Star Trek: The Best And Worst Episodes The highs and lows of each of the Star Trek series…
With Star Trek burning up the box-office and "set phasers on fun!" the most overused phrase in the world right now, it's time to look back over the (live-action) Star Trek series and consider which were the best, and worst, episodes of each series. Yes, even Enterprise... WORDS ANDREW FISHER
The Original Series Kirk, Spock and McCoy boldly go where no man has gone before…
3) Space Seed
The episode that spawned the most acclaimed movies of the franchise, Space Seed introduced audiences to Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered super-soldier who, along with a bunch of other gene-spliced ne'er-do-wells, had been in stasis for nearly 300 years. Naturally, he is woken from his super-nap, and surprises no-one by trying to take over the Enterprise. It's even less surprising when his super-plan is foiled, and Kirk exiles him to Ceti Alpha V where he shouldn't be able to cause any more trouble. Unfortunately, it turns out that Kirk was super-wrong about that, as "The Wrath Of Khan" would reveal...
2) Mirror, Mirror
One of the staple ingredients of any Trek series - a transporter malfunction - gives us our second-best episode from The Original Series. Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura find themselves in a mirror universe where goodies are baddies - complete with dodgy goatees, in case there was any doubt as to their baddie credentials. "Our" Kirk and pals have to play along and avoid being assassinated while trying to find a way back, whilst in our universe, Spock has twigged right away and chucked the mirror versions of the crew in the slammer. Apparently facial hair detracts from a Vulcan's mental prowess, as mirror Spock takes ages to catch on. Fortunately, it turns out that even with a goatee, Spock is still a fairly decent sort and he helps get everyone back where they're supposed to be.
1) The City On The Edge Of Forever
And so to the best episode of classic Trek, the one with Joan Collins in it. This episode is another example of a fine old Trek tradition: the time-travel story. Dr McCoy manages to OD on some drugs by falling on his hypo, and thanks to a conveniently-located plot device on a nearby planet, winds up in 20th century New York City. Cementing his position as World's Clumsiest Oaf, McCoy then manages to change the future, wiping the Enterprise from existence. Kirk and Spock, presumably a bit ticked off, follow him back and try to put right what once went wrong - no, wait, that's the wrong Enterprise captain… Anyway, along the way Kirk falls in love with Joan Collins' character, but wouldn't you know it - the only way to safeguard the future is to watch her get flattened by a truck. With the future now restored, they all return home and Kirk mopes around until the next mini-skirt-wearing alien temptress comes along. So, for about ten minutes, then.
And The Worst?
That's a tough call, since most of the third series sucked, but we've plumped for - drumroll, please - "Spock's Brain". To preserve what's left of our sanity after re-watching the episode, here's a quick recap: Woman beams aboard Enterprise; woman steal's Spock's brain to run her city's functions; Bones builds remote control for Spock's body while they get his brain back; sales of razorblades soar as viewers try to make the pain stop; the knowledge of the Ancients is downloaded into O'Neill's - wait, wrong show again - Bones' brain; Bones reconnects Spock's brain to his body. Oh, and this all happens without a single hair on Spock's head being out of place. Did we mention the remote control for Spock's brainless body? It has ten buttons. To control an entire body. Just ten. And, despite the obvious level of technology this requires, there's still a clockwork sound whenever Spock moves. On the plus side, anything you watch after this episode will seem positively highbrow in comparison: hmmm, where'd we put that Andromeda DVD...
Have Your Say
Do you agree with our choices? Which Star Trek episodes would you nominate for the best or worst? Register or login now to have your say.
Your Comments
1
What? Demons?
