With what I would describe as mild spoilers, I've counted down the 100 episodes of the first 5 (kinda 6) shows that I consider the best, most important, or just my favorites. Really, it all comes down to which ones I liked the most. There are obviously plenty more that were forced off this list, and even now that I'm finishing it up I'm finding more than a few it wish I would have included, but the simple fact of the matter remains that I love this franchise too much to narrow it down to pretty much any number that wouldn't take me 6 months to type up. No honorable mentions, because then I'd probably accidentally leave even more out, and then I'd feel like a total moron, so we'll just jump into the top 100 without any of the fluff. Oh, and don't focus too much on the specific ordering -- the exact order of a list like this would be impossible for me to be totally satisfied with, so in certain instances an episode will be put where it is just because I like the way it looks next to that number. In general, this is *about* where I'd have them, though, so the numbers aren't totally arbitrary.
Now let's do the list. Welcome to my top 100 favorite Star Trek episodes list. Happy skimming.
100. Yesteryear (TAS)
The Animated Series, which has been "officially" de-canonized, is a bizarre anomaly within the Star Trek universe, and with 30 minute episodes and running for under 30 episodes, there really isn't too much of it to even bother with. That being said, this single episode about Spock's childhood has left an impression on me and many others, standing as the single best episode of this often-overlooked '70s series. It's weird, but memorable, and I just couldn't let this list be complete without its mention.
99. Treachery, Faith And The Great River (DS9)
By the seventh and final season of Deep Space Nine, there was a slight but visible dip in quality thanks to many small aspects (the addition of Ezri being one of the bigger ones), but this episode with a split focus on Odo/Weyoun and Nog/O'Brien was one of the better individual episodes it offered. Seeing a clone of Weyoun with a complete devotion to Odo was a wonderful use of the character and seeing Nog's Ferenginess put to good use made for a very fun B-story. Also taking a brief break from the main storyline was a pretty welcome change for the show at this point.
98. Future's End (VOY)
The Doctor has been and will always be the best character from Voyager, but since he's a hologram, his ability to function as a normal member of the crew or take part in away missions was obviously held back by this fact. So by having the crew travel into the 29th century and find some technology that allows for the Doctor to leave the ship, they accomplished one of the more important tasks needed to improve the show. A two-parter with Ed Begley, Jr. as the villain of the week, Future's End did a lot of little things right, told a fun story, and gave the show a way around the EMH conundrum. Overall, I can't help but to appreciate it.
97. Spectre Of The Gun (TOS)
Season 3 of the original show was full of ups and downs, but even some of the downs were, to me, quite entertaining. Enter this bizarre western episode filled with half-built sets, intimidating lawmen, and some genuinely head-scratching moments. There's a weirdly unsettling atmosphere to this episode that sets it apart, and the little romance plotline for Chekov is one of the only times he was used properly as a character during the show. I love the resolution to the story, which was simple but not cheap. It's an odd duck amid a season full of generally disappointing episodes.
96. The Conscience Of The King (TOS)
As much as I enjoy this episode, I do feel like there were some missed opportunities with the way the episode is resolved, skirting around the morality issues and instead stepping into near-slasher movie material. The story of a repentant leader who sent 400 people to be executed in order to save 4000 others who might have likely died as well could have made for a great topic, and while it's briefly touched upon, they offer no sort of commentary and I am saddened by that. Regardless, the episode does pose the question, and features some suspenseful scenes and moments, and has a pair of great guest performances. Also, the setting and lighting looks terrific.
95. The Siege Of AR-558 (DS9)
Star Trek as a franchise is no stranger to battles, but very rarely are they shown so brutally as this. Also, Trek usually involves battles in,space, not ones on land. Surrounded by enemies, Federation troops are running low on rations and morale, and feel like they've been abandoned. It's a dark and upsetting sort of story, and the way the episode works Nog and Quark's relationship into the events - and the results of Nog's dedication - is very powerful. I enjoy light, frothy episodes as much as anyone else, but sometimes seeing the darker side of this universe is necessary. And this is a pretty dark episode.
94. Carbon Creek (ENT)
Unlike most people, I think Enterprise actually started off pretty well. And while I'd say I preferred season 1 over 2, this early episode from the latter stands out more than almost any from the preceeding season. T'Pol is prompted to tell a story, and proceeds to provide a lengthy account of her ancestor's time on Earth -- an event she claims happened before the officially recognized first contact between Vulcans and Humans. It's a fairly light episode with some charming moments, and the way the episode ends with a wink and a nod is a pretty satisfying resolution to the story.
93. Author, Author (VOY)
Exploring the rights of non-organic lifeforms isn't exactly new ground for Trek (TNG handled this subject wonderfully in The Measure Of A Man), but that doesn't keep this Doctor-centric episode from being a prime example of what the franchise is capable of when handling theoretical arguments -- this time over what it means to be a person. The Doctor fights for his right to have his writing acknowledged as being his own property, but since he's not technically a lifeform, the issue becomes legally difficult. It's a distressing episode, and Picardo's performance is particularly emotional and powerful.
92. The Menagerie (TOS)
Built around reworked footage and ideas from the original unaired pilot, The Menagerie is the only two-part episode from the original series, and features some of the most iconic aliens in the show. While the first part of this episode is better by most standards, the way this story unfolds and allows for some genuine mystery over the traitorous actions taken by Spock gives his character an added depth that was much needed this early on in the show. It's one of the most complete episodes in the series, poses some interesting questions, and gives us some great images and Spock moments.
91. The Forge / Awakening / Kir'Shara (ENT)
One of several multi-part episodes in the last season of Enterprise, this one focusing heavily on Vulcan dissidents, government corruption, and religious myth. A lot of people have issues with the treatment of Vulcans in this series, complaining that they're overly emotional and not nearly as goodie-goodie as they appeared before. I find this a welcome change, demonstrating just how far Humans and Vulcans alike have grown and changed over the years. This is one of relatively few genuinely strong Vulcan episodes in the franchise, and spreading it out over 3 episodes was a great idea.
90. The Adversary (DS9)
Basically the Star Trek take on John Carpenter's The Thing, The Adversary is one of the earlier examples of just how intimidating and harmful the Changelings can be when they choose to take actions into their own hands. A very atmospheric episode that plays out much like a horror movie, there's a constant sense of paranoia over who is who they claim to be. This episode also gives Odo a defining moment, as he must ultimately choose how far he's willing to go for Starfleet by facing off against one of his own kind, resulting in tragedy. It's a well-paced episode, and one that leaves you guessing.
89. Clues (TNG)
Who doesn't love a good mystery? They're really hard to walk away from, even in the future. That's the fact behind the burning questions that face the Enterprise crew after they discover they have lost time. A chunk of their lives has disappeared, and none of them know what happens -- except for Data, who seems to be hiding something from them. This is a fun little mystery that unravels in a satisfying way, resulting in a very Trekish solution to the whole issue. It's not a morality tale, it isn't mind-blowing...it's just a fun and interesting story told in a way that keeps you totally engaged.
88. Latent Image (VOY)
As I mentioned earlier while covering "Author, Author", Voyager and Star Trek as a whole has dealt with issues of rights of individuals many times. But when it comes to the treatment of the Emergency Medical Hologram (The Doctor), no other episode featured the gut-punch this one offered. While it all worked itself out in the end, this episode (much like "Clues") is shrouded in mystery, and once reality sets in and you discover what's happened, you as a viewer feel almost as betrayed as he does. It's not a terribly fun episode, but a very strong Doctor episode and not one easily shaken by fans of this character.
87. Similitude (ENT)
Many of the great films in history have been told like this. The episode starts with the revelation that one of the crew has passed away: it's revealed to be Trip. Dun dun dunnnn! Queue the horrid theme song. But unlike Citizen Kane or Sunset Boulevard, this episode takes place on a Starfleet vessel, so seeing how this might happen and be rectified makes the result both more and less interesting. The way around this works, and Trip has some wonderful and sad moments, even if you know what is going to happen by the end of the episode. It's one of the sadder episodes of the show, and a great Trip story.
86. Far Beyond The Stars (DS9)
Hardcore fans are probably scratching their heads over how low I have this episode, and part of me actually agrees with that. The episode departs almost completely from the main story, set in a sort of alternate universe where Sisko (not named Sisko in this episode) is a science fiction writer in the 1960s, struggling with racial issues of the time as he tries to publish stories that take place on a space station called...Deep Space Nine. It's a quiet, heartbreaking episode that Avery Brooks clearly poured his soul into, and the attention to period detail is pretty great. It's a great one-off episode that I still wish they hadn't clunkily revisited during the season 6 finale.
85. Disaster (TNG)
Disaster could have been a mess of an episode. And really, it kind of is, by design. But seeing how successfully they manage to weave in and out of storylines and tie everything into the central theme of characters being forced into unlikely and uncomfortable scenarios they individually would never hope to be in is pretty impressive. We see Picard forced to escort a group of children through the ship, Worf being forced to aid in the birth of a child, Data tear himself apart in order to save the ship...it's a busy episode but it never feels cluttered and each story resolves itself in a satisfying way. Especially Picard's.
84. The Tholian Web (TOS)
Kirk is trapped between dimensions and the Enterprise is slowly being trapped by the Tholians. As you can probably tell, the main theme of this episode is being trapped. Go figure. But it's not just that, there is a ticking clock aspect to this story, much like "The Corbomite Maneuver" keeping the pacing intense and engrossing. One of the stronger aspects of this episode comes from the interactions between Spock and McCoy, who usually have Kirk around to intermediate, but their conflicts and ultimate ability to work together are put on full display here and I really enjoyed that. Also, the finale is quite an entertaining end to that story.
83. In Purgatory's Shadow / By Inferno's Light (DS9)
The Dominion is one of the biggest aspects of the DS9 storyline, and the Dominion War took over a majority of the final third of the show. But while the Dominion were more passively villainous up until this point in the show, this two-parter focusing on their deceptive invasion was where the war really began. Full of surprising twists and clever build-ups, these episodes change your perception of several characters (Bashir and Martok in particular), and add to the paranoia brought about by the shapeshifting Changelings. While this was the episode that introduced certain issues with the future of Garak's character, what the episode did well it did VERY well, and was very intense.
82. The Galileo Seven (TOS)
Are you ready for a surprise? I really like Spock. Crazy, I know, but there you have it. That being said, episodes that focus more heavily on Spock are generally among my favorites, and seeing his logical decisions called into question (and not always work out) makes for a pretty interesting look at his clinical approach to leadership and decision-making, proving once and for all why Kirk deserves to be Captain. This isn't an episode that gets a while ton of attention, but I think it's one of Spock's stronger episodes, and the conclusion which runs almost contrary to his belief system, is also somehow oddly fitting and reveals more about Spock through his actions than he would ever purposely reveal about himself with words.
81. Shockwave (ENT)
The two-part season one finale / season 2 premiere that proved to a lot of people that Enterprise had a lot more to offer than they initially thought. As I said before, I loved season 1, but this finale was still stronger than 90% of the episodes before it, and that's partially due to how well it implemented recurring aspects of the story and actually felt like a complete and original concept. The temporal cold war is a largely unexplored and mysterious aspect of Starfleet's future, and one I enjoy seeing explored this heavily, and the downer part one finale really added weight to the whole ordeal. It's not the best multi-parter in the series, but a good indicator of the overall quality of the upcoming prolonged stories.
80. Mortal Coil (VOY)
I absolutely hated Neelix. This isn't exactly an unpopular opinion, as his stupid face, voice, and overwhelming cheeriness seemed to irritate most people, but I think that's an important thing to take into consideration when talking about his best episode. Neelix has a crisis of faith, and the entire episode deals with his coping and subsequent depressed nihilism following it. Never before (or after) had Neelix been so emotionally revealing, and while watching his suffer would have made for a fun episode for me, this method actually made me start to feel for him. Albeit temporarily. Either way, any episode that can make me care about something I don't care about obviously did something right.
79. Message In A Bottle (VOY)
One wouldn't think an episode that heavily features Andy Dick would even be watchable let alone massively entertaining, but if there's one thing I've learned from years of watching way too much TV, it's never to be surprised by being surprised. Trying desperately to make contact with Starfleet, Voyager sends The Doctor into the data stream to give a message to Earth, but he's intercepted by Romulans. The rest of the episode involves The Doctor (and Dick) messing with Romulans and trying to get through to Starfleet. It's a fun episode and the ending actually makes an impact on the continuing story of Voyager.
78. Civil Defense (DS9)
Before the final season turned Dukat into an over-the-top mess of a character, he made for a fantastic frenemy to Sisko and the crew of DS9. Offering assistance at times, while performing underhanded actions at others, Dukat didn't ever really fall into easy to define lines of villainy. And Civil Defense is one of the more entertaining treatments of this, as he wants to be bad but is forced into working with the good guys. It's a wonderful switcheroo, and the interplay between him and the crew is ceaselessly entertaining. Not to mention the fact the episode as a whole is very intense and beautifully-paced, offering a sort of alternate to the Holodeck episodes you'd normally see, as this time it's the station programming as a whole that's causing the problems.
77. A Taste Of Armageddon (TOS)
The original show, as much as I love it, wasn't exactly the most subtle with a lot of its messages, but when it hit on an idea in a suitably futuristic manner, it made them function perfectly within its universe. This episode is an anti-war story about two warring factions who have developed a system for combat that eliminates the messiness of war by simulating assaults, after which the "dead" have to turn themselves in to be cleanly executed. It's a bizarre idea, but one that perfectly mirrors the "man in ivory tower" view on the rich and powerful sending people to do their bidding. A bit corny, but it's a great example of a sci-fi concept being used to reflect more modern real-life ideas and sensibilities.
76. Frame Of Mind (TNG)
There have probably been too many "are they going mad???" episodes out there, but there are always points to be had for the episodes that do it well. Riker gets deep into character performing a play about a man in a mental institution, only to find he is actually in a mental institution, constantly flipping back and forth between realities. It's an incredible episode for Jonathan Frakes, as his performance is probably better here than anywhere else in the series. There's also some pretty clever edits and wonderful atmosphere, as the episode plays out sort of like if David Fincher had directed it. Not an impressive story as much as impressive execution.
75. Someone To Watch Over Me (VOY)
Of all the possible romantic entanglements in Voyager, the absolute best was one that was barely explored. Seven of Nine looks for dating tips (essentially) and finds help with The Doctor, who has developed a crush on her. The episode then follows their one-sided flirtatious exchanges, and the way it all plays out is very bittersweet. These two had such great chemistry, and had this become an actual relationship it may not have worked out as well as imagined, but I still can't help but to feel this was a missed opportunity and about 4000× better than the relationship they force-fed us in the final season.
