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In article <497876526.785532667.901652.anim8rfsk-cox.net@news.easynews.com>,
anim8rfsk  <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>The Doctor <doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca> wrote:
>> AI/LLM reviews of STNG - Sub Rosa
>
>A strong contender for worst episode
>
>> 
>> Google Gemini
>> 
>> Dr. Beverly Crusher 
>
>And that right there is why
>
>travels to the desolate planet Caldos II for the funeral of her beloved
>grandmother, Felisa Howard. While on the planet, Beverly inherits her
>grandmother's property and finds Felisa's diary, which details a
>passionate, century-long affair with a mysterious figure named Ronin.
>Beverly soon begins to hear Ronin's voice, feeling drawn to him, and
>eventually meets him in physical form, beginning an intense, sensual
>relationship.
>> 
>
>Ick
>
>
>> The crew investigates strange occurrences, including wild weather
>> patterns surrounding the estate and a mysterious candle that never seems
>> to burn down. It is revealed that Ronin is not a human spirit but an
>> anaphasic energy being residing in the family's antique candle. This
>> entity has been subtly seducing, dominating, and drawing life energy from
>> the women in Crusher’s family line for generations, essentially
>> enslaving them with the promise of eternal love. The episode concludes
>> with Beverly breaking Ronin's influence with assistance from Picard,
>> destroying the entity, and returning to the Enterprise.
>> 
>
>So an unhappy ending then
>
>
>> Strengths
>> 
>> Focus on Crusher: The episode attempts to give Dr. Crusher a major
>> storyline centered on her family history and personal desires, which is
>> rare in the final seasons.
>> 
>
>That’s not a strength
>
>
>> Atmosphere: The production design successfully creates a distinct,
>> gothic, and moody atmosphere on Caldos II, setting it apart visually from
>> standard Starfleet environments.
>> 
>> Weaknesses
>> 
>> Major Tone Conflict: This is the episode's biggest failing. The plot is a
>> blend of gothic romance and a supernatural "ghost story" that completely
>> violates the science-fiction framework and rationalist tone established
>> by seven seasons of Trek. The idea of a sentient, candle-dwelling entity
>> that seduces a family line is highly incongruous.
>> 
>> Lack of Tension/Mystery: The mystery surrounding Ronin is often
>> sacrificed for overt, melodramatic romance. The audience is shown what's
>> happening, making the "reveal" less impactful.
>> 
>> Character Regression: Crusher's professional, intelligent character
>
>Objection, Your Honor, assume facts not in evidence
>
>
> is largely sidelined, as she becomes almost immediately and illogically
>obsessed with the spectral lover, making decisions that seem beneath her
>Starfleet training and medical expertise.
>> 
>
>The jokes just write themselves, don’t they?
>
>
>> The "Anaphasic Energy Being" Retcon: The attempt to explain the "ghost"
>> using vague Trek technobabble (anaphasic energy) is transparently weak
>> and fails to justify the supernatural setup.
>> 
>> Overall Impression
>> 
>> "Sub Rosa" is widely considered one of the weakest episodes of TNG. It is
>> an attempt at a genre mash-up (gothic romance meets sci-fi) that
>> unfortunately fails to integrate the two elements, resulting in a
>> confusing, poorly executed, and often embarrassing story that feels
>> wholly disconnected from the larger series narrative.
>> 
>
>You like it a lot better than I did
>
>
>> Rating: 2.5/10
>> 
>> ChatGPT
>> 
>> Good call — **“Sub Rosa”** (TNG S7, Ep 14) is one of the most
>> controversial / polarizing episodes in *The Next Generation*. Here’s my
>> breakdown, based on its plot (e.g. from Chakoteya and other sources) plus
>> critical reception — and then a rating.