Posted on Tuesday November 3, 2009, 20:25 by wjohnson15
Let's face it, Enterprise series four was dreadful to say the least, but Demons was the worst. A horrible, overrated uninspired mess of an episode which had absolutely nothing good about it. A low point for the seires, one of the worst, if not the worst, horrible, horrible, horrible. What were they thinking trying to build towards the Endgame that way? Also pretty pointless, since the equally awful "These Are The Voayges" destroyed everything told in this story. And the biggest insult is that it's NUMBER ONE!!!! Why? There are no episodes from the third season of Enterprise which is easily the best. Much better than the appalling fourth season. The worst episode of Enterprise should've been "These Are The Voyages". Words cannot put into context my fury, frustration and sadness when the entire Star Trek franchise was ended by THAT episode. What were they thinking? Did they honestly think the viewer would accept that as a final episode? It wasn't even feature length. Read More
2
Inner Light
Posted on Tuesday June 9, 2009, 02:51 by djdarrenjames
The Inner Light has my vote - I liked the emotional episodes some of them were written extremely well. This episode had a nice TNG pay off and gave Picard even more character depth (When you think about it, Picard should be a wreck of a man - multiple identities, double lives, assimilation, dead lovers etc) Read More
3
Best TNG
Posted on Thursday May 28, 2009, 01:38 by DolphinSweetie
Frame of Mind is hands down an episode that should be on the top 3 list. For those who don't recall...it is the one when Riker has dreams after dreams and doesn't what is real and what isn't. It is a very well scripted and acted episode. Definitely worth noting. Read More
4
the best and the worst
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2009, 14:38 by anakin solo
the best star trek episodes in my opinion are
star trek - mirror, mirror,space seed, where no man has gone before, the doomsday machine
none of the next generation episodes
star trek deep space nine - what you leave behind,
star trek voyager - the two parter equinox episode. Read More
5
In A Mirror, Darkly
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2009, 14:31 by EllyD
In A Mirror, Darkly (Part 1 and 2) in Enterprise are the worst episodes of any ST. Ever. I cringed all the way through.
It also has to be said that the Enterprise theme tune must go down as a "wtf!" moment when I first heard that. Actually, every time I heared it.
I still think Enterprise should have had more series commissioned. The last 2 series were much better (last episode was a bit blah) and I felt it had legs. Read More
6
ORIGINAL SERIES...AND THE BEST....
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2009, 14:26 by ROTGUT
Arena, The Corbanite Manoeuvure, The Naked Time, The Doomsday machine, Galileo Seven, City On The Edge Of Forevever, Mirror Mirror...take your pick.
Next Generation....yaaawwwwnnnnn......
Deep Space Nine.......zzzzzzzzzzzz.......
Voyager....not perfect but watchable.....
Enterprise.......bleaaagh....... Read More
7
TNG
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2009, 14:06 by Hillsman
I've seen all 7 seasons of TNG....and not very much of the others. I reckon switching 'Relics' for 'All Good Things' would make a perfect Top 3. Read More
8
Posted on Friday May 22, 2009, 19:35 by omegaman1
hated "the thaw" worst ever episode of all treck series loved Starship mine/yesterdays enterprise Read More
9
My favourite TNG...
Posted on Friday May 22, 2009, 19:17 by Jill McG
For my money, "The Measure of a Man" deserves to be in the top 3 TNG episodes.
Okay, so it doesn't have the wow factor of big special effects or battles, but it's a damn good script and is the episode that epitomises what Gene Roddenberry's concept was all about; using a sci-fi situation (in this case, a mean scientist wanting to dismantle your friendly neighbourhood android) to explore what it means to be human.
Watching Picard present his arguments for why Data should be given the right to choose his own fate is not only an opportunity to see Patrick Stewart on fine form, but is somehow uplifting too. The show's creators had a truly optimistic view of the future and of humanity in general that's brilliant escapist TV when the real world is all credit crunch-tastic and depressing.
I could do without Picard chatting up that old bird, mind. Read More
10
RE: ....forgot...
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 20:40 by Beno
L: giddig
...even my fairly relaxed tastes can not forgive the Enterprise theme tune.
