UNCUT - The Game (TNG S5E6) | Star Trek Journey 213

It’s not that bad for me. Average. C. Some bland tropes, but some neat shots, and imh the chemistry between Wesley and Lefler was surprisingly believable despite the weak dialogue at times.

Mel Primus

Message boards had been going for quite a while, and internet chat rooms were just starting to become a thing. It was out there. Not like today, but if your job is to look forward, it was easy enough to see where the technology was going.

Dan Halstead

My god, that sweater…🤮

Derek Orr

I think it was simply she does not like chocolate

Derek Orr

Episodes do not get “erased from cannon”

Derek Orr

It really is. Its turned into a parody. The pilot episode was amazing but most downhill after that

Derek Orr

More like what smart phones have done to everyone

Derek Orr

Online porn did not exist when they made this

Derek Orr

I have no idea how to rate this one, the story and message are really bad and cheesy but it’s very entertaining to watch, even for all the wrong reasons. The big exposition dump that had you in hysterics reminded me of that the scene in Troll 2…

Worf and Riker Ride Again

Wil Wheaton was the same with the blueberry pie he had to eat as the blue boy in Hollow Pursuits.

Column Meanie

@Paul Hess A "J"? For jugs?

Jovet

Game wouldn't work on Borg.

Jovet

@Timothy Nikiforovs Exactly. You would only probably know if you liked that genre of music. Which I, for one, do not!

Jovet

@Todd Pritchett Yes, yes it is. I realize it is difficult for some to not show off how much they know about the show and the franchise's future, but any and all prior information going into future episodes can taint their perception and rating of it. And their enjoyment of it.

Jovet

I thought she had to spit it out so that she didn't ingest all the calories!

Jovet

This is an A for me, unusually for me to rate a Wesley episode so high. The funny thing is i know Marina hates chocolate, and she has said how when they filmed this she had a bucket next to her to spit it in after each mouthful.

jon bolton

Wes isn’t the antagonist. He’s the protagonist.

Column Meanie

Pretty awful even TOS would be embaressed by this one

AzoriusMage

Telling them in advance that a particular episode is considered bad would be something they have explicitly asked the patrons to not do

Jeffrey

Imagine giving this episode anything less than an S. The insanity of the world these days...

Jeff Cornell

Most of Secret Hideout Star Trek can die in fire for all I care...

Darin Wagner

Not Nancy Reagan's?

Sam Langanke

Save your hatred for Disco. But SNW is NO garbage at all.

Sam Langanke

Good question. Nothing wrong about Borg in a state of constant orgasm though.

Sam Langanke

Agreed. There was no online porn in 91. And even years later it took forever to download just a nude picture. No, that was not my experience. LOL But I remember a Simpons gag where the Comic Book Guy does that and moans "Oh, Captain Janeway!" about a very pixelated photo ...

Sam Langanke

Ironically I had it in quite good memory because Wesley came back - and left again after it! And because of Robin Lefler of course. I was around her age at the time. So...

Sam Langanke

spoiling? saying the names of episodes they won't see for 2+ years and calling them silly or goofy is spoiling? ok...

Todd Pritchett

Having finally seen the reaction, I think it's fine. Lesson learned: always watch the reaction before reading any of the comments...

DG

How about not spoiling things?

Gaming the Systems

You can tell these guys are from after the DARE generation when they say it would be better if it were MORE of a direct allegory about drugs.

Steven Linden

It's somewhere between a B and a C for me. Some of the writing is is pretty bad, but I still think it's a lot of fun.

Steven Linden

Agreed, same last name. So cheesy. Just infinitely cheesy.

Scott Wells

And I agree, btw. This easily one of the 10 worst episodes of the series. What a waste of Ashley Judd.

Aaron Wells

At least its scored worse than Darmok!

