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0·1 year agoSeason 4
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 & 2 The Way of the Warrior Worf arrives on DS9, because of Klingons. Quark & Garak’s famous “insidious root beer” conversation. Worf Engage! 3 The Visitor Demonstration of the Siskos’ father/son relationship. Jake Sisko Engage! 4 Hippocratic Oath O’Brien/Bashir friendship. Learn about the Jem’Hadar and ketrecel white. Worf versus Odo. Bashir O’Brien Worf Engage! 5 Indiscretion Gul Dukat reveals a secret. Introduction of Tora Ziyal. Kasidy moves to DS9. Kira Dukat Ziyal Sisko Kasidy Engage! 6 Rejoined Jadzia meets the new host of her previous host’s wife. Jadzia Engage! 7 Little Green Men Quark & company end up on Earth in 1947. Quark Rom Nog Just for fun 8 Starship Down Das Boot in space. All Avoid 9 The Sword of Kahless Klingon adventure. Second appearance of Kor. Jadzia Kor meh 10 Our Man Bashir Bashir as secret agent in the holosuite. Bashir Garak Just for fun 11 Homefront Founders infiltrate Starfleet on Earth. [Part 1] We meet Capt. Sisko’s father. Sisko Odo Joseph Sisko Engage! 12 Paradise Lost Founders infiltrate Starfleet on Earth. [Part 2] Sisko Odo Joseph Sisko Engage! 13 Crossfire Beginning of Kira/Shakaar relationship. Odo character development. Building the Odo/Quark frenemy relationship. Odo Kira Shakaar Quark Engage! 14 Return to Grace Dukat finds a new mission in life. Kira/Dukat development. Dukat Kira Ziyal Engage! 15 Sons of Mogh Worf’s brother Kurn seeks an honourable end. Worf and Jadzia flirt. Worf Kurn Jadzia Engage! 16 Bar Association Rom forms a union! Lots of Rom character development. Worf has trouble settling in. Rom Leeta Brunt Worf Engage! 17 Accession Emissary “trilogy” II: A new Emissary arrives to change things. Keiko comes home, and she’s pregnant. Sisko Kira O’Brien Engage! 18 Rules of Engagement Worf on trial. Worf Engage! 19 Hard Time O’Brien tries to deal with the memories of twenty years in prision. Excellent episode. O’Brien Engage! 20 Shattered Mirror 3rd “mirror universe” episode. Mirror Just for fun 21 The Muse A woman inspires Jake to write. A pregnant Lwaxana comes to Odo for help. Jake Odo meh 22 For the Cause Is Kasidy a Maquis? Garak meets Ziyal. Sisko Kasidy Garak Engage! 23 To the Death Sisko and crew work closely with the Jem’Hadar to defeat some renegade Jem’Hadar. First appearance of Weyoun. Sisko Weyoun Engage! 24 The Quickening Bashir tries to help a people who all die from an incurable disease. Bashir Engage! 25 Body Parts Quark faces a difficult decision when he needs to break a contract - and learns a lesson more valuable than latinum. Kira becomes part of the O’Brien family. Quark Brunt Kira Keiko Engage! 26 Broken Link The Changelings make Odo face the consequences of his action. The Klingons go on the attack. Odo Engage! Season 5
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Apocalypse Rising Sisko, Worf, Odo & O’Brien go undercover to expose a high-profile Founder agent. Sisko Odo Worf Engage! 2 The Ship Sisko tries to take a crashed Jem’Hadar ship, but has to deal with a Vorta. Sisko meh 3 Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places Quark’s Klingon ex-wife Grilka comes visiting, creating romantic complications for Quark, Worf, and Jadzia. Worf/Jadzia relationship. O’Brien and Kira resist their mutual attraction. Worf Jadzia Engage! 4 Nor The Battle To The Strong Jake gets caught in a warzone, and learns that “the line between courage and cowardice is a lot thinner than most people believe”. Jake meh 5 The Assignment Keiko is possessed by a Pah-Wraith, who forces Miles to help it. First mention of the Pah-Wraiths of Bajor. O’Brien meh 6 Trials and Tribble-ations Star Trek 30th anniversary special episode. Sisko & crew go back in time to the original Enterprise, and meet Captain Kirk. Engage! 7 Let He Who Is Without Sin… Worf has trouble adapting when he and Jadzia take a vacation on Risa. Some Worf development. Some Curzon history. Worf Jadzia meh 8 Things Past Odo, Sisko, and Garak are in the middle of Cardassian-occupied Terok Nor, in mysterious circumstances. Odo Garak Engage! 9 The Ascent Excellent Quark/Odo episode! Jake & Nog have trouble as housemates. Quark Odo Engage! 10 Rapture Emissary “trilogy” III: Sisko has sacred visions just as Bajor is approved for entry to the Federation. Sisko Engage! 11 The Darkness and The Light Someone is killing Kira’s old Resistance colleagues, to get at Kira. Kira Engage! 12 The Begotten Odo finds a baby Changeling; his mentor comes to help. A lot of Odo issues are resolved. The O’Briens’ baby is born. Odo Engage! 13 For The Uniform Sisko’s personal vendetta against a Maquis traitor. Sisko Engage! 14 In Purgatory’s Shadow [Part 1 of 2] Garak and Worf are captured by the Dominion; they find some missing friends. Ziyal is in love. Garak loses someone important. The Dominion invades the Alpha Quadrant. Garak Dukat Ziyal Engage! 