"A post-episode drabble for Cause and Effect. Jean-Luc visits Beverly in sickbay and drags her out after a long day.

(I realized after a rewatch that the ship didn’t really sustain damage but for purposes of this story assume there was turbulence that caused damage and minor injuries.)"

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Cause And Effect first aired on March 23, 1992, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

The Enterprise becomes stuck in a time loop but the crew retain some memory of previous instances. Guest star Kelsey Grammer as Morgan Bateson.

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"“Perhaps you have overlooked something Captain.” Seven finally said and Janeway tilted her head, leading Seven to go on, “It may be that you have a secret admirer. I have heard that flowers are a good indication as such and often appreciated by the person receiving them. Is this true?”"

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Plot-wise, they're right. But the plot isn't why I love this episode.

Barclay instantly became one of my favourite Star Trek characters from his introduction as Lieutenant Broccoli, and Voyager made me love him even more. Barclay is the socially-inept, self-doubting genius, and, aside from when he merged with the Enterprise, he has remained in that role.

In this episode, awkward Barclay cannot save the day with engineering or cleverness. All he can do is talk. It is a fantastic moment that serves as an excellent capstone on a side character's arc, who found confidence in his engineering, and, after 10 years, in his voice.

Also, it is sheer delight to watch Dwight portray two vastly different characters with such zest. Dwight played Murdoch on the A-Team, and that versatility really shows in this episode.

Inside Man first aired on November 8, 2000, written by Robert Doherty, and directed by Allan Kroeker

A hologram of Reginald Barclay is sent to Voyager, supposedly to implement a dangerous plan to bring them home; but the hologram has been tampered with by some Ferengi, who are trying to steal valuable Borg nanoprobes from Seven of Nine.

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"Spock shares a list of reasons why his friend Kirk should accept to marry him.

r/Relationships post."

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Listen to the Joy of Trek Brother

Star Trek Episodes Not everybody likes

Kay & Khaki talk about the joys that they find

Chief Engineer Greg keeps them both in line.

Yea, gay brothers, yea

Hello, Keiko and Kai Winn and with just enough Scottish blood to warrant the title, Chief Engineer Greg. This is Ria from beautiful Phoenix, AZ USA where citrus trees abound and it is very easy to become an actual lemon stealing whore if one is not vigilant. If you recognized the little diddy earlier than you probably guessed the episode I'm recommending is TOS 320, the Way to Eden.

I grew up on TOS and I always loved this episode without question and it was only within the last six to eight years that I was shocked to find out this is not considered to be a good episode? I wholeheartedly disagree. This is the original Star Trek musical, you have catchy songs that are great to sing along to, you've got purple-haired aliens, aliens with bizarro ears, you've got awesome hippie costumes, a shirtless Charles Napir, Chekov with an old flame. You've got Herberts, fabulous one-liners, you've got the tension between an increasingly mechanized and artificial society and our inherent human desire to remain close to nature. You've got a somewhat nerdy and uptight Captain Kirk, you've got Biblical references, Spock jamming on the Vulcan lyre and showing off his Vulcan hippie side. What is there not to love?

So if you're not Herberts, man, and we reach, how bout a session on the way to Eden? It would sound!

Do not give up your search for Eden. I have no doubt you will find it, or make it yourselves.

The Way to Eden first aired on February 21, 1969, written by story by D. C. Fontana[b] and Arthur Heinemann, teleplay by Arthur Heinemann, and directed by David Alexander

The Enterprise is hijacked by a criminal doctor and his loyal, hippie-like followers who are attempting to find paradise.

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"Dr. Bashir has always been kind to Rom. Now Rom has a chance to return the favor."

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Beyond that, I think the debate over the Vulcan Hello and its merits has always fascinated me. The show lays it out as a debate between the Federation's principles of not being the people to fire the first shot in a potential conflict, and a signal which will ensure the Klingons' respect and prevent a war.

I think there is something delightfully contradictory about Vulcan and Klingon cultural norms and signals being seen as oppositional to the Federation's doctrine, despite the Vulcan's being core members of the Federation.

While Burnham's mutiny is clearly the wrong way to win an argument, I have to question why the characters meant to represent a more typical Federation viewpoint, like Georgiou, are unfamiliar or unwilling to entertain the merits of something like a Vulcan Hello. At least based on what the show reveals, T'Kumva would have been badly undermined if a Vulcan Hello was delivered rather than the perceived disrespect of diplomatic entreaty.

The Vulcan Hello first aired on September 24, 2017, written by story by Bryan Fuller & Alex Kurtzman, teleplay by Akiva Goldsman & Bryan Fuller, and directed by David Semel

While patrolling Federation space, the U.S.S. Shenzhou encounters an object of unknown origin, putting First Officer Michael Burnham to her greatest test yet.

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"Twenty-four years after the founding of the Federation, a meeting between old friends."

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In Whispers we se Chief Brien'O once again. And a hint as to why I(we) called him the most Competent in Star Trek.

Here we see his investigative abilities. His skill. But remember, he keeps a station with Three Species variations of technology working properly. No Star Fleet Tech Shenanigans!

And his troubleshooting skills are exemplified here. He notices a problem, he solves it. As much as the Duplicate is not our Brien'O, he is.

Chief O'Brien is simply put, the greatest Engineer in the series. To. Date.

Whispers first aired on February 6, 1994, written by Paul Robert Coyle, and directed by Les Landau

While preparing the station for upcoming peace talks, O'Brien discovers that the crew have been hiding information from him and giving orders behind his back. O'Brien begins to suspect everyone on the station is gradually being altered or replaced by an unknown force.

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"Archer and Reed muse about the Vulcans."

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Breaking the Ice first aired on November 7, 2001, written by Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton, and directed by Terry Windell

Lieutenant Reed and Ensign Mayweather extract a rare chemical on a comet while Sub-Commander T'Pol considers marriage to Koss.

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"Different ending to "Course: Oblivion," VOY 5x18, if the Silver Blood Voyager had been able to launch their probe prior to disintegrating."

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This is always a good episode to sit down with a friend and just take the absolute piss out of; it's an episode that has a strangely high amount of warp cores given how much I like it.

The awful Lincoln makeup, mischaracterizing my favorite historical war criminal, and the comment to Uhura (which I know was trying to Make A Point, but kinda just makes me go “oh god Uhura, darling, if you wanna start punching I'm behind you all the way”).

Relatedly, though, I actually really like how Lincoln is characterized- it might just be because I'm from the same area, but I've always had a soft spot for the guy. In this episode, he has both admirable qualities and also prompts my above warp core, as would most guys from the 1800s.

I think the aliens are really cool looking, kinda like the Horta where their biology is so different from humans, especially given that they're filling the “advanced culture fucking with us for philosophical reasons” role usually given to disembodied beings or some beautiful twink.

It's ridiculous and stupid and I love it so much.

The Savage Curtain first aired on March 7, 1969, written by story by Gene Roddenberry, teleplay by Gene Roddenberry and Arthur Heinemann, and directed by Herschel Daugherty

Aliens force Kirk and Spock to battle illusionary villains in a test of good versus evil.[2]

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"Deanna Troi, Worf, and Alexander ended up trapped on the holodeck in a program based around the Ancient West. All of the villains take on Data's appearance, though none of them seem to act like Data. During the final shoot out, another familiar face appears. This one says more about Data than any of the others do, and it raises questions that Deanna really wants answered."

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When this first aired in the UK, I missed all but the conclusion of this episode so on my rewatch of DS9 I was excited to see how Quark ended up married to Klingon!

This episode delivers a glimpse into the not so simple world of Klingon probate whilst Quark does his best to keep his business afloat and his head on his shoulders amid shotgun weddings and quickie divorces.

