PATRON TAKES - TNG S6E3
Added 2025-03-07 12:53:24 +0000 UTCTAKES WILL BE READ 3/13
Comments
Nope. Irredeemable. Doesn't exist in my head canon.
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-03-24 08:34:32 +0000 UTCThe bartender
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-03-24 08:26:35 +0000 UTCI’ve been waiting patiently for years to leave this comment for this episode. While “Man of the People” is not that highly rated (5.7/10 on IMDb or ~ a B or C tier episode), the subject matter of narcissistic abuse is something that is very personal to me. During my childhood and teenage years I had very little choice but to become the emotional receptacle for family members who couldn’t “shoulder the burden of unpleasant emotions.” In ways that are not necessarily visible, it aged me much faster than I should have. And as a result I struggled to shoulder my own unpleasant emotions because I was too busy carrying those of others. I haven’t spoken to those family members for the past 10 years now. Except for one recent visit with someone who became the receptacle in my absence, or took on a more prominent role as such. It was staggering to me how much they had aged in 10 years. Now they are in their 70’s for sure, but I know people older who are much younger both in body, mind, and spirit. Narcissists sap the life energy out of others for their own benefit. If you isolate them and deny them a receptacle, they will be driven mad in short order by their unwanted thoughts and feelings, and all of the negative karma they have piled up over their heads will crash down on them in very short order. What this episode did is to use the plot devices and alien powers to condense a lifetime of abuse into an episode, including the horrors it plays on the body and mind. Yes, the physical transitions are laughably unrealistic, especially Troi’s reversal and how quickly Alkar succumbs, but they have a deeper meaning than just makeup and prosthetics. This will always be a cherished episode for me, simply for watching Picard’s scathing rebuke of Alkar on the planet, and his disgust for how casually Alkar handwaves psychological abuse and projection as justified to perform an ambassadorial role that other greater men can do without abusing others.
Sherpa Jones
2025-03-16 23:46:56 +0000 UTCI love this episode. A great performance by Marina. For me worthy of an A.
jon bolton
2025-03-15 14:18:57 +0000 UTCThis unfortunately is another one of those episodes that I am not as fond of I call it a C you may call it lower as soon as I say that that means you’re gonna make it an S but nonetheless, the differences in opinion is what make this channel of value? Remember, it’s always about the journey never about the destination and sometimes side stops on the journey are disappointing and other times elating Can’t wait to see what your opinion of this episode is
Thicketdweller
2025-03-13 22:31:15 +0000 UTCWhen the writers initially came up with this hyperbolic version of a "Troi becomes a cougar" story, do you think this is where they hoped it'd end up? I'd like to think there are some regrets.
Forbidden Donut
2025-03-13 18:30:14 +0000 UTCI dislike this almost as much as "Violations." I can't be entertained by our characters being abused like this. And there is that extra component of it yet again being the woman character taken advantage of. But in honor me at least having some superficial interest in, lets say costuming, back watching this when I was 16 we'll give it a C-minus.
Joe Concepts
2025-03-13 15:54:40 +0000 UTCJust a regular Tuesday on the Enterprise
Worf and Riker Ride Again
2025-03-13 14:41:16 +0000 UTCYeah I have no idea how that made it through the watershed
Worf and Riker Ride Again
2025-03-13 14:39:13 +0000 UTCI had literally never seen this episode until recently, not sure if it was banned or something in the UK? What a strange / bad episode, Troi gets taken advantage of yet again both in the story and by the studio execs. The story is terrible but Sirtis and Frakes’ acting is great. I admit I did laugh when she gave the worst counselling session ever, but it’s not enough to give this more than a D
Worf and Riker Ride Again
2025-03-13 14:36:12 +0000 UTCWhy does Troi keep attracting these psycho men...
Sequiro
2025-03-13 04:18:05 +0000 UTCAnother weird, bad Troi episode where she is taken advantage by somebody.
kevin coleman
2025-03-12 21:50:52 +0000 UTCKindof a Vile episode that has been done before. I can't rate it highly, but here's a nice depiction of a real predator that doesn't really have redeeming values.
Ian Westcott
2025-03-11 22:30:56 +0000 UTCThis horror-themed episode is hard to watch but well acted and there are some great-looking aging prosthetics. While it is a cut above the average, the plot is highly implausible and ultimately not enough happens to sustain interest throughout the whole 45 mins. "B" at Best.
Tom Sedge
2025-03-11 19:07:30 +0000 UTCNo, sir, I don’t like it. Maybe the intense revulsion is a sign of powerful performances, but I sincerely wish it erased from canon.
rear adm. crackbiscuit
2025-03-10 04:59:19 +0000 UTCTroi suffers.
