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[Tangled Up in Blue]

i vote The Cost of Living. most of the episode is about Lwaxana Troi and Worf's kid Alexander ditching everyone to go to a holodeck simulation of a planet of free spirits. it is a nightmarish realm of forced whimsy - Cirque Du Soleil as a bad acid trip. large chunks of time are spent w the two complaining while sitting with freaks in a mud bath. upon arriving there to check it out Worf encounters the below monstrosity, a head painted like a rubix cube, floating in a bubble, and prone to making derpy o-faces.

Yeah. If you take out Code of Honor and Angel One (which are in a class all their own), this is is probably the best answer. There are a lot of dumb episodes of TNG, but most manage to at least be entertaining on some level. This episode isn't even funny on a cheesy level. It's just dull.

The Naked Now is a close second, though. Blegh.

 

[Lagamorph]

What are you on OP? That episode was fantastic.

For dumbest episode just look at most of seasons 1 and 2 really.

 

[Tangled Up in Blue]

"I did fall asleep reading a particularly erotic chapter in my grandmother's journal." is a real BAIL OUT moment.

Oh, Jesus, I forgot about that.

 

[Beren the Empty-Handed]

What bugs me is the one where they send Captain Piccard, Dr Crusher, and Worf on a secret commando mission into Cardassian territory.

Does the Federation not have any special forces? They have to send an elderly captain, a middle aged woman and the galaxy's most inept Klingon on a commando mission? I know, I know, there was a backstory about some sort of special technology only Piccard understand, but seriously, they couldn't send a proper escort?

For an organization that frequently gets into combat situations, Star Fleet seems to give almost zero training in any kind of strategy that doesn't involve maneuvering a starship. There was that episode in TNG where they find a bunch of people from the 20th century and then run into someone (Romulans I think?) and the businessman is completely flabbergasted that Picard has no clue how to read an opponent or determine a suitable course of action. If I'm remembering correctly he had to point out that the alien didn't want to fight at all and just wanted to save face, and Picard only had to give him that opportunity.

Im slowly catching up to everything star trek. Finished voyager last year, loved it. On season 6 in DS9. I think its as good as Voyager.
..but anyways if those 2 are anything to go by.

Are you going in backwards order? Also lol, that's a very unusual opinion.

 

[The Horror the horror]

i vote The Cost of Living. most of the episode is about Lwaxana Troi and Worf's kid Alexander ditching everyone to go to a holodeck simulation of a planet of free spirits. it is a nightmarish realm of forced whimsy - Cirque Du Soleil as a bad acid trip. large chunks of time are spent w the two complaining while sitting with freaks in a mud bath. upon arriving there to check it out Worf encounters the below monstrosity, a head painted like a rubix cube, floating in a bubble, and prone to making derpy o-faces.

What did "The higher, the fewer" mean in the context of the episode?

 

[The Horror the horror]

Anything with fuckn Q is probably the worst episode.

Except the episode where he introduces the Borg.

That episode made a strong point: you think you're tough shit just because you faced the Klingons, the Romulans? Let me show you the real horrors of space.

Then of course they ruined that.

 

[nekkid]

Except the episode where he introduces the Borg.

That episode made a strong point: you think you're tough shit just because you faced the Klingons, the Romulans? Let me show you the real horrors of space.

Then of course they ruined that.

All Good Things as well. In fact the only shit Q episode of TNG I can think of is Encounter at Farpoint.

 

[Friend of Sonic]

I like Genesis for some of the makeup work alone, and kind of admire them for attempting a slight horror episode.

Same here, I was genuinely entertained by it despite the fact that it is a poor TNG episode on paper

 

[Langdon Alger]

The Robin Hood episode.

 

[uncelestial]

https://youtu.be/Mhh9F0Klzyw

^ Yeah, that's bad.

Watching this again, within 30 seconds of this video starting, Riker refers to the inhabitants of the Planet of the Black people as "close to humanoid."

Who in fuck thought this was a good idea? At least give them forehead ridges or something and don't give them accents like they're from fucking Trinidad. Give yourselves some plausible deniability. Yeesh.

