It is clearly stated that the US had 52 states at the time. Reviewer should watch the show more carefully.
26 Reviews
Flag is correct
markonstuart9 January 2021
This is what makes Star Trek so unique.
joshi_35921 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
In my opinion Star Trek in general has three types of episodes; political conflicts, social conflicts, and mystery conflicts. This episode qualify as the third one which happens to be my favourite. Sure Star Trek is so good because it so often brings up real problems which we actually can learn from, but once in a while I enjoy the fact they they can make episodes that are just pure Sci-Fi fun. And episodes like these are quite clever. Episodes like this is a sort of supernatural problem explained trough science fiction.
The away-team; Riker, Worf and Data find themselves in a hotel. It is a lonely structure on a literally dead planet, the inhabitants don't register as life-forms, but still exist. And only to make it more exiting they are incapable of exiting the hotel. (SPOILER AHED) It turns out the whole place is an recreation of a second rate novel owned by a dead 21 century astronaut they find in the hotel. Turns out the life form on the planet assumed this was the natural habitat for humans and created it for him. (SPOILER ENDS) To be honest this episode just makes me laugh, and it shows Data and Riker on their best and funniest. heck even Worfs grumpy attitude are funny at times. But the episode still manages retain it's seriousness.
This reminds me of some of the classical TOS episodes like; the Squire of Gothos, Patterns of Force, and mostly Spectre of the gun. Like mentioned before there are three types of episodes, well there are also three settings for Star Trek; the enterprise, alien planets, and the "bizzarre" setting. I like these because they always present a mystery and plays on the unknown. I like these because they are unique, weird, sometimes a bit funny, and they are a good variation from the casual sci-fi with spaceships, aliens, etc.
I give this episode an 8/10.
The away-team; Riker, Worf and Data find themselves in a hotel. It is a lonely structure on a literally dead planet, the inhabitants don't register as life-forms, but still exist. And only to make it more exiting they are incapable of exiting the hotel. (SPOILER AHED) It turns out the whole place is an recreation of a second rate novel owned by a dead 21 century astronaut they find in the hotel. Turns out the life form on the planet assumed this was the natural habitat for humans and created it for him. (SPOILER ENDS) To be honest this episode just makes me laugh, and it shows Data and Riker on their best and funniest. heck even Worfs grumpy attitude are funny at times. But the episode still manages retain it's seriousness.
This reminds me of some of the classical TOS episodes like; the Squire of Gothos, Patterns of Force, and mostly Spectre of the gun. Like mentioned before there are three types of episodes, well there are also three settings for Star Trek; the enterprise, alien planets, and the "bizzarre" setting. I like these because they always present a mystery and plays on the unknown. I like these because they are unique, weird, sometimes a bit funny, and they are a good variation from the casual sci-fi with spaceships, aliens, etc.
I give this episode an 8/10.
Data needs a new pair of shoes.
thevacinstaller9 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A fun TNG episode with a clever premise if you don't ponder the intelligence level of the aliens.
Not much to squeeze out of this episode other then what is presented on screen ---- But it's unique and shows a level of creativity that I sorely miss in star trek.
A few great moments in here. One of my fav's is the look of contempt on Picard's face as he has to endure the audio book version of this trashy novel.
I noticed a few TOS callbacks this season and this episode has TOS tribute written all over it. This one works well with the TNG crew.
I am a fan of the TNG 'problem solving' mystery episodes and I appreciate a creative premise. This is a good episode.
Not much to squeeze out of this episode other then what is presented on screen ---- But it's unique and shows a level of creativity that I sorely miss in star trek.
A few great moments in here. One of my fav's is the look of contempt on Picard's face as he has to endure the audio book version of this trashy novel.
I noticed a few TOS callbacks this season and this episode has TOS tribute written all over it. This one works well with the TNG crew.
I am a fan of the TNG 'problem solving' mystery episodes and I appreciate a creative premise. This is a good episode.
Some puzzles can't be solved.
russem3115 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:38 - "The Royale" (Stardate: 42625.4) - this is the 12th episode to air of the 2nd season of The Next Generation. This episode concerns the Enterprise traveling through an uncharted solar system, when Picard and crew discover a piece of sheet metal with the NASA logo on it. Soon they discover a structure around one of the planets, an inhospitable windy gas giant . . . a stable structure enclosed in a breathable atmosphere. Of course when the crew beams down to investigates, a mystery ensues.
