Chris Pizzello, Associated Press
The best 'Star Trek' episodes ever
CLEVELAND, Ohio – “Star Trek: Discovery” premieres on CBS Sunday following much hype and great fanfare. It will be the first “Star Trek” series in 12 years, and hopes for the show run high among trek fans starved for new content.
The franchise has a long and storied history that includes six previous shows and 13 movies.
Premiering in the 1960s, the show that started it all - simply titled "Star Trek" - rose from an obscure science fiction series to one of the most iconic on-going television shows ever filmed. It’s no secret why. The original “Star Trek” series and its spin-offs include some of the best television episodes ever aired.
But unlike previous “Trek” shows, “Discovery” has a serial format, with each episode representing another chapter in an ongoing saga. This author happens to think that decision is a mistake. “Star Trek’s” best episodes have always been standalone stories unconnected to a larger narrative.
The premise – interstellar explorers combing the galaxy for new life and new civilizations – allows for the protagonists to face a wide variety of exciting challenges within a set of self-contained stories, and the episodic format gives the writers the freedom to tackle a different subject every time they start work on another episode. When I watched the series growing up, I looked forward to each new chapter with great anticipation, wondering what themes the writers would explore this week.
It would be a shame if future generations of trekkies were unable to experience the show the way I did.
To best demonstrate the strength of the episodic format, I came up with a list of the best “Star Trek” episodes ever. The list provides a look at what makes each episode special and compelling in its own unique way.
It should go without saying that this list contains spoilers.
With that having been said, here’s the 25 greatest “Star Trek” episodes of all time.
By Patrick Cooley
Cleveland.com
25: The Equinox (Voyager)
Even after they whisked the starship Voyager to the Delta Quadrant on far end of the galaxy – a decades-long journey from home – the writers for “Star Trek: Voyager” mostly avoided exploring the depths to which humans sometimes descend to in order to survive in arduous situations. The eponymous starship was better armed and more advanced than most of its threats in the Delta Quadrant, which meant the crew rarely had to make difficult choices. Not so for the Equinox, a scientific ship that lacked Voyager’s defensive capabilities and was brought to the Delta Quadrant under similar circumstances. When the protagonists learn that the Equinox crew destroyed innocent lives in order to shorten their journey, they wonder what decisions they might have been forced to make under more difficult circumstances.
24: The Survivors (Next Generation)
I’ve already included a spoiler warming above, but I’m going to go ahead and add another one here, because this episode is best when the viewer goes in blind. You’ve been warned… The central character of this Season Four episode is Kevin, a godlike alien who falls in love with a Federation colonist while traveling in human form. The Enterprise crew finds Kevin living with a facsimile of his wife in the ruins of a Federation colony devastated by the Husnock, a warlike alien race. After trying in vain to convince the Enterprise to leave him alone, Kevin explains why he is living in self-imposed exile. He comes from a race of pacifists, and refused to intervene when the Husnock attacked his spouse’s colony. Kevin confesses that he lashed out when he watched his wife die, annihilating the entire Husnock race. Despite the obvious narrative plot holes (if Kevin is so powerful, why didn’t he just transport the colonists to another planet?), “The Survivors” is a touching story of love, anger and regret that has few peers among standalone episodes of science fiction shows.
23: By the Pale Moonlight (Deep Space Nine)
While “Deep Space Nine” never reached the lofty heights of previous Trek shows, it delved into one topic that the other shows largely shied away from: the moral ambiguity of war. With the Klingon-Federation alliance losing its battle against the Dominion, conflicted Deep Space Nine Captain Benjamin Sisko approves the use of lies, treachery and murder to convince the Romulans to join the fight. The episode is told through a series of flashbacks as Sisko writes an entry in his personal log, desperately trying to justify every terrible thing he’s done to trick the Romulans into joining the alliance. The Captain eventually decides that he can live with his actions before promptly deleting the personal log, leaving the audience just as conflicted as “Deep Space Nine’s” main protagonist.