15 By Inferno’s Light [Part 2 of 2] Cardassia joins the Dominion. Dukat has a new role. Worf fights for his honour; Garak fights against his fears. A Dominion saboteur. Worf Garak Sisko Engage! 16 Doctor Bashir, I Presume? Bashir is to be template for new holographic medical program. Major turning-point for Bashir. Rom/Leeta relationship starts. Bashir Rom Leeta Engage! 17 A Simple Investigation Odo investigates a mysterious woman - leading to some significant character developments for him. Odo Just for fun 18 Business As Usual Quark learns about the ups - and downs - of being in the arms-dealing business. Quark Just for fun 19 Ties of Blood and Water Kira’s Cardassian “father” returns, triggering memories of Kira’s own father’s death. Cardassian politics. Kira Engage! 20 Ferengi Love Songs Quark sees opportunity when his mother is romantically involved with the Grand Nagus. Rom and Leeta get engaged, and break up. Quark Zek Brunt Rom Leeta Just for fun 21 Soldiers of the Empire Worf faces a difficult choice while serving as First Officer to General Martok - and gains a new House. Worf Engage! 22 Children of Time The Defiant crew meet their own descendants, and face a difficult decision. The end of Shakaar’s story. Odo/Kira. Odo Kira Engage! 23 Blaze of Glory Sisko has to work with his Maquis traitor to prevent a war. Sisko Engage! 24 Empok Nor An engineering crew has to deal with booby-traps and crazed Cardassians on an abandoned space station. Garak O’Brien Just for fun 25 In The Cards Jake tries to buy a baseball card for his father; shenanigans ensue - “Lions and Gigers and bears… Oh my.” Jake Nog Winn Just for fun 26 Call to Arms War with the Dominion is imminent; everyone prepares. Bajor signs a treaty. Rom/Leeta relationship development. Engage!
Season 7
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Descent, Part II Data joins the Borg and their leader, and starts “experimenting” on LaForge. Crusher is left in command of the Enterprise - and flies it into a sun! Data Hugh surprise…! Engage! 2 Liaisons Iyaaran diplomats test Worf’s limits, and Troi’s limits, on the Enterprise, while Picard is stranded on a desert planet where he finds a woman who says she loves him. Worf Troi meh 3 Interface LaForge uses an experimental interface that links to his VISOR to investigate a wrecked starship, and sees his supposedly dead mother. LaForge meh 4 Gambit, Part I Riker investigates Picard’s death - and ends up kidnapped and working for a crew of mercenaries. Riker Picard Just for fun 5 Gambit, Part II Naturally, Picard isn’t actually dead. He and Riker work together to infiltrate the mercenaries. Picard Riker Just for fun 6 Phantasms Data starts having nightmares. This includes the “Data answering his own phone” scene. Avoid 7 Dark Page Lwaxana is moody and depressed. Troi tries to find out why, and learns a dark secret from their past. We see Troi’s Human father for the only time. Lwaxana, Troi meh 8 Attached Picard and Crusher are captured, and have implants attached to their brains, connecting them to each other. Interesting Picard/Crusher insights. Picard Crusher Just for fun 9 Force of Nature Using warp drive is damaging space itself. This is the episode which introduces speed limits for starships. meh 10 Inheritance Data meets Dr Noonien Soong’s wife, Juliana - his “mother”. We learn about prototypes made before Lore and Data. Data Engage! 11 Parallels Worf keeps slipping between alternate quantum realities, leading to an awesome climactic moment. Also… Worf… and Troi? Worf Troi Engage! 12 The Pegasus It’s “Captain Picard Day”! Riker works with his former captain to retrieve the ‘Pegasus’, a ship they worked on which carries a dark secret, before the Romulans find it. Riker Engage! 13 Homeward Worf’s Human foster brother breaks the Prime Directive. Worf Picard Engage! 14 Sub Rosa Crusher’s grandmother dies, and Crusher falls in love with the same ghost her grandmother was having a fling with. Crusher Avoid 15 The Lower Decks The Enterprise from the point of view of four Ensigns. Engage! 16 Thine Own Self Data gets amnesia while on a low-tech world where he’s supposed to save the population. Troi decides to work towards a promotion - and fails the test. Data Troi Just for fun 17 Masks Data is possessed by multiple personalities, while the Enterprise becomes a temple. Avoid 18 Eye of the Beholder Troi investigates empathic impressions of a death on the Enterprise. And… yes… Worf and Troi. Troi Worf meh 19 Genesis The crew de-evolves into amphibians, lemurs, lizards, apes… Avoid 20 Journey’s End The Enterprise negotiates handing a colony back to the Cardassians. Wesley visits - and finds a new destiny. The end of Wesley’s story. Wesley Traveller Just for fun 21 Firstborn Worf’s son Alexander is approaching the Klingon Rite of Accession, but isn’t interested, until