Trivia: a running gag, Worf can't figure out how to open an elevator door, as Data looks on (just like in the episode "The Neutral Zone", when he couldn't figure out an old style door handle aboard an ancient cryogenic spaceship.
Also, we find out more about Star Trek history: from 2033-2079 America had 52 stars, an astronaut named Colenol Ritchie flew for NASA in a spacecraft launched July 23, 2037, which was third manned attempt to exit the Solar System.
Trivia: a running gag, Worf can't figure out how to open an elevator door, as Data looks on (just like in the episode "The Neutral Zone", when he couldn't figure out an old style door handle aboard an ancient cryogenic spaceship.
Also, we find out more about Star Trek history: from 2033-2079 America had 52 stars, an astronaut named Colenol Ritchie flew for NASA in a spacecraft launched July 23, 2037, which was third manned attempt to exit the Solar System.
Like a bad holodeck episode...that takes place OUTSIDE the holodeck!
planktonrules13 November 2014
The Enterprise arrives at planet Theta 8 in order to pick up some space debris that the Klingons found. Oddly, it's from an old Nasa craft--so what's it doing in this part of space?! The away team decide to land on the planet but what they find makes no sense at all--it's am Earth casino called 'The Royale'! At first, the trio are amused at what they find but soon it becomes apparent that they cannot leave--and things become a bit tense. What plays out inside the casino, much of the time, plays out like a holodeck program--and that's NOT good, as the holodeck episodes were usually among the worst in the series. Fortunately, the answer to this conundrum isn't that bad and actually does eventually make some sense. A very strange change of pace episode for the show, that's for sure. But, worth seeing.
Guilty pleasure
jamesearlcash-7015110 October 2021
They Do It All the Time on the Holodeck
Hitchcoc8 August 2014
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.
Riker, Worf, and Data Visit Las Vegas? How Dumb!
mike4812823 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Did anybody get it? Based on the shaky premise from TOS where the aliens find a book about 1930's Old Chicago Gangland (after Earth astronauts visit) and it contaminates their entire way-of-life. Obviously written before the "Holodeck" adventures. It's very cleverly written. Like the Eagles song "Hotel California" it's a lovely place where you can check in, but you can't check out. A nod to the "Twilight Zone" as well. Gambling shows up in Sci-Fi all the time and always in a strange way. Remember the aliens casino "trap" in the original " Battlestar Galactica"? Quark's Place on DS 9? Here, the away team is trapped in the Royale Hotel Casino. A hotel with no way out. All the "people" are characters made of energy. No real humans. They "follow the novel" Data rolls several "Craps" wins (after "fixing" the crooked dice). Data amasses 12.7 million dollars and buys the place so they can walk out as the "foreigners" at the end of the novel. Only then can they exit the revolving door out of the place. Here's why it's dumb: Who created this place on an otherwise barren, airless, planet? (like "Squire of Gothos") We only know that it was created by an alien force to comfort a marooned late 20th Century U.S. astronaut who went mad and was trapped there for 37 years, until he died! "Curiouser & curiouser"!
A fun episode with some good laughs
maximumcool20 January 2010
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.
Read (not watch) Clarke's 2001 A Space Odyssey to understand this.
drgarnett4 February 2020
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.
Favorite Episode So Far
loupfeiffer-442-43696710 March 2017
I am a Star Wars fan trying to become a Trek fan. I am slowly watching TNG one episode at a time. This episode was my favorite to date. Season 2 has really picked up steam as far as story lines go. The acting is getting better too. Season 1 was entertaining, but a little corny. Season 2 has been a real treat. This particular episode is entertaining. Great story line that ties in to today's world. A true science fiction plot with a Twilight Zone twist.
It's a gift you can't return.
amusinghandle11 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It's like a comedy tragedy for the Nasa space pilot to be stuck in a trashy novel for thirty five years.
TNG had never found success when it attempted to recapture or regurgitate TOS storylines but this episode feels like a TOS episode but works as a TNG episode --- perhaps the only one?
