Entertainment
How The Worst Episode Of Star Trek: The Next Generation Saved The Show
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
These days, Star Trek: The Next Generation is considered the gold standard of the franchise. When fans complain about NuTrek shows like Discovery or Starfleet Academy, they are usually griping that these new series are nothing like the adventures of Captain Picard and crew. However, what many modern fans don’t realize is that, in its early days, TNG was one of the worst shows in the entire franchise. That’s mostly because Season 1 was a train wreck, one filled with stiff characters and stiffer stories that ranged from inexplicably horny to unspeakably racist.
Season 2 was a general improvement, though the show was still very rough around the edges. Unfortunately, it ended with “Shades of Grey,” a finale so bad that most fans consider it the worst episode of the entire franchise. Fortunately, that episode saved Star Trek: The Next Generation, albeit accidentally. That’s because this episode was so bad that it made everyone involved say the same thing that Bruce Wayne said after watching his parents get gunned down: “never again!”
You’ll Want To Burn Your Eyes After Watching
“Shades of Gray” is a real war crime of an episode, so I’ll spare you the trouble of watching it with a quick summary. Basically, Paramount forced everyone to create an ultra-low-budget bottle episode, so the writers developed a skeletal plot about Riker getting a fast-acting virus that will shut his brain down in hours. Dr. Pulaski develops a device to help stimulate his brain with memories of his various adventures from the last two years. In reality, the memory stimulation plot was just an excuse to create Star Trek’s first and only clip show episode, with Riker watching the worst set of nonsense video snippets this side of TikTok.
Pretty much everyone involved with “Shades of Gray” hated it. This included then-showrunner Maurice Hurley, who (as recorded in Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages) later dubbed this episode a “Piece of sh*t.” He lamented that “It was supposed to be a bottle show. Terrible, just terrible, and a way to save some money.” However, the show wasn’t going to be Hurley’s problem anymore because, as he bluntly stated, “I was on the way out the door.”
Two Beams, One Cup
In an interview with The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine, “Shades of Gray” director Rob Bowman essentially disowned his work. He said that this was “basically a money-saving episode. All we shot was three days of framework, and they just stuck in flashbacks. That’s all it was.” To hear Bowman tell it, this was an episode in name only, with Paramount just throwing in a bunch of disjointed clips and calling it a day. This is part of why legendary TNG writer dubbed it an “embarrassment” in one of his famous AOL chats, deeming it (along with “Up the Long Ladder”) as the worst episode of the series.
However, one man feels that Star Trek: The Next Generation owes a debt of gratitude to “Shades of Gray.” That man was veteran producer Peter Lauritson, who spoke about the matter on the DVD special features for TNG Season 2. “It was just… we learned from that. I think, probably, the worst we ever did,” he said. “It was like ‘Never again.’ ‘Shades’… I don’t even want to remember it.”
The Worst Of Both Worlds
In retrospect, Lauritson was correct, and everyone involved with Star Trek: The Next Generation never made an episode even nearly as bad. Over on IMDB, it is the lowest-rated episode of all time, but the overall quality of episodes steadily increased after this. Granted, credit for this mostly goes to Michael Piller, who revamped the entire writing team when he became showrunner in Season 3. But some credit must also go to “Shades of Gray,” an episode so bad and so universally hated that it taught the writers and producers exactly what not to do with this ambitious sci-fi spinoff.
While Season 2 was generally an improvement over Season 1, Star Trek: The Next Generation was still an extraordinarily rough sci-fi spinoff. “Shades of Gray” taught the writers and producers a major lesson through the greatest teacher of all: failure. Had this crappy clip show not been the worst episode of Trek ever made, TNG might not have become the most foundational bit of genre television of the 20th century. In this way, it’s fair to say that the worst episode of Star Trek’s most beloved show helped save the most influential series in sci-fi history!
Entertainment
Tons of Fitbits are on sale ahead of Prime Day
Best early Prime Day Fitbit deals at a glance:
Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is right around the corner (I can’t believe it’s that time of year again!), and I’m genuinely shocked by the deals we’re seeing this early in the game.
Usually, Amazon doesn’t put Fitbits on sale until the very last minute, and then they’re gone. (And some years, they don’t go on sale at all.) But right now, we’re seeing all-time lows on select Fitbit models, including the Charge 6.
Here are the best early Prime Day Fitbit deals you can shop right now:
Best deal overall
$99.95
at Amazon
$159.95
Save $60.00
Why we like it
The Fitbit Charge 6 isn’t the newest Fitbit on the market, but it still has (almost) everything you’d need in a smart wearable. (I say almost because the Fitbit Charge 6 doesn’t have an altimeter, but if you’re not a trail runner, this probably isn’t a deal breaker.)
The Charge 6 tracks your calories, steps, sleep, heart rate, and more. It also has built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, a seven-day battery life, and includes a three-month Google Health Premium (formerly Fitbit Premium) membership. Once the three months are up, you’ll need to either cancel or renew for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
Mashable Trend Report
Right now, you can get the Fitbit Charge 6 for $99.95 at Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model since its release in 2023.
Best runner-up deal
Why we like it
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $149.95. This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was $104.96 in April 2024), but it’s still a pretty good deal.
Unlike the Charge 6, the Versa 4 has an altimeter and Bluetooth wrist calling. So, if you’re looking for a wearable that acts more like a smartwatch, the Versa 4 might be the better buy. That said, it doesn’t have the more “serious” health sensor that the Charge 6 does (e.g., ECG and EDA).
The Versa 4 also comes with three months of Google Health Premium.
