# The Best Of Star Trek. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289 "2010-08-24T14:14:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/1 "2010-08-24T14:14:34Z")
When we first met, my wife was almost a geek virgin. She’d seen and liked ST:TOS, but that was about her total exposure to SciFi/SF/Comics/Fantasy outside of the Whedonverse. Since taking up with me, of course, she has changed. She’s been to Comic-Con 7 times, smiles tolerantly when I argue with people over comic books, and generally is learning to like the Geek Life. Which brings us to the point: BBCAmerica is running ST:TNG on a regular basis, and the wife is liking it. What’s more, they are running episodes out of order, so someone in Programming is picking and choosing what they show, and they are doing a pretty good job. Lately we’ve seen the Borg arc, the Klingon Civil War episodes, and the center Q episodes. She even teared up a bit at the end of “Darmok.” Now I want to expose her to the best of the rest. What are, IYO, the best episodes/arcs of ST: DS9 and ST:TNG? There _are_ no good episodes of Voyager or Enterprise, so don’t even bother with those. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/2 "2010-08-24T14:22:55Z")
[“The Inner Light.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inner_Light_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation%29) [“Yesterday’s Enterprise”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yesterday%27s_Enterprise) [“Cause and Effect”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_and_Effect) [“Conundrum”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conundrum_%28Star_Trek:_the_Next_Generation%29) ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/3 "2010-08-24T14:28:59Z")
DS9 hit it’s stride in whichever season we got Worf and bald bearded Cisko. The earlier seasons weren’t _bad_ per se, but it got better from then on. ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/4 "2010-08-24T15:08:48Z")
For **DS9** : Season 1 Duet (unmissable!) Season 2: The Homecoming/The Circle/The Siege Necessary Evil Whispers Blood Oath The Wire Crossover The Collaborator Season 3 Destiny Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast The Adversary Season 4: Way Of The Warrior The Visitor (just _stunning!_) Little Green Men Hard Time Season 5 The Ship Trials and Tribble-ations Rapture In Purgatory’s Shadow/By Inferno’s Light Children Of Time In The Cards A Call To Arms Season 6 - when things get REALLY arc-ey A Time To Stand/Rocks and Shoals/Sons and Daughters/Behind The Lines/Favor The Bold/The Sacrifice Of Angels Far Beyond The Stars Inquisition In The Pale Moonlight The Reckoning Tears Of The Prophets Season 7 Image In The Sand/Shadows and Symbols Take Me Out To The Holosuite The Siege of AR-558 It’s Only A Paper Moon Chimera Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges …and then the 10-part final arc from Penumbra to What You Leave Behind. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/5 "2010-08-24T15:14:25Z")
I’ll second the Dominion arc in DS9. Just excellent. You’ll love Weyoun. But also don’t miss “The Visitor,” which is my favorite Trek episode of all-time. If she was crying during Darmok, she’ll permanently blow out her tear ducts at the end of “The Visitor.” For TNG, I’d add “Tapestry” and “Relics” (the latter should be well-received by a fan of TOS). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/6 "2010-08-24T15:14:38Z")
I didn’t like the last season of DS9. The Dominion war got too dark. The Federation almost lost. Also they had a lot of Kai Winn stories in the last season. That woman made my skin crawl. The best DS9 episode is the one where Sisco and Jake fly a homemade spaceship and recreate a famous Bajorian legend. I loved the father/son relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/7 "2010-08-24T15:19:21Z")
For your wife, I would show her all the TNG Q episodes It will give her a really nice book-ended look and perhaps encourage her to watch the entire series (which I have done often). You get the very first episode, a smattering in the middle (which will introduce other characters) and then a nice ending. From there, you can show her the Q episode from DS-9 (“Q-Less”) and the three from Voyager (under-rated on a second viewing): “Death Wish,” “The Q and the Grey,” and “Q2” TNG: \* “Encounter at Farpoint” \* “Hide and Q” \* “Q Who?” \* “Déjà Q” \* “Qpid” \* “True Q” \* “Tapestry” \* “All Good Things…” ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/8 "2010-08-24T15:20:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I didn’t like the last season of DS9. The Dominion war got too dark. Also they had a lot of Kai Winn stories in the last season. That woman made my skin crawl. Huh. That’s precisely what I liked about the last season. Trek’s always been so sanguine and Pollyannaish. Frontier justice FTW! ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/9 "2010-08-24T15:57:13Z")
> [@Monkey\_Chews](#): > > For **DS9** : > > Season 1 > Duet (unmissable!) > \ > …and then the 10-part final arc from Penumbra to What You Leave Behind. Good list. I’d add these episodes too. Season 3 The House of Quark: I’m not big fan of the Ferengi centric episodes in general, but I thought the resolution to this episode was clever and unexpected. Season 4: Our Man Bashir: A fun Bond parody. Hard Time: _O’brien_ must suffer. Homefront & Paradise Lost: That’s a bad Federation! _Whacks with newspaper_ Season 6: Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night: Kira’s mom wasn’t all she was cracked up to be. Valiant: Stupid kids think they’re so hot. The Siege of AR-558: Nog’s leggy go bye bye. Oops, you already had _Hard Time_ and _The Siege of AR-558_ on your list. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/10 "2010-08-24T16:02:36Z")
If you are going to work through DS9, surely you have to start with “The Emissary”? Not the best episode, but needed just to set up the premise. Been watching quite a few TNGs on youtube recentyly (seems they are all up there). I like the time paradoxy ones the best, like Timescape, Cause and Effect, and Parallels. Anything with Q is great, as others have said. And, there are a couple of decent Voyager episodes. Scorpion and Year of Hell were pretty good. Voyager was such a waste. The premise was great, but utterly squandered over the course of its run. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/11 "2010-08-24T16:15:15Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > Been watching quite a few TNGs on youtube recentyly (seems they are all up there). I like the time paradoxy ones the best, like Timescape, Cause and Effect, and Parallels. Anything with Q is great, as others have said. _Time’s Arrow_ is the best predestination paradox Trek ever did, IMHO. Mark Twain FTW. Since the others have gotten a lot of good TNG and DS9 stuff out of the way, here’s a very short list of good _Voyager_ episodes. (Yeah, there _are_ a vanishingly small number.) The Q war arc: _Death Wish_, _The Q and the Grey_, and _Q2_ The Braxton arc: _Future’s End Parts I and II_ and _Relativity_ (Bonus: Sarah Silverman) And a few great comedy episodes: _Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy_; _Author, Author_; _Bride of Chaotica!_ Also _Worst Case Scenario_ is fun. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/12 "2010-08-24T16:16:59Z")