It's an amazing coincidence that Picard was attempted to solve a 800 year old mathematical problem and the away mission crew get stuck in a pussy themselves. I like it though ---- Someone actually sat down and thought this out.
They could have done something with Riker (use that legendary charm on someone) or add some Worf scenes but hey --- It's pretty good as is.
It's creative and it moves along at a good pace and seems at least tangible as an aliens culturally oblivious attempt at redemption.
TNG had never found success when it attempted to recapture or regurgitate TOS storylines but this episode feels like a TOS episode but works as a TNG episode --- perhaps the only one?
It's an amazing coincidence that Picard was attempted to solve a 800 year old mathematical problem and the away mission crew get stuck in a pussy themselves. I like it though ---- Someone actually sat down and thought this out.
They could have done something with Riker (use that legendary charm on someone) or add some Worf scenes but hey --- It's pretty good as is.
It's creative and it moves along at a good pace and seems at least tangible as an aliens culturally oblivious attempt at redemption.
A great idea largely wasted
snoozejonc4 June 2021
Enterprise investigates a planet where a segment of NASA spacecraft was discovered in the upper atmosphere.
This is a disappointing episode that has a strong concept but is presented in a series of uninteresting scenes and relatively flat storytelling.
The plot is based on a great idea and there would have been a number of ways for it to play out, but it feels like an uninspired holodeck program. There is initially a sense of mystery to what is happening, but once certain facts are revealed it kills the intrigue and what's left is fairly monotonous.
What makes things worse is reading that the original draft of the script included much more humour and surrealism akin to the original series episode 'A Piece Of The Action' prior to it being re-written out of fear of being too similar. Personally I think it could have done with a large dose of the above to bring it to life. However, I appreciate humour is very subjective and others may find what happens entertaining.
The visuals are decent, with a convincing casino set and atmospheric reveal of what's going on when the focus moves to a hotel bedroom.
Performances by all serve the purpose of the story, but nothing is particularly memorable. I did not find anybody to be annoying so I guess that is a plus point.
This is a disappointing episode that has a strong concept but is presented in a series of uninteresting scenes and relatively flat storytelling.
The plot is based on a great idea and there would have been a number of ways for it to play out, but it feels like an uninspired holodeck program. There is initially a sense of mystery to what is happening, but once certain facts are revealed it kills the intrigue and what's left is fairly monotonous.
What makes things worse is reading that the original draft of the script included much more humour and surrealism akin to the original series episode 'A Piece Of The Action' prior to it being re-written out of fear of being too similar. Personally I think it could have done with a large dose of the above to bring it to life. However, I appreciate humour is very subjective and others may find what happens entertaining.
The visuals are decent, with a convincing casino set and atmospheric reveal of what's going on when the focus moves to a hotel bedroom.
Performances by all serve the purpose of the story, but nothing is particularly memorable. I did not find anybody to be annoying so I guess that is a plus point.
"...that's how we're getting out. We're buying this place!"
classicsoncall6 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I was amused as much by this episode as Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) when he stepped through the revolving door of the Hotel Royale Casino. This was a cool, offbeat episode of 'Next Generation' that relied on an alien race creating an artificial environment based on a cheap Earth novel dating back almost three hundred years. Upon investigating their dilemma, Riker, Data (Brent Spiner), and Worf (Michael Dorn) discover the two hundred eighty three year old corpse of a former NASA pilot, whose ship encountered an unknown disaster three decades earlier. I was intrigued by the idea of a fifty two state America as denoted by the number of stars on the NASA flag. Interesting to speculate on what they might have been - Puerto Rico, Washington D. C., American Samoa? No matter, as the three-man away team hit upon an idea to extricate themselves from a planet and a casino with no way out. Following the outline of the old novel which was living itself out on Theta VIII, all they had to do was win enough money at the craps table to buy the place! Fortunately, Data, after fixing a pair of loaded dice, managed to win all the cash required by breaking the bank of the Royale, and distributing the remainder to the other gamblers at the place. A sub-plot involving a gangster type challenging a hotel employee over the affections of an unseen woman neither added or subtracted from the story, but supplied a bit of filler to round out the episode.
