PATRON TIER LIST TNG S4E21

Another case of, "haven't I seen this before?" Another example of a respected Federation official losing it and needing Picard to step up to save the day. I know they are trying to make a point with this one, but it is way too heavy handed and preachy for me to respect as an episode. I knew from the moment she first appeared that Satie would end up as the villain of the piece and Picard would deliver yet another self righteous lecture. I felt like walking out on this one myself. I rate it a D.

Some episodes of TNG become are prophetic and become more timely as time goes on. This is one of them, defiantly predicting the "cancelation" movement by years. Jean Simmons was a highly respected actress and does a home run here. I have heard that KISS member Gene Simmons (his real name is Chaim Witz, an Israeli name) chose that stage name because he loved her as an actress.

Man this episode is one of the reasons I fell in love with Star Trek. I didn’t even realize that Johnathan Frakes directed. Jean Simmons is excellent. Patrick Stewart is excellent. The episode teaches us so much about witch hunts and rushing to judgement. I watch this episode once a year to remind me of not only excellent Star Trek but excellent TV. Number 3 best episode in my opinion.

This is another episode in my Top Ten of all time TNG episodes! And EXTREMELY timely for today’s conspiracy theorists, some of whom I’m sorry to say I’m related to. No matter how far humanity may evolve, all it will take is the slightest nudge to send us into an abyss of rampant suspicion and paranoia.

Fantastic S episode. So relevant today when witch hunts are driven by activists on social media and innocent people are cancelled because they speak their minds or have a differing viewpoint. Whoever wrote this episode would never have believed how prophetic this warning would turn out to be. Gives me chills every time !

This episode shows that wharf has his own independent thoughts, but is truly dedicated to his role as security chief and puts the security responsibilities above his own thoughts until it is crystal clear that his thoughts have more relevance than the fear that is driving the trial

I’ve watched this 3 times in the last fortnight, it’s still S tier, so much to enjoy and observe in the scenes. You can tell that the supporting cast were fully invested as the atmosphere crackles in the scenes in court with Jean Simmons and Patrick Stewart,

Banger episode imo. Has everything you want out of a TNG episode. Action, intrigue, a mystery to be solved, and a great Picard speech to wrap it all up and steal the show at the end. 10/10

While I love the message of this episode, the performance of Admiral Satie, which started out fine, just got more and more over-the-top and I found her final court scene to be completely ridiculous (I almost laughed out loud). That knocked it down to a D for me. I really wanted to like this episode because the subject is very important, especially today, but I found the overall story to be just too ham-handed.

I actually don't like this episode very much. I don't hate it, either. But we have enough of this kind of plot in real life to deal with. It isn't an effective form of entertainment to me.

What more can be said? The one thing most overlooked in these comments is Worf, gung-ho in the investigation (no doubt spured by his anti-romulan racism), but he he comes around. S-Tier!

Definite S-tier. This is one of those episodes that had a poignant message at the time of release and has only gotten more relevant over time (both as I have aged and as parallel events in real life have occurred). Almost certain to be in your top 10 of all episodes after you've finished the series.

In my opinion, one of the best episodes of the series! A much needed serious episode after Qpid. I'm always a fan of the characters bringing up the past and relating it to their present. Reminding us that some issues will always be relevant. The acting is well done by all guest stars and a chilling performance from Jean Simmons.

I rate this episode “Q” for Qanon in space.

A definite S from me. The question is will Josh or Alex yell first 'We're going to court!', we'll see. I love the progressive nature of the witch hunt. I feel sympathy for the random medical technician implicated because of Romulan ancestry. I love Picard's speech which ends the trial, i think he had been reading a file on Kirk's speeches for inspiration. I love how Worf had a change of heart as things progressed. Also i am betting a bottle of Fireball that Josh and Alex will love references from the Admiral to past events, such as Picard breaking the Prime Directive, allowing a Romulan spy to return to her people, and questioning his loyalty after becoming Borg.

This is my favorite episode of TNG, & a contender for best in entire franchise. Admiral Satie's fanatical attempts to live up to her father's legend. Worf's zeal in assisting her. The tragic ruination of a young man's career for no reason whatsoever. All the while, Picard in nightmare scenario knowing how easily witch hunts can spread. Absolutely "S" tier. A masterclass in acting!

Solid S episode. The tension you could cut with a knife. You'd think that in the 24th century paranoid racism would be gone, this episode proves its not.

Jean Simmons, who identified herself as a major Trekkie, was said to be thrilled to be in Star Trek - even as the antagonist in an episode. She was an Emmy-winner and also, as an acclaimed international actress, was an Oscar nominee. She has also appeared as Marlon Brando's girlfriend in the movie musical "Guys and Dolls" ..... among many others. Simmons is one of MANY Emmy and Oscar winners who have appeared in various Star Trek series. Having people like her (and actors in other stories, such as Whoopi Goldberg) on Trek at all lends some serious chops to this episode.