a mysterious Klingon warrior helps out. Lursa and B’Etor are scheming again. Quark makes an appearance. Worf Alexander Just for fun 22 Bloodlines Daimon Bok (from first season’s ‘The Battle’) has returned again to seek revenge against Picard. This time, he is going to kill Picard’s son [It’s okay - Picard didn’t know about him, either.] like Picard killed Bok’s son. Picard Just for fun 23 Emergence The Enterprise’s computer is developing self-awareness… in the holodeck program to end all holodeck programs. Just for fun 24 Preemptive Strike Ro goes undercover to infiltrate the Maquis. The end of Ro’s story. Ro Picard Just for fun 25 & 26 All Good Things… Picard is jumping randomly between time periods: his first days on the Enterprise; today; decades in the future. He has to solve the same problem in all three time periods, with Q “helping”. “It’s time to put an end to your trek through the stars.” <sob> Engage! Season-by-season ratings
Season Engage! Just for fun meh Avoid Engage! (%) Just for fun (%) meh (%) Avoid (%) Season 1 8 5 8 4 32% 20% 32% 16% Season 2 8 7 3 4 36% 32% 14% 18% Season 3 15 3 5 3 58% 12% 19% 12% Season 4 14 7 3 2 54% 27% 12% 8% Season 5 12 6 5 3 46% 23% 19% 12% Season 6 11 7 4 4 42% 27% 15% 15% Season 7 7 9 5 4 28% 36% 20% 16%
Season 5
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Redemption II The Klingon Civil War continues. Data struggles to be accepted as Captain. Picard is… surprised… at who’s behind it all. Worf Duras Picard Data surprise…! Engage! 2 Darmok Picard and a Tamarian captain learn to communicate with each other. One of the quintessential episodes of this series. Picard Engage! 3 Ensign Ro The Bajoran, Ro Laren, is reinstated as an Ensign in Starfleet to help Picard deal with Bajoran terrorists. Introduction of Bajorans. First appearance of Ro. Picard Ro Engage! 4 Silicon Avatar The Crystalline Entity returns. A mother grieves for her son, lost in the previous Entity attack, and turns to Data. Data meh 5 Disaster A disaster wipes out most systems on the Enterprise, with people stranded all over the ship. Troi has to take command on the bridge, and deal with Ro. Worf delivers Keiko’s baby. Picard leads a crew of children. Troi Picard Just for fun 6 The Game Wesley vists the Enterprise, and finds everyone addicted to a video game. Wesley (and Data) save the day. Wesley meh 7 Unification I Ambassador Spock has gone to Romulus, and Picard and Data have to get him back. Spock! Sarek Picard Data Engage! 8 Unification II Picard and Data learn why Spock is on Romulus, and they work together. Spock Sela Picard Data Engage! 9 A Matter Of Time A historian from the future comes back to witness a historic event involving the Enterprise. Just for fun 10 New Ground Worf has to make decisions about his son Alexander. The Enterprise tests the soliton wave as a form of propulsion. Worf Engage! 11 Hero Worship An orphaned boy emulates Data. Data Just for fun 12 Violations A telepath mind-rapes members of the Enterprise crew, starting with Troi. Avoid 13 The Masterpiece Society A genetically engineered perfect society may be in more danger from the Enterprise than the problem the Enterprise is helping with. Engage! 14 Conundrum The Enterprise crew all lose their memories, but not their personalities, and must deal with an unknown alien ship. meh 15 Power Play Data, Troi, and O’Brien are possessed by unknown entities, and take over the ship. Avoid 16 Ethics Worf is permanently paralysed. Is it ethical to commit suicide? Is it ethical to perform untried medical procedures? Worf Crusher Engage! 17 The Outcast A person from a sexless androgynous species chooses to be female, and is cast out as a pervert. Riker Engage! 18 Cause and Effect The Enterprise cycles over and over again through the same events leading to its destruction. Just for fun 19 The First Duty A member of Wesley’s squad at Starfleet Academy is killing in a training accident. Picard visits an old friend at the Academy, Boothby. Picard’s famous “first duty” speech. Picard Wesley Engage! 20 Cost of Living Worf is having difficulty being a parent, and asks Troi for help. Lwaxana takes a maternal interest in young Alexander; she’s good with children. Lwaxana Alexander Worf Troi Just for fun 21 The Perfect Mate An empathic metamorph causes quite a stir among the male crew members, especially Picard. Picard meh 22 Imaginary Friend A little girl’s imaginary friend becomes a lot less imaginary. Avoid 23 I Borg The Enterprise crew find a single Borg, and try to find out if they can use it to defeat the Borg. In the meantime, the Borg learns about individuality and friendship. Guinan confronts her fears. Picard has an ethical dilemma. Hugh LaForge Guinan Engage! 24 The Next Phase LaForge and Ro become “ghosts” after a transporter accident. LaForge Ro meh 25 The Inner Light Picard lives a full life, with family and friends, as “Kamin”. Widely acclaimed as one of the best episodes of the series. Picard Engage! 26 Time’s Arrow The Enterprise crew find Data’s head which was buried nearly 500 years ago, then investigate a threat to 19th Century San Francisco, and meet Mark Twain and a younger Guinan. [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] Data Guinan Just for fun Season 6
