From: intertxt@network.ucsd.edu (Jason Snell)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: Re: Series' beginnings
Date: 12 Apr 1992 02:50:19 -0700
Organization: University of California, San Diego
NNTP-Posting-Host: network.ucsd.edu

In article <9204120533.AA22655@rachael.CFSMO.Honeywell.COM> ottoh3@CFSMO.Honeywell.COM (Otto Heuer #3) writes:
>
>Someone (sorry, the article was too long for me to sift through
>to get an attribution) started comparing TOS's "Where No Man
>Has Gone Before" to TNG's "Encounter at Farpoint".
>
>This is interesting, because I was just thinking to myself that
>almost EXACTLY half the TNG episodes have been better and half
>have been worse than the original two-hour premier.
>
>On the other hand, at least 90% of the TOS episodes were better
>than WNMHGB.  From such a lame beginning, it was extremely hard
>for them to come up with a worse piece of dreck than the opener.
>The only ones that come to mind right now are "Charlie X",
>"The Doomsday Machine", and "And the Children Shall Leave."
>At least "Spock's Brain" and "The Way to Eden" were fun to 
>laugh at.
>

Wow, Otto, I think you're totally out of the water here. TNG is indeed a sorry
show if "Encounter at Farpoint" is the midpoint in episode quality. "EaF" is a
hideous episode. Worst acting I've ever seen in a TV series? Well, yeah, Don
Rickles in "CPO Sharkey," but second up is Denise Crosby's "You've gone too
far.." speech to Q in "EaF." Makes me SICK to this day. Couple that with "I
sense pain.." repeatedly from Troi. Mix in a boring and transparent plot about
space jellyfish, and you've got more of a TOS parody than a real episode. the
show's only satisfying bits are the introductions to the characters
(Picard/Riker, Bev/Wes, Bev/Picard, Riker/Data) and the Data/McCoy scene.

The thing was padded more than a Chicago Bears lineman. Yuck. I recall liking
it at the time (and still liked it after having to watch "Code of Honor"..),
but in retrospect it really was a vile piece of junk with few redeeming
characteristics.

Now, to flame point #2: "Where No Man Has Gone Before," which, in my mind, is
one of TOS' best episodes. You've got a mysterious force which kills a few
crewmembers, and seriously injures others, including the Captain's best
friend. He begins showing signs of mysterious powers. The evil-looking first
officer, who is not really close to the captain, suggests that he kill his
friend while he can. The friend is a tragic figure, corrupted by power, but
not responsible for what he does. Kirk is forced to kill his friend, even
though it isn't the friend's fault.

"WNMHGB" is classic trek, chilling and disturbing, as well as being a pretty
solid action show (which is why NBC liked it). It has a pathos that the other
TOS and TNG episodes do not, because it was able to introduce Gary Mitchell as
Kirk's best friend, and then kill him off -- because it was the pilot.

I won't argue with you about the idiocy of "Charlie X", "Spock's Brain", or
"The Way to Eden", "And the Children Shall Lead", "The Cloudminers"..
though your choice of "Doomsday Machine" also baffles me. I don't like this
one as much as some, and I think the model shots of the Space Log dwarfing the
E, then matching it in size, etc., are pathetic, but there's still a good bit
of humor and tension in that episode.

So, Otto, I keep wondering if your post was left over from April Fool's Day!
Singling out "EaF" as an average TNG is a slap in the face, but saying that
"WNMHGB" is dreck is just baffling. What wood tick got in your cummerbund on
this one? Did the turtleneck outfits bother your or something?

Confusedly yours...


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