Aaron Wells

I also gave this a D, for me it's everything past them taking out Data the writing taking a nosedive. I do like the shots from a cinematic aspect, I don't mind Robin, and I think it's one of if not the worst post season 2 episode. Maybe they had to make a sacrifice to the writing gods for the next couple episodes. (IMO anyway)

Rylee

Unification waiting room

penoyer79

S7 does have some very excellent episodes, but it has some bad ones too, but those don’t stand a ghost of a chance of beating the worst one.

Ron Hubbard Jr

well that's the thing all these episodes can be or are considered "bad" but they all have some seriously goofy or silly aspects or are incredibly strangely written or have high cheese factor. I think the game, sub rosa and threshold all have guilty pleasure vibes, but aren't "good" episodes. Let he who is without sin... i think is just a terrible episode with horrible characterizations of our characters but it's just one of those wtf who wrote this kind of episodes as well.

Todd Pritchett

The vibe of that episode though is so thoroughly unique, it's another guilty pleasure of mine

Paul

A little too early for that...

Joshua Langweil

who and who?

Timothy Nikiforovs

I think I liked this. Solid B for me.

Kimmo Siniluoto

Love how Alex wrote his score before the episode was even completely over! LOL

Mark Magana

I give your review an S for stretching it XD

Dan Halstead

Hilarious reaction to one of the weirder TNG episodes! Agree on the bad writing and wooden acting. I think it was meant to be a metaphor for online porn addiction though, more than drugs or smartphones. If so I give it a point for tackling a subject no other show did, especially back then. It gets another point for being the first I know of to conceive an augmented reality device. And 2 points for Ashley Judd and Troi's chocolate ice cream :D. All told I give it a cheesy but watchable B. On to the next!

Dan Halstead

Interesting premise, but horrible execution. Not well thought out at all. A lot of it just makes no sense.

Michael Metrick

🤣

Michael Metrick

there's a "game" reference in Star Trek prodigy so its not. Apparently some version of the game thats not addictive or hypnotic and is actually based on skill then just pleasure, its just a one scene nod

paultardspambot .

yeah, I never thought of the show in seasons before this, but looking at what was coming for season 5, I did think huh, this is a lot more mid then i expected it. Season 6 is strong though. Again, just never thought of TNG that way cause it isn't the way i watched it. DS9 with its heavier serialization and over arching progressive plot was much easier to think of in terms of seasons.

paultardspambot .

the "That's what happening. And we're the only ones not affected!" dialogue after they work out how the game works. They found it funny as the most obvious of exposition delivered in the clunkiest way.

paultardspambot .

really? I can think of the one everyone is thinking of, then another which was too obvious, but most season 7 was great I though, maybe too much "twilight trek" for some but I liked it, of course it was my introduction to star trek

paultardspambot .

heh. That gave me the idea of a version where instead of addicting to you it, the game addicts you to what you already like, and troi winds up addicted to chocolate and wearing a fat suit while riker is inappropriately trying to bang every woman on the ship. That would be a much worse/better episode

paultardspambot .

I don't know about that. Starfleet seems to have a "not acting under your own will" exception, so really, all Riker was guilty of was trying what looked like a video game he was offered on Risa. After that point, he was no longer in control of his actions. Trying a video game on vacation doesn't really seem like a court martiable offense.

paultardspambot .

Good thing this Brannon Braga guy never writes Trek again after this.

Archangel42

eh, to be fair they were motivated by mind control to rapidly spread it and take over the enterprise, they were all being pushy about it. You know, like how in the 90s suposedly drug dealers were "pushers" lol

paultardspambot .

i liked let he who is without sin

paultardspambot .

"I have no clue what the big deal with Ashley Judd is" She's related to country music stars Naomi Judd (her mother) and Wynonna Judd (her half-sister)

Vina

I expect they will be thoroughly entertained by Sub Rosa. Probably a similar reaction to this one. Sub Rosa is one of the few Star Trek episodes that can make me laugh out loud due to how awful it is. The other two will probably bore them if past reactions are any indication.