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Time’s Arrow, Part II More shenanigans in 19th Century San Francisco Data Guinan Just for fun 2 Realm of Fear Barclay is nervous about using the transporters - and then sees a creature during transport. Barclay Avoid 3 Man of the People An empathic ambassador and his crazy old mother take an interest in Troi. Troi meh 4 Relics The Enterprise finds a Dyson sphere - and rescue Captain Montogmery Scott (“Scotty”) from a ship crashed on the sphere’s surface. Scotty LaForge Engage! 5 Schisms Members of the crew are getting edgy and skitterish. Includes Data’s famous ‘Ode to Spot’. Avoid 6 True Q A young woman who’s been raised as human learns that she is actually a Q. Q Just for fun 7 Rascals Picard, Ro, Guinan, and Keiko are accidentally turned into children. This is the final appearance of O’Brien on the Enterprise, before his off-screen transfer to Deep Space Nine. Picard Ro meh 8 A Fistful of Datas The holodeck breaks (surprise!) while Worf, Troi, and Alexander are playing a Wild West program - with Datas appearing everywhere. Data Just for fun 9 The Quality of Life Exocomps - small drilling machines designed to learn and reproduce - are acting unexpectedly. Data Just for fun 10 Chain of Command, Part I The Cardassians are mobilising. Picard, Crusher, and Worf are removed from the Enterprise and sent on a secret mission. Captain Jellico is put in command of the Enterprise (first appearance of Admiral Nechayev) to negotiate with the Cardassians. Jellico doesn’t get along with the crew or the Cardassians - but he does make Troi start wearing regulation uniforms. Riker Troi Engage! 11 Chain of Command, Part II Jellico relieves Riker of duty; Data becomes First Officer. Picard is captured by the Cardassians and tortured: “There! Are! Four! Lights!” Picard Engage! 12 Ship in a Bottle Barclay discovers Moriarty in the holodeck’s memory and re-activates him. Moriarty holds Picard and the Enterprise hostage, to achieve his freedom. Moriarty Picard Engage! 13 Aquiel LaForge falls in love with a woman who is suspected of murdering a fellow Starfleet officer. Avoid 14 Face of the Enemy Troi wakes up and discovers she now looks like a Romulan. She’s been kidnapped to help Romulan dissidents by impersonating a Major in the Tal Shiar. First mention of the Tal Shiar. Some good Troi development. Troi Engage! 15 Tapestry Q lets Picard change a key moment in his past - and see the consequences of that change. Picard Q Engage! 16 Birthright, Part I Data starts having visions of his “father” Doctor Noonien Soong. Worf investigates a rumor that his father Mogh is alive in a Romulan prison camp. Appearance by Bashir: the Enterprise is at Deep Space Nine. Data Worf meh 17 Birthright, Part II Worf finds the prison camp, and teaches the children of the captured Klingons about their Klingon heritage. Worf Engage! 18 Starship Mine Terrorists capture the Enterprise and its crew while the ship is undergoing maintenance. Data Picard Engage! 19 Lessons Picard learns the difficulties of having an “office romance” in Starfleet. Picard Just for fun 20 The Chase Picard’s mentor, Professor Galen, has learned something amazing that connects all humanoid species. [This episode gives the in-universe explanation for why most Star Trek aliens look humanoid.] Engage! 21 Frame of Mind Riker is on the Enterprise rehearsing a play about being an insane man in an asylum, and he’s in an insane asylum having delusions about being on the Enterprise. Riker Avoid 22 Suspicions Crusher has committed unethical acts while investigating a possible murder. Crusher meh 23 Rightful Heir Worf goes to a Klingon monastery for a spiritual retreat, where he meets someone who claims to be the legendary Klingon hero Kahless. Worf Just for fun 24 Second Chances A transporter accident eight years ago created a duplicate Riker - now called “Tom” (from their shared middle name). We see how “our” Riker has matured and changed over the past eight years; plus, “Tom” Riker is still in love with Troi. Real-life astronaut Dr Mae Jemison has a cameo appearance in this episode. Riker Troi Engage! 25 Timescape Picard, Data, La Forge, and Troi have to find out why a time-frozen Romulan warbird is firing on an equally time-frozen Enterprise. Just for fun 26 Descent The Enterprise encounters some individual Borg - who have been influenced by Hugh. Data starts getting emotional. [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] Includes a cameo appearance by Dr Stephen Hawking. Data Engage!