Head of security just got up and left! Didn't say a thing! That's easier to write than to pull off. Kudos to the team.

Whelp, I guess this is an example of beauty is in the eye of the beholder. E-tier for me. Plot centers around what exactly? Shallow characters I don't know and don't care about? Its like there were a couple well-written pieces of dialogue, that they tried to hodgepodge an episode around to try and make it make sense. Feel free to enjoy, but I just cant with this one.

This episode just doesn't hit fir me the way it does with alot of people. The villians a bit too cartoonish, the victim just a bit too tailor-made, Picard just a bit too perfect and self righteous. A great message well delivered but only an A from me.

I just realized how much Jean Simmons as Admiral Satie reminds me of Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter films. A standard McCarthyism episode, done in Star Trek style, which is what this show has typically done - take serious issues and cover them with this sci-fi overlay. Though it is somewhat straight forward and obvious, I will give it an A for the performances and direction.

I watched the whole tng serie maybe 7 or 8 times, and with an episode like this one, i dont remember anything, it usualy means i dont realy care about it, re-watch is futile, wont help to change my mind.

I never liked this episode, although it was Frakes probably trying his hand at a procedural, but my problem is the script. I think Worf was exaggerated, and I think that how this lady loses it and that is her defeat, just feels weak? I wish they would have stayed with the half Vulcan dude instead of spreading it to Picard. I can’t wait to see what you guys say, maybe you will change my mind? A C for me

Probably my 3rd favourite episode of TNG, and one with a timeless warning for every generation. It's also an episode that defines Picard and the principles he stands for. The civil liberties we enjoy are never truly won, because the battle to maintain them never ends, and we all have a part to play in that. Authoritarianism and government or judicial overreach tend to be much closer than we like to imagine. Like Picard said, eternal vigilance is the price we must pay.

I ranked this merely "B" tier. Another episode that starts well, but is undone with a bad final few moments. We never actually see Admiral Satie being competent, we're just told, over and over again, that she is. And then she turns into a blubbering mess because Picard quoted her father's words, and THAT'S what undoes this witch hunt? Ugh, nonsense. Not a bad premise, but it needed a better villain.

I'm sure this episode will get rated an 'S' by most. I'm just not a fan of courtroom dramas. The writing is superb though.

With the first episode viewed, the chain is forged. The first video posted, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably. I really don't give a fuck until they learn Data's cat's name. That's fuckin lore, baby.

One of the most perfect episodes of Trek. Not just TNG, but all of Trek. “With the first link the chain is forged…” That speech from Picard inspires me more than any political speech of the last 50 years. If this isn’t an S tier, I don’t know what is.

A court episode that will probably make you angry with Satie, but Picard knows which of her buttons to push, and that doesn't mean how it sounds at first. Feels like a lot of current events as well. A definite ranking of "Best of the Best" for me.

S-Tier episode, by far. One that I can't get out of my head when I think back to what I like the most about TNG, Picard, and 90s Trek world-building. I really do believe that--since the series' incarnation under Roddenberry--Trek has established for itself a "duty" of sorts to make social commentary. The points made in this episode hold true timelessly, for all seasons, and it contains the moments where Picard's moral compass shines through all the best. A definite must-watch for anyone wanting to experience the best of Trek.

Quintessential Trek.

LET’S GO TO COURT! AGAIN! Remember all those times you called out Picard for violating the Prime Directive and breaking rules? Yeah, someone in Starfleet noticed, too.

I think this is a great episode, mainly for the acting, but I only rate it an A because I don't enjoy rewatching it very much. I have rarely found this kind of McCarthyite theme that entertaining or illuminating in American popular culture.

One of the greatest of all time, no contest.

It's okay. Doesn't really do much for me. It's been done before. And it will be done again.

A top 5 episode that's still relevant today. Easy S.

23% of Patrons missed the "S" button.

This one gets remembered mainly for another epic Picard speech but I also enjoy the worf angle of blind loyalty and hero worship to then have his eyes opened at the end

What's with the captain's log during the title? Satie exposed the alien infiltration from Conspiracy??? Um Picard, I'm pretty sure you and Riker and a couple phasers accomplished that.

The music - Ron Jones' final score for TNG. The writing - first class, and confirmation that Starfleet lost 39 ships and thousands of lives at Wolf 359 - deeply affecting Picard. The story - courtroom. The directing - Frakes. The guest star - iconic. G (God) tier episode for me. Always watch when it's on, and it's social parallels to today never fail to give me chills...

Very good, 8.2/10, A-Tier. I didn't get as captivated by this one as some but I still love it. The dialogue, acting, and message were all great. Episodes like this were what made 14-year-old me realize that action scenes are not the peak of TV.

Cannot tell you how much I love this one. I wish it was not so "human nature" but it is.

Frakes directing! courtroom episode! Let’s go!

I don't "like" this as much (from the standpoint of raw enjoyment) as many. But for the message, the acting, the art, it's an easy S.

A great example of the Star Trek morality play at its best.