74. The Pegasus (TNG)
When it comes to one-off performances, TNG was full of great actors and characters, but few quite rise to the level of Terry O'Quinn as Riker's old captain. This is a pretty standard episode for the series, involving an Admiral who thinks they're doing what's best for Starfleet by breaking protocol and taking matters into their own hands. What is with Starfleet Admirals, anyway? This all puts Riker's past and present loyalties into question, and forces him into a very difficult and uncomfortable position. It's a simple enough episode that works thanks to the acting from O'Quinn and Frakes, who both knock it out of the park.
73. Shore Leave (TOS)
There were some really great light episodes of the original series, and while this isn't quite on the level of the Tribbles episode, I really can't say anything bad about this one. Kirk and his crew land on a planet that seems to have a hallucinatory effect on them, as they are greeted with fantastical things and people who couldn't possibly be actually there. But they are. It's a great fantasy episode that gives McCoy a love interest, which is rare enough on its own. Sometimes taking a break from more heavy subjects is welcome, and for that Shore Leave is (fittingly) one of the better episodes.
72. Homefront / Paradise Lost (DS9)
Paranoia, yet again, is one of the prime subjects brought on by the Dominion when the Changelings feel the need to get personally involved, and seeing the entire planet reach this level of hysterics over the actions of only a few beings makes for a very important message regarding perspective and not allowing terrorists to have power over your lives. When it comes to Changelings being personally involved, this is one of the most damaging and effective stories they're involved in, and seeing even the likes of Sisko get sucked into this hysteria makes it feel all the more serious. A great two-parter with a haunting and uplifting finale.
71. The Corbomite Maneuver (TOS)
One of the first episodes of the show, and one that really exemplifies what Trek is all about. Facing a no-win scenario with courage, and resolving issues with other species through diplomacy and a desire for discovery. It's all very satisfying, and is one of the best early examples of what the franchise has to offer. Sometimes the bad guys are really evil, other times not so much. As far as conflict resolution goes, this is a teensy bit cornier than I usually prefer, but it came at a time when the show was still trying to find its footing, and I think it landed pretty well.
70. Remember Me (TNG)
Beverly Crusher episodes were rarely any good, which is a shame because she was a likable character. But this episode which features her being slowly isolated from the rest of the crew, alone on the Enterprise as the universe literally shrinks around her, is not only one of her best episodes, but one of the highlights of what might be the show's best season. This is a powerful episode that utilizes the characters well, telling a story that mirrors Beverly's fear of isolation as she faces the inevitable departure of her son from the ship.
69. Cause And Effect (TNG)
Starting off with a bang, this episode instantly gets your attention as a horrible incident occurs which leads to the destruction of the Enterprise. Then everything resets, as if nothing had ever happened. Toying with a time travel concept that keeps the crew in an infinite loop, you might think this episode could get boring as you see the same events take place again and again with only minor differences, but you'd be mistaken. This is a clever episode full of great mystery and puzzle-solving moments, and the Enterprise explosion stands out as one of the more shocking openings in the series.
68. This Side Of Paradise (TOS)
There's something about the way Nimoy plays Spock that makes us want to see him break. He's so stoic but endearing, we want to see him smile every once in a while, and that's one of the major appeals of this episode. When the crew land on a planet, they begin to act differently -- carefree, happy, and this is upsetting to Kirk, as he sees his entire crew essentially commit the most passive mutiny you could imagine. And one of these people is Spock. The resolution of this episode forces you to consider if what was done was right or wrong, and when you combine that with Nimoy's performance you get a pretty great hour of television.
67. Death Wish (VOY)
And now we've come to the first Q episode on the list. The Q are a funny sort of being, as they're pretty much exactly what you'd get if you gave a person immortality, omnipotence, and the ability to do anything they wanted with a click of the finger. With that sort of power, you can imagine they'd get bored easily -- and for some, depressed. This episode focuses on a Q's right to leave the continuum and die. There's some great imagery here, and of the small handful of Voyager Q episodes, this is easily the best. It's dark, sometimes funny, and gives both Q and Janeway a lot of great material to work with.
66. The Magnificent Ferengi (DS9)
A massively popular Ferengi episode that I can't help but to love. There aren't many really good Ferengi episodes out there, but this is the one that stands out by far the most. Featuring pretty much every Ferengi character we get to know throughout DS9, the episode focuses on a hostage exchange between a ragtag group of Ferengi and the Dominion themselves. I've said it before but the final seasons of DS9 can get pretty dark, and having comedic episodes like this is always a welcome change. This just happens to be one of the best comedic episodes in all of Star Trek, and a great showcase for some Ferengi sillines.
65. Judgment (ENT)
Unjust tribunal episodes aren't terribly rare in Star Trek, but just like with anything, it all comes down to how well it's handled and not whether it's the most terribly original idea. This one focuses on inaccurate accusations thrown at Captain Archer by a Klingon desperate to keep his honor intact, and the defense provided by an apathetic Klingon who has become disillusioned by the Empire's justice system. It's a great Klingon episode in a series that never quite gave them enough to do, and the way it wraps itself up was actually pretty surprising and powerful in a lot of ways. This is one of the best Archer episodes, as well as one of the best for Klingons.
64. The Drumhead (TNG)
But even as good as the last one was, this is an even better trial episode. Yet again we have a sort of renegade, out of control Admiral with a warped sense of morality, wielding her power like a chainsaw cutting down anyone who dares oppose her. But she meets her match with Picard. There are a lot of moving parts in this episode, from the interactions between the retired Admiral and Picard, the unjust incriminating of a young Starfleet cadet, the paranoia and bloodlust stirred up in Worf, but mainly it all comes down to the incredible final monologue by Patrick Stewart. This is a powerful and aggravating episode with incredible performances all around.
63. Waltz (DS9)
Gul Dukat is my favorite villain in the franchise, and while I don't care for the direction they took the character following this episode, it doesn't take away from just how great he was in this one. Here we see Dukat and Sisko crash landing on a planet together. Sisko is hurt, and Dukat takes care of him, only there's something going on below the surface. I don't want to spoil anything for people who haven't see the show yet, but the revelation and final moments of this episode still gives me the chills. This is a great dialogue-heavy character episode that reveals a lot about Dukat and how he justifies his actions, both past and present.
62. Dear Doctor (ENT)
One of the things I hear people complain about with this show is among the reasons I actually do like it. Since this series follows early Starfleet, their rules of engaging alien civilizations are still in their infancy, as they have no Prime Directive to go off of. This makes episodes like this one stand out to me, as it lays the groundwork for the rules to come, and the moral dilemma facing Dr. Phlox is one that comes across well through Billingsley's performance. Just like the best Trek, this episode poses difficult questions and gives answers they can only presume to be right. It's powerful and one of the best stories of the first season.
61. Ship In A Bottle (TNG)
There was a question burning in he back of my mind throughout the 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons of the show and that was "I wonder what happened to Moriarty?" A question that got an answer in its season 6 sequel, which brings back the holographic character who has felt abandoned and lied to by Picard. It's a great sequel as it never paints Moriarty as being unjustified in his villainy, and features enough layers in its cerebral execution to make your head spin. In spite of only being featured in two episodes, I still consider Moriarty to be one of the better villains in the show, and the episodes surrounding him are pretty wonderful.
60. The Doomsday Machine (TOS)
Giant doomsday weapons and life-threatening forces are pretty common, but for Star Trek to face one that is unrelenting and without conscience is fairly uncommon. The Enterprise faces off against a terrifying machine capable of wiping out pretty much anything it comes across. They pick up a Commodore whose ship was destroyed by this force, and he comes out alive but slightly mad. This Captain Ahab character pretty much owns the episode, and the way his obsession for revenge completely consumes him makes for one of the best one-off characters in the franchise. It's a great episode full of tension and incredible acting.
59. Whispers (DS9)
O'Brien MUST suffer. It's kind of a big part of his character, whether it's overtly (by being tortured of the like), or just being married to Keiko, which honestly is probably even worse than any torture he endures. This is probably the first episode in the show that feels torturous for him, as everyone starts acting really weird around him and treating him oddly, which is handled well in the visuals, implementing dark, unconventional camera angles. It's an unsettling episode and the way it all turns out is equally sad and unexpected. One of the first great episodes of Deep Space Nine, and one of the best outings for O'Brien.
58. Cogenitor (ENT)
One of the many things I hear people complain about with Enterprise is how dumb Trip is. That, to me, is one of his strengths as a character, representing a sort of counterpoint to the infallibility of Starfleet. And this episode might be the best possible example of just how flawed (and therefore effective and beleivable) Trip is. I won't spoil the outcome, but this is one of the great pre-Prime Directive episodes of the show as it covers the topic in a way that works no matter how you cut it. It's sweet, sad, and an amazing direction to take Trip as a character. Enterprise handled these quiet stories very well.
57. Tapestry (TNG)
Ahh, Q. You always know how to make an episode extra special, don't you? Picard is faced with a life-threatening situation, when Q takes him back in time to give him a chance to change the actions he took as a young man that might prevent his death. The results don't exactly work out how he had hoped. In a lot of ways, this episode plays out like a Christmas special (Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life, take your pick), but that just goes to show how timeless these stories are. Even in the future and in space we can find them and they still work. It's fun, looks great, and the alternate future it creates for Picard is unforgettable.
56. The Defector (TNG)
I've never been a fan of the Romulans as a villainous race, but if they were given this level of depth throughout the franchise, I'm sure my opinion of them would be a lot higher. An episode full of twists and turns about a supposed Romulan defector who claims to know of plans to escalate the war between them and Starfleet, there are few details I can give about this episode that wouldn't risk ruining the experience for a first time viewer. This is one of the only Romulan characters I ever actually came to care about in the series, and that's due in large part to James Sloyan's terrific and emotional performance. This is one of the best episodes of an amazing season of TNG.
55. The Quickening (DS9)
Dr. Julian Bashir's arc is one of many ups and downs. Starting out as an arrogant young doctor with the power of life and death in his hands, and slowly evolving into a more mellow and personable member of the DS9 crew...and then he becomes a suprehuman, but I try to forget that part. Either way, this is one of the best examples of him at his lowest point, humbled by a situation his hubris could not match. It's a sobering and effective drama, watching Bashir try his hardest and coming up short to save so many lives. There aren't many deeply moving episodes featuring Bashir, but this one really made us feel for him as he desperately tries to accomplish what he once felt he could do with little to no effort.
54. Sarek (TNG)
Sarek is one of my favorite supporting characters in Star Trek, and this episode is a big part of why that is. I find the way his Vulcan nature so deeply supresses his ability to show any sort of deeply-felt affection tragic, and the scene where he breaks down at the end through Picard is one of the saddest character moments in the entire show. As a whole, this is a pretty odd episode with some great acting and deep insight into Spock's dad, and the difficulty that faces Vulcans when they want to express themselves but are too entrenched in their cultural philosophy to do so. Mark Lenard was terrific, and this is my favorite appearance for the character.
53. Blink Of An Eye (VOY)
Voyager was a ridiculously uneven show for me, but at its best it resulted in some fascinating (albeit sometimes flawed) episodes. Blink Of An Eye, while mathematically ludicrous, still stands as one of the best dramatic stories the series had to offer, a different view on the effects of accidental first contact. Voyager makes an impact on a culture whose time passes by at a much faster rate than theirs, all the while accidentally causing problems for the planet by their sheer existence in the skies above them. Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from Lost) appears in a terrific performance as a visiting astronaut. Again, the way the episode functions is flawed, but it still works both dramatically and thematically.
52. Space Seed (TOS)
The first appearance of the most famous and popular villain in all of Star Trek's 50+ years: Khan. While I obviously enjoy the episode quite a bit, I don't think it holds up quite as well as an individual story as it does a wonderful job at setting up one of my favorite movies. There's no doubt Montalban has serious charm and presence in this episode, as he truly feels like a superior version of humans, but without all the pesky compassion. Seeing Khan almost singlehandedly take over the ship never feels ridiculous, as he is a mental and physical superior in ways that never feel outrageous. It's a great single episode, for sure, but it wouldn't be held in such high regard if it weren't for The Wrath Of Khan.
51. Journey To Babel (TOS)
Why is this one higher than Sarek, when I just said that was my favorite episode for the character? Well, I liked Sarek more in the episode Sarek, but I liked this Sarek episode better than Sarek. Aren't you glad I cleared that up? This is the first appearance of Spock's dad, but that's not all of what makes it so great. The intriguing and dynamic interspecies relations and mystery surrounding the events of the episode make for a strong central story, and the incredibly awkward and dispassionate exchanges between Spock and Sarek reveal more about their father-son relationship than anything overt ever could. It's a brilliant pairing of A and B plots, and all comes to a satisfying and tense conclusion.
50. The Naked Time (TOS)
This episode is a sort of anomaly, as in TNG when they made a similar episode focusing on characters losing their inhibitions, we didn't have a grasp of who the characters were and it made it tough to know if they were behaving irrationally or not. Yet in this original episode, it works just fine. In fact, it works really well, and winds up revealing a lot about the characters we'd later come to care about. It's a funny but also suspenseful episode that gives most every lead character some good moments, from Spock breaking down, to Sulu going crazy with a sword. It's all full of fun and memorable stuff, even that horrible Eileen song.
49. Babel One / United / The Aenar (ENT)
There were a handful of great episodes near the end of Enterprise, and one of the favorite aspects of the show for me was in how well it handled the Andorians, which still stand as one of my very favorite aliens in the entire franchise. This three-parter handles the difficult relationship they have as a species with Tellarites (something that wouldn't be resolved even during the time of the original series), and the war between these races that's being manufactured by some deception. It would be a pity to spoil it, so I won't, but this is one of the best episodes for Shran, who's one of the best characters in the franchise.
48. The Measure Of A Man (TNG)
One of the defining moments of the second season of TNG was in this episode which tackles the difficulties facing Data, who Starfleet still consider to be property and not an actual person. A scientist wants to perform test and experiments on Data, as he's a highly advanced mechanism, but is met with resistance by the crew of the Enterprise who feel it's unjust to treat him like he doesn't have agency. What follows is a wonderful court case to determine Data's "humanity". A classic episode with a great sci-fi concept built within the universe to establish internal logic. This is an especially great episode for Picard and Riker, who are forced to face off together in court.
47. Azati Prime (ENT)
It's pretty difficult to isolate individual episodes from season 3 of Enterprise, as they all pretty much bleed into each other following the Xindi storyline that encompasses the entire season. That being said there are some particular moments that stand out, and one of the big ones is this episode where Enterprise go all out in an attempt to destroy the superweapon that threatens all life on Earth. It's a big episode with plenty of "oh s@#$" moments, not the least of which being the ending which lays the seeds for an unlikely partnership, and a revelation that things are not at all as they seem in regards to the events which led to the construction of the superweapon.
