# The best Trek series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359 "2009-02-18T03:31:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/81 "2009-12-25T18:45:09Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I just watched “Balance of Terror” from the 1st season of TOS the other day. It’s still a good episode. Well, yes and no. It’s just “Run Silent, Run Deep” done for space. For those of us who are older, this fact was more obvious. :o ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/82 "2009-12-25T18:49:18Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Well, yes and no. It’s just “Run Silent, Run Deep” done for space. For those of us who are older, this fact was more obvious. :o So all the other submarine movies are remakes of RSRD? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/83 "2009-12-25T18:52:26Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Well, yes and no. It’s just “Run Silent, Run Deep” done for space. For those of us who are older, this fact was more obvious. :o Just yes. The fact that it draws on a movie for inspiration doesn’t make it any lesss of a good episode. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/84 "2009-12-25T20:06:19Z")
I’m a TNG guy, because it’s the first one i watched with any frequency. I originally picked it up in about season 3 or 4, and really liked it. Having gone back since and watched the whole thing right through, more than once, i really think that it was only good from seasons 3 through 6. The first two seasons, it had all the cheap production look and corniness of TOS, without any of the camp appeal, and in the final season it seemed that they were struggling to find new stories. I did, however, quite like the final episode, All Good Things, and also the way they finished up the Ensign Ro story. I agree that the whole show would have been better if they had beamed Wesley Crusher into space early on, although the episode where he is involved in a coverup of his squadron’s Starfleet accident is quite good. [ETA: i do agree, though, that TNG too often made use of the holodeck for its storylines. Those were generally my least favorite episodes.] I just can’t get into The Original Series. I understand why it was significant, i guess, and i sort of see why the stories and the characters are considered appealing and complex, but the whole thing just seems so ineffably corny to me that i can’t take it seriously. Also, you can tell me all you want about how they had real sci-fi writers putting the plots together, but in most cases i find the plots themselves to be pretty uninteresting. I really need to give DS9 another shot. I watched the early episodes periodically, but when they started to get into the ongoing storyline about the Dominion, i sort of dropped out, not because i found it boring, but because i wasn’t watching TV regularly back then, and so wasn’t really interested in investing in an ongoing story arc. I should pick it up again, to see if it’s as good as people here have been saying. I watched some episodes of Voyager, and i actually really like Janeway as a captain, but i never got into the show very much. Enterprise i dropped after two episodes, and never picked it up again. It just looked lame. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/85 "2009-12-25T21:18:46Z")
Lame like a FOX! For me, the best part of Ent was right here in our Trek Doping threads. Still, it had some good eps. (And the later story arcs actually worked.) The first season, tho, was mostly pretty much like watching Shades Of Gray 22 times in a row. Even with that said, I somehow found a way to be entertained by it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/86 "2009-12-26T01:16:52Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > For me, the best part of Ent was right here in our Trek Doping threads. You make it sound so…cheap. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/87 "2009-12-26T02:25:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Come, Sir. The only episode that fellated with greater alacrity was _Spock’s Brain._ > 🙂 I much prefer Spock’s Brain to the horror that is The Omega Glory. The ONLY TOS I am embarrassed FOR the cast. For me, it’s TOS, hands down, no contest. I have never seen Enterprise or DS9, so my next one is TNG. Wesley should have been drowned at birth, but I like Data and Troi, Picard and #1. In a mild way. TOS I can’t get enough of. And I have to agree, no one will be making a movie after 20 years of the others being off the air… ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/88 "2009-12-26T03:06:05Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > As with so many folks on this board, I hate you. > Perhaps more than any of them. > 🙂 Hey, I didn’t post that for _16 years_. Well…ten years, if you count from when I joined. It had to come out _sometime._ It’s not like anybody from Paramount is going to care at this point. Oh, and I’d hate me too. That day was the single, bar none, coolest day of my life. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/89 "2009-12-26T03:08:01Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Wesley should have been drowned at birth Upon that we agree, Madame, but so does most of Western Civilization. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/90 "2009-12-26T04:59:44Z")
If it hadn’t been for Wesley, TNG wouldn’t have gotten past the first season!!! (Because the Enterprise would have blown up, or disappeared or been left in the unknown dimension, or …) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/91 "2009-12-26T20:47:35Z")
Wesley makes Mork look like the Terminator. If I wanted to watch Leave It to Beaver In Space, I’d watch Lost in Space. Completely random comment: I have it BAD for Kirk. Shatner was hot back in the day. And I don’t find blonde men attractive! Yow. (and Spock is a magnificent character and hot as well). And now back to the thread… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/92 "2009-12-26T21:13:01Z")
