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The Top 57 Episodes of ‘Star Trek,’ Ranked From Great to Perfect

First, let’s be clear: Ranking the best “Star Trek” episodes is a silly thing to do. To date, the longest-running American TV franchise has aired a gargantuan 890 episodes and counting, starting with the original series in 1966. Since then, at least one “Star Trek” TV show has aired (or streamed) every decade, totaling 11 so far (with more on the way ). Choosing the best episodes within such a boundless, occasionally contradictory storytelling galaxy seems about as wise as cheating when playing poker with a Klingon.

On the other hand, there may be no more time-honored tradition among “Star Trek” fans than a vigorous debate over what constitutes the best of the franchise. (Best series ? Best captains ? Best starships ? Best aliens ? Best uniforms ? They’ve all been ranked multiple times !)

In that spirit — and to commemorate the 57th anniversary of “Star Trek” on Sept. 8 —  Variety ’s resident “Trek” geeks have ranked the top 57 episodes of all time, across the franchise.

Creating our list required some deep-dish nerdiness in its own right: We compiled a long list of episodes from each series that we felt deserved to be on the final ranking. Then we created our own individual rankings — and promptly realized our taste was quite divergent. To reconcile our lists, we adopted the approach of the great movie ranking podcast, Screen Drafts : We took alternating turns placing a pick from 57 to 1, and we each had two opportunities to veto the other’s pick (which in every case was to ensure it was placed higher on the list).

Other than the short-lived “Star Trek: The Animated Series” (1973-1974), this list reflects every other iteration of “Trek” on TV: “Star Trek: The Original Series” (1966-1969); “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-1994); “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993-1999); “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001); “Star Trek: Enterprise” (2001-2005); “Star Trek: Discovery” (2017-2024); “Star Trek: Picard” (2020-2023); “Star Trek: Prodigy” (2021-2022); and the ongoing “Star Trek: Lower Decks” (2020-present) and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (2022-present).

The Way to Eden

“The Original Series” — Season 3, Episode 20

Look, this episode gets a lot of hate. But the fact is “TOS” is known (by today’s standards) for being very campy, and there is no episode campier than this one. A group of space hippies board the Enterprise on their journey to a mythical planet called Eden, where they can live happily forever. The episode memorably features Charles Napier (who would go on to a long career playing tough guys, villains, cops and the like) breaking out into song a bunch of times, including a jam session with Spock (Leonard Nimoy). —Joe Otterson Original airdate: Feb. 21, 1969

Terra Prime

“Enterprise” — Season 4, Episode 21 More than any other episode of “Enterprise,” “Terra Prime” made the most of the show’s mission to dramatize the beginnings of Starfleet, 100 years before the events of “TOS.” Just as a newfound coalition of planets begins to form on Earth (a precursor to the Federation), Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) and his crew must stop a xenophobic terrorist (played to the hilt by future “Star Trek Into Darkness” villain Peter Weller) bent on forcing all aliens to leave Earth. Subtle, it ain’t, but the story feels more relevant today than it did 20 years ago, and everyone in the cast gets a moment to shine. Alas, it came too late: “Enterprise” had been canceled before this episode even went into production. —Adam B. Vary Original airdate: May 13, 2005

“Prodigy” — Season 1, Episode 6

The animated “Prodigy” was the first “Star Trek” series geared toward kids, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t things for older “Trek” fans to enjoy. In particular, “Kobayashi” perfectly embodies what makes this show a worthy entry in “Trek” canon. Dal (Brett Gray) and Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) discover the holodeck aboard the Protostar, where they decide to go through the Kobayashi Maru, a.k.a. the “no-win scenario” that Capt. Kirk successfully beat during his time at the Academy. He gets help along the way from legendary characters like Spock, Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Odo (René Auberjonois). —J.O.

Original airdate: Jan. 6, 2022

Stormy Weather

“Discovery” — Season 4, Episode 6

On a mission to discover the origins of a cataclysmic gravitational anomaly, the U.S.S. Discovery enters a subspace rift and finds itself trapped inside a lethal black void that threatens to collapse in on the ship. The result is a classic race-against-time thriller (directed by “Trek” mainstay Jonathan Frakes), but what makes “Stormy Weather” stand out amid the heavily serialized episodes of “Discovery” is its emotionally resonant use of the ship’s sentient A.I. computer, Zora (Annabelle Wallis), who has to learn how to calm her mind from overwhelming stimuli in order to guide the ship out of danger. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Dec. 23, 2021

Seventeen Seconds

“Picard” — Season 3, Episode 3

“Picard” didn’t find itself until Season 3, which reunited the core cast of “The Next Generation” — and it was really Episode 3 that sealed the deal. Riker (Frakes) is forced to take command of the Titan as Vadic (Amanda Plummer) and the Shrike hunt them. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr. Crusher get an all-time great scene together as she reveals why she never told him about their son, Jack (Ed Speleers). Worf (Michael Dorn) makes his big return. We learn the Changelings are still intent on attacking the Federation. Riker and Picard end up at odds in a way we’ve never seen before. In short, epic. —J.O.

Original airdate: March 2, 2023

The Enemy Within

“The Original Series” — Season 1, Episode 5

The transporter — the cause of, and solution to, so many “Star Trek” problems — accidentally splits Capt. Kirk (William Shatner) into two people: Good Kirk, who is wracked with indecision, and evil Kirk, who is a histrionic asshole. Come for a meditation on the darkness that lies tucked inside everyone’s psyche, stay for some of William Shatner’s most deliciously hammy acting — and this was just the fifth episode of the series! —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Oct. 6, 1966

Family Business

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 3, Episode 23

The Ferengi episodes of “DS9” are always great comic relief, with this episode giving fans their first view of the home planet of Ferenginar and Ferengi culture in general. Quark (Armin Shimerman) and Rom (Max Grodénchik) must return home when their mother, Ishka (Andrea Martin), is accused of acquiring profit (gasp!), something Ferengi females are forbidden to do. Shimerman and Martin shine as they play out Quark and Ishka’s relationship, while Grodénchik really gets to put his comedic chops on display. This episode is also notable as the first appearance of Brunt (Jeffrey Combs) from the Ferengi Commerce Authority, as well as Kasidy Yates (Penny Johnson Jerald), frequent love interest of Cmdr. Sisko (Avery Brooks). —J.O.

Original airdate: May 15, 1995

Blink of an Eye

“Voyager” — Season 6, Episode 12

The Voyager gets stuck in orbit around a planet where time passes far more rapidly than in the rest of space, as the episode alternates between the bemused curiosity of Capt. Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and her crew and the awestruck preoccupation of the expeditiously progressing populace on the planet below, for whom Voyager is a sparkling, fixed constant in the night sky. At one point, the Doctor (Robert Picard) beams down to the planet to investigate, and a delay of only a few minutes on Voyager means he spends three years on its surface. He even adopts a son! One of the great, wild what if? episodes of “Star Trek.” —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Jan. 19, 2000

“The Next Generation” — Season 3, Episode 23

Mark Lenard absolutely crushed the role of Spock’s father, Sarek, in multiple episodes across multiple “Star Trek” series and movies, but this episode is perhaps his finest performance as the character. Sarek comes to the Enterprise-D on what is meant to be his final mission, only for the crew to learn he is suffering from Bendii Syndrome. The condition leaves him prone to uncharacteristic emotional outbursts while also causing him to telepathically influence the emotions of those around him. Picard saves the day by mind melding with Sarek, allowing him to finish his mission with dignity — and provide Stewart with the chance for some powerhouse acting as he channels Sarek’s volcanic emotions. —J.O.

Original airdate: May 14, 1990

“Enterprise” — Season 3, Episode 10

“Trek” loves a moral dilemma, and this one’s a doozy: After Cmdr. Tucker (Connor Trinneer) is critically injured while the Enterprise is on a deep space mission, Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) suggests growing a “mimetic symbiote” of Trip — effectively, a clone with a built-in two-week lifespan — in order to create the brain tissue needed to save Trip’s life. But that means the Enterprise crew must endure watching Trip’s clone rapidly age from a precocious kid to an adult man (played by Trinneer with eerie self-possession), who then pleads for his own right to live. Creepy and heartbreaking in equal measure. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Nov. 19, 2003

Trials and Tribble-ations

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 5, Episode 6

This episode is a love letter to the original series, with the Defiant’s crew transported back in time to the events of “The Trouble With Tribbles.” A Klingon agent is planning to use a booby-trapped tribble to assassinate James T. Kirk. Thanks to digital editing, the crew is able to interact with the original Enterprise crew and keep the timeline intact. —J.O.

Original airdate: Nov. 4, 1996

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 2, Episode 23

Mirror universe episodes of “Star Trek” are (almost) always fun, if ultimately a little silly. But this one — in which Kira (Nana Visitor) and Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig) find themselves in an alternate reality in which Bajor, Cardassians and Klingons subjugate humans as slaves — comes closest to matching the spark of discovery in the original “TOS” episode. It’s especially fun to watch Visitor devour the role of Kira’s deliciously wicked mirror counterpart, the Intendant. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: May 16, 1994

Memento Mori

“Strange New Worlds” — Season 1, Episode 4

This episode proved “Strange New Worlds” — the newest “Star Trek” series — could be as action-packed as the very best of “Star Trek.” The Enterprise crew find themselves on the run from the Gorn, a savage enemy (first introduced on “TOS” and largely ignored in “Trek” canon) about which they know virtually nothing. They are forced to use every resource at their disposal to outwit and outrun the Gorn, including tapping into the subconscious of La’an (Christina Chong), the only crew member who has encountered the aliens and survived. —J.O.

Original airdate: May 26, 2022

Counterpoint

“Voyager” — Season 5, Episode 10

The main story is a tense, WWII allegory: Capt. Janeway and her crew hide telepathic refugees while passing through the space of the Devore, who have outlawed telepaths. But the real story is the relationship Janeway forms with the lead Devore inspector, Kashyk (Mark Harelik), who suddenly shows up alone and announces he’s defecting. As Kashyk aids Janeway in finding safe harbor for the refugees, she realizes how much he’s her intellectual equal, and she finds herself drawn to him — in spite of (or perhaps spurred on by) her continued suspicion of his motives. A great, subtle performance by Mulgrew captures both Janeway’s steely wits and her private yearning. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Dec. 16, 1998

The Drumhead

“The Next Generation” — Season 4, Episode 21

“Star Trek” has done a number of courtroom episodes, and this is one of the best. Rear admiral Norah Satie (Jean Simmons) is sent to investigate suspected sabotage aboard the Enterprise. The investigation quickly spirals into paranoia and accusations of treachery against a crew member who is revealed to have Romulan lineage. It is an excellent reminder of what can happen when persecution is dressed up as an attempt at greater security, with Picard using Satie’s father’s teachings to bring about her downfall. —J.O.

Original airdate: April 29, 1991

“The Next Generation” — Season 7, Episode 8

More thwarted romance! The seasons-long will-they/won’t-they between Picard and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) gets its best showcase, when the pair are captured by isolationist aliens and given implants that allow them to read each other’s thoughts. You get the feeling Stewart and especially McFadden had been dying to play out this dynamic on the show, so they both bring years of sublimated longing to the episode. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Nov. 8, 1993

In the Hands of the Prophets

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 1, Episode 20

Louise Fletcher’s performance as Vedek Winn (later Kai Winn) ranks among the best “Star Trek” villains of all time. Deeply religious to the point of fanaticism, Winn protests Keiko O’Brien (Rosalind Chao) teaching children on Deep Space Nine that the wormhole aliens are not deities, as many Bajorans believe. Winn’s words whip Bajorans on the station into a frenzy; Keiko’s school is bombed. But what Winn really desires is power, to the point she tries to get one of her followers to kill a fellow Vedek she sees as a threat. The episode sets up Winn’s role as a major antagonist throughout the series to great effect. —J.O.