46. The Wire (DS9)
The surprise of the century, but I consider Elim Garak to be one of the best characters in all of Star Trek. A mysterious, gleefully devious character who views lying as a sport and skill worth exercising and finely tuning, Garak didn't really take off until season 2, and this is his first great episode. This is also the episode that best establishes Garak and Bashir's weird friendship, as Garak begins to suffer from some sort of illness and Bashir resolves to help him. Their exchanges are great, and the advancements made in Garak's character here is great. It's a totally character driven episode, and one of the better ones in DS9.
45. Arena (TOS)
Alright, so I'm gonna come right out and say it: I don't love this episode because it's conventionally good. I love it because it's absolutely hilarious and corny in all the best kind of ways. The Gorn is a hilarious rubber alien with a funny voice and a sparkly onesie, and he is forced to face off in combat with Kirk, and the resulting episode is full of great little moments like when Kirk gets giant paper mache boulders thrown at him or when he builds a cannon out of raw materials. This is a cheesefest of the highest pedigree, and it's for that reason I love this episode so much. Also, it has a nice little message at the end for people who like morals attached to their stories. Lovely.
44. Once More Unto The Breach (DS9)
In spite of making regular appearances throughout the original Star Trek series, movies, and TNG, I wasn't crazy about many Klingon storylines or characters until Deep Space Nine -- at least not upon reflection. That being said, in DS9 we're introduced to my favorite Klingon, and we even see one make his first appearance in the series since the first season of the original Star Trek (even played by the same actor). Kor is name, and this is his swan song. A wonderful final appearance by the aging Klingon who is far past his glory days, this episode is emotional and tense, giving an overlooked character (as well aging Worf and Martok) plenty of great material to work with.
43. Living Witness (VOY)
The way we remember past events makes for an interesting topic, but seeing Voyager take on this subject and pull it off as well as it does is even more interesting. I don't know how clear I've made this, but I was not a huge fan of the show, but I am fond of the concept behind it and many of the individual episodes. This one, set hundreds of years past the events of Voyager, shows the Doctor waking up in a civilization defined by their encounter with Voyager, and the wild inaccuracies that have been perpetrated by this alien culture as a means to assert their innocence and superiority. It's a lot of fun seeing the crew act all evil, but an even more clever take on how we choose to remember things in our own favor.
42. The Offspring (TNG)
One of the greatest strengths of The Next Generation was in how emotional it often could be. No other Trek series made me feel as deeply for the characters and events as TNG, even sometimes manufacturing one-off characters, getting us to care about them (generally through one or more of the main cast), and then killing them off in tragic ways. And this episode is one of the most emotional of that variety in the whole franchise. Data creates a daughter, teaches her about life, and Starfleet takes an interest in her and wants to run tests, as they often do. It's a heartbreaking episode and the finale still makes me tear up, especially when Data says...what he says.
41. Amok Time (TOS)
Quite possibly the single most referenced and "important" episode in Star Trek history, this is the one that explained Vulcans, coined the salute, and even featured the frequently imitated DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN fight theme used in Cable Guy, Futurama, and about a billion other things. This is also the first ever mention of Vulcan mating rituals. Basically, everything most people know about Vulcans comes from this episode. As an individual story it's one of the better episodes in the show, but whee it really shines is in how far it took Vulcans and Spock. It's hard to over-emphasize the massive influence this episode has had on pop culture as a whole.
40. Family (TNG)
Following the destructive events of The Best Of Both Worlds where Picard becomes assimilated and then de-similated by the Borg, he and the rest of the crew need a bit of a breather, so they all spend time with their families. While the Worf story with his adoptive human parents and some of the others are fine, it's really the Picard part of the story that makes this episode so great. Picard and his brother have a difficult relationship, and it all culminates in a scene that's wonderful and sad and beautifully acted. To think Gene Roddenberry hated the idea of this episode just goes to show how he was basically the same as George Lucas when it comes to being out of touch with the up-sides of the franchise he created, because this was great.
39. For The Uniform (DS9)
Following the betrayal of a trusted member of the DS9 crew, Sisko goes on a revenge-laced crusade to snuff out the Maquis insurgence, and is willing to do just about anything to see it through. We've seen Sisko go dark, but it's in this episode in particular that he really shows just how low he's willing to go to do what he perceives as right. It's a thrilling chase episode full of little twists and maneuvers that keep Sisko on his toes, and the finale reveals a lot about Sisko as a whole. This is also probably the best Eddington episode, a character I feel gets frequently overlooked amid a show with tons of great supporting characters.
38. Hard Time (DS9)
Of all the "O'Brien must suffer" episodes, this is the one that offers the biggest gut-punch. When unjustly imprisoned by an alien society who use slowed-down incarceration (a few hours in the real world could be months in their prison) as punishment for crimes, O'Brien walks away a totally changed man who's carrying horrible guilt over something he keeps secret from everyone. Not only is it sad to see O'Brien in such an emotional state, but the revelation itself is one that doesn't leave you feeling particularly happy. This is the finest acting Colm Meaney has to offer in the show, and it's a great drama hinged on this performance and character.
37. Whom Gods Destroy (TOS)
And we're back to the silly original series episodes that I love. Don't get me wrong, there are soon truly brilliant episodes of the original Trek, but it also features some bonkers and just outright ridiculous episodes that make it all the more special. This one wouldn't be so fun if it weren't for one single aspect: Garth of Izar, the crazed ex-Starfleet hero who faces off against Kirk. This is an amazingly over-the-top performance by Steve Ihnat, who singlehandedly makes this one of the most entertaining episodes in the franchise by sheer force of will. It's not an incredible story, in fact it's quite simple, but the character is one of the best and most magnetic villains in the franchise.
36. The Enterprise Incident (TOS)
Moral ambiguity wasn't really heavily featured in Star Trek (at least not among the lead characters) until Deep Space Nine, but in this third season original series episode about a Starfleet plot against the Romulans, we really begin to see the dark side of the supposed "good guys". From the beginning, this episode almost feels like it's taking place in the mirror universe, until you realize that's not the case and there are some truly sinister goings-on. It's obvious at this point in the show how little involvement Gene Roddenberry had with the show, and the result (as is often the case in this series) is all the better for it. It doesn't cop out, it's uncompromising, and makes you genuinely uncomfortable with what they're doing. It's brilliant.
35. The Trouble With Tribbles (TOS)
There were a handful of comedic episodes in the original show, but none of them quite matched this one. Also, this is the episode that introduced the world to Tribbles, one of the most referenced species in all of science fiction. It's a corny episode, but the Tribbles are fun (just being little furry balls that purr is fun to me, apparently) and the way they play into the story is actually pretty clever. There are some great character moments, and the whole cast seem like they're having a pretty good time. Not exactly the most amazing episode from a story perspective, but it's a great little nugget in the Trek universe.
34. Bride Of Chaotica! (VOY)
An episode I love for reasons that amount to little more than "because it was fuuuun", this episode is styled after the '30s and '40s Buster Crabbe serials (Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and the like) and forces the B.S. techno babble into the backseat to allow the audience to partake in a fun little adventure free from the seriousness of the series. It's (almost) all in black and white, features wonderful set designs and costuming that are spot-on in recreating this style and era, and even allows the ever-so-serious Janeway to take on a pretty entertaining role alongside Tom Paris and Harry Kim. It's not a smart sci-fi heavy episode, it's one I rarely see getting praised by fans, but I consider it one of the greatest successes of Voyager and a whole lot of fun.
33. Chain Of Command (TNG)
Early season 6 of TNG saw a low point in the series for me, but that all changed with this mid-season two-parter focusing on Cardassians and the capture of Jean-Luc Picard. While the episode surrounding Picard is strong enough, the real reason it's on this list is because of the events that take place in part 2 -- the interrogation and torture of Picard. In the second part we see a pair of the best performances in the entire franchise, with David Warner playing the malicious, manipulative, and oddly layered interrogator who seems bent on not just pumping Picard for information, but also completely destroying his will. It's a very dark and upsetting episode, and Stewart breaks your heart in his most intense performance of the series.
32. Twilight (ENT)
Even though I'm one of the defenders of Enterprise, I still find Captain Archer and Scott Bakula's performance to be an absolute bore. That being said, this memory loss story focusing heavily on him and T'Pol (another relatively uninteresting character) is one of the best character episodes of the series. Archer loses his ability to form new memories (gee, I wonder where they got that idea in the early 2000s?), and the episode finds him being taken care of in his old age by T'Pol, where the Xindi successfully managed to complete and operate their superweapon. It's a pretty sad episode that tries to emulate The Visitor and All Good Things, telling a simple story in a way that works and raises the stakes in the Xindi storyline.
31. In A Mirror Darkly (ENT)
One of the more entertaining episodes of Enterprise focusing entirely on the mirror universe version of the cast, this is a total fan service episode in every way. Bringing back several aspects from the original series, including tie-ins to The Tholian Web and Arena, as well as obviously retroactively laying the groundwork for Mirror, Mirror. With dozens of backstabbings and betrayals and just as many wonderful acting moments for pretty much everyone involved (Linda Park as Hoshi Sato seemed to be having a particularly fun time), this was a great opportunity for the cast to just go all-out and the esults are a total blast. One of the final episodes of the show and a great way to remind people of just what they would be missing due to its cancellation.
30. Demons / Terra Prime (ENT)
The unofficial finale of the show (since These Are The Voyages was pretty lackluster), this two-parter focuses on an uprising of xenophobic humans who try to start a revolution to separate Earth from the influence of aliens and their cultures. It's a wonderful and even relevant drama (which normally translate to the world of Trek poorly) that takes the extremes of the day and pushes them into a believable science fiction scenario. Peter Weller does a terrific job in this villainous role, playing a man whose paranoia and fear have pushed him to the level of being willing to commit genocide. It's a great way to end the show in a lot of ways, even if it wasn't the actual finale.
29. It's Only A Paper Moon (DS9)
Following the tragic events of The Siege Of AR-558, Nog has come back to DS9 physically and emotionally scarred. With a serious injury that's left him crippled and disillusioned, he sinks into the fantasy world of the holosuites, where he and Vic Fontaine run a night club, allowing Nog to feel like he has some actual control over his life, at least until the reality that he can't always stay hidden from the real world sinks in. It's a depressing and powerful character drama with an incredible lead performance by Aron Eisenberg as Nog. It's also the best use of Vic Fontaine, a character whose mere existence seems to irritate a lot of DS9 fans. But to me, this is great drama, and an incredible depiction of PTSD.
28. Elementary, Dear Data (TNG)
Ship In The Bottle was a fantastic, layered, complex, and emotionally satisfying conclusion to the long-stagnant Moriarty story, but it was his introduction that left the biggest impression on me. Not only was this arguably the first really great episode of The Next Generation, but it also helped push the show into more complex territory when it comes to its treatment of the villain. It's a lot of fun seeing Data and Geordi (back when Geordi was likable) play dress up, and even Dr. Pulaski manages to find a way to actually work within the episode. It's funny, clever, and a bunch of other words that mean it's good. This marked a turning point in the show.
27. Lower Decks (TNG)
An often overlooked final season episode of TNG that largely follows around a different group of characters than the main cast, and manages to make you care about these people in a short period of time -- just long enough to break your heart. The last 2 seasons of the show had some great episodes, but this is one of the most emotional. The way these characters interact with Picard, Worf, and Riker make for an interesting dynamic not often seen in the series, and allows us to see them all in a totally new light. Picard and Riker both come across as hard-asses, and Worf actually reveals a much softer side. But it's not just the main cast who work great here, but the supporting characters are all pretty great. A great ensemble character episode.
26. Distant Origin (VOY)
An alien species have a history that places them on Earth, as descendants of dinosaurs, but their society rejects this notion in favor of their own view of their history. Much like Living Witness, this episode tackles the subject of how society chooses to remember the past, and how those who live set in their beliefs not only feel challenged by new found facts, but also threatened. It's a simple episode, and one of the very best of the series, considering how wonderfully they handle this subject, and the absolutely downbeat finale. It's not an ending easily shaken, and some of the best storytelling in the series. It's only a shame they couldn't pull this off more frequently.
25. The Enemy Within (TOS)
Is this episode cheesy and kinda stupid? Absolutely, but it's all one of the first episodes of all of Trek that I saw, and was the source of the single reason my fiance decided to give the franchise a chance. That reason, by the way, is the ridiculous dog alien in the image I included. This is a super over-the-top episode with William Shatner just Shatnering the crap out of that script, and it's clear that they knew they hit on something special by having him play it so exagerratedly here. There are some interesting sci-fi concepts here, a really entertaining dual performance by Shatner, and a hilariously goofy dog in a horned space alien costume. Pretty much everything a Trek episode needs, really.
24. Sins Of The Father (TNG)
The first episode to really dig into Worf's past, and the single episode that best defines his arc for the remainder of the series -- and even into and throughout DS9. When Kurn, an aggressive Klingon who seems to have a few issues with Worf, shows up as part of a cross-cultural program, his presence and the revelations that follow drag Worf into the truths of an event that could destroy all public perception of Worf's bloodline in the eyes of the Empire. But nothing is at all how it seems. Corruption, cover-ups, deception, and honor are all over this episode, and the compromises that are forced onto Worf by the end have and lasting impression. It's a huge episode not only for how good it is, but for how it shapes a storyline for years to follow.
23. All Our Yesterdays (TOS)
The last truly great episode of the original series, this episode features a lot of the things that make the show special. It's got time travel, Spock being mad for eating meat, other things. All three of those add up to what we refer to as the Star Trekfecta. The set design is cool, and how each character is given their own story arc here lets everything come together nicely. Spock has a romance plot, McCoy - stuck back in time with Spock - is seriously injured, Kirk is imprisoned by paranoid people on a witchhunt...There's a good deal happening here, but it never gets muddled. This really should have been the final episode of the series instead of the weak Turnabout Intruder.
22. Trials And Tribble-ations (DS9)
As wonderful as the original Tribble episode may be, it really couldn't hold a candle to this episode, even if just for the insanely good editing found within. Sisko is approached by time travel detectives (I know that's not what they're called, but this is more fun) who are questioning him over what part he and his crew took in an event that might have altered the timeline. He then tells the story of how he and his crew were zapped back in time 200 years, and how they managed to play into the events of the original series episode The Trouble With Tribbles. This is a total fan service episode that inserts the DS9 cast into backgrounds and foregrounds of scenes from the original episode, and just has a lot of fun with the premise overall. Loads of fun, and a great piece of clever editing and storytelling.
