PATRON TIER LIST TNG S5E11

Honestly one of my least favorite episodes of the whole series. The kid is annoying, the B plot is so generic, and we've seen all of the same Data stuff before, only better. And again...How many children does Starfleet get killed by having them in numbers on so many starships? D.

I was on the border of B and C, but gave it a C as it’s not really fresh ground. I expect you will like it more than I do.

I predict that you guys will really like this one. Its similar to the one where Worf helps the boy grieve his mother's death but in a very uniquely Data way

I still gave it a B, but I liked this episode better when it was The Bonding.

The child actor in this one is marginally better than the child actor. In the last one, still an episode. I fell asleep on. I love season five, but we’re here looking at a couple of episodes that could’ve been erased from Canon

This one was not as bad as the last one. Was it all just so adorably sweet you might die from a diabetic attack? Yes, but the kid was a cute little nice kid, and they worked his trauma into he needing to break through it to save the ship. I don't know what the deal is with TNG needing so many kids, but this was a well told little story.

Trauma? Data? And the question of humanity? Yeah I love it. How often have I wished to be an Android like Data.. just so I wouldn’t have to feel. I think the episode had great potential and could have been more. Still a personal favorite for the question of trauma and how different people deal with it. What did you thought about the topic of trauma and avoidance in this episode? Do you think Data comes closer to humanity?

Two child centric episodes in a row isn’t a good choice but I think this is the stronger of the two. The boy copying Data makes sense to me based on his circumstance. Low B for this one I think

I was not a fan of The Bonding, but something about this episode really stuck with me. The kid was definitely a better actor (not saying much), and it was a Data episode, so that helped. Troi was actually rather useful this time, too. And Iiked the reveal at the end where Timothy thought he was responsible for what happened. Now he and the boy from The Bonding can form a Survivor's Group aboard the Enterprise. "We have another parentless child aboard the ship? What are we, Councilor, an orphanage?" --Picard, probably.

This episode is so sad man Data/Troi mvp team for the emotional episodes and this is top emotional ! By the way… was Picard extra insensitive or was that just me ?

Solid episode. Not only does the kid do a good job of mimicking Brent Spiner’s mannerisms but we also get to see Troi being both plot relevant and good at her job.

I think the guys will enjoy this episode, as the B story and A story are kinda the same thing, and it is mainly a about a kid dealing with his grief and bonding with Data. A solid good effort.

Data always has the good shows. Seeing him and the boy bonding was sweet.

Does this solidify Data as the best parent? Between Lal and this adopted kid for a week, they aren't insufferable at all. Worf and Bev could maybe learn a thing or two.

Keep in mind the show was going for a family audience, including appealing to younger viewers - by introducing characters around the same age they can relate to - so brace yourself, as it’s possible there will continue to be episodes like this featuring child actors throughout TNG & beyond.

Another kid episode, but this kid is a better actor than most of the others. Certainly better than any of them on TOS. He's carrying around a lot of guilt for something he thinks he did but he really didn't do it, which makes him to me more sympathetic. Still not one of my favorite episodes, but I do give it an “Enjoyable” ranking.

This episode has always worked better than "The Bonding" for me. Plus a mention of the Breen. A

I think a lot of people, myself included, tend to mix this episode up with The Bonding for obvious reasons. Patrick Stewart directs again, and once again it's a Data centric episode. I'm sensing another pattern. It was also during the filming of this episode that the cast and crew learned of Roddenberry's death.

Most child-focused episodes are torture for me! The kid's acting is a little better than most but overall I wish they would have stopped after TOS "And the Children Shall Lead". The worst Star Trek episode ever! I gave it a low C.

Second episode in a row were we get to see Diana being a counselor, which as always nice. This time with Data's problem child rather than Worf's. Good performances once again elevate it to a B for me, and this time the B-plot is far less daft too.

I give it a C on memory, but I'd like to revisit it with you guys. I expect you'll enjoy the themes of trauma and how children try to cope with it. Even so, I've never held this episode in high regard.

The writers go back in time after seeing how much Alex loves the bonding and write the bonding 2: Timothy I am an android! The most memorable part for me is the whole sequence on the bridge with data once again saving the day and Picard trusting data to drop the shields at the end, that level of trust between them shown here shows how strong their bond is which could lead to The bonding 3……… nah ok I’ll shut up now B Tier!

This has some very uncomfortable moments for me. I'm not as big a fan of the trauma episodes as you guys. I'd rate it a C myself, but you guys will probably like it more than me.