Spencer Loften

I'll give it a J, for the same reason

Paul Hess

Todd Pritchett

I agree. Wesley was very annoying.

Carl Peterson

invasion of the body snatchers epic

David Marcoot

So it's exactly like Vegas

Fishing Trip

Horrible episode but Awesome reaction guys!!! That's one of the funniest ones you guys have had. Keep up the great work!!!

Keith Capirano

Alex and Josh? More like Ashley and Judd. Hubba hubba!!

Evan Guthrie

Wesley's best episode, imo...but that ain't saying much. I give it a B.

Grey Invader

It seems only bad can come of visiting Risa. Idk if anyone ever in star Trek gets to go to that dang planet and just enjoy themselves. I can think of one time it may have almost happened but then a certain SOMEONE had to go ruin it. iykyk

E Parhas

I am here for this ...

Lt Dan I scream

I rated this a B in the poll, but watching again, it does have rather clunky dialogue I'd forgotten about. So I'll give it a C. It is a bit of a goofy episode, yes, but I still like seeing Wesley again showing a bit more confidence and maturity for his time at the academy. I'll agree with you on one thing. I'm 36 and I have no clue what the big deal with Ashley Judd is. Yeah, she's cute, but looking through her filmography I've only seen 1 or 2 things outside TNG that she was in, and neither made an impact for me. But even if I don't think it's as bad as you guys did, I'm glad you at least had some fun with it.

Timothy Nikiforovs

Eh, I don't think Riker is any more likely to be court martialed than Geordi was in The Mind's Eye. This technology was potent enough to indoctrinate every member of the crew(except Data), including Picard. There was no real precedent to look out for this kind of thing.

Timothy Nikiforovs

I have an important question: If you gave the game to the Borg, would the Borg assimilate the game, or would the game assimilate the Borg?

Paul Noad

I cannot wait for the next one though…

tyranusfan

What Riker did was basically equivalent to infecting the company network with a virus because you couldn't help but watch porn on the company laptop. The episode is ridiculous mostly because in any real scenario, Riker would have been court martialled into oblivion for this, his chances to become Captain gone forever. He went on and on to Ro about the standards of serving on the flag ship... well Riker, Those standards apply a hell of a lot more to the first officer. Like conduct unbecoming an officer, breach of security protocols and much more.

Andreas Schmitt

Why should they like an episode that basically consists of Brannon Braga wanting to see the cast fake orgasms? This is one of the worst scripts Braga has ever made, and he's done some crappy ones.

Andreas Schmitt

Around the time they got Data, I thought “oh man, all those scientists aren’t going to get that survey done after all! Poor guys”. 😁

tyranusfan

Guys guys, I think your problem is that you're failing to grasp this episode's deep themes. You see (and follow me on this one), the game... it's a metaphor... for drugs (whoa!) ..and Wesley only doesn't play the game because he's already addicted to the most powerful drug of all: Love (aww) You see? It's a beautiful story I give this episode an A for Ashley

Paul Noad

A and. J….🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣side-splitting

Chris S.

Thinking it over, I think it's the Data stuff that bothers me. Beverly should have stuck him in a closet and had Riker put his combadge in a drawer in his quarters. We waste 5-8 minutes on all the "We sabotaged Data so well, we just can't figure out what's wrong with him" stuff, and it makes Geordi look bad. He's not recruited at that point and is already supposed to meet up with Riker at the end of the day to try the game, so it's not needed as a Geordi hook. Besides, he's the Chief Engineer and Data's bff, he should be motivated enough to find the severed connection, even preoccupied by a big project. Sticking Data in a closet would let Wesley & Robin find him while testing the game in Sickbay. "You work on repairing that connection; I'll go make sure the Captain knows about this. Meet me in Ten Forward when you're done." Works better imo.