Original airdate: June 21, 1993

The Trouble With Tribbles

“The Original Series” — Season 2, Episode 15

If you’ve seen any episode of “TOS,” chances are it’s this one. While on shore leave at a space station, the Enterprise comes upon an adorably furry alien creature called a tribble, which are born pregnant, multiply exponentially, consume enormous quantities of food and react with alarm when in the presence of a Klingon. Fizzy and funny and, to this day, one of the best-known episodes of “Trek” ever. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Dec. 29, 1967

Balance of Terror

“The Original Series” — Season 1, Episode 14

Introducing the Romulans alone makes this episode worthy of being on the list. But it’s also an epic cat-and-mouse game between Kirk and a Romulan commander played by none other than Mark Lenard, who would go on to play Sarek starting in Season 2. Kirk successfully lures the Romulan ship into a trap, leading to Lenard delivering the iconic line, “You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend.” —J.O.

Original airdate: Dec. 15, 1966

“The Next Generation” — Season 4, Episode 20

John de Lancie never disappoints when he plays Q, but this episode offered a wonderful twist on his usual appearances. Following the events of “Deja Q,” Q returns to the Enterprise saying he owes Picard a debt. Picard repeatedly tells Q he wants nothing from him, but Q notices Picard has eyes for Vash (Jennifer Hetrick), the mercenary archeologist Picard first met on Risa. Being Q, he naturally transports Picard, Vash, and the bridge crew to a Robin Hood fantasy in which Picard must rescue Vash from the evil Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Clive Frevill). Added bonus: Worf, in scarlet tights, exclaiming in protest, “I am not a merry man!” —J.O.

Original airdate: April 22, 1991

“The Original Series” — Season 1, Episode 18

The classic “trial by combat” episode that pitted Kirk against a Gorn captain on a barren, rocky planet (i.e. the storied filming location Vasquez Rocks ). Few images from “Star Trek” have become more iconic than the original Gorn costume, which was essentially an actor dressed as a large lizard. The ending is also an all-timer, with Kirk choosing to spare the Gorn, proving to the all-powerful Metrons that set up the trial by combat that humans are capable of more than just random violence. —J.O.

Original airdate: Jan. 19, 1967

A Mathematically Perfect Redemption

“Lower Decks” — Season 3, Episode 7

“Star Trek’s” first pure comedy (and second animated series) often plays as a twisted love letter to the entire “Trek” franchise — like when Peanut Hamper (Kether Donohue), one of the sentient Exocomp robots first introduced on “The Next Generation,” abandons the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos in a time of need. This episode tracks Peanut Hamper’s journey to redemption afterwards, which involves her encountering a seemingly primitive species called the Areore. To say anything more would spoil the fun; suffice it to say, “Trek” has rarely provoked gasps of deep laughter like this episode does. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Oct. 6, 2022

Bar Association

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 4, Episode 15

What better episode of “Star Trek” to talk about after Hollywood’s hot labor summer? Fed up with the unfair conditions at Quark’s bar, Rom talks the other workers into forming a union and going on strike. Max Grodénchik truly shines in this episode as the would-be union leader. Once Rom successfully gets Quark to agree to all the workers’ demands, he outright quits and goes to work as a repair technician for the station, setting up some of Rom’s best moments in the episodes to come. —J.O.

Original airdate: Feb. 19, 1996

“Voyager” — Season 5, Episode 26 & Season 6, Episode 1

The Voyager swoops to the rescue of the Equinox, another Federation starship stranded in the Gamma Quadrant — only this one, led by Capt. Ransom (John Savage), is a smaller ship not meant for deep space travel. With their crew whittled down to just 12 people, Ransom has resorted to murdering alien creatures to use their bio-matter to boost the Equinox’s engines — a horrific violation of everything Starfleet stands for. The discovery pushes Janeway to her own limits, as she obsessively pursues the Equinox despite the cost to her own crew and her morality. The two-parter is one of the darkest episodes of “Star Trek,” a chilling reminder of how easily good people can find themselves slipping into disgrace. —A.B.V.

Original airdates: May 26, 1999 & Sept. 22, 1999

Who Mourns for Morn?

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 6, Episode 12

Morn (Mark Allen Shepherd) was a “Deep Space Nine” fixture, always at Quark’s bar, but never actually speaking onscreen. But in this episode, with Morn apparently dead in an accident, everyone reveals the offscreen times they spent with him, including the revelation that he “never shuts up.” Quark inherits all of Morn’s property, which Odo relishes revealing is ultimately nothing. But as it turns out, Morn had a much more adventurous life before his time on “DS9” than anyone knew, leading his former comrades to seek him out to get a hold of the money they believed he still possessed. —J.O.

Original airdate: Feb. 4, 1998

Species Ten-C

“Discovery” — Season 4, Episode 12

Other than the Gorn, almost all of the aliens on “Star Trek” are, essentially, humans with slightly different forehead ridges. But in its most recent season, “Discovery” embraced “Trek’s” prime directive (seeking out new life, bolding going where no one’s gone, etc.) by crafting a species that is truly alien: the Ten-C. Throughout the season, the Ten-C are presented as both a total mystery and an existential threat; when Capt. Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the Discovery finally reach them — outside the barrier of the Milky Way galaxy — they are unlike anything the show has ever encountered. Rarely has “Trek” applied more intellectual and emotional rigor to what it might actually be like to attempt first contact with extra-terrestrials, and rarely has it been this compelling. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: March 10, 2022

A Man Alone

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 1, Episode 4

Odo is one of the best characters in “DS9” — and in the “Star Trek” universe — in general, and this is the first episode to really establish him as a standout . A known criminal returns to the station only to die shortly after, and Odo is accused of his murder. Odo’s status as an outsider, but ultimately someone to be respected, is made crystal clear in this episode, with even his archenemy Quark acknowledging that Odo is not the type to murder someone in cold blood. —J.O.

Original airdate: Jan. 17, 1993

Mirror, Mirror

“The Original Series” — Season 2, Episode 4

The transporter strikes again, this time accidentally zapping Kirk, Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Scotty (James Doohan) and Bones (DeForest Kelley) from their reality into a parallel universe in which the benevolent Federation has been replaced by the bloodthirsty Terran Empire, governed by brute force and fascistic exploitation — and Spock has a goatee! More silly than serious (and no less fun for it), the episode effectively spawned an entire sub-genre of parallel universe episodes of TV (from “Supernatural” to “Friends”) and gave generations of actors a chance to play wildly against type. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Oct. 6, 1967

“The Next Generation” — Season 4, Episode 2

People rave about “The Best of Both Worlds” and Picard’s assimilation by the Borg, but fewer remember this incredible follow-up episode. Picard returns to his family vineyard to put the Borg incident behind him, even briefly thinking that he will leave Starfleet. Jeremy Kemp crushes it as Picard’s brother Robert, with the two sharing a memorable (and muddy) scene in which Picard breaks down and admits how much his assimilation has shaken him. The episode is also memorable for the appearance of Worf’s adoptive parents, who come to the Enterprise to be with him following his discommendation. —J.O.

Original airdate: Oct. 1, 1990

Living Witness

“Voyager” — Season 4, Episode 23

For several minutes, “Living Witness” seems like a mirror universe episode, as a ruthless Janeway, captain of the “warship” Voyager, agrees to aid the Vaskans against the insurgent Kyrians by unleashing a biological weapon upon millions and executing the Kyrian leader. But then we realize that we’ve just witnessed a recreation at a Kyrian museum 700 years in the future, at which point a copy of the Doctor enters the story and learns, to his horror, how much the Kyrians have gotten wrong. What could have been a Rashomon-style caper instead becomes fascinating meditation on how the telling of history can be weaponized, even inadvertently, to maintain old wounds rather than heal them. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: April 29, 1998

Unification

“The Next Generation” — Season 5, Episode 7 & 8

Spock appeared on “The Next Generation” a month before the release of 1991’s “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” — but this time, at least, crass cross-promotion prompted some sublimely entertaining TV, as Picard and Data (Brent Spiner) aid Spock in his effort to reunify the Romulan and Vulcan peoples. [Stefon voice]: This two-parter has everything : Klingon warbirds, rude Ferengis, Tasha’s evil Romulan daughter Sela (Denise Crosby), Data and Spock philosophizing on their twin pursuits of logic and emotion, the death of Sarek, Worf singing Klingon opera with a four-armed bar pianist, and Picard and Spock mind-melding! —A.B.V.

Original airdates: Nov. 4 & 11, 1991

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 7, Episode 9

Gul Dukat is the best villain in “Star Trek.” Yes, you read that right. The writers and actor Marc Alaimo created an incredibly nuanced character that goes through a remarkable arc over the course of the series. This episode, near the end of “DS9’s” run, reminds fans that Dukat sees himself as a savior, but is ultimately a force for evil. He establishes a cult dedicated to the Pah wraiths on Empok Nor, luring a number of Bajorans to his side. But of course, he also sleeps with his female followers and tries to trick them into a mass suicide. Amazing stuff. —J.O.

Original airdate: Nov. 23, 1998

The Last Generation

“Picard” — Season 3, Episode 10

The cast of “TNG” infamously never got their swan song, after 2002’s “Star Trek: Nemesis” bombed in theaters, so this series finale serves as a gift both to them and to “TNG” fans. Every character gets their spotlight, including the resurrected Enterprise-D, as Picard, Riker, Dr. Crusher, Data, Worf, LaForge (LeVar Burton) and Troi (Marina Sirtis) all help to take down the Borg once and for all. The final scene — everyone sitting around a poker table, laughing and reminiscing — is as pure and satisfying an expression of fan service as anything “Trek” has ever done. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: April 20, 2023

“The Next Generation” — Season 3, Episode 13

Until this episode, Q was an enjoyably malevolent force within “TNG,” an omnipotent being who’d gleefully pop up now and again to play with the lives of the Enterprise-D crew. But here, when Q suddenly appears on the bridge, he’s been stripped of all his powers (and all of his clothes) and begs Picard for safe harbor. At first, no one believes him — even after Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) stabs him with a fork — which only fuels John de Lancie’s sparkling performance, as Q confronts life as ( shudder ) a mortal human. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Feb. 3, 1990

An Embarrassment of Dooplers

“Lower Decks” — Season 2, Episode 5

The title refers to an alien called a Doopler, who duplicate themselves whenever they get embarrassed — which, naturally, becomes an issue the moment one steps foot on the Cerritos. But really, this episode is one of those deeply enjoyable “Trek” episodes that is less about story than it is about the vibes , as the characters spend their downtime winningly contending with the central premise of the show: The bittersweet contentment of life at the bottom of the ladder. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Sept. 9, 2021

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 2, Episode 19    

The lives of the past hosts of the Dax symbiont are a recurring plot device on “DS9,” and no episode does it better than this one. A group of Klingons who knew Curzon Dax arrive at the station and enlist Jadzia’s (Terry Ferrell) help in killing their sworn enemy, a criminal known as The Albino who killed the three Klingons’ first-born sons. Jadzia ultimately honors the blood oath, as the episode explores the meaning of honor and solidarity. —J.O.

Original airdate: March 28, 1994

Where No Man Has Gone Before

“The Original Series” — Season 1, Episode 3

The famed second pilot episode of “Star Trek” (which introduced William Shatner as Capt. Kirk) is a strange artifact today: Bones and Uhura aren’t aboard yet, Sulu (George Takei) isn’t at the helm, the Enterprise has a psychiatrist (played by Sally Kellerman), and the uniforms and sets look a bit off. But the central story — Kirk’s best friend, Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood), is zapped by an energy blast at the edge of the galaxy, and begins to exhibit extraordinary psychokinetic powers — is vintage “Trek”: Brainy, brawny, and just the right side of uncanny. And it’s fascinating now to see how well-established Kirk and Spock’s dynamic of emotion vs. logic was from the very start. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Sept. 22, 1966

The Measure of a Man

“The Next Generation” — Season 2, Episode 9

Data’s quest for humanity is at the very core of “TNG,” and this stirring episode literally puts that quest on trial — and establishes the show’s voice for the rest of its run. A Starfleet scientist wants to dismantle Data in order to create more androids, but Data refuses, setting up an intense courtroom drama — is Data merely a machine and the property of Starfleet? — with Picard representing Data while Riker is forced to represent the scientist. —J.O.

