PATRON TIER LIST TNG S5E6

I regularly skip this one on rewatch.

I basically think Season 5 is almost entirely S-tier Star Triek. It might not be S-Tier in you all's evaluation, but as a lifelong, hard-core Trekkie, it's the best. I actually believe the show peaked in 5, and it's not like I think it gets *worse* after but 5 just hits SO MANY HIGH POINTS. This is also Ashley Judd's second and (I believe) final appearance as Ensign Leffler (sp?) and it's brilliant. This also was I think the first full season i watched in 'real time' as in, not on a videotape I borrowed from my parents so I could catch up. Anyway, interesting as always to see your reaction. Wesley becomes a much more fully-fleshed character for this cameo and I love him in it.

Go away, Wesley.

I know this is an unpopular opinion among the ST fanbase, but I like Wesley after S1, and this is a real guilty pleasure episode for me. I loved it as a kid. And even as an adult it's still a lot of fun. There are heaps of flaws in the plot, I understand this. But 13yr old me refuses to give this anything less than an "A" even if adult me might argue that point a little bit.

It's not the best episode in the series, but it's a guilty pleasure of mine so it gets an "A." I don't know if it's the beautiful Ashley Judd or the climax of the entire crew out to get (and sucessfully subduing) Wesley Crusher , but whatever it is, it's a fun vacation from the recent serious tone.

I really liked this episode the first time I watched it back in the day, and then it grew slightly less tolerable the more times I watched it. This time I was like "Eh? I liked this at one time?" Then I realized I liked it because of Ashley Judd's Robin Leffler, and even this time she didn't impress me that much. So...C for me.

Welcome back, bonafide movie star Ashley Judd!! Although she was briefly in “Darmok”, this was the episode where her beauty and talent were on full display! As for the episode itself…it plays out in a very Twilight Zone-esque way…much like several of the episodes we loved from Season Four! Seeing our crew hunt Wesley as, for lack of a better analogy, ruthless drug addicts was terrifying. I always liked this one…A-Tier for me!

Feels more like a season 2 episode. Easy skip.

Weasel saves the day, cuz Weasel. Not horrible, and I don’t think I wished the tar monster would’ve gotten him this time, not even once. Absence makes the heart… slightly more tolerant.

Ah an episode where logic takes a back seat to the plot, the crew are all just made to look monumentally stupid at times. It’s watchable but I can’t see it’s my fave.

The episode itself is just fine, but I always raised my brow at the suggestion that Wesley has a reputation as Starfleet. He’s likely a talented student, sure, but what writers thought Wesley of all people would have girls gossiping about him? Low end of B.

I dont wanna see Riker's sex face again oh i hated all those made up laws she quotes to wesley. does anyone actually talk like that in real life

Rated B for Banger - pun intended! I was tempted to rate it an A for Ashley, but the plot isn't strong enough.

I think some episodes hit better when you are younger. For me this is one. Younger me liked Wesley more, was more creeped out about the "body snatcher" story and I so crushed on Judd, she was so pretty. Younger me would have A'd this, but middle aged me has be B- it. Its a fun episode but not Wesley's best episode.

The episode is fine but I find the ending to be a bit lazy. Data just shows up and shines a flashlight in everyone's face to solve the problem. Even funnier is none of the characters make any attempt to stop him. Did they really not have any better ideas? The only part I like is how they don't flat out tell us that Wesley seemingly reactivated Data. This at least adds a bit more tension to the ending.

It's a decent episode. Maybe next time Riker will be careful about hooking up with alien chicks with forehead butts (or is it butt foreheads?).

It’s not the worst episode ever, but it does feel more like an episode of the 1980s Buck Rogers than TNG

Not my favorite Wesley episode. But I do rather enjoy watching the kid run around trying to defeat the whole bridge crew. Helps that it's written in a way that allows him to succeed while still loosing.

I know everyone loves season 5 but that's really just a few episodes that makes you think that way. The rest of the season is just like this junk.

It's Orgasm: The Game and everyone wants Wesley to play! ... This stretching credulity for anyone else?

Wesley's back and Ashley Judd's got him! Another kind of a silly one with Wesley once again saving the day, or at least buying enough time for Data to save the day, but I enjoy this one a lot. I have this one ranked as “Excellent”.

She's so cute! A

Wil Wheaton and Ashley Judd in bed together playing games? Yes. EDIT: No creepy old man here, she was 23 I was 18.

Could be an interesting premise. But it just doesn't work.