Recommended Royale
thebigeasy55512 February 2007
The Royale is one of the best episodes from season 2.I actually watched it on sky one way back on the 5th of June 2005 and I'm only getting round to writing my review now.
Upon discovering debris from a 21st century NASA spaceship near a strange planet.Entering the planet Data,Riker and Worf come across a hotel style casino from the 1980's.Investigating further they find a book written by a NASA astronaut called Hotel Royale.It then dawns on them they are in a living version of the book.Having seen out the conclusion of the book the officers are able to return to the enterprise.
This episode stands out as it was refreshing to see a realistic version of Earth and the plot involving the characters living out the novel was pretty creative on the part of the writing team.Also the supporting cast have a sizeable part and played it well.
Upon discovering debris from a 21st century NASA spaceship near a strange planet.Entering the planet Data,Riker and Worf come across a hotel style casino from the 1980's.Investigating further they find a book written by a NASA astronaut called Hotel Royale.It then dawns on them they are in a living version of the book.Having seen out the conclusion of the book the officers are able to return to the enterprise.
This episode stands out as it was refreshing to see a realistic version of Earth and the plot involving the characters living out the novel was pretty creative on the part of the writing team.Also the supporting cast have a sizeable part and played it well.
The Away Team Hits the Casino
Samuel-Shovel5 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
In "The Royale" the Enterprise is notified by a Klingon vessel of some metallic wreckage nearby. They beam some aboard to discover that it's part of an old NASA craft. The planet it is orbiting is uninhabitable, yet there is a structure on the surface that is self-contained. An away team of Data, Worf, and Riker beam down into a spaceless void with a revolving door to nowhere. They walk through it into a 1940's US hotel and casino full of patrons and employees.
It seems harmless enough until the trio realize that the door won't let them leave. They soon discover the true purpose of this place when they run across the remains of an astronaut and his journal. Apparently his ship was an attempt to leave the Earth's solar system for the first time and a higher plane of life took over the ship, accidentally infecting and killing all his shipmates, leaving just him. Remorseful, the aliens created this world for him to live comfortably for his remaining days. The based it on a pulp novel they found onboard the ship. This astronaut ended up living out his days here with this weird casino story playing out with him involved.
I don't know if there's ever been a cheesier scene than when Data's rolling dice and the away team are winning millions of dollars in fake money. It goes on forever and Data seems to be happier than we've ever seen the android.
This episode is silly. It has a few fun moments but I didn't have the patience to buy into this silly premise when I sat down to watch it. I could see this ep being enjoyable if I was in the right mood but the cheesiness was just a bit overbearing for me here. I enjoyed Worf struggling with more doors and walls, a common Worf trope by this point. But this subplot about a murder over some woman we never see... I really didn't need any of it. And the solution they come up with that they need to play out the book to leave is a stretch to say the least. Not my favorite...
It seems harmless enough until the trio realize that the door won't let them leave. They soon discover the true purpose of this place when they run across the remains of an astronaut and his journal. Apparently his ship was an attempt to leave the Earth's solar system for the first time and a higher plane of life took over the ship, accidentally infecting and killing all his shipmates, leaving just him. Remorseful, the aliens created this world for him to live comfortably for his remaining days. The based it on a pulp novel they found onboard the ship. This astronaut ended up living out his days here with this weird casino story playing out with him involved.
I don't know if there's ever been a cheesier scene than when Data's rolling dice and the away team are winning millions of dollars in fake money. It goes on forever and Data seems to be happier than we've ever seen the android.
This episode is silly. It has a few fun moments but I didn't have the patience to buy into this silly premise when I sat down to watch it. I could see this ep being enjoyable if I was in the right mood but the cheesiness was just a bit overbearing for me here. I enjoyed Worf struggling with more doors and walls, a common Worf trope by this point. But this subplot about a murder over some woman we never see... I really didn't need any of it. And the solution they come up with that they need to play out the book to leave is a stretch to say the least. Not my favorite...
Data shooting craps made the episode
ohroonoko29 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The final scene in the Royale with Data shooting craps and Riker spreading the wealth, then the Asst Manager's realization that the Away Team were the foreign investors, is elevated this episode to one of the most fun moments in Star Trek history. Up til that point this was a pretty average episode. Perfect wrap up.