The bittersweet end of Ron Jones' tenure. Music from this point on will be "sonic wallpaper". The number of times you might notice a score is single digits from this point on.

The ideologies change but the warning remains. This is an episode that could be watched in any time period. If you watch and immediately apply it to a current despised ideology, you’re missing something. This could be any of us.

I just hate how over-quoted this episode has become. It's about the dangers of falling into entrenched thinking, but almost everyone uses the Big Speech as a gotcha to shut down debate, regardless of side, so they can remain entrenched. I also have found the episode a smidge boring myself? Good use of continuity though.

Definitely an S. The whole episode had me on the edge of my seat. Very reminisant of the 1950s Macarthy era.

My God does this S tier remain evergreen with its message. A chilling criticism of our history, and an equally disturbing warning for our future. The most haunting part for me is when I realized you could apply this 'witch hunt' / McCarthyism concept to many groups across various religions and political ideologies. It's not just the obvious 'baddies' or people you may not care for who can succumb to this behavior, and that's really terrifying. Social media and the Internet, as others are commenting, make it even more common nowadays.

This is a top-tier in every way, like S+ (if that existed). The acting is outstanding, from Jean Simmons and Patrick Stewart especially, and the writing and dialogue and direction are also excellent. As a kid, this episode was not what I wanted from my cool sci-fi show, but now it's one of my favourites of the series, and the themes are surprisingly still relevant today, if not more so.

Well, it's time for my absolutely nuclear Star Trek hot take. This is the most overrated episode of TNG, with the exception of maybe Who Watches the Watchers. I still give it a B though. Mainly I feel it is so highly regarded because of Picard's speech at the end, but I don't find the antagonist or the conflict very believable. Normally Star Trek is very nuanced in its portrayal of issues, but the story kind of contorts around itself to try and make this fit as an allegory for like the Spanish Inquisition or Cold War-era McCarthyism. The antagonist is obviously wrong and I don't find their arguments compelling. There goes all my Star Trek cred now

Michael Dorn has said that this is his favorite episode of TNG.

If this isn't both of your favorite episode of the whole show then I just give up on guessing what you like and dislike about anything

Did you guys feel slightly uncomfortable the whole episode? I always do, and it HOOKS. The tone and gravitas of this episode make it a top 10 of TNG for me. The urgent importance of how easily a witch hunt can grow from slippery-slope linking of coincidences is a perfect cautionary tale for today, as it was when it aired.

honestly this is a episode that has become more relevant today then it was then, with the rise of social media, cancel culture and being judged with out evidence on the internet, has become quite the norm and the real life Satie are thriving

TNG and courtroom episodes are the best! “Have you fully recovered from your experience with the Borg” is still chilling to hear all these years later.

You'll like this episode, but I personally despise it. I don't know why, because the acting is good, but the script just seemed too forced in everything that happened. Oh, we have a Klingon spy. But he can't be the only one. Oh, look, a poor schleb who we've never seen before is being accused. Let's give Picard another brilliant court speech and show that the old biddy is cracked and out of her mind. Sorry, just did not work for me this time.

Possibly my favourite episode of TNG. Jean Simmonds is outstanding, a great foil for Picard with both given perfect dialogue to perform. I’d like to give props to Spencer Garrett as Simon Tarses as well as Michael Dorn as Worf, who had a large role in this story.

"Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged." Wow. Easy S for me and Trek at its finest. Jeri Taylor's script, Frakes's direction, and Ron Jones's suspenseful final TNG score always makes me feel slightly on edge watching this, leaving me worried about the creweven though we all know they have done nothing wrong.

Court room episode.... You'll love it! When I was younger this was an instant skip... Not any more it's a fantastic episode. Pure drama!!

This is a truly great court episode (better than Measure of a man, fight me). A stellar performance by Jean Simmons as Satie, who shows her true colors to be not a public servant interested in the truth, but a “lesser son of greater sires” interested only in witch hunts and making convictions.

This is an absolute banger. Seriously top-tier work in general, and relevant throughout time. Witchunts and accusatiosn of treason were nothing new in the 90's when this was broadcast, and they're still here today. I don't remember if Rodenberry was alive or dead by the time this episode was written and broadcast, but I'm fairly sure he would have been furious about the way the humans act towards one another and others. Humans should have evolved past this in his view. This is one of the first we see where Star Trek has evolved. You can show one of the negative aspects of humanity without demonizing humanity as a whole. Anyway, it's a great episode. Definitely one of the best of the season, and one of the best of the show as a whole.

Just goes to show, don't mess with Jean-Luc Picard or his crew. One trademark Picard speech is enough to trick you into destroying your own credibility.

One of the best of the entire series. Going to court! I love the Worf subplot where he joins in the witch hunt at first until he realizes that he must side with Picard, excellent and fairly subtle. One of the best Picard speeches ever. S tier all the way

Star Trek at its best, Jonathan Frakes does mighty fine work here. Also notable for being Ron Jones last contribution to the show.

Great Episode S Tier