# What's your favorite TYPE of Star Trek episode? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349 "2018-09-14T17:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/21 "2018-09-14T22:03:15Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > I think someone should write an episode called “Dyson’s Spear”, though. It could be a cool wormhole or weapon or something. [There is no new thing shooting out of the sun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Nicoll#Nicoll-Dyson_Laser). ---
**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:** [September 14, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/22 "2018-09-14T22:03:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > OP: Where does _The Wrath of Kahn_ fall in your definitions? You mean the best Star Trek movie ever made? To be honest, I really wasn’t thinking about the movies when I posted this thread. To my eyes, it would fall under “Alien of the week”. I get they are humans, but they are genetically enhanced. So that seems to follow along, at least in spirit, with “AOTW”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/23 "2018-09-14T22:09:15Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Or eps where Tasha Yar dies > > … > > Yesterday’s Enterprise (I figure it’s kind of by implication, but yeah, she’s toast) [Not immediately.](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Natasha_Yar): While the _Enterprise_-C was destroyed, several crewmembers survived and were taken prisoner by the Romulans, Tasha among them. According to Sela, after being interrogated, all of the survivors were to be [executed](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Execution), but a [Romulan general](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Sela%27s_father_001) became enamored of Tasha and offered to spare the lives of the prisoners if she became his consort, a condition to which Tasha agreed. One year later she gave birth to a daughter, [Sela](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Sela). When Sela was four years old, Tasha took her and attempted to escape, but sensing that her mother was taking her away from her home and her father, Sela cried out, and Tasha was discovered and subsequently executed. These events were completely unknown to Starfleet until [2368](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/2368), when the _Enterprise_-D encountered Sela, by then a [commander](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Commander) in the [Romulan military](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Romulan_military), during her attempt to covertly support the Duras sisters in taking control of the Klingon Empire. ([TNG](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation): “[Redemption II](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Redemption_II_(episode))”) ---
**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:** [September 14, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/24 "2018-09-14T22:11:30Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > OP: Where does _The Wrath of Kahn_ fall in your definitions? Is that the one where the food synthesizers burned the bagels? I prefer nicely humorous ones, which means TOS episodes. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/25 "2018-09-14T22:13:08Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Not immediately.](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Natasha_Yar): > > While the _Enterprise_-C was destroyed, several crewmembers survived and were taken prisoner by the Romulans, Tasha among them. According to Sela, after being interrogated, all of the survivors were to be [executed](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Execution), but a [Romulan general](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Sela%27s_father_001) became enamored of Tasha and offered to spare the lives of the prisoners if she became his consort, a condition to which Tasha agreed. One year later she gave birth to a daughter, [Sela](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Sela). When Sela was four years old, Tasha took her and attempted to escape, but sensing that her mother was taking her away from her home and her father, Sela cried out, and Tasha was discovered and subsequently executed. These events were completely unknown to Starfleet until [2368](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/2368), when the _Enterprise_-D encountered Sela, by then a [commander](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Commander) in the [Romulan military](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Romulan_military), during her attempt to covertly support the Duras sisters in taking control of the Klingon Empire. ([TNG](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation): “[Redemption II](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Redemption_II_(episode))”) That’s what I said! 😉 :dubious: 😛 ---
**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:** [September 14, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/26 "2018-09-14T23:03:32Z")
My favorite episodes were the ones Bill Theiss did costumes for. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/27 "2018-09-14T23:22:59Z")
I think I need to change my vote from “Spatial Anomalies” to “Other.” My original thoughts were “Anything that naturally creates jeopardy and suspense,” but looking back over my favorite episodes I realize this could be anything from aliens (like the Klingons, Romulans, Hortas, and Gorns) to technology (the Tholian web, NOMAD, the Doomsday Machine) to natural phenomena (“Time Squared,” the Mirror Universe, the Murasaki Effect), to just about anything else. At the bottom of my list is “Character Development.” The only ones that did this especially well were those that filled in Spock’s background. I really didn’t care to know about Data’s day or Troi’s love for chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/28 "2018-09-14T23:28:28Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > 1. Think pieces. “Who Watches the Watchers”, “Drumhead”,that sort of thing. Agreed. Watching “Darmok” right now. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/29 "2018-09-14T23:50:26Z")
::looking for Mugato Type poll option:: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/30 "2018-09-14T23:59:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > At the bottom of my list is “Character Development.” The only ones that did this especially well were those that filled in Spock’s background. I really didn’t care to know about Data’s day or Troi’s love for chocolate. May I ask your opinion on “[The Inner Ligh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inner_Light_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation))t”? Would this not be character development? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/31 "2018-09-15T00:08:20Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > May I ask your opinion on “[The Inner Ligh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inner_Light_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation))t”? Would this not be character development? I didn’t think much of it. Seemed like a lame rehash of “The Paradise Syndrome” to me. In what way was Picard’s character developed by an hour-long fantasy that took place entirely inside his head? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/32 "2018-09-15T00:10:58Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Agreed. Watching “Darmok” right now. “The Drumhead” and “The Measure of a Man” were among the best episodes ever. “Darmok,” on the other hand, was mediocre at best. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/33 "2018-09-15T00:14:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > At the bottom of my list is “Character Development.” The only ones that did this especially well were those that filled in Spock’s background. I really didn’t care to know about Data’s day or Troi’s love for chocolate. I care even less about Worf’s affinity for prune juice. Of all the lame jokes on _ **TNG** _, this was by far the lamest. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/34 "2018-09-15T00:22:50Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In what way was Picard’s character developed by an hour-long fantasy that took place entirely inside his head? 😕 “The road not taken” and all that. Picard had the chance to examine the kind of life he could have had. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/35 "2018-09-15T00:24:03Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I didn’t think much of it. Seemed like a lame rehash of “The Paradise Syndrome” to me. > > In what way was Picard’s character developed by an hour-long fantasy that took place entirely inside his head? 😕 In all fairness, it was a lifetime to him. Miles O’Brien’s prison experience comes to mind. ---
**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 15, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/36 "2018-09-15T00:32:18Z")
Character development: “The Wire” (DS9), “Lower Decks” (TNG), “Duet” (DS9) and so on. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/37 "2018-09-15T00:32:22Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I care even less about Worf’s affinity for prune juice. Of all the lame jokes on _ **TNG** _, this was by far the lamest. Yes, but it was mercifully brief. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/38 "2018-09-15T00:34:59Z")
Fuck suspense. It’s all bullshit anyway. Character development all the way. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/39 "2018-09-15T00:47:45Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Fuck suspense. It’s all bullshit anyway. Character development all the way. Oh yeah? I’m gonna poke you with a Dyson Spear! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/40 "2018-09-15T02:03:45Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > “The road not taken” and all that. Picard had the chance to examine the kind of life he could have had. He could have done the same thing on the Holodeck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349.md?page=3)