Michael Metrick
2025-03-10 02:44:34 +0000 UTCTroi gets possessed yet again. Yes, again. At least Alkar gets what's coming to him. Pretty forgettable. My ranking for this one is “At Least It's Only 45ish Minutes”, my first such ranking since “Up the Long Ladder” in Season 2.
KatWithAttitude
2025-03-09 20:33:24 +0000 UTCC-tier or lower. Story is just... meh. More like a season 2 episode. I also wonder what the TV censors thought of the "silk torpedoes" Diana had on display.
Chris Mickelson
2025-03-08 18:26:07 +0000 UTCDull, I gave it 15 minutes and then gave up. 15 mins in and all that happened was a very predictable death of an old lady. This story had no pulse and I have no idea how the writers thought this was worth being on tv.
Ken R
2025-03-08 10:42:10 +0000 UTCAn intriguing opportunity to give Marina Sirtis even more to do, but it falls a little flat since we’re ahead of everyone. Not an episode I look forward to. C for Couldn’t care less
Column Meanie
2025-03-08 06:59:40 +0000 UTCAnd a magic wand fix at the end!
Jovet
2025-03-08 05:14:22 +0000 UTC@Phil Ken Sebben Her mother. ⚠️
Jovet
2025-03-08 05:13:49 +0000 UTCI always get this one and "Violations" confused.
Jovet
2025-03-08 05:12:42 +0000 UTCI don't agree with that last line.
Jovet
2025-03-08 05:11:28 +0000 UTCI'm not a fan of this episode, but I love Sirtis's acting in this one. She really shines in this role. She's far better in this than "Power Play" where she fails to be aggressive and intimidating. This episode is just too similar to "Violations" from last season (which I often get the titles of this and that one confused) to be super interesting or memorable. The ending where the evil guy dies is kind-of fun, but Troi suddenly regressing to normal is uncomfortably "it was all in your head after all" for Star Trek. "C" grade
Jovet
2025-03-08 05:09:58 +0000 UTCAnother psychic trauma episode. It really seems like the showrunners were struggling to find new ways to feature Troi at this point in the show. Question for both: Would you use Troi any differently than the show does now, and if so, how?
Pokeysaurus
2025-03-08 04:36:01 +0000 UTCSorry again
Jeffrey
2025-03-08 03:57:08 +0000 UTCThis was a better episode last season back when it was called Violations. Good performances by the guest actor and Marina Sirtis, credit where credit is due.
Loot Narsbaar
2025-03-08 03:31:44 +0000 UTCYikes
Sainjl
2025-03-08 02:23:28 +0000 UTCAh yes the crazy old Diana episode. I sometimes mix this episode with the one from season 5 where they put her in a coma, Violations. Not a favorite of mine.
Marko
2025-03-08 02:17:02 +0000 UTCAlways skip this one, curious to see if there's more to it than I remember
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-03-08 02:05:49 +0000 UTCI kind of don’t like this episode, but, I think Marina Sirtis acting evil just does it for me ! I mean I dislike more things than I like, but she’s so good as a sort of Cruella Deville!
Sixto
2025-03-08 01:51:15 +0000 UTCHad to give you a 💙 cause paul O’Neil is my fav baseball player… let me see what you wrote now lol
Sixto
2025-03-08 01:50:10 +0000 UTCB- / C+ not a terrible episode but not that good either. Tackles a sensitive subject but not particularly well and doesn't have anything profound to say.
Cirk Bejnar
2025-03-08 00:50:59 +0000 UTCI guess Picard is willing to violate the Prime Directive for Wesley but not Deanna. :D
tyranusfan
2025-03-07 22:34:14 +0000 UTCBlah. Contract filler.
tyranusfan
2025-03-07 22:32:26 +0000 UTCAlthough not as profound an experience as The Inner Light, I always found it funny that Troi would have this life shattering experience that leads to her deterioration and death, and yet she is fine by the end of the day and presumably awake in time for work the next morning.
brqby
2025-03-07 22:00:11 +0000 UTCProbably because it just does.
Jeffrey P
2025-03-07 20:59:59 +0000 UTCNot my favorite episode. Also a bit weird how they basically prove that the guy is killing her by dumping negative emotions into her, and they confront him, he's like "yes I am killing her and there is nothing you can do about it" and they are like "damn he's right, we have to do some convoluted shit". Eh whatever.... If we were doing grades I'd say C- and that's only because all star trek is good star trek.
Greg Quinn
2025-03-07 20:03:34 +0000 UTCThis is one of those episodes that makes me cringe. Tip of the hat to Marina Sirtis for really chewing the scenery and overacting her ass off in this one. I don't know how she kept a straight face.
Paul O'Neal
2025-03-07 19:31:48 +0000 UTCI LOVE Season 6 but I just can't say anything good about this episode. This is easily one of the worst episodes in all of TNG. The obsession the writers had with violating Troi is just weird. E tier.