Picard: Yours is a different world.
Sebastian the Crab: With clear and simple ways, deeply rooted in our culture.
Me: (Head banging on coffee table until I'm dead)

 

[siddx]

Hollow pursuits. Because it introduces Barclay. And anyone who thought introducing that useless intolerable fucknut of a character into tng was a good idea is dumber than a bag of trump supporters.

Justice is pretty bad as well with it a ridiculous outfits and preachy as fuck premise.

 

[A-V-B]

The one where Troi's mother got super horny kinda freaked me out.

And I'll always remember the one where they beamed up a bunch of people from the Quiet Man planet.

 

[Melkezadek]

The one where Beverly is boning this random Trill negotiator. At some point in the episode, the Trill is injured and Riker, kind of uncharacteristically volunteers to be the new host without thinking.

It was so random and out of place that even Picard was like "uh, ok dude, it's up to you I guess.."

I have to skip episode almost every time. It's too awkward.

 

[Thorgal]

You also get her shutting down Worf, which is always delightful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtQXGUy3GY0

 

[Vitten]

Any episode where Deanna Troi's mother shows up. Extremely obnoxious character.

 

[Slayven]

Hollow pursuits. Because it introduces Barclay. And anyone who thought introducing that useless intolerable fucknut of a character into tng was a good idea is dumber than a bag of trump supporters.

Justice is pretty bad as well with it a ridiculous outfits and preachy as fuck premise.

I love Barclay, proves that even the future has lames.

 

[Iriscomeback]

Not even a contest, IMO:

My pick as well.

What were the writers smoking?

 

[mattiewheels]

I've never really watched TNG except in passing in the 90s, so I thought I'd choose a random one from one of the 'good' seasons people mentioned. So I managed to pick "The Price", which I thought was probably hilariously atypical for the rest of the show. It was the Troi episode where she's girl-talking with the doctor while they're in their space leotards and she falls in love instantly with that evil trader. The whole time I thought I really picked the wrong one to start with.

 

[liquidtmd]

The one where Beverly is boning this random Trill negotiator. At some point in the episode, the Trill is injured and Riker, kind of uncharacteristically volunteers to be the new host without thinking.

It was so random and out of place that even Picard was like "uh, ok dude, it's up to you I guess.."

I have to skip episode almost every time. It's too awkward.

Seconded

 

[kess]

The best part about the Naked Now is that Beavis and Butthead sound Picard makes when he's with Beverly

It's kind of amazing how the TOS episode it's based on in better in every way.

 

[Interface_2037]

For an organization that frequently gets into combat situations, Star Fleet seems to give almost zero training in any kind of strategy that doesn't involve maneuvering a starship.

I think this is one of the most ridiculous aspects about the Federation lore that they've tried to create.

Not a military organisation...bullshit, it's the USN in space.

Everything about it is military, from the command structure to the disciplinary regulations.

You're not going to send out a ship filled with 1000+ people, light years from help, into space on ships with multiple weapon systems, facing numerous threats and not give the command crew serious tactical training in all kinds of military operations, from ground combat to fleet manoeuvrings.

The world in Star trek is just as miserable & dangerous as it is in the 21st century, it's just all the conflict takes place off Earth.

 

[Slayven]

I think this is one of the most ridiculous aspects about the Federation lore that they've tried to create.

Not a military organisation...bullshit, it's the USN in space.

Everything about it is military, from the command structure to the disciplinary regulations.

You're not going to send out a ship filled with 1000+ people, light years from help, into space on ships with multiple weapon systems, facing numerous threats and not give the command crew serious tactical training in all kinds of military operations, from ground combat to fleet manoeuvrings.

The world in Star trek is just as miserable & dangerous as it is in the 21st century, it's just all the conflict takes place off Earth.

The Dominion war eps with ground combat always look weird because their uniforms obviously wasn't designed for ground combat

 

[Escape Goat]

The security personnel were especially inept. Usually, when a gold shirt got shot the others would immediately rush to the wounded side and then get shot too, thus, allowing the scene to proceed.

