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anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> writes:

> Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:
>> anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> writes:
>> 
>>> Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:
>>>> doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) writes:
>>>> 
>>>>> AI/LLM Reviews of  Star Trek The Next Generation - Night Terrors 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Google Gemini
>>>>> 
>>>>> Plot Synopsis
>>>>> The Enterprise discovers a derelict Federation starship, the USS
>>>>> Brittain, and finds its crew all dead, seemingly having killed each
>>>>> other in a mass suicide. The Enterprise is trapped in the same cosmic
>>>>> anomaly, a "null space" where all energy and sensory input is cut off,
>>>>> causing them to suffer from extreme psychological distress.
>>>>> 
>>>>> The crew begins to experience vivid nightmares, hallucinations, and
>>>>> paranoia. The lack of REM sleep and the constant feeling of being
>>>>> watched take a heavy toll. Deanna Troi, in particular, is hit hardest
>>>>> by the effects, as her empathic abilities are amplified and she begins
>>>>> to see disturbing visions and hear a disembodied voice repeating a
>>>>> single, alien phrase: "Eyes in the dark. One in the dark. Two in the
>>>>> dark."
>>>>> 
>>>>> The crew realizes they are not alone. Another starship, also trapped
>>>>> in the null space, is sending out telepathic signals. These signals
>>>>> are the source of the crew's distress and the strange phrase Troi is
>>>>> hearing. With the help of the other ship's signals and the guidance of
>>>>> the mysterious voice, the Enterprise crew devises a plan to use a
>>>>> reverse polarity tachyon beam to push both ships out of the null
>>>>> space. The episode concludes with both ships escaping, and the crew's
>>>>> sanity returning to normal.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Strengths
>>>>> Effective Horror Atmosphere: The episode successfully creates a tense
>>>>> and claustrophobic atmosphere. The slow descent into madness for the
>>>>> crew is genuinely unsettling. The use of nightmares and hallucinations
>>>>> is well-executed and adds to the feeling of dread.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Troi's Arc: This is a strong episode for Deanna Troi. We see her
>>>>> pushed to her limits, and her empathic abilities are both a curse and
>>>>> a key to solving the crisis. Her hallucinations and the alien phrase
>>>>> she hears are the central mystery of the plot.
>>>>> 
>>>>> The Puzzles: The plot feels like a classic mystery, with the crew
>>>>> having to piece together clues from the dead crew of the Brittain and
>>>>> Troi's nightmares to understand their predicament.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Weaknesses
>>>>> Disappointing Conclusion: The resolution is somewhat
>>>>> underwhelming. The "solution" of firing a reverse polarity tachyon
>>>>> beam feels a bit like a technical gimmick, and the origin of the alien
>>>>> signal is never fully explored. The mystery is resolved with a
>>>>> technical fix rather than a satisfying narrative reveal.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Underdeveloped Plot: While the concept is strong, the execution feels
>>>>> a bit thin. The episode could have spent more time developing the lore
>>>>> behind the null space and the other alien ship.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Overall Impression
>>>>> "Night Terrors" is a decent episode that serves as a tense
>>>>> psychological thriller. It has a great premise and effectively uses
>>>>> horror elements, but the lack of a satisfying narrative resolution
>>>>> prevents it from being a top-tier episode. It’s an interesting watch
>>>>> for its unique tone and focus on Troi, but the ending feels a little
>>>>> anticlimactic.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Rating: 7/10
>>>>> 
>>>>> ChatGPT
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Here’s a comprehensive review of **“Star Trek: The Next Generation
>>>>> — *Night Terrors***†(Season 4, Episode 17), drawing on the
>>>>> transcript and a variety of critical and fan insights:
>>>>> 
>>>>> ---
>>>>> 
>>>>> ## Episode Summary
>>>>> 
>>>>> The USS Enterprise discovers the USS Brittain, adrift and with its
>>>>> entire crew dead from apparent suicide. Among the corpses, only a
>>>>> catatonic Betazoid named Hagan survives. Soon, the Enterprise crew
>>>>> starts suffering from severe REM sleep deprivation: hallucinations,
>>>>> paranoia, and emotional breakdowns set in. Data, who doesn’t require
>>>>> sleep, partners with Counselor Troi—who alone is still dreaming—to
>>>>> unravel the mystery. Eventually, they realize another ship trapped in
>>>>> the same Tykén’s Rift is trying to communicate via Troi’s dreams,
>>>>> and the solution involves venting hydrogen to create an energy burst
>>>>> that frees them both.