Spencer Loften
2025-03-07 19:31:07 +0000 UTCAnother "Troi must suffer" episode... but it did have Trek's first "morph" in it. This was still pretty new to television at the time.
Darin Wagner
2025-03-07 18:08:33 +0000 UTCUgh - I detest this episode. This one is in my bottom five TNG episodes. E
Ron Hubbard Jr
2025-03-07 17:57:46 +0000 UTCUgh. Troi seems to have a type: bearucratic skeeze-balls with hightened senses of superiority that tend to take advantage of her. Riker remains her best pick. My favorite season is off to a shakey start.
Nolan
2025-03-07 17:48:00 +0000 UTCSexy, sexy Deanna!
Aramis Calcutt
2025-03-07 17:30:20 +0000 UTCI always hate the stories when Troi is mind-raped. Thank you, no. D-tier
Alexander McKechnie
2025-03-07 17:23:38 +0000 UTCNice running joke 😆
Shanelle
2025-03-07 15:46:31 +0000 UTCUh... Yup watched this too
Jason Lallathin
2025-03-07 15:11:36 +0000 UTCGuinan!
Jason Lallathin
2025-03-07 15:09:50 +0000 UTCI can’t remember a single thing from this episode, which probably doesn’t bode well, but looking forward to the rare rewatch where I don’t remember how the story resolves.
John M.
2025-03-07 15:07:50 +0000 UTCSeeing Troy's change in personality and appearance was both amazing and scary. The way she looked at the crew man in the tourbolift like she was literally going to devour him was cringe worthy. I also cheered when the jerk who did this to her got what he deserved. That being said, I can not recommend it as a must rewatch it can be kind of dull. Triva note; Susan French who palyed Sev Maylor appeared in Quantum Leap as the woman Sam Becket was a driver for. She got to do more in that.
Keith S
2025-03-07 14:45:41 +0000 UTCTroi was just sitting on those over sexualized outfits since that scene with Tasha back in S1, and the writers finally gave her an excuse to wear them. Roddenberry would be proud. Episode kinda sucks though
Timothy Nikiforovs
2025-03-07 14:25:27 +0000 UTCThe cliche As we get older we turn into our parents lol.
Darren Seal
2025-03-07 14:23:00 +0000 UTCWho councils the counselor?
Phil Ken Sebben
2025-03-07 14:12:44 +0000 UTC“Man of the People” is a dull blend of tired Trek cliches. Two warring factions? ✅ Troi must suffer ✅ Main character magically recovers from an apparent death due to some weird technobabble bullshit ✅ Some of the worst trek TNG has to offer.
Jon1701
2025-03-07 14:08:43 +0000 UTCMarina Sirtis is a goddess, apparently with the patience of a saint to have Troi impacted so often by aliens. Must have been frustrating but at least she had access to a wider wardrobe and hair.
Paul Rymer
2025-03-07 14:07:59 +0000 UTCI agree, it’s like at one point Troi dresses like Lwaxana, why??
Paul Rymer
2025-03-07 14:06:19 +0000 UTCI skipped this episode for 20 years, not because it's bad but the way Troi looked so old. As a kid this episode gave me nightmares. Thankfully I got over my fear of "Old Troi"
Christopher Dorn
2025-03-07 13:56:18 +0000 UTCI usually skip this one on a rewatch if that is any indication of my opinion. I don't hate it, that is reserved for only a few select episodes of TNG, I am just so indifferent to it that I couldn't be bothered to rewatch it by choice.
Wade MacKinnon
2025-03-07 13:41:51 +0000 UTCThe premise of this episode is like Sarek, but not nearly as good.
Evan Guthrie
2025-03-07 13:41:02 +0000 UTCDark episode - and again Troi is a victim of psychic rape. Once was too many, this continues a disturbing pattern
Jeffrey
2025-03-07 13:38:17 +0000 UTCTroi goes through Betazoid Menopause! Yay... When I binge TNG, I skip this episode every other time because I have to be in a very particular mood to want to watch this. D in my book.
Nathan Walker
2025-03-07 13:31:12 +0000 UTCOh look, Troi is violated again. 🙄
Phil Ken Sebben
2025-03-07 13:30:03 +0000 UTCSkip, an E episode if ever there was one.
Thomas Cole
2025-03-07 13:25:48 +0000 UTCAh I always thought this was bordering on high camp and in the right frame of mind this is a fun one but it’s not s6 best instalment
Darren Seal
2025-03-07 13:24:14 +0000 UTCE grade for Troi Must Suffer: Violations Part 2 (Age)". I wonder if any other characters will ever take over this "must suffer" mantle... How do you guys think this was handled in comparison to "Violations"?
The Ninth Doctor
2025-03-07 13:22:27 +0000 UTCOh dear it's another episode where Troi is traumatized *rollseyes*
Dion James Pitman
2025-03-07 13:14:44 +0000 UTC