Season 3
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Evolution Wesley carelessly lets his nanites escape, and they evolve. Wesley and his mother get to know each other again. Staff changes: Dr Crusher returns from Starfleet Medical; Dr Pulaski gone; LaForge is Lt. Cmdr.; Worf is Lieutenant. Uniform change: two-piece. Wesley DrCrusher meh 2 The Ensigns of Command Data has to convince colonists to leave their homes, and learns that having authority is not enough to be a leader. Data Engage! 3 The Survivors Two humans mysteriously alone on an obliterated colony. Troi’s hearing music and becoming hysterical. Picard Avoid 4 Who Watches the Watchers The proto-Vulcanoid Mintakans discover Federation observers. Prime Directive dilemma. Picard refuses to become a god, making an excellent speech against superstition and ignorance. Picard Engage! 5 The Bonding A young orphan boy struggles with his grief. Worf adopts the boy into his House. Worf meh 6 Booby Trap LaForge has romantic problems, and engineering problems. He creates a hologram of Dr Leah Brahms (from the Daystrom Institute!), and gets confused about which of these problems she’s supposed to help him with. LaForge Engage! 7 The Enemy Worf refuses to help a Romulan, while LaForge works with a Romulan to survive. Romulan Commander Tomalak makes his first appearance. Worf LaForge Engage! 8 The Price Troi gets into a romance. She and Crusher do that exercise scene. Two Ferengi get stranded in the Delta Quadrant (they’ll turn up later in VOY). Troi meh 9 The Vengeance Factor Enterprise crew try to mediate a long-standing feud. Avoid 10 The Defector A Romulan wants to defect. Tomalak returns. Engage! 11 The Hunted A political prisoner reveals a shameful secret about his government. Engage! 12 The High Ground Dr Crusher is taken as a hostage by terrorists. Crusher Engage! 13 Deja Q Q has been thrown out of the Q Continuum, and chooses to be Human, with Picard. However, Q has made enemies who want revenge. We meet another Q. Q Picard Engage! 14 A Matter of Perspective Riker is accused of murder, and events are examined from different perspectives using the holodeck. Riker meh 15 Yesterday’s Enterprise A favourite episode of fans. The Enterprise-C emerges from a temporal rift, and the timeline changes: among other things, Yar is still Security Chief on the Enterprise-D. Only Guinan knows something is wrong. Captain Garrett of the Enterprise-C has to make the ultimate choice. An excellent resolution for Yar. Yar Guinan Picard Engage! 16 The Offspring Data makes an android: a daughter, Lal. Data learns about parenting while Lal learns about life. Excellent Data episode. One of my personal favourites. Data Engage! 17 Sins of the Father Worf’s long-dead father, Mogh, is accused of treason by the Klingons, and Worf has to make some tough choices. We meet Worf’s borther Kurn. The House of Duras returns. Worf Engage! 18 Allegiance Picard is kidnapped and has to work with three other prisoners. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Picard is acting strangely. Picard Engage! 19 Captain’s Holiday Picard gets caught up in adventures and a romance while on holiday on Risa. First appearance of Vash. Picard Vash Just for fun 20 Tin Man A telepath comes on board to help the Enterprise investigate a space-borne lifeform. Data Troi meh 21 Hollow Pursuits Lieutenant BroccoliBarclay has an addiction to using the holodeck - with some embarrassing moments for his fellow crewmembers. First appearance of BarclayBarclay Troi Engage! 22 The Most Toys Data is captured - just to be part of someone’s collection. Data Just for fun 23 Sarek Sarek, Spock’s father, comes aboard the Enterprise for one final diplomatic mission. Picard has to help Sarek, and forms a strong bond with him. Excellent moments for Picard and Sarek. Sarek Picard Engage! 24 Ménage à Troi Lwaxana Troi is kidnapped by a Ferengi, and Picard has to declare his love for her to rescue her. Wesley leaves for Starfleet Academy. This episode includes this well-known Picard meme image, which is not him saying “WTF?” but instead quoting Shakespeare. Lwaxana Picard Wesley Just for fun 25 Transfigurations A mystery man starts developing new powers. Avoid 26 The Best of Both Worlds Widely acknowledged as one of the best episodes of TNG. The Borg invade Federation space, heading for Earth. Commander Shelby joins the Enterprise, and challenges Commander Riker. Picard is captured by the Borg and… [The first cliffhanger season-ending.] Picard Riker Shelby Engage! Season 4
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 The Best of Both Worlds, Part II … Locutus of Borg leads the Borg on to Earth. Riker is promoted to Captain of the Enterprise, with Cmdr Shelby as First Officer. The Battle of Wolf 359. Riker Picard Shelby Engage! 2 Family Picard deals with the emotional consequences of his time with the Borg with help from his brother. Worf’s parents come to visit. Wesley sees a message from his late father. Staff: Riker is Commander again; O’Brien is first described as a Chief Petty Officer (not defined before now). Picard Worf Wesley Engage! 3 Brothers Data meets his creator, Doctor Noonian Soong. First mention of the emotion chip. Data Engage! 4 Suddenly Human An orphan Human boy who was raised by a warrior species, is introduced to his Human heritage. Picard Just for fun 5 Remember Me Crusher notices that Enterprise personnel are vanishing, and has to work out why. Crusher Just for fun 6 Legacy Yar’s sister asks for the Enterprise’s help in a civil war. Data meh 7 Reunion Picard is appointed Arbiter of Succession by the dying Klingon Chancellor, and must find who killed the Chancellor. Worf is reunited with K’Ehleyr - and her young son. Worf Picard Engage! 8 Future Imperfect Riker wakes up sixteen years older, with no memory of the past sixteen years. He has to refamiliarise himself with his life, with the help of Admiral Picard, First Officer Data - and his own son Jean-Luc. Minuet. Riker Engage! 