The House of Quark first aired on October 10, 1994, written by story by Tom Benko, teleplay by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Les Landau

Quark brags falsely about killing a Klingon, Kozak, and is then forced to marry the widow, Grilka, founding his own 'House of Quark'.

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"She approaches the Academy's large auditorium and when she enters, she’s caught up in the memory of her own experience here. It seems like a lifetime ago; so much has happened since she was here last and the sudden nostalgia makes her breath catch in her throat. She’s only given a moment to reminisce, though, before she’s recognized."

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Having an entire episode dedicated to seeing things through his eyes was very relatable to me. From completely failing to read the room with relaying Keiko's wedding cancellation to his attempts to use friendly insults. His analytical mindset also resonated with me as my ADHD basically puts my brain into turbo mode, analyzing anything and everything without stopping. Good for brainstorming and creativity, not so good when you need to shut out the nastiness of the world and center yourself.

While my life experience is not a one to one with his, there is enough there that an episode dedicated to him is a welcome addition.

Data's Day first aired on January 7, 1991, written by story by Harold Apter, teleplay by Harold Apter & Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Robert Wiemer

Data gets dancing lessons from Dr. Crusher in preparation of Chief O'Brien's wedding as the Enterprise brings Ambassador T'Pel to the Romulans for negotiations.

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"Sometimes when Quark was feeling particularly masochistic, he would walk by the security station and glance inside, foolishly hoping to see a person he knew wouldn’t be there."

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"Course: Oblivion" is an episode about death. About integrity. About despair and about the meaning of self. It's an episode which does what I want most from art, takes a large, vulgar risk and commits to it. Unlike almost all the Voy episodes I've seen thus far, where the show feels like it's trying to serve me up The Star Trek I Ordered From The Menu, "Course: Oblivion" doesn't care what I want, and I get the distinct impression that it doesn't care if I like it. But I do like it. A lot.

It is true that, for all plot related purposes, "Course: Oblivion" doesn't matter. The crew are synthetic copies of the real thing. They explode meaninglessly into nothing, oblivious to (nearly) everyone. But what "Course: Oblivion" does is ask the viewer "if you accomplish nothing, nobody remembers you and you're not even who you think you are, does it matter if you act honourably and with integrity? Do your sins leave scars if no flesh is left to bare them?"

Jayneway could have destroyed the mining ship, to have a chance to save what was left of the crew. But it would have been murder, so she doesn't. Jayneway, she of Tuvix, decides that her integrity matters more than her life. Kim consoles Paris over the loss of Torres even though these three people are not those people. But duplicate Kim believes in the principles of the real Kim. So he honours those principles regardless of the reality of self. What is the difference between duplicate Kim and "real" Kim if both honour the same principles and integrities? Are you who you are or are you *what you do*?

Yes, the ship explodes. No, nobody will remember them. Yes, if you want to look at it purely in terms of 'getting these people to earth', this is pointless. But the value of these people is not in their home, their destination, and in their intent, but in their dignity and their principles. And Course: Oblivion teaches us that the point of following your principles and having integrity is not to be remembered or to be "the true, definitive self", it's because, even in the bleakest and most hopeless of times, honouring your principles and your integrity matters and is honourable. Even if nobody is around to see it.

Course: Oblivion first aired on March 3, 1999, written by story by Bryan Fuller and Nick Sagan, teleplay by Nick Sagan, and directed by Anson Williams

After Torres and Paris get married, subspace radiation causes the crew and their ship to disintegrate.

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"There are a lot of things that factor into success when one is growing up as an Illyrian trying to pass as a human, and Una has internalized all of them."

Una offers a glimpse beneath her mask."

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Where this gets fun is watching Shatner purposefully overact as Kirk not acting "normal" and Nimoy getting to lean on the whole "no-emotions" with Spock purposefully seducing the Romulan commander. It really looks like he's gonna tap that Commander at one point, even if it's a seeming ruse.

The Enterprise Incident first aired on December 20, 1968, written by Edward J. Lakso, and directed by Marvin Chomsky

While transporting an arrogant, demanding spoiled princess for a political marriage, Captain Kirk must cope both with her biochemical ability to force him to love her and sabotage on his ship.[2]

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"Tom Paris has to admit that a publicity tour may not have been the best idea."

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There are the two different plots that run through this episode. Plot A Major Kira having to choose between her duty or who she was. Plot B Nog and Jake trying to earn Profit!

Plot A: The Federation is helping Bajor with need power by tapping into the core of one of its moons. This unfortunately will make the moon uninhabitable, the few people living on the moon will have to relocate before the mining operation can begin. Everyone leaves, but one old farmer Mullibok that refuses to leave. He's the sweet old grandfather or uncle Eeveryone has or knows. The old man of a thousand stories. Major Kira finds herself question herself. She was a resistance fighter during the occupation, fighting against the cruel overbearing governmental authority. Now she's part of the new Bayoran government and it's her job to be that governmental authority to remove Mullibok from his home. Even if she doesn't want to. She gets for a very short time to leave all the pressure of her duties, as she get to play pretend with Mullibok listening to his stories. Captain Sisko comes to remain Major Kira of her duty.

Plot B: The more light hearted and has always brought up the question. The Federation doesn't use a currency base system. But other races still value things, and other humans not in Star Fleet have to earn a living. Nog and Jake put the practice of the art of the trade to full test here, or "I have a paper clip, bet I can trade it up to..." Nog like most Ferengi only wants gold press latinum. It's with Jake's help, I think it helps Nog to start seeing the value in other objects. What is its worth in trading vs it's monetarial valuee. The item might be nothing to me, but someone might gladly pay a small fortune for it.

As much as the A Plot with Kira was the main part of this episode, I much more enjoyed Nog and Jake master the art of the deal or trade. Working on that humon and Ferengi friendship.

Progress first aired on May 9, 1993, written by Peter Allan Fields, and directed by Les Landau

Kira has to deal with a stubborn farmer (Brian Keith) who refuses to leave his home even though it is slated for demolition.

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"Seven songs Miles O'Brien sings, over the years."

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I’m Izaak from Tasmania, Australia. I’m the host of the Trek 365 podcast and I’d like to suggest an episode I’m embarrassed to like.

I should hate this episode. And when I find myself enjoying it, I hate myself a little bit too.

- it’s a holodeck episode

- it’s not remotely sci fi

- no one is better for it

It’s just ridiculous, obvious filler and not attempting to be cutting edge sci fi at all…however, isn’t that what I miss about modern trek? That you don’t have a 23rd episode of the series where you’re trying to fill up the schedule with something cheap? This one is dumb and isn’t trying to trick you; it’s not trying to be the best episode of all time, so the low bar is met. It’s just a safety blanket to keep you warm.

Most people would skip it and have it in their bottom 10. I’m happy just to see my crew have fun with no danger or plot.

As my grandfather used to say “I like my trash to be trashy”.

A Fistful of Datas first aired on November 7, 1992, written by story by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, teleplay by Robert Hewitt Wolfe & Brannon Braga, and directed by Patrick Stewart

Data's mind is connected to the ship's computer, which creates unforeseen effects on the holodeck.

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""What brothers and sisters?”

“The lizard ones.” Miral reminds him, patient and only slightly patronising in a way most six-year-old’s are just beginning to learn."

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I've always loved "Blink of an Eye." I like stories about history, and stories that feel epic by having some mechanism to take the reader from the present to the past, or by exposing them to a sense of scale that really captures the grand sweep of human history. The "where we've come from tells us why we wanted to come from there" narrative. Walter Miller's Canticle for Leibowitz, say, or the Babylon 5 episode "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" that IMO transparently draws from it.