The Bonding 2.0 with Data this time. Season 5 continues its focus on kids. Nowhere near as good as Season 3's "The Bonding". C for me.

he's such a terrible android... lol C+

B for me, not outstanding in any way but decent acting and theme, with P-Stew in the director’s chair. Spiner does a good job as always.

I'd probably put it somewhere in the C tier. The kid isn't as bad of an actor as some we see in Trek. The story itself is very average and has been done better in other episodes.

Repeating past plots. I like this better than The Bonding, but you two liked that a ton more than I did

Hey look, two kid focused episodes in a row! Decent mystery, and good attempt to look at processing trauma, but treading the line of average.

The kid actor in this, Joshua Harris, was in Dallas as Christopher Ewing from 1984 to 1991 as a regular cast member which explains why he’s a step above most kids in the show. I give this a C, it’s not a favourite but better than the prior episode.

Solid B, not much else to say!

Long time watcher first week Patreon and voter. This is one of those episodes where the concept was pretty great, but the execution was a touch sloppy perhaps? I cannot fault anyone on their acting in this episode, especially the kid, he was not given an easy task. Mostly due to concept is why I rank it a Banger, but if I was to vote purely on execution of story, it would be lower.

Kid actor? At first I would've always assumed you guys would dislike one of these, but you didn't mind the kids in "Disaster" so I'm not so sure. I think think you'll give this a C, but maybe a B given it's so Data centric. The guest actor isn't bad, and feels sort of like an authentic kid to me. It could have used a little more substance, though.

Another nice episode capped off by Brent Spiner's performance. Good interaction between him and the Timothy character. I think the guest actor, Joshua Harris, does a better than serviceable job. Here the B-plot of what happened to the Vico ties in nicely with the main characters' story (for example, Timothy's guilt). (Where is O'Brien in the transporter room? Day off?). Overall: B+

I usually despise kid actors but I thought this kid did alright in his role. The plot is kind of whatever but the added insight into data raises this one to an A for me.

So this is TNG revisiting the orphan child theme again. QUESTION: Did it feel like it was retreading old ground or did the Data stuff keep it fresh? Not having watched TNG in order the first time around, I liked this episode, but my feelings have faded overtime. Still a cute episode, I suppose.

Low C, aggressively average. Watch once, then skip.

Gene Roddenberry passed away during the filming of this episode. Production wanted to carry on as normal but Patrick Stewart (as director and No1 on the call sheet) made the decision to stop for the day.

The only good thing about this episode is Data figuring out that the shields are the problem. Nice little twist.

If Data had a son. Oh, wait... If Stewart had a director's chair...

The Bonding II: Data for a Day Solid B with some grieving drama taking the form of yet another one-on-one Data bonding experience.

I usually skip this one. D-tier for me.

A good episode, but not one of the greats. We see Data perhaps being a better parent than Worf. The episode goes from "C" to "B" by virtue of not making the kid the threat to the ship.

A pretty average episode. Another one focusing on a kid. Bleargh. At least it’s not Alexander.

I always loved this episode. I remember watching it as a kid when it first aired. It is reminiscent of The Bonding. I'm glad they finally pointed out that security is built into the control panels. Not just anyone can press buttons, and stuff happens. This also prevents accidents when people brush or lean against consoles.

A slightly better child episode than the last one. The kid being an android was cute. Nothing that interesting here though. "C"

Another orphan episode. Still this is pretty good.

Average episode I found it kind of funny when Data was trying to brush the boys hair.

Two kid-centered episodes in a row, and this is the better of the 2. Joshua Harris’ performance as Timothy is much more genuine and less forced than the kid that played Jeremy Aster. His scene in the ready room with Troi, Data, and Picard is good stuff. Side note: it was this scene that was being filmed when the producers informed the cast and crew of Gene Roddenberry’s passing. Production was shut down for the remainder of the day. B for “Be the best android you can be”

I really like that episode. In my eyes also a quite good child-Actor. The strong bonding with an Non-Emotional Charakter to cope. The caretaking of Data is so nice and also the Demand to lower the shields in the End - classic Data. A for me.

KIDS!!!!!

Great moment of implicit trust between Picard and Data. “Drop the shields.” No explanation needed.

As a person with autism, this episode resonates with me. This is why Data means so much to me. He aspires to be better than his own program just like I try to be a better person in every day life. B grade.

Not one of my favorites, but don't we all look up to Data?