Watching Paint Dry.
laclone24 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is like spending 45 minutes in a Dentist chair.
The outcome is somewhat on the positive side, but you question for days after whether or not the suffering you went through was worth it.
The basic idea behind the script was a good one. A 21st century NASA Astronaut was somehow inadvertently transported far away from Earth, and the aliens responsible for it felt remorse, and created an environment for him to live out his life in.
But the trash-novel they based Earth society upon is sooo bad, that we also feel the pain of his final 38 years of existence. Just imagine being stuck for the rest of your life on the Disney ride "It's a Small World" (which they used in Gitmo to interrogate prisoners), with no escape possible.
It was enjoyable to watch Data shooting craps and breaking the bank at the casino, but why was there no interest at all in who these aliens were, where they are now, or effort to find them? It might have made a good 'First Contact' episode had this been explored at all.
Watch this one if you have to, but you won't miss anything even remotely important about Star Trek if you skip it.
Now, excuse me. I have to go now and watch my Aunt & Uncle's Vacation photo slide-show. It should be more entertaining than this episode was.
The outcome is somewhat on the positive side, but you question for days after whether or not the suffering you went through was worth it.
The basic idea behind the script was a good one. A 21st century NASA Astronaut was somehow inadvertently transported far away from Earth, and the aliens responsible for it felt remorse, and created an environment for him to live out his life in.
But the trash-novel they based Earth society upon is sooo bad, that we also feel the pain of his final 38 years of existence. Just imagine being stuck for the rest of your life on the Disney ride "It's a Small World" (which they used in Gitmo to interrogate prisoners), with no escape possible.
It was enjoyable to watch Data shooting craps and breaking the bank at the casino, but why was there no interest at all in who these aliens were, where they are now, or effort to find them? It might have made a good 'First Contact' episode had this been explored at all.
Watch this one if you have to, but you won't miss anything even remotely important about Star Trek if you skip it.
Now, excuse me. I have to go now and watch my Aunt & Uncle's Vacation photo slide-show. It should be more entertaining than this episode was.
The senior senior Trekker writes
XweAponX8 March 2023
I have always enjoyed this episode. It's basically fun. Star Trek is basically fun. I have been watching Star Trek since I was eight years old. I remember watching the salt vampire and it scared the bejesus out of me.
Far as this little tidbit of an episode, Nothing is really explained, how did this building get to where it is? Who are the aliens that built it?
It's a conundrum.
But it also contains a kind of ironic story that has humorous and even dark overtones.
You have to remember, an astronaut was trapped in this building for his lifetime.
And it seems that Commander Riker, Mr. Data, and Lieutenant Worf will also be trapped there-
Unless they can figure out a way of getting out. But there apparently is none.
This building, and the people inside of it defy every piece of physics thrown at them.
But what Riker soon discovers is that these people can be interacted with, if you respond within a very narrow set of parameters.
Now. Mr. Data was not very good at poker at this point. He got better later. But he seems to have learned blackjack and craps very rapidly. This gives the trio an advantage.
And, since this episode was written by Tracy Torme, the son of Las Vegas showman Mel Tormé, we obviously have references to Las Vegas. So that the cheesy film noir aspects of the story fit right in.
The Guest cast really stands out: Noble Willingham is "Texas" and Jill Jacobson is "Vanessa". They are a great pair. We also see Sam Anderson as the "assistant manager".
When you break the story down a little bit more, it is almost as if Riker, Worf and Data serve a kind of prophetic purpose within the internal story occurring within the building. It is as if the building has been sitting there, waiting for them for a couple of hundred years.
I actually prefer it when not all of the answers are given, when we are left with things to think about. Sometimes these things get referred to in future episodes of other Trek shows. Sometimes, they do not. At the time this episode was filmed, and the story written, the concept of not throwing away ideas and gadgets had not become part of the storytelling. Later on with shows like Stargate SG1, X-Files, and newer Star Trek shows, nothing was really wasted, and everything was eventually circled back to.
It's not the ridiculousness of the story, finding a Las Vegas casino in the middle of space, it's what happens within the Las Vegas casino in space that makes it great. And immensely funny at times.
