Code of Honor

Once again, I feared that such a poor episode might sink the starship Enterprise. Some have called this racist but I think it's just a weak story about a male dominated world. Good heavens, about half our planet acts this way toward women. Tasha is kidnapped and put in a position where she must fight an alien woman for her life. How many times has this tired plot played out. Yar is an interesting character. She is rather masculine in appearance and has a kind of take-no-prisoners mentality. Of course, there is some complexity to this piece. There are negotiations with the indigenous beings in an attempt to solve the issue. The kicker is that these beings control a substance that is of dire importance to another interplanetary culture. The deus ex machina foolishness that eventually comes is quite unsatisfying. The culture seems set up for just such a result.

Tasha Yar is kidnapped and challenged to a fight to the death.

This is a much derided episode for numerous reasons that are justified, however I find it enjoyable in the category of episodes that are so bad they are good.

The story is simple, full of contrivances and random changes in tone. The dialogue is childish and much of the acting is either amateurish or lifeless, but it entertains almost to the point that it resembles a self-parody.

At first glance I would forgive someone for thinking they are watching a particularly camp episode of the original series, with its ridiculous costumes and awful fight choreography. Yareena looks like she's about to present an 80s fitness video as she prepares for battle. The less said about her and Tasha Yar pole dancing their way through their comical death-match the better.

Most of the actors do their best with poor material, however Will Wheaton seems to spend most of the time grinning like he's been offered a box of his favourite candy and Karole Selmon delivers her lines very awkwardly.

This is often referenced as racist and the worst TNG episode of all time. Personally I do not think it is racist, but I can see how it might be interpreted that way given the casting of black actors in the roles of primitive aliens and them acting out a tribal culture. They are definitely not positive roles by today's standards. I found 'The Naked Now', 'Skin of Evil', 'Angel One' and my personal series low point of 'Lonely Among Us' to be much worse. At least 'Code Of Honour' is actually entertaining in its own way.

5.5/10 for the fun to be found in its many flaws.

Ugh. It's almost sufficient to write off 'Code of Honor' as just an awkward first step for the show's maiden season; the characters are still enough, and it's far more TOS than TNG. People go on about the overtones (both racist and sexist), but it's not like the Enterprise crew is actively promoting these values. Still, they don't fit and really only offer up that most awkward of commentary.

But far worse than any of this is the failure to entertain. This is easily the most lackluster episode I've ever seen from this crew, and that's unacceptable.

3/10

Wow sometimes people are just so easily offended it's actually quite embarrassing and sad. The Star Trek universe is filled to the brim with every conceivable race and culture, with there own unique laws and morality!

The Ligonians are simply just one of those unique cultures! The fact they are an African looking group I can't see how anyone finds this awkward. They arnt portrayed as backward or dumb. They have transporter technology for heaven's sake! There has been plenty of races and peoples in Star Trek that have tech but still prefer upholding there ancient ways!

Enjoyable episode overall but some people unfortunately see racism whenever they simply walk into a room or turn on the TV.

It's funny to see anyone call this racist, because it's not written well enough to even be that. Code of Honor suffers mainly in the same way that so many TNG episodes do, by not seeming to really understand the subject being tackled. Which -- again -- isn't racism, but making the primitive culture all black actors? Looks just like racism, lightened up just enough for deniability. Which might have meant something if anyone cared to put any effort into their acting, but it's just 40 minutes of people trotting out their lines ... sometimes with some dignity, but rarely with anything that could be called conviction. Hard pass.