21. I, Borg (TNG)
The first step in a long process of essentially neutering the Borg as a genuine threat, this season 5 episode may have accidentally steered the show in the wrong direction in regards to the future of the Borg, but still stands on its own as a wonderful bit of development. Hugh, a Borg (named by Geordi) who has become isolated from the collective, is captured by Enterprise and tested on so they might learn more about these cybernetic space zombies. Picard and Guinan, who have both suffer great loss at the hands of the Borg, eventually begin to see Hugh as more than just a menacing drone. It's a sweet episode, but also says a lot about Picard and his ability to forgive. It's also one of the few episodes to actually utilize Guinan.
20. Damage (ENT)
Following the crippling events of Azati Prime, this episode features a broken and bruised Enterprise forced to make an awful decision to continue their mission to prevent the destruction of Earth. They come across a ship with the resources they need to repair their warp engines, but when the captain of that ship tells them if they gave up these supplies they would essentially be dead in space, Archer is forced to confront his own morals and make a decision that could very well result in the deaths of an entire crew. It's a tough choice for anyone to make, especially when you keep in mind how essential it is that Archer does what needs to be done. It's excruciatingly dark, morally challenging, and haunting.
19. Tacking Into The Wind (DS9)
To me the end of DS9 was a bit of a mixed bag, as it juggled a handful of stories at once and only a few of these are actually really interesting. But this episode, right before the finale, is more focused on the power shift within the Klingon Empire, as Gowron begins to behave irrationally and put the lives of his people at needless risk for his own gain. Gowron is a useful character within the TNG and DS9 Klingon storyline, and this final appearance of his is the natural conclusion to this story. It's a focused episode with plenty of intense moments, as both Worf and Martok face down the fact that Gowron needs to be stopped before he destroys the Empire. A fantastic episode in pretty much every way.
18. The Andorian Incident (ENT)
Alright, so I'm definitely in the minority on this one, but this is my favorite episode of Enterprise. One of the first episodes of the show, and the one that reintroduces us to the Andorians (Shran!) and cuts to the heart of the Vulcans. A lot of people hate how this show handled Vulcans, but I love how flawed and dishonest they were. Just like humans, they had a lot of growing to do. This is a perfect way to define two different prominent species in the show, it's intense, has one hell of an ending, and establishes the relationship that would form between Archer and Shran. I love this episode, and consider it the best of Enterprise.
17. Q Who (TNG)
And here we have another excellent introduction episode, only this time focusing on the Borg. Q shows up on Enterprise and claims to want to become part of the crew. Picard says he doesn't want or need Q, to which Q responds by sending them deep into uncharted territory to meet the Borg. Q, as it turns out, is not only a very bored individual, but also pretty petty. But once Picard and his crew are pulled in by the Borg, we find out that maybe Starfleet aren't quite as prepared for the perils of space that they think they are. It's an episode of foreboding, bringing the Borg into the franchise, the most menacing and ruthless race in the series. It's a little slow to start, but once the Borg come in, this episode is absolutely amazing.
16. Darmok (TNG)
Equal parts one of the most perfect encapsulations of the heart of Star Trek and one of the most inherently flawed episodes in the franchise, as logistically the culture and language of the species it's focused on doesn't make any sense. Picard is dragged down to a planet where he meets the captain of a different ship whose manner of speech is...well, a bit odd. Without the helpful aid of a universal translator, these two have to come together and learn to communicate and find common ground. It's the story of two people from totally different corners of the universe who are willing to go to pretty much any lengths to learn from each other, communicate with each other, and build a connection between their cultures.
15. Sacrifice Of Angels (DS9)
The final part of the multi-episode story arc beginning at the end of season 5, where Sisko and his crew are forced out of Deep Space Nine by the fast-approaching Dominion/Cardassian threat. After regrouping and putting together an assault team, this episode focuses on the battle for control ove DS9. It's a huge episode with tons of emphasis on combat and military tactics, but also features several defining character moments. This is, to me, the logical conclusion to Dukat and his story arc, and this is the episode that establishes Damar as more than just a side character and sets Sisko's fate in stone. It's an intense spectacle and one of the biggest episodes in the franchise from a thematic perspective.
14. Mirror, Mirror (TOS)
Watching the original Star Trek through the first time, I was honestly amazed at how much it influenced and inspired so many pockets of pop culture. I just didn't know exactly how far it's reach was, and that was still considering what I already knew about the series going in. And this episode, which directly follows Amok Time, is no different. This is the evil alternate universe episode that brought in the mirror universe goatee that's become a common trope, but this episode is far more than that. The mirror episodes are generally pretty wonderful, and this is the first and best of the bunch. Seeing everyone playing up their evil side is a lot of fun, and the ending is actually pretty surprising and effective.
13. Yesterday's Enterprise (TNG)
I didn't like Tasha Yar as a character, and I really don't like Denise Crosby as an actress. But after her season 1 death, apparently her absence was a big deal to some people, and Crosby's own regrets with having given up on the series ultimately led them to bring her back for a more satisfying resolution to her story. And this episode, built around a time travel device that puts the cast into a sort of alternate universe where Starfleet are in a losing war against the Klingon Empire. It's a very dark episode with a great look (Enterprise is really cool looking in this episode), a great guest performance by the often-villainous Christopher McDonald, and a wonderfully emotional resolution.
12. Balance Of Terror (TOS)
Basically a submarine chase thriller in space, this episode focuses on Starfleet's first encounter with Romulans (the distant cousins of Vulcans) for about 100 years, who have passed into the neutral zone in their cloaked ship. Pride, territorial instincts, and need to assert superiority all play into Kirk's choice to give chase, which has some upsetting consequences. Guest starring Mark Lenard (who later took on the role of Sarek) as the unnamed Romulan Commander, the episode builds this character and establishes Romulans in a big way. It's thrilling, tragic, and features two spaceship captains with respect for each other, put into a life or death scenario against one another. Season one TOS was the highlight of the show, and this episode is right near the top.
11. Improbable Cause / The Die Is Cast (DS9)
The two-part episode that pretty much established Garak as the best character in DS9, this episode focuses on a terrorist attack on Garak's tailor shop on Deep Space Nine, which leads him to take off to track down the guilty party. I don't want to go into the plot too much, because there are twists and some really great moments that I would hate to spoil, but suffice it to say this is some of the best storytelling and development in the series. Garak has some amazing moments and lines in this episode, a good part of his nature is revealed in part 2, and just the right amount of his history is revealed here to pique your interest but not give too much away. And the way he interacts with Odo during this episode is phenomenal. I don't have much else to say beyond that, but if you're a fan of Garak, this will undoubtedly be one of your favorite episodes in the franchise.
10. The Devil In The Dark (TOS)
One of the ultimate "misunderstood evil" episodes in the franchise, The Devil In The Dark paints an image of some sort of monster stalking the mines of a planet, killing workers indiscriminately and then slinking back into the darkness to lie in wait for their next prey. Obviously it's not nearly as simple as that, but part of the appeal of this episode does spring from its straightforwardness. It's remarkably simple both in conceit and execution, but the way the story unfolds and allows these two different species to learn to co-exist for their mutual benefit is the perfect idealized representation of the franchise as a whole. It's not necessarily profound, but it is one of the best encapsulations of the main driving force behind the wonderful future found in Star Trek. Oh, and this was Leonard Nimoy's favorite episode, so that's cool.
9. The Way Of The Warrior (DS9)
One of the most cinematic and eventful episodes in all of Star Trek (you might notice me making blanket praise terms here near the end, but it's only because they're earned), this is the episode of DS9 that brought in Worf and (kind of) Martok and kicked off a storyline pitting the Klingons against Starfleet yet again. It's weird to me how rarely I see this episode get focused on as one of the best the franchise has to offer, as it sets the tone for the latter half of DS9, and features a powerful and thrilling story that doesn't wrap itself up in a neat little bow -- it lets that sense of dread linger. The episode gives pretty much every main character plenty to work with, creates a very tense atmosphere, and honestly improves on Worf as a character in every way from the way he was handled in TNG. Even though I loved a good deal of DS9 up to this point, this episode marked a serious change in all the right ways.
8. Duet (DS9)
Yay, another DS9 episode! Coming into the show at the end of a very uneven first season, this episode focuses on the interrogation of a captured Cardassian - who may or may not be a disguised leader guilty of the torture and murder of countless Bajoran civilians - by Kira Nerys, who is understandably not a big fan of the guy. Supposedly this was a late-season bottle episode written for the purpose of filling a time slot without too big of a budget, but the result was a powerfully acted, dialogue-heavy character drama that escalated the show beyond just another Star Trek off-shoot and honed in on one of its defining lead characters -- Kira. The plot is full of twists and turns as more and more truths and lies are revealed, and the finale hits hard. This is a fantastic drama, and the first genuinely great episode of DS9.
7. Year Of Hell (VOY)
The initial plan for season 4 of Voyager was, reportedly, a season-long arc following the "year of hell" surrounding Annorax and his time-altering ship, and the chaos and death that Voyager hit when their paths meet. But a skiddish CBS basically forced the showrunners into a more episodic approach, and this birthed the two-parter where all the mayhem was crammed into an hour and a half of incredible science fiction. This is the episode that defines the show and what it could have accomplished, had it serialized its story more. Characters die, the situation grows increasingly more and more dire, the villain (played brilliantly by Kurtwood Smith) is layered and menacing, and there are some truly badass Janeway moments here. This is the pinnacle of Voyager in every way, and I genuinely wish more of the show had risen to this level. This was all of that potential, finally met at last.
6. The Best Of Both Worlds (TNG)
Another two-parter, this episode focuses on the war with the Borg. After Q Who, there was a time bomb just waiting to go off, and the lingering threat of the Borg was looming over Starfleet, but it wasn't until the end of season 3 that this came to a head. While most of the tension and memorable moments are found in part 1 (the cliffhanger provided probably the most badass moment in the show, courtesy of Will Riker), the legitimate sense of dread and actual consequences are felt in part 2 after Riker has been forced to take over command of the ship. The Borg are some of the most intimidating villains ever conceived in science fiction, and this is their biggest and best appearance. It's dark, menacing, action-heavy, and introduced the biggest and most frequently quoted line ever spoken by the Borg. Basically, everything from here on could be #1 and I wouldn't disagree.
5. The City On The Edge Of Forever (TOS)
The pinnacle of the original Star Trek, this season 1 episode features Kirk and Spock chasing a crazed McCoy through a time portal and winding up in 20th century Earth, where they try to blend in and Kirk falls for a humanitarian played by Joan Collins. You would think an episode that happens mostly within the confines of a 20th century setting and mostly devoid of overt science fiction elements would be some of the the best in all of Trek, but it happened due to the chemistry between Shatner and Collins. In spite of their relatively little screentime together, they had a wonderful relationship and the way the episode wrapped itself up and forced Kirk to face a dark truth was made all the more powerful because of it. It's a beautiful drama with wonderful performances, an amazing story, and an ending that hits like a hammer.
4. The Visitor (DS9)
Immediately following the action and story-heavy season 4 premiere The Way Of The Warrior, this episode slows down and instead decides to tell one of the saddest and most emotional stories in the entire franchise. What blows me away about this one the most is how I cared so much about what was happening in an episode that's largely focused on Jake Sisko, one of the most boring characters in the show. Basically, Jake witnesses Ben zapped out of existence, but still sees him appear and disappear again at random intervals over time. The episode follows him for years as he becomes obsessed with finding his father again. It's an episode that gets me in tears and keeps me there for far too long. This is a powerful episode with amazing performances and writing, and just solidified the start of season 4 of DS9 as one of the highlights of the entire franchise.
3. All Good Things... (TNG)
Hey, look, another episode that gets me all emotional. Star Trek doesn't have the best track record when it comes to their finales, with only this and part of DS9's finale really working for me (the rest kinda suck), but I consider this to be among the greatest TV finales I've ever seen. Coming full circle and finding Picard yet again "on trial for humanity" by Q, this episode shoves Picard back and forth through time, allowing us to see where the crew wind up years later, and getting to share one last adventure with them. It's incredibly tense and equally emotional seeing how far Picard has come over the course of the show, and works as a satisfying conclusion to pretty much every aspect of the show. The absolute best moment is, quite fittingly, that final scene where Picard decides to sit down with his crew to a game of cards. It's a lovely moment that caps off a wonderful series.
2. In The Pale Moonlight (DS9)
Generally accepted as the best episode of DS9 and, well, yeah. This is about as dark as you can possibly get in Star Trek, to the point many people have used this as an example of the "destruction" of the franchise. The framework for this episode is built around Sisko lamenting the continuous losses by Starfleet in the Dominion War, and the increasing need to get the neutral Romulans involved. He and Garak hatch a plan to get the Romulans involved through deceptive means. That's all I'll say about it, because it's the incredible and chilling way this story unfolds that makes it so special. This is an episode that focuses on Sisko's struggle with his morality, forced to make unsavory decisions, and is forced to live with them. This is also one of the best Garak episodes, and features an incredible minor guest performance by Stephen McHattie, who delivers a line that's so menacing and over-the-top, I still get the chills when I think about it. This is a genuinely haunting episode, it gets under your skin, and forces you to really consider what you'd be willing to do - or sacrifice - for the perceived greater good.
1. The Inner Light (TNG)
Yeah, this should come as a surprise to no one who reads what I write about Star Trek (so, like, 5 people won't be surprised), but here we are. I feel somehow like I've written about this episode a great deal in the past, but since it's #1 in the list, I'm not going to cheap out and just say "omg is was sooo goooood" and try to include a few actual thoughts. First off, this episode is very quiet, very reserved, and mostly just follows Picard as he lives out his old age on a peaceful planet. It sounds boring, but there's a lot more going on here than just that. This is one of Patrick Stewart's best performances, as you can feel the events of this episode not only leave a huge impact on him here, but carry it along with him beyond this. There's a melancholy feel to this whole story, and the way it resolves and finally reveals the truth to Picard is one of the most beautiful and tragic moments in the series. Picard is one of my favorite characters in all of media, and this is his most important and defining character episode, giving him a chance at a normal life. The music is lovely, the story is wonderful, Stewart is fantastic, and I'm running out of words in this thesaurus in my head to talk about how the various aspects of this episode are synonyms for "great". I love this episode in pretty much every way and consider it one of my favorite TV episodes, period.