In that same way, "Blink of an Eye" is the Voyager writers having used the main deflector to remodulate Robert Forward's 1980 novel Dragon's Egg. But here, I love how the framing device captures both the scale of capital-p Progress and the desire to explore and understand the universe—the kind of optimism that, on its best days, Trek has always been good at embodying. And I love seeing the evolution from making offerings to this strange new apparition, to making efforts to communicate, to the inevitable first contact.

It is a story about well-intentioned people trying to make the best sense they can of a vast and mysterious universe, without real antagonists—where even the figures who would normally be antagonists, like the hawks in the military, are clearly acting in good faith. In this it reminds me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which also inspired my current journey. I think you could draw a direct link between "Blink of an Eye" and me changing my degree from linguistics to anthropology, and probably to the kind of approach I've taken whenever I need to write fantasy.

Also, it's a great Picardo vehicle. Picardo's EMH, like Data (TNG), was theoretically on a journey to become more "human." The difference is that the EMH was always finding new experiences and *loving the hell out of them* rather than clinically tilting his head and going "well. That happened." He has the same breathless excitement here as he did in, say, "Message in a Bottle"—for mostly the same reasons and with the same mix of passion and humor that, I think, really makes him "work" as a character. Both Picardo as an actor and the EMH as a character are in absolutely top form.

Finally, I'm a sucker for the extremely cheap trick of old people knowing that their lifelong goal has been accomplished. Daniel Dae Kim getting to watch the Voyager's departure makes me choke up every time.

Blink of an Eye first aired on January 19, 2000, written by story by Michael Taylor, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Gabrielle Beaumont

Voyager is trapped in orbit about a planet with a spacetime differential such that, while its inhabitants live through years, Voyager experiences mere minutes.

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"The Defiant responds to the distress signal from Empok Nor, to find a simple salvage mission gone wrong, and Julian finding Garak in a state he never imagined."

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It give us a rare example of intergalactic travel in Star Trek: the Kelvans are from Andromeda, arrived in a generation ship, and wish to return.

It offers a very clever narrative use of aliens looking exactly human: it's a necessary shapeshifting adaptation for the Kelvans to use the Enterprise, but it's also the key to their demise.

I think this episode offers some early vocal callbacks to previous episodes, demonstrating how TOS sometimes handled continuity -- and foreshadowing later Trek. Examples include callouts to "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (galactic barrier) and "A Taste of Armageddon" _Vulcan mind tricks).

Tons of genuine silliness: the Kelvans' reactions to humans, Scotty's iconic "it is green."

By Any Other Name first aired on February 9, 1968, written by story by Jerome Bixby, teleplay by D. C. Fontana and Jerome Bixby, and directed by Marc Daniels

Telepathic aliens take control of Kirk and Spock's bodies with the intention to build new, mechanized bodies for themselves. After receiving a distress signal from a planet deep in the galaxy and far from the last charted area, the Enterprise is contacted by a life form of pure energy that wishes Kirk, Spock, Dr. Mulhall and Bones to beam down. They meet Sargon, a conscious mind trapped in a machine. Sargon explains that their civilization travelled space just like Kirk centuries ago and left people in various star systems to colonize. But this planet suffered a war where all but a few people destroyed themselves. Sargon, his wife and another remain alive like this and wish to take control of Kirk, Spock and Dr. Mulhall's bodies to make android bodies for themselves. The Enterprise accepts their offer after deliberation and Sargon begins work. To allow the body to sustain this transformation, Henock, the third alien, makes a potion to help but has other plans. Sargon devizes a plan to destroy him, apologizes to the Enterprise and accepts their fate thereby ceasing to exist.[2]

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"“Okay,” Mariner says, slamming her glass down so hard its contents slosh onto the bar. “I think we should have a slumber party. Like now.”"

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This is another watershed episode: We get Cardassians for the first time! Furthermore, we have Marc Alaimo playing a Cardassian, though not the one we're used to (he still chews it up nicely here...though those mutton chops, woof). It's also a great episode for giving Colm Meany a chance to stretch his legs, especially as he and Rosalind Chao carry the B plot. I love that this episode digs into war trauma and the prejudices it can breed that you don't even notice, as well as the difficulty when you move on from something and someone you respect doesn't. Plus we get some quite nice singing -- Minstrel Boy is one of my favorite tunes, though I first recall hearing it from Black Hawk Down. (And as an aside, Minstrel Boy is a prime example of how the Irish and Klingons might find a lot in common. Who else has an upbeat song about dying gloriously in righteous battle?)

The Wounded first aired on January 28, 1991, written by story by Stuart Charno & Sara Charno & Cy Chermak, teleplay by Jeri Taylor, and directed by Chip Chalmers

A rogue Starfleet Captain (Bob Gunton) jeopardizes the Cardassian peace treaty.

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"The Captain and her First Officer are being debriefed about their encounter with the Voth.

Takes place several years after the episode "Distant Origin" (S03E23)."

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The first episode when Discovery arrives in the future, it introduces one of Discovery's most complex characters, Cleveland Booker, aka Book. A courier, he is our guide to one of the furthest points in the future we have ever seen. The episode largely features Burnham alone in a strange land, much like the Alice in Wonderland she had once quoted. It introduces the new world and a galaxy very different from the one we know.

I always liked this episode because rebooting a series, soft or otherwise, is very hard to do. Most shows never manage to successfully transition their characters to a new setting. But Discovery not only does it well, but they also create a unique story in star trek where for the first time we see a broken Federation and a hurting universe, and these hopeful kids are going to do what they can to make the galaxy better.

That Hope Is You, Part 1 first aired on October 15, 2020, written by Michelle Paradise & Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman, and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi

Arriving 930 years in the future, Burnham navigates a galaxy she no longer recognizes while searching for the rest of the U.S.S. Discovery crew.

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"A missing scene where the crew catchup for dinner at the Captain's and discuss strange anomalies after the missing 5 hours."

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I am loving the show. Growing up, my Dad and I weren't very close, he was much more inclined to sports where I am cut from a much nerdier cloth. We do however share a love of Sci Fi and I remember vividly sitting down together to watch Voyager when it came out.

Inspired by the Joy of Trek, I set out to rewatch Voyager as I haven't watched an episode since the early 00s.

As a teen, I loved Voyager for the danger, action and adventure, but on the rewatch I have really enjoyed the study of humanity portrayed by characters like Seven and The Doctor.

I love this episode as it adds to the numerous other discussions and the theme of whether or not The Doctor is a sentient being or just a piece of very smart technology. Building on his morals being overwritten in Equinox so he could experiment on Seven, his memory being erased in latent image so he could keep functioning and now in climax Critical Care, choosing a path of action that could actually cause harm to a patient in a tiered system of health care that sadly is not unfamiliar to us 23 years after it was aired.

Critical Care first aired on November 1, 2000, written by story by Kenneth Biller and Robert Doherty, teleplay by James Kahn, and directed by Terry Windell

The Doctor's program is stolen and he is forced to work in an alien hospital, where he skillfully manipulates the system to provide ethical medical care.

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"Worf and Dax discover one of the hidden delights of Risa."

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First, Brent Spiner gets to really through himself into an array of personality types. He gets to show off his acting chops in ways that he rarely gets to, and almost never gets to on Star Trek.

Second, I truly enjoy this quick peek at a mythology where we can recognize all the parts as familiar to Earth mythologies, but they fit together in ways that we don't normally see. We get to follow Picard into seeing how he, as an archology student himself, would piece together that mythology from just the few pieces given to him.

Masks first aired on February 21, 1994, written by Joe Menosky, and directed by Robert Wiemer

The Enterprise finds an ancient library that recreates its civilization by taking possession of Data and transforming the ship.