Original airdate: Feb. 13, 1989

“The Next Generation” — Season 4, Episode 26 & Season 5, Episode 1

The Klingons started on “Trek” as a not-that-thinly-veiled metaphor for the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, but over the decades, they’ve developed their own richly detailed mythology. This two-parter (which aired just before the fall of the USSR) depicts a civil war within the Klingon Empire that leads to Worf’s decision to leave the Enterprise and join the fight. For a series that was episodic by design, this is the closest “TNG” ever got to serialized storytelling, incorporating events from several previous episodes — including the shocking introduction of Tasha’s Romulan daughter, Sela. —A.B.V.

Original airdates: June 17, 1991 & Sept. 23, 1991

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 1, Episode 11

It is endlessly entertaining to see Quark get what he wants as he then  learns that it’s way more trouble than he realized. This episode sums that idea up nicely, while also featuring the first of many wonderful appearances by Wallace Shawn as Ferengi leader Grand Nagus Zek. Zek unexpectedly names Quark his successor, only for Zek to die shortly after. Quark is thrilled at first, before he realizes being the Nagus puts a massive target on his back. This episode also helps build the friendship between Nog (Aron Eisenbeg) and Jake (Cirroc Lofton), with Jake secretly teaching Nog how to read. —J.O.

Original airdate: March 22, 1993

Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy

“Voyager” — Season 6, Episode 4

Yearning to grow past his programming, the Doctor allows himself the ability to daydream, in one of the flat-out funniest episodes of “Trek” ever. It opens with Robert Picardo singing opera as Tuvok (Tim Russ) undergoes pon farr (i.e. the madness to mate that consumes Vulcan males) and just gets wilder from there, up to the moment when the Doctor, who’d fantasized about taking over command of Voyager in an emergency, does it for real. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Oct. 13, 1999

“The Original Series” — Season 2, Episode 1

Speaking of pon farr, this is the “TOS” episode that first establishes it — as well as the planet Vulcan, several Vulcan customs and traditions, and the now legendary Vulcan salute (honorable mention: Spock actually smiles!). Wracked with pon farr, Spock asks for leave back on his home planet, and eventually reveals that he must meet his betrothed, T’Pring (Arlene Martel). Naturally, Kirk and Spock end up in a fight to the death in one of the most iconic battles in “Star Trek” history. —J.O.

Original airdate: Sept. 15, 1967

Year of Hell

“Voyager” — Season 4, Episode 8 & 9

The most lasting criticism of “Voyager” is that every week, no matter what happened in the previous episode, the ship and crew emerged unscathed and ready for a new adventure. As if in response, this two-parter tracks a year in which the Voyager is ravaged to the point of near ruin by repeated encounters with an aggressive alien species called the Krenim. Unbeknownst to the crew, they’re actually the victims of a Krenim scientist, Annorax (Kurtwood Smith), who developed a technology to alter the fabric of time by erasing entire species from ever existing. This is as harrowing and merciless as “Trek’s” ever been, but it’s not quite the best episode of “Voyager” due to the irony of its ending: Janeway crashes the husk of the Voyager into Annorax’s timeship — which resets the timeline completely, as if nothing that we’d seen had ever happened. —A.B.V.

Original airdates: Nov. 5 & 12, 1997

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 3, Episodes 11 & 12

“Star Trek” often addresses timely societal issues, but this episode put them firmly in a 21st century context. Sisko, Bashir, and Dax accidentally wind up in San Francisco circa 2024, where poverty and oppression of the disadvantaged are running rampant (crazy how that remains timely, huh?). When a man meant to serve an important purpose in an historic riot is accidentally killed too soon, Sisko is forced to take his place. —J.O.

Original airdate: Jan. 2, 1995 & Jan. 9, 1995

Those Old Scientists

“Strange New Worlds” — Season 2, Episode 7

In one of the rare “Trek” crossover episodes, Ens. Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Ens. Mariner (Tawny Newsome) from “Lower Decks” find themselves zapped back to the era when Capt. Pike (Anson Mount) captained the Enterprise. Marshalled by Jonathan Frakes’ steady hand as a director , the disparate tones of “Lower Decks” and “Strange New World” somehow mesh perfectly, and hilariously, together. Packed with guffaw-worthy laughs, “Those Old Scientists” also becomes a deeply poignant expression of the impact “Trek” has had on generations of fans. Maybe it’s controversial to place one of the most recent “Trek” episodes so high on this list, but this one more than earns its spot. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: July 22, 2023

The Best of Both Worlds

“The Next Generation” — Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1

This two-parter is frequently cited as the best “Next Generation” storyline of all time, mostly because it features one of the most iconic cliffhangers in all of television. The Borg attack the Federation, leading to a showdown with the Enterprise. Picard is captured and assimilated, revealing himself to his crew as Locutus of Borg. If we’re splitting Borg nano-probes, the second half doesn’t quite live up to the first, which is why, for us, it doesn’t quite rank into the Top 10. Special shoutout to this episode for setting up the incredible “Star Trek” film “First Contact.” —J.O.

Original airdate: June 18, 1990 & Sept. 24, 1990

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 1, Episode 19

When a Cardassian named Marritza (Harris Yulin) arrives on Deep Space Nine, Kira realizes he must have worked at one of the most notorious labor camps during Cardassia’s occupation of Bajor, and she arrests him as a war criminal. What follows is effectively a two-hander, as Kira’s interrogation of Marritza leads to a series of revelations that unmoor her hard-won fury at the atrocities inflicted upon her people. The conventional wisdom is that “DS9” didn’t get cooking until the Dominion War, but this early episode proves that this show was providing great, searing drama from the start. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: June 14, 1993

“The Original Series” — Season 1, Episode 22

Ricardo Montalbán makes his debut as Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically superior dictator from Earth’s Eugenics Wars. Khan and his people have been in suspended animation for 200 years and are looking to dominate humanity once again. Naturally, Kirk is able to beat Khan in a riveting confrontation, but rather than send him and his people to a penal colony, he agrees to let them settle on the wild planet, Ceti Alpha V. The episode proved to be so good, it led to the 1982 film “Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan,” arguably the best “Trek” movie of all time. —J.O.

Original airdate: Feb. 16, 1967

“Voyager” — Season 5, Episode 6

There’s something about time travel — and the twisty narrative paradoxes it can cause — that has engendered some of the best episodes of “Trek” ever made. That certainly includes this stunning “Voyager” episode, which opens with Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) and Chakotay (Robert Beltran), 15 years in the future, discovering the frozen husk of the Voyager buried inside a glacier on a barren ice planet. It turns out Kim made a critical mistake that caused the catastrophic accident, from which only he and Chakotay survived. Their unyielding fixation to right that wrong — and erase the previous 15 years from history — makes for a gripping nail-biter about regret and devotion. Not only did LeVar Burton direct, but he cameos as Capt. Geordi La Forge! —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Nov. 18, 1998

The Defector

“The Next Generation” — Season 3, Episode 10

Did a Romulan admiral really defect to the Federation, or are the Romulans perpetrating an elaborate hoax on Picard and the Enterprise crew? This wonderful episode sees the admiral in question (played by James Sloyan) claiming the Romulans are building a secret base within the Neutral Zone, forcing Picard to consider whether or not he should investigate and thus risk starting a war. It also features the excellent opening in which Picard tries to teach Data about humanity by having him act out scenes from Shakespeare’s “Henry V.” —J.O.

Original airdate: Jan. 1, 1990

Chain of Command

“The Next Generation” — Season 6, Episode 10 & 11

Lured into Cardassian territory under false pretenses, Picard is captured and systematically tortured by a ruthless interrogator, Gul Madred, in a chilling performance by David Warner. Their disturbing tête-à-tête — Picard is stripped naked and nearly broken by the end — would be enough for one of the all-time best “Trek” episodes. But this two-parter also boasts Ronny Cox as Capt. Jellico, Picard’s replacement on the Enterprise, whose prickly and demanding leadership style creates all kinds of thrilling friction among the crew. —A.B.V.

Original airdates: Dec. 14 & 21, 1992

In the Pale Moonlight

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 6, Episode 19

In this fantastic episode, Sisko grapples with the ethics of doing whatever it takes to get the Romulans to join the Dominion War on the Federation-Klingon side. This includes falsifying evidence and freeing a known criminal from Klingon prison with the help of master spy Garak (played by the always wonderful Andrew Robinson). Sisko (while recording a personal log) delivers a series of powerful monologues direct to camera about why he did what he did, ultimately deciding it was worth it in the end. —J.O.

Original airdate: April 13, 1998

The City on the Edge of Forever

“The Original Series” — Season 1, Episode 28

Accidentally hopped up on stimulants, a crazed Bones leaps through a time portal on an alien planet and winds up changing history so drastically that the Enterprise disappears. Kirk and Spock travel back to stop him, and land in New York City during the Great Depression, where they learn that Bones saved the life of Sister Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), a pacifist whose message resonates so strongly that the U.S. stays out of WWII, allowing the Nazis to conquer Europe. Alas, Kirk falls deeply in love with Keeler, establishing a classic “Trek” moral dilemma: How does one suppress their most profound personal feelings for the greater good? An all-timer that still resonates today. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: April 6, 1967

Far Beyond the Stars

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 6, Episode 13

In this Avery Brooks-directed episode, Sisko envisions himself as a Black science fiction writer in 1950s New York named Benny Russell. Russell dreams up a story about the crew of a space station led by a Black captain, but his publisher refuses to run it. This episode is memorable for many reasons, the biggest of which being its handling of racism, but it also allows the show’s main cast gets to appear without any prosthetics or makeup, as completely different characters, to great effect. —J.O.

Original airdate: Feb. 9, 1998

Yesterday’s Enterprise

“The Next Generation” — Season 3, Episode 15

The Enterprise-C, believed to have been destroyed over 20 years earlier, emerges from a temporal anomaly and resets history into a decades-long war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Tasha — killed off in Season 1 (after Denise Crosby wanted to leave the show) — is brought back to life, and falls for the Enterprise-C’s helmsman (Christopher McDonald), while Guinan implores Picard that something is desperately wrong with history and he must send the Enterprise-C back to certain doom. Somehow, this episode crams a movie’s worth of story into a nimble and rousing 44 minutes. Not a second is wasted. Outrageously great. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: Feb. 19, 1990

The Inner Light

“The Next Generation” — Season 5, Episode 25

When the Enterprise comes upon a mysterious probe, Picard is suddenly hit with a signal that plunges him into a different man’s life on a dying planet. There, Picard experiences half a lifetime, with a wife, children and grandchildren, all in the space of 25 minutes. When Picard realizes this was all meant as a time capsule — a way to preserve the stories of the people of the planet, which was destroyed 1,000 years earlier by an exploding star — the revelation that he lived the life he’d long forsaken as a Starfleet captain, only to have it ripped away, is almost more than he can bear. But hoo boy, does it make for stunning, deeply moving television. In fact, almost no episode of “Trek” is better. Almost. —A.B.V.

Original airdate: June 1, 1992

The Visitor

“Deep Space Nine” — Season 4, Episode 2

Don’t watch this one without tissues handy. This emotionally devastating episode gets right to the heart of what made “DS9” so special — the relationship between Sisko and his son, Jake. Told in flashbacks by an elderly Jake (Tony Todd), the episode recounts how Sisko became unstuck in time, briefly revisiting Jake over the course of his life, and how Jake is determined to bring him back. In brief, fleeting moments, Sisko tells Jake not to worry about him and to live his life to the fullest. But Jake cannot bear the thought of losing his father forever, ultimately sacrificing his own life to restore the normal flow of time. —J.O.

