The strike had ended by July of 1989, however its results have been nonetheless being felt. The brand new accounting additionally dealt its blow. “Elementary, Expensive Knowledge” was set totally on the holodeck, and included interval costumes and units. “Q Who” options elaborate Borg make-up and Borg ship units. These two episodes, the rumor goes, drained “NextGen of its coffers, leaving “Shades of Gray” with nothing.
“Shades of Grey” was a slapdash affair. In Edward Gross’ and Mark A. Altman’s 1993 e-book “Captain’s Logs: The Full Trek Voyages,” the episode’s director, Rob Bowman, confessed that he had two fewer days to movie the episode than most exhibits, leaving him and the crew on the sickbay set for under 5 days. On the final minute, nevertheless, the schedule was shortened to a few days. If it seems to be like Sirtis and Muldaur are overacting, it is as a result of they, too, have been type of in panic mode. Bowman stated that he merely filmed the “wraparound” segments and that the flashback clips in query can be chosen later by P.A. Eric Stillwell. Bowman stated he by no means noticed the ultimate minimize of the episode.
Additionally interviewed in “Voyages” was season two head author Maurice Hurley, the producer chargeable for firing Gates McFadden within the second season. Hurley, who wrote “Shades of Gray,” understood that it was simply probably the most horrible episode that they had accomplished and referred to as it a “piece of s***.” Hurley was fired on the finish of the season. McFadden was promptly re-hired.
Some would possibly say that “Shades of Gray” is not the worst episode of NextGen simply because the primary season episode “Code of Honor” banks on unlucky racial stereotypes. And that is true.
However “Shades of Gray” would possibly stand out because the least formidable “Star Trek” ever. It is nonetheless horrible to today.