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"It was supposed to be a quiet Saturday. Tom, Harry and Miral have a different kind of day planned for B'Elanna."

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We have tough characters in Star Trek. We have brave ones. We have smart and sassy characters as well. And we had evil characters (looking at you Gul Ducat).

But Garrak, as it turns out, is the only Terrifying character in Star Trek.

And we put him against the most competent. Oh. My.

Empok Nor first aired on May 19, 1997, written by story by Bryan Fuller, teleplay by Hans Beimler, and directed by Mike Vejar

O'Brien, Garak, Nog and an engineering team go to Deep Space Nine's abandoned sister space station, Empok Nor, to salvage components. The away team soon discover that all is not as it seems.

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"When another workplace accident on the Cerritos leaves the hydroponics bay and Kayshon's garden in shambles, it's Ransom to the rescue."

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And Cease Fire is a great showcase for the Andorians, and for Shran. We learn more about the long, ugly war between Andoria and Vulcan, and how that conflict has poisoned perceptions on both sides, leaving humans (in the form of Jonathan Archer) as possibly the only group capable of bridging the gap. And for a delightful bonus, we get the wonderful Gary Graham in fine form as Ambassador Soval, whose Vulcan reserve can't hide the fact he doesn't think Archer can hack it either.

Cease Fire first aired on February 12, 2003, written by Chris Black, and directed by David Straiton

Captain Archer negotiates a cease fire between the Andorians and the Vulcans.

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"Many years after the castellanship of Elim Garak, a young man finds the courage to wear a pin of his hero in an unusual colour scheme."

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*cough* *cough* *cough*

Where was I?

This episode is a beautiful homage to a piece of media that inspired so many properties from Star Wars to Power Rangers to Doctor Who and a legacy that Star Trek is but one of many proud torchbearer of... That is of course the original Flash Gordon serials & its contemporaries.

Just like your podcast, there's no hedging of bets, as this episode spends an impressive amount of time in glorious black & white. It revels in every single moment while injecting that vibrant Voyager charm & giving us a great Trek episode to boot!

Fantastic (often over the top) acting, amazing whit, excellent one liners. It gave me an appreciation of older scifi like Flash Gordon, Asimov's Foundation, and 60s Who. Here's to Captain Proton! Here's to the Bride of Chaotica!

Bride of Chaotica! first aired on January 27, 1999, written by story by Bryan Fuller, teleplay by Bryan Fuller and Michael Taylor, and directed by Allan Kroeker

Paris' latest holodeck adventure The Adventures of Captain Proton takes an unexpected turn.

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"Q fights for Picard not to be forcibly ascended by doing it the best way that he knows."

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Now that I'm older though, I watch the episode with more experienced eyes. Scotty's just trying to help and feel useful as he would have been, and yet just gets in the way, at least that's the impression he gets from Geordi, who is genuinely just trying to get his job done but doesn't quite realise his impact on Captain Scott's feelings. It's Picard's words to Scott in the holodeck, and then to Geordi later on that all a person wants is to be useful and feel wanted that *REALLY* hit home, 3 decades on.

Sure, this episode pushes the fanboy buttons, but deep down it also makes us take a look at how we treat those around us who we feel might be past their prime (or how those of us approaching that age might feel). I did always find the "oh no, we're falling into the sun" part of the episode.... hang on.... *I SAY WE EJECT THE WARP CORE*.... don't they miraculously seem to fix everything amazingly in time to turn around and then get out of there once the doors open? Regardless, both Geordi and Scotty save the day, and the engineer in me squees with glee at it.

Relics first aired on October 12, 1992, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Alexander Singer

The Enterprise investigates a vessel that crashed on the surface of a Dyson sphere 75 years ago. A pattern is found in the transporter buffer that turns out to be Montgomery Scott. He is released from the buffer and later agrees to return to the vessel with Geordi to help restore the logs. They become the only hope when the Enterprise is accidentally pulled inside the sphere. Guest Star: James Doohan as Montgomery Scott

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"The USS Cerritos is under fire. With Captain Freeman and Commander Ransom out of commission, that leaves Dr. T'Ana in command of the California class ship… even if she has other things to do."

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But one thing I love about it is akin to why I recommended "Distant Origin." Just like that Voyager episode catastrophically misrepresents evolution, "Darmok" butchers linguistics: there is no way that a culture could communicate solely via memes and references. There has to be some linguistic substrate in which the foundational stories could be communicated, after all. The premise of the episode would fall apart under the slightest examination. But it doesn't matter: it serves the story, the story is good, and the story of two strangers willing to risk life for the opportunity to share stories is the heart of Star Trek.

Darmok first aired on September 30, 1991, written by story by Philip LaZebnik & Joe Menosky, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Winrich Kolbe

Picard must learn to communicate with an alien captain who speaks in metaphors before a dangerous beast kills them both. Guest star Paul Winfield as Dathon.

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"When he got back to the Cerritos, they’d say, hey, Boimler, what kind of kickass stuff did you get to do when you visited the golden age of exploration? And he’d have to respond, I stripped Mr. Spock!"

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Definitely not something I expected from Star Trek with the whole utopian awesomeness and all. Another reason ds9 was and will always be my favorite of all the series even though I've been watching since TNG with my dad who watched TOS.

The Wire first aired on May 8, 1994, written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by Kim Friedman

In order to save Garak's life, Bashir must unravel some of the secrets in the Cardassian's past.

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""This is the Captain speaking. Musical Alert. I repeat: Musical Alert. This is not a rehearsal.""

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This is a great episode over all. Mixing the humor of Lower Decks with the hard hitting stories of Strange New Worlds. It was also perfect that both the voice actors for Boimier and Mariner both look closely like their cartoon characters. This episode always brings up that question of how would you react if you got to meet with you hero? Someone you never thought you would, ether living or dead.

Those Old Scientists first aired on July 22, 2023, written by Kathryn Lyn & Bill Wolkoff, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

In the 24th century, ensign Brad Boimler of the USS Cerritos is assigned to investigate an ancient portal. The portal, which is powered by the rare substance horonium, sends him back in time 120 years where he is taken aboard the Enterprise. Boimler struggles to contain his excitement at meeting his heroes and also to prevent polluting the timeline with his knowledge of the future. The portal is stolen by an Orion ship and Pike trades grain supplies to retrieve it. They attempt to return Boimler to the future with the last remaining horonium, but ensign Beckett Mariner comes through the portal instead in a rescue attempt. Spock and Boimler unsuccessfully try to synthesize horonium so they can use the portal again while Mariner and Uhura work to translate engravings on the portal. Boimler realizes that horonium from the hull of the previous starship Enterprise was incorporated into Pike's Enterprise. They use this to send Boimler and Mariner back to their own time, while the Orions agree to accept credit for discovering the portal in exchange for allowing the Enterprise to continue peacefully.

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"A holodeck malfunction leaves Tom Paris in an "Our Man Bashir" of his own playing the part of Paris of Troy in the 3rd Book of the Iliad and visions of his crew mates as various parts of the Greek epic."

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This Episode is fascinating to me. At It's very core is a trolly problem. Save the lives of two for the cost of one, or preserve the one at the cost of two. Both sides have valid points, but equally are both flawed responses to a situation with no truly correct response. But respond Janeway must. And while it was fairly obvious which option would be chosen, (Tim Russ and Ethan Phillips had bills to pay), it still hit hard.

Not every option is black and white. How much is a life worth? Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few? I think the fandom as a whole settled on Team Tuvix, myself included, but I think this episode is captivating from a series famous for it's moralizing.