>> 
>> ---
>> 
>> ## Review of *Sub Rosa*
>> 
>> **What Works / Strengths**
>> 
>> 1. **Ambitious Genre Blend**
>> 
>>    * The episode leans into gothic-romance / ghost story territory, which
>> is quite different from your typical TNG plot. That risk is interesting,
>> because it tries to do something *new* for Trek. ([Den of Geek][1])
>>    * According to *Den of Geek*, it combines “literary appreciation,
>> scientific inquiry, and silly conceits,” giving us a more atmospheric,
>> mood-driven story rather than just a technobabble sci-fi plot. ([Den
>of Geek][1])
>> 
>> 2. **Character Focus on Dr. Crusher**
>> 
>>    * This is one of the few episodes that deeply centers on Beverly
>> Crusher’s personal / family life. That gives her emotional weight,
>> beyond just being the Enterprise’s doctor. ([Durfee][2])
>>    * There is an exploration of desire: *Den of Geek* notes that the
>> episode addresses female sexuality more directly than typical Trek
>> episodes. ([Den of Geek][1])
>>    * Gates McFadden’s performance is earnest: despite the bizarre
>> setup, she sells the emotional and seductive tension reasonably well.
>> 
>> 3. **Creepy / Eerie Visuals**
>> 
>>    * There are genuinely creepy and gothic moments (storms, the old
>> mansion, the candle as a receptacle) that give the episode a distinct
>> atmosphere. ([Den of Geek][1])
>>    * The reveal that Ronin is not just a ghost but an “anaphasic”
>> alien lifeform gives a science-fiction twist to the romance / horror
>> narrative. ([Wikipedia][3])
>> 
>> 4. **Thematic Depth (to an Extent)**
>> 
>>    * Themes of legacy, family, and what we inherit (both physically and
>> emotionally) are present: Beverly is literally dealing with her
>> grandmother’s past, and Ronin has “lived” through
>generations of
>> her family. ([Durfee][2])
>>    * There’s a power / consent dynamic that’s somewhat disturbing:
>> Ronin exerts control, and there’s a question of agency. Some critics
>> (e.g., from Gameindustry) argue it parallels abusive relationships.
>> ([Game Industry News][4])
>> 
>> ---
>> 
>> **What Doesn’t Work / Major Criticisms**
>> 
>> 1. **Tone Misfit & Strange Premise**
>> 
>>    * Many feel that the gothic-romance, “sex with a ghost / candle”
>> angle is wildly out of place in *Star Trek*. ([Screen Rant][5])
>>    * The Scottish-ghost mansion on an alien planet feels campy and not
>> fully integrated into the Trek universe in a believable way. ([Den of
>Geek][1])
>>    * Critics at *Gizmodo* call the episode “unhinged” and argue that
>> Beverly’s agency is undermined: she is more a victim than an equal in
>> the relationship. ([Gizmodo][6])
>> 
>> 2. **Character Agency / Consent Issues**
>> 
>>    * According to some reviews, Ronin’s “seduction” is
>less about
>> mutual romance and more about manipulation. ([Game Industry News][4])
>>    * Beverly seems to be under his influence, raising uncomfortable
>> parallels to possession or abuse. *Gizmodo* suggests she loses a lot of
>> her autonomy. ([Gizmodo][6])
>>    * The resolution is messy: she destroys the candle / host, but the
>> emotional wrap-up (“whatever else he might have done, he made her
>> grandmother happy”) feels like a gloss rather than a true reconciliation.
>> ([Wikipedia][3])
>> 
>> 3. **Critical / Fan Reception Is Largely Negative**
>> 
>>    * On IMDb, many users rate it very low. ([IMDb][7])
>>    * *Gizmodo* calls it one of Trek’s “lowest lows,” in
>terms of
>> how it handles character, tone, and romantic horror. ([Gizmodo][6])
>>    * Still, it’s not universally hated: a *StarTrek.com* writer gave it
>> **10/10** in a list of *underrated* episodes, praising its weirdness and
>> emotional ambition. ([Redshirts Always Die][8])
>>    * On Reddit, opinions are mixed: some find it deeply flawed and
>> cringe-worthy; others say if you lean into the weirdness, it can be “a
>> fun, witchy romp.” ([Reddit][9])
>> 
>> 4. **Writing / Plot Inconsistencies**
>> 
>>    * According to a review (Random Musings), Dr. Crusher’s behavior is
>> inconsistent: at times she seems possessed, other times she claims she
>> was “seduced,” which muddies whether she truly had agency.
