# 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:** 3
**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, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/41 "2018-09-15T02:05:54Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > He could have done the same thing on the Holodeck. And thankfully, the script writers chose not to do this. ---
**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, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/42 "2018-09-15T02:08:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > In all fairness, it was a lifetime to him. A hallucenation. Refresh my memory: What did the aliens who hijacked his mind gain from it? ---
**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, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/43 "2018-09-15T02:11:01Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Refresh my memory: What did the aliens who hijacked his mind gain from it? All they wanted was to be remembered, to have someone know their story and how they lived. Their planet had been destroyed by a nova centuries before the Enterprise found their probe so there was nobody left alive to gain anything from Picard’s experience. ---
**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, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/44 "2018-09-15T02:11:30Z")
They weren’t forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/45 "2018-09-15T02:19:23Z")
It’s hard for me to identify a single favorite type. But I definitely have anti-favorites, and the Borg and Q are among them. I intensely dislike episodes centered on a godlike or overwhelmingly powerful enemy which are then defeated through some deus ex machina or some other feat of superheroism. The rest of the types all have the potential to be good. And the list neglects “Ferengi stories,l which I quite enjoyed in the DS9 days. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/46 "2018-09-15T02:21:30Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “The Drumhead” and “The Measure of a Man” were among the best episodes ever. “Darmok,” on the other hand, was mediocre at best. Darmok was downright silly. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/47 "2018-09-15T02:25:43Z")
I keep thinking of the worst episodes, like the one in which Dr. Crusher boned a Scottish ghost candle. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/48 "2018-09-15T02:46:47Z")
I think it’s impossible to answer anything but “other”. I thought of all the various episodes I considered to be the top tier in each version, and tried to find some sort of connection. I couldn’t. That, to me, meant “other” had to be the choice. The best episodes didn’t fall into any one category. For example, while in general Q episodes were pretty good, there were a couple that were clunkers. It’s very difficult to find a connecting thread (of a categorization by type) among “The City on the Edge of Forever”, “The Trouble With Tribbles”, “Balance of Terror”, “I, Borg”, “Inner Light”, “Tapestry”, “The Andorian Incident”, to name but a few of my favorites. I think that, ultimately, the common thread to good episodes, not shockingly, was good writing, rather than some common type. But if I had to pick a “type” I would prefer to see, and avoid the “other” category, it would have to be Q shows. Generally, they did a good job when they enlisted him, and, of course, John de Lancie was very good at portraying Q. ---
**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, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/49 "2018-09-15T12:56:43Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And the list neglects “Ferengi stories,l which I quite enjoyed in the DS9 days. \*The Magnificent Ferengi, \* carrying the cloaking device past Sisko. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/50 "2018-09-15T13:06:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Alpha Twit** : > > All they wanted was to be remembered, to have someone know their story and how they lived. No, they _wanted_ to not be wiped out by a nova at all. But being remembered was the best they could do, so that’s what they had to settle for. And while “The Inner Light” is a strong contender for the single best TNG episode, that doesn’t mean that I’d like to see all of the episodes be like that. It only worked in the context of all of those other episodes that were nothing at all like it. ---
**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, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/51 "2018-09-15T13:25:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And while “The Inner Light” is a strong contender for the single best TNG episode, that doesn’t mean that I’d like to see all of the episodes be like that. It only worked in the context of all of those other episodes that were nothing at all like it. Agreed with the understanding that it only really worked because of Patrick Stewart’s acting chops. This episode was a showcase for him, pure and simple. This story could have easily been dreadful or laughable by inserting a different character. You could maybe get away with Jonathon Frakes. Sirtis, McFadden or Burton would be cringe worthy and insulting on the face of it. Dorn would be OK if you want a farcical way to crank the ‘fish-out-of-water’ up to eleven. Spiner, yeah, just no, no. I respect his acting but, …no. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/52 "2018-09-15T13:39:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > No, they _wanted_ to not be wiped out by a nova at all. But being remembered was the best they could do, so that’s what they had to settle for. > > And while “The Inner Light” is a strong contender for the single best TNG episode, that doesn’t mean that I’d like to see all of the episodes be like that. It only worked in the context of all of those other episodes that were nothing at all like it. Just to nitpick, they didn’t die from the nova but from an ecological disaster (soil was losing its microbial population). They knew they couldn’t be saved so sent the probe out so their civilization wouldn’t be forgotten. Great episode. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/53 "2018-09-15T17:09:42Z")
I only like TOS. Anything with Mr. Spock and Bones arguing is A-OK with me. ---
**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, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/54 "2018-09-15T19:13:59Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I only like TOS. Anything with Mr. Spock and Bones arguing is A-OK with me. “That green blooded son of a bitch! It’s his revenge for all those arguments he lost with me!” -The Search for Spock. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/55 "2018-09-15T20:26:14Z")
Oh, absolutely it depended on Stewart’s acting skills. But even with his skills, if he hadn’t already done so much to establish the character of Picard, it wouldn’t have worked. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/56 "2018-09-15T20:41:04Z")
Kirk gettin’ his swerve on. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/57 "2018-09-16T01:13:54Z")
I picked time travel on the list as my favorite. One category you forgot was Alternate Universes. Episodes that focus on characters from alternate universes: 1. “Mirror, Mirror” from The Original Series. The mirror universe episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: “Crossover”, “Through the Looking Glass”, “Shattered Mirror”, “Resurrection” and “The Emperor’s New Cloak”. The mirror universe episode of Star Trek: Enterprise “In a Mirror, Darkly”. 2.“Parallels” - Star Trek: The Next Generation. 1. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” - Star Trek: The Next Generation. Also counts as a time travel episode. I’m sure there are other examples. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/58 "2018-09-16T01:33:25Z")
Hmmm…no option for my favorite, which boils down to, “Well written/directed/acted.” Actual subject matter is not relevant; Balance of Terror and City on the Edge of Forever are both very different episodes, but I like (really like) both. ETA: voted “Something Else.” Close enough. I guess… ---
**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 16, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/59 "2018-09-16T01:36:54Z")
I believe that The City on the Edge of Forever caused producers to believe that time travel episodes were popular. I hate them with the exception of TCOEOF, particularly on Voyager, where everything was returned to normal with the reset button. ---
**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 16, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349/60 "2018-09-16T02:22:32Z")
As much as I also hated the reset button, VOY had a great one in Year of Hell [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-type-of-star-trek-episode/821349.md?page=4)