Avaria

First half mostly B with some clunky moments; second half mostly C- with some highlights. So, it rounds out to a high C for me. I wonder how much of the "resist the social pressures of addiction" stuff was twiddled with by the studio. It was much more interesting when the recruitment was going on in the background and subtly creeping in. But in the second half, in what feels like the 20-30 minutes it takes Wesley to leave Sickbay, have his meeting with Picard, and reunite with Robin in Ten Forward, it's now everywhere and the crew's openly crazed? It feels rushed and sloppy.

Avaria

Alex liked Darmok

Josh (Target Audience)

Didn't like Darmok or The Game? You guys fell off.

DustmanNorochj

I compare every bad episode with TOS "And the Children Shall Lead" (nauseatingly atrocious). "The Game" is not as bad as that one...but it's a VERY low bar.

T’Pynyn of Vulcan

(¬_¬)

Pokeysaurus

This is one of my mom's favorite episodes.

DustmanNorochj

Dam, this one is certainly not among the best episodes, but you toar it to shreds. I call it a C, maybe C-.

startrekiborg

This is a good B episode for me. Some clunkiness but one of the better Wesley episodes. He was not as annoying as he usually was. I like the chase at the end and the shot when they are putting the game on Wesley was great. If you think of the game as giving some kind of hypnotic suggestions, then it makes much more sense. That is if you think of how hypnosis works at least in theory. This one is much more rewatchable than Darmok. I liked Darmok the first time more, but I cannot stand it now. It just drags and I want it to end. The discussion at the end of the episode left a lot to be desired. Just bad reasons not to like the episode. I know you have your opinion, but it seems like it was based upon bad information. And most Star Trek episodes have very hokey dialogue at times. Some of the moral grandstanding and the discussion of the prime directive is cringe. I thought so even back then but now it just seems worse. Such a modern worldview pushed. It did not keep up with the time philosophically speaking. A drug allegory would have been just another episode. Nothing special. There would have been much better TV episodes about drugs. Kind of boring and predictable. This had more excitement. This could have been better if it was not just one episode but was done in little spurts throughout season. At first it would just be some game to fill time in an episode, but it would grow and grow. But having another drug allegory. Yuck!

Carl Peterson

I do agree that E doesn't really make sense, given that it means erase from cannon, in short, never able to watch it again. D fits better because even Josh admits he'd rather watch this again than the final mission, definitely "weird vibes" is a good description for it

Paul

Yes, I think they seem ignorant of some basic facts here. Maybe they have seen too much TV. One of my down sides to this issue is that some of the crew are acting like they are high. I think they should have had them act more normal but also playing the game. Much more like the bridge crew.

Carl Peterson

True, could definitely agree with an n/a rating, but imo it gets an E for wasting Wesley’s return. Even though it’s hilarious that this is his return!!

Josh (Target Audience)

Yes, it is like the guys never have seen any hypnotism acts or even real hypnotism that is used sometimes to heal. it does not change your whole personality or make it so you cannot go about your day. If they were just drunk then it would make sense. In a way that some of the crew were acting more drunk or high was a down point for me. But yes, it is just a bad reason not to like an episode. Because at least that part is one of the more believable parts.

Carl Peterson

This is an episode where a tier ranking doesn't even make sense. Because it's an atrocious episode that I know is terrible, yet for some mysterious reason, I love it.

Paul

I mean you guys were pretty rough on this ep the had to give wes something to do, it wasnt the best but Id give it a C

Scarpad’s Domain

I actually agree. It wasn't insanely cringe, but it was just weak.

Tom Occhipinti

But it took time for Riker to become infamous for being insatiable!

Jovet

Yep.

Jovet

I never had an issue with the hypnosis aspect because as far as I'm aware that doesn't mean someone loses their identity or personality, it just means some aspect of their thoughts or feelings has been (theoretically) modified to some extent or another. From that POV, it made sense to me that this game 'programmed' them to have this new mission to spread the game, while also rewarding them with pleasurable feelings as a 'hook' or motivation to play and be enthusiastic about the 'mission'. None of that requires them to lose their whole identity. It's like an extreme version of behavior modification, I think?