I got down on my knees every night and prayed that the Traveler was a child molester. Of course, he may have been Dr. Who, which would have been just as good… ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/93 "2009-12-26T21:21:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I got down on my knees every night and prayed that the Traveler was a child molester. Of course, he may have been Dr. Who, which would have been just as good… That is evil. Ok, I laughed… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/94 "2009-12-27T04:56:36Z")
Although I was in college at the time, I never watched TOS in its first run . . . you know, it was the 60s. But I caught it in reruns, and was somewhat impressed. Then TNG came along, and I was hooked. It appeared that Star Trek had finally grown up. In spite of its faults it had better plots, better characters (except for Wesley and his mother) and better themes. And most importantly, it kept that positive view of the future that TOS had. And it had, for me, the most fascinating character: Data. Then DS9. I was so hyped about a new ST series, and jumped right in . . . and promptly fell in love with Dr. Bashir. (Am I the only person in this thread attracted to guys?) But I didn’t care for the series’ darkness, and after about the 2nd season, I gradually lost interest. And then, Voyager. By then I was living with my elderly mother, who all of a sudden became a Trekkie. So I watched it with her. In general I didn’t find it quite as bad as some people did, though there certainly were some cringe-worthy episodes. Best character (and best actor): The Doctor. And I didn’t even mind Neelix so much; he was a nice departure from the usual characters. Enterprise: Again, I didn’t watch its original run, but tried to get caught up in reruns. Actually I tried very hard. I really wanted to like it, and there were a few decent episodes, but I just couldn’t get into it. I gave it every possible benefit of the doubt, but finally the doubt won and I gave up. So. All in all, I’d have to say that my favorite is TNG. But I think I’ll give DS9 another chance. I think now that some time has passed DS9 might be more to my liking. I might even be able to stand Avery Brooks’ acting . . . or maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/95 "2009-12-27T05:01:44Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Then DS9. I was so hyped about a new ST series, and jumped right in . . . and promptly fell in love with Dr. Bashir. (Am I the only person in this thread attracted to guys?) No, but I can only really think of one ST character/actor that I really thought was hot. I hate Voyager with a passion, but my inner rice queen absolutely wanted Harry Kim/Garrett Wang SO FREAKIN’ BAD! ---
**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:** [December 27, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/96 "2009-12-27T05:37:33Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Picardo did a pretty good job for someone who loathed his role and the show he was on. p 😕 First time I heard that. The Doctor’s character was a major part of Voyager. He often got more screen time than the other characters. But, maybe Picardo wasn’t happy. \ > [@](#): > > Um…that’s the GOOD part, people! I like TOS. I like most of TNG. But they were both happy jewel-tone settings…the ships were clean and bright and so were the people. Not a systematically corrupt official in the whole of Starfleet (excluding ones that were taken over by slugs or bugs). Voyager was supposed to be more like DS9. The stranded ship should have been beat up and full of non-star fleet parts. They had rebels included in the crew. Everything was in place for a edgy star trek. Then, somebody in production lost their nerve. The rebels put on uniforms and became model officers. :rolleyes: The ship always got repaired after battles and looked like it just came out of a star fleet space dock. :dubious: It’s a shame they didn’t stick with the original vision. My favorite is TNG. They did some outstanding episodes. Like the one where Data (an Android) rights are put on trial. Is he a machine or a sentient being? They did have some bad episodes too. But, overall I loved the series. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/97 "2009-12-27T05:54:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The ship always got repaired after battles and looked like it just came out of a star fleet space dock. And how many times did Tom Paris pull a brand new Delta Flyer out of his ass? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/98 "2009-12-27T05:55:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And I didn’t even mind Neelix so much; he was a nice departure from the usual characters. Jesus H. Christ, did you see his [feet?](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/thumb/b/b0/Talaxian_feet.jpg/180px-Talaxian_feet.jpg&imgrefurl=http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Talaxian&usg=__EaCreVqNk4gwBMqrTFDpCfVGzKo=&h=180&w=180&sz=6&hl=en&start=106&um=1&tbnid=AWniQj83czCuLM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dneelix%2Bfeet%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D100%26um%3D1) He makes hobbits look like ballet dancers, Wesley sound like Einstein and that bozo from the Omega Glory sound like Shakespeare. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/99 "2009-12-27T06:04:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > p > 😕 First time I heard that. The Doctor’s character was a major part of Voyager. He often got more screen time than the other characters. But, maybe Picardo wasn’t happy. \ Yeah, pony up…er, may I please have a cite? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359/100 "2009-12-27T10:25:32Z")
I’m such a Trek whore. I love all of them. Including Voyager. I will say that DS9 was the best. But the first season of DS9 sucked ass. So we’ll have to pretend season one never happened. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-trek-series/486359.md?page=6)