What were they thinking with that?!
he opening credits had to be watched with muted sound on my TV . Read More
11
RE: Geek Moment
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 20:18 by Lazarus munkey
L: Simmons2.0
The ship in 'In A Mirror, Darkly', is not the Enterprise, but the USS Defiant (NCC-1764) that disappeared into a spatial warp (aka - conviniently placed plot device) in the Classic Trek (i.e. Kirk & Co.) epiosode 'The Tholian Web' and fell back in time into the Mirror Universe where it was captured by the Mirror Tholians and promptly stolen by Archer.
sp;
Trekkers being anally retentive debate solved! Read More
12
It is a good day to die (of embarassment)
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 20:15 by Steamrunner
See, I was obviously watching the mirror universe version of In A Mirror, Darkly, in which it the Enterprise that came through, whereas you all saw the version from this universe which had the Defiant in it instead. Yes, that must have been what happened. Honest... Read More
13
....forgot...
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 18:37 by giddig
...even my fairly relaxed tastes can not forgive the Enterprise theme tune.
What were they thinking with that?! Read More
14
Leave Enterprise alone!
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 18:36 by giddig
I loved Enterprise, was sad when it was cancelled early and really can't see why it's so disliked. Archer was a great captain, the effects were excellent, the stories were fun and T'pol was the hottest Trek character ever.
For me the best/worst episode sorting of all Trek incarnations is simple: moral/relationship/soul-searching = usually boring. Battle stations and time travel = coooooool! Read More
15
Enterprise
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 10:55 by The Tingler
I thought the last two seasons of Enterprise were excellent.
Still, probably my favourite Enterprise-based moment is actually in The Simpsons when a Star Wars fan insults a Star Trek fan -
"I heard William Shatner was going to appear in Enterprise - and NOT as Kirk!"
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" Read More
16
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 10:47 by The Tingler
Disagree with Relics being in the TNG bit. I'd have to give it to either Tapestry (yes, a Q one, but easily the best) or The Inner Light (the one where Picard lives an entire lifetime in a few hours - heartbreaking ending). Read More
17
Geek Moment
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009, 02:35 by Simmons2.0
The ship in 'In A Mirror, Darkly', is not the Enterprise, but the USS Defiant (NCC-1764) that disappeared into a spatial warp (aka - conviniently placed plot device) in the Classic Trek (i.e. Kirk & Co.) epiosode 'The Tholian Web' and fell back in time into the Mirror Universe where it was captured by the Mirror Tholians and promptly stolen by Archer. Read More
18
Worst TOS
Posted on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 21:02 by iain99
And I've always thought 'The Way to Eden' was worse than 'Spock's Brain' At least that's got good comedy value. Way to Eden is just embaressing Read More
19
Best DS9?
Posted on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 21:01 by iain99
Can't believe you left out 'The Visitor', DS9's best episode & one of the best Treks ever. Only episode guaranteed to bring a tear to my eye (wuss!). Ok, Shatner's horse impression in Plato's Stepchildren does as well, but for a very different reason Read More
20
Posted on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 15:56 by Kilo_T_Mortal
I'm having to watch this DS9 episode after that review Read More
21
Voyager Worst = TUVIX
Posted on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 14:31 by Muhammad
Erm...has no one ever seen TUVIX, that would quite possibly be the worst episode of the Star Trek combined series. I mean what a complete waste of time, my time, your time, everybody's time, of money, of plot. A blending of Tuvok and Neelix. Well producers, writers, director of that episode = Blend this! (i wish they could see this!) Read More
22
Posted on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 09:55 by Evil_Monkey25
Quite a good list, although I personally thought the Voyager finale was a bit bobbins and all a little too convenient, but then I was one of those who thought they should have been left to get on with it, Sam Beckett stylee...
In The Pale Moonlight is a cracking episode, I remember watching it over and over when the video (!!!) first came out. Agree with the best Trek episode too, although I reckon Redemption parts I and II deserve an honourable mention - Worf getting to be badass and Klingon, Picard in fine affair-meddling form and Data getting all pissy whilst in charge of a starship... quality!