Forbidden Donut

Fun episode, does a lot of cool things. The one by one "recruiting" of Riker, Troi, Beverly I like a lot because it's just implied. The Picard reveal that he's also under it's control is a cool scene. There some clunky expositional dialogue that really spells things out but that's not the end of the world. I mean, at this point.. c'mon. S tier episodes have clunky dialogue too at times. Totally disagree that a drug allegory would somehow make this better. That's about as paint by numbers as you could possibly get. The fact that the addiction is hypnotizing without being debilitating so they can still function perfectly well to accomplish the take over and possess others is really not that far out the realm of possibility, we literally JUST saw Geordi placed under mind control on a very similar level by Romulans. You guys seemed to have a blast though, hardest laughs since Private Little War... and yet E and D. alright guys lol, if you say so ;)... onto the next!

James Bottas

I have no love (or hate) for this episode but when it comes time to rank S5, we should all rank this as our number 1 just to fuck with them.

THE LORE!!!

its a C-

Josef Nitervol

Well TA, you just lost The Game. Remember when Josh thought Darmok wasn't great? Along comes "The Game" to kick ya back to reality.

Nolan

lol arousing because, as an 11 year old, something about the way they were acting was stimulating not really getting what an orgasm was but recognizing someting there, and also ashley judd

paultardspambot .

the chocolate scene was this intentional thing to introduce this idea of pleasure, and its supposed to be ironic its the adults addicted and teens who are fighting it.. or something. But yeah, there was a lot of "pleasure/seduction" stuff in the direction which was suposed to be edgy because it was like, acknowledging that this was very enjoyable while the shif to the bodysnatchers plot sort of came on a bit too fast in terms of transition, but as a kid, again, when they caught wesley, i was trying to imagine myself in the situation, and data's resuce was bad ass and out of nowehre, because werent clued in via the in screen dialogue that wesley was actually just a diversion, for data to fix the problem while we were supposed to think he was desperatelt the last "human" who hadnt been addicted body snatched.

paultardspambot .

Just because they were laughing doesn’t mean they didn’t give the episode a chance. A reaction series like this means the episodes are not going to hit like they did in the 90s. Yes they haven’t liked Westley or Risa episodes but it seems like they were watching with open minds.

Sainjl

well for me as a kid i found this episode both terrifying and arousing. Doesnt hold up but the "invasion of the body snatchers" vibe plus the idea of a super enjoyable techno drug being the thing that gets you, when i was 11 and had no idea what drugs were like, freaked me out. Its worth noting this during the "DARE" era where every tv show had this anti drug message that basically made drugs look like they turned you into mindless zombies. What I didn't know at the time is that many of these animators being forced to do these went intentionally over the top ridiculous. This wasnt the case fot this episode but the climate helps, and I also think its important to understand when this came out the expositroy dialgoue was maybe necessary because the public knowsledge about nero science was extremely lacking. This did get kicked around a bit from the initial concept of "tetris is addicting, maybe we could do a sci fi thing" to braga getting his first script and going in a "wesley comes home and his family comes out to get him" and they basically knew this one was kinda corny and campy but they thought the only way to do it was to go all out.. like if you didnt just accept those elements, it wouldnt work. I do feel that tis one has aged really badly, elements that seemed fresh and relevant and "advanced" at the time now seem goofy and obvious. I think its also to be remembered that the intention of wesley was as a character younger fans could relate to in a "mary sue" way so it wasnt just older fans of the original series, and having a wesley plot, like really the whole episode, it was one that was probably aimed at the younger side of the demographic while hoping the adults would dig it if it just went all it on its weirdness, which is kind of how it was received but as i said has just aged very badly.

paultardspambot .

