User reviews

It is clearly stated that the US had 52 states at the time. Reviewer should watch the show more carefully.

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.

I have fond memories of this episode, is it bad? Yes.

Do I enjoy it every time? Yes

On of my favorite detective show tropes is when folks are on a cruise ship, train or in a hotel, this being the later.

Investigating suspicious debris found orbiting a distant planet, the Enterprise is astonished to find what appears to be remnants of an ancient Earth vessel bearing the NASA logo. On the hostile planet below is a mysterious structure that may contain the answers so Riker, Worf and Data beam down and find themselves in the oddest of locations imaginable.

A fun episode that doesn't have too much to offer besides a poorly written mystery that pokes fun at the likes of '2001: A Space Odyssey' and Spiner having fun as Data discovers the joys of gambling. It's a bit too meta for my tastes but the cheesy setting and supporting characters such as Willingham's sleazy Texan hustler are fun and while it's not an essential episode by any stretch, fans of the show will probably enjoy it regardless.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

The Enterprise finds some space debris and it's from a NASA mission that left earth in 2037. The nearby planet is an uninhabitable methane/ammonia gas giant, but there is an artificially created corridor that has earth like atmosphere. When Riker, Data, and Worf beam down there's nothing but a revolving door earth style that they go through.

What they find is an earth type resort hotel set in Nevada with all kinds of gaming operations. Once in the Away team can't get out though after awhile they can communicate with the Enterprise.

They also discover the skeletal remains in one of the hotel rooms of an old astronaut NASA together with a pulp fiction novel the Hotel Royale written by some Mickey Spillane type author. The kindly aliens who found the astronaut created this atmosphere bubble and the hotel based on this novel because this is what they thought earth must be like.

This episode is very similar to the Star Trek prime one where a book about the gangster culture of Chicago was left by an earth traveler and the aliens simply followed it along.

How to leave and I will say the abilities of Data the android come in handy here. Don't get into a crap game with Brent Spiner.