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PATRON TIER LIST TNG S5E15

What tier do you rate Star Trek TNG S5E15?

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This poll will remain open, so feel free to revisit this once you watch our UNCUT reaction, YouTube edited reaction, or at any point throughout the season before our recap!

Comments

The USS Essex mentioned in this episode was meant to be a Daedalus-class ship. Daedalus-class is a cool pre-TOS design, with a spherical dome instead of a saucer section, and an elongated engineering section that looks like a cigar. It has only ever been depicted in books, comics, and video games - and never officially on-screen - but is one of my favorite ship designs.

Matt Everkoul

B. I like how them being consciousnesses from that early federation ship is just plausible enough to entertain, but still too silly to really be the plot to be the truth. Also some interesting performances from Troi, Data, and O'Brien. It's nice to see Picard navigate the situation calmly and strategically. How do you think Kirk would have handled this? I feel like the situation called for more calm and nuance than he was good at.

Mr Moxie

I always liked letting Keiko being included in the "willing to die for others" bit from Picard. That suggestion alone gives her a little extra depth.

Joe Concepts

A- Data and Chief are kinda scary, and Troi performance is solid.

JoeCensored

B banger, evil chief is my fave!

ByRikersBeard

Data's literal "Ghost in the Machine" moment, extremely fun and underrated episode!

Paul

A nice chance for Marina Sirtis to show her range. I got big Demona vibes off her performance.

Matthew McKinnon-Gray

Chief UNLEASHED... Solid A for that alone, even before we get to Pissed Off AI and Counselor Terrorist...

The Ninth Doctor

This is an A for me, great episode. I still remember how exciting it was watching Troi, Data and O'Brien taking hostages when I was a kid. I always liked seeing the cast act out of character wether it's the mirror universe, possession or a simulation.

Phillip Grischa

I liked it. Solid 'A' imo. As I rewatch the series for the first time in decades because of you guys, it's been fun rediscovering stuff that I'd completely forgotten about. Thanks for that.

Boggle

I actually kind of like this one, as long as I don’t put any thought into it. Basically your standard “hostage crisis” on any episodic tv or the 70s-90s, with the body possession twist. Although the scene with O’Brien, Keiko, and Molly is one of my least favorite of the series. Way too disturbing for my taste.

Glenn Johnson Barnes

Ux-Mal! Well written action episode. Data and O'Brien playing against character and being super creepy are the highlight. A Tier for me.

Loot Narsbaar

The story is fine but Troi, Data and O’Brien acting like psychopaths is great! Spiner is genuinely scary… B for me

Worf and Riker Ride Again

Data is kinda scary with his limiters off

#MaxwellDidNothingWrong

A-Tier. GodDAYUM this episode SLAPS. It's so intense and dramatic and nail-biting all throughout. Each of the key characters have great, thematic parts to play, with nice multiple parallels. By that I mean Troi-Picard, Data-Worf, and Miles-Keiko. Somehow the climactic moment and the possibility of self-sacrifice encapsulates the self-righteousness of Starfleet and the Enterprise's crew evident in Season One without coming across as hammy. On top of all that, we get Troi acting and sounding badass the entire time. Perhaps the "twist" of the plot isn't all that... snazzy, but the way in which the antagonist-of-the-week is foiled remains fantastic. Great installment all around.

Shortskirtsandexplosions

Now why couldn't the entire series be like some of these? Between this, "Disaster", "Conundrum", "The Game", and "Ro", this series finally decided to try to have some adventure and go for a little fun. No lessons, no crying, no syrupy sentiment that could cause cavities from being so sweet, nothing but an attempt to be an adventure. It's almost like I'm watching Star Trek.

Ken R

I think you guys may really like this but it's a C for me. There are a few plot holes (like pain can knock out the "ghost" but phaser on full does nothing?) but those don't really bother me. Just never really "felt" this episode. 🤷‍♂️

Greg Quinn

I mean, didn't Geordie turn into a subhuman alien and get tortured by Romulans

Tony B

Lost 1/8 of an inch of finger nails on that one. What a play from O'brien, who deserves to be hit in the face with a shovel.

