Trek Episodes you have a hard time rewatching

Television, Movies Games and Books Star Trek
#21

I think the problem there was complacency. Episodes became very cliche (Dilemma, Action scene, 'splosions, resolution). It lacked the daring of TOS, the intelligence of TNG, the intrigue of DS9. VOY and ENT did not build on what had gone before. The same thing occurred with the Movies. Every film after Star Trek IV had the same plot structure. That gets tedious and boring. The producers blamed it on Star Trek needing a rest or however they put it. Personally, I’ve always said, “That’s a cop-out.”

Star Trek is about the Human Adventure. Alien-of-the-week, mysterious virus, evil-twin, and all that is supposed to be used as a device for that discovery. Take the headlines and create an allegory for the crew to engage with commentary. In the late 90’s Star Trek avoided those topics and when it did it lost its appeal to the producers and as a trickling effect the fans.

#22

That big [sb] alien head at the end of the TOS credits kept me away from trek until I was near my teens. Then again, I was afraid of ET and didn’t see why ppl thought he was cute.

Sucks that [sb] is one character longer than the real word. d:

#23

oooo—good question -

TOS good - City on the Edge of Forever - the look on Kirks face when he stops Mccoy and Edith is hit by car…done, just emotionally floored (so thanks Talos for reminding me of that everytime I see your avatar :frowning: )

TOS bad - Spocks Brain - “Brain and Brain, what is Brain”…shut the frak up. uuuugghhhh

TNG good - Sarek - when Picard has the mind meld with Sarek and he sobs when over never telling Amanda he (sarek) loved her enough or how much he loved Spock…done…Im messed up after that.

TNG bad - 110001110101 - midget twins steal the Enterprise…yeah…that was…good god bad (but then most of S1 was…kinda raw)

DS9 good - although I agree “Hard Time” was an amazing episode…the one that I have a difficult time watching is actually Emissary. I had just gotten out of a relationship and really hadnt let go…so when Sisko realizes he hasnt moved on from his wifes death and said “i exist here” …yeah that kinda ripped me a new one

DS9 bad - Move Along Home - why? just…why???

gotta get back to you on VOY and ENT

#24

well, if you happen to not like Ferrengis, DS9 could be the worst of them all :stuck_out_tongue:

the episode also challenges me to think about the criminal justice system. in this alien world they prevented the prisoners from actually losing years due to imprisonment, but they still want to punish the criminals, so they leave them with memories of horrible jail time.

It then comes down to what is the purpose of jail. If it’s simply just punishment, does that do the society any good? Judging by O’brien it really doesn’t. If prison time is to keep bad people from the good? then why let them leave? In the end I think prison should be more about correction than punishment.

A lot of good innocent people are broken by prison experiences like O’brien. Especially when you have a dictatorship and good people becomes political prisoners. It’s sad how it becomes the prison of some people’s minds the rest of their lives. Some literally goes insane over the injustice that happens to them.

Anyway, that’s what I take away from that episode.

#25

yeah, it actually took me a few years to fully realize just how emotional that last part of emissary was. Sisko went from annoyance to anger at the prophets for showing him Jennifer death over and over again, until he realized that he was stuck living in that moment. It now brings me to tears every time I watch it.

#26

Good one. Right on.

True, especially when it is a blanket judgement. There is no consideration for the crime, the person, or their experience in the V-prison. Has it changed them? Are they “corrected” and ready to be members of society again? Do they need the bulk of their experience to learn what they need to move on? Is the punishment equal to the crime?

The society just put folks in there and let them out. Done. Thank you. Have a nice life. It conjures up the proverb “Spare the rod, spoil the child”. How do we learn from our mistakes and who judges those mistakes? O’Brien was falsely accused and imprisoned. Was the judge and jury who sentenced him placed in V-prison? Did they pay for the crime O’brien suffered?

#27

As bad as These are the Voyages was for a finale for Enterprise. Seeing Terra Prime first then this. It’s just sad. That in Knowing that Trip sacrificed himself and that he didn’t reconcile with T’Pol. Even if they couldn’t have had a child they should have been together.

There should have been more of a sense of loss with him just recently passed. From a fan point there sure was. But hey this was Bragga then. At that point it was kinda scorched earth by that point.

#28

i have forgotten why he couldn’t have a child with T’Pol. I mean there’s Spock, so I guess there is a way, or at least in the future there is.

I’ve always thought Trip probably won’t be able to have a child since he’s always in that shack that they called the engine room. Did he ever give birth to his own baby? man, I have forgotten all the details about Enterprise.

#29

Most of Picard’s true emotional reveals are hard for me to rewatch. I do rewatch them, but they only ever get harder to see. The man put everything into the service except a tiny corner of his soul, but that corner refuses to wither and die completely. He desperately wants a family of his own, whatever form it might take, but he is never willing to make the necessary sacrifices to have it. He is fully aware of the price he pays and when he has to, he stares that price in the face, cries a little, turns away, and keeps doing his job. It’s realistic and it hurts.

Case in point! And thank you for reminding me of that. Good episodes!

#30

You know, I was trying to think of some really emotional episodes that were so strong I didn’t want to watch them, but honestly, I can’t think of any. Even the super dark ones that come to mind:
Chain of Command parts 1 and 2 (TNG)
The Siege of AR-558 (DS9)
Duet (DS9)
The Inner Light (TNG)

Off the top of my head.
Thing is though, even though they are very dark, I still love them, they are some of my favorites. TV is drama, and drama is supposed to make you feel. I’m not an emotinal person, so I embrace those moments, the same way I embrace the “FUCK YEAH!!” moments when you jump out of your seat. It’s catharsis, the cleansing of emotion, and if you can find a show that is good enough to do that, then I think you have won.

Now, as for episodes too painfully bad to watch…
Precious Cargo (ENT)
Profit and Lace (DS9)
shudder

#31

I actually find Duet to be a rather hopeful episode. I know the start is menacing and the end is very powerful and disturbing, but the reveal itself though sad gives me a lot of hope. That even in the most dehumanizing trials there are people like him who knows deep down what they are doing is not right. I actually think that was the moment that saved the Cardassians as characters. Because of that glimmer of hope, i could watch it once in a while. but it is still very powerful piece of tv.