Thank you to anyone who actually sat through this whole post, but even people who just skimmed it are alright in my book. This is a lot of writing to try to sit down to just for some stupid list by a nobody online. I hope I didn't make too many typos, but I've been working on this list for a couple weeks now and frankly I'm just tired of having it sit here unposted. I usually write things pretty quickly, so doing all of this in one post was an actual challenge for me. I had to restrain myself, so I do demand praise for what I've accomplished here. I made a list on my hobby-site/blog, after all. That is pretty hardcore.
Might do a new and updated favorite Trek characters list in a while, but we'll just have to see. Until then, thanks for the clicks, all 9 of you are appreciated.
Now let's do the list. Welcome to my top 100 favorite Star Trek episodes list. Happy skimming.
100. Yesteryear (TAS)
The Animated Series, which has been "officially" de-canonized, is a bizarre anomaly within the Star Trek universe, and with 30 minute episodes and running for under 30 episodes, there really isn't too much of it to even bother with. That being said, this single episode about Spock's childhood has left an impression on me and many others, standing as the single best episode of this often-overlooked '70s series. It's weird, but memorable, and I just couldn't let this list be complete without its mention.
99. Treachery, Faith And The Great River (DS9)
By the seventh and final season of Deep Space Nine, there was a slight but visible dip in quality thanks to many small aspects (the addition of Ezri being one of the bigger ones), but this episode with a split focus on Odo/Weyoun and Nog/O'Brien was one of the better individual episodes it offered. Seeing a clone of Weyoun with a complete devotion to Odo was a wonderful use of the character and seeing Nog's Ferenginess put to good use made for a very fun B-story. Also taking a brief break from the main storyline was a pretty welcome change for the show at this point.
98. Future's End (VOY)
The Doctor has been and will always be the best character from Voyager, but since he's a hologram, his ability to function as a normal member of the crew or take part in away missions was obviously held back by this fact. So by having the crew travel into the 29th century and find some technology that allows for the Doctor to leave the ship, they accomplished one of the more important tasks needed to improve the show. A two-parter with Ed Begley, Jr. as the villain of the week, Future's End did a lot of little things right, told a fun story, and gave the show a way around the EMH conundrum. Overall, I can't help but to appreciate it.
97. Spectre Of The Gun (TOS)
Season 3 of the original show was full of ups and downs, but even some of the downs were, to me, quite entertaining. Enter this bizarre western episode filled with half-built sets, intimidating lawmen, and some genuinely head-scratching moments. There's a weirdly unsettling atmosphere to this episode that sets it apart, and the little romance plotline for Chekov is one of the only times he was used properly as a character during the show. I love the resolution to the story, which was simple but not cheap. It's an odd duck amid a season full of generally disappointing episodes.
96. The Conscience Of The King (TOS)
As much as I enjoy this episode, I do feel like there were some missed opportunities with the way the episode is resolved, skirting around the morality issues and instead stepping into near-slasher movie material. The story of a repentant leader who sent 400 people to be executed in order to save 4000 others who might have likely died as well could have made for a great topic, and while it's briefly touched upon, they offer no sort of commentary and I am saddened by that. Regardless, the episode does pose the question, and features some suspenseful scenes and moments, and has a pair of great guest performances. Also, the setting and lighting looks terrific.
95. The Siege Of AR-558 (DS9)
Star Trek as a franchise is no stranger to battles, but very rarely are they shown so brutally as this. Also, Trek usually involves battles in,space, not ones on land. Surrounded by enemies, Federation troops are running low on rations and morale, and feel like they've been abandoned. It's a dark and upsetting sort of story, and the way the episode works Nog and Quark's relationship into the events - and the results of Nog's dedication - is very powerful. I enjoy light, frothy episodes as much as anyone else, but sometimes seeing the darker side of this universe is necessary. And this is a pretty dark episode.
94. Carbon Creek (ENT)
Unlike most people, I think Enterprise actually started off pretty well. And while I'd say I preferred season 1 over 2, this early episode from the latter stands out more than almost any from the preceeding season. T'Pol is prompted to tell a story, and proceeds to provide a lengthy account of her ancestor's time on Earth -- an event she claims happened before the officially recognized first contact between Vulcans and Humans. It's a fairly light episode with some charming moments, and the way the episode ends with a wink and a nod is a pretty satisfying resolution to the story.
93. Author, Author (VOY)
Exploring the rights of non-organic lifeforms isn't exactly new ground for Trek (TNG handled this subject wonderfully in The Measure Of A Man), but that doesn't keep this Doctor-centric episode from being a prime example of what the franchise is capable of when handling theoretical arguments -- this time over what it means to be a person. The Doctor fights for his right to have his writing acknowledged as being his own property, but since he's not technically a lifeform, the issue becomes legally difficult. It's a distressing episode, and Picardo's performance is particularly emotional and powerful.
92. The Menagerie (TOS)
Built around reworked footage and ideas from the original unaired pilot, The Menagerie is the only two-part episode from the original series, and features some of the most iconic aliens in the show. While the first part of this episode is better by most standards, the way this story unfolds and allows for some genuine mystery over the traitorous actions taken by Spock gives his character an added depth that was much needed this early on in the show. It's one of the most complete episodes in the series, poses some interesting questions, and gives us some great images and Spock moments.
91. The Forge / Awakening / Kir'Shara (ENT)
One of several multi-part episodes in the last season of Enterprise, this one focusing heavily on Vulcan dissidents, government corruption, and religious myth. A lot of people have issues with the treatment of Vulcans in this series, complaining that they're overly emotional and not nearly as goodie-goodie as they appeared before. I find this a welcome change, demonstrating just how far Humans and Vulcans alike have grown and changed over the years. This is one of relatively few genuinely strong Vulcan episodes in the franchise, and spreading it out over 3 episodes was a great idea.
90. The Adversary (DS9)
Basically the Star Trek take on John Carpenter's The Thing, The Adversary is one of the earlier examples of just how intimidating and harmful the Changelings can be when they choose to take actions into their own hands. A very atmospheric episode that plays out much like a horror movie, there's a constant sense of paranoia over who is who they claim to be. This episode also gives Odo a defining moment, as he must ultimately choose how far he's willing to go for Starfleet by facing off against one of his own kind, resulting in tragedy. It's a well-paced episode, and one that leaves you guessing.
89. Clues (TNG)
Who doesn't love a good mystery? They're really hard to walk away from, even in the future. That's the fact behind the burning questions that face the Enterprise crew after they discover they have lost time. A chunk of their lives has disappeared, and none of them know what happens -- except for Data, who seems to be hiding something from them. This is a fun little mystery that unravels in a satisfying way, resulting in a very Trekish solution to the whole issue. It's not a morality tale, it isn't mind-blowing...it's just a fun and interesting story told in a way that keeps you totally engaged.
88. Latent Image (VOY)
As I mentioned earlier while covering "Author, Author", Voyager and Star Trek as a whole has dealt with issues of rights of individuals many times. But when it comes to the treatment of the Emergency Medical Hologram (The Doctor), no other episode featured the gut-punch this one offered. While it all worked itself out in the end, this episode (much like "Clues") is shrouded in mystery, and once reality sets in and you discover what's happened, you as a viewer feel almost as betrayed as he does. It's not a terribly fun episode, but a very strong Doctor episode and not one easily shaken by fans of this character.
87. Similitude (ENT)
Many of the great films in history have been told like this. The episode starts with the revelation that one of the crew has passed away: it's revealed to be Trip. Dun dun dunnnn! Queue the horrid theme song. But unlike Citizen Kane or Sunset Boulevard, this episode takes place on a Starfleet vessel, so seeing how this might happen and be rectified makes the result both more and less interesting. The way around this works, and Trip has some wonderful and sad moments, even if you know what is going to happen by the end of the episode. It's one of the sadder episodes of the show, and a great Trip story.
86. Far Beyond The Stars (DS9)
Hardcore fans are probably scratching their heads over how low I have this episode, and part of me actually agrees with that. The episode departs almost completely from the main story, set in a sort of alternate universe where Sisko (not named Sisko in this episode) is a science fiction writer in the 1960s, struggling with racial issues of the time as he tries to publish stories that take place on a space station called...Deep Space Nine. It's a quiet, heartbreaking episode that Avery Brooks clearly poured his soul into, and the attention to period detail is pretty great. It's a great one-off episode that I still wish they hadn't clunkily revisited during the season 6 finale.
85. Disaster (TNG)
Disaster could have been a mess of an episode. And really, it kind of is, by design. But seeing how successfully they manage to weave in and out of storylines and tie everything into the central theme of characters being forced into unlikely and uncomfortable scenarios they individually would never hope to be in is pretty impressive. We see Picard forced to escort a group of children through the ship, Worf being forced to aid in the birth of a child, Data tear himself apart in order to save the ship...it's a busy episode but it never feels cluttered and each story resolves itself in a satisfying way. Especially Picard's.
84. The Tholian Web (TOS)
Kirk is trapped between dimensions and the Enterprise is slowly being trapped by the Tholians. As you can probably tell, the main theme of this episode is being trapped. Go figure. But it's not just that, there is a ticking clock aspect to this story, much like "The Corbomite Maneuver" keeping the pacing intense and engrossing. One of the stronger aspects of this episode comes from the interactions between Spock and McCoy, who usually have Kirk around to intermediate, but their conflicts and ultimate ability to work together are put on full display here and I really enjoyed that. Also, the finale is quite an entertaining end to that story.
83. In Purgatory's Shadow / By Inferno's Light (DS9)
The Dominion is one of the biggest aspects of the DS9 storyline, and the Dominion War took over a majority of the final third of the show. But while the Dominion were more passively villainous up until this point in the show, this two-parter focusing on their deceptive invasion was where the war really began. Full of surprising twists and clever build-ups, these episodes change your perception of several characters (Bashir and Martok in particular), and add to the paranoia brought about by the shapeshifting Changelings. While this was the episode that introduced certain issues with the future of Garak's character, what the episode did well it did VERY well, and was very intense.
82. The Galileo Seven (TOS)
Are you ready for a surprise? I really like Spock. Crazy, I know, but there you have it. That being said, episodes that focus more heavily on Spock are generally among my favorites, and seeing his logical decisions called into question (and not always work out) makes for a pretty interesting look at his clinical approach to leadership and decision-making, proving once and for all why Kirk deserves to be Captain. This isn't an episode that gets a while ton of attention, but I think it's one of Spock's stronger episodes, and the conclusion which runs almost contrary to his belief system, is also somehow oddly fitting and reveals more about Spock through his actions than he would ever purposely reveal about himself with words.
81. Shockwave (ENT)
The two-part season one finale / season 2 premiere that proved to a lot of people that Enterprise had a lot more to offer than they initially thought. As I said before, I loved season 1, but this finale was still stronger than 90% of the episodes before it, and that's partially due to how well it implemented recurring aspects of the story and actually felt like a complete and original concept. The temporal cold war is a largely unexplored and mysterious aspect of Starfleet's future, and one I enjoy seeing explored this heavily, and the downer part one finale really added weight to the whole ordeal. It's not the best multi-parter in the series, but a good indicator of the overall quality of the upcoming prolonged stories.
80. Mortal Coil (VOY)
I absolutely hated Neelix. This isn't exactly an unpopular opinion, as his stupid face, voice, and overwhelming cheeriness seemed to irritate most people, but I think that's an important thing to take into consideration when talking about his best episode. Neelix has a crisis of faith, and the entire episode deals with his coping and subsequent depressed nihilism following it. Never before (or after) had Neelix been so emotionally revealing, and while watching his suffer would have made for a fun episode for me, this method actually made me start to feel for him. Albeit temporarily. Either way, any episode that can make me care about something I don't care about obviously did something right.
79. Message In A Bottle (VOY)
One wouldn't think an episode that heavily features Andy Dick would even be watchable let alone massively entertaining, but if there's one thing I've learned from years of watching way too much TV, it's never to be surprised by being surprised. Trying desperately to make contact with Starfleet, Voyager sends The Doctor into the data stream to give a message to Earth, but he's intercepted by Romulans. The rest of the episode involves The Doctor (and Dick) messing with Romulans and trying to get through to Starfleet. It's a fun episode and the ending actually makes an impact on the continuing story of Voyager.
78. Civil Defense (DS9)
Before the final season turned Dukat into an over-the-top mess of a character, he made for a fantastic frenemy to Sisko and the crew of DS9. Offering assistance at times, while performing underhanded actions at others, Dukat didn't ever really fall into easy to define lines of villainy. And Civil Defense is one of the more entertaining treatments of this, as he wants to be bad but is forced into working with the good guys. It's a wonderful switcheroo, and the interplay between him and the crew is ceaselessly entertaining. Not to mention the fact the episode as a whole is very intense and beautifully-paced, offering a sort of alternate to the Holodeck episodes you'd normally see, as this time it's the station programming as a whole that's causing the problems.
77. A Taste Of Armageddon (TOS)
The original show, as much as I love it, wasn't exactly the most subtle with a lot of its messages, but when it hit on an idea in a suitably futuristic manner, it made them function perfectly within its universe. This episode is an anti-war story about two warring factions who have developed a system for combat that eliminates the messiness of war by simulating assaults, after which the "dead" have to turn themselves in to be cleanly executed. It's a bizarre idea, but one that perfectly mirrors the "man in ivory tower" view on the rich and powerful sending people to do their bidding. A bit corny, but it's a great example of a sci-fi concept being used to reflect more modern real-life ideas and sensibilities.
76. Frame Of Mind (TNG)
There have probably been too many "are they going mad???" episodes out there, but there are always points to be had for the episodes that do it well. Riker gets deep into character performing a play about a man in a mental institution, only to find he is actually in a mental institution, constantly flipping back and forth between realities. It's an incredible episode for Jonathan Frakes, as his performance is probably better here than anywhere else in the series. There's also some pretty clever edits and wonderful atmosphere, as the episode plays out sort of like if David Fincher had directed it. Not an impressive story as much as impressive execution.
75. Someone To Watch Over Me (VOY)
Of all the possible romantic entanglements in Voyager, the absolute best was one that was barely explored. Seven of Nine looks for dating tips (essentially) and finds help with The Doctor, who has developed a crush on her. The episode then follows their one-sided flirtatious exchanges, and the way it all plays out is very bittersweet. These two had such great chemistry, and had this become an actual relationship it may not have worked out as well as imagined, but I still can't help but to feel this was a missed opportunity and about 4000× better than the relationship they force-fed us in the final season.
74. The Pegasus (TNG)
When it comes to one-off performances, TNG was full of great actors and characters, but few quite rise to the level of Terry O'Quinn as Riker's old captain. This is a pretty standard episode for the series, involving an Admiral who thinks they're doing what's best for Starfleet by breaking protocol and taking matters into their own hands. What is with Starfleet Admirals, anyway? This all puts Riker's past and present loyalties into question, and forces him into a very difficult and uncomfortable position. It's a simple enough episode that works thanks to the acting from O'Quinn and Frakes, who both knock it out of the park.