9 Final Mission Wesley and Picard have some time to bond before Wesley leaves for Starfleet Academy. Wesley’s last regular appearance in the series. Wesley Picard Engage! 10 The Loss Troi loses her empathic abilities. First mention of the Breen. Troi meh 11 Data’s Day Data records his personal log of an ordinary day on the Enterprise. He tries to mediate between O’Brien and his fiancee (first appearance of Keiko) in the days before their wedding. He learns to dance for the wedding. A fan favourite. Data Engage! 12 The Wounded A rogue Starfleet captain may possibly cause a new war between the Federation and the Cardassians. First appearance of Cardassians. O’Brien Engage! 13 Devil’s Due The Devil returns to claim a planet, according to the contract they signed with her. meh 14 Clues The Enterprise crew seem to have missed a day, and Data is being suspicious. Data Just for fun 15 First Contact A pre-warp civilisation discovers an alien hiding among them at the same time as other aliens appear, offering first contact with something called “the United Federation of Planets”. Picard Riker Engage! 16 Galaxy’s Child The real Dr Leah Brahms comes aboard, causing more confusion for LaForge. An orphaned space organism turns to the Enterprise for maternal comfort. LaForge Engage! 17 Night Terrors The Enterprise gets trapped inside a space rift, and the crew become short-tempered and irrational - except Troi. Troi Avoid 18 Identity Crisis Members of an earlier away mission are starting to transform; LaForge is next. LaForge Avoid 19 The Nth Degree Barclay is still in therapy - but suddenly starts showing unexpected signs of improvement… too much improvement. Barclay Just for fun 20 Qpid Vash returns, causing Picard some embarrassment. Q decides to do Picard a “favour”, and tries to kindle a romance - in Robin Hood style. But Worf is “not a Merry Man!” Q Vash Picard Just for fun 21 The Drumhead Admiral Satie investigates sabotage and espionage on board the Enterprise. Picard’s famous “With the first link…” speech. A classic episode. Picard Engage! 22 Half a Life Lwaxana Troi becomes fond of a visiting scientist - who is too old on his world. A very different side of Lwaxana. Lwaxana Engage! 23 The Host Crusher gets romantic with a Trill ambassador - but is in for a surprise. The introduction of the Trill. Crusher Just for fun 24 The Mind’s Eye LaForge is brainwashed by the Romulans, to cause trouble between the Federation and the Klingons. The first hint of a new character. LaForge Engage! 25 In Theory Data creates a program for his attempt at a romantic relationship. Data Just for fun 26 Redemption The new Klingon Chancellor is to be installed. Worf attempts to redeem his House. The House of Duras is scheming with… someone surprising… [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] First appearance of Lursa and B’Etor. First appearance of this character. Worf Duras surprise…! Engage!
Bem (2x02)
Production number: 22018
Rating: Engage!
Points of interest:
This episode was written by David Gerrold, writer of ‘The Trouble with Tribbles’ and ‘More Tribbles, More Troubles’.
This is the first on-screen mention of James Kirk’s middle name, Tiberius.
Uhura is left in charge of the ship and bosses Scotty around quite nicely.
Nichelle Nichols does a lovely job voicing the overseeing intelligence.
There are some excellent lines in this show, including “I’m only a Vulcan!” from Spock.
The Practical Joker (2x03)
Production number: 22021
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
We see the first appearance of a holodeck, here called a “recreation room”. And we see the first holodeck malfunction.
Lieutenant Arex has the conn at one point during this episode.
Every regular character in this series, including Arex and M’Ress, has lines in this episode. I think it’s the only episode where that happens.
Albatross (2x04)
Production number: 22019
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
Not much to say about this episode.
How Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth (2x05)
Production number: 22022
Summary: [“The Enterprise encounters a being that once visited the ancient peoples of Earth.”](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/How_Sharper_Than_a_Serpent’s_Tooth_(episode\))
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
This show has Trek’s first on-screen appearance of a Native American Starfleet officer: Ensign Walking Bear (who has the helm for this episode, replacing Sulu). He was voiced, like so many other guest characters in the animated series, by James Doohan.
William Shatner recorded his lines separately to the rest of the cast because he was working in New York at the time. While the rest of the cast correctly pronounces the alien’s name, Kukulkan, as “koo-kool-kahn”, Shatner wrongly pronounces it as “koo-kla-kahn” the whole way through.
The Counter-Clock Incident (2x06)
Production number: 22023
Rating: Engage!
Points of interest:
This is the only on-screen appearance of the “first captain of the USS Enterprise”, Robert April. The writer of this episode deliberately created this character based on Gene Roddenberry’s original notes for the first ‘Star Trek’ pilot.
April’s wife, Sarah April, describes herself as “the first medical officer aboard a ship equipped with warp drive” (it’s strongly implied that she served on the Enterprise with her husband). This implies that either there were no warp-capable ships before the Enterprise, or that they did not have medical officers.
They’re going to Babel, a planetoid previously mentioned in ‘Journey to Babel’.
The components of the USS Enterprise were built at the San Francisco Navy Yards.
The nova encountered by the Enterprise in this episode, Beta Niobe, was one which they first encountered in ‘All Our Yesterdays’.
Uhura refers to someone speaking “the same universal language we speak”, but doesn’t name that language.
