# Top five eps of Star Trek you can pop in and not be bored no matter how many times you've seen it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654 "2019-01-30T01:49:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/1 "2019-01-30T01:49:10Z")
I could do an all TOS list probably if I wanted too. They’re just so bright. Nimoy and Shatner are great. The themes are kinda ham-fisted. Love it… 1. Balance of Terror 2. Arena 3. Best of Both Worlds part 1 4. The Ship (DS9 ep) 5. I couldn’t find a Voyager ep so ill give it to Enterprise’s “Regeneration” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/2 "2019-01-30T02:58:47Z")
1. Balance of Terror 2. The Trouble with Tribbles 3. City on the Edge of Forever 4. A Piece of the Action 5. The Inner Light ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/3 "2019-01-30T02:59:34Z")
I don’t have any **Next Gen** faves, I’ve never seen **Voyager** (can’t stand Mulgrew), and **Enterprise** and **DS9** are just OK, so: 1. Balance of Terror 2. Devil in the Dark 3. Arena 4. The Doomsday Machine 5. I, Mudd No particular order ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/4 "2019-01-30T03:27:56Z")
1. The Trouble With Tribbles 2. Journey to Babel 3. Balance of Terror 4. Best of Both Worlds (parts 1&2 - I cheat. Sue me.) 5. The Big Goodbye ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/5 "2019-01-30T03:56:26Z")
The Trouble With Tribbles A Piece of the Action Arena Q-Pid I, Mudd _Voyager_, _Enterprise_ and _Discovery_ are all shite, and I never was fond of _DS:9_ because I hate Avery Brooks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/6 "2019-01-30T05:16:55Z")
In no order The Doomsday Machine Balance of Terror The Corbomite Maneuver The Trouble with Tribbles The City on the Edge of Forever ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/7 "2019-01-30T07:25:02Z")
**TOS** The City on the Edge of Forever A Piece of the Action Spectre of the Gun Dagger of the Mind The Tholian Web A Taste of Armageddon **TNG** is my favorite TV science fiction. I can’t narrow a list to only 5 or 6. The Wounded (Stunning episode on PTSD and Cardassian/Federation intrigue) Sets up DS9! Inner Light (Patrick Stewart’s best performance in this series) The Measure Of A Man (human rights and dignity extend to AI) Q Who (we meet the Borg!) Best of Both Worlds (parts 1 and 2. Borg invasion) Tapestry (another great job by Patrick Stewart) The Klingon Episodes are among my favorites and are almost like a different series within TNG) The Emissary (Worf reunites with Ambassador K’Ehleyr) Sins of the Father (pivotal moment in Klingon history and for Worf) Reunion (Worf and K’Ehleyr reunite for the final time. Another pivotal moment in Klingon and the series history) Redemption (Klingon civil war. Setup by events in Sins of the Father and Reunion) I find it very hard to choose between Babylon 5 and \*\* DS9\*\*. They are both great thrillers based on space intrigue.) Crossover (my favorite Mirror Universe episode within Star Trek) The Maquis (rebel cause shows not everything in the Federation is perfect) The Jem’Hadar (It’s the first indication that a very powerful enemy is out there.) Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast (2 parter, Odo and Garak’s unique series story arc begins here) Way of the Warrior (shit gets real as DS9 is weaponized) Worf is back! Little Green Men (Trek’s take on Roswell NM and UFO’s) Our Man Bashir (The Doctor and Garak’s best adventure) Trials And Tribbleations (well done crossover between TOS and DS9) Call to Arms (the beginning of the Dominion War) The Siege Of AR-558 (a rare and well done Infantry combat episode) A reminder that close quarters combat is brutal no matter what time period in history it’s fought. It’s Only A Paper Moon (another fantastic PTSD episode from Nog’s perspective) I could easily list a dozen more great episodes from the Dominion War arc. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/8 "2019-01-30T07:48:53Z")
The Dominion War story arc spanned several seasons. It’s far too expansive for a short board post. Many of the pivotal episodes are listed here. Most of them are very well done. I appreciate this article because it connects so many loose threads as the story progresses. It was hard keeping it all straight watching the series live. > **[Dominion War](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dominion_War)** > > The Dominion War was a major interstellar conflict, fought from 2373 to 2375, though related conflicts began earlier. The war involved all major powers of the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Federation... ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/9 "2019-01-30T08:15:09Z")