Bringing back Wesley for the drugs are bad, oh face, being horny will cause this and save you episode is annoying, but the music is great and Spiner, as always, saves it at the end ! Still kinda meh, except for the music !

This is definitely an entertaining episode in a "so bad it's good" kind of way for me, and I do think Wesley and Lefler are cute together, but I can't in good conscience rate this higher than a C. There is so much here that does not hang together for me, and it really shouldn't be that easy to take over an entire ship but for the efforts of one boy genius who just happened to be there. And Riker doesn't even get so much as a lecture from Picard at the end. Oof.

This episode is amazingly prescient. We've all become zombies to our devices

I almost give this an E because we have to see everyone pulling a creepy face, but I do actually enjoy the episode. Bit of a daft premise, but it's a neat idea and a fun watch overall. So it can have an A.

I always liked Wesley, so was happy to see him back for an episode. If Wesley had stayed on the show between Final Mission and The Game, do you think they would have been able to grow his character in a better way? In what way might his character have been made more relatable?

Classic fun episode that I always enjoy, even thought its a watered down invasion of the body snatchers. Once again Riker's libido nearly brings down Starfleet.

Data didn't have to say "That is an order" to Worf this time.

Dammit Wesley... You had to come back and F*** up a good thing, didn't you? We had such a good season going.

I voted, D tier. I don't fucking love this episode. It's a skipper.

C+ It's fine. I can't criticize the lame game being addicting in a world where TikTok exists and pushes some of the most random, stitched together, stolen videos and gets people addicted too. I always just thought the device itself was having an effect and rewiring their brain, not the game. Remember kids, Westley Crusher is too cool for drugs. That fact alone probably caused several crippling addictions in itself.

I would have hoped that some of us wouldn't be so one dimensional by judging the game's graphics by today's standards. I'm not a big fan of this episode but that's certainly not why.

You know, it's okay. It's okay for a Wesley episode, not great. Wesley running through the ship getting chased must have been fun for Wheaton, and he and Ashley Judd actually have good chemistry. But The Game itself is stupid looking, I'm not buying the way it "brainwashes" like it does, and I am definitely not buying the Data ex Machina ending of flashing lights. How the heck did this work on LaForge, whose eyes can't even pass the optic signals that the game sent?? But overall, I still kindof like it.

Come on, let's skip this one and get onto what we're really waiting to see...!

While young Ashley Judd always gets my attention, this is not a great return for Wesley. Will we see him in another episode? I sure won't tell you.

What a hell of a way to bring Wesley back. I am making a prediction that this could very well be another "The Host" situation. This episode is so silly and such a product of its time, but damn if it isn't hilarious. Though it is actually pretty creepy slowly watching all of the people you look up and trust become mind controlled and then try to mind control you.

Next time on Staaaaaar Trek: The Next Generation - Riker's dick nearly destroys the Federation

B---------

Troi: "I want to show you something Will brought back from Risa." Crusher: "Oh dear, I'll make an appointment for you in sickbay." Troi: "No, no, no. Well, maybe, just in case." Honestly this episode's "videogames are bad" angle is a bit rich coming from a show that regularily visits the holodeck. Granted, it DID manage to luck it's way into predicting smartphone addiction. The ball and cone game isn't that far off from Candy Crush. And at least it's got Ashley Judd.

Like Wes I had a Crush(er) about Robin Lefler. To my excuse I was her age at the time.

Mobile gaming makes a comeback in the 24th century and it's still a terrible idea. Good thing it wasn't a Ferengi plot, or it would have been loaded with microtransactions. Also cool seeing Wesley again. Looks like the Academy taught him some rizz. On a sadder note, Gene Roddenberry died 4 days before this episode aired.

Love the Riker Rizz opening. Nice to see Wesley again, but it's also a reminder as to why I don't really miss him that much. I'd much rather watch the Chief or Ensign Ro than watch another Wesley storyline. I basically just remember this as a Trek version of a horror short story. Fun, but kind of forgettable at the same time.

Wesley’s “I’d like to know more about it before I try it” is a little on the [drug] nose. And I’m not sure I’m enhanced by getting a glimpse into everyone’s “s3x -face”, as it were lol But, Ashley Judd is delightful in her second appearance as Lefler.

Wesley returns to save the day! Of course he wouldn’t just check out a video game while all the adults do lol. But the episode was pretty well executed unlike many of Wesley’s earlier episodes of the series. B.

This kind of story has been done better by Black Mirror and even by Trek in other stories, it’s fun but B tier for me. Still, good to see Wesley back, he works well with Ensign Lefler played by Ashley Judd.