The Magicks of Megas-Tu (1x08)
Production number: 22009
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
This episode shares a few ideas with a movie that would follow 15 years later: the writer who proposed this story started with the idea of the Enterprise meeting God in space (although this was changed to the Devil prior to writing the script); the Enterprise goes to the centre of the galaxy to meet God/Devil, and; the Enterprise learns that God/Devil is merely an alien.
Even for an episode with “magicks” in its title, the science is not strong here. The reason for the Enterprise going to the centre of the galaxy is to find the place where new matter is continually created. Even at the time it was made, this wasn’t accurate science.
Although Lieutenant Arex doesn’t speak in this episode, there’s some nice attention to detail when we see him in stocks along with the other crew members - and his stocks have a third hole for his third arm.
Once Upon a Planet (1x09)
Production number: 22017
Rating: Just for fun
Points of interest:
The crew revisits the “shore leave” planet from the live series episode ‘Shore Leave’.
Lieutenants Arex and M’ress are both shown as active members of the bridge crew in this episode. They’re not just background.
Listen out for the line “There is no shame in serving others when one does it of his own free will.” being said by Lieutenant Uhura. I thought this line, coming from a black character, was a nice subtle statement about the difference between servitude and service.
I found myself admiring the watercolour backgrounds and scenery in this episode - including the opening shot of the Enterprise itself. There certainly are flaws in this series, but the artwork isn’t one of them. The animation leaves something to be desired, and the highly repetitive soundtrack is… limited and repetitive. But the backgrounds are worth watching.
Mudd’s Passion (1x10)
Production number: 22017
Summary: “Harry Mudd is back, this time swindling miners with a love potion.”
Rating: Just for fun
Points of interest:
Harcourt Fenton Mudd is back, after two appearances in the live series. He is voiced by the same actor who plays him in the live series, and this episode was written by the same author who wrote the two previous episodes.
Nurse Chapel is back - and still in love with Spock.
Interestingly, Uhura doesn’t appear in this episode, and Nichelle Nichols doesn’t voice any other character.
The Terratin Incident (1X11)
Production number: 22015
Summary: “When a strange flash of light paralyzes the entire crew of the Enterprise, they begin to shrink.”
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
Not very many.
This is a return of yet another writer from the original series.
The Time Trap (1x12)
Production number: 22010
Rating: Just for fun
Points of interest:
The council of Elysia has a lot of familiar races, from both the live series and the animated series, including: an Orion, a Vulcan, a Klingon, an Andorian, a Phylosian, a Tellarite, a Human, a Gorn, plus some new races. It’s almost a “who’s who” of Trek races!
Elysia, where the Enterprise and Kothos find themselves, is “more aptly described as a pocket in the garment of time” than as an alternate universe.
Commander Kor, who appeared in the live series (and again in DS9) was not voiced here by the original actor, but by James Doohan.
The Ambergris Element (1x13)
Production number: 22013
Summary: “The crew of the Enterprise explore a submerged culture on a water world.”
Rating: Just for fun
Points of interest:
This episode was written by the writer of ‘The Lorelei Signal’.
This is the first (and only!) appearance of the aqua-shuttle, and a re-appearance of personal lifebelts (as previously seen in ‘Beyond The Farthest Star’).
Kirk and Spock get transformed into water-breathers during this episode, which leads Kirk to question whether he can command a ship “from inside an aquarium”.
The Slaver Weapon (1x14)
Production number: 22011
Summary: “A group of Kzinti divert the shuttle Copernicus and retrieve a newly discovered Slaver weapon.”
Rating: Engage!
Points of interest:
This story was adapted by well-known science fiction author Larry Niven, from his Known Space short story ‘The Soft Weapon’. In the original, the three protagonists are a human married couple and a Pierson’s Puppeteer. In the adaptation, Sulu and Uhura fill the roles of the human male and female while Spock fills the role of the Puppeteer - a pacifistic herbivore (this is essential to the plot). Apart from these three character replacements, the episode plays out almost identically to the original short story.
This is the only Star Trek episode or movie set in Kirk’s time in which Kirk himself does not appear (apart from the pre-Kirk pilot ‘The Cage’). McCoy and Scott are also absent. The only ongoing Trek characters who appear in this episode are Spock, Uhura, and Sulu.
There’s a continuity clash in this episode, where Sulu reminds the Kzinti that “The Kzinti fought four wars with humankind and lost all of them. The last one was two hundred years ago.” Given that this episode is set during Kirk’s original five-year mission, which took place in the late 2260s, this places those wars in the mid-2000s - just around the time that the Vulcans made First Contact with Zefram Cochrane. However, it is possible to reconcile these dates with some clever juggling.
There’s another appearance of the personal lifebelts - plus the introduction of a “police web” (an immobilising device used in Niven’s Known Space universe).
I personally dislike the basis of this episode, because it brings Niven’s Known Space into the Star Trek universe. That said, it’s commonly acknowledged as a good episode and is worth watching.
The Eye of the Beholder (1x15)
Production number: 22016
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
Nothing to say here.
The Jihad (1x16)
Production number: 22014
Rating: Just for fun
Points of interest:
Kirk and Spock work in a small team of six people from four races to achieve a mission: two Humans, one Vulcan, and three others.