Tuvix first aired on May 6, 1996, written by story by Andrew Shepard Price and Mark Gaberman, teleplay by Kenneth Biller, and directed by Cliff Bole

A transporter accident merges Tuvok and Neelix into a new person.

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"Tucker and Reed hunt for a hound."

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Devil's Due first aired on February 4, 1991, written by story by Philip LaZebnik & William Douglas Lansford, teleplay by Philip LaZebnik, and directed by Tom Benko

A powerful mythic figure from a millennium ago returns to enslave a planet in accordance with a contract. However, Picard is convinced she is an opportunistic charlatan. Guest star Marta DuBois as Ardra.

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"Tom Paris and Harry Kim try to repair the Fair Haven holoprogram in time for St. Patrick's Day."

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One of the earliest criticisms of DS9 was that it didn't "boldly go", and in its first two seasons in particular, there were a lot of episodes whose basic synopses read "Weird alien(s) come to the station, hijinks occur." And being a DS9 fan as always meant knowing that criticism is always just around the corner, which meant that for episodes like "Move Along Home", the standard response was an embarrassed shrug and a 'yeah...it hadn't found its feet yet. It got better!'

And "Move Along Home" is the ur-example of this type of story. Weird aliens come to DS9, and introduce Quark to a strange board game of chance that traps members of the senior staff in a bizarre game world??? And that's the episode?!

But then I read a review of "Move Along Home" that reframed the episode for me in a very meaningful way. "Move Along Home", it said, is basically a TOS episode. And that made so much sense! Is Commander Sisko having to play hopscotch and sing a children's song that different from the crew of the TOS Enterprise being forced to fight in "Plato's Stepchildren"? Or acting strangely to break the brains of the androids in "I, Mudd"? Suddenly, it made perfect sense, and "Move Along Home" is no longer embarrassing.

Move Along Home first aired on March 14, 1993, written by story by Michael Piller, teleplay by Frederick Rappaport, Lisa Rich and Jeanne Carrigan-Fauci, and directed by David Carson

Quark plays a board game with the Wadi, a newly encountered species from the Gamma Quadrant, and the lives of the crew seemingly depend on the outcome.

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"Five times Garak and Julian didn't voice their feelings, and one time they finally did."

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I can't deny a good “I won't be the bigger man, I'm dragging you down to my level” type story, especially when it's our protagonist doing the dragging.

I can't help but love Droxine flirting w/ Spock, bc it just registers to me as the relatable experience of “ma’am please, I'm here w/ my boyfriend, who you clearly haven't clocked as such, so I'm gonna try and find the most non-scene causing way to stop this”. It kills me, I don't think this scene is supposed to reduce you to giggles.

Hope you also enjoy!

The Cloud Minders first aired on February 28, 1969, written by Jerome Bixby, and directed by Murray Golden

Kirk races against time to acquire plague-fighting minerals from a world in the midst of a civil uprising.

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First published on February 15th, 2023 on Archive of our Own by VallesMarineris.

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While Trek is expectedly against the death penalty, this episode keeps from being one-sided by the sub-plot with Neelix and Joleg.

Repentance first aired on January 31, 2001, written by story by Mike Sussman and Robert Doherty, teleplay by Robert Doherty, and directed by Mike Vejar

Prisoners are brought onto Voyager from a damaged alien vessel, and the crew must deliver them to their destination – for execution. Seven's nanoprobes are used to help heal a prisoner.

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Data believes that Kate does not consider him a friend of hers.

First published July 30th, 2022 on Archive of our Own by Superfloxes.

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That quote was life changing for me. I had spent my entire life struggling with being bipolar. Parts of my brain just do not work. I was one of the brilliant kids in school but my grades never showed that. I couldn’t focus on homework no matter how hard I tried. Later in my life I had manic episodes that took control over me and I couldn’t stop myself from saying things I shouldn’t have. I’ve lost jobs and friends to episodes.

Captain Picard made me realize I was trying my best and it was not my fault that my best wasn’t enough to meet anyone’s expectations.

The other parts of the episode also resonate with me because I’m always trying to find ways around my own limitations. I don’t need to do things the way people say I should. I can what works instead, even if it means breaking a few rules.

Peak Performance first aired on July 10, 1989, written by David Kemper, and directed by Robert Scheerer

The Enterprise and USS Hathaway face off in simulated combat maneuvers. Data fails to beat a humanoid at a game of Strategema and exhibits self-doubt.

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First Published on October 3rd, 2021 on Archive of our Own by queenofroses12.

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Having narrowly escaped the horrible Confederation of the alternate 2400, the crew travels back to 2024 to correct the timeline. “Let’s see what has been lost in the wake of your fear” Q whispers to Picard again as they jump to the past.

Assimilation sets up the character arcs for the rest of the season.

Raffi is racked with guilt and anger for Elnor’s death early in the episode.

Seven, gets to experience not being met with fear since the timeline hop means she was never assimilated.

Rios immediately gets into some good trouble meeting the charming doctor Teresa.

And Jurati, still racked with guilt over killing Maddox in season one is doing something difficult and dangerous: impressing the Borg Queen (played in this iteration by the magnetic Anne Wershing who sadly passed away in early 2023).

Fear, Hope, guilt, forgiveness. Picard season two is about all these things, deeply personal to both Picard and Stewart, and it doesn’t get enough credit.

“ Move backward to go forward. Shatter to mend. The past is now.”

Assimilation first aired on March 17, 2022, written by Kiley Rossetter & Christopher Monfette, and directed by Lea Thompson

Seven distracts the Magistrate long enough for the group to overpower and kill him and his officers. The ship comes under attack, and the Queen takes advantage of the situation to directly connect herself to the ship's computers. She destroys their pursuers and slingshots the ship around the sun, creating a wormhole to 2024. She tells Picard that they must find "The Watcher" in Los Angeles who knows what Q changed to cause the new timeline. The ship crashes near Chateau Picard in France, and the Queen diverts all power to sustain herself. Elnor dies of his wounds, and Raffi angrily blames Picard before departing with Seven and Rios to start searching for the Watcher. Rios's transporter malfunctions and he is knocked out, waking up in a clinic that secretly treats undocumented immigrants. Before he can leave, immigration officers raid the clinic and arrest both Rios and his physician, Teresa. Rios's communicator is left behind. Despite Picard's warnings, Agnes connects her mind to the Queen and learns the exact location of the Watcher before she can be assimilated, impressing the Queen.

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Hi guys! This is my first recommendation - I've been listening for a while now and I adore the show, and it's taken me a long time to decide which episode I want to recommend.

And it's got to be The Ascent. This is a wonderful showcase for the "enemies with benefits" Quark and Odo. And the reason I love this episode is because, as someone who is firmly on Team Space Goblin, this is one of the few times where Odo gets called out for his bulls*** - I always scream and cheer when Quark calls him a fascist to his face. But this is classic Trek, because as much as they hate each other they have to learn to work together in order to survive. The B plot parralels this, with Jake and Nog learning to live together as roomates, while Sisko finds an unexpected ally in Rom. This episode is about being open to each other's differences and for that to lead to acceptance.

The Ascent first aired on November 25, 1996, written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by Allan Kroeker

Forced to crash-land on a desolate planet, Odo and Quark must climb a mountain to transmit a distress signal. Jake and Nog (temporarily back at DS9) find sharing quarters isn't as enjoyable as they thought it would be.

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This is one of my favorite episodes of this series alongside the finale for that season (Shax's finest hour was amazing.) The central conflict of Boimler trying to find meaning to life was fascinating to watch. Fun action scenes, a couple pokes at us fanfic writers not understanding story flow or proper exposition (I like to think I improved in that department... I hope...) and of course, Captain Sulu cameos is always a plus. Overall, a fun episode with a thoughtful central conflict. Hoping we see more of Will Boimler. As of me writing this Halloween 2024, there's still time.

Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus first aired on October 13, 2022, written by Ben Rodgers, and directed by Michael Mullen

Boimler's holodeck movie sequel tries to live up to the original.

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Tapestry first aired on February 15, 1993, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Les Landau

An accident kills Picard. He finds an afterlife with Q analyzing his past choices.

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The Doctor is sentient and sapient, but he’s still a program in many ways and sometimes a program when pushed so far beyond its limits breaks, but is he alive and free willed enough to push beyond that?

Latent Image first aired on January 20, 1999, written by story by Eileen Connors, Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Mike Vejar

The Doctor finds out that some of his memories have been blocked.

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It's such a smart way to introduce these characters within the first few episodes, by exposing the conflicts and fantasies beneath the surface. Even if it means showing a severe lack of safety protocol to get there!

The Naked Time first aired on September 29, 1966, written by John D. F. Black, and directed by Marc Daniels

A strange, intoxicating infection, which lowers the crew's emotional inhibitions, spreads throughout the Enterprise. As the madness spreads, the entire ship is endangered.[2]

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Re-watching this episode years later from its original airing from back in 2002. I now understand how the stories or history of one's family can be very important, even if their only important to you. Hearing about how my one grandfather chased down all the boys in his high school that made fun of his short height, and one by one lifted each of them over his head into a garbage car. Grandpa might of been small, but he was strong from working on the farm his whole life. Little family stories to give you pride about your family.

Carbon Creek first aired on September 14, 1993, written by S : Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Dan O'Shannon, T : Chris Black, and directed by James A. Contner

Sub-Commander T'Pol relates the tale of a Vulcan crew stranded on Earth in the 1950s.

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I love when Star Trek has fun with itself, and this episode does such a great job with it in every aspect. From giving Dr. M'Benga a hard time for his awesome hat to the awesome subplot with the Rongovians, this not only makes me laugh but gives every single member of the cast the chance to shine.

I also love this episode for giving us 'The Scorch', a hull panel on the outside of the ship signed by the crew. It's a great episode all around and seeing Pike finally figure out what the Rongovians are after is supremely satisfying.

While I love every episode of Strange New Worlds, this one just fills me with unbridled joy every time.

Spock Amok first aired on June 2, 2022, written by Henry Alonso Myers & Robin Wasserman, and directed by Rachel Leiterman

A personal visit causes a comedy of errors during Spock & Pike's crucial negotiations with an unusual alien species.

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The Magnificent Ferengi first aired on May 14, 1993, written by Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler, and directed by Chip Chalmers

Quark mounts a rescue mission when his mother, Ishka, is captured by the Dominion and Grand Nagus Zek offers a reward for her return.

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Final Mission first aired on November 19, 1990, written by story by Kacey Arnold-Ince, teleplay by Kacey Arnold-Ince & Jeri Taylor, and directed by Corey Allen

Wesley sets off on his final mission with the Enterprise accompanied by Picard. They become stranded on a desert planet.

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Vanishing Point first aired on September 22, 1993, written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga, and directed by David Straiton

After her first trip through the transporter, Ensign Sato finds herself becoming incorporeal, with the crew believing she has perished.

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Plus we get more over all lore on the Federations policies, some fun galactic lore and a threat of clumsy science.

Plus, an interesting take on a religious experience though scientific endeavors.

As an Apathiest (Gods, do their thing, I do mine, if we don't bother each other everyone is happy), I like little twists to both science and religion. Twists mind, I am tired of sledge hammer statements (I have been hit in the face enough times by those thank to very much!)

The Omega Directive first aired on April 15, 1998, written by teleplay by Lisa Klink, story by Jimmy Diggs & Steve J. Kay, and directed by Victor Lobl

Janeway undertakes the Omega Directive, an order to destroy Omega molecules, even if it means violating the Prime Directive.

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All the World's a Stage first aired on November 10, 2022, written by Aaron J. Waltke, and directed by Andrew L. Schmidt

The Protostar crew responds to a distress call from an M-class planet, except for Murf who is unwell. They discover an alien race called the "Enderprizians" who revere and imitate Starfleet. A mysterious disease is afflicting the villagers, and also infects Dal. They track the disease to a cave holding a Federation shuttlecraft that crashed on the planet with Ensign Garrovick of the USS Enterprise long ago. The shuttlecraft is leaking plasma and poisoning the environment. The crew and villagers work together to dispose of the shuttlecraft and seal the cave while Zero devises a cure. When the crew return to the Protostar, they find Murf encased in a cocoon.

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But in all of Trek, there is no more emotionally raw, powerful, and moving scene than in The Forsaken. Odo and Lwaxwana are stuck in the elevator, and Odo has to revert into his natural liquid state—and he has to trust Lwaxana to do it.

This is Trek at its best: taking something fundamentally alien and using it to humanize a character. Almost every other time an alien evokes such pathos, they are being human—as Kirk says of Spock, "he was the most human."

Odo's character arc is one of the best in Trek, and this episode starts it off with the most unique, iconic, and moving scene that I can think of in all sci-fi, while also developing a a character who was previously only comedic relief.

The Forsaken first aired on January 18, 1993, written by story by Jim Trombetta, teleplay by Don Carlos Dunaway and Michael Piller, and directed by Les Landau

The Federation ambassador from Betazed, Lwaxana Troi, visits the station, and develops an affection for Odo. Meanwhile, data from a mysterious Gamma Quadrant probe causes system failures on DS9.

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I consider “Stormy Weather” to be peak Trek. It’s one of many “void episodes” of franchise, and uses that basis to tell an engaging story that demonstrates the best of Trek.

From the cohesion & enthusiasm of the crew, the excellent leadership, the exploration of self & identity, to the dealing with new experiences & old wounds; all of this create a package that also homages some memorable moments in the franchise without drawing attention to them.

This episode puts compassion, intelligence, & understanding forefront, while also being an almost silent celebration of the tried & true in Trek.

Stormy Weather first aired on December 23, 2021, written by Anne Cofell Saunders & Brandon Schultz, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

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Listen….listen I'm aware this episode is definitely a strangely paced, scatterbrained mess. Though I'll say it's worst and best sin of it is Lazarus’s facial hair; really Lazarus as a whole sums up my feelings about this episode: meandering, accidentally comical, and strangely poignant. The first five minutes I'm always waiting in suspense for the appearance of Lazarus's awful beard and over-the-top scream as he falls down, because I can't help but laugh every time. And while there are certain parts that are very confusing the first time watching, as well as several bits that drag on too long, there's also a lot of fun lines and good performances to keep me enjoying myself.

This episode also has one of my favorite one-off crewmembers of the whole show, Lieutenant Charline Masters, who I find really charming and professional when she's on-screen. Plus I love Lazarus’s sparkly little outfit.

It's an episode of big swings- trying to deal with total nonexistence should the Enterprise fail, time travel, alternate universes, and pulling a bait and switch over which Lazarus poses the real threat- and I’m sure there were cleaner ways to pull it off, but I do know that in the end, after Lazarus stays to fight the other him for eternity in between universes, I really feel the heaviness behinds Kirk's, “For you and me…but what of Lazarus? What of Lazarus…”

I find it a really compelling episode, though I can definitely see why it's disliked by a lot of people, especially if they only watch it the one time. That's the thought that stands out to me the most: I like and appreciate this episode more and more with each rewatch, which I think it deserves credit for, even if it'll never be my Top Episode of All Time.