Dan Here

Another weak, for me, episode before we get to more good ones, including my favorite. Data seems to get possessed almost as often as Troi does. And Our Favorite Chief also gets possessed and is a bit threatening to his family, which is creepy. For me this one is just...OK. I have it ranked as another “Time Filler With Good Moments”.

KatWithAttitude

I believe her quote was “it could’ve been Worf in Troi’s uniform and no one would know the difference” 🤣

Column Meanie

Too silly

Jovet

I did not find Sirtis menacing at all. She was, somehow, more menacing in "Clues".

Jovet

Yes, it is.

Jovet

I would erase it from existence if I had the power. I don't hate it, but it's not entertaining, not sensible, not enjoyable, and not as impactful as it should be.

Jovet

I think both the TOS and the TNG crew should have MAJOR PTSD!

T’Pynyn of Vulcan

In a later interview, she said she was shocked to see how tiny she was in the final shot and decided it was NOT worth it!

Pokeysaurus

I do not enjoy this one. As a non-biological being, I can't believe Data could be taken over by electrical ghosts the same way as the biological beings were. Troi doesn't make a very convincing baddie. Data pounding his fist on the console should have destroyed it. O'Brien's "I gave you that" is one of the dumbest lines in the show. The only thing I enjoyed about this episode is the part about drilling through the ceiling. "D"

Jovet

Is it just me or this feels a lot like a TOS episode premise/idea written through a modern eye? “I am not afraid of death “ LET’S GO WORF!”

Sixto

Yeah, I remember it having a better average than the others, as in with the exception of you know which Episode which really soars, few were quite as good as the best of other seasons, but none were as bad as the others, but re-watching it with the guys, I am not so sure.

Thomas Cole

Data turned hostile and Troi getting possessed are one thing- everyone understands and life moves on. But Keiko was terrified for herself and her child- likely for the first time ever. And the one doing it wore the body of the man she loves. And chief had to watch helplessly as he inflicted terror on his family. I don’t know how you come back from that. They would both have serious PTSD. Those emotional stakes and my love for the chief push this up to an A for me.

John Pierce

“On the flooooor!”

Column Meanie

Good to see them giving Marina more to do here. She was so excited that she volunteered to do her own stunt when the lightning threw them off their feet on the planet. She cracked her tailbone in the process! Seeing a different side of Colm Meaney here where he can play a jerk really well. The plot is enough to keep me interested, but can’t say I revisit this one often. B for “Bolts of Lightning Breakin’ Bones”

Column Meanie

Me, either

Collin Freeman

I have no strong feelings one way or the other on this episode.

John

Never before, has there been a feeling of such high stakes and epicenes by simply walking down a hallway after leaving Ten Forward. They are Walking! The score has no business going this hard. I remember it to this day.

Nathan Walker

I mainly remember enjoying Siritis, Meaney, and Spiner playing different roles, along with the initial tensions of the hostage situation, but past that I just vaguely remember it feeling like the ending was somewhat of a let down. Is a B too generous?

Forbidden Donut

Miles, Troi, Data what a scary combo when they are not in control.

Troy

For me, S5 has always been the weakest of the "good" seasons. There are absolutely some big highs and memorable moments in it, but they stand out among a vast sea of mediocre to average fare.

Nolan

Okay, if the last one ended up iffy for you guys, this one HAS to be the end of the bad streak for you. So many good bits in this story. A spotlight for O'brien, too. I've always enjoyed this one and I think you will too.

Nolan

A very TOS episode of TNG. Loved it as a teenager. B.

John M.