>([JPHalt's
>> Star Trek TNG Reviews][10])
>>    * The subplot (weather control malfunction) is flimsy, not tightly
>> connected to the emotional / gothic main plot, and doesn’t provide
>> strong tension. ([JPHalt's Star Trek TNG Reviews][10])
>>    * Some of the “scientific” explanations for Ronin (anaphasic
>> alien, plasma-based candle) feel hand-wavy, especially given the
>erotic / romantic framing.
>> 
>> ---
>> 
>> **Overall Assessment**
>> 
>> * *Sub Rosa* is *ambitious*, for sure — it tries to do something very
>> different for *TNG*, blending gothic romance, horror, and sci-fi.
>> * It provides a rare, deep “Crusher-centric” emotional story, but it
>> fails in many ways to fully justify or ground the bizarre premise.
>> * The episode is tonally inconsistent: sometimes it's moody and creepy,
>> sometimes melodramatic, sometimes unintentionally campy.
>> * The biggest problem is how it handles Beverly’s agency and consent:
>> the romantic / sexual dynamic with Ronin is deeply troubling from a
>> modern perspective and doesn’t land well for many viewers.
>> * That said, there is something to appreciate in its weirdness — and
>> some fans do enjoy it as a “cult oddball” episode rather than a
>> serious Trek morality play.
>> 
>> ---
>> 
>> **Rating: 4.5 / 10**
>> 
>> I lean toward a low score because, for me, the conceptual risk is
>> overshadowed by poor execution and problematic character dynamics. It’s
>> not the worst TNG episode, but it’s also not a hidden gem —
>more like
>> a “so weird it’s memorable, but not in a good way” episode.
>> 
>> ---
>> 
>> [1]:
>>
>https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation-worst-episode-worth-watching/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Why One of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Worst Episodes Is Still
>> Worth Watching | Den of Geek"
>> [2]: https://www.durfee.net/startrek/TNG_0714.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Rob's STAR TREK Episode Guide"
>> [3]:
>>
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub_Rosa_%28Star_Trek%3A_The_Next_Generation%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Sub Rosa (Star Trek: The Next Generation)"
>> [4]:
>>
>https://www.gameindustry.com/gamer-blogs/sub-rosa-the-secret-that-should-have-remained-a-secret/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Sub Rosa: The Secret that Should Have Remained a Secret - Gameindustry.com"
>> [5]:
>>
>https://screenrant.com/star-trek-sub-rosa-worst-weakest-episode-joke-comic/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Star Trek Calls Out One of The Weakest Episodes of Any Show"
>> [6]:
>>
>https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-sub-rosa-30th-anniversary-ghost-sex-candle-1851210280?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "30 Years on, TNG's Ghost Sex Episode Remains as Unhinged and Awful as Ever"
>> [7]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708778/reviews/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "\"Star Trek: The Next Generation\" Sub Rosa (TV Episode 1994) - User
>reviews - IMDb"
>> [8]:
>>
>https://redshirtsalwaysdie.com/2022/09/26/star-trek-writer-calls-sub-rosa-an-underrated-star-trek-the-next-generation-episode/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Star Trek writer calls “Sub Rosa” an underrated Star Trek: The Next
>> Generation episode"
>> [9]:
>> https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/r7y56b?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Sub-popular opinion: Sub Rosa is not bad"
>> [10]:
>>
>https://jphalt-startrek-tng-reviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/7-14-sub-rosa.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
>> "Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 1994) - Random Musings: 7-14.
>Sub Rosa."
>
>

And you agree with ChatGPT anim?

>
>-- 
>The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.


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