It would be interesting to revisit this building in a new story. But what would be difficult is that the character actors that made it work so well might not be available to re-prise their parts.
Far as this little tidbit of an episode, Nothing is really explained, how did this building get to where it is? Who are the aliens that built it?
It's a conundrum.
But it also contains a kind of ironic story that has humorous and even dark overtones.
You have to remember, an astronaut was trapped in this building for his lifetime.
And it seems that Commander Riker, Mr. Data, and Lieutenant Worf will also be trapped there-
Unless they can figure out a way of getting out. But there apparently is none.
This building, and the people inside of it defy every piece of physics thrown at them.
But what Riker soon discovers is that these people can be interacted with, if you respond within a very narrow set of parameters.
Now. Mr. Data was not very good at poker at this point. He got better later. But he seems to have learned blackjack and craps very rapidly. This gives the trio an advantage.
And, since this episode was written by Tracy Torme, the son of Las Vegas showman Mel Tormé, we obviously have references to Las Vegas. So that the cheesy film noir aspects of the story fit right in.
The Guest cast really stands out: Noble Willingham is "Texas" and Jill Jacobson is "Vanessa". They are a great pair. We also see Sam Anderson as the "assistant manager".
When you break the story down a little bit more, it is almost as if Riker, Worf and Data serve a kind of prophetic purpose within the internal story occurring within the building. It is as if the building has been sitting there, waiting for them for a couple of hundred years.
I actually prefer it when not all of the answers are given, when we are left with things to think about. Sometimes these things get referred to in future episodes of other Trek shows. Sometimes, they do not. At the time this episode was filmed, and the story written, the concept of not throwing away ideas and gadgets had not become part of the storytelling. Later on with shows like Stargate SG1, X-Files, and newer Star Trek shows, nothing was really wasted, and everything was eventually circled back to.
It's not the ridiculousness of the story, finding a Las Vegas casino in the middle of space, it's what happens within the Las Vegas casino in space that makes it great. And immensely funny at times.
It would be interesting to revisit this building in a new story. But what would be difficult is that the character actors that made it work so well might not be available to re-prise their parts.
standard star trek stupidity
joshua-zucker13 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
There was potential to make a clever episode here, but instead it plays out like the second-rate novel it was supposed to be. A great portrayal of a second-rate novel, with nothing but clichéd science fiction content and no interesting character development.
And no curiosity about the aliens who set up the world of the second-rate novel? The crew seems oddly satisfied by solving the first layer of the mystery. Shouldn't there be some communication with whoever set up this crazy place?
It was fun to learn a bit more about the history of the world they live in, with 52 stars on the flag and the early attempts for human exploration of interstellar space. That, and a few humorous moments, earns this episode a bit more than 1 star, but not much.
And no curiosity about the aliens who set up the world of the second-rate novel? The crew seems oddly satisfied by solving the first layer of the mystery. Shouldn't there be some communication with whoever set up this crazy place?
It was fun to learn a bit more about the history of the world they live in, with 52 stars on the flag and the early attempts for human exploration of interstellar space. That, and a few humorous moments, earns this episode a bit more than 1 star, but not much.
" We call it EARTH, what do you call it?"
Zdforme00711 December 2021
As Mr. SPOCK would say," Facinating".. one of MY favorite episodes that has humor, drama, mystery and adventure! Riker, Data and Worf beam down to what their sensors indicate a most uni habitable. Planet. HOTEL Royale where exists a casino with patrons who do not exist on their tricorders. It stars NOBLE WILLINGHAM who starred on Texas Walker and adds humor and.fun as he tries his best to pick up a beautiful woman. Struggling to. Play blackjack. I love the interaction between the characters. And DATA paying blackjack while the team tries to solve the mystery. Of HOTEL Royale. An enjoyable episode and for me worth watching!!
An episode featuring exceptionally bad writing...
Madjack5928 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
... and I'm not talking about the bad novel that is the centerpiece of this episode.