Exactly. There are several HUGE stinkers in S7. I hope they notice when Riker flips off the viewer in one of the stinkers, as if to say "F you, I know it's bad."

Scott Reeves

I think this was a filler episode. There are some GREAT episodes coming up and the writing staff was busy with them. So everyone had to pass the script around and give it 15 minutes before getting back to real work. I give this episode a D-

Gregory Foster

This was a high C for me. Great premise, horribly executed. (This was when Ashley Judd was palatable.) But it's TNG and I still love it.

Michael Metrick

Agreed.

Collin Freeman

Yeah and it's not done great....but that seems to be the message.

Greg Quinn

Do you realize, telling me I'm parasoicial is like saying I'm a subscriber on Patreon? Isn't everyone here acting parasocialy?

THE Fans

I kinda thought you guys would like this. Also I didn't love it but thought it was a bit better than you guys thought.

Greg Quinn

If someone was going to bring a dangerous sex toy back to the ship, it was always going to be Riker.

EnigmaticPenguin

The really terrible expository dialog that was telling the audience what it already knew in a super tropey manner

Jeffrey

Wow, my all time favorite Star Trek episode! I can't wait to see what the guys think about it!

Doug

To me, an “E” should be for something you would never want to watch again. You had so much fun with this episode that it should have been a “C” at least.

Aramis Calcutt

This script would be more at home in season 1 or 2.

Zugster

On paper this is a good episode and is not even executed poorly. It was an average effort. It's just that Wes doesn't work as the main antagonist. Being the wiz kid sounds nice but doesn't make a great character in practice.

Gerald Conde

I wish we smoked before this

Josh (Target Audience)

I think the message is that anyone can become addicted and thus controlled by something.

Jovet

Bahahahah

Josh (Target Audience)

Either you two were playing 'the game' or that Klingon Kush hit extra hard! so many laughs! (some odd audio problems though, hissy until you talk)

Badger

The Troi scene with the chocolate was supposed to be a moment that tied in/set up the whole pleasure/addiction thing. Kind of like the painting scene at the beginning of Matter of Perspective, except that episode was actually good.

BN13

This episode gets an "S" for "Shit-Tier."

Tom Occhipinti

Porking gang unite! We now have official validation

Narnman

I love this episode, and I also love that you both hated it. I think it needs to be accepted as canon that Wesley's birthmark is on his cock now.

Darin Starr

Either would've been better than this episode 😆

The Ninth Doctor

As an adult, D. 10-year-old me who first watched it, S. (I averaged them for a B). This reaction, S

Mosquito_Wenzi

Ah dumb fun. It’s nice to see Wesley and all but the frightening ease the Enterprise is taken over is borderline comical especially with such a weak villain. Plus we have the “Wesley saves the day” trope that made him so hated in s1 (ok I know it’s ultimately Data but still). Overall It’s C for me, it’s fun if you just go with it. I don’t think it’s the worst episode of the show, it’s not even the worst of s5.

Darren Seal

It’s one of the worst, not the worst, and yes there are some that are worse in S7.

Ron Hubbard Jr

I think this episode's greatest sin is that it has absolutely nothing to do with Star Trek whatsoever. By that I mean that it's not about anything. There's no commentary, no idea, and no message. As you said, The Host is actually about something. It's execution of that idea is pretty wacky, but it's exploring the real idea of how does love actually work. I agree that this episode would have been WAY better if they removed the whole external villain aspect and made it an episode about addiction. Especially considering that according to season 1, this is supposed to be a society that has absolutely no experience with addiction unless you grew up on a colony like Tasha's. Instead we got this

BN13

At least in this episode, Troi shows Riker that she has moved on and she doesn't need him or The Game to have a good orgasm-like experience. Just a big bowl of chocolate. I can relate.

Jovet

Worst is in S7! This is the definition of a "C".

Jovet

ho ho ho

Jovet

LOL! Fever dream or wet dream?