One of my least liked episodes of season 5. This one has aged terribly.

TNG turns into a 2024 fable about smartphones.

Only memorable for being Ashley Judd's second appearance as Lt. Lefler.

I hate everything about this episode. Boring weak plot, below par acting (for this crew), and a waste of Wesley’s return

He left as Ensign Crusher, when he returns he's back to Wesley Boy Wonder, saviour of the Enterprise. Please sack the Writer/s responsible.

This episode sees the return of Ashley Judd as Ensign Robin Lefler, who first appeared in 5x02 Darmok. Ashley was the daughter of country singer Naomi Judd and half-sister to singer Winona Judd.

Riker gets brain washed by a one night stand. Deanna gets off on a bowl of chocolate ice cream. Wesly meets his soul mate with Robin Loeffler I loved their interaction. Plot hole with Geordi. You'd think that his visor would protect him from being brain washed. This time.

I just love that Riker put the whole ship in danger because of his indiscriminate sexual activities. Hilarious! Also some very subtle insights about who will succumb earliest—Riker with his sex addiction and Troi with her chocolate addiction.

This is another good one. It's very much a body snatchers vibe. Game itself looks boring, but probably feels amazing (obviously). And our favorite cadet is back. Also, how would it be possible, i wonder, to reprogram a sound emitting device like the sonic shower to dispense chili?

At least Wesley isn’t a complete nerd in this one. They managed to make him…almost cool? It’s a good job he was on the ship though or the whole federation would have been taken over. B+ with a special mention for the “Troi eats chocolate” scene

D as in dumb-f ep. I do not buy any of this at all. I thought we left the Weasley is superboy, saves all, knows all, can do ALL!!! days in season 1 or 2. God I hate this ep. Ashley Judd is hot though so no E

Google Glasses take over the Enterprise..! And of course, it's all Horny Riker's fault. Saved by Wesley missing an open goal with Ashley Judd to play rabbit, and Data flashing on the bridge. Besides, who doesn't love a game of orgasm cones and discs these days...

Pretty decent Wesley episode!

Again, rewatchability is what puts an A into the S tier, for me. I sometimes put this one on, just to watch a great episode. The ending has me on the edge of my seat. I can see the guys, right now, react to the moment just when all looks lost, and suddenly... they're going to do fist pumping, jumping out of their seats screaming. And before the episode ends, reach for the white boards to give it an S. I predict, they might both say it's their favorite episode of the TNG series.

Strobe lights cure drug addiction.

We live in a society.

Replace the future headset with today's mobile phones and this becomes very relatable!

It's a fun episode. It's never going to make the top 10 episodes of Star Trek, probably not even the top 10 of this season, but it's entertaining, you get Wesley back and actually accomplishing something, rather than ruining something, and Ashley Judd is an excellent guest star, even if the relationship with Wesley is both sudden and extremely WASPish. (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, for those unfamiliar with the term.) I gave it an A, because I have fun with it, even if it's not the best-written episode of the Season. I still think it's easily the best of 4, 5, and 6.

At this point in Trek I’d tired of (insert problem) sweeps through the whole crew and they act strange. I also admit to considering a Wesley appearance an instant strike against any episode. Grade:C

An unknowing prediction of the effect of Candy Crush on the population.

Ashley Judd was a dazzling lady. I'm sure she still is. She became a pretty big movie star shortly after this, for a little while anyway.

Wesley in this episode feels like the local boy coming back for college vacation with more confidence. That scene where Geordi, Riker and Beverly shut down Data-! Why does Next Gen do moments of horror and suspense so well? I guess it's such a comfortable, appealing world that when things get dangerous it really works for me. A neat episode.

Wesley to the rescue! Bit of season 1 vibes 😂

Man, Riker's reputation for being space-horny must be interstellar at this point; an alien race stakes the rollout of their entire plan based on the fact that Riker will bang anything that moves, including a woman with a butt for a forehead.

I like that Wesley immediately acknowledges that O'Brien has just become a dad in this episode...Continuity!

The Game is a great episode, although I must admit this would have been better as a 2-parter so we can learn more about the alien race trying to take over the Enterprise. They really don’t go into that at all, and I would have loved to see some scenes on her ship with a sense of their culture, and concocting their evil plan.

I frickin’ love this episode! What a great way to flip the script on video game addiction. All the adults are hooked and the children have to run for their lives! Great seeing Wesley back and Wil Wheaton looks so much more comfortable in this outing. He and Ashley Judd make a great team. I can’t help but feel that if the writers had given Wesley more stuff like this to do, Wheaton never would have left.