While I generally despise the cheap and lazy device of making an earth-like setting, this episode was exceptional in its cartoonish characters and ultra-thin plot. As is typical with STNG, the science fiction is extra heavy on the fiction and extra light on the science. For instance, the ship's engineer spends a lot of time searching for and adjusting the transmission frequency to get through interference on the planet, but the away team transceivers just magically and automatically adjust to the new frequency. Another example of magical thinking by the writers is when Data "fixes" loaded dice by squeezing them in his hands. The whole episode was ick.
While I generally despise the cheap and lazy device of making an earth-like setting, this episode was exceptional in its cartoonish characters and ultra-thin plot. As is typical with STNG, the science fiction is extra heavy on the fiction and extra light on the science. For instance, the ship's engineer spends a lot of time searching for and adjusting the transmission frequency to get through interference on the planet, but the away team transceivers just magically and automatically adjust to the new frequency. Another example of magical thinking by the writers is when Data "fixes" loaded dice by squeezing them in his hands. The whole episode was ick.
TOS Trash
anarchistica24 March 2020
In TOS the Enterprise encounters a planet where live has been organised in accordance with an old gangster novel from Earth. This is basically the same thing, with a very minor twist. Only the flimsiest and laziest of explanations is ever given for the why. It's just a lazy episode that probably allowed the makers to use an existing set(ting). The low point of season 2 so far.
Drivel
zombiemockingbird28 March 2023
This is just a holodeck episode without the holodeck. The premise was kind of silly to begin with, and the story itself was just boring and uninteresting. The characters were boring and uninteresting. The Star Trek writers seem to have an obsession with old novels. Between TOS and TNG we have had stories about gangsters, Sherlock Holmes, hippies, romans, nazis, private eyes, all sorts of film noir and I forget what else. This show is supposed to be about space exploration, yet we keep getting stories about earth from the 19th and 20th centuries. I want aliens and futuristic societies; not history. I hope it gets better.
A Senior Trekker writes.................
celineduchain3 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Second Season of Star Trek the Next Generation has often been downplayed due to multiple production and writing staff problems, and several major cast changes. Although of mixed quality, it does contain some outstanding and brilliant episodes. Senior Trekker is extremely grateful to all those people who worked so hard under difficult circumstances to keep it on our screens.
The Royale has the feel of an Original Series "we ran out of ideas. Quick! Let's raid the costume department from another TV show" with a classic 1950's era Science Fiction short story partially concealed in there somewhere. The pulp gangster parody didn't work well at the time and, despite a couple of fun moments, has not benefited from the intervening years. On the other hand, the poignancy of the lone spaceman trapped to live out his days in such a limited fantasy world retains its power over the imagination (and seems to have had more importance in the original draft).
If it is remembered at all now, this episode is noted as the one in which Commander Riker is seen puzzling over the unsolved riddle of Fermat's last theorem. It was actually solved in 1995, a mere six years after this episode first aired. Nothing dates Science Fiction worse than predictions that turn out to be wildly irrelevant and Gene Roddenberry usually faired much better than his contemporary, Isaac Asimov, in that department. (See: smoking, women's roles etc)
Inaccurate predictions are one thing but sloppy science writing is unforgivable. There is no such temperature as minus 291 Celsius and the planet Theta 118 cannot be more than 5 times as old as the rest of the Universe.
(Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5)
The Royale has the feel of an Original Series "we ran out of ideas. Quick! Let's raid the costume department from another TV show" with a classic 1950's era Science Fiction short story partially concealed in there somewhere. The pulp gangster parody didn't work well at the time and, despite a couple of fun moments, has not benefited from the intervening years. On the other hand, the poignancy of the lone spaceman trapped to live out his days in such a limited fantasy world retains its power over the imagination (and seems to have had more importance in the original draft).
If it is remembered at all now, this episode is noted as the one in which Commander Riker is seen puzzling over the unsolved riddle of Fermat's last theorem. It was actually solved in 1995, a mere six years after this episode first aired. Nothing dates Science Fiction worse than predictions that turn out to be wildly irrelevant and Gene Roddenberry usually faired much better than his contemporary, Isaac Asimov, in that department. (See: smoking, women's roles etc)
Inaccurate predictions are one thing but sloppy science writing is unforgivable. There is no such temperature as minus 291 Celsius and the planet Theta 118 cannot be more than 5 times as old as the rest of the Universe.
(Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5)
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