Despite dRail aptly pointing out that not even Tony Todd could make “Prey” work (an episode so bad I forgot Todd was even in it, and I literally saw it two days ago), “Night” and its sewage aliens, sewage dumping plotline, and general sewage took the round.
And now we come to the round I placed on Friday for a reason: two of arguably the worst episodes of TNG ever aired.
“Angel One”
The Enterprise comes across a matriarchal society being disrupted by a bunch of rebellious men that want equal rights. Supposed to be a stinging criticism of sexism, it actually comes off as mocking the idea that women could ever actually hold political office by way of a fanfic you might find in the “Men’s Rights” subreddit. Also, Riker’s outfit for most of the episode is pure nightmare fuel.
“Code of Honor”
The Enterprise visits a planet “strongly reminiscent of tribal Africa”. Or, rather, what white people thought tribal Africa was like at the time. If “the time” was 1890. When the people working on the episode express opinions like “it came dangerously close to ‘Amos ‘n Andy’”, that’s when you know you’ve got a real stinkburger on your hands.
So, weigh in in the comments and let us know which one you think is worse. I’ll be honest, I’ve watched both and I usually have a clear favorite, but not this time. I really can’t call this one. Hopefully, you can.
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I love TNG. I own all seven seasons and four movies. I’ve watched them all on repeat for ever.
That said, I’ve seen Code of Honor once. On TV during the original run. And I barely made it through that.
I’ll say Code of Honor, because at least Angel One was trying to make a point, even if it failed miserably.
Wow, this one is a doozy. Both are bad for their own reasons. The outfits in Angel One and Riker seducing the leader gal undermining the entire “point” of the episode. Code of Honor has that terrible fight scene at the end and the laughable forced attraction Tasha has towards the creepy leader guy. The tipping point in a whats worse contest is the unintentional racist undertone of Code of Honor. So I’ll go with that.
Code of Honor
Also, can we get a Star Trek badge for picking the winner or something. I got my first badge the other day for participating in the justified topic. Now I’m fiending for more.
I’ll see what we can set up.
Hey, just a suggestion. Would you be so kind as to name the season and episode numbers for all future matchups?
Angel One: Season 1 / Episode 13
Code of Honor: Season 1 / Episode 4
Make that Code of Honor is Season 1 Episode 3.
And my vote goes to Code of Honor. God damn that shit is racist.
Will do. You’re watching these as they come up to, aren’t you?
Ayup. Might as well, so I can cross ‘em off my watch once then forget list.
Code or Honor. I was 10 yrs old when it first aired and my first thought even at that young age was: “Damn this is racist.”
I’m in the same boat as Erswi, I’ve seen every episode countless times but have only seen Code of Honour from start to finish once, and that was a few months ago.
My vote goes to Code of Honour.
And thanks for the shout out, it’s always nice to see your name in the bright lights. Also on a side note why wasn’t “The Game” nominated, I saw it on TV the other day and thought that deserves a special place in Trek Hell, right next to Braga and Berman.
No problem, I had literally forgotten Todd was in the episode and I found it hilarious even he couldn’t save it.
It came close, not going to lie. But “The Game” is more blah than aaaagh in the end.
This one is easyl, Code of Honor is SO MUCH the worse of the two.
“Angel One” was an embarrassment, of course. To men, to women, to the writers, to the producers, to their ancestors, to their hopes of reincarnation and to the human species in general…but mostly it was just that, embarrassing.
“Code of Honor” in outright offensive on multiple levels. The society they describe was racist on it’s own, but they added a lovely element of sexism PLUS racism by having an African American woman fighting on, god help us all, a jungle gym.
(Oh, and since Tasha Yar couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag, there was no way she was going to elevate that scene out of the depths of hell)
I smell the stench of another sweep here with Code of Honor. Code was one of those episodes that made me wonder if TNG was gonna make it, Angel just made me glad Riker was gettin’ some alien strange.
Code of Honor, for all the above listed reasons.
Come to think of it, I think we just explained why they promoted the only two black characters in Season 2. It wasn’t character development; it was an act of contrition.
Ye Gods, I’ve been dreading this matchup; there’s no wrong answer, and both are worthy Final Four competitors.
I’m seeing Code Of Honor seems to have the momentum – which is unfortunate only because watching the scenes with Picard and Lutan chewing through the script with gusto despite knowing the actors’ feelings about it is impressive…
And an interesting point to raise: I’m guessing most of the contestants here are male – I wonder if more women would vote for Angel One?
All that said: I giggle at Angel One’s sexism, because it’s so silly – Code Of Honor just makes me uncomfortable… So I’ll give Code Of Honor the slight nod.
contestants… male… Buddy, are we so transparent?
3PO/Spock: The odds of finding a woman who has watched both these episodes and is voting on tonights’ matchup are…
Han/Kirk: Never tell me the odds!
Half my female friends are huge Trek fans, and they actually find “Angel One” hysterical. It’s just so awful it stops being offensive and starts being funny.
“So offensive its hilarious.” Nice.
I’m going to weigh in with Code of Honor myself. Just because I can’t recall the episode no matter how hard I try and I am thinking that my subconscious is desperately trying to tell me something.
there are four lights!
I know that Code of Honor already won, but seriously? Angel One is one of the worse pieces of S#$t I’ve ever seen. Stare at Riker’s for more than 30 seconds and try to take him serious ever again.