73. Shore Leave (TOS)
There were some really great light episodes of the original series, and while this isn't quite on the level of the Tribbles episode, I really can't say anything bad about this one. Kirk and his crew land on a planet that seems to have a hallucinatory effect on them, as they are greeted with fantastical things and people who couldn't possibly be actually there. But they are. It's a great fantasy episode that gives McCoy a love interest, which is rare enough on its own. Sometimes taking a break from more heavy subjects is welcome, and for that Shore Leave is (fittingly) one of the better episodes.
72. Homefront / Paradise Lost (DS9)
Paranoia, yet again, is one of the prime subjects brought on by the Dominion when the Changelings feel the need to get personally involved, and seeing the entire planet reach this level of hysterics over the actions of only a few beings makes for a very important message regarding perspective and not allowing terrorists to have power over your lives. When it comes to Changelings being personally involved, this is one of the most damaging and effective stories they're involved in, and seeing even the likes of Sisko get sucked into this hysteria makes it feel all the more serious. A great two-parter with a haunting and uplifting finale.
71. The Corbomite Maneuver (TOS)
One of the first episodes of the show, and one that really exemplifies what Trek is all about. Facing a no-win scenario with courage, and resolving issues with other species through diplomacy and a desire for discovery. It's all very satisfying, and is one of the best early examples of what the franchise has to offer. Sometimes the bad guys are really evil, other times not so much. As far as conflict resolution goes, this is a teensy bit cornier than I usually prefer, but it came at a time when the show was still trying to find its footing, and I think it landed pretty well.
70. Remember Me (TNG)
Beverly Crusher episodes were rarely any good, which is a shame because she was a likable character. But this episode which features her being slowly isolated from the rest of the crew, alone on the Enterprise as the universe literally shrinks around her, is not only one of her best episodes, but one of the highlights of what might be the show's best season. This is a powerful episode that utilizes the characters well, telling a story that mirrors Beverly's fear of isolation as she faces the inevitable departure of her son from the ship.
69. Cause And Effect (TNG)
Starting off with a bang, this episode instantly gets your attention as a horrible incident occurs which leads to the destruction of the Enterprise. Then everything resets, as if nothing had ever happened. Toying with a time travel concept that keeps the crew in an infinite loop, you might think this episode could get boring as you see the same events take place again and again with only minor differences, but you'd be mistaken. This is a clever episode full of great mystery and puzzle-solving moments, and the Enterprise explosion stands out as one of the more shocking openings in the series.
68. This Side Of Paradise (TOS)
There's something about the way Nimoy plays Spock that makes us want to see him break. He's so stoic but endearing, we want to see him smile every once in a while, and that's one of the major appeals of this episode. When the crew land on a planet, they begin to act differently -- carefree, happy, and this is upsetting to Kirk, as he sees his entire crew essentially commit the most passive mutiny you could imagine. And one of these people is Spock. The resolution of this episode forces you to consider if what was done was right or wrong, and when you combine that with Nimoy's performance you get a pretty great hour of television.
67. Death Wish (VOY)
And now we've come to the first Q episode on the list. The Q are a funny sort of being, as they're pretty much exactly what you'd get if you gave a person immortality, omnipotence, and the ability to do anything they wanted with a click of the finger. With that sort of power, you can imagine they'd get bored easily -- and for some, depressed. This episode focuses on a Q's right to leave the continuum and die. There's some great imagery here, and of the small handful of Voyager Q episodes, this is easily the best. It's dark, sometimes funny, and gives both Q and Janeway a lot of great material to work with.
66. The Magnificent Ferengi (DS9)
A massively popular Ferengi episode that I can't help but to love. There aren't many really good Ferengi episodes out there, but this is the one that stands out by far the most. Featuring pretty much every Ferengi character we get to know throughout DS9, the episode focuses on a hostage exchange between a ragtag group of Ferengi and the Dominion themselves. I've said it before but the final seasons of DS9 can get pretty dark, and having comedic episodes like this is always a welcome change. This just happens to be one of the best comedic episodes in all of Star Trek, and a great showcase for some Ferengi sillines.
65. Judgment (ENT)
Unjust tribunal episodes aren't terribly rare in Star Trek, but just like with anything, it all comes down to how well it's handled and not whether it's the most terribly original idea. This one focuses on inaccurate accusations thrown at Captain Archer by a Klingon desperate to keep his honor intact, and the defense provided by an apathetic Klingon who has become disillusioned by the Empire's justice system. It's a great Klingon episode in a series that never quite gave them enough to do, and the way it wraps itself up was actually pretty surprising and powerful in a lot of ways. This is one of the best Archer episodes, as well as one of the best for Klingons.
64. The Drumhead (TNG)
But even as good as the last one was, this is an even better trial episode. Yet again we have a sort of renegade, out of control Admiral with a warped sense of morality, wielding her power like a chainsaw cutting down anyone who dares oppose her. But she meets her match with Picard. There are a lot of moving parts in this episode, from the interactions between the retired Admiral and Picard, the unjust incriminating of a young Starfleet cadet, the paranoia and bloodlust stirred up in Worf, but mainly it all comes down to the incredible final monologue by Patrick Stewart. This is a powerful and aggravating episode with incredible performances all around.
63. Waltz (DS9)
Gul Dukat is my favorite villain in the franchise, and while I don't care for the direction they took the character following this episode, it doesn't take away from just how great he was in this one. Here we see Dukat and Sisko crash landing on a planet together. Sisko is hurt, and Dukat takes care of him, only there's something going on below the surface. I don't want to spoil anything for people who haven't see the show yet, but the revelation and final moments of this episode still gives me the chills. This is a great dialogue-heavy character episode that reveals a lot about Dukat and how he justifies his actions, both past and present.
62. Dear Doctor (ENT)
One of the things I hear people complain about with this show is among the reasons I actually do like it. Since this series follows early Starfleet, their rules of engaging alien civilizations are still in their infancy, as they have no Prime Directive to go off of. This makes episodes like this one stand out to me, as it lays the groundwork for the rules to come, and the moral dilemma facing Dr. Phlox is one that comes across well through Billingsley's performance. Just like the best Trek, this episode poses difficult questions and gives answers they can only presume to be right. It's powerful and one of the best stories of the first season.
61. Ship In A Bottle (TNG)
There was a question burning in he back of my mind throughout the 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons of the show and that was "I wonder what happened to Moriarty?" A question that got an answer in its season 6 sequel, which brings back the holographic character who has felt abandoned and lied to by Picard. It's a great sequel as it never paints Moriarty as being unjustified in his villainy, and features enough layers in its cerebral execution to make your head spin. In spite of only being featured in two episodes, I still consider Moriarty to be one of the better villains in the show, and the episodes surrounding him are pretty wonderful.
60. The Doomsday Machine (TOS)
Giant doomsday weapons and life-threatening forces are pretty common, but for Star Trek to face one that is unrelenting and without conscience is fairly uncommon. The Enterprise faces off against a terrifying machine capable of wiping out pretty much anything it comes across. They pick up a Commodore whose ship was destroyed by this force, and he comes out alive but slightly mad. This Captain Ahab character pretty much owns the episode, and the way his obsession for revenge completely consumes him makes for one of the best one-off characters in the franchise. It's a great episode full of tension and incredible acting.
59. Whispers (DS9)
O'Brien MUST suffer. It's kind of a big part of his character, whether it's overtly (by being tortured of the like), or just being married to Keiko, which honestly is probably even worse than any torture he endures. This is probably the first episode in the show that feels torturous for him, as everyone starts acting really weird around him and treating him oddly, which is handled well in the visuals, implementing dark, unconventional camera angles. It's an unsettling episode and the way it all turns out is equally sad and unexpected. One of the first great episodes of Deep Space Nine, and one of the best outings for O'Brien.
58. Cogenitor (ENT)
One of the many things I hear people complain about with Enterprise is how dumb Trip is. That, to me, is one of his strengths as a character, representing a sort of counterpoint to the infallibility of Starfleet. And this episode might be the best possible example of just how flawed (and therefore effective and beleivable) Trip is. I won't spoil the outcome, but this is one of the great pre-Prime Directive episodes of the show as it covers the topic in a way that works no matter how you cut it. It's sweet, sad, and an amazing direction to take Trip as a character. Enterprise handled these quiet stories very well.
57. Tapestry (TNG)
Ahh, Q. You always know how to make an episode extra special, don't you? Picard is faced with a life-threatening situation, when Q takes him back in time to give him a chance to change the actions he took as a young man that might prevent his death. The results don't exactly work out how he had hoped. In a lot of ways, this episode plays out like a Christmas special (Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life, take your pick), but that just goes to show how timeless these stories are. Even in the future and in space we can find them and they still work. It's fun, looks great, and the alternate future it creates for Picard is unforgettable.
56. The Defector (TNG)
I've never been a fan of the Romulans as a villainous race, but if they were given this level of depth throughout the franchise, I'm sure my opinion of them would be a lot higher. An episode full of twists and turns about a supposed Romulan defector who claims to know of plans to escalate the war between them and Starfleet, there are few details I can give about this episode that wouldn't risk ruining the experience for a first time viewer. This is one of the only Romulan characters I ever actually came to care about in the series, and that's due in large part to James Sloyan's terrific and emotional performance. This is one of the best episodes of an amazing season of TNG.
55. The Quickening (DS9)
Dr. Julian Bashir's arc is one of many ups and downs. Starting out as an arrogant young doctor with the power of life and death in his hands, and slowly evolving into a more mellow and personable member of the DS9 crew...and then he becomes a suprehuman, but I try to forget that part. Either way, this is one of the best examples of him at his lowest point, humbled by a situation his hubris could not match. It's a sobering and effective drama, watching Bashir try his hardest and coming up short to save so many lives. There aren't many deeply moving episodes featuring Bashir, but this one really made us feel for him as he desperately tries to accomplish what he once felt he could do with little to no effort.
54. Sarek (TNG)
Sarek is one of my favorite supporting characters in Star Trek, and this episode is a big part of why that is. I find the way his Vulcan nature so deeply supresses his ability to show any sort of deeply-felt affection tragic, and the scene where he breaks down at the end through Picard is one of the saddest character moments in the entire show. As a whole, this is a pretty odd episode with some great acting and deep insight into Spock's dad, and the difficulty that faces Vulcans when they want to express themselves but are too entrenched in their cultural philosophy to do so. Mark Lenard was terrific, and this is my favorite appearance for the character.
53. Blink Of An Eye (VOY)
Voyager was a ridiculously uneven show for me, but at its best it resulted in some fascinating (albeit sometimes flawed) episodes. Blink Of An Eye, while mathematically ludicrous, still stands as one of the best dramatic stories the series had to offer, a different view on the effects of accidental first contact. Voyager makes an impact on a culture whose time passes by at a much faster rate than theirs, all the while accidentally causing problems for the planet by their sheer existence in the skies above them. Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from Lost) appears in a terrific performance as a visiting astronaut. Again, the way the episode functions is flawed, but it still works both dramatically and thematically.
52. Space Seed (TOS)
The first appearance of the most famous and popular villain in all of Star Trek's 50+ years: Khan. While I obviously enjoy the episode quite a bit, I don't think it holds up quite as well as an individual story as it does a wonderful job at setting up one of my favorite movies. There's no doubt Montalban has serious charm and presence in this episode, as he truly feels like a superior version of humans, but without all the pesky compassion. Seeing Khan almost singlehandedly take over the ship never feels ridiculous, as he is a mental and physical superior in ways that never feel outrageous. It's a great single episode, for sure, but it wouldn't be held in such high regard if it weren't for The Wrath Of Khan.
51. Journey To Babel (TOS)
Why is this one higher than Sarek, when I just said that was my favorite episode for the character? Well, I liked Sarek more in the episode Sarek, but I liked this Sarek episode better than Sarek. Aren't you glad I cleared that up? This is the first appearance of Spock's dad, but that's not all of what makes it so great. The intriguing and dynamic interspecies relations and mystery surrounding the events of the episode make for a strong central story, and the incredibly awkward and dispassionate exchanges between Spock and Sarek reveal more about their father-son relationship than anything overt ever could. It's a brilliant pairing of A and B plots, and all comes to a satisfying and tense conclusion.
50. The Naked Time (TOS)
This episode is a sort of anomaly, as in TNG when they made a similar episode focusing on characters losing their inhibitions, we didn't have a grasp of who the characters were and it made it tough to know if they were behaving irrationally or not. Yet in this original episode, it works just fine. In fact, it works really well, and winds up revealing a lot about the characters we'd later come to care about. It's a funny but also suspenseful episode that gives most every lead character some good moments, from Spock breaking down, to Sulu going crazy with a sword. It's all full of fun and memorable stuff, even that horrible Eileen song.
49. Babel One / United / The Aenar (ENT)
There were a handful of great episodes near the end of Enterprise, and one of the favorite aspects of the show for me was in how well it handled the Andorians, which still stand as one of my very favorite aliens in the entire franchise. This three-parter handles the difficult relationship they have as a species with Tellarites (something that wouldn't be resolved even during the time of the original series), and the war between these races that's being manufactured by some deception. It would be a pity to spoil it, so I won't, but this is one of the best episodes for Shran, who's one of the best characters in the franchise.
48. The Measure Of A Man (TNG)
One of the defining moments of the second season of TNG was in this episode which tackles the difficulties facing Data, who Starfleet still consider to be property and not an actual person. A scientist wants to perform test and experiments on Data, as he's a highly advanced mechanism, but is met with resistance by the crew of the Enterprise who feel it's unjust to treat him like he doesn't have agency. What follows is a wonderful court case to determine Data's "humanity". A classic episode with a great sci-fi concept built within the universe to establish internal logic. This is an especially great episode for Picard and Riker, who are forced to face off together in court.
47. Azati Prime (ENT)
It's pretty difficult to isolate individual episodes from season 3 of Enterprise, as they all pretty much bleed into each other following the Xindi storyline that encompasses the entire season. That being said there are some particular moments that stand out, and one of the big ones is this episode where Enterprise go all out in an attempt to destroy the superweapon that threatens all life on Earth. It's a big episode with plenty of "oh s@#$" moments, not the least of which being the ending which lays the seeds for an unlikely partnership, and a revelation that things are not at all as they seem in regards to the events which led to the construction of the superweapon.