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The Alternative Factor first aired on March 30, 1967, written by Don Ingalls, and directed by Gerd Oswald

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Macrocosm first aired on December 11, 1996, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Alexander Singer

Greg's Charity Stream information. https://tilt.fyi/cfN1BNS95S

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The Naked Now first aired on October 5, 1987, written by story by John D. F. Black & D. C. Fontana, teleplay by D. C. Fontana, and directed by Paul Lynch

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Take Me Out to the Holosuite first aired on October 21, 1998, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Chip Chalmers

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It's a classic Star Trek medical mystery episode, with the added twist of exactly who the observers are and how the observation is being done. It also has some lovely character moments, and since I love these characters, it's like catnip for me.

Observer Effect first aired on January 21, 2005, written by Garfield Reeves-Stevens & Judith Reeves-Stevens, and directed by Mike Vejar

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Format breaking ideas, incredible love letters to how crazy a Star Trek movie can be (or a “Starfleet Movie” as they like to say in-universe), super smart and incisive humor such as comments on old Trek shows’ problems with monocultures and centered on Mariner’s character arc beginning to reveal her deeper issues.

Crisis Point first aired on October 1, 2020, written by Ben Rodgers, and directed by Bob Suarez

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Ya'll said in a past episode a lot of people didn't like didn't like the episode with the Ferengi's in them. I love all the episodes that have Ferengi's in them or feature them. DS9 really helped to develop and advance what their culture and species was from when they first showed up in TNG.

BlackRain's podcast can be found here!

Little Green Men first aired on November 15, 1995, written by story by Toni Marberry & Jack Treviño, teleplay by Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by James L. Conway

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As someone playing an engineer in a Star Trek Adventures campaign I adore Geordi’s creativity in this episode! He makes it work even at such a horrible disadvantage (imo, an engineer’s best trait). The chemistry between Geordi and Bochra makes the near-friendship they form so much sweeter and Worf’s indifference towards the death of a Romulan he could have saved all the more troubling. I love trek episodes that allow characters to not always be the better person and this is a perfect example! Its also hard to ignore the line “I never lie when I’ve got sand in my shoes, Commodore”

The Enemy first aired on November 6, 1989, written by David Kemper & Michael Piller, and directed by David Carson

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The Practical Joker first aired on September 21, 1974, written by Chuck Menville, and directed by Bill Reed

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Extreme Risk first aired on October 28, 1998, written by Kenneth Biller, and directed by Cliff Bole

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The Elysian Kingdom first aired on June 23, 2022, written by Akela Cooper & Onitra Johnson, and directed by Amanda Row

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Kobayashi first aired on January 6, 2022, written by Aaron J. Waltke, and directed by Alan Wan

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Our Man Bashir first aired on November 27, 1995, written by story by Robert Gillan, teleplay by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Winrich Kolbe

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Side Note: My second favorite "Die Hard on an X" story is the made for video film "Interceptor" which is set on a C5 Galaxy aircraft, and improbably stars Jurgon Prochnow as the requisite german terrorist out to steal a VR equipped F-117.

Starship Mine first aired on March 29, 1993, written by Morgan Gendel, and directed by Cliff Bole

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I would really like to hear from the writer/s if they knew that mpreg was an actual thing on certain password-protected tumblrs before they wrote this episode.

This one goes in the pot because I *didn’t* see it, at least not at first. I was watching on original broadcast, I was 10, and were only a few episodes in before one of the Cub Scout dads (very conservative bunch, my family/scout troop) mentions something hyperbolic about not letting his family watch the show anymore. I then didn’t see that episode myself and didn’t think anything of it, but then some eleven years later, I started watching the series start to finish, and found out that the reason why I didn’t remember this one was hilarious.

Unexpected first aired on October 17, 2001, written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga, and directed by Mike Vejar

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It has some really great Spock character moments- especially in the scene after he and Kirk are humiliated by Parmen and Philana- which I'm always excited about. Really the entire scene lives rent free in my mind, especially Alexander’s speech and his anger towards the other Platonians. As an autistic person, I really relate to how he- a disabled man living among a population created through eugenics- is finally able to verbalize that his treatment wasn't deserved because of his difference, and that he doesn't want to be just like them.

I also really love Uhura and Kirk's exchange right before their kiss, showing the trust shared between the members of the bridge crew this far into the series. The whole scene surrounding it has THE most sinister undertones, it's a little uncomfortable to watch, but it's supposed to keep you on tenterhooks waiting to see how far it’ll go before they find a way out.

Yes, it's another (allegedly) advanced alien species that's modeled itself on Ancient Greece- however it's camp as hell, so I love it, especially Spock, Chapel, and Parmen’s outfits. I have a blast every time I rewatch it, even though Parmen needs to learn that just because you're in space doesn't mean you don't have to ask for consent before making people do weird fucked up acts for your amusement.

TLDR: Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates? Morons.

Plato's Stepchildren first aired on November 22, 1968, written by Joyce Muskat, and directed by John Erman

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Special Effect video mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m3Rea0H_p8

Night first aired on October 14, 1998, written by Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky, and directed by David Livingston

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Profit and Lace first aired on May 13, 1998, written by Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler, and directed by Siddig El Faddil

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Diversity is good because nothing is good in every circumstance—we need different skillsets at different times.

Crimson (he/him), I hope you guys have some fun with this episode. I certainly had fun rewatching it., recommended TNG 208 A Matter Of Honor, saying:

"S2 TNG: Collarless-uniforms but Riker's Beard! Here we start to get a proper look at Klingons with some real complexity and individuality. Also we get a proper look at a whole lot of Klingon food. It's a great episode to show off Riker's character, as clever, brave, funny, with good humor, and a real willingness to jump in and just do things, the moreso as a personal challenge. We also get a B plot w/ Awkward Benzite Ensign, who is absolutely a type of person I have met many times. It's a great fun episode of cultural exchange in a few directions, all in all a favorite. Especially Riker's response to a nominal proposition (and his harried look afterwards). Also apparently the first appearance of blood wine!"

A Matter Of Honor first aired on February 6, 1989, written by story by Wanda M. Haight & Gregory Amos & Burton Armus, teleplay by Burton Armus, and directed by Rob Bowman

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I accuse 'I Have No Bones, Yet I Must Flee' of Moopsie Freeing.

I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee first aired on September 7, 2023, written by Aaron Burdette, and directed by Megan Lloyd

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Yesteryear first aired on September 15, 1973, written by D. C. Fontana, and directed by Hal Sutherland

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Virtuoso first aired on January 26, 2000, written by story by Raf Green, teleplay by Raf Green & Kenneth Biller, and directed by Les Landau

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Bar Association first aired on February 19, 1996, written by story by Barbara J. Lee & Jenifer A. Lee, teleplay by Robert Hewitt Wolfe & Ira Steven Behr, and directed by LeVar Burton

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The Loss first aired on December 31, 1990, written by story by Hilary J. Bader, teleplay by Hilary J. Bader & Allan J. Adler & Vanessa Greene, and directed by Chip Chalmers

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Acquisition first aired on March 27, 2002, written by S : Rick Berman & Brannon Braga, T : Maria Jacquemetton & Andre Jacquemetton, and directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

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Fair Haven first aired on January 12, 2000, written by Robin Bernheim, and directed by Allan Kroeker

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Lauren Rivers she/her, An obsessive Star Trek nerd from Texas., recommended PIC 105 Stardust City Rag, saying:

"This episode was just so much fun. Not only did we get to see Picard really ham it up in his undercover disguise, but we got to see Seven of Nine proper for the first time since Voyager ended. It was so exciting to see these characters on screen together, and that alone was just so exciting. "

Stardust City Rag first aired on February 20, 2020, written by Kirsten Beyer, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

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I, Mudd first aired on November 3, 1967, written by Stephen Kandel, and directed by Marc Daniels

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One Little Ship first aired on February 14, 1998, written by David Weddle & Bradley Thompson, and directed by Allan Kroeker

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It ALMOST even invents a cosmic horror trope, now commonplace, DECADES in advance of Night in the Woods which much more widely disseminated it, the "the thing you thought was a feature of the landscape all along turns out to have been some being so unfathomably vast that you didn't see it all the while you were looking at it." But even after LOOKING like it's foreshadowing exactly that trope, the entire episode, it never does it.

