Star Trek: The Next Generation's early episodes were subpar but one episode was particularly problematic due to its subject matter.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is considered one of the most well-received iterations of the sci-fi series, its popularity second only to the original series. However, the series took some time to find its footing, and some of its early episodes were objectively bad.

One of the show's first season episodes was so bad that lead actor Patrick Stewart openly criticized its regressive themes and subject matter. Similarly, actors Michael Dorn and Jonathan Frakes publicly denied the episode. As a result, fans must be curious as to what went wrong with the episode, and here's everything you need to know.

Star Trek: The Next Generation has had its fair share of bad episodes in its early seasons, with actor Jonathan Frakes admitting that the show didn't find its stride until the third season. However, one episode from season one stands out in particular because of its divisive subject matter.