46. The Wire (DS9)
The surprise of the century, but I consider Elim Garak to be one of the best characters in all of Star Trek. A mysterious, gleefully devious character who views lying as a sport and skill worth exercising and finely tuning, Garak didn't really take off until season 2, and this is his first great episode. This is also the episode that best establishes Garak and Bashir's weird friendship, as Garak begins to suffer from some sort of illness and Bashir resolves to help him. Their exchanges are great, and the advancements made in Garak's character here is great. It's a totally character driven episode, and one of the better ones in DS9.
45. Arena (TOS)
Alright, so I'm gonna come right out and say it: I don't love this episode because it's conventionally good. I love it because it's absolutely hilarious and corny in all the best kind of ways. The Gorn is a hilarious rubber alien with a funny voice and a sparkly onesie, and he is forced to face off in combat with Kirk, and the resulting episode is full of great little moments like when Kirk gets giant paper mache boulders thrown at him or when he builds a cannon out of raw materials. This is a cheesefest of the highest pedigree, and it's for that reason I love this episode so much. Also, it has a nice little message at the end for people who like morals attached to their stories. Lovely.
44. Once More Unto The Breach (DS9)
In spite of making regular appearances throughout the original Star Trek series, movies, and TNG, I wasn't crazy about many Klingon storylines or characters until Deep Space Nine -- at least not upon reflection. That being said, in DS9 we're introduced to my favorite Klingon, and we even see one make his first appearance in the series since the first season of the original Star Trek (even played by the same actor). Kor is name, and this is his swan song. A wonderful final appearance by the aging Klingon who is far past his glory days, this episode is emotional and tense, giving an overlooked character (as well aging Worf and Martok) plenty of great material to work with.
43. Living Witness (VOY)
The way we remember past events makes for an interesting topic, but seeing Voyager take on this subject and pull it off as well as it does is even more interesting. I don't know how clear I've made this, but I was not a huge fan of the show, but I am fond of the concept behind it and many of the individual episodes. This one, set hundreds of years past the events of Voyager, shows the Doctor waking up in a civilization defined by their encounter with Voyager, and the wild inaccuracies that have been perpetrated by this alien culture as a means to assert their innocence and superiority. It's a lot of fun seeing the crew act all evil, but an even more clever take on how we choose to remember things in our own favor.
42. The Offspring (TNG)
One of the greatest strengths of The Next Generation was in how emotional it often could be. No other Trek series made me feel as deeply for the characters and events as TNG, even sometimes manufacturing one-off characters, getting us to care about them (generally through one or more of the main cast), and then killing them off in tragic ways. And this episode is one of the most emotional of that variety in the whole franchise. Data creates a daughter, teaches her about life, and Starfleet takes an interest in her and wants to run tests, as they often do. It's a heartbreaking episode and the finale still makes me tear up, especially when Data says...what he says.
41. Amok Time (TOS)
Quite possibly the single most referenced and "important" episode in Star Trek history, this is the one that explained Vulcans, coined the salute, and even featured the frequently imitated DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN fight theme used in Cable Guy, Futurama, and about a billion other things. This is also the first ever mention of Vulcan mating rituals. Basically, everything most people know about Vulcans comes from this episode. As an individual story it's one of the better episodes in the show, but whee it really shines is in how far it took Vulcans and Spock. It's hard to over-emphasize the massive influence this episode has had on pop culture as a whole.
40. Family (TNG)
Following the destructive events of The Best Of Both Worlds where Picard becomes assimilated and then de-similated by the Borg, he and the rest of the crew need a bit of a breather, so they all spend time with their families. While the Worf story with his adoptive human parents and some of the others are fine, it's really the Picard part of the story that makes this episode so great. Picard and his brother have a difficult relationship, and it all culminates in a scene that's wonderful and sad and beautifully acted. To think Gene Roddenberry hated the idea of this episode just goes to show how he was basically the same as George Lucas when it comes to being out of touch with the up-sides of the franchise he created, because this was great.
39. For The Uniform (DS9)
Following the betrayal of a trusted member of the DS9 crew, Sisko goes on a revenge-laced crusade to snuff out the Maquis insurgence, and is willing to do just about anything to see it through. We've seen Sisko go dark, but it's in this episode in particular that he really shows just how low he's willing to go to do what he perceives as right. It's a thrilling chase episode full of little twists and maneuvers that keep Sisko on his toes, and the finale reveals a lot about Sisko as a whole. This is also probably the best Eddington episode, a character I feel gets frequently overlooked amid a show with tons of great supporting characters.
38. Hard Time (DS9)
Of all the "O'Brien must suffer" episodes, this is the one that offers the biggest gut-punch. When unjustly imprisoned by an alien society who use slowed-down incarceration (a few hours in the real world could be months in their prison) as punishment for crimes, O'Brien walks away a totally changed man who's carrying horrible guilt over something he keeps secret from everyone. Not only is it sad to see O'Brien in such an emotional state, but the revelation itself is one that doesn't leave you feeling particularly happy. This is the finest acting Colm Meaney has to offer in the show, and it's a great drama hinged on this performance and character.
37. Whom Gods Destroy (TOS)
And we're back to the silly original series episodes that I love. Don't get me wrong, there are soon truly brilliant episodes of the original Trek, but it also features some bonkers and just outright ridiculous episodes that make it all the more special. This one wouldn't be so fun if it weren't for one single aspect: Garth of Izar, the crazed ex-Starfleet hero who faces off against Kirk. This is an amazingly over-the-top performance by Steve Ihnat, who singlehandedly makes this one of the most entertaining episodes in the franchise by sheer force of will. It's not an incredible story, in fact it's quite simple, but the character is one of the best and most magnetic villains in the franchise.
36. The Enterprise Incident (TOS)
Moral ambiguity wasn't really heavily featured in Star Trek (at least not among the lead characters) until Deep Space Nine, but in this third season original series episode about a Starfleet plot against the Romulans, we really begin to see the dark side of the supposed "good guys". From the beginning, this episode almost feels like it's taking place in the mirror universe, until you realize that's not the case and there are some truly sinister goings-on. It's obvious at this point in the show how little involvement Gene Roddenberry had with the show, and the result (as is often the case in this series) is all the better for it. It doesn't cop out, it's uncompromising, and makes you genuinely uncomfortable with what they're doing. It's brilliant.
35. The Trouble With Tribbles (TOS)
There were a handful of comedic episodes in the original show, but none of them quite matched this one. Also, this is the episode that introduced the world to Tribbles, one of the most referenced species in all of science fiction. It's a corny episode, but the Tribbles are fun (just being little furry balls that purr is fun to me, apparently) and the way they play into the story is actually pretty clever. There are some great character moments, and the whole cast seem like they're having a pretty good time. Not exactly the most amazing episode from a story perspective, but it's a great little nugget in the Trek universe.
34. Bride Of Chaotica! (VOY)
An episode I love for reasons that amount to little more than "because it was fuuuun", this episode is styled after the '30s and '40s Buster Crabbe serials (Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and the like) and forces the B.S. techno babble into the backseat to allow the audience to partake in a fun little adventure free from the seriousness of the series. It's (almost) all in black and white, features wonderful set designs and costuming that are spot-on in recreating this style and era, and even allows the ever-so-serious Janeway to take on a pretty entertaining role alongside Tom Paris and Harry Kim. It's not a smart sci-fi heavy episode, it's one I rarely see getting praised by fans, but I consider it one of the greatest successes of Voyager and a whole lot of fun.
33. Chain Of Command (TNG)
Early season 6 of TNG saw a low point in the series for me, but that all changed with this mid-season two-parter focusing on Cardassians and the capture of Jean-Luc Picard. While the episode surrounding Picard is strong enough, the real reason it's on this list is because of the events that take place in part 2 -- the interrogation and torture of Picard. In the second part we see a pair of the best performances in the entire franchise, with David Warner playing the malicious, manipulative, and oddly layered interrogator who seems bent on not just pumping Picard for information, but also completely destroying his will. It's a very dark and upsetting episode, and Stewart breaks your heart in his most intense performance of the series.
32. Twilight (ENT)
Even though I'm one of the defenders of Enterprise, I still find Captain Archer and Scott Bakula's performance to be an absolute bore. That being said, this memory loss story focusing heavily on him and T'Pol (another relatively uninteresting character) is one of the best character episodes of the series. Archer loses his ability to form new memories (gee, I wonder where they got that idea in the early 2000s?), and the episode finds him being taken care of in his old age by T'Pol, where the Xindi successfully managed to complete and operate their superweapon. It's a pretty sad episode that tries to emulate The Visitor and All Good Things, telling a simple story in a way that works and raises the stakes in the Xindi storyline.
31. In A Mirror Darkly (ENT)
One of the more entertaining episodes of Enterprise focusing entirely on the mirror universe version of the cast, this is a total fan service episode in every way. Bringing back several aspects from the original series, including tie-ins to The Tholian Web and Arena, as well as obviously retroactively laying the groundwork for Mirror, Mirror. With dozens of backstabbings and betrayals and just as many wonderful acting moments for pretty much everyone involved (Linda Park as Hoshi Sato seemed to be having a particularly fun time), this was a great opportunity for the cast to just go all-out and the esults are a total blast. One of the final episodes of the show and a great way to remind people of just what they would be missing due to its cancellation.
30. Demons / Terra Prime (ENT)
The unofficial finale of the show (since These Are The Voyages was pretty lackluster), this two-parter focuses on an uprising of xenophobic humans who try to start a revolution to separate Earth from the influence of aliens and their cultures. It's a wonderful and even relevant drama (which normally translate to the world of Trek poorly) that takes the extremes of the day and pushes them into a believable science fiction scenario. Peter Weller does a terrific job in this villainous role, playing a man whose paranoia and fear have pushed him to the level of being willing to commit genocide. It's a great way to end the show in a lot of ways, even if it wasn't the actual finale.
29. It's Only A Paper Moon (DS9)
Following the tragic events of The Siege Of AR-558, Nog has come back to DS9 physically and emotionally scarred. With a serious injury that's left him crippled and disillusioned, he sinks into the fantasy world of the holosuites, where he and Vic Fontaine run a night club, allowing Nog to feel like he has some actual control over his life, at least until the reality that he can't always stay hidden from the real world sinks in. It's a depressing and powerful character drama with an incredible lead performance by Aron Eisenberg as Nog. It's also the best use of Vic Fontaine, a character whose mere existence seems to irritate a lot of DS9 fans. But to me, this is great drama, and an incredible depiction of PTSD.
28. Elementary, Dear Data (TNG)
Ship In The Bottle was a fantastic, layered, complex, and emotionally satisfying conclusion to the long-stagnant Moriarty story, but it was his introduction that left the biggest impression on me. Not only was this arguably the first really great episode of The Next Generation, but it also helped push the show into more complex territory when it comes to its treatment of the villain. It's a lot of fun seeing Data and Geordi (back when Geordi was likable) play dress up, and even Dr. Pulaski manages to find a way to actually work within the episode. It's funny, clever, and a bunch of other words that mean it's good. This marked a turning point in the show.
27. Lower Decks (TNG)
An often overlooked final season episode of TNG that largely follows around a different group of characters than the main cast, and manages to make you care about these people in a short period of time -- just long enough to break your heart. The last 2 seasons of the show had some great episodes, but this is one of the most emotional. The way these characters interact with Picard, Worf, and Riker make for an interesting dynamic not often seen in the series, and allows us to see them all in a totally new light. Picard and Riker both come across as hard-asses, and Worf actually reveals a much softer side. But it's not just the main cast who work great here, but the supporting characters are all pretty great. A great ensemble character episode.
26. Distant Origin (VOY)
An alien species have a history that places them on Earth, as descendants of dinosaurs, but their society rejects this notion in favor of their own view of their history. Much like Living Witness, this episode tackles the subject of how society chooses to remember the past, and how those who live set in their beliefs not only feel challenged by new found facts, but also threatened. It's a simple episode, and one of the very best of the series, considering how wonderfully they handle this subject, and the absolutely downbeat finale. It's not an ending easily shaken, and some of the best storytelling in the series. It's only a shame they couldn't pull this off more frequently.
25. The Enemy Within (TOS)
Is this episode cheesy and kinda stupid? Absolutely, but it's all one of the first episodes of all of Trek that I saw, and was the source of the single reason my fiance decided to give the franchise a chance. That reason, by the way, is the ridiculous dog alien in the image I included. This is a super over-the-top episode with William Shatner just Shatnering the crap out of that script, and it's clear that they knew they hit on something special by having him play it so exagerratedly here. There are some interesting sci-fi concepts here, a really entertaining dual performance by Shatner, and a hilariously goofy dog in a horned space alien costume. Pretty much everything a Trek episode needs, really.
24. Sins Of The Father (TNG)
The first episode to really dig into Worf's past, and the single episode that best defines his arc for the remainder of the series -- and even into and throughout DS9. When Kurn, an aggressive Klingon who seems to have a few issues with Worf, shows up as part of a cross-cultural program, his presence and the revelations that follow drag Worf into the truths of an event that could destroy all public perception of Worf's bloodline in the eyes of the Empire. But nothing is at all how it seems. Corruption, cover-ups, deception, and honor are all over this episode, and the compromises that are forced onto Worf by the end have and lasting impression. It's a huge episode not only for how good it is, but for how it shapes a storyline for years to follow.
23. All Our Yesterdays (TOS)
The last truly great episode of the original series, this episode features a lot of the things that make the show special. It's got time travel, Spock being mad for eating meat, other things. All three of those add up to what we refer to as the Star Trekfecta. The set design is cool, and how each character is given their own story arc here lets everything come together nicely. Spock has a romance plot, McCoy - stuck back in time with Spock - is seriously injured, Kirk is imprisoned by paranoid people on a witchhunt...There's a good deal happening here, but it never gets muddled. This really should have been the final episode of the series instead of the weak Turnabout Intruder.
22. Trials And Tribble-ations (DS9)
As wonderful as the original Tribble episode may be, it really couldn't hold a candle to this episode, even if just for the insanely good editing found within. Sisko is approached by time travel detectives (I know that's not what they're called, but this is more fun) who are questioning him over what part he and his crew took in an event that might have altered the timeline. He then tells the story of how he and his crew were zapped back in time 200 years, and how they managed to play into the events of the original series episode The Trouble With Tribbles. This is a total fan service episode that inserts the DS9 cast into backgrounds and foregrounds of scenes from the original episode, and just has a lot of fun with the premise overall. Loads of fun, and a great piece of clever editing and storytelling.
21. I, Borg (TNG)
The first step in a long process of essentially neutering the Borg as a genuine threat, this season 5 episode may have accidentally steered the show in the wrong direction in regards to the future of the Borg, but still stands on its own as a wonderful bit of development. Hugh, a Borg (named by Geordi) who has become isolated from the collective, is captured by Enterprise and tested on so they might learn more about these cybernetic space zombies. Picard and Guinan, who have both suffer great loss at the hands of the Borg, eventually begin to see Hugh as more than just a menacing drone. It's a sweet episode, but also says a lot about Picard and his ability to forgive. It's also one of the few episodes to actually utilize Guinan.
