From Newsgroup: rec.arts.startrek.misc

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. ItrCOs an interesting watch for its unique tone and focus on Troi, but the ending feels a little anticlimactic.

Rating: 7/10

ChatGPT


HererCOs a comprehensive review of **rCLStar Trek: The Next Generation rCo *Night Terrors***rCY (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 doesnrCOt require sleep, partners with Counselor TroirCowho alone is still dreamingrCoto unravel the mystery. Eventually, they realize another ship trapped in the same Tyk|-nrCOs Rift is trying to communicate via TroirCOs 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 paranoiarCoespecially 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 TNGrCOs 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 TroirCOs dream visualsrCoflashing through green voids while calling out rCLwhere are you?rCYrCovisually 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 resolutionrConeeding hydrogen to force an escaperCofelt 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 imageryrCoparticularly from the morgue scenerCoand ranks it among TrekrCOs more frightening episodes.
([Wikipedia][3], [Den of Geek][1])

* **Mixed Critical Consensus**
On one hand, *The A.V. Club* praises the episoderCOs ambition in fulfilling sci-fi expectations, even while noting it doesnrCOt 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 dreadrCouncommon 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, itrCOs a drawn-out oddity.


[1]: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/revisiting-star-trek-tng-night-terrors/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Revisiting Star Trek TNG: Night Terrors - Den of Geek"
[2]: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.com/2020/08/25/star-trek-the-next-generation-night-terrors/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Star Trek: The Next Generation rCo Night Terrors"
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Terrors_%28Star_Trek%3A_The_Next_Generation%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Night Terrors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)"
[4]: https://www.jammersreviews.com/st-tng/s4/night.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com "\"Night Terrors\" | Star Trek: TNG | Jammer's Reviews"
[5]: https://latetothegame.blog/2019/12/29/retro-tv-review-star-trek-tng-ssn-4-episode-seventeen-night-terrors-2/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Retro TV Review: Star Trek TNG SSN 4 Episode Seventeen: Night Terrors ..."
[6]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708751/reviews/?featured=rw6284240&utm_source=chatgpt.com "\"Star Trek: The Next Generation\" Night Terrors (TV Episode 1991 ... - IMDb"
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
All I want to hear from JEsus Christ is WEll done Good and Faithful servant
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.startrek.misc

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|ore4raos an interesting watch for its unique tone and focus on Troi, but the ending feels a little anticlimactic.

Rating: 7/10

ChatGPT

Here|ore4raos a comprehensive review of **|ore4+oStar Trek: The Next Generation
|ore4rCY *Night Terrors***|ore4 (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|ore4raot require sleep, partners with Counselor Troi|ore4rCYwho alone is still dreaming|ore4rCYto
unravel the mystery. Eventually, they realize another ship trapped in
the same Tyk|a--n|ore4raos Rift is trying to communicate via Troi|ore4raos 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|ore4rCYespecially 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|ore4raos 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|ore4raos dream visuals|ore4rCYflashing through green
voids while calling out |ore4+owhere are you?|ore4|ore4rCYvisually 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|ore4rCYneeding hydrogen to force an escape|ore4rCYfelt 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|ore4rCYparticularly from the morgue scene|ore4rCYand ranks it among Trek|ore4raos more frightening episodes.
([Wikipedia][3], [Den of Geek][1])

* **Mixed Critical Consensus**
On one hand, *The A.V. Club* praises the episode|ore4raos ambition in fulfilling sci-fi expectations, even while noting it doesn|ore4raot 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|ore4rCYuncommon 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|ore4raos 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?

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.startrek.misc

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|ore4raos an interesting watch >> for its unique tone and focus on Troi, but the ending feels a little
anticlimactic.

Rating: 7/10

ChatGPT


Here|ore4raos a comprehensive review of **|ore4+oStar Trek: The Next Generation
|ore4rCY *Night Terrors***|ore4 (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|ore4raot require >> sleep, partners with Counselor Troi|ore4rCYwho alone is still dreaming|ore4rCYto
unravel the mystery. Eventually, they realize another ship trapped in
the same Tyk|a--n|ore4raos Rift is trying to communicate via Troi|ore4raos 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|ore4rCYespecially 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|ore4raos 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|ore4raos dream visuals|ore4rCYflashing through green >> voids while calling out |ore4+owhere are you?|ore4|ore4rCYvisually 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|ore4rCYneeding hydrogen to force an escape|ore4rCYfelt
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|ore4rCYparticularly from the
morgue scene|ore4rCYand ranks it among Trek|ore4raos more frightening episodes.
([Wikipedia][3], [Den of Geek][1])

* **Mixed Critical Consensus**
On one hand, *The A.V. Club* praises the episode|ore4raos ambition in
fulfilling sci-fi expectations, even while noting it doesn|ore4raot 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|ore4rCYuncommon >> 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|ore4raos 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 rCLDatalorerCY
--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
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