CastletonSnob Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Just about every long-running or critically acclaimed show has at least one major stinker in its run. It's just inevitable when you have so many episodes, some of them are gonna be duds. Sometimes, these episodes can be just as well-known as the great episodes. I'll start with Code of Honor from TNG. Everything, from the racist undertones thanks to the baffling decision to make the actors playing a primitive alien race who lust after strong women black to the terrible fight scene makes me wonder how anybody involved thought this episode was a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 The two episode clip show of Seinfeld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaysWho? Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Heh, I was going to mention TNG as well since many Season 1 episodes are pretty week, particularly Code of Honor, and many many stinkers in Season 7, which has, like, 3ish good episodes IIRC. Code of Honor is up there, though. I guess many would consider the Seinfeld season finale a stinker in a great show, but I enjoy watching it if nothing else than seeing nearly every recurring and one-off character there. Frasier has Season 8 - 10. For those who don't know, the original writers left to start their own show after Frasier Season 7. They came back for the final season, Season 11, and the turnaround in quality was huge. There are many lackluster episodes that probably could have been classics had they had the original writers at the helm (the one where Frasier's dad is trying to juggle dates with multiple women is one example, and is actually when I noticed that the episode wasn't as funny as I'd expect from the show). The episodes with René Auberjonois's character were mostly bad, imo, because his character was bad. I don't know why he was so bad; I can't pinpoint it. But I never enjoyed his character. A Day in May has three separate stories that center around whatever the main characters happen to be doing one afternoon. For the father's story, he's at his shooter's parole hearing. Now, in Seasons 1 - 7 and 11, serious stuff was handled far better, and there was an energy to the episodes where it wasn't too bogged down in feeling like a dirge. But his story is like a bad soap opera that has no point; it just seems like a scene and totally out of place in the series. It's why I also don't like Rooms with a View in Season 10. It's a laugh-free episode that is too melodramatic, and I always skip it now when I rewatch the series. This is a polarizing one because some Frasier fans LOVE it partly because of how different it is (@MarSolo I think you really dig this one). To each his or her own, but I REALLY despise this episode. Compare it to something like To Tell the Truth: This deals with some pretty strong stuff regarding Niles and Maris' divorce and Maris' accusation that Niles was in love with Daphne throughout their marriage. The reveal that Maris is using that as an argument is hilarious in all the characters' reactions who are in the know, but it also has a fantastic scene that involves Frasier and Martin arguing about whether or not Frasier should tell the truth. The argument isn't funny, but it's not melodramatic; it's energetic, and it fits the episode. I don't feel like I'm watching a soap opera; I feel like I'm watching a great piece of television. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skillzdadirecta Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 The Christopher Columbus episode of the Sopranos... what a terribly preachy episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodporne Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 5 minutes ago, skillzdadirecta said: The Christopher Columbus episode of the Sopranos... what a terribly preachy episode. That episode still stands out to me as shockingly hamfisted especially considering how killer the writing was otherwise. I thought some of the early episodes in Curb S9 were borderline terrible and felt like they had all collectively totally lost their timing. It improved massively rather quickly but yeah, I almost stopped watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwinIon Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Every Trek has some petty bad episodes. Just a function of making 24 episodes a season I suppose. I'm going through BSG and the Black Market episode in Season 2 is pretty terrible. The whole Pegasus arc is great, and things settle down a bit and you get that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 25 minutes ago, TwinIon said: I'm going through BSG and the Black Market episode in Season 2 is pretty terrible. The whole Pegasus arc is great, and things settle down a bit and you get that. I think maybe you're realizing that BSG was never really good. Most episodes are bad, the stand out for me was the racist doctor who was killing patients, what was that one called? I dunno, but it's like one of the few I can remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwinIon Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Keyser_Soze said: I think maybe you're realizing that BSG was never really good. Most episodes are bad, the stand out for me was the racist doctor who was killing patients, what was that one called? I dunno, but it's like one of the few I can remember. It's not all transcendent, but I think the show is overall pretty good. The high points are really high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emblazon Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 The final episode of The Outsider. The entire second half of season 4 of BSG. But to be fair, up until recently, and still, most shows have throwaway episodes. The difference is, when it comes to Supernatural, their throwaway episodes are the best episodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69los Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 I'm not sure but it's likely in season 4 of Community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skillzdadirecta Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 7 hours ago, Bloodporne said: That episode still stands out to me as shockingly hamfisted especially considering how killer the writing was otherwise. I thought some of the early episodes in Curb S9 were borderline terrible and felt like they had all collectively totally lost their timing. It improved massively rather quickly but yeah, I almost stopped watching. Michael Imperioli (Christopher) wrote that episode and I think it might have been his first one. He wrote others and got better as time went on. The Bee episode of Breaking Bad is pretty universally hated but I never minded it that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodporne Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 1 hour ago, skillzdadirecta said: Michael Imperioli (Christopher) wrote that episode and I think it might have been his first one. He wrote others and got better as time went on. The Bee episode of Breaking Bad is pretty universally hated but I never minded it that much. Actually I almost brought it upand had no idea others disliked it. It's so tedious, lord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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