The Royale
- Episode aired Mar 25, 1989
- TV-PG
- 45m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
Worf, Data, and Riker find themselves trapped in a re-creation of a poorly written novel.Worf, Data, and Riker find themselves trapped in a re-creation of a poorly written novel.Worf, Data, and Riker find themselves trapped in a re-creation of a poorly written novel.
Greg Beecroft
- Mickey D
- (as Gregory Beecroft)
David Armstrong
- Hotel Royale Staffer
- (uncredited)
Majel Barrett
- Enterprise Computer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
John Blower
- Hotel Royale Staffer
- (uncredited)
Peter Eastman
- Hotel Royale Staffer
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
I thought this was a typically awful early TNG episode. After seeing it more than once I see it now as a tribute to Arthur C Clarke's 2001. You have to read the novel to understand, which none of the previous reviewers have done.
I still don't think this very good, but at least I think I see where it's coming from. A student acknowledging a master.
I still don't think this very good, but at least I think I see where it's coming from. A student acknowledging a master.
I have fond memories of this episode, is it bad? Yes.
Do I enjoy it every time? Yes
On of my favorite detective show tropes is when folks are on a cruise ship, train or in a hotel, this being the later.
Do I enjoy it every time? Yes
On of my favorite detective show tropes is when folks are on a cruise ship, train or in a hotel, this being the later.
Ever since I saw this episode when it first aired, this has always been one of the favorite episode of ST:TNG. Now, when I was younger, I don't think I got a lot of the humor, but now when I watch it I laugh my head off. The plot is fairly clever and it's always hilarious when we see the members of the Enterprise try to interact with obsolete technology.
The plot revolves around Riker, Worf, and Data become trapped in a sort of simulation based off a "second rate" novel that is set in a 1920's gangster era hotel/casino. The characters they interact with are caricatures and I think the actors and actresses playing them have a good time with that. It's obvious that the writers had a fun time making the most cliché'd version of the hotel that they possibly could. For example, there's a rich Texan playing blackjack and loudly giving advice to anyone who will listen, because there's ALWAYS a rich Texan acting just like that in these kind of novels. There's a gangster named (of course) "Mickey D". And when we find out the opening line of the novel is "It was a dark and stormy night" we know it's probably even worse then we can imagine.
The plot revolves around Riker, Worf, and Data become trapped in a sort of simulation based off a "second rate" novel that is set in a 1920's gangster era hotel/casino. The characters they interact with are caricatures and I think the actors and actresses playing them have a good time with that. It's obvious that the writers had a fun time making the most cliché'd version of the hotel that they possibly could. For example, there's a rich Texan playing blackjack and loudly giving advice to anyone who will listen, because there's ALWAYS a rich Texan acting just like that in these kind of novels. There's a gangster named (of course) "Mickey D". And when we find out the opening line of the novel is "It was a dark and stormy night" we know it's probably even worse then we can imagine.
It is clearly stated that the US had 52 states at the time. Reviewer should watch the show more carefully.
Just don't ask "why"? After finding a floating artifact from the 21st century something interesting ensues. An away team of Riker, Worf, and Data find a revolving door in the middle of nowhere. They go through and find themselves in a kind of hotel/casino. Something is being held from them. The problem is that now they are in the place, they can't get out. The get into the door and circle right back in. Meanwhile, a cast of characters, a hostile clerk, a cowboy who is gambling, a floozy, and others go about their business. Somehow, this whole thing was set up based on a cheap novel. The problem is that there is no reason for this happening. Who are the alien forces that caused all this and what were their motivations. Sometimes I think that the writers would use any excuse to write something about another setting than the Enterprise. This has some funny moments, but they are based on the fact that a starship lieutenant, a Klingon, and an android are interacting with regular people who don't notice their physical appearances.
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode, airing in 1989, predicts that Fermat's Last Theorem would have gone unsolved for 800 years as of the mid-24th century. It was actually solved in 1993 by Princeton University Professor Andrew Wiles. In 2016, he won the Abel prize in recognition of his accomplishment.
- GoofsEarly on, Geordi states that the surface temperature of the planet is -291°C. This is physically impossible as the minimum temperature possible in the universe is 0 K (-273.15°C)
- Quotes
Lt. Commander Data: [examining skeletal remains in hotel bed] Definitely human. Male.
Commander William T. Riker: Looks like the poor devil died in his sleep.
Lieutenant Worf: What a terrible way to die.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Treksperts Briefing Room: The Royale w/ Mark, Daren & Ashley (2021)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
Details
- Runtime
- 45m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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