The only obvious female in the group was also the only other Human - and she repeatedly and openly made moves on Kirk. That animal magnetism at work! Kirk admits to her, for the only time on screen, that he’s had a lot of romantic/sexual liaisons, or “green memories” as she refers to them.
Interesting. I was going to describe how similar this is in format to ‘Mission: Impossible’ episodes, with each character being selected for a particular ability, all of which will contribute to achieving the mission. Then I did some research and found out that the writer of this episode was also a writer and story editor on the ‘Mission: Impossible’ series!
The Pirates of Orion (2x01)
Production number: 22020
Summary: “While Spock lies ill, Orion pirates hijack the drug shipment desperately needed to save his life.”
Rating: meh
Points of interest:
There’s an interesting animation error in the first few minutes: When Spock collapses on the bridge, there’s a shot with him lying in the foreground, and Kirk sitting in his captain’s chair in the background - with McCoy standing behind Kirk. Both Kirk and McCoy are shocked at Spock’s collapse. (It’s worth noting that McCoy has no lines in this scene: he’s just there.) The next scene is Kirk stabbing a communications button on his chair to get through to Sickbay - but McCoy is standing right behind him!
The Orions (prononced “AW-ree-on”, not “oh-RYE-on” like in the live-action shows) are involved, but don’t look like the Orions we’ve seen before.
There is a reference to the Babel Resolutions (from ‘Journey to Babel’).
Season 3
Episode Title Description Rating 01 Spectre of the Gun Aliens place Kirk and a landing party in the O.K. Corral. Just for fun 02 Elaan of Troyius The Enterprise carries the Princess of Elaan to Troyius where she will marry their ruler, when Elaan sets her sights on Kirk. meh 03 The Paradise Syndrome The Enterprise is sent to save a planet populated by Native Americans in danger of being rendered uninhabitable by an asteroid. meh 04 The Enterprise Incident As Kirk’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, he orders the Enterprise to cross into Romulan space for no apparent reason. Engage! 05 And The Children Shall Lead The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a colony to discover that all the adults have died and only children survived. meh 06 Spock’s Brain A woman from an alien ship steals Spock’s brain. Avoid 07 Is There No Truth In Beauty? The Enterprise transport a Medusan ambassador, a species so ugly that any human who sees them will go insane. meh 08 The Empath The Enterprise is dispatched to rescue a science team from a planet orbiting a dying sun. meh 09 The Tholian Web The Enterprise is attacked by Tholians while investigating the disappearance of the Federation starship Defiant. Engage! 10 For the World Is Hollow, and I Have Touched The Sky McCoy falls in love with an alien high priestess after becoming infected with an incurable disease. Just for fun 11 Day of the Dove The Enterprise investigates an attack on a Federation colony when a Klingon Battlecruiser approaches and accuses the Enterprise of killing Klingons. Engage! 12 Plato’s Stepchildren The Enterprise answers a distress call from a colony modeled after the time of Greek philosophers, who want McCoy to join them. meh 13 Wink of an Eye The Enterprise encounters beings who experience time at a greatly reduced rate, rendering them invisible to humans. Just for fun 14 That Which Survives A landing party beams down to a very unusual planet. Avoid 15 Let That Be Your Last Battlefield The Enterprise encounters an alien who is completely white on one side of his body, black on the other. Avoid 16 Whom Gods Destroy Kirk and Spock are committed when delivering medicine to an insane asylum. meh 17 The Mark of Gideon The crew of the Enterprise seemingly dissapears after Kirk tries to beam down to Gideon, which claims to be a paradise. Avoid 18 The Lights of Zetar The Enterprise detects an interstellar storm traveling faster than warp 2. Avoid 19 The Cloud Minders Kirk and Spock discover a segregated cloud city. meh 20 The Way to Eden The Enterprise encounters space hippies. Avoid 21 Requiem for Metuselah Kirk, Spock and McCoy encounter a strange man who knows much about Earth history. Just for fun 22 The Savage Curtain President Lincoln invites the Enterprise bridge crew to visit him on a molten planet. meh 23 All Our Yesterdays The Enterprise is sent to evacuate a planet before it’s star goes supernova, but the colonists are missing. Engage! 24 Turnabout Intruder One of Kirk’s ex-girlfriends takes control of his body, jealous that she herself could not become a starship captain. meh The 30 good ones
The “30 good episodes” are, in production order:
- Where No One Has Gone Before
- The Corbomite Maneuver
- The Enemy Within
- The Naked Time
- Balance of Terror
- The Galileo Seven
- Court Martial
- The Menagerie (Part I)
- The Menagerie (Part II)
- The Squire of Gothos
- Arena
- Tomorrow is Yesterday
- A Taste of Armageddon
- Space Seed
- Devil in the Dark
- Errand of Mercy
- The City on the Edge of Forever
- Amok Time
- The Doomsday Machine
- The Changeling
- Mirror, Mirror
- The Trouble with Tribbles
- Journey to Babel
- Obsession
- A Piece of the Action
- The Ultimate Computer
- The Enterprise Incident
- The Tholian Web
- Day of the Dove
- All Our Yesterdays
Season 6
Season 7
“Season 8”
If you’re interested, you can also learn about the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels (affectionately called “Season 8”).