22: Darmok (Next Generation)
“Star Trek’s” universal translators help explain how the crews of Federation starships can communicate so easily with aliens speaking drastically different languages. Unfortunately, they also robbed the show’s writers of their ability to tell stories about difficulty communicating, a problem that’s vexed explorers throughout history. But “The Next Generation” writers came up with an elegant way to tell such a story in this season five episode by creating the Children of Tamar, a race that speaks entirely in metaphors. Unable to understand the Enterprise crew, the Tamarians beam Enterprise Captain Jean Luc Picard, along with their own Captain, to the surface of a hostile planet armed with only knives and their own wits to protect them. Their struggle to understand one another while fending off a menacing predator makes for riveting television.
21: Hippocratic Oath (Deep Space Nine)
“Hippocratic Oath” sees Dr. Julien Bashir and engineer Miles O’Brien captured by a renegade group of Jem Hadar, who are normally the loyal enforcers of the Dominion, “Deep Space Nine’s” primary antagonist. Their leader, Goran, demands that Bashir help him break their addiction to Ketracel White, the drug the Dominion uses to control the Jem Hadar. Bashir learns that Goran is no longer dependent on Ketracel White, even though the drug’s withdrawal symptoms are supposed to be fatal, and the doctor agrees to help after Goran displays compassion and thoughtfulness uncommon to the Jem Hadar. But O’Brien believes that the Jem Hadar, addicted or not, can never be trusted, and sabotages Bashir’s work. Even with his dream of freeing his people from slavery in shambles, Goran shows mercy and releases O’Brien and Bashir before he hunts down his men, granting them a quick demise rather than allowing them to succumb to a slow and painful death by withdrawal. The chilling commentary on human prejudice and the humanizing view of the enemy make “Hippocratic Oath” one of the most touching and tragic episodes of any Trek series.
20: The Measure of a Man (The Next Generation)
For all of their famous jaunts into the unknown, some of the greatest episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” take place inside a courtroom. “The Measure of a Man” is one such episode. After an intrusive Starfleet officer decides the android officer Data is not a sentient being – and therefore Starfleet property – Captain Picard takes to the court to prove his officer is self-aware. The resulting trial transcends legal arguments and becomes a philosophical meditation on what makes us human. The moving final decision provides a satisfying pay-off, and storyline seeks to prove that reasoned arguments can change hearts and minds and encourage progress, a message that was often lost in later Trek shows.
19: The Drumhead (Next Generation)
The best Trek episodes have a message that’s timeless, and few are more universally relevant than the paranoia-fueled “Next Generation” episode “The Drumhead.” Following a malfunction believed to be the result of sabotage, an over-zealous investigator interrogates the crew about their links to the treacherous Romulans, finding conspiracies were none exist and denouncing her critics as enemy agents. There’s an obvious parallel with the anti-communist hysteria of the Cold War, but similar scenarios play out in human history books with depressing regularity.
18: The Trouble With Tribbles (Original Series)
While most episodes of the original series sought to provoke thought, this one sought to inspire laughs. The story involves a race of small and furry – and let’s face it, adorable – critters known as tribbles, who multiply faster than rabbits and don’t have any natural predators. While future Trek writers tried their hand a humor, none succeeded as admirably as the scribes behind this episode.
17: Tapestry (Next Generation)
“Tapestry” serves as an ode to the events that shape our lives, often in ways that we don’t fully comprehend. After a terrorist weapon disables Picard’s artificial heart, the godlike alien Q lets the Starfleet Captain travel back decades to relive the three days leading up to the barfight which resulted in the injury that forced doctors to replace his heart in the first place. The once reckless and arrogant Picard declares he will do things differently, and avoids the fight the second time around, only to find that the altercation helped shape him into the successful starship commander depicted in “The Next Generation.”
16: All Good Things (Next Generation)
Rarely has a series finale been as satisfying as the final, two-part episode of “Next Generation.” The series comes full circle, ending much as it began, with humanity again put on trial by the godlike Q with its very right to exist at stake. Picard is tasked with solving an intricate puzzle that requires him to travel back seven years to the beginning of his journey with the Enterprise crew, and then several decades into the future, where he experiences retirement. It’s a stirring roller coaster ride of an episode, featuring the thought-provoking themes and compelling plot twists that made the series famous. “All Good Things” provides the perfect conclusion to one of the greatest shows in television history.
