I was reading this list and after I calmed my rage (Because real fans would have a top 47…) I became curious to hear what other episodes might make a personal list.
You don’t need to give a detailed rationale, I’m curious to know what episodes NOT on the linked list do you just kinda… Think Are Neat 🫴🥔?
I’ll start with some of mine:
- TOS - The Cloud Minders
- TNG - Timescape
- DS9 - The Magnificent Ferengi (how this one is not on the list I have no idea)
They’re just neat!
after I calmed my rage (Because real fans would have a top 47…)
To be fair, the list was made for the 57th anniversary of Trek three years ago.
As far as the question goes, “The Game” has aged surprisingly well and is a pretty good introduction.
To be fair, the list was made for the 57th anniversary of Trek three years ago.
The choices in this list are an odd mix of ones that almost everyone acknowledges as top ranked and others that are likely not.
A Mathematically Perfect Redemption as the only standalone Lower Decks episode to make the cut?
No TAS classics such as Yesteryear, The Slaver Weapon or the Counterclockwise Incident?
TNG Qpid but not Q Who?
Nothing at all from Prodigy — the best effort and most successful landing of a serialized season the franchise has achieved?
Thanks for the thought experiment OP.
Looks like it was published before seasons 4 and 5 of Lower decks came out which imo is where most of the bangers are
I really liked VOY: “One Small Step” (s06e08) wherein the crew work to salvage the wreckage of an ancient Earth probe from a dark matter asteroid
It’s a nice acknowledgement of the reality that space is fucking dangerous, and of the bravery of the men and women who shot themselves into it with little more than a few layers of metal and their wits to protect themselves. All this in the name of advancing science and exploration.
It closes with Seven reading a eulogy for the centuries-dead astronaut who died diverting all power to the sensors so that knowledge would be preserved.
Great example! I had forgotten that one. I guess that’s a sign it’s time for a Voyager rewatch.
I’m a sucker for day-in-the-life episodes so the first ones that come to mind are:
- TNG S04E11 “Data’s Day”
- TNG S07E15 “Lower Decks”
Then there’s the disaster episodes:
- TNG S05E05 “Disaster”
- TNG S05E18 “Cause and Effect”
I recently watched Data’s Day and just loved it.
Data’s Day is the episode I usually recommend people use to introduce TNG to newbies since Data literally goes around and introduces the crew. I’m shocked it wasn’t on Variety’s list!
I like TOS Operation: Annihilate! because it presents a situation where a starship captain would be justified in issuing General Order 24. I’m disappointed that they didn’t actually mention GO24 in the episode, but my headcanon is that the crew were all reluctant to mention it by name.
I think GO24 is deeply misunderstood. It’s only ever been presented as a thing that a bad, crazy captain would order; as grounds for mutiny. So why would Starfleet even have such an order on the books? I think it’s actually designed for situations like the one in this episode: to prevent the spread of dangerous life forms.
This interpretation also enhances my enjoyment of another TOS episode, A Taste of Armageddon. In this episode, Kirk actually invokes General Order 24. Scotty understands that Kirk needs leverage to bluff with, and plays along. Bluffing the bad guys by citing a public health ordinance is classic Kirk. See also Corbomite and Fizzbin
I hear this episode inspire Futurama alien brain invasion too.
- TOS S2E07 - Catspaw
- TOS S2E16 - The Gamesters of Triskelion
Both of them crack me up for their own reasons, and I’ve rewatched them idk how many times
Star Trek: Voyager – Repentance. Season 7 episode 12.
Basically because is an allegory to the positivist school in criminology, the idea of the criminal is someone who can be “cured” is interesting, but of course, not everybody get and that people misunderstood ALL the episode.
Is one of my favorites and IMDB is rated as rank 86.
I was sure I check it before said episode 13, I don’t know why I put 12…
Whatever, I edit the message to fix only that.