Another honourable mention for TOS has to be A Piece of the Action, a comedy episode featuring (surprise, surprise) a planet modelled on Earth, this time taking its cues from 1930's gangster culture... perfect sci-fi comedy, I reckon.
PS, I always quite liked the 'Masks' episode................. Read More
23
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 23:59 by nclowe
I thought Year of Hell was one of the best VOY episodes....though would have been even better if they hadn't chickened out and hit the handy reset button at the end of the two parter and had instead stuck with everything being royally FUBAR. :) Read More
24
RE: TNG Worst?
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 22:23 by Rgirvan44
I think if you took out The Search and put in The Visitor for the DS9 selection you would have it perfect. In the Pale Moonlight is the best episode of the modern Treks. I don't agree that Sisko is perfectly fine about, but he accepts what happened for the benefit of the galaxy.
With Voyager I would take out both Borg episodes (the series really destroyed their mystery) and put in Year of Hell and Equniox in their place. Both these episodes represented what Voyager should have been like all the time.
As for worst - the Flashback episode to when Tuvok was on the Excelsior was pretty dumb. Mostly for the end when Janeway talks about how her generation aren't allowed to be so reckless. Its like the wrtiers were proud of the fact that Voyager was so bland.
Won't comment on TNG, except to say that All Good Things was the best finale any of the shows have gotten.
Surpirsed that "These are the Voyages..." didn't get selected as the worst for EnRead More
25
TNG Worst?
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 18:26 by Arfpint
I always thought the worst TNG episode was the one where everyone turned into animal versions of themselves, and left Beverley Crusher to try and sort them out (or, whenever she got near Worf, run away).
Alternatively, you could have any episode with Wesley "oh my gosh!" Crusher. Hmm, recurring theme there... Read More
26
Uber Geek
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 18:09 by Rebelbumscum
Just to be a uber geek in the Mirror Mirror episode its not a 23rd century Enterprise that goes back in time to be salvaged but its a constitution class (same as the original NCC1701 enterprise) USS Defiant
Mostly agree with ur chices apart from adding year of hell parts 1 & 2 to Voyager, and any episode in the Star Trek series' where there is a temporal shift/anomoly/disurbance in the space time continuum allowing the ship to be destroyed and then put back together again! :) Read More
27
Trek and Drek
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 17:59 by FirstContact
ORIGINAL SERIES: I agree with three of your four choices, but would substitute "Obsession" for "Mirror Mirror", while wondering how to get "The Trouble With Tribbles" in...
TNG: Disagree with choices and rankings: Third - "Darmok"; Second - "Yesterday's Enterprise"; First - "The Best of Both Worlds. Worst - either "Shades of Grey" or "Imaginary Friends" or "Rascals" - personally I liked "Masks" for its quirkiness
DS9: Never liked "The Search" much, other than for introducing the "Defiant", so I would substitute it with the classic "Duet". You have a good point with "Let He..." but "Meridian" is pretty bad...
VOYAGER: Disagree only with "Endgame" because it gutted whatever story was left, so I would substitute it for something like "The Year of Hell" and rank "Scorpion" first.
ENTERPRISE: True its difficult to Read More
28
Ahhh DS9
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 17:46 by inkedbeatnik
Best theme tune of the lot. I particular liked the role Garrak (sic) had to play in the Dominion war, a simple tailor doing the things that Sisko could not...plus, he was always good for a chat. After Dirty Harry and Hellraiser though, you would have thought Andrew G Robinson would have had a more prolific career! Read More
29
Ahhh DS9
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 17:27 by inkedbeatnik
Best theme tune of the lot. I particular liked the role Garrak (sic) had to play in the Dominion war, a simple tailor doing the things that Sisko could not...plus, he was always good for a chat. After Dirty Harry and Hellraiser though, you would have thought Andrew G Robinson would have had a more prolific career! Read More
30
Posted on Monday May 18, 2009, 17:26 by waltham1979
Suprised the DS9 episode when the crew go back in time to the first Enterprise (and are brilliantly placed into various episodes of the original series) was not on the list!? Read More