Jovet

I get it. I've been annoyed in the past with some of their reactions, including The Empath which I'm a fan of. But this is not a very good episode and I just found their amusement infectious in this particular reaction. I wouldn't have been a patron this long if I didn't enjoy it.

David Wayne Fox

Wesley and Robin definitely porked. And now we know what everyone's O face looks like. Edit: Everyone except Picard's. Stewart did not deign to lower himself to that! haha

Jovet

1. You are behaving very parasocialy. 2. This episode of TNG absolutly deserves all the laughter it gets because it is ridiculous

Rob

This was the perfect episode to laugh at and talk over.

Jovet

*kewl

Jovet

I missed what they were laughing hysterically at.

Jovet

One silly detail stuck in my head when I first saw this episode. Etana had the pupils of a goat. Theyed never used make up effects like that before. At least as far as I recall. Gave the episode a B by the way.

Keith S

This episode has always been a soft spot for me, as it's one of the first episodes I ever saw, when I was very little, just out of random chance. It's not gonna be remembered as one of the best Star Trek episodes of all time, but I don't think it's QUITE as bad as your initial thoughts. It definitely serves as a good example that even in its best seasons, TNG can still serve up a clunker or two.

John

20:46 Actually, life is always fair.

Jovet

Skipping this episode and reaction. One of the worst TNG episodes.

Ron Hubbard Jr

That’s what actors do in anything. They talk about a lot on The Office podcasts.

John M.

100% agree

Jeffrey

The premise was the best part. Not sure if you watched the discussion, but we explain our thoughts quite thoroughly. Glad you enjoy the episode 👍🏻

Josh (Target Audience)

Brannon Braga is like a mixed bag. Sometimes his style works and we end up getting some interesting episodes, ideas, or even characters. But then other times we get the most laughably stupid Star Trek ever written (at least in the Berman era). Even his absolute worst work looks like gold now compared to Kurtzman's garbage though, so I really can't complain.

BN13

I absolutely love this episode. I'm really baffled by your hate for it, it's got all the things that I loved about TNG. It also could be, this was before the videogame 'panic' of the 2000's when they decided all of us gamers were potential mass-shooters or some crazy thing, maybe it just doesn't read right to you because as a society we've had this whole conversation to death.

Angelaina Marie

@DG I think the reviews have been pretty fair other than Darmok which I will respectfully disagree with. Hard truth is this season is pretty mid as a whole. Everyone seems to hard focus on the 5-6 high tier episodes and ignore the rest when judging the season. There is a group of episodes after Matter of Time which I would personally consider one of the worst stretches in the entire Star Trek franchise. I don't expect the reviews to get better.

Spencer Loften

They were so distracted by what video games would do to us that they were blindsided by what Facebook would do to them

Josh (Target Audience)

This is what my mom and dad thought would happen to me if I had a video game system as a kid. They were correct

Deep Red

OMG... whether you love or hate this episode (I'm not a fan...D for me), this is probably your most entertaining ST reaction to date! I laughed my ass off with you guys.

David Wayne Fox

All the cool kids are doing it.

Collin Freeman

Big reveal isn’t spoiled but a few guests are. Not a huge deal

Josh (Target Audience)

I can never hate this episode simply because I laugh my ass off every time just like you did on first watch. Think about that. I've been watching TNG for almost FORTY YEARS and I still crack up. EVERY. TIME. The definition of so bad it's good. God bless raunchy Riker and his butt-headed pirate paramour.

Ally Roth

If memory serves me right, the episode starts off with our beloved reveal, goes to intro, then credit is revealed after the intro. So it's done well enough.

Ricky

See... THIS was a fun reaction :P Shame it was for a garbage episode :P Btw, just so you know... to the cast this episode stayed in memory as the one "where we all had to fake an orgasm"

Andreas Schmitt

It deserves laughing at it from the first scene. I've been laughing at it for almost 35 years. And there is no Wesley bashing. Wil was as good as he could be with the dialog he was given, but the writing team wasted his return.