Original airdate: Oct. 9, 1995

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Den of Geek

Star Trek: An Episode Roadmap for Beginners

Have you always wanted to catch up on Star Trek: TOS but don't have the time for all 79 episodes and feature films? Then step this way...

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This article comes from Den of Geek UK .

With six television series and twelve feature films (and counting) it’s best not to think about how many hours are required to catch up on the entire history of  Star Trek . It’s also highly likely that not everyone would wish to do so, for while  Star Trek  is capable of intense, emotional and thought-provoking stories, it is also capable of producing some real trash .

We’re here to give you some options to make your way through the original series, without necessarily having to watch all 79 episodes…especially that dreadful third season.

This map focuses on the original cast of characters. We’ve included screen outings only (no novels, computer games or other media). We’ve included  The Animated Series  even though it does not form part of the official  Star Trek  canon, partly for the sake of completism, partly because it allows Kirk’s five-year mission actually to last five years and partly because ideas from the series have been picked up on and re-used by later incarnations of the franchise. We’ve also included the two J.J. Abrams movies, which re-set the series’ continuity entirely, because they feature (alternate universe versions of) the original cast of characters and, well, because there’s no where else to put them. We have not included the films focused on the  Next Generation  crew ( Generations, First Contact, Insurrection and Nemesis  –  Generations  is a cross-over film, but focuses more on the  Next Generation  crew than the original characters).

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Phew, that was complicated. On with the routes.

Route 1: The foundations of  Star Trek

There are no story arcs in  Star Trek  (films 2-4 excepted). However, there are threads; recurring enemies, recurring themes, stories picked up again decades later, memorable adventures that are referred to time and time again. None of the writers on the original series of  Star Trek  could have predicted that they were creating a nearly 50-year franchise that would be built on and built on until the whole Jenga tower collapsed under its own weight and JJ Abrams started again from the bottom, but the foundations they laid are those that lie behind all subsequent series and films. If you want to understand the origins of various elements of the later films and series in the   Star Trek  franchise, these are the episodes to catch up on.

The Naked Time

Dagger Of The Mind

The Menagerie Parts 1&2

Balance Of Terror

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The Return Of The Archons

Errand Of Mercy

Balance Of Terror  and  Errand Of Mercy  introduce  Star Trek ’s most popular and enduring villains (the Romulans and the Klingons, respectively).  The Naked Time  is followed up by a  Next Generation  episode ( The Naked Now ) while  The Menagerie  and  Space Seed  are referenced in later films (alternate-timeline Pike also ends up wheelchair-bound in  Star Trek  (2009) while  Space Seed  is followed up in  The Wrath Of Khan .  The Menagerie  is also the episode with the green Orion slave girl dancing in it).  Dagger Of The Mind  introduces the Vulcan mind meld, while  The Return Of The Archons  features the first appearance – and immediate disregarding of – the Prime Directive (sometimes known as the Prime Suggestion because, while the aim not to interfere with other cultures is a good one, it tends to be interpreted as meaning Starfleet is forbidden from helping pre-warp cultures even if they are dying, which seems counter-productive and is frequently ignored or the rules bent).

Mirror, Mirror

Metamorphosis

Journey To Babel

Friday’s Child

The Trouble With Tribbles

A Private Little War

Amok Time  is primarily remembered as our first glimpse of Vulcan and the introduction of the concept of Ponn Farr (the Vulcan mating ritual) but it is also the introduction of main character Ensign Chekov.  Mirror, Mirror  introduces the Mirror Universe returned to in  Deep Space Nine  and  Enterprise .  Journey To Babel  and  Metamorphosis  introduce important characters who recur across the franchise, while  Friday’s Child  and  A Private Little War  start to flesh out the Klingons.  The Trouble With Tribbles  was returned to for  Deep Space Nine ’s beloved  Trials and Tribble-ations , as well as throwing in more Klingons. Add  Patterns Of Force  for a demonstration of why the Federation tries to get its Captains to obey the Prime Directive and The Deadly Years for more Romulans.

Season Three

The Enterprise Incident

Day Of The Dove

The Tholian Web

Romulans reappear in  The Enterprise Incident  and Klingons in  Day Of The Dove .  The Tholian Web  is returned to in  Enterprise . Add  Elaan Of Troyius  for more reference to relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.

The Animated Series

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The Lorelai Signal

More Tribbles, More Troubles

Yesteryear  is not only our first visit to Vulcan, it establishes various facts about Spock’s family and childhood, including a scene depicting him being bullied by Vulcan children that is echoed in  Star Trek  (2009).  The Lorelai Signal  features the first scenes depicting a woman in charge of a starship (not counting  Turnabout Intruder , in which Janice Lester is disguised in Captain Kirk’s body – don’t ask), as Uhura takes command because all the men on the ship have been mentally affected by Space Sirens (we didn’t say it was a good episode). Add  The Counter-Clock Incident  for a story which seems to be the inspiration for at least two episodes of  The Next Generation  ( Too Short A Season  and  Rascals ) and The  Magicks Of Megas-tu  for some possible inspiration behind  The Next Generation ’s  Devil’s Due , though taken in a different direction.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Star Trek  (2009)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture  offers a more detailed look at Vulcan and some of its customs.  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home  features the first canonical female captain in   Star Trek  (Saavik was in command training and was taking the Kobayashi Maru test in  The Wrath Of Khan , but does not actually take command in the field. The first black starship captain not counting Uhura in  The Lorelei Signal  was Captain Terrell in  The Wrath of Khan ; the unnamed female captain here is also black).  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country  fills in some gaps in the history of Federation/Klingon relations between the original series and  The Next Generation , as well as featuring Worf’s ancestor and being followed up in  Voyager .  Star Trek  (2009), of course, resets everything so the writers can begin again.

Route 2: Just what is all the fuss about, anyway? 

A simple best of – if you’d like to sample just the highlights and the very best  Star Trek  has to offer, these are the episodes to check out.

(There’s a lot of overlap between this list and “The Foundations of Star Trek,” for the sensible reason that later writers and producers frequently returned to the good episodes of the Original Series for ideas, and tended to avoid the bad ones as far as possible).

The Enemy Within

Balance of Terror

The City On The Edge Of Forever

Balance Of Terror  is an absolutely brilliant, tense bit of submarine drama – just don’t be distracted by the fact the guest actor is better known for playing, equally brilliantly, an unrelated recurring character.  The City On The Edge Of Forever  is frequently claimed as the best  Star Trek  episode of all time (certainly of the original series, sometimes of the franchise as a whole). Add  Arena  for an episode that’s rather hokey, but has a solid concept, features the most famous and prominent use of the Vasquez Rocks, and is frequently referenced in popular culture.

The Doomsday Machine

A Piece Of The Action

Bread And Circuses

Amok Time  features one of the most joyous and satisfying moments in  Star Trek .  Mirror, Mirror  introduces Evil Spock and his Goatee of Evil.  The Trouble With Tribbles  is a bit daft, but very entertainingly so.  A Piece Of The Action  and  Bread And Circuses  take different routes to depicting a Space Aliens version of an Earth society and are good fun.

There was one good episode in Season Three (luckily it was really quite good). Add  Let That Be Your Last Battlefield  for  Star Trek  at its most obvious, but a decent enough episode for all that.

The Animated Series  is full of good ideas let down by rather poor execution (and a few daft ideas) but this episode, which delves into Spock’s childhood, stands out as particularly effective.

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

Yes, there is an odd-numbered movie in there – two, in fact.  The Search For Spock  is seriously underrated , but even if you don’t think so much of it, it’s a necessary middle volume between the best film ( Wrath Of Khan ) and the funniest ( The Voyage Home ).

Route 3: Kirk, Spock and Bones 

The core of  Star Trek  was, of course, the relationship between the central trio of heart (Bones), mind (Spock) and spirit (Kirk). These three also had far more character development than the others – although Uhura, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov (and to an extent, Nurse Chapel) had reasonably well-rounded characters with likes, dislikes and clear personalities, character development was largely the preserve of the main trio. For  Star Trek ’s best character studies and depictions of comradeship, these are the episodes to seek out.

The Galileo Seven

This Side Of Paradise

The Galileo Seven  encapsulates the tension between Spock and Bones and their different attitudes perfectly. Add  Shore Leave  for Kirk apparently preferring to get a backrub from Spock than from the Mini-skirted Woman Of The Week.

If you only have time for one of these, it has to be  Amok Time  – by far the best known and most satisfying Kirk/Spock episode.

For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky

All Our Yesterdays

For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky  features one of our heroes dying and in  The Tholian Web  one of them appears to be dead, which is always good for showing their feelings for each other. As these episodes demonstrate, McCoy and Spock do love each other really. Well, McCoy loves Spock. Spock has appropriately Vulcan but nonetheless positive reactions to McCoy.

Mudd’s Passion

The Pirates Of Orion

Mudd’s Passion  features passion all around, while  The Pirates Of Orion  revisits the classic one-of-our-heroes-is-dying plot.

All of them. They’re all, essentially, about Kirk, Spock and Bones. This is the only possible reason to watch  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , as it focuses on the relationship between the three of them to an even greater degree than the other films. Fans of slash fiction may particularly enjoy the first three original cast films ( The Motion Picture ,  The Wrath Of Khan , and  The Search For Spock ).

Route 4: God-like aliens

Gene Roddenberry really, really loved aliens with extreme, largely inexplicable and god-like powers. Like, way more than any sane person should. Most of them had the personalities of over-grown children. Sometimes just plain children.

Where No Man Has Gone Before

The Corbomite Maneuver

The Squire of Gothos

Who Mourns For Adonais?

Add  Catspaw  for aliens with ridiculously powerful (and bizarre) technology.

Plato’s Stepchildren

The Magicks Of Megas-tu

Granted, this one is a Devil-alien rather than a god-alien, but still.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

OK, this is the other reason to watch  Star Trek V . But really, save yourself the agony – don’t watch it.

Route 5: Schadenfreude

Star Trek  was as capable of producing dull, unmemorable episodes as anything else. However, the reason “Worst Episodes of  Star Trek”  lists are so popular is that the real low points of the series are not simply dull – they tend to be extremely colourful, mesmerizingly sexist, racist and other –ists in attempts to be egalitarian and tolerant gone wrong, and generally thoroughly ludicrous. All of which means that watching them in a group and laughing at, rather than with, them can be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you’re in the mood to watch something so terrible as to come right out the other side into really quite good fun, grab some popcorn and give one of these a go.

Mudd’s Women

The Harry Mudd episodes are listed here largely because their depiction of their female characters goes beyond even the usual inevitable 1960s leering treatment.

The Omega Glory

The Omega Glory  features some very mis-judged patriotism, while  The Apple  gives us poisonous flowers shooting redshirts. Add  The Changeling  for Uhura having her entire memory wiped and having to be re-educated from scratch (as in from ‘See the dog run’) but being completely fine in the next episode – however, it’s not so much fun to hate-watch, as it’s really pretty dull. Add  Wolf In The Fold  for the alien-related truth behind Jack the Ripper, which is as silly as it sounds, while at the same time somewhat disturbing.

Spock’s Brain

The Paradise Syndrome

And The Children Shall Lead

The Way To Eden

Turnabout Intruder

A deeply insulting depiction of Space Native Americans in  The Paradise Syndrome , bizarre Space hippies in  The Way To Eden , children gone wild in  And The Children Shall Lead , horrifying sexism in  Turnabout Intruder  (including a Starfleet regulation that women cannot be Captains), the general and well-known awfulness that it  Spock’s Brain  – Season Three was… not Classic  Trek ’s finest hours. At least it’s still entertaining, in a cringe-worthy way.  Plato’s Stepchildren  is best known as the first interracial kiss on US network television, but the episode itself is truly, albeit hilariously, terrible. Kirk’s horse impression has to be seen to be believed (not to mention the fact that the famous kiss is not a romantic moment, but an act of sexual violence inflicted on both Kirk and Uhura, neither of whom are willing).