20. Damage (ENT)
Following the crippling events of Azati Prime, this episode features a broken and bruised Enterprise forced to make an awful decision to continue their mission to prevent the destruction of Earth. They come across a ship with the resources they need to repair their warp engines, but when the captain of that ship tells them if they gave up these supplies they would essentially be dead in space, Archer is forced to confront his own morals and make a decision that could very well result in the deaths of an entire crew. It's a tough choice for anyone to make, especially when you keep in mind how essential it is that Archer does what needs to be done. It's excruciatingly dark, morally challenging, and haunting.
19. Tacking Into The Wind (DS9)
To me the end of DS9 was a bit of a mixed bag, as it juggled a handful of stories at once and only a few of these are actually really interesting. But this episode, right before the finale, is more focused on the power shift within the Klingon Empire, as Gowron begins to behave irrationally and put the lives of his people at needless risk for his own gain. Gowron is a useful character within the TNG and DS9 Klingon storyline, and this final appearance of his is the natural conclusion to this story. It's a focused episode with plenty of intense moments, as both Worf and Martok face down the fact that Gowron needs to be stopped before he destroys the Empire. A fantastic episode in pretty much every way.
18. The Andorian Incident (ENT)
Alright, so I'm definitely in the minority on this one, but this is my favorite episode of Enterprise. One of the first episodes of the show, and the one that reintroduces us to the Andorians (Shran!) and cuts to the heart of the Vulcans. A lot of people hate how this show handled Vulcans, but I love how flawed and dishonest they were. Just like humans, they had a lot of growing to do. This is a perfect way to define two different prominent species in the show, it's intense, has one hell of an ending, and establishes the relationship that would form between Archer and Shran. I love this episode, and consider it the best of Enterprise.
17. Q Who (TNG)
And here we have another excellent introduction episode, only this time focusing on the Borg. Q shows up on Enterprise and claims to want to become part of the crew. Picard says he doesn't want or need Q, to which Q responds by sending them deep into uncharted territory to meet the Borg. Q, as it turns out, is not only a very bored individual, but also pretty petty. But once Picard and his crew are pulled in by the Borg, we find out that maybe Starfleet aren't quite as prepared for the perils of space that they think they are. It's an episode of foreboding, bringing the Borg into the franchise, the most menacing and ruthless race in the series. It's a little slow to start, but once the Borg come in, this episode is absolutely amazing.
16. Darmok (TNG)
Equal parts one of the most perfect encapsulations of the heart of Star Trek and one of the most inherently flawed episodes in the franchise, as logistically the culture and language of the species it's focused on doesn't make any sense. Picard is dragged down to a planet where he meets the captain of a different ship whose manner of speech is...well, a bit odd. Without the helpful aid of a universal translator, these two have to come together and learn to communicate and find common ground. It's the story of two people from totally different corners of the universe who are willing to go to pretty much any lengths to learn from each other, communicate with each other, and build a connection between their cultures.
15. Sacrifice Of Angels (DS9)
The final part of the multi-episode story arc beginning at the end of season 5, where Sisko and his crew are forced out of Deep Space Nine by the fast-approaching Dominion/Cardassian threat. After regrouping and putting together an assault team, this episode focuses on the battle for control ove DS9. It's a huge episode with tons of emphasis on combat and military tactics, but also features several defining character moments. This is, to me, the logical conclusion to Dukat and his story arc, and this is the episode that establishes Damar as more than just a side character and sets Sisko's fate in stone. It's an intense spectacle and one of the biggest episodes in the franchise from a thematic perspective.
14. Mirror, Mirror (TOS)
Watching the original Star Trek through the first time, I was honestly amazed at how much it influenced and inspired so many pockets of pop culture. I just didn't know exactly how far it's reach was, and that was still considering what I already knew about the series going in. And this episode, which directly follows Amok Time, is no different. This is the evil alternate universe episode that brought in the mirror universe goatee that's become a common trope, but this episode is far more than that. The mirror episodes are generally pretty wonderful, and this is the first and best of the bunch. Seeing everyone playing up their evil side is a lot of fun, and the ending is actually pretty surprising and effective.
13. Yesterday's Enterprise (TNG)
I didn't like Tasha Yar as a character, and I really don't like Denise Crosby as an actress. But after her season 1 death, apparently her absence was a big deal to some people, and Crosby's own regrets with having given up on the series ultimately led them to bring her back for a more satisfying resolution to her story. And this episode, built around a time travel device that puts the cast into a sort of alternate universe where Starfleet are in a losing war against the Klingon Empire. It's a very dark episode with a great look (Enterprise is really cool looking in this episode), a great guest performance by the often-villainous Christopher McDonald, and a wonderfully emotional resolution.
12. Balance Of Terror (TOS)
Basically a submarine chase thriller in space, this episode focuses on Starfleet's first encounter with Romulans (the distant cousins of Vulcans) for about 100 years, who have passed into the neutral zone in their cloaked ship. Pride, territorial instincts, and need to assert superiority all play into Kirk's choice to give chase, which has some upsetting consequences. Guest starring Mark Lenard (who later took on the role of Sarek) as the unnamed Romulan Commander, the episode builds this character and establishes Romulans in a big way. It's thrilling, tragic, and features two spaceship captains with respect for each other, put into a life or death scenario against one another. Season one TOS was the highlight of the show, and this episode is right near the top.
11. Improbable Cause / The Die Is Cast (DS9)
The two-part episode that pretty much established Garak as the best character in DS9, this episode focuses on a terrorist attack on Garak's tailor shop on Deep Space Nine, which leads him to take off to track down the guilty party. I don't want to go into the plot too much, because there are twists and some really great moments that I would hate to spoil, but suffice it to say this is some of the best storytelling and development in the series. Garak has some amazing moments and lines in this episode, a good part of his nature is revealed in part 2, and just the right amount of his history is revealed here to pique your interest but not give too much away. And the way he interacts with Odo during this episode is phenomenal. I don't have much else to say beyond that, but if you're a fan of Garak, this will undoubtedly be one of your favorite episodes in the franchise.
10. The Devil In The Dark (TOS)
One of the ultimate "misunderstood evil" episodes in the franchise, The Devil In The Dark paints an image of some sort of monster stalking the mines of a planet, killing workers indiscriminately and then slinking back into the darkness to lie in wait for their next prey. Obviously it's not nearly as simple as that, but part of the appeal of this episode does spring from its straightforwardness. It's remarkably simple both in conceit and execution, but the way the story unfolds and allows these two different species to learn to co-exist for their mutual benefit is the perfect idealized representation of the franchise as a whole. It's not necessarily profound, but it is one of the best encapsulations of the main driving force behind the wonderful future found in Star Trek. Oh, and this was Leonard Nimoy's favorite episode, so that's cool.
9. The Way Of The Warrior (DS9)
One of the most cinematic and eventful episodes in all of Star Trek (you might notice me making blanket praise terms here near the end, but it's only because they're earned), this is the episode of DS9 that brought in Worf and (kind of) Martok and kicked off a storyline pitting the Klingons against Starfleet yet again. It's weird to me how rarely I see this episode get focused on as one of the best the franchise has to offer, as it sets the tone for the latter half of DS9, and features a powerful and thrilling story that doesn't wrap itself up in a neat little bow -- it lets that sense of dread linger. The episode gives pretty much every main character plenty to work with, creates a very tense atmosphere, and honestly improves on Worf as a character in every way from the way he was handled in TNG. Even though I loved a good deal of DS9 up to this point, this episode marked a serious change in all the right ways.
8. Duet (DS9)
Yay, another DS9 episode! Coming into the show at the end of a very uneven first season, this episode focuses on the interrogation of a captured Cardassian - who may or may not be a disguised leader guilty of the torture and murder of countless Bajoran civilians - by Kira Nerys, who is understandably not a big fan of the guy. Supposedly this was a late-season bottle episode written for the purpose of filling a time slot without too big of a budget, but the result was a powerfully acted, dialogue-heavy character drama that escalated the show beyond just another Star Trek off-shoot and honed in on one of its defining lead characters -- Kira. The plot is full of twists and turns as more and more truths and lies are revealed, and the finale hits hard. This is a fantastic drama, and the first genuinely great episode of DS9.
7. Year Of Hell (VOY)
The initial plan for season 4 of Voyager was, reportedly, a season-long arc following the "year of hell" surrounding Annorax and his time-altering ship, and the chaos and death that Voyager hit when their paths meet. But a skiddish CBS basically forced the showrunners into a more episodic approach, and this birthed the two-parter where all the mayhem was crammed into an hour and a half of incredible science fiction. This is the episode that defines the show and what it could have accomplished, had it serialized its story more. Characters die, the situation grows increasingly more and more dire, the villain (played brilliantly by Kurtwood Smith) is layered and menacing, and there are some truly badass Janeway moments here. This is the pinnacle of Voyager in every way, and I genuinely wish more of the show had risen to this level. This was all of that potential, finally met at last.
6. The Best Of Both Worlds (TNG)
Another two-parter, this episode focuses on the war with the Borg. After Q Who, there was a time bomb just waiting to go off, and the lingering threat of the Borg was looming over Starfleet, but it wasn't until the end of season 3 that this came to a head. While most of the tension and memorable moments are found in part 1 (the cliffhanger provided probably the most badass moment in the show, courtesy of Will Riker), the legitimate sense of dread and actual consequences are felt in part 2 after Riker has been forced to take over command of the ship. The Borg are some of the most intimidating villains ever conceived in science fiction, and this is their biggest and best appearance. It's dark, menacing, action-heavy, and introduced the biggest and most frequently quoted line ever spoken by the Borg. Basically, everything from here on could be #1 and I wouldn't disagree.
5. The City On The Edge Of Forever (TOS)
The pinnacle of the original Star Trek, this season 1 episode features Kirk and Spock chasing a crazed McCoy through a time portal and winding up in 20th century Earth, where they try to blend in and Kirk falls for a humanitarian played by Joan Collins. You would think an episode that happens mostly within the confines of a 20th century setting and mostly devoid of overt science fiction elements would be some of the the best in all of Trek, but it happened due to the chemistry between Shatner and Collins. In spite of their relatively little screentime together, they had a wonderful relationship and the way the episode wrapped itself up and forced Kirk to face a dark truth was made all the more powerful because of it. It's a beautiful drama with wonderful performances, an amazing story, and an ending that hits like a hammer.
4. The Visitor (DS9)
Immediately following the action and story-heavy season 4 premiere The Way Of The Warrior, this episode slows down and instead decides to tell one of the saddest and most emotional stories in the entire franchise. What blows me away about this one the most is how I cared so much about what was happening in an episode that's largely focused on Jake Sisko, one of the most boring characters in the show. Basically, Jake witnesses Ben zapped out of existence, but still sees him appear and disappear again at random intervals over time. The episode follows him for years as he becomes obsessed with finding his father again. It's an episode that gets me in tears and keeps me there for far too long. This is a powerful episode with amazing performances and writing, and just solidified the start of season 4 of DS9 as one of the highlights of the entire franchise.
3. All Good Things... (TNG)
Hey, look, another episode that gets me all emotional. Star Trek doesn't have the best track record when it comes to their finales, with only this and part of DS9's finale really working for me (the rest kinda suck), but I consider this to be among the greatest TV finales I've ever seen. Coming full circle and finding Picard yet again "on trial for humanity" by Q, this episode shoves Picard back and forth through time, allowing us to see where the crew wind up years later, and getting to share one last adventure with them. It's incredibly tense and equally emotional seeing how far Picard has come over the course of the show, and works as a satisfying conclusion to pretty much every aspect of the show. The absolute best moment is, quite fittingly, that final scene where Picard decides to sit down with his crew to a game of cards. It's a lovely moment that caps off a wonderful series.
2. In The Pale Moonlight (DS9)
Generally accepted as the best episode of DS9 and, well, yeah. This is about as dark as you can possibly get in Star Trek, to the point many people have used this as an example of the "destruction" of the franchise. The framework for this episode is built around Sisko lamenting the continuous losses by Starfleet in the Dominion War, and the increasing need to get the neutral Romulans involved. He and Garak hatch a plan to get the Romulans involved through deceptive means. That's all I'll say about it, because it's the incredible and chilling way this story unfolds that makes it so special. This is an episode that focuses on Sisko's struggle with his morality, forced to make unsavory decisions, and is forced to live with them. This is also one of the best Garak episodes, and features an incredible minor guest performance by Stephen McHattie, who delivers a line that's so menacing and over-the-top, I still get the chills when I think about it. This is a genuinely haunting episode, it gets under your skin, and forces you to really consider what you'd be willing to do - or sacrifice - for the perceived greater good.
1. The Inner Light (TNG)
Yeah, this should come as a surprise to no one who reads what I write about Star Trek (so, like, 5 people won't be surprised), but here we are. I feel somehow like I've written about this episode a great deal in the past, but since it's #1 in the list, I'm not going to cheap out and just say "omg is was sooo goooood" and try to include a few actual thoughts. First off, this episode is very quiet, very reserved, and mostly just follows Picard as he lives out his old age on a peaceful planet. It sounds boring, but there's a lot more going on here than just that. This is one of Patrick Stewart's best performances, as you can feel the events of this episode not only leave a huge impact on him here, but carry it along with him beyond this. There's a melancholy feel to this whole story, and the way it resolves and finally reveals the truth to Picard is one of the most beautiful and tragic moments in the series. Picard is one of my favorite characters in all of media, and this is his most important and defining character episode, giving him a chance at a normal life. The music is lovely, the story is wonderful, Stewart is fantastic, and I'm running out of words in this thesaurus in my head to talk about how the various aspects of this episode are synonyms for "great". I love this episode in pretty much every way and consider it one of my favorite TV episodes, period.
Thank you to anyone who actually sat through this whole post, but even people who just skimmed it are alright in my book. This is a lot of writing to try to sit down to just for some stupid list by a nobody online. I hope I didn't make too many typos, but I've been working on this list for a couple weeks now and frankly I'm just tired of having it sit here unposted. I usually write things pretty quickly, so doing all of this in one post was an actual challenge for me. I had to restrain myself, so I do demand praise for what I've accomplished here. I made a list on my hobby-site/blog, after all. That is pretty hardcore.
Might do a new and updated favorite Trek characters list in a while, but we'll just have to see. Until then, thanks for the clicks, all 9 of you are appreciated.
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