Jeffrey

We’ve watched through episode 9 and Star Trek VI

Josh (Target Audience)

Dont watch the Startcredits for the next episode, if you havent allready.

Gold Wing

This is one of many terrible episodes of Star Trek written by Brannon Braga... who failed his way to the top and eventually became in charge of the entire franchise.

Darin Wagner

Episode: E Reaction: S

James H

Well, that blows my prediction out of the water. Guys, you were laughing at it from the first scene. If you feel like sitting for an hour and trashing something... watch something else. It's unfortunate that the mention of "Risa" generates an "I'm going To hate this episode" reaction. Risa isn't going away. It's in many episodes. And the crappy "Wesley" Season 1 and 2 typical storylines are gone, so if he shows up again, how about drop the "we know how this is going to go" garbage. I can't believe I got up early on my day off to watch you two giggle for 50 minutes.

THE Fans

I thought you guys might have liked this one since it's so goofy and has the whole Invasion of the Body Snatchers thing going on. But I totally agree. I get why this is a guilty pleasure for a lot of people, but it's best erased from canon.

BN13

TNG The sex scoreboard Riker gives the big O and has sex Riker 12 new +1 Troi 3 Dr. Bev 3 Data 2 Picard 1 Worf 1 Geordi 1 Broccoli 2 i Chief/Keiko 1 Leffler +1 new Weasely +1 new Extra: My friend Riker has the whole prone bone position all wrong, but clearly wack-a-mole was going on. I love a good chase sex night so this is a solid score for Riker. GOD I HATE THIS. I have to give Weasely a score. And F’in Ashley Judd!!!! I had hoped we could not really find a time off screen but it is clear in the end the limp noodle says goodbye to virginity. For the sex crazed college part of Weasely I give some props. He does a drive by clapping cheeks. Since this is the sex scoreboard that is all that matters here. Last note. Almost gave one to Troi for the scene with the ice cream bowl. Whoa girl

Prof Moff

This is my guilty pleasure episode, I like plots that have to do with something addicting and looking to remedy it. Good direction, decent character moments, the Worf jumpscare, and the return of Wesley in a sweater make this one entirely watchable imo

Ian Meyers

I love this episode

Phil Ken Sebben

This is one of those episodes where you can totally understand why someone would hate it, or love it, and thats OK. You're right its really odd. I gave it a C because Wesley but also because Ashley Judd, so it balances out.

Chris Mickelson

Guys, Wesley would NEVER take drugs. That's Tasha's gretest legacy.

Steve Boshear

Gotta say I like this a lot more than you guys, but still not enough to put any effort into its defense. I will say I'm actually a fan of how they cut away from Wesley and Lefler working on Data only to later reveal that they successfully reactivated him. To me, it makes Wesley a little less lame that he wasn't really soloing the whole crew, but just needed to buy time for the actual GOAT. I thought Data's entrance was an effective reveal. I do wish he'd said "I" instead of "we" when telling Picard how he fixed everything. Wesley reactivating Data offscreen was great to me, but pretending he also helped with all that other stuff was too much.

Steve Boshear

Fun fact: Marina Sirtis couldn't eat chocolate and stay skinny enough to be in her costume, so she had a spitoon next to her so she could spit out the chocolate in between takes when she did the ice cream scene.

Darin Wagner

obviously this is just a dream episode, Wesley just fantasying hes saving the ship, there plenty of hints like him being a lady's man at starfleet academy, dream on Wesley dream on

Dark Kronis

I gave it a B because there is unfortunately no "so bad it's good" rating in the polls. I like this episode in the same way that I like The Room.

Spencer Loften

You are so right that this episode should be erased from canon. I barely made it through the episode. A Christmas Whiskey helped.

Glenn Zigli

oh no…

PIG

The perfect thumbnail for this episode!

Paul Hess

It is a marry Christmas!

A G