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

The Dominion war eps with ground combat always look weird because their uniforms obviously wasn't designed for ground combat

Good point. I wonder what stopped them from introducing camo/ballistic armour for ground troops in the show. Budget, or was it against the shows philosophy to depict Starfleet as a military organisation? :/

"Right, we're here on this barren desert planet. Is everyone wearing their jet black uniform with pastel colour detail? Good, they'll never see us coming...."

 

[Slayven]

Good point. I wonder what stopped them from introducing camo/ballistic armour for ground troops in the show. Budget, or was it against the shows philosophy to depict Starfleet as a military organisation? :/

"Right, we're here on this barren desert planet. Is everyone wearing their jet black uniform with pastel colour detail? Good, they'll never see us coming...."

Give them a nice boot, it is a wonder they don't all have fucked up ankles going down to rocky planets and trying hike in dress shoes

 

[Escape Goat]

Good point. I wonder what stopped them from introducing camo/ballistic armour for ground troops in the show. Budget, or was it against the shows philosophy to depict Starfleet as a military organisation? :/

"Right, we're here on this barren desert planet. Is everyone wearing their jet black uniform with pastel colour detail? Good, they'll never see us coming...."

The wardrobe budget was probably razor thin. That's why extras/guest characters wore those spandex jumpers. The main cast always wore their uniforms.

 

[Simon Belmont]

Not even a contest, IMO:

Yes.

 

[Interface_2037]

Given the shit they get into, I wouldn't set foot on one of the Federation flagships without having at least a couple of hundred marines being on board for protection, 'Aliens' style.

 

[Zombie James]

Not even a contest, IMO:

They cancelled TNG at the best time. Even my 11-year-old self knew this was horrible.

 

[Blues1990]

I would argue that 'Angel One' is the dumbest episode from Season One.

What are the odds that A) there's a planet where females are the aggressive, macho gender while males are all fleshy versions of the mincing C-3PO and B) that planet names itself Angel One?

Spoiler

About the same odds of an episode with this premise being any good.

There is also 'A Fistful of Datas', is is on the lower end of the holodeck-themed episodes from this series.

 

[Dali]

Every Wesley episode <_>

How you can conclude Wesley episodes deserve mention as the worst before mentioning Alexander episodes boggles the mind. The worsr character focus episodes go, in order of worst to least worst:

Episodes with troi's mom
Episodes with Alexander
Episodes with post star fleet academy Wesley
Episodes with pre-starfleet Wesley


Obvious using this order "cost of living" is the worst as it stars both Alexander and Troi's mother.

 

[SolidChamp]

Planet of the black people.

My vote for sure.

Genesis at least had some campy fun to it. There is nothing redeeming about Code of Honor.

 

[ferr]

How you can conclude Wesley episodes deserve mention as the worst before mentioning Alexander episodes boggles the mind. The worsr character focus episodes go, in order of worst to least worst:

Episodes with troi's mom
Episodes with Alexander
Episodes with post star fleet academy Wesley
Episodes with pre-starfleet Wesley


Obvious using this order "cost of living" is the worst as it stars both Alexander and Troi's mother.

When I see these characters in the opening, especially Troi's mom, I know it's going to suck.

 

[nOoblet16]

I've seen almost 95% of TNG episodes and purposefully left out some based on the description they had on Netflix. I can say with confidence that I haven't seen Genesis.

 

[Lagamorph]

I've seen almost 95% of TNG episodes and purposefully left out some based on the description they had on Netflix. I can say with confidence that I haven't seen even a single of the episodes mentioned in the OP.

If you're intentionally avoiding watching Genesis then you're doing yourself a dis-service.

 

[FStubbs]

Except the episode where he introduces the Borg.

That episode made a strong point: you think you're tough shit just because you faced the Klingons, the Romulans? Let me show you the real horrors of space.

Then of course they ruined that.

In hindsight that was the biggest favor Q ever did them. If not for that episode the Borg would've caught them by surprise later on and easily won.

 

[Kimaka]

Angel One aka the planet where gender roles are reversed, but the women are still all traditionally attractive and wear makeup. And, of course, the female leader falls in love with Riker because he is a 'manly man'.

