PATRON TIER LIST - Star Trek TNG S4E4

Hey. Not sure if on purpose but it's spelled Patreon, not Patron.

Mostly C-tier, except THAT HOWLING pushes it well into D-tier for me. I can't stand the howling. Practically gives me a Picard headache.

Like some TOS episodes I'd just skip it. Not bad, but seeing it once was enough.

Not too bad but I forgot it existed

Everything is a hammer. In it’s own right this is a better telling of “A matter of perspective”

I did NOT expect the median to be below the average rating here. There are some great performances here.

D. Episode is too boring and always skip it. Have not seen the episode in yearrrssss. But, I will be watching it with the reaction... be interesting to see if I enjoy it a bit more after giving it another chance.

It's okay. Just okay. C-grade. I think it's actually saved a bit by bringing up the idea of "is he being physically abused?" And then it turns out his adoptive father really does care a great deal for him, and the kid cares for his father. It would just be more anvilicious and "easier" to take the kid away if it was clear that he was getting physically abused in addition to their society's discrimination against humans, but taking the harder road made it more interesting. Early TNG episodes, not to mention TOS, would have taken the other route.

Simply... they didn't make us care about any of the guest characters. Picard as surrogate father doesn't help the episode.

Grade: D. Total ass. All touchy feely nonsense, no substance. Let's all welcome Jeri Taylor to the franchise. Thankfully she improves as a writer, somewhat.

Fascinating but since I was young I didn't quite get the themes, so I just took it and shrugged

Just kind of mid. I don't know why I always confused the Bonding with this one, just because of the name.

It's C-tier for me. Nothing offensive, and having a teenager with mental health issues, I can learn to appreciate it a bit more than I used to. However, this is still not top-tier Trek, in my opinion. It's watchable but not memorable.

It's been years since I watched this, but I remember it as a middling episode. Chad Allen, the primary guest, was just not seasoned enough to be in scenes with Patrick Stewart.

It's a good episode in that the moral dilemma is compelling. Personally I enjoy any show that does this kind of thing so it's always a fun re-watch for me. B tier overall though as much more excitement in this season for the higher tiers.

D. I was turned off by the guest actor;s acting. Not a fan.

Like others have said - not a bad episode. Nice look at Picard in a father role.

Pretty goofy, never a favorite. A late example of typical episodic TV from the 60s through the 80s in which a wandering protagonist solves every problem they encounter, no matter the stakes, the scope, no matter how (in)appropriate. The protagonist blunders into peoples' lives, rearranges everything from a moral high horse, then wanders off down the road, never to be seen again. Yeesh LOL

Not my favorite, but I think this will be an A or B-tier for you guys.

This is not a bad episode by any means, but given the strength of Season 4, it's one of the less memorable entries.

D tier - worst episode of the season for me and not one I enjoy a repeat watch of. I did try but it was no better this time around.

An episode seriously lacking in just about everything.

Seeing Picard take center stage to deal with someone who is still a child (in his eyes) and a boatload of trauma to manage is warmly humanizing and continues Picard’s growth from authoritative captain who can’t stand kids to family-leader. It’s wonderful to see a more father figure mantle on Picard’s shoulders, like in the Bonding.

C-tier ep raised to B-tier on strength of performances and that banger alien music