Encounter at Farpoint: In retrospect the Next Generation pilot story feels remarkably naïve and childish but at the time it was one of the most exciting things to hit our screens. With its exciting sets, fantastic model work and state of the art special effects this was a glossy science fiction serial that was bound to keep the kids happy at dinnertime. Unfortunately there are a manifest of problems that held back the first two series of the show; the main cast are completely out of their depth and trying to convince in some sloppily written characters, the plotting is childishly simple and treats the audience like idiots, the tone of the piece is all over the place and the dialogue is largely banal. With characters as unconvincing as Deanna Troi, Tasha Yar and Wesley Crusher the series clearly had a long way to go before it would prove its worth. Compared to the third or fourth series of TNG, Encounter at Farpoint is woefully embarrassing to watch. This is watchable if you are ten or under but any older and you might feel more than a little patronised: 3/10
Full Review Here: http://docohosstartrekreviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/encounter-at-farpoint-written-by-gene.html
The Naked Now: Odd to have an episode where all the main cast act out of character before we have even had the chance to get to know them. This script would have been chucked in the bin a few years later and it’s a staggering knock to the shows reputation that they could have an episode with a sex virus and Wesley Crusher taking control of the ship so early in the shows run – surely two of the most desperate plot devices imaginable. There are a few scant laughs along the way but The Naked Now is mostly made up of one cringe-inducing scene after another that fails to hit the spot. We really aren’t seeing these characters at their best which is a shame because they have much to offer. As much as people want to praise Gene Roddenberry for his vision of TNG if the last two scripts are an example of how he saw the show I’m amazed it made it off the drawing board. Failing to be funny or sexy, The Naked Now is a dismal failiure and irritatingly DS9 also had a stab at this sort of episode and it was even worse: 3/10
Full Review Here: http://docohosstartrekreviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/naked-now-written-by-michael-bingham.html