The whole series suffers from the seriously cheap animation, despite the good ideas behind it, but  The Ambergris Element , in which Kirk and Spock turn into water creatures, stands out.

We’ve surprised ourselves with the number of appearances this film has made on these lists. But the fact remains that  Star Trek III: The Search For Spock   is seriously under-rated,   Star Trek (2009) is excellent and  Star Trek: The Motion Picture  is known as ‘The Motionless Picture’ for a reason, which makes it less fun to hate-watch. So if you want to find out where the odd-numbered  Star Trek  films got their terrible reputation, this is the one to watch.

Juliette Harrisson | @ClassicalJG

Juliette Harrisson is a writer and historian, and a lifelong Trekkie whose childhood heroes were JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. She runs a YouTube channel called…

Day of the Dove (episode)

• View history

An extremely powerful non-corporeal being brings the Enterprise and a Klingon ship in direct conflict with one another.

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 2 Log entries
• 3 Memorable quotes
• 4.1 Title, story, and production
• 4.2 Continuity
• 4.3 Reception
• 4.4 Apocrypha
• 4.5 Production timeline
• 4.6 Video and DVD releases
• 5.1 Starring
• 5.2 Also starring
• 5.3 Guest star
• 5.4 Co-starring
• 5.5 Uncredited co-stars
• 5.7 References
• 5.8 External links

Summary [ ]

The Enterprise in orbit of Beta XII-A

Responding to a distress call from Beta XII-A , a landing party from the USS Enterprise beams down to the planet . The team consists of Captain Kirk , Doctor McCoy , Ensign Chekov , and Lieutenant Johnson , a security officer . They find no trace that there ever was a Human colony on the planet, nor any indication of any attack. Dr. McCoy reminds Kirk that whoever sent the distress call claimed they were under attack by an unidentified starship . From the bridge of the orbiting Enterprise , Spock hails the captain and reports that a Klingon battle cruiser is approaching. Although Kirk authorizes the Vulcan to defend the Starfleet ship, Lieutenant Sulu determines that the Klingon vessel is totally disabled, but the Enterprise never fired upon it. A team of Klingons beams to the planet and approaches the Starfleet officers . Commander Kang , the leader of the team, believes that Kirk is responsible for the damage to his ship and for killing four hundred members of his crew. He smacks Kirk in the face with his disruptor , knocking Kirk to the ground. As a result, the Klingon claims the Enterprise as his own and takes the Enterprise crew as prisoners of the Klingons. Both men are unaware of a strange ball of light nearby, which is in fact a non-corporeal lifeform .

Act One [ ]

Kirk signals Spock

Kang tells Kirk that the Klingons have honored a peace treaty " to the letter " with the Federation for the past three years, and that Kirk appears to have tested a new weapon against his ship, killing his crew. Kirk rebuts that the Federation colony on the planet was destroyed. But Kang scoffs at this, saying there is no evidence of bodies or ruins. Kirk says this is because it was a new Klingon weapon that leaves no traces, and that the Federation does not conduct sneak attacks.

Kang threatens to torture one of the Starfleet prisoners, but has difficulty deciding which officer will suffer – until Chekov angrily cries out that the Klingons killed his brother, Piotr Chekov , on a Federation research outpost on Archanis IV . One of the Klingons uses an agonizer to inflict pain on Chekov. After much debating with Kang, Kirk authorizes Spock to beam the Klingon and Starfleet officers aboard the Enterprise ; however, while giving the order Kirk also presses a distress key on his communicator, causing an amber light to blink on the command chair . Seeing the signal, Spock orders that the landing party be beamed into the ship's transporter room , but he also has the Klingons suspended in the pattern buffer and they are arrested by Enterprise security when they are rematerialized.

As the Klingon battle cruiser is emitting an excessive amount of harmful radiation , Kirk intends to destroy the alien craft. Klingon survivors are beamed aboard, including Mara – Kang's wife and science officer . Mara fears that she will be tortured for their scientific and military information, but Kirk assures her and her husband that the Klingons will not be harmed. The captain orders Lieutenant Johnson to secure the Klingon prisoners in the crew lounge and to program the food synthesizer for Klingon cuisine. Spock explains that when the Enterprise received the distress call, the Klingons were too far away to have been the attackers. McCoy argues that they know the Klingons did attack, and that the log tapes will prove the innocence of the Enterprise .

The Enterprise is unable to contact Starfleet Command , as all subspace frequencies are being blocked. The Enterprise destroys the Klingon craft with its forward phasers in orbit of the planet, but communication with Starfleet is still unobtainable.

In the crew lounge, Kang plans Kirk's death, vowing to hang Kirk's head on a wall in his quarters . Mara fears that the Starfleet crew will overpower the Klingons, while another Klingon officer eagerly advises Kang that they should strike quickly. Kang tells the officer to be patient and opines that the Starfleet crew will make a mistake soon and they will seize upon it.

Meanwhile, the crew loses control of the Enterprise and several malfunctions result in the ship pursuing a new course out of the the galaxy . Scott explains that controls have gone crazy, and engines have gone to warp 9 by themselves . Nearly four hundred crewmen are trapped by emergency bulkheads on the vessel's lower decks. Assuming that the Klingons are responsible, Kirk questions Kang in the crew lounge. Kang denies any responsibility. Kirk tells Kang that before he puts him in the brig, there is something he "owes him" and punches Kang for having struck him earlier on Beta XII-A. Suddenly, several inanimate objects in the room, including a three-dimensional chess set, transform into swords. Kirk orders his men to draw phasers, which also mysteriously transform into swords.

Act Two [ ]

The Starfleet officers and the Klingons fight, using these primitive weapons of their ancestors. Two more security officers join the battle against the Klingons and Johnson is injured in the fight. The crew members luckily escape in a turbolift that takes Johnson and the other security personnel to sickbay . With the Klingons free to roam the ship, Kirk stays in the turbolift and heads to the bridge. There, he informs the senior staff of the situation. The captain contacts Scott in engineering and tells him that he must free the trapped crewmen at all costs so they may help to fight the Klingons. The engineer reports that he has been unable to regain control of the ship's velocity and is amazed that the vessel has not yet torn itself apart.

Spock deduces that the Klingons could not have caused the swords to appear, as the instantaneous transmutation of matter that caused their creation is beyond the capabilities of Klingon technology. Furthermore, Spock reasons, if the Klingons had this power, they would have created more effective weapons than just swords – and only for themselves.

When Kirk orders Sulu to take control of engineering and the auxiliary control center , Chekov insists that he join the helmsman . He and Kirk raise swords against each other. Despite Kirk's direct order to return to his post , Chekov explains that he must avenge the murder of his brother and dives into the turbolift aft of the bridge. With a puzzled expression, Sulu tells Kirk that Chekov is an only child and never had any such brother.

In sickbay, McCoy grows furious with the Klingons, calling them "filthy butchers" as he treats an injured crew member with a numanol capsule . A group of Klingons enters the auxiliary control center and accesses the Enterprise 's specifications. When Mara notifies Kang that there are as many Starfleet officers as there are Klingons aboard the ship, Kang decides to make an attempt at commandeering the vessel and plans to take control of engineering first.

In the armory , Scott uses a communicator to contact the bridge and reports to Kirk that the phaser torches have proven useless against the metal bulkheads that have trapped the crewmen, as something has happened to the metal. The armory itself now contains only antique weaponry. Scott marvels at the beauty of a claymore sword, and refuses Kirk's orders to return to engineering. Scott and the Starfleet personnel in engineering are attacked by Klingon soldiers, who drive them out, and seize control of the engine room.

On the bridge, Spock detects a single alien life force – the ball of light from Beta XII-A . Spock consults the ship's computer, which reveals that the entity is composed of pure energy , has intelligence and is acting toward an unknown purpose.

When Spock points out that if Chekov's memory was manipulated to create an imaginary brother then so could theirs have been, Kirk realizes that the alien force is also responsible for the distress call from a colony that also never existed, as well as the creation of the antique weapons aboard the ship. He proposes to form a truce with Kang, but Spock reminds the captain that the Klingons are infamous for refusing to agree to a truce once blood is drawn. When McCoy enters the bridge, he is overly outraged by the fact that the senior officers are considering a truce with the fiendish Klingons, who would force them into "slave labor, death planets, experiments" Spock informs the doctor of the alien's presence and Kirk adds that the alien is their real enemy, but McCoy believes that they must obliterate the Klingons in what he calls a "fight to the death."

In engineering, Kang hails the bridge and threatens Kirk

After the doctor angrily exits the room, Kang hails the bridge. The Klingon notifies Kirk that his soldiers have captured the engineering section of the ship. Kang is now in control of the Enterprise 's power and life support systems . The Klingon warns Kirk that he will "die of suffocation in the icy cold of space ." The bridge lights darken.

Act Three [ ]

As the Enterprise rushes through space at warp factor nine, Kirk uses a tricorder to record a log entry .

With Kirk's authorization, Sulu leaves to protect the life support circuits and auxiliary power in emergency manual control. Scott enters, irrationally desperate to fight the Klingons. Influenced by the alien entity, the engineer trades insults with Spock. Kirk stops Spock moments before the Vulcan can assault Scott with his fist, but begins to insult the science officer himself. The captain gradually realizes that he and his two officers are being manipulated by the entity. He wonders why the alien seems to be staging a war between his crew and the Klingons. Spock notes the importance of finding the entity, determining its motives, and stopping it from causing any further hostilities.

From a Jefferies tube , Sulu reports that systems should be functioning but are not responding. Suddenly, power and life support are restored but the helmsman claims he was not responsible for the restoration.

Aware of the sudden change, Mara notifies Kang that sensors show life support holding steady. She reports that she is neither able to cause it to falter nor deviate the ship from its course toward the Klingon Empire . Kang angrily ponders the nature of the power that supports his men in battle but stops them from achieving victory. Under Kang's orders, Mara leaves engineering with another Klingon officer and heads to the ship's main life support couplings on deck 6.

As the alien continues to creep through the Enterprise , Spock detects the entity using the ship's newly reactivated sensors. He and Kirk exit the bridge and take a turbolift toward the engineering section, where the anomaly is hiding.

Meanwhile, Chekov unknowingly follows the alien through a corridor . When he hears a door open and close behind him, Chekov hides in an alcove. He attacks Mara and the Klingon officer accompanying her as they pass by. After the officer falls to the deck unconscious, Chekov decides to rape Mara, but is stopped by Kirk when he arrives with Spock. Kirk slaps Chekov several times, but Spock reminds him that Chekov was not in control of himself. Chekov's body slumps to the ground. Although Kirk tries to explain the situation to Mara and pleads for a temporary truce, she does not respond. Spock takes her away securely while Kirk follows close behind, carrying Chekov in his arms.

In sickbay, McCoy scans Chekov's brainwaves and determines that he was suffering from paranoid mania. The doctor also tells Kirk that several officers, including Johnson, have suffered serious injuries that are healing at a miraculously accelerated rate. Spock deduces that the alien wants the officers to stay alive. As he and the doctor discuss the entity, Johnson regains consciousness unobserved. The lieutenant watches as Kirk, Spock and Mara leave in search of the alien.

Soon, Kirk and his two companions discover the anomaly. Lieutenant Johnson suddenly appears behind Kirk and reports that he is ready for duty. The captain instructs Johnson to return to sickbay, but the lieutenant insanely shouts that he has orders to kill the Klingons. He attacks Kirk with a sword, though he loses consciousness again when Spock employs the Vulcan nerve pinch from behind him.