15: Mirror, Mirror (Original Series)
Every time you see a goateed evil version of one of your favorite fictional characters, you’re seeing a nod to this original series episode – although paradoxically, the goateed character in “Mirror, Mirror” is an alternate version of first officer Spock, who happens to be the only non-evil character in the episode’s alternate reality. When they’re transported to a parallel universe, several Enterprise crew members find themselves trapped in another dimension in which Starfleet conquers rather than explores. It’s a stark contrast to the hopeful vision of the future preferred by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, and it forces our heroes to face the worst tendencies inherent in human nature. Bizarre, but also fun and strangely satisfying, “Mirror, Mirror” provides the best showcase for the creativity of the original series writers.
14: The Doomsday Machine (Original Series)
Of all the iconic images in Trek lore, few are as widely recognized as the planet killer from “The Doomsday Machine.” It’s a massive alien ship that slices unsuspecting planets to shreds and then devours their debris. The Enterprise crew discovers that the sinister weapon destroyed the warlike alien race that created it, providing a not-so-subtle warning about rise of nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Political commentary aside, this episode represents the original series it its most exhilarating, as the Enterprise crew must contend with not just the menacing planet killer, but a shell-shocked Starfleet captain seeking revenge for the death of his crew. The episode isn’t without its flaws – how did the crew learn the planet killer’s origin so effortlessly, and how did the doomsday device wipe out an entire civilization if it can be defeated by a single starship? – and those flaws keep this episode from rising any higher on this list.
13: I, Borg (Next Generation)
Picard is mostly depicted as thoughtful, rational, and fully capable of overcoming natural human biases to make informed decisions. But after the Enterprise rescues a stranded Borg drone in the events of this episode, he comes face to face with his prejudice against the cybernetic race that assimilated him and temporarily robbed him of his humanity. The flawed Picard is a dramatic change from the Captain who all-to-often appears to have everything together, and it’s gratifying to see him confront his intolerance and come out a better person.
12: Corbomite Maneuver (Original Series)
The team behind the original series were restricted by a minuscule budget and the limited special effects available in the 1960s. Without the means to produce visually compelling stories, they were forced to compensate with compelling narratives and fully developed characters. No episode showcases the former better than “The Corbomite Maneuver,” in which the Enterprise crew bluffs their way through an encounter with a technologically superior vessel. The twist ending – which I won’t give away despite my spoiler warning – is one of the best the series has to offer.
11: Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (Original Series)
William Shatner is on record saying this is his favorite episode of the original series. It’s easy to see why. The story follows two aliens – with half-black and half-white faces – involved in an inexplicable blood feud that destroyed their world. By waiting until almost the end to reveal the source of their hatred for one another – one is black on the left side of his face, while the other is white on the left side – the episode cleverly comments on the stupidity of racism without bashing the audience over the head with a heavy handed or clichéd message about tolerance.
10: Where No Man Has Gone Before (Original Series)
In this episode, Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk must face a close friend corrupted by sensational powers that he acquired when exposed to a space storm. This well-written chapter in the Trek lexicon served as the show’s second pilot, after NBC rejected the first one, which means that “Star Trek” became a series on the strength of this episode. For that reason alone, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” earns a spot on this list.
9: Family (Next Generation)
A wounded Picard, recovering from an ordeal with the cybernetic Borg, returns home to spend time with his brother's family in this episode, and for the first time we see a damaged and less self-assured version of the Starfleet Captain. It wasn't often that the crew had to face the consequences of the events of a previous episode, and it serves as a stark reminder that no matter how much they've advanced technologically and culturally, the denizens of the 24th Century remain irrevocably human. Picard's confession, that he tried and failed to stop the Borg from using him as a pawn in an attack that killed thousands, is one of the most heart-rending moments in Trek history.
