After reading through this thread: Redo Star Trek: TNG so it makes sense (or at least is less stupid) - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board,
I wondered what people thought was the best overall series.
Certainly the production team learned things over time, and the universe progressed in certain ways, as did actual show-making technology, but without retconning, which series do we think was best?
I watched TOS as a youngster and there are elements and episodes that are irreplaceable, and more importantly the films. But it had a hackiness that was part of the era in which it was filmed.
I grew up with TNG, but the many problems with it mentioned in the other thread were obvious from the start.
I think a lot of those problems were fixed in DS9, but I’ve still never seen the whole series and there are still bits of it (like the rediculous holodeck episodes) that drive it over the top.
I’ve seen maybe 10 episodes of Voyager, and have little to say on the matter.
For my money, Enterprise is actually the best overall written show. It’s got the same message of trying to liove together in peace and make a better galaxy, but it’s still recognizably “human” in people liking to drink, having “racial” issues with aliens, arguing and conflicting and hating each other and what they have to do.
The humans distrust aliens, the Vulcans treat the humans as children, there is no technobable to fall back on, and *every * character has very obvious goals and flaws that are made important to the series.
And the series gets really, really good as the seasons continue. I’m sorry it didn’t last longer. The last episode is bloody incredible.