There were some major bumps on the road for Star Trek: The Next Generation and that includes some tough moments to go through, even for Michael Dorn! In the series, Dorn took on a very iconic role, playing the great warrior Worf.
An Infamous Episode
The TNG, while well-loved is filled with iconic moments and some bad ones too! But one stood out above all others for those involved and the actor himself. That episode had a major impact, especially on Dorn, who believed the series might not survive! If you're looking to understand the show and how its iconic characters came to be, there are moments that stand out more than others. It's also worth mentioning that Dorn played Worf in 285 episodes, from both TNG and Deep Space Nine. Worf was a fan favorite and became something beyond memorable for Star Trek fans!
The Problem With Code of Honor:
To truly understand Star Trek you have to go through the trials and tribulations that make it one of the most beloved series of all time. Dorn, in an interview on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum had some truly interesting details that most fans wouldn't even be aware of!
Even Dorn himself mentioned that, "Code of Honor… I actually thought… it was maybe the third or fourth episode… I actually thought that we weren’t gonna make it from that episode… It’s not that I can’t tell you. You gotta watch it… It was one of the worst episodes. And I don’t think they did it to make a bad episode."
He went on to say that when they made it, the whole production team felt "good" about it. As he made this clear, "Oh my god! Oh my god!”. And Dorn makes it very clear the reason why was when the episode aired it was completely taken off of the re-runs!
This really makes audiences wonder what's going on! This wasn't the only criticism this Episode got!
Code of Honor's Legacy
The actors that had been a part of the Episode knew, as well that it wasn't really working, and expressed their dismay for it!
- Jonathan Frakes, known for his character, "Riker," said that the episode was a “racist piece of s.”
- Denise Crosby, Brent Spiner and, of course, Dorn himself all talked about the issue
Dorn, didn't hold back his feelings and said this episode was “the worst episode of Star Trek ever filmed." You know, he's pretty passionate. The actor might be known for having those great emotional and deep portrayals! This story from his time on TNG really reveals how dedicated he was! The show would not be where it was without these major performances and what might make you scratch your head are the choices that were made in this episode. What was even more shocking was that the producers put the episode out. A true moment where we have the ability to get behind the scenes!
Why "Code of Honor" Went Off the Rails
Fans really need to go back to the basics to understand this problem.
The episode, "Code of Honor" starts as a typical, interesting story arc. The crew on the Enterprise-D take their mission and as part of this process, they need to find a vaccine.
In one instance the ship travels to the planet of Ligon II to find a remedy. You see the big story as an alliance to fix an issue. However, "Code of Honor" wasn't a big fan favorite. The episode was infamous and it's no surprise the actor had a very pointed way of explaining what the problem was!
- There were lots of cast issues that brought attention to the episode but for a multitude of reasons.
- The leader of this alien world really wasn't just into that simple, sweet "trade." It turns out there's something much more devious.
- This "Ligonian" leader fell for Lt. Tasha Yar. (This character is played by Denise Crosby).
- The plan was simple enough: Tasha would be his wife!
But that's not what stands out. It seems this whole episode was set for a "failure" as "Code of Honor really took on a different perspective, making the production incredibly odd. The choice of the cast made it feel incredibly awkward, to say the least, as only Black actors were playing these more primitive "aliens," giving off a racist tone.
- These "Ligonian" characters, or rather how they were depicted! The whole scenario wasn't the most creative.
- There weren't enough scenes to help make these "Ligonians" feel human!
The movie seemed to take on an even more dated look. And it was far removed from Star Trek's more inclusive and exciting look and values that the franchise embraced! Even worse was how female characters had such little autonomy! The fight to the death? That made it really hard for fans to get behind!
What Happened Next For Star Trek: The Next Generation:
To be frank, it was really just an incredibly bland story that would likely not stand up to all the incredible and diverse storytelling of this universe, which brought viewers so much of what they truly love. However, this was only the beginning. It seemed like TNG had a solid amount of support from fans.
They're an incredibly diverse, wonderful, and loving community that brought TNG together in so many remarkable and memorable ways. Fans got to see their iconic crew from season to season.
Star Trek: The Next Generation was full of unforgettable moments, even if there were some bad episodes along the way.
"Code of Honor" serves as a cautionary tale, giving us a glimpse at the perils of production in "Star Trek and the way this story stands out for those who have experienced the ups and downs. But there are also reasons to appreciate this episode, showing the ability for a group to try to make a story work and while, it wasn't successful, "Star Trek still pushed forward as an innovative story that kept going and improving! It looks like it just wasn't possible for Star Trek to make everyone happy!
With a truly remarkable run that was part of pop culture for such a long time and continues to make its mark in a galaxy far, far away.