The scares, the slow burn of tension, and the acting all prove they COULD do cosmic horror. There's maybe reasons that have to do with the ethos and goals of star trek that explain why they don't, but as someone who loves both cosmic horror and twilight zone twists it's fascinatingly frustrating.

Night Terrors first aired on March 18, 1991, written by story by Shari Goodhartz, teleplay by Pamela Douglas & Jeri Taylor, and directed by Les Landau

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This was one of my earliest experiences of horror and ultimately proved formative in the developments of my tastes and values as a storyteller. At that age I saw Riker as the coolest, bravest guy I had ever seen, and to see him being helplessly dragged by some invisible force while screaming for help? Chilling stuff indeed.

Plus Picard gets to *really* Picard, in a season that gave their captain less opportunities to be the hero in a way that Kirk did.

Skin Of Evil first aired on April 25, 1988, written by story by Joseph Stefano, teleplay by Joseph Stefano & Hannah Louise Shearer, and directed by Joseph L. Scanlan

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NoWay recommended The Thaw, saying:

"I honestly dont know how this episode was received and if it receive a lot of hate but for me its one of my favourites in voyager.

The idea of having a computer make a interpretation of the subconscious fears and manifest them into a character sounds believable to me and that this character realizes he has to keep his hosts alive/scared to keep himself from fading away is also something that seems to fit.

There are some scenes that are a bit weird though like "harry growing old and young"

I love the clowns interaction with the doctor as well , first time the doc interupts him "excuse me, your are not holding that properly" and the second time where the clown remarks the doc is good and bringing a party to a hold"

I also dont fully understand why janeway would program her hologram with a "haha got you" response after the people are free but it sort firs with janeway since he does like 'winning' "

The Thaw first aired on April 29, 1996, written by story by Richard Gadas, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Marvin V. Rush

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Singularity first aired on November 20, 2002, written by Chris Black, and directed by Patrick Norris

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"I saw it as a rerun, I had to have been 7-8 years old. As a kid I identified with the Trill since I felt like my consciousness and body are separate things, like my consciousness was some other being living inside me. Anyway the episode has some rando show up and hijack the Dax symbiont for a little while, and there are these kinda weirdly intimate scenes both where the symbiont is taken out of Jadzia and put in the guy who is them briefly imbued with all sorts of memories and knowledge. The theme of the episode is that it’s wrong to take something by force rather than earning it (the trill pipeline) I think, but my very young takeaway was different, reflecting more on the intimacy of the symbiotic relationship and vulnerability I guess!"

Invasive Procedures first aired on October 17, 1993, written by story by John Whelpley, teleplay by John Whelpley and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by Les Landau

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"1. The theme of "people discovering that their past is different, interesting, and complicated" is a favorite of mine

2. The idea of humans finding, basically, cousins in space is really cool (and raises so many unknown questions, like "how did they get there?")

3. It's one ST episode that deals with issues of religion/mythology, and shows how those are used to structure power and identity in complicated ways (as well as how folks moving to change ingrained narratives run afoul not JUST of power, but of identities)

4. I recently watched the 1968 Planet of the Apes and was struck by the parallels to Distant Origin: conflicts over "doctrine," over personhood and rights, over history; but Chakotay is a much better person than Charleton Heston's character.

5. It's always fun when Starfleet runs into super-powerful alien races

6. For an episode that's a parable paralleling "intelligent design" vs. evolution conversations, it misunderstands evolution HILARIOUSLY. And I think that's important: you can make significant points without being accurate in every respect. (In this sense, it's like "Darmok," where the linguistics make NO sense but the emotions do.)

7. DINOSAURS."

Distant Origin first aired on April 30, 1997, written by Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky, and directed by David Livingston

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"Does this episode have the most impact on the show's plot? No. Is it the most dramatic of DS9's episodes? Also no.

But it does have Sisko being a giant nerd and engaging in wanton acts of experimental archaeology (or dare I say: creative anachronism) while going on a father-son trip.

As someone who engages in involved, hubris-fueled historical projects themselves, this was possibly the closest Trek has come to just dropping me on a screen."

Explorers first aired on May 8, 1995, written by story by Hilary J. Bader, teleplay by René Echevarria, and directed by Cliff Bole

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"There are so many answers I could give, but I think I would have to say probably Nepenthe. Seeing Riker and Troi together on Picard even though I knew it was coming, it did my heart so much good because I grew up with that cast.

I always enjoy seeing them on screen or in person and it's a slow episode in terms of action but the way they interact when Jean Luc first arrives... I really needed that then."

Nepenthe first aired on March 5, 2020, written by Samantha Humphrey and Michael Chabon, and directed by Doug Aarniokoski

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The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.

Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

"I think a problem with a lot of sci-fi is their propensity to one-note species. And Trek is often no exception: The Klingon and honourable and violent, the Vulcans are logical, the Ferengi are profit-obsessed and misogynistic—and then we meet Ishka.

This episode is funny, but also manages to really develop and complicate the characters of Quark and Rom while keeping the flavour of Ferengi culture. Ishka criticises Ferengi society, but she is still fully Ferengi, not a stand-in for "humans are the best."

Family Business first aired on May 15, 1995, written by Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by René Auberjonois

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

"This episode encapsulates everything I love about modern Star Trek:

High concepts, high stakes and high energy; smart people working hard to solve problems and do the right thing. Three "A" plots jostle against one another and yet none of them feel rushed, diminised or tacked on.

And this episode contains my absolute favorite scene in all of Star Trek, ever!"

An Obol for Charon first aired on February 7, 2019, story by Jordon Nardino & Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts, teleplay by Alan McElroy & Andrew Colville, and directed by Lee Rose

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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"Threshold is a controversial episode, and in rewatch, I can see all the reasons NOT to like it. But also, it's such a corny episode, and the premise drives it forward a lot until we get to what I love most:

Threshold is a monster movie. It's like the original Universal monster movies Frankenstein, The Fly, Wolfman, Dracula and movies I watched with my brother as a kid. The section with Tom transforming is my favorite parts. The resolution and end? Yeah, it's silly.

But the middle half where it's straight up monster movie stuff just brings a smile to my face. "

Threshold first aired on January 29, 1996, story by Michael De Luca, teleplay by Brannon Braga, and directed by Alexander Singer

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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"There is some suspension of disbelief like with most episodes of this show, but I dont understand why this got so much hate! I always wanted better episodes for Beverly and Troi than their usual ‘hot alien boyfriend of the week’, and this one feels different.

It’s not great, but it is far weirder and more fun than it has any right being!

Mixing a pervy sex ghost with a story about grief clouding your judgement and making you vulnerable to those who want to take advantage of you worked quite well for me, even if it became very silly towards the end.

It deserves its place as a meme, but it is too interesting to be rated as low as it is! "

Sub Rosa first aired on January 31, 1994, story by Jeri Taylor, teleplay by Brannon Braga, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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Two big-hearted besties and their trusty Chief Engineer voyage through the badlands of Star Trek to find the good in every episode — even the clunkers.

You know what? Especially the clunkers! Because every episode must be someone’s favourite and it might as well be us.

So buckle your seatbelts and join us as we warp into:

The Joy of Trek!