8: Yesterday's Enterprise (Next Generation)
The alternate, militarized version of the U.S.S. Enterprise and the selfless sacrifice of Tasha Yar are what make this episode great. The story provides a glimpse into an alternate timeline in which the peaceful Federation went to war with the Klingon Empire. The Enterprise is a ship of exploration, but it’s fascinating to see what it might look like as a warship. Yar, who died a senseless death in the show’s original timeline, but survives in this alternate reality, offers to travel back in time with an earlier version of the Enterprise on a likely suicide mission to restore peace between the two sides, providing her character with the heartbreakingly noble end that was denied her in the show’s first season.
7: The Devil in the Dark (Original Series)
This chapter of the original series starts out almost like a horror movie, as the Enterprise crew is tasked with tracking down a mysterious monster killing miners on a Federation colony. In one of the greatest plot twists in Trek history, the protagonists learn that the miners are unknowingly smashing the creature’s eggs, meaning its actions are not aggression, but self-defense.
6: The Arena (Original Series)
“The Arena” is one of the most famous original series episodes thanks to the iconic Gorn, a fearsome creature that threatens Captain Kirk. Following a battle between the Enterprise and a Gorn ship, a godlike alien race decides they don’t want the two sides fighting on their doorstep, and forces the ships to settle their dispute via hand-to-hand combat between their captains. Kirk summons all of his wits and ingenuity to defeat the bigger and stronger Gorn, but the most important trait that he displays in this episode is mercy when he spares the life of his defeated enemy and impresses the omnipotent aliens with his advanced thinking. The timeless message about compassion is one that is sadly missing from most subsequent Trek shows.
5: The Chain of Command (Next Generation)
This two-part episode is famous for its tip of the hat to George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984.” In part two, Picard is captured by the villainous Cardassians and his tormentor tries to convince the Captain there are five lights in the interrogation chamber when there are, in reality, only four. The episode serves as a showcase for Patrick Stewart’s considerable acting chops, as he and fellow acting master David Warner – who portrays his captor – let their disparate personalities bounce off one another. Picard refuses to break, and his final defiant declaration – “There. Are. Four. Lights.” – is one of “Next Generation’s” most memorable lines.
4: Balance of Terror (Original Series)
This episode is famous for introducing the Romulans, who would continue to serve as a foil to the Federation through three more “Trek” shows. It’s also one of the most thrilling Trek episodes ever aired, overcoming the show’s technical limitations with a brilliant script that was loosely based on the World War II-era submarine drama “The Enemy Below.” In true “Trek” fashion, “The Balance of Terror” injects moral ambiguity into its story by showcasing the natural prejudice of a Starfleet officer, telling the story from both the Federation and Romulan perspectives, and by commenting on the ultimate futility of war. Some episodes are exciting, others are thought-provoking, this is one of the few that’s both.
3: The Inner Light (Next Generation)
A probe from a long dead civilization forces Captain Picard to live some 40 years in the shoes of an alien scientist who lived on a dying world. It’s an emotionally jarring episode, as Picard learns that the planet’s populace has no way to escape, and struggles with them through their endeavor to meet their fate with dignity. The ending, when the denizens of the dead world explain that they hope to live on through Picard, is one of the most powerful conclusions in television history.
2: The Best of Both Worlds (Next Generation)
As the ominous text “to be continued” flashes across the screen when the first section of this two-part episode concludes, the show boldly leaps from its third season to its fourth, an achievement that the original series never managed. The story sees Captain Picard abducted and assimilated by the cybernetic Borg, and the Enterprise crew’s efforts to rescue him and prevent the Borg from conquering Earth are marked by some of the most thrilling moments in series history. “The Best of Both Worlds” qualifies for this list because it represents the moment that the “Next Generation” spinoff surpassed the show that inspired it in terms of both longevity and quality.
1: City on the Edge of Forever (Original Series)
Widely considered one of the best episodes of any television series, the beauty of this chapter of the “Star Trek” lexicon lies in its simplicity. Kirk and Spock travel back in time to repair the damage caused by a temporarily deranged Dr. McCoy and they discover themselves in a pre-World War II America. Once there, Kirk falls in love with a philanthropist only to find that she must die to prevent a dystopian future. Unable to find any alternate solution, Kirk is forced to watch helplessly as she's killed in a car crash. The final scene is, without a doubt, the most heartbreaking moment in any “Star Trek” episode.
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