Code of Honor is a terrible one. I guess I usually exclude pre-beard TNG from my lists since they’re all pretty bad. But the bad ones after it gets good really stand out since it’s such a stark contrast in writing quality. Another very bad one is Masks, where Data becomes the mouthpiece for an Aztech god, but I don’t usually call it bad because it’s such a treat to watch Spiner going all out with his performance. He seems to be having a legitimately fun time with that role.
He really does! Unfortunately he’s about the only good thing in that episode from what I remember. Spiner is a very talented actor with a lot more range than he usually gets to use as Data.
Code of Honor is so bad I thought for sure it was an unproduced TOS script they decided to recycle for TNG. Nope! Brand new story made for TNG. Astounding given that I’m pretty sure it would’ve been out of place even during TOS’s run.
Then again, the pitch wasn’t specifically for pseudo-African aliens. Someone else added that:
The African theme of the episode was brought in by director Russ Mayberry, who had the Ligonians race cast entirely from African-American actors. Mayberry was fired during production by the show’s creator Gene Roddenberry, and First Assistant Director Les Landau completed the episode. Star Trek novel author Keith DeCandido later recalled that this was because of the casting itself, while cast member Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) thought that it was because Mayberry was racist towards the guest stars after they were cast.
Even without that though the underlying “Strong Woman Suddenly Weak When Faced With Average Man” theme was pretty bad.
Alright, I’m done making new comments ranting about Code of Honor, I promise.
Not only is Tasha suddenly weak, but they even have her admit that despite being kidnapped she still finds her kidnapper arousing. Because the story just wouldn’t be complete without that little nugget.
Not only was it a new script, but the same writer went on to write an episode of of SG-1 with an almost identical story, but this time on a planet of Mongolians. And as if that wasn’t enough, we even get little bit of racist casting, as the one prominent female character from this society (whose parents are clearly Asian and is repeatedly praised for her beauty) is played by a white actress.
Code of Honor is a terrible one. I guess I usually exclude pre-beard TNG from my lists since they’re all pretty bad. But the bad ones after it gets good really stand out since it’s such a stark contrast in writing quality. Another very bad one is Masks, where Data becomes the mouthpiece for an Aztech god, but I don’t usually call it bad because it’s such a treat to watch Spiner going all out with his performance. He seems to be having a legitimately fun time with that role.
I thought Masks was great, Spiner absolutely kills in that episode
He really does! Unfortunately he’s about the only good thing in that episode from what I remember. Spiner is a very talented actor with a lot more range than he usually gets to use as Data.
Code of Honor is so bad I thought for sure it was an unproduced TOS script they decided to recycle for TNG. Nope! Brand new story made for TNG. Astounding given that I’m pretty sure it would’ve been out of place even during TOS’s run.
Then again, the pitch wasn’t specifically for pseudo-African aliens. Someone else added that:
Even without that though the underlying “Strong Woman Suddenly Weak When Faced With Average Man” theme was pretty bad.
Alright, I’m done making new comments ranting about Code of Honor, I promise.
Not only is Tasha suddenly weak, but they even have her admit that despite being kidnapped she still finds her kidnapper arousing. Because the story just wouldn’t be complete without that little nugget.
Not only was it a new script, but the same writer went on to write an episode of of SG-1 with an almost identical story, but this time on a planet of Mongolians. And as if that wasn’t enough, we even get little bit of racist casting, as the one prominent female character from this society (whose parents are clearly Asian and is repeatedly praised for her beauty) is played by a white actress.