Best budget deal
$79.95
at Walmart
$89.95
Save $10
Why we like it
If you’re just looking for something that’s affordable and efficient, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is your best option at $79.95.
It’s a no-frills fitness tracker that’ll give you the basic features you need to stay on top of your health. It can track your heart rate, steps, and stress levels. (It also offers menstrual health tracking, which is nice.)
You’ll also get 10 full days of battery life and, like the other models mentioned above, three free months of Google Health Premium.
Entertainment
20+ book deals Im sending to the group chat before Prime Day even begins
Table of Contents
The best early Prime Day book deals at a glance:
It’s nearly Amazon Prime Day, which officially runs from June 23 through 26, but if you don’t feel like waiting, there’s already plenty of live deals to shop.
Besides offering three free months of both Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new subscribers, Amazon also has some pretty great discounts on books themselves. I’m not usually one to recommend purchasing physical books via Amazon (support local book stores!), but it’s pretty hard to pass up a 50% price drop on a book you’ve had on your TBR.
Amazon Editors just dropped the 20 best books of 2026 (so far) — find out what made the list
I’m tracking some of the best deals on physical books and e-books at Amazon ahead of the official Prime Day kick off, but remember to check back for more once things start ramping up.
Best early Prime Day hardcover book deal
$14.67
at Amazon
$30
Save $15.33
with on-page coupon
Why we like it
Named one of the best books of 2026 so far by Amazon Book Editors, Crux is an “exhilarating, tender novel about an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of rock climbing,” according to Amazon Editor Abby Abell. Thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon, you can add the hardcover version to your home library for less than half its usual cost.
More hardcover book deals
Best early Prime Day paperback book deal
$7.50
at Amazon
$19.95
Save $12.45
Why we like it
A classic trope of two abducted girls, only one returns and one doesn’t, The Girl Who Was Taken is a psychological thriller by Charlie Donlea where nothing is as it seems. Typically around $20, you can pick up the paperback version for only $7.50 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That’s just a few cents away from its lowest price ever.
Mashable Deals
More paperback book deals
Best early Prime Day Kindle book deal
$2.99
at Amazon
$18.99
Save $16.00
Why we like it
I highly recommend grabbing this twisty psychological thriller from internationally best-selling author Steve Cavanagh while the Kindle version is only $2.99. Kill For Me Kill For You follows two women seeking revenge against the men who killed their daughters. Over drinks one night, they decide to swap murders, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
More Kindle book deals
Entertainment
Red Drink for Juneteenth
Amber Mayfield Hewett loves a good party. Not “good” in the sense that there were enough chairs and everyone liked the dip (though a killer dip and a place to sit definitely don’t hurt). To Amber, a good party is one where everyone in the room feels like they belong — no one feels like a plus-one or wonders if they should’ve stayed home. “In my early twenties, I was living in Harlem and working as an assistant at a TV network,” she explains in her new book, Your Turn to Host. “I loved going out, exploring the restaurant scene and private clubs… But something always felt missing. Even though I was surrounded by people all the time, I felt lonely.”
So, Amber started her own supper club, hosting dinners as a way to create community. “The first dinner was 24 people — roommates, co-workers, people I’d met out in the city,” she says. “Everyone walked in as strangers, but as the night went on, they were laughing and swapping stories like old friends.” Her supper club has since grown into a full-time career, and as of this week, a book — a guide to hosting meaningful gatherings of all kinds: Friendsgiving potlucks, Sunday suppers, and of course, cookouts.
“At the core, cookouts are a way for your village to come together,” Amber explains. “I keep an open-door policy for kids and friends of friends. And to me, cookouts are synonymous with freedom because of the holidays typically celebrated with them, including Juneteenth.” In her book, Amber offers a full guide for a Juneteenth cookout — everything from grilling tips to lawn games, as well as her own recipe for traditional Red Drink. “On Juneteenth, it’s customary to serve red foods and beverages,” she says. “Red is a symbol of the profound sacrifice and resilience of African American people.” Amber’s recipe starts with a classic sorrel-syrup base (“You can use the same technique to make other syrups, like lavender or elderflower”) and is spiked with a cup of rum. “You can easily omit the booze if you prefer a non-alcoholic version,” she adds. “The drink is delicious and refreshing on its own.” Here’s how to make it…
Red Drink
Serves 15
From Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett
Sorrel Syrup:
4 cups (1 L) water
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1 cup (1 1/2 oz/40 g) cut and sifted dried hibiscus flowers
2 cinnamon sticks
Punch:
2 (2 L) bottles club soda
1 cup (240 ml) dark rum
Juice of 2 large lemons
Ice cubes
4 lemons, sliced into wheels and seeded, for garnish
Make the syrup: In a medium pot, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon sticks, and stir until the flowers start to soften. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a gentle boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is deep red in color and infused with a floral flavor (about 20 minutes). Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely before using or storing (about 30 minutes). The sorrel syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make the punch: In a large punch bowl, stir together the club soda, 1 cup (240 ml) of the sorrel syrup, rum, and lemon juice to combine. (Amber notes: “If you’re skipping the rum, and want a little more flavor, you can add a splash of lemonade or a berry-flavored sparkling water.”) Serve with ice and garnish with lemon wheels.
Big thanks to Amber for sharing this recipe with us! You can find TONS of party recipes and hosting tips in her book and newsletter.
P.S. Five easy party foods, and a monochromatic fruit salad.
(Top photo by Xiana Gutierrez. Excerpted from Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett, published by Artisan Books. Copyright © 2026.)
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