>>>>> ([Den of Geek][1], [Thoughts From the Mountain Top][2], [Wikipedia][3])
>>>>> 
>>>>> ---
>>>>> 
>>>>> ## What Works
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Atmosphere of Tension and Horror**
>>>>> The episode creates a uniquely eerie mood for TNG, with
>>>>> sleep-deprived crewmembers awakening to escalating
>>>>> paranoia—especially the chilling morgue hallucination of corpses
>>>>> rising.
>>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [Wikipedia][3], [Late to the Game Blog][5])
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Strong Central Concept**
>>>>> Exploring cognitive collapse through the lens of sleep deprivation
>>>>> and alien communication is both inventive and unsettling. It showcases
>>>>> TNG’s ability to play with horror tropes within its sci-fi
>>>>> framework.
>>>>> ([Late to the Game Blog][5], [Wikipedia][3])
>>>>> 
>>>>> ---
>>>>> 
>>>>> ## Weaknesses
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Unconvincing Dream Sequences**
>>>>> Many critics found Troi’s dream visuals—flashing through green
>>>>> voids while calling out “where are you?â€â€”visually and
>>>>> emotionally underwhelming, bordering on silly.
>>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [Den of Geek][1], [Thoughts From the Mountain Top][2])
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Narrative Gaps and Pacing Issues**
>>>>> The resolution—needing hydrogen to force an escape—felt
>>>>> contrived to some. Plus, the episode's pacing dragged, often feeling
>>>>> stretched by filler rather than focused tension.
>>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [Thoughts From the Mountain Top][2], [Den of Geek][1])
>>>>> 
>>>>> ---
>>>>> 
>>>>> ## Reception & Rankings
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Positive Notes on Horror Impact**
>>>>> Den of Geek notes its disturbing imagery—particularly from the
>>>>> morgue scene—and ranks it among Trek’s more frightening episodes.
>>>>> ([Wikipedia][3], [Den of Geek][1])
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Mixed Critical Consensus**
>>>>> On one hand, *The A.V. Club* praises the episode’s ambition in
>>>>> fulfilling sci-fi expectations, even while noting it doesn’t offer a
>>>>> grand finale twist.
>>>>> ([Wikipedia][3])
>>>>> On the other, some rankings place it among the weaker TNG episodes,
>>>>> pointing to its uneven execution.
>>>>> ([Wikipedia][3])
>>>>> 
>>>>> * **Fan Commentary Reflects Division**
>>>>> Fans are torn: some find it a creepy and memorable horror outing,
>>>>> while others criticize the dream sequences and lack of narrative
>>>>> finesse.
>>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [IMDb][6], [Late to the Game Blog][5])
>>>>> 
>>>>> ---
>>>>> 
>>>>> ## Final Rating: **7 / 10**
>>>>> 
>>>>> **Verdict:** *Night Terrors* is a bold, atmospheric experiment for
>>>>> *TNG*, doubling down on sleeper horror within a Star Trek context. Its
>>>>> strengths lie in unsettling visuals and psychological dread—uncommon
>>>>> for the series. However, the undercooked dream imagery and narrative
>>>>> thinness dilute its effectiveness. At its best, it's a creepy
>>>>> standout; at its weakest, it’s a drawn-out oddity.
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Interesting, using a llm to review a 30+ year old episode, an era where
>>>> shows weren't serialized like they are today.
>>>> 
>>>> how do you develop lore for a 40 minute episode?
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> See “Datalore”
>> 
>> What about it?
>> 
>
> They developed lore in a 46 minute episode

Ok