Let's Watch - Star Trek: The Next Generation [169. Masks - Ft. Tana & Sean]

[@dittbub]

i was also really nervous seeing a quantum torpedo break down right beside the warp core. configure that in the cargo bay or something!

[@HopelessHermit]

Brent Spiner with his great acting, cool myth references, I love it. I dont care people hate it it's one of my candy episodes.

[@mattasticw51]

I really enjoyed this episode. I liked how bizarre they got with the episodes music to boost that feeling. I liked Picards anthroplogical explanations. There are plenty of leaps of faith though. I enjoyed Datas acting personally. I gave this a 5 because I would show this to someone. Sometimes I think we need to just buckle up for the ride!

[@KertaDrake]

Geordi obviously got the job because of the incompetence of all the other engineers way back in the early part of the series! There was practically a revolving door of them, with one of the worst being that guy who left Wesley in charge BEFORE he'd been made an acting officer. Geordi may have an unusual relationship with the ship, but that's really a big step up from how bad it was in the beginning!

[@dittbub]

this episode parallels The Royale. Its a guilty pleasure. but also the "puzzle" and "solution" make no sense. there is no reason given for why the puzzle exists and why "playing it out" is the solution. this episode has good ideas and themes though.

[@mattrossesq]

Besides the homo-erotic weirdness at the end the two things that drove me crazy was I was wondering if they ate Greek food with Mousaka. Also I think this, like the others, this is "The inner light 2," electric boogalo. It just made no sense.

[@thepenskyfile]

Poll added! Apologies, I always forget to do that...

[@Toadkillah]

Personally I love this episode. Is it bad? Oh yes it's so bad. But I guess I just love Brent Spiner chewing the scenery throughout this episode.

[@dante_fr0mspac3]

All the geordi hate is unwarranted...

[@thepenskyfile]

Haha, sorry!

[@BorgTube47]

I remember being excited when seeing the preview for this. The episode.. so disappointing. What is the point of all this? It's like.. a museum terraforming simulator with some cosplay. It'd be cooler if the crew started taking on personalities of the ancient civilization, and one was the ruler / villain who became a threat to the Enterprise. Picard or Data would have to figure out some things about the culture to work their way through defeating the villain. Kind of like Moriarty. The suspense would be that Picard is losing his crew minute by minute.. once they turn they are useless to lead the rebellion.. unless.. are there personalities in the "civilization" that want to defeat the villain?

[@thepenskyfile]

This is a much better idea!

[@vincentadultman8527]

It's not that bad, amirite?

[@factualopinion6947]

In my first attempt I got about halfway. & quit. But I gave it a second chance & rewatched it. Wow, it really stinks. Tf was this crap? Belongs in season 1😂

[@aukrest]

Good discussion, though I must admit that I find this episode extremely boring. I just can't help from dozing off with Picard and Data's "fireside chat". I also was very bored by "The Game" so I seem to just fade out during these archaeological episodes, though I guess I can see some appeal with Masks because it is so crazy

[@thepenskyfile]

Do you mean Captains Holiday (and not the Game)? I don't remember The Game being archaeological.

[@aukrest]

Captain's holiday was fine, but I still was wrong about the episode because I just looked it up and the episode I actually meant was The Chase where they find that proto ancestor of all the species in the galaxy

[@thepenskyfile]

Oh, sure.

[@leeannasloan5346]

aukrest I agree with you about masks, I couldn't get into the episode, I thought it was boring as well and I usually like all star trek just because it's star trek..but I found some season 1 episodes more entertaining then this episode. I always find it interesting what episodes people like and dislike when it comes to tng. I love Brent spiner but that voice he uses Everytime the script calls for him to use a different then data voice just cracks me up Everytime..

[@WeWantWhatWeWant]

This is one of the few unwatchable episodes for me across all series’. It’s utterly bananas and Brent Spiner has totally lost his mind. By this point in the show, I feel that Brent Spiner was born to play ‘normal’ data but absolutely nothing else!

[@CaminoAir]

OMG.....Personally (and I haven't started listening to your analysis yet).....this is one of my least favourite ST episodes ever.........and Spiner (talented actor that he is) reminds me of how Data was written in 'ST: Generations' here.....so not a positive.

[@StefanTravis]

This episode is a guilty pleasure for me. The characterisation is shallow and cliched, the mystery obvious, and the plot is full of holes. I guess I just like what it was _aiming_ for.

[@thepenskyfile]

Agreed!

[@Brando64]

Well, I'm going against the grain here, but file this episode under *guilty pleasure.* First off the Troi telling Data and the kids how to work in clay is just cringeworthy. If I was a black kid wearing those clothes and being patronized by Troi I would be miserable too! At least she's wearing a uniform for a change, staring at her cleavage is _not_ my idea of fun. You're taking it way too seriously, just relax and laugh at it! Let's play Tetris on the Enterprise computer. Jeez, you are unkind to Geordi, he's trying to _comfort_ Data. That's what friends do, engineering doesn't come into it. Picard is really interested in the civilization because he's an archeologist, so _of course_ he's going to take on the role of Korgano. The mythology seems kind of Atzec to me, with the moon goddess and the sun god equating with Artemis and Apollo from Hellenic mythology. Sorry, which character is like Loki? You mean Ihat? Kogano and Masaka are lovers? Yeah, I got that vibe too. I really liked it. 4 from me! What will you do after you've finished TNG? Trust me to discover you in Season 7.

[@thepenskyfile]

I believe Ihat is the Loki character (if he's the first one to appear in Data). After TNG will be a selection of TOS eps, and then the TOS movies, which will lead us into Generations!

[@Brando64]

Count me _in!_ Ihat is the first to appear to Data, yes. I looked out my front door at the moon at 2305 here, and said "Masaka is waiting" and felt no fear at all. Me and the moon are very dear friends. The moon reminds me of my friends all over the world!