Yeah, Times arrow is fun Also, should add “Message in a bottle” to the list of good comedy voyager eps. The doctor was by far the best character on that show. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/13 "2010-08-24T16:34:47Z")
I liked the TOS comedies. The one where Kirk visits a planet based on gangster Chicago is fun. Mudds Women is another great comedy. TNG failed at most comedy. Picard always seemed too irritated and cranky. The Q episode where Picard and crew play Robin Hood was a great story idea. But, Patrick Stewart messed it up by playing it too serious. Shatner knew when to let Kirk seem silly. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/14 "2010-08-24T16:49:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I liked the TOS comedies. The one where Kirk visits a planet based on gangster Chicago is fun. Mudds Women is another great comedy. > > TNG failed at most comedy. Picard always seemed too irritated and cranky. The Q episode where Picard and crew play Robin Hood was a great story idea. But, Patrick Stewart messed it up by playing it too serious. Shatner knew when to let Kirk seem silly. And that episode had what I think was the single best line in the entire series. Worf as Will Scarlet: “Sir’ I protest! I am _not_ a merry man!” ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/15 "2010-08-24T16:58:09Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > And that episode had what I think was the single best line in the entire series. > > Worf as Will Scarlet: “Sir’ I protest! I am _not_ a merry man!” I watched that one just last evening! :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/16 "2010-08-24T17:19:10Z")
From TNG, you have to include [Chain of Command](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_of_Command_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)). Personally, I also enjoy the Moriarty episodes: > **[Elementary, Dear Data](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary,_Dear_Data_(TNG_episode))** > > "Elementary, Dear Data" is the third episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 29th episode overall. It was written by Brian Alan Lane and directed by Rob Bowman. It was originally released on December 5, 1988, in broadcast syndication. > Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, a holographic adversary is created on the holodec... > **[Ship in a Bottle (Star Trek: The Next Generation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_in_a_Bottle_(TNG_episode))** > > "Ship in a Bottle" is the 138th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 12th episode of the sixth season. > Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, which continued a plot line from the second-season episode "Elementary, Dear Data", the fictional holodeck character Professor James Moriarty seizes control of the Enterprise in his quest to be freed... ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/17 "2010-08-24T17:19:12Z")
A lot of people put this one on their Worst Of lists, but I have a soft spot for “Family”. Picard, following his enormously traumatizing experience with the Borg, returns to his family farm for a short rest, while he decides what he wants to do next. A sweet episode, with his gruff brother, beautiful sister-in-law, and eager young nephew. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/18 "2010-08-24T17:20:21Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > From TNG, you have to include [Chain of Command](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_of_Command_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation%29). Is that the “chain I beat you with until you understand who’s in charge around here?” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/19 "2010-08-24T17:26:13Z")
And the Lore episodes: > **[Datalore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datalore)** > > "Datalore" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, originally aired on January 18, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The story was created by Robert Lewin and Maurice Hurley, and turned into a script by Lewin and the creator of the show, Gene Roddenberry. It was Roddenberry's final script credit on a Star Trek series. The director was originally to be Joseph L. Scanlan, but following delays in pre-production ... > **[Brothers (Star Trek: The Next Generation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_(TNG_episode))** > > "Brothers" is the 77th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the third episode of the fourth season. > Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Commander Data (Brent Spiner) aborts an emergency mission and hijacks the Enterprise in response to a homing command from his "father". > A misguided prank between two young brothers exposes the... > **[Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation))** > > "Descent" is the 26th episode of the sixth season and the first episode of the seventh season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 152nd and 153rd episodes overall. > Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode they once again encounter the Borg. > The episode, which was aired on television in 1993, features a guest appearance by astrophysicist Stephen Hawki... And Geordi’s sweety: > **[Booby Trap](https://www.startrek.com/database_article/booby-trap)** > > Booby Trap > **[Galaxy's Child](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy's_Child)** > > "Galaxy's Child " is the 90th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 16th episode of the fourth season. It was originally released on March 11, 1991, in broadcast syndication. > Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge is thrilled when Dr. Leah Brahms comes aboard the Enterprise. > Unfortunately, Brahms is nothing ... ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289/20 "2010-08-24T17:40:48Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > A lot of people put this one on their Worst Of lists, but I have a soft spot for “Family”. Picard, following his enormously traumatizing experience with the Borg, returns to his family farm for a short rest, while he decides what he wants to do next. A sweet episode, with his gruff brother, beautiful sister-in-law, and eager young nephew. Too bad they all died in a fire to give _Picard_ a bit of angst in _Generations_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-of-star-trek/551289.md?page=2)