This episode is fine.. It never sat well with me that Data could be taken over like that. It doesn’t make sense. Marina Sirtis continues to shine when they give her things to do that aren’t falling in love. B

Phil Ken Sebben

Another fun action story. The fight on the bridge is a highlight, and FINALLY we see Worf running down the corridor doing his job.

tyranusfan

Looks like Brent Spiner and Marina Sirtis had fun, it’s goofy premise but I enjoy it a lot. Has some fun sequences. Between A and a B

Darren Seal

Hovering between B and A for me. I think B, due to all the scene chewing

Jeffrey

Of course YOU would say that ;)

JHVJ

If you like the goofy aspect of Star Trek then this is the episode for you. It's very entertaining in a silly way. I love the scene where they attempt to take over the bridge. The shot of Troi blasting everyone always makes me laugh. It's a solid B tier for me.

Spencer Loften

Another fun episode. Spiner and Sirtis were very believable in their “possessed” state, Meaney not so much, but he was effective as well.

Ron Hubbard Jr

Some decent stuff in here but a bit unremarkable all being said. Better stuff is coming.

Jon1701

This episode stands out for me because I had met Mirana Sirtis at a Star Trek convention a few months earlier and asked her if she ever got to use a phaser on screen. She said that she hadn't in any of the aired episodes so far, but stay tuned as they had recently made one where she does, and she was talking about this one.

Alexander McKechnie

S Tier for me! Very creepy

General Trelane

We've had both Spiner and Sirtis playing scary versions of themselves "possessed," but they give Meaney a chance, too, and he does great with it. He's really menacing when interacting with Keiko and the baby. Seems to me at this point the producers are almost testing things out with O'Brien to see how far they can take him and the actor. I'd say more, but I don't remember if our reactors know what the future holds.

Joe Concepts

Meany, Spiner, and Sirtis really show there acting chops here. The part where the possessed O'Brian starts to come on to Keiko was really unnerving. S for me.

Keith S

It's the rest of the main crew I had an issue with. Never believe what people say, only what they do. Ones past (a lie or not) should not give them lee-way to act criminally in their present.

Ben Smith

Always a treat to see the crew react to an insider threat. Instead of “Brothers” where Data is unstoppable, these entities are fallible and get frustrated. Love to see those three bust out their acting chops.

Evan Guthrie

Enjoyable and any episode that has Spiner, Meaney and Sirtis chewing the scenery gets my A vote. But it is all rather silly.

Paul Rymer

Parts of it may feel silly, but I think the acting and especially the moody direction make for a tense, enjoyable romp. Data can definitely be scary! (And so can O’Brien.) I think David Livingston never directed before TNG? I’m gonna say he’s got the knack. Warning: his resumé is practically a spoiler in itself.

rear adm. crackbiscuit

IMO, Picard never believed them. He says as much in Ten Forward. He just plays along until he can figure out who they really are and gain the upper hand

Justin B

The best thing about this episode is that it gave Marina, Brent and Colm a chance to stretch their acting legs a bit. I think Brent in particular did a good job not just reverting to acting like Lore, which would be the easiest thing to do in this case. It's always fun to see the actors get to play the bad guy for a change. Also Starfleet can afford seatbelts for their shuttles but not for the chairs on the bridge? Make it make sense.

Timothy Nikiforovs

I think Spiner had a little too much fun being an asshole in this one. It's almost freaky and makes Lore seem sane in comparison. Also, can't help but laugh when Marina Sirtis says "Ux-Mal." Dumbest, most unintimidating name ever.

THE LORE!!!

I really struggled with this ep as I felt the crew should have been suss of the story the entities gave them initially. They were acting like criminals from the get go. Overall this one felt like it had a great concept but rushed the writing.

Ben Smith

I give this one an A. Great show that makes use mostly of standing sets (a "bottle show"). Marina Sirtis did her own stunt in the beginning and cracked her coccyx bone. She's a real trooper. The tension between Data's possessor and Worf was good too. Ro also has some time to shine here.

Darin Wagner

Crap, I really remember this season being better. Maybe there was too much rose tinted glasses.

Thomas Cole

Welcome to the Enterprise Molly O’Brien

Gregory


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