# Worst epsisode of star trek **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964 "2016-02-12T20:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/1 "2016-02-12T20:27:18Z")
What are your least favorite episodes of star trek? For me it’s when the preachiness gets too extreme; The Mark of Gideon (TOS): where they go to a planet where no one is willing to have an abortion, because they’re apparently space Christians, and as a result their planet is one giant mass of people and they infect kirk with a virus to kill off the population. The Neutral Zone (TNG): where they uncover a space pod with frozen humans from the 20th century and Picard goes off on why capitalism is evil. Notable mentions include Code of Honor(TNG) and pretty much anything from season one TNG. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/2 "2016-02-12T20:32:38Z")
The Infinite Warp episode of THAT ONE SHOW where two people become space slugs and mate. Pencils down, thread over. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/3 "2016-02-12T20:34:31Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > The Neutral Zone (TNG): where they uncover a space pod with frozen humans from the 20th century and Picard goes off on why capitalism is evil. To be fair, the evil 20th century capitalist was the first person to spot that the Romulans were lying. For worst TOS, I’ll join the consensus and say “Spock’s Brain” for TOS though it’s so campy I can’t really hate it. I feel the same way about the space hippie episode which only a Herbert wouldn’t like. A lot of first season TNG was pretty terrible, especially the gender roles episode and the one where Wesley was sentenced to death for trampling some flowers. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/4 "2016-02-12T20:38:05Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The Infinite Warp episode of THAT ONE SHOW where two people become space slugs and mate. > > Pencils down, thread over. Got it in one. What other episode actually had the writer/producer **apologize** to the fans? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/5 "2016-02-12T20:41:19Z")
I nominate _Voyager_’s “Blink of an Eye” just because it ruins the legitimacy of any comfortable claim that _Voyager_ sucked by being the one instance when it didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/6 "2016-02-12T20:49:33Z")
Two words: _Brain and Brain, what is Brain!?!?_ ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/7 "2016-02-12T20:49:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Got it in one. What other episode actually had the writer/producer **apologize** to the fans? Yeah, that’s the worst ever. If we’re allowed to name worst per series, though, TOS’s _The Empath_ is pretty unwatchable for me. And I’ll fight anyone who says there’s a worse TNG episode than _Shades of Gray_. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/8 "2016-02-12T20:54:06Z")
_And the Children Shall Lead_. It’s the horrible neener, neener, neener episode. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/9 "2016-02-12T21:16:50Z")
The one where a female’s brain was transferred into Kirk’s body and William Shatner had to pretend to behave like an overemotional woman, coz that’s what they’re all like, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/10 "2016-02-12T21:21:54Z")
> [@bup](#): > > And I’ll fight anyone who says there’s a worse TNG episode than _Shades of Gray_. Yeah, that was a clip show they had to throw together in the middle of a writer’s strike. For me, it’s the DS9 episode where Quark zaps the senior officers into a game and they have to navigate their way through various puzzles and mazes. You can almost see Nana Visitor roll her eyes as they hopscotch and chant their way across one room. Also, the Voyager episode where Janeway is the Queen of whatever black and white episode Paris has running on the holodeck. That’s another one where you can see the actors inwardly groaning at the stupidity of the script. Anyone have a link to the Space Slug apology? ---
**Author:** ![ElderSign](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eldersign/32/8263_2.png) [@ElderSign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElderSign)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/11 "2016-02-12T21:24:19Z")
[ex-astris-scientia.org](http://ex-astris-scientia.org) says TOS: The Omega Glory, The Alternative Factor TNG: Silicon Avatar DS9: Meridian, Profit and Lace VOY: Spirit Folk, 11:59 ENT: Harbinger, Storm Front, These Are The Voyages, Doctor’s Orders, A Night in Sickbay Movie: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/12 "2016-02-12T21:26:13Z")
Poor Enterprise…they have more than their fair share of clunkers. I’m powering my way through it on Netflix now. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/13 "2016-02-12T21:32:17Z")
ST:NG: That one episode where the lady has a history of getting involved with the wrong type of men. So what does she do? She tries to get into a relationship with an emotionless android. (Data) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/14 "2016-02-12T21:34:17Z")
Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra ---
**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:** [February 12, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/15 "2016-02-12T21:39:46Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Yeah, that’s the worst ever. > > If we’re allowed to name worst per series, though, TOS’s _The Empath_ is pretty unwatchable for me. By far the most boring episode. And they not only couldn’t afford a cast, they couldn’t afford a set. The Alternative Factor in Season 1 comes real close though. Not Spock’s Brain - that is redeemed by the presence of space babes. For TNG though I forget the name the episode which reproduced the then popular alien abduction scare was pretty crappy. I guess they were desperate for plots and someone brought in a National Enquirer or something. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/16 "2016-02-12T21:39:51Z")
Omega Glory. Pee-you. I actually am fond of Spock’s Brain! I think it’s cute and fun! Doctor McCoy disintegrating from “A child could do it!” to being lost and desperate is hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/17 "2016-02-12T21:43:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The one where a female’s brain was transferred into Kirk’s body and William Shatner had to pretend to behave like an overemotional woman, coz that’s what they’re all like, apparently. Thanks, dude. I’d completely forgotten about that one and you had to remind me. :mad: Seriously, most of the bad episodes of TOS had some camp value, but that was just embarrassing for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/18 "2016-02-12T21:47:10Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > For TNG though I forget the name the episode which reproduced the then popular alien abduction scare was pretty crappy. I guess they were desperate for plots and someone brought in a National Enquirer or something. [Babylon 5 did it better.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhC_KHkihKY) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/19 "2016-02-12T21:49:17Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra I liked that one. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964/20 "2016-02-12T21:52:42Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra This one wasn’t one of my favorites either. How do Darmok and his people handle math? Not a lot of metaphors in math. Can you imagine the engineering tests on that world? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-epsisode-of-star-trek/745964.md?page=2)