[Christopher Halsey]

COMMUNITY DEBATE

BEST TNG TWO PARTER

This week we will be debating what the best two part episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation is and why.

The poll contains a list of every two part or feature length episode for you to select, once you've cast your vote be sure to make a post to state your choice and why you think it is the best episode on the list, is it because it best fits with the vision of Star Trek? Is it because it furthers or resolves an important plot point or character arc? Is it because it put the crew in the most challenging situation? Is it purely because you found it the most entertaining?

[Three of Seven]

This is a tough one, a lot of good 2 part episodes, although if you had said the worst, that would have been easy

I have gone with Birthright because I like crossover episodes and I would have liked to have seen more, it's always interesting to see different crews interact with each other. Here are the other ones I was thinking of.

Time's Arrow, Chain of Command and The Best of Both Worlds, I enjoyed all of these.

[Christopher Halsey]

This is a tough one, a lot of good 2 part episodes, although if you had said the worst, that would have been easy

I agree, there are a lot of really strong episodes on that list, like you I also think picking the worst is easier, we will likely look at that for the next debate.

I have gone with Birthright because I like crossover episodes and I would have liked to have seen more, it's always interesting to see different crews interact with each other.

I enjoyed the crossover element as well, getting to see Bashir and Data interact was great and although their time together was brief their chemistry was very enjoyable. It was also really cool to glimpse in to how Noonian Soong had designed Data to evolve as a person.

[Infinity]

Chain of Command is probably my most favourite two parter. I've always been interested in how the crew would react if Picard, the lovable Starfleet Captain wasn't there, and that's exactly what Chain of Command showed us. Captain Edward Jellico had a drastically different style of command than Picard. From what I remember, Jellico & Riker had disagreements about a four-shift rotation when Picard ran it on three. I did feel like Riker should've been more obeying but I do understand why Riker disagreed with Jellico.

One of my favourite things about the two-parter is that we finally saw Counsellor Deanna Troi in a Starfleet uniform! I was pleased that she was wearing a starfleet uniform after all this time. I wasn't a huge fan of all the torture that was done to Captain Picard by the Cardassians but everything worked out in the end for Picard. He was free from the torture and he got his command back.

[Christopher Halsey]

As Three rightly points out, a lot of strong episodes on this list. Since I first decided to do the poll on this subject I've been trying to think of my favourite and arrived at Chain of Command.

Firstly, the acting. Sir Patrick Stewart OBE delivers, for me, one of his finest performances as Jean-Luc Picard, the always great David Warner does brilliantly as Gul Madred and comes across as a believable and formidable opponent for Picard, how often do you see Picard face a truly worthy adversary?

I also think Ronny Cox did well as Jellico, I know that the Enterprise crew didn't like him due to his very different style but to me he came across as a realistic starship Captain despite showing a different leadership style to any other we've seen in Star Trek.

Speaking of Jellico I liked him. I know that probably won't be a popular opinion but I quite like that style in a boss, he comes across as confident, clearly states his expectations then let's you go and get on with it. I actually think Riker comes off the worst of the two (again an opinion I doubt will be popular). Sure Riker doesn't like his style but Jellico is his Captain, it isn't like Jellico wanted him to blow up a civilian ship or violate the neutral zone, he wanted him to change the shift pattern so that the crew would be well rested and sharp in the event of a (very likely) battle. Ok rota changes on that scale are hard to deal with at last minute but you are a professional (as are the other senior officers), "Get it done!".

I also loved seeing the crew having to deal with Jellico's leadership style, respect to the man for getting Troi to wear a uniform, it's not casual Friday! I also loved how he handled the Cardassians, a completely different style to Picard but it threw the Cardassians off balance, it was great to see him realise he could be a bit bullish with the Cardassians.

With the acting to one side I found the story really entertaining, the Cardassians hadn't really been well fleshed out in TNG before this episode, it also helped set the backdrop for DS9 and establish them as a great adversary. I also liked seeing Star Trek look at some big themes like pre-emptive military action, WMDs, covert actions, treatment of prisoners and torture.

It was also one of the few episodes for me where the stakes really seemed real, time and again we've seen the 'main character gets captured by aliens, will he be rescued' episode many many times (especially in Voyager where it felt like that was every other episode with the main difference being whether it was Kim, Paris or Kim and Paris getting captured), this was, for me, one of the few where you genuinely wondered how, even if, Picard would be saved and what he would be like afterwards.

My only dislike about the episode was that I didn't feel Picard's trauma was reflected much in the character going forward, obviously he wouldn't have been returned to duty if he wasn't deemed physically and mentally fit, but it would have been nice to see a few lingering effects at least immediately after the episode.

[Danska101]

Speaking of Jellico I liked him. I know that probably won't be a popular opinion but I quite like that style in a boss, he comes across as confident, clearly states his expectations then let's you go and get on with it. I actually think Riker comes off the worst of the two (again an opinion I doubt will be popular). Sure Riker doesn't like his style but Jellico is his Captain, it isn't like Jellico wanted him to blow up a civilian ship or violate the neutral zone, he wanted him to change the shift pattern so that the crew would be well rested and sharp in the event of a (very likely) battle. Ok rota changes on that scale are hard to deal with at last minute but you are a professional (as are the other senior officers), "Get it done!".

