# Best single-episode Star Trek characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [September 19, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793 "2022-09-19T03:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/1 "2022-09-19T03:45:58Z")
What are some of your favorite and most memorable single-episode _Star Trek_ characters? Of course this list has to start with Edith Keeler from _The Original Series’_ “City on the Edge of Forever”. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PwEXM8fAfak/hqdefault.jpg "Star Trek -- The Days Worth Living For") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwEXM8fAfak) Roga Danar from _The Next Generation_ episode “The Hunted”: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o6OghdVtCo0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AGaC4ACuAiKAgwIABABGHIgTShEMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD4oe9RUrHP1ikknaRWG_95Dodt1Q "How The Hell Did He Manage That?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6OghdVtCo0) Timicin, Lwaxana Troi’s lover in _TNG_’s “Half a Life”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BA-fHJvYvz0/maxresdefault.jpg "A Celebration Of Life") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA-fHJvYvz0) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/2 "2022-09-19T04:18:30Z")
Trelane, the Squire of Gothos. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3EuPxeCe-zM/hqdefault.jpg "Star Trek -- Trelane") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EuPxeCe-zM) ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/3 "2022-09-19T04:22:44Z")
Dathon, from the TNG episode Darmok. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/4 "2022-09-19T04:42:44Z")
Kevin Uxbridge -the Douwd in the TNG episode “The Survivors” ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/5 "2022-09-19T04:44:14Z")
Also the time traveler Berlinghoff Rasmussen played by Matt Frewer in the TNG episode “A Matter of Time” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/6 "2022-09-19T05:09:50Z")
[Kivas Fajo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b1_jrltoVc) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/7 "2022-09-19T12:29:39Z")
TOS: Anything with Ricardo Montalban. That accent just makes the character. Yes, I’m mostly kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/8 "2022-09-19T14:53:42Z")
No love for Clint Howard? ![](https://c.tenor.com/eUQ2kIoJRKYAAAAC/fall-weather.gif) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/9 "2022-09-19T14:55:51Z")
Tranya: don’t just relish it for breakfast anymore! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/10 "2022-09-19T14:59:16Z")
TOS episode _What Are Little Girls Made Of?_ Because of… Sherry Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/11 "2022-09-19T15:23:12Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Tranya: don’t just relish it for breakfast anymore! This is…hot dog. I hope you relish it as much as I. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/12 "2022-09-19T15:57:22Z")
Helen Noel, Action GRRRRL! https://www.youtube.com/embed/haeATiTW-vo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL42ABDC18091A3820 ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/13 "2022-09-19T15:58:43Z")
There’s also Balok’s puppet, played by Ted Cassidy. I was thinking about Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman, in one of the best TOS episodes. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/14 "2022-09-19T16:24:42Z")
Dr Daystrom, played by WIlliam Marshall, in the TOS episode “The Ultimate Computer”: [Daystrom Breakdown - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQT9QW1En5Q) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/15 "2022-09-19T16:31:59Z")
[Gary Seven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Seven) from the TOS episode _Assignment: Earth_. I really wanted that pilot to be picked up. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/16 "2022-09-19T16:45:26Z")
[Charles Napier - Space Hippy](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Qj74rYjI&id=03A5719401DA1C8F2509D19A4261677F9E1AF788&thid=OIP.Qj74rYjIbthvDPdum3WMfQHaFn&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fi.pinimg.com%2foriginals%2f48%2f0c%2f04%2f480c04c07b2650a59a8a4a6e0fe08d96.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.423ef8ad88c86ed86f0cf76e9b758c7d%3frik%3diPcann9nYUKa0Q%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=1264&expw=1668&q=the+way+to+eden+star+trek&simid=608046792677077311&FORM=IRPRST&ck=68754392E201AA264A7E26B5D2432A54&selectedIndex=13&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) [I mean, come on!](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=jtaK%2f7Qz&id=4DD7584EFD9B5B313CF2A1805FF1AC9E289201E3&thid=OIP.jtaK_7QzvQ3GdsWYEnb9HAHaEK&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fi.kinja-img.com%2fgawker-media%2fimage%2fupload%2fs--8PKT8jh2--%2fc_fill%2cfl_progressive%2cg_center%2ch_900%2cq_80%2cw_1600%2fhfbtsr79t0vbw1yikcve.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.8ed68affb433bd0dc676c5981276fd1c%3frik%3d4wGSKJ6s8V%252bAoQ%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=900&expw=1600&q=the+way+to+eden+star+trek&simid=608049803446729125&FORM=IRPRST&ck=36A137B800BC49BC52F07AFD6CAB6EA7&selectedIndex=29&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/17 "2022-09-19T16:45:48Z")
The Horta ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/18 "2022-09-19T16:53:37Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > [Kivas Fajo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b1_jrltoVc) That would be my pick. And IIRC wasn’t he a last minute replacement? (The actor that was originally cast died before filming began, or something…?) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/19 "2022-09-19T16:53:57Z")
Simon Tarses in _TNG:_ “The Drumhead”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WofUbsVU8o4/maxresdefault.jpg "I Don’t Like What We Have Become") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WofUbsVU8o4) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793/20 "2022-09-19T17:42:31Z")
Yes, the character was originally played by David Rappaport: > Rappaport struggled with [depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression) later in his life. Just before his death, he had been cast and began filming for the role of Kivas Fajo in the _[Star Trek: The Next Generation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)_ episode “[The Most Toys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Toys_(TNG_episode))”. During filming, Rappaport attempted suicide, and the scenes he had completed were later discarded when actor [Saul Rubinek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Rubinek)was hurriedly brought in by producers to replace him and complete the episode. The scenes of Rappaport as Kivas Fajo were included on the Season 3 [Blu-ray Disc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc)release of _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ .[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rappaport#cite_note-3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-episode-star-trek-characters/971793.md?page=2)