I need to up my nerd game. IDK any titles. 1.) “It’s a fake!!” DS9 2.) Season finale season 2 DS9 3.)" Year in hell" ST Voyager (Yea! I remembered one) 4.) Data on trial for his personhood STNG 5) T’Pol talks about the REAL first contact. Enterprise ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/10 "2019-01-30T10:15:34Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I need to up my nerd game. IDK any titles. > > 1.) “It’s a fake!!” DS9 > > 2.) Season finale season 2 DS9 > > 3.)" Year in hell" ST Voyager (Yea! I remembered one) > > 4.) Data on trial for his personhood STNG > > 1. T’Pol talks about the REAL first contact. Enterprise In the Pale Moonlight has the pivotal line It’s A Fake! This episode is one of DS9’s absolute best. The Federation & Klingon alliance is reeling and about to be defeated by The Dominion and Cardassians. Sisko and Garak hatch a desperate plan to bring The Romulians into the war. It’s unusual for tv from that time period to feature a strong character like Sisko abandon his most basic principles to save the Alpha Quadrant. It made me think seriously about character and what makes someone a good person. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/11 "2019-01-30T12:38:00Z")
Because I CAN live with it. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/12 "2019-01-30T14:43:46Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Because I CAN live with it. I’m not sure I could. Does that make me or Sisko the better person? My eps: The Ultimate Computer A Matter of Honor The Emissary The Doomsday Machine In A Mirror Darkly (the only Enterprise I can watch more than once) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/13 "2019-01-30T14:50:13Z")
1. The Trouble with Tribbles 2. City on the Edge of Forever 3. A Piece of the Action 4. Time’s Arrow (1 & 2) 5. Assignment: Earth ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/14 "2019-01-30T15:15:37Z")
There are a bunch but I will pick one from each series for this list: TOS: City on the Edge of Forever TNG: Yesterday’s Enteprise DS9: Children of Time VOY: Shattered ENT: Twilight ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/15 "2019-01-30T16:14:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The Dominion War story arc spanned several seasons. It’s far too expansive for a short board post. > > Many of the pivotal episodes are listed here. Most of them are very well done. > > I appreciate this article because it connects so many loose threads as the story progresses. It was hard keeping it all straight watching the series live. > > [Dominion War | Memory Alpha | Fandom](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dominion_War) “Tacking Into the Wind” is one of, if not MY FAVORITE all-time Trek ep. It’s sort of a random ep to hold that distinction, but I love it cause: It cuts the Gordian Knot of the Klingons. That convo between Ezri and Worf about the matter of 'Klingon Honor" is great. Being near the end of the series, I felt ANYTHING could happen. How fun to watch a series and have that feeling of you don’t know what is going to happen. I thought they were going to off Odo right frigging there. That ep also sealed Damar as one of my fave characters. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/16 "2019-01-30T17:02:52Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > 1. The Trouble With Tribbles > 2. Journey to Babel > 3. Balance of Terror > 4. Best of Both Worlds (parts 1&2 - I cheat. Sue me.) > 5. The Big Goodbye Went last night to watch The Big Goodbye cause that’s an odd one to list. Man…you keep just the premise, and cut out the B-story…and you’ve got a really good Twilight Zone episode. Including the title. Just run the credits when Picard leaves and the Holodeck doors shut and everything goes black. To be clear to those who don’t remember the episode…the focus of this if it were a TZ episode would be what happens to the holographs when the lights go out? “When you you’ve gone…will my wife and kids still be waiting for me at home?” “I honestly don’t know.” ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/17 "2019-01-30T17:20:01Z")
I’m continuously surprised how beloved The Trouble with Tribbles is. Not my cup of tea at all, but to each his own. Mine in no order are: City on the Edge of Forever Balance of Terror Yesterday’s Enterprise Cause and Effect The Inner Light ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/18 "2019-01-30T17:30:46Z")
I like the season 5/season 6 story arc of Deep Space Nine in which the heroes are (mostly) forced from the station. The arc really begins with “In the Cards” and ends with “You Are Cordially Invited”. “In the Cards” is hilarious. I also love “Rocks and Shoals” from that arc. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/19 "2019-01-30T18:55:37Z")
Balance of Terror In a Mirror, Darkly Darmok A Piece of the Action The Inner Light. I loved this episode but how many ordeals can Picard go through before Star Fleet wakes up and says, “Hey, maybe this guy’s brain could be compromised. Perhaps he shouldn’t be commanding a star ship.” Not to mention what the Borg implants could have done. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654/20 "2019-01-30T19:16:39Z")
Miles O’Brien had a lot of bad stuff happens in DS9. Starts with a vacation in season 1 and his shuttle is boarded by the Cardassians. Charged with Weapons smuggling. Sisko has to defend him in court. Seems like every season something really bad happens to Miles. He even dies and swaps places with his future self. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-five-eps-of-star-trek-you-can-pop-in-and-not-be-bored-no-matter-how-many-times-youve-seen-it/828654.md?page=2)