The first time I watched Chain of Command, I was very much on Riker's side. This hardline Captain has come barging in, is making unrealistic demands and changing everything when we all know it works well as it is. He refuses to integrate or listen to his crew, ignores their suggestions and forces them to comply with his demands over their protestations even though they know the ship far better than he does.

The second time, however, I was surprised to find my view had completely changed. Here was a Captain forced into a dangerous and volatile situation with a ticking clock. He had to make sure they were as prepared as they could be and did everything he could think of to achieve this goal. He pushed the crew hard, but they are "the finest crew in Starfleet" and were not being asked to do anything beyond their abilities. Riker, by contrast, seemed determined to fight him on every issue for no other reason than "he's not Picard". A ridiculous attitude in an organisation where transfers and roster changes are not uncommon, even amongst the senior staff.

So I happen to agree with you about Jellico. He was a very interesting character, especially with the sheer amount of confidence and authority he portrayed that was, largely, covering his own deep uncertainties. He was very different from Picard, but that didn't make him bad or wrong.

Now since I realise I haven't directly answered this topic's question, though it should come as no surprise given my response, my answer is Chain of Command. It was very close between that and The Best of Both Worlds, but it just comes out on top for me.

[Avenger]

Definitely The Best of Both Worlds, I think it changed the approach to Star Trek and gave the Federation a credible enemy that made every Borg episode from here on in - total class!!

[Tain]

Hands down, The Best of Both Worlds. My buddies and I talked about this episode for years!

It represented Sept 11th for the Federation, everything changed after this episode.

I still get chills listening to Locutus

[Ned'ya]

Hands down, The Best of Both Worlds. My buddies and I talked about this episode for years!

It represented Sept 11th for the Federation, everything changed after this episode.

I still get chills listening to Locutus

I have to agree, I remember watching these episodes again and again, the events in these two episodes forged the future of the Star Trek universe.

I did also enjoy Unification, the story was intriguing and as a child made me think about how people are treated by their 'superiors' and of course seeing Picard and Data done up as Romulans was fun!

[Bridger]

The Best of Both Worlds when the Borg were the scariest.

[Isaac Angelos]

The Best of Both Worlds, no other two-parter still catches my attention as much as this one.

[Kerry Malone]

I've voted for "Best of Both Worlds" for various reasons, some of which have already been covered in this thread.

We see some truly inspiring stuff in this two-parter, and when I think of TNG two-parter, I automatically think of the moment when Riker is on the bridge staring Locutus down and says "Fire..."

I enjoy the development of the Borg, back when the Borg were far more of an unknown and a scary thing to deal with. I particularly enjoyed the character development that it brought out in Riker. We see him transition from being in Picard's shadow, and afraid of being "in command", always questioning himself - to stepping out from that shadow to become his own man in his own right. That development moves him into Season 4 as a totally new figure. We see him try to take Shelby down a peg, only to have the legs swept out from under him by the reality of his own inadequacies, to becoming a truly effective leader. Seeing it, I honestly thought we'd be seeing Riker leave the series to get his own command.

Instead, he reverts back to Commander and resumes his duties as XO, which was extremely disappointing, and not entirely rational. He'd had a field commission to Captain. He'd been promoted by an Admiral (admittedly the man died, but the record exists and there were witnesses to this) so technically he should've remained a Captain. With the loss of so many experienced officers at the Battle of Wolf 359, he should've immediately been given his own command.

More realistically still, we shouldn't have seen Picard return to command of the Enterprise so soon after his encounter with the Borg. He should have been forced to undergo months of psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and even then, given a very short leash for a while. To basically go back to being Captain of the Flagship after a short surgury to remove the implants, and carry on as if nothing ever happened - is not logical. It goes against everything that happens IRL, and don't tell me its just a TV series, it has to have some basis in reality to be believed. Its even referenced as a major plot point in Star Trek First Contact when he's forced to stay away from the Battle of Sector 001, because he was an "unstable element" in a battle against the Borg. Hell, they could've just asked Riker to command the Enterprise at the Battle of Sector 001, rather than keep the most advanced piece of hardware in the UFP out of the battle for the sake of bruising Picard's ego.

Anyway, ranting aside - I still think its one of the best episodes of the series, and that's why it gets my vote.

[JCarrill0]

I voted All Good Things.
While the Borg and Locutus are my fav tings in TNG, I feel that the ending of TNG fit best. Some of the best quotes are referenced to that episode.
Best of Both Worlds was a close second simply because its freaking amazing!

[Eaglesg]

While I liked pretty much all of the two-parter I would say The Best of Both Worlds, because even my little brother who don't like Star Trek enjoyed this episode (yeah, we shared the same rooms as kids and he had to support my daily ST episode...)

[Dark]

Oh man. I was going to vote Time's Arrow because there's never enough Guinan, and Data! ...but Birthright (at least part 1) has both Bashir and Data! The 2nd part though, I really didn't care about. Then there's Gambit, with Picard and Riker doing cool things!

I ended up choosing All Good Things, though.
A focus on Sir Patrick Stewart and Q! Easily the best of all Star Trek actors, and my favorite antagonist of the franchise. It's very amusing in hindsight how wrong TNG is about how Sir Patrick ages, and...the conclusion of the episode as a whole really makes me choke up. A very good send off to a show that had been running for as long as I could remember, and that I grew up with.