Kirk and Spock observe that the alien's life energy momentarily increased during Johnson's emotional outburst. This leads the officers to suspect that the entity thrives on the hateful emotions of others. To combat the alien, Kirk and Spock agree that they must join forces with the Klingons and eliminate all hateful emotions from the ship. The captain uses an intercom to contact Kang, but Mara rushes forward and warns the Klingon commander that Kirk has set a trap.

As Kang's mind is being affected by the entity, he refuses to answer any further hails. Scott contacts Kirk from the bridge, informing the captain that the ship's dilithium crystals are deteriorating and will be completely depleted in twelve minutes. With the crew's losing their minds to the alien seemingly inevitable, and with the ship about to be drifting powerless in space, Kirk asks Mara if she now believes that the entity exists.

Act Four [ ]

Holding Mara's arm, Kirk accompanies Spock out of a turbolift and onto the bridge. The ship's dilithium crystals are still being drained and, according to Spock, will be totally depleted in less than ten minutes. Scott and the science officer recommend using Mara to force Kang into agreeing to a truce. Kirk contacts Kang and carries out the suggestion, threatening the Klingon commander that Mara will be killed in five seconds if he does not reply. But Kang simply accepts that his wife is a victim of war. After closing the communications channel to Kang, Kirk assures Mara that the Federation does not kill its prisoners – she has been listening to propaganda and fables.

Mara realizes that the alien entity actually exists. Scott tells her that the Klingons are also under alien power and that a truce would save both the Klingons and Humans aboard the Enterprise . However, Mara insists that her people must continue to hunt and fight in order to survive. When Kirk tells her that mutual trust and assistance can also help a civilization endure, Mara agrees to help the captain and take him to Kang.

With less than nine minutes before the ship loses power, Kirk decides to use intraship beaming to transport through the Klingon defenses and reach Kang. The process is extremely dangerous but the captain chooses to take the risk. Kirk and Mara dematerialize from the ship's transporter room into engineering.

"Good spirits" finally drive the alien entity off

Against Mara's objections, Kirk and Kang fight each other. Outside engineering, a team of Starfleet security officers led by Spock and McCoy battle several Klingons. The senior officers leave the confrontation and enter engineering. They watch as Kirk surrenders and finally manages to persuade Kang that they are all being controlled by an alien. Eventually, the Klingon commander purposefully drops his sword. He and Kirk use the ship-wide intercom to direct their respective troops to cease hostilities. When the officers comply, the entity is weakened by the abrupt termination of violence.

Spock suggests that " good spirits " would further weaken the alien. Calling it a "dead duck ", Kirk urges it to leave the ship. Kang tells the entity that Klingons need no urging to hate Humans and also yells at it to leave the Enterprise , as they have no wish to fight " in a burning house ". Kirk shares a hearty laugh with McCoy and Kang, and the alien finally departs from the Enterprise into open space.

Log entries [ ]

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), 2268

Memorable quotes [ ]

" I don't propose to spend the rest of my life on this ball of dust arguing your fantasies! The Enterprise is mine!! Instruct your transporter room to beam us aboard. " " Go to the devil. " " We have no devil, Kirk. But we understand the habits of yours. I shall torture you to death, one by one, until your noble Captain cries, 'Enough'. Who will be first? "

" Cossacks! Filthy Klingon murderers!! You killed my brother, Piotr ! The Archanis IV research outpost! A hundred peaceful people massacred!! Just like you did here! My brother! You killed my brother! " " And you volunteer to join him. That is loyalty. "

" Four thousand throats may be cut in one night by a running man. "

" Most interesting. The bulk of your crew trapped? Your ship racing from this galaxy at wild speeds? Delightful. "

" There are rules, even in war. You don't keep hacking at a man after he's down! "

" Keep your Vulcan hands off me! Just keep away! Your feelings might be hurt, you green-blooded half-breed! " " May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with Humans. I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant. " " Then transfer out, freak! "

" Has a war been staged for us? Complete with weapons and ideology and patriotic drum beating? "

" You're not Human, but you're very beautiful. Very beautiful. "

" I, too, felt a brief surge of racial bigotry. Most distasteful. "

" The Federation doesn't kill or mistreat its prisoners. You've been listening to propaganda … fables. "

" We have always fought. We must. We are hunters, captain, tracking and taking what we need. "

" Those who hate and fight must stop themselves, doctor. Otherwise, it is not stopped. "

" Klingons kill for their own purposes. "

" Get off my ship! You're a dead duck here. You're powerless. We know about you, and we don't want to play. Maybe… maybe there are others like you around. Maybe you've caused a lot of suffering, a lot of history, but that's all over. We'll be on guard now. We'll be ready for you, so ship out! Come on, haul it! " " Yeah, out already! " " Out! We need no urging to hate Humans. But for the present, only a fool fights in a burning house. Out!! "

Background information [ ]

Title, story, and production [ ].

• This episode had the working title "For They Shall Inherit".
• John Colicos was originally going to return as Commander Kor for this episode. A feature film commitment (most probably Anne of a Thousand Days , starring Geneviève Bujold ) made this impossible. [1] Had the episode featured Kor, it would've been essentially a reversal of their conflict in " Errand of Mercy ". In that episode, the two sides fought of their own accord and were stopped (rather than pushed to fight further) by non-corporeal beings .
• Jerome Bixby 's original story featured the Enterprise receiving a false distress call from a Federation colony, while en route to celebrate "Peace Day" (anniversary of the day the nations of Earth finally made peace with each other). Arriving to the planet, the crew, along with the crew of a Klingon vessel, also lured there with a fake distress signal, are captured by an alien race and forced to compete against each other in bloody duels. The aliens, appearing to be humanoid, turn out to be, in reality, energy beings consisting of "a blob of light", feeding off the aggression of the two enemy crews. Finally, Kirk and the Klingon commander realize they need to work together and make peace with each other, so the aliens won't get violence to feed on. Eventually, the Klingons and the Enterprise crew sing songs and have a peace march together. [2] ( These Are the Voyages: TOS Season Three )
• The production staff convinced Bixby that such exaggeration as the "peace march" was not necessary to understand the message of the episode. [3]
• This story bore a resemblance to several earlier produced episodes: the Enterprise crew captured by powerful aliens on the surface of a planet (" Catspaw ", " By Any Other Name ", " The Empath "), humanoid aliens turning out to be "blobs of light" (" Errand of Mercy "), crewmembers forced to take part in deadly gladiatorial combat (" Amok Time ", " Bread and Circuses ", " The Gamesters of Triskelion "), and even featured Kirk trying to seduce a member of the alien race (appearing to be a beautiful woman) as an escape tactic (similarly to " Catspaw "). Another (possible) reference to a previous episode might be " Wolf in the Fold ", which also had an antagonistic, non-corproreal, alien which fed on strong emotion (in that case, fear)
• Marvin Chomsky filmed this episode in five and a half days, making him the only director besides Marc Daniels (who shot "The Menagerie" in five and a half days, and " The Doomsday Machine " in five days) to finish an episode in less time than the usually alloted six production days. ( Joseph Pevney also finished " Arena ", which was expected to stretch to seven days, in only six.)

Continuity [ ]

• Michael Ansara reprised his role as Kang in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " Blood Oath " and the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Flashback ".
• This episode marks the only appearance in the original series of female Klingons.
• Although intraship beaming is routine in later incarnations of 'Star Trek' (often in the form of " site-to-site transport "), this is the first and only time it is done in the original series.
• The Klingon who says, " Stand and fight, you cowards! " is Pete Kellett , who previously appeared in " Mirror, Mirror " as Farrell , Kirk 's henchman, but was uncredited for his role in Day of the Dove despite having dialogue.

Sulu in a Jefferies tube

• This is the only time Sulu is seen in engineering or working in a Jefferies tube.
• This episode affords a third and final glimpse of the "working" communicator's central spinning moiré disc, which was controlled by an inner stopwatch mechanism. Its first appearance was in " Friday's Child ", and its second appearance was in " Patterns of Force ".
• The Klingon agonizer used on Chekov is the same one seen in " Mirror, Mirror ".
• When the entity exits the Enterprise at the end of the episode, it is seen leaving through the front center of the secondary hull, therefore canonizing the location of main engineering in a Constitution -class starship for the first time.
• Footage of the Klingon ship is reused from " Elaan of Troyius " which originally aired after this episode.
• The footage of engineering, with the hovering entity, was recycled from " The Tholian Web ", which featured a floating Kirk in place of the entity.
• It is established that Kang's cruiser carried a crew of 400+ when he says "four hundred of my crew dead". The actual complement may be closer to 440 because Mara says there were "forty [Klingon survivors] against four hundred of them [ Enterprise crew]".
• The officers' quarters are apparently in the saucer section, possibly Deck 6, as seen when the entity moves through circular corridors and passes a sign that says "Officers' Quarters 6F-38". Kang and his shipmates also seem to be detained on this deck because Kirk orders them to be held not in the brig but in the officer's lounge. Also, if the turbolift "deck indicator" can be believed, there were about six decks between the bridge and this floor, with sickbay being in-between at around deck 5 or 4. All of the action in the episode seems to happen at no lower than deck 7, which is squarely in the primary saucer hull, and this includes engineering, auxiliary control, and the armory.
• Spock says the Klingons control deck 6 and starboard deck 7, while they control everything above. At the time, the Enterprise 's crew controlled engineering, which means engineering must be on either port deck 7 or anywhere from deck 5 and up. However, in the next scene, Scott comes up a ladder shaft and walks through the nearby doors into the "Engineering Section" which is clearly marked by a sign on the wall. This means engineering cannot be on "port deck 7" but anywhere from deck 5 and up, again placing engineering squarely in the saucer.
• There is also a room or area called "emergency manual control" which seems to be the famous "Jefferies tube", because Kirk orders Sulu to go down there and we next see Sulu standing in it fiddling with switches.
• The "main life support couplings" are on deck 6, as Mara says, and this is where she goes when she is confronted by Chekov.
• Spock says "reactor number three" is near engineering, and both are next to a curved corridor, again indicating saucer location for engineering. The entity moves from this curved corridor into engineering, and in the next scene emerges again into the curved corridor, which seems to be deck 6 because Mara has come to fiddle with the "main life support couplings". Mara and her escort seem to have slipped out of the red door to their left, which seems to be the door to engineering, which they just left Kang in. All of this points to a deck 6 location for engineering. It should be noted that the room itself is so tall it occupies two decks, so the upper part could be in the "hump" of the upper part of the saucer, which is deck 5.
• Kang states that the Federation and the Klingon Empire had been at peace for three years prior to this episode, evidently referring to the Treaty of Organia from " Errand of Mercy ". However, based on the widely accepted chronology for the original series, this treaty would have just been signed the previous year . He could have meant the amount of time in Klingon years.
• Kirk and Kang already seem to know one another. Kang uses the captain's name in the teaser, while Kirk uses the Klingon commander's name at the beginning of Act One. This may have been due to Kor's part having originally been written as the Klingon commander for this episode. However, it is possible that Kirk and Kang may have encountered each other before in an unseen adventure involving the Klingons.
• This is the first time it is mentioned that Klingons still use bladed weapons, as why Kirk believes that they are behind the appearance of the swords; in all other series, this becomes a universal fact about them.
• Uhura is seen talking to Kirk while holding a "Sgian-dubh" (Scottish knife)
• Kirk uses an 18th century Navy cutlass.
• Chekov uses a Cossack broadsword
• Scott uses a Scottish claymore
• Sulu uses a Japanese katana
• The Klingons and the Enterprise crewmen use Roman gladius with a least one mace, a medieval broadsword, and a scimitar.
• This is the only time in the original version of the original series that a Klingon warship is destroyed on screen. In the remastered version, it is also seen in the beginning of " Errand of Mercy ".
• The Enterprise's turbolifts are given an unusual treatment in the scene in which Chekov flees the bridge. We see him run into the turbolift at speed and bear left; the effect is of him exiting down a corridor (otherwise he'd instantly run into the wall of the turbolift car). A few moments later, after pointing out that Chekov has no brother, Sulu enters the same turbolift chamber, but bears right, again giving the impression of exiting via a corridor rather than a turbolift car. In the next scene we see Chekov's turbolift arrive at its destination, indicating that a second car had arrived to ferry Sulu.