It could have actually been an interesting episode if they took the idea of a matriarchy seriously and not an excuse to fulfill a dom fetish.

 

[dead souls]

Im slowly catching up to everything star trek. Finished voyager last year, loved it. On season 6 in DS9. I think its as good as Voyager.
..but anyways if those 2 are anything to go by.

Anything with fuckn Q is probably the worst episode.

Wait a second here, DS9 is only as good as Voyager?

*head explodes*

There is DS9 and then there's the rest of Trek.

 

[Escape Goat]

Wait a second here, DS9 is only as good as Voyager?

*head explodes*

There is DS9 and then there's the rest of Trek.

Kids these days...

 

[Melkezadek]

Wait a second here, DS9 is only as good as Voyager?

*head explodes*

There is DS9 and then there's the rest of Trek.

I don't think any other crew could provide me the same the feeling of safety I have with Garak and Odo in my squad.

 

[MooMilk2929]

Always thought the holodeck episodes were stupid. It's hard to believe they can make a room that size into a epic sized place where they never run into the wall. I don't understand how that can be projected.

 

[Escape Goat]

Always thought the holodeck episodes were stupid. It's hard to believe they can make a room that size into a epic sized place where they never run into the wall. I don't understand how that can be projected.

It's holograms and forcefields. In one episode, Data throws his non-holographic comm badge across a holographic Engineering and it hits a wall.

But, it's science fiction in the end.

 

[mjc]

i vote The Cost of Living. most of the episode is about Lwaxana Troi and Worf's kid Alexander ditching everyone to go to a holodeck simulation of a planet of free spirits. it is a nightmarish realm of forced whimsy - Cirque Du Soleil as a bad acid trip. large chunks of time are spent w the two complaining while sitting with freaks in a mud bath. upon arriving there to check it out Worf encounters the below monstrosity, a head painted like a rubix cube, floating in a bubble, and prone to making derpy o-faces.

Holy shit, I remember this episode. So weird watching Troi sit there with her kid smothering mud all over her body.

 

[Voror]

I haven't actually seen any of TNG in years. Last time I recall was around Christmas a year or two ago and my sisters were watching it on BBC America. It was an episode that involved Space Scotland and a romance novel story involving a space ghost that eventually possessed a dead old lady.

That was a weird one.

 

[Pluto]

Always thought the holodeck episodes were stupid. It's hard to believe they can make a room that size into a epic sized place where they never run into the wall. I don't understand how that can be projected.

Think of it as a giant treadmill, when the characters walk the computer generates a forcefield beneath them to keep them from walking into walls.

 

[KernelPanic]

The Robin Hood episode.

Hey that had one of the funniest lines in the series:

https://youtu.be/0ICpoWtFFzc

Genesis was pretty neat. One of the few times they put in a bit of horror. It was campy but I didn't mind it.

Masks was awful, beyond weird. They were completely creatively bankrupt at that point.

 

[crayman]

A minor complaint perhaps - but it's always bugged me how easily the Ferengi take over the ship in Rascals. I know it needs to happen for the 'children save the day' plot - but goddamn. Riker should probably be dismissd for his incompetence during that scene.

He lets a two virtually antique Klingon ship disable and board the Enterprise, and only returns fire once doing 'minor damage'. Good job they were only silly ferengi and not something more dangerous.

 

[DarkKyo]

Oh yeah. Damn, Geordi.

Now that I think about it, I don't think anyone's suffered more. Brainwashed by Romulans, stranded on a storm planet with a Romulan, "killed" by Romulans, phaser-shot multiple times by the Pakleds, tortured by Lore, reamed by the chief designer of the Enterprise...

Let's not forget that it's programmed into the commanding officer certification simulation test that you have to sacrifice Geordi in order to pass.

 

[AntChum]

Definitely Shades of Grey or Planet of the Black People, but Genesis is a good pick, too.

Honorable mention to the episode with the aliens who speak in binary that hijack the Enterprise. I hate that episode.

 

[DrForester]

Oh yeah. Damn, Geordi.

Now that I think about it, I don't think anyone's suffered more.