Born had destroyed the Federation.

That one kept me up nights. That was my big complaint about Voyager--they turned the Born into crap.

Posted by Ryan | August 11, 2008 10:24 PM
29

I am...old enough.

Posted by Abby | August 11, 2008 10:29 PM
30

bitch, don't hate on Voyager. i will cut you.

Posted by Bethany | August 11, 2008 10:31 PM
31

I believe the producers of ST:TNG referred to this as "the ultimate teaser", and blowing the Enterprise to quarks was a great way to start the episode. Given that the special effects were still somewhat analog, this was a pretty good set of ship-blasting scenes.

However, nothing compares to the field of ruined Starfleet vessels in "Best of Both Worlds", where the might of The Federation simply got slaughtered by Picard/Locutius and The Borg. So much for the doctrine of deterrence...

Posted by tensor | August 11, 2008 10:32 PM
32

Explosions in space wouldn't be anywhere near that spectacular, and there'd be no sound.

Trivia: When they made Star Trek ships explode, they were hung from the ceiling and photographed upward from the floor, so the debris appears to fly away in all directions at once. If they'd shot it horizontally, the debris would all fall one direction.

Posted by pox | August 11, 2008 10:42 PM
33

@14: Whoa, tiger. I just took umbrage at the use of "retard" as a reaction to criticizing nearly 20-something year-old special effects for looking dated. Great that it was the best technology money could buy - by today's standards it looks crappy. When you got all defensive about it, you sounded like the dudes in uniform at the conventions who grill the character actors over stupid writing discrepancies. So, relax, we all know how to use computers.

Posted by Ziggity | August 11, 2008 11:08 PM
34

Balence of Terror. Tholian Web. Yesterdays Enterprise. Darmok. All among my favorites.

Posted by Jonathan Golob | August 11, 2008 11:09 PM
35


The Wounded was definitely in the top 3; I wouldn't be able to pick between it and Inner Light.

Posted by bohica | August 11, 2008 11:17 PM
36

I almost hate to say it, but 'Darmok', while a good episode, is a tad overrated. TNG really began to hit its stride around the 4th-5th seasons, so I think it benefits from being a strong episode from an overall strong period of the show's run. There are many better episodes from other seasons. However, Paul Winfield's appearance of course kicks total ass.

Posted by laterite | August 11, 2008 11:39 PM
37

@3, @2 was correct, there was only one Star Trek series (just as there was only one Raiders of the Lost Ark and only two Star Wars movies - the first two).

The thing you're calling "Star Trek" was an office comedy from the 80s with an ironic sci fi-lite style. Each week, the ensemble cast (with its one actual actor, Patrick Stewart) would argue over memo semantics on their way to a trade show conference.

It's unwatchable now -- has anyone actually tried to watch it as an adult recently? It's like trying to sit through old reruns of Laverne and Shirley.

Posted by Just Sayin' | August 11, 2008 11:48 PM
38

My fellow nerds, don't forget the show in the sky tonight, it's the annual Perseid shower. I read it peaks around 1-2am in the NW. Something about seeing the all shooting stars always creeps me the fuck out, but I watch anyway.

I am so either buying or renting all the
ST:TNG seasons, I'd forgotten until this thread just how much I used to love that show.

Posted by PopTart | August 11, 2008 11:50 PM
39

In no particular order...

Cause and Effect
The Measure of a Man
Time Squared
The Inner Light (the ultimate Picard character development episode... cannot be touched)
All Good Things
Yesterday's Enterprise

Posted by w7ngman | August 12, 2008 2:18 AM
40

#3 and #4:

A friend of mine said that NG reminded him of one of those TOS episodes where a transporter accident separated each character into two. I agree:

Kirk = Picard + Riker
Spock = Data + Troi

All you can say about the Federation is that like any good bureaucracy, it is able to expand headcount without adding work or productivity.

Posted by John Bailo | August 12, 2008 4:01 AM
41

@24:

Slog happy with Star Trek? What a great idea! Too bad it'll never happen.

Dr. Golob: sure "Cause and Effect" is a great episode, but there are so many better ones. Is this really #3 in your heart?

Posted by James | August 12, 2008 6:28 AM
42

@39--Those are all favorites of mine as well, but I have a soft spot for "Data's Day," the one where he and Dr. Crusher tap dance and Chief O'Brien gets married. I like the "average day on the Enterprise" premise, and as far as I can recall nothing explodes.

Posted by madamecrow | August 12, 2008 8:06 AM
43

Dude, no love for Time's Arrow parts 1 and 2??? Guinan meeting Picard in the past hundreds of years before the enterprise?? Mark Twain???

Posted by Tom C. | August 12, 2008 8:48 AM
44

@43--I was watching "Time's Arrow" recently (Data's head!) and my significant other started to get angry because he thought they were portraying Mark Twain as too much of an asshole.

Posted by madamecrow | August 12, 2008 8:57 AM
45

What about "A Fistful of Datas" or "Hollow Pursuits" ? No love for the holodeck?

Posted by Greg | August 12, 2008 9:46 AM
46

@44 - I always thought the appeal of Mark Twain was that he's a loveable asshole?

I think Masks is an under-rated episode as well.

Posted by Tom C. | August 12, 2008 9:51 AM
47

@33 Sorry I flipped out. I guess sarcasm doesn't have a well known emoticon yet.

Posted by pragmatic | August 12, 2008 9:57 AM
48

How could I forget Time's Arrow?

Greg, I don't really like those Holodeck episodes (and Barclay is an annoying pissant), but also noticeably missing from my list are Elementary, Dear Data/Ship in a Bottle.

Posted by w7ngman | August 12, 2008 10:25 AM
49

After watching that, I'm gonna have to watch the whole episode when I get home, which is only going to lead to a TNG binge. Thank goodness I have all the DVDs!

Posted by T | August 12, 2008 10:40 AM
50

WOW! I think we need a Star Trek Slog-Clip-Of-The-Day EVERYDAY!!! Season 5 episode 18 'Cause and Effect' FTW! Sorry, just got really excited about two Trek-posts two days in a row. Thanks!

@28 That's 'Parallels', great episode!

Posted by borgboi | August 12, 2008 10:41 AM
51

I love you all.

But we know that DS9 owns.

Posted by Gloria | August 12, 2008 10:46 AM
52

@51: Oh hellz yeah.

Posted by Greg | August 12, 2008 10:51 AM
53

Ah, this warms the very chambers of my artificial heart!

But truly, the September Slog Happy, which will occur a mere 3 days after the 42nd Anniversary of the network premiere of TOS definitely needs a trivia component.

And I'll see you "The Trouble With Tribbles" as best overall ST ep, and raise you "Devil In The Dark", or possibly "The Doomsday Machine"

Posted by COMTE | August 12, 2008 11:06 AM
54

"The Inner Light" tops my list. I love everything about it.

Posted by violet_dagrinder | August 12, 2008 11:09 AM
55

"Measure of a Man is second. :D

Posted by violet_dagrinder | August 12, 2008 11:12 AM
56

And then every other episode mentioned here ties for third!

:nerdgasm:

Posted by violet_dagrinder | August 12, 2008 11:16 AM
57

While I love Data's holodeck adventures, I always thought Moriarty was the worst recurring character ever.

Voyager is my least favorite of the spin-offs (I don't acknowledge Enterprise), but I did like that episode of Voyager where they went to the Q continuum, Death Wish maybe?

Posted by Tom C. | August 12, 2008 11:33 AM
58

Trouble with Tribbles is the best, ever.

If we did Star Trek trivia I'd definitely be Ensign Redshirt.

Posted by PopTart | August 12, 2008 12:02 PM
59

And DS9's 30th-anniversay riff "Trials and Tribble-lations", whose sole reason for existence was getting Dax in a miniskirt.

Being a young one, I actually started out with Voyager. One of my favourite episodes was the Doctor trying to straighten the record on his ship and crew in an alien culture's war-ridden history.

Posted by Gloria | August 12, 2008 1:22 PM
60

@59: I never really got that one. Was it supposed to be a possible future? An alternate universe? What?

Posted by Greg | August 12, 2008 2:54 PM
61

Well, IIRC, it is the real future.

It fits into whatever happens in the series because they never find out in the episode what did become of Voyager (in the past), so it's left satisfyingly ambiguous for the writers to decide later.

Posted by Gloria | August 12, 2008 4:32 PM

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