Reception [ ]

• Tor.com gave this episode a "warp 4" rating out 6.
• Reviewer Dayton Ward of tor.com called the Chekov attempt-at-rape scene "arguably one of the more disturbing scenes from all of the original series."
• Reviewer William B from "Jammer's Review" had a much more positive outlook on the episode. He argued that the episode is a metaphor for man's aggression as the default. He wrote that this episode " represents the Human aggressive impulse as a rule. When people get enraged, and when they get trained to fight, eventually fighting and the hatred of one's enemy becomes habitual. Its reason for existing is pretty clear – as animals, competing for resources, fighting was a matter of survival, and emotional/instinctual charge to fight and continue fighting would help survive. But taken out of its proper context, this can "take over" otherwise rational people entirely, as happens here with the Human and Klingon crews, unless they can correctly identify and fight against this impulse. People are responsible for their actions – but the things carried out by fighters in the frenzy of war are so often so far from what those same people do in peacetime, that it is clear that it is sometimes difficult to keep perspective when in the emotional thrall of combat mentality . The way the creature ramps up aggressive and vengeful impulses, to the point of having Chekov nearly rape the Klingon science officer (!!!), represents this well. "

Apocrypha [ ]

• Bantam Books published a series of novelizations called "foto-novels," which took photographic stills from actual episodes and arranged word balloons and text over them, to create a comic book formatted story. The tenth installment was an adaptation of this episode. It includes a brief interview with Michael Ansara.
• " Blood Reign O'er Me ", the fourth installment of the IDW Comics series Star Trek: Klingons - Blood Will Tell , tells the story of this episode from the Klingon perspective, and shows it to have indirectly played a very significant role in the Klingon/Federation peace process – the main character, Kahnrah, who holds the tie-breaking vote on the High council, makes the decision to support Gorkon 's proposal after being told by one of Kang's men of the honor with which the Enterprise crew fought.
• In the Star Trek: The Next Generation - Q Continuum series of novels by Greg Cox , the Beta XII-A entity is revealed to be part of a group that Q fell in with centuries ago. This group also included the God found on Sha Ka Ree , Gorgan , and the group's leader 0 .

Production timeline [ ]

• Story outline by Jerome Bixby , titled "For They Shall Inherit": 28 March 1968
• Revised story outline, titled "Day of the Dove": 14 April 1968
• Second revised story outline: 7 May 1968
• Third revised story outline: 28 May 1968
• Fourth revised story outline by Fred Freiberger , 3 June 1968
• First draft teleplay by Bixby: 2 August 1968
• Second draft teleplay: 9 August 1968
• Final draft teleplay by Arthur Singer : 15 August 1968
• Revised final draft teleplay by Freiberger: 19 August 1968
• Additional page revisions by Freiberger, 20 August 1968 , 21 August 1968 , 22 August 1968
• Day 1 – 22 August 1968 , Thursday (Half Day) – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge
• Day 2 – 23 August 1968 , Friday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge
• Day 3 – 26 August 1968 , Monday – Desilu Stage 10 : Ext. Planet surface ; Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Transporter room
• Day 4 – 27 August 1968 , Tuesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Corridors , Sickbay
• Day 5 – 28 August 1968 , Wednesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Sickbay , Corridors , Turbolift , Engineering , Bridge
• Day 6 – 29 August 1968 , Thursday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Sickbay , Engineering , Bridge , Corridors , Armory , Jefferies tube , Recreation room (redress of Briefing room )
• Original airdate: 1 November 1968
• Rerun airdate: 17 June 1969
• First UK airdate (on BBC1 ): 13 January 1971
• First UK airdate (on ITV ): 6 May 1984

During the syndication run of Star Trek , no syndication cuts were made to this episode.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original US Betamax release: 1988
• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 34 , catalog number VHR 2430, 7 January 1991
• US VHS release: 15 April 1994
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 3.4, 20 October 1997
• Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 33, 18 September 2001
• As part of the TOS Season 3 DVD collection
• As part of the TOS-R Season 3 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• William Shatner as Kirk

Also starring [ ]

• Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
• DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

Guest star [ ]

• Michael Ansara as Kang

Co-starring [ ]

• Susan Howard as Mara
• James Doohan as Scott
• Walter Koenig as Chekov
• George Takei as Sulu
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• David L. Ross as Lt. Johnson
• Mark Tobin as a Klingon

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Phil Adams as a Klingon crewman
• Majel Barrett as Computer Voice
• Al Cavens as Klingon
• Richard Geary as an Enterprise security guard
• Eddie Hice as an Enterprise security guard
• Roger Holloway as Roger Lemli
• Jay Jones as a Klingon crewman
• Pete Kellett as a Klingon crewman
• Hubie Kerns, Sr. as a Klingon crewman
• Jeannie Malone as Enterprise yeoman
• Victor Paul as a Klingon crewman
• Charles Picerni as an Enterprise security lieutenant
• George Sawaya as an Klingon crewman
• David Sharpe as an Enterprise security guard
• Enterprise orderly
• Enterprise security guard
• Klingon crewmen 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , and 9
• Unknown actress as Klingon crew woman

References [ ]

2265 ; acceleration ; act of war ; alien ; alternative ; ambush (aka sneak attack ); analysis ; animal ; answer ; antique ; Archanis IV Research Outpost ( Archanis IV ); area ; armory ; atmosphere ; attacker ; automatic transporter setting ; auxiliary control center ; auxiliary navigation ; auxiliary power ; bad guy ; balance of power ; ball ; battle cruiser, Klingon ; beast ; beauty ; beings that feed on emotion ; Beta XII-A ; Beta XII-A entity ; Beta XII-A sector ; Beta XII-A ship ; Beta XII-A sun ; Beta Leonis Minoris ; bigotry ; blood ; bluff ; body ; brain waves ; brig ; " bury the hatchet "; butcher ; cabin ; candidate ; carrier ; casualty ; choice ; channel ; Chekov, Piotr ; claymore ; coliseum ; colony ; Commander ; computation ; condition red ; Constitution -class decks ; contact ; Cossack ; course ; coward ; crew lounge ; crowd ; cutlass ; danger ; data ; " dead duck " ( duck ); death ; death camp ; death planet ; deck ; deflectors ; devil ; dilithium crystal ; diplomacy ; distress call ; drifting ; door ; drum ; dueling tradition ; emergency bulkhead ; emergency manual control ; emotion ; emotional outburst ; enemy ; energy ; engineering ( engineering section ); engine control ; engine power ; entity ; eternity ; event ; " even the score "; evidence ; explosion ; fable ; fantasy ; Federation ; feeling ; five-minute report ; food-synthesizer ; fool ; freak ; game ; general quarters ; gladius ; goon ; " go to the devil "; grave ; green ; guest ; habit ; half-breed ; hatchet ; hatred ; hazard ; head ; healing ; heart ; history ; hostage ; hostility ; house ; Human ; hunter ; ice ; ideology ; imaginary ; innocence ; intelligence ; intention ; intercom ; intraship beaming ; job ; Kang's battle cruiser ; katana ; Klingons ; Klingon Empire ; Klingon food ; knowledge ; landing party ; liar ; library computer ; lie ; life ; life energy level ; life-energy unit ; life force ; life support circuits ; life support couplings ; life support systems ; location ; logic ; log tape ; long sword ; loyalty ; lust ; magnification ; massacre ; matter ; memory ; metal ; military men ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mind ; minute ; mistake ; monster ; motive ; murder ; murderer ; " nailed down "; night ; non-existence ; Numanol capsule ; object ; only child ; order ; orderly ; ordnance ; organ ; Organian Peace Treaty ; " out of your mind "; outpost ; paranoid mania ; patience ; patriotism ; pattern buffer ; pawn ; peace ; person ; persuasion ; phantom ; phaser ; phaser torch ; plan ; planet ; power ; power system ; prisoner ; projectile ; proof ; propaganda ; psychology ; radiation ; radiation level ; raid ; range ; Reactor #3 ; red alert ; remotes ; report ; research outpost ; resource ; result ; revenge ; ruins ; rules of war ; sabotage ; savage ; scan ; science officer ; " score to settle " (aka avenge ; " even the score ", vendetta ; vengeance ); scream ; search ; second ; sector ; Security ; sensor ; sensor scan ; sensor sweep ; " ship out "; shock ; slave labor ; solid object ; space ; speed ; starboard ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Command ; star system ; stress ; stuffed ; subspace frequency ; suffering ; suffocation ; surrender ; surveillance ; survivor ; suspended in transit ; sword ; target area ; term ; terrain ; thing ; threat ; throat ; " tiger by the tail " ( tiger , tail ); threat ; time factor ; torture ; " to the letter "; tracking ; transmutation ; transfer ; transporter ; transportee ; transporter pad ; transporter room ; trap ; trauma ; treachery ; trick ; truce ; truth ; torture ; toy ; unconscious ; victim ; victory ; vigilance ; violence ; vital organs ; voice ; volunteering ; Vulcan ; Vulcan neck pinch ; wall ; war ; warp 9 ; warrior ; weapon ; " what the blazes "; wide field ; wife ; wound

External links [ ]

• "Day of the Dove" at StarTrek.com
• " Day of the Dove " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Day of the Dove " at Wikipedia
• " Day of the Dove " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• " Day of the Dove " at the Internet Movie Database

• Streaming /
• Entertainment /

Paramount Plus dropped its big Star Trek crossover episode early, and it’s a delight

If you’re a paramount plus subscriber, you can go watch boimler of lower decks geek out over the cast of strange new worlds right now..

By Alex Cranz , managing editor and co-host of The Vergecast. She oversaw consumer tech coverage at Gizmodo for five years. Her work has also appeared in the WSJ and Wired.

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There might not be any actors or big casting announcements at San Diego Comic-Con this year, but Paramount Plus did find one way to surprise fans. It’s dropping the next episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds five days early. The episode also happens to be the very anticipated crossover episode featuring the live-action version of some of the cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks . Having already seen this episode, I can confirm this is all exactly as delightful as it sounds.

With the actors on strike, SDCC has been much more muted than in previous years. There aren’t as many star-studded panels and zero major casting announcements. This has meant studios need to rely on something besides the labor of actors to promote their shows, and Paramount Plus settled on this surprise drop.

Episode 7, “Those Old Scientists,” is available right now and manages to bring the characters of Lower Decks , a very frenetic animated show, into the more traditional Star Trek world of Strange New Worlds remarkably well. Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome move seamlessly between the two mediums, and much of their outrageousness is easily explained away because, you know, they’re from the future. Things are just weirder in the future.

The characters of Strange New Worlds struggle to match the energy of the Lower Decks characters, but the actors playing them develop an easy rhythm that really helps bridge the two very different shows well. Even when it’s supremely goofy, it all feels like Strange New Worlds , not like a weird and forced crossover.

That took me by surprise when I tuned in. I’d been tentatively excited about this episode since they announced it last year at SDCC . I was curious how they’d pull it off. One show is about a group of extraordinary heroes who travel the stars and save the universe. The other is a frequently raunchy comedy about the people who keep the ship running while the heroes are out heroing. Meshing those two tones together could have been disastrous, but Strange New Worlds has always been good at hopping from genre to genre and tackling bit tonal shifts with aplomb.

Also, it turns out that when you put a bunch of really good and really committed actors on a sound stage together, they can work some magic.

With episode 7 now airing today, the rest of the rest of the season will be airing a little earlier than expected. Strange New Worlds episode 8 will air this Thursday, July 27th. Episode 9, the musical episode , will air the Thursday after that, and episode 10, the season finale, will air on August 10th.

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Jonathan Frakes on Directing ‘Star Trek’: Looking Back on ‘Discovery’ & Ahead to ‘Strange New Worlds’ Season 3

For  Star Trek: Discovery ‘s penultimate episode, an icon from the franchise stepped behind the camera: Jonathan Frakes , who starred as Riker on  Star Trek: The Next Generation and reprised the role on  Picard .

And for him, it was just returning to a set he enjoys, for his eighth episode behind the camera on  Discovery . In the episode, members of the crew infiltrate the Breen ship in hopes of getting their hands on a key piece of tech for their mission to find the Progenitors’ power. But even amidst the action, there’s time for some emotional beats.

Below, Frakes takes us inside the episode, looks back on  Discovery , and teases a  Strange New Worlds Season 3 episode he directed.

What excited you about this script as a director?

Jonathan Frakes: There’s a lot more action than I’m usually given, and the whole direction, if you will, of the season was that we find more action and more levity, two of my favorite parts of the business. So I was thrilled. The ending where the ship literally flies in the tailpipe of another ship I thought was really ambitious and great to storyboard and a beautifully executed by JZ [Jason Zimmerman] and all of our friends over at the visual effects department, but also the contrast between—Burnham [ Sonequa Martin-Green ] and Book [ David Ajala ] have a story that they clearly have not found time to sort out about their relationship. They’re in the midst of all this chaos. And, the B story, the wonderful story with our Kelpian and our Vulcan with Doug [Jones] and Tara [Rosling] is so beautiful that they’re in love and about to get married during the chaos of this fight with the Breen. So the contrasts of tone were very interesting to me.

I was going to point to Michael and Book’s conversation because it’s with their helmets on, so talk about directing that emotional scene.

Yeah, Maya Bankovic was my cinematographer on that. We desperately needed a way to see their faces because I mean, I get the Breen all look alike. I get they all wear helmets, and I get that that’s the premise of the show and it’s already been established, but it’s very hard for the audience to know who’s who. I can see that Burnham’s a little shorter than Book, but I mean, they’re all wearing ridiculous helmets and costumes, and so we found a way to take the liberty of having what we would call a camera inside the helmet where we could literally see their faces. And when we tested that and everybody approved that, that let us breathe a little more easily, that when we had intimate conversations while they were pretending to be Breen, we could actually shoot it like a tight closeup. So that certainly helped.

Wilson Cruz Recalls 'Star Trek: Discovery' Audition & Being 'Formidable Enough'

But there’s very little time in this story for them to [talk], and she pulls him aside in the middle of this chaos in the Breen hallways to just give them a little taste—because she didn’t have a chance. She saw him in engineering and wasn’t able to have a private moment. Then they had the meeting where they decided who was going to go there, and there was no real private moment there. I think that was a great part of the writing, that there was so much going on that these two lead characters whose lives have been altered by the information that Michael got in 508 at the library was… I think you’re waiting as an audience member, she’s got to say something to her about this, doesn’t she?

We’ve also been following Adira’s ( Blu del Barrio ) journey as they find their place, and we get to see them step into that a bit in this episode going on this mission. There’s also a slight sense of dads seeing their kid off to college when they’re leaving.

Yeah, I think that’s enabled by Tilly [ Mary Wiseman] . Tilly has been a mentor to Adira in a way that, in addition to Culber [ Wilson Cruz ] and Stamets [Anthony Rapp]  being parents, the three of them have encouraged that character to embrace their confidence, if you will. And I thought that was a very sweet little walk and talk where the three of them are walking down, like dropping them off for college. That’s a good metaphor for it. And the stiff upper lip that they took was, “I’ll be fine dad, don’t worry. I’ll be back.” And I think it was very relatable.

You mentioned that ship flying into the other ship…

That was all storyboard and we talked about it and the chaos of all that, but I didn’t get to execute any of that except shooting the plates for it. Also, that whole green ship was on the AR wall, which is a trip in itself, that set when it’s that exciting and that incredibly detailed. It’s changed filmmaking, these AR walls; instead of imagining what might be on a green screen behind you, you’re literally in a volume that has everything that the actors need and what the filmmakers need, what the camera needs to tell the story. So many of the visual effects that are not put in later, they’re put in as part of the extensive and expensive planning of the AR wall set. And that was a very successful version of that I thought.

What scene did you have the most fun directing?

I like the scene in the ready room where Burnham puts the pieces together and the decision sort of in the moment, “Well, I’m going to go and you’re going to go and you’re going to go and you’re going to go, and that’s how we’re going to do this.” I loved Burnham’s decision making. Also, I was crazy about Callum [Keith Rennie] at the end, pacing, pacing, pacing, pacing, pacing, and then deciding again in the moment, “Here’s what we’re going to do.” I like when the leaders make powerful decisions with confidence, and both of those scenes reflected that.

You’ve directed across Trek series. What have you found that’s unique to Discovery that you enjoy directing?

I have a special fondness for Discovery because it was the first Star Trek after the old ones that I was asked back onto, so that family of actors reminded me a lot of our family on Next Gen . So I have a real soft spot [for them]. [They went through] what we were going through on our Season 1, which is now we’re part of this Star Trek universe, what does this really mean? And they were the first ones back. I mean, they opened up this whole new wave of Star Trek . So there was a certain skepticism that I warned them about. I was like the elder who’d come to town to tell what it’s going to be like. I said, “Your lives are going to change.” And that’s what DeForest Kelley told me, and it was true. They did, and they have, and I think we’re all very grateful to be part of this family.

Michael Gibson / Paramount+

You’ve directed eight episodes of Discovery . What are you going to miss about this show?

I’m going to miss Sonequa. I’m going to miss Doug. I’m going to miss Anthony. I’m going to miss Tunde [Olatunde Osunsanmi]. There’s a lot of people over there that I have built long professional and personal relationships with. The cast is quite something. Mary. I mean, I remember when Blu first arrived and Anthony Rapp and I had the first scene with them in the corridor, and it was so clear to us that the talent that this actor had brought from one of the schools in London and Anthony and I had this moment where we looked at each other because both of us had been doing it a long time, and it was so clear like, “Holy s**t, this one really gets it,” and it’s been true. So watching them grow has been spectacular for me. As always, it’s all about the people. There’s nobody better as a leader than Sonequa.

Picard had that great next generation reunion, which I loved. Could we see you as Riker again? Have you heard anything?

I haven’t heard anything, but I’m available.

What else is coming up for you? What else have you directed that’s still to come?

I just finished a fabulous episode of Strange New Worlds that we actually finished editing last week, so that’s for next season. And I’ve got a couple of pilots that I’m trying to get developed and up and out, and I’ve got my son’s wedding that we’re planning and I’ve got a whole pile of conventions to go to, and then I’ll look forward to Starfleet Academy , which is coming up in the fall.

You said Strange New Worlds . Anything you can say about that?

I can say that it is maybe the best episode of TV I’ve had the privilege of directing. The story, as you’ll see, ends up being a Hollywood murder mystery, and that’s about all I’m allowed to leak.

Star Trek: Discovery , Series Finale, Thursday, May 30, Paramount+

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Season 3, TBA, Paramount+

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Episode Preview | Star Trek: Discovery - Life, Itself

Discovery, do you read?

In Star Trek: Discovery 's series finale episode, "Life, Itself," trapped inside a mysterious alien portal that defies familiar rules of time, space, and gravity, Captain Burnham must fight Moll – and the environment itself – in order to locate the Progenitors' technology and secure it for the Federation. Meanwhile, Book puts himself in harm's way to help Burnham survive and Rayner leads the U.S.S. Discovery in an epic winner-takes-all battle against Breen forces.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

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Star trek: discovery calls back to ds9's bashir & o'brien.

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Every DS9 Alien In Star Trek: Discovery

Star trek’s tech that brought scotty to tng just got a discovery upgrade, kenneth mitchell’s discovery tribute has star trek’s newest warp drive.

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery, season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point".

• Discovery's season 5, episode 9 includes a subtle nod to DS9 characters Bashir and O'Brien.
• Tilly and Rayner's dynamic mirrors the relationship between Bashir and O'Brien in DS9.
• There's lots of potential for Tilly and Rayner to continue their partnership in Discovery's Starfleet Academy spinoff.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point", includes a subtle callback to Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Although the plot of Discovery season 5 is a sequel to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "The Chase", there have been multiple references to DS9 . Discovery visited the Badlands from DS9 in season 5, episode 8, "Labyrinths", and have been pitted against the Breen, first seen in DS9 season 4, episode 5, "Indiscretion".

However, there are two more subtle nods to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9 . The first is Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her away team disguising themselves as Breen, similar to how Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) and Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) infiltrated a Breen prison camp in "Indiscretion". Elsewhere in "Lagrange Point", Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) have a discussion that brings back memories of a crucial moment for O'Brien and Bashir in DS9 .

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point" was written by Sean Cochran & Ari Friedman, and directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Star Trek: Discovery has reintroduced many popular aliens from Deep Space Nine. Here are all of the species who have survived into the 32nd century.

Tilly And Rayner In Discovery Are A Callback To DS9's Bashir And O'Brien

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point", Commander Rayner has Lt. Tilly serve as his Number One on the bridge of the USS Discovery. The gruff and stoic Rayner and the slightly chaotic Tilly may not seem like an obvious partnership, but they really work together in "Lagrange Point". Toward the end of the episode, Rayner explains to Tilly why he made her his Number One:

"It’s because you’re smart as hell, you’re a good leader, and if we were stuck in a foxhole together, I wouldn’t kill you. That is, unless you gave me more of that warm and fuzzy encouragement that I don’t need."

Rayner is a Kellerun, so his reference to a foxhole is a reminder of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 13, "Armageddon Game" . That episode saw O'Brien and Bashir pinned down in a Kellerun foxhole, fighting for their lives. O'Brien was the Rayner to Bashir's Tilly , a gruff man who initially put up a front to deal with his fellow officer's ingratiating advances. It's only after facing death in a Kellerun foxhole and opposite a Breen Dreadnought that O'Brien and Rayner let Bashir and Tilly into their lives as close friends.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Needs More Of Tilly And Rayner

Commander Rayner and Lt. Tilly is a great partnership in Star Trek: Discovery , as they perfectly compliment each other's unique personalities. It's disappointing, therefore, that this exciting new Starfleet partnership only has one episode left before Star Trek: Discovery ends for good. Aside from a Tilly and Rayner Star Trek show , the best place for the two characters to team up will be in the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy . It's long been suspected that Mary Wiseman would transfer from Discovery to Starfleet Academy , much like TNG 's Colm Meaney did on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

It's recently been announced that Holly Hunter will play the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy in the Star Trek: Discovery spinoff, which is set to start filming in late summer 2024.

Given Rayner's no-nonsense approach to command, it would be hilarious to see him drafted in to teach the next generation of Starfleet Academy cadets. Given that their experiences in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 have bonded Rayner and Tilly, it would make sense for her to bring him in as a mentor or visiting professor. There's a lot of comic potential in Rayner and Tilly clashing over their respective teaching methods that could make Star Trek: Starfleet Academy a fun continuation of their burgeoning friendship.

Star Trek: Discovery's finale streams on Paramount+ from Thursday, May 30th.

Star Trek: Discovery

*Availability in US

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

'Star Trek: Discovery' Reaches the Final Frontier in Series Finale Trailer

Michael Burnham has now gone where no one has gone before.

The Big Picture

• Michael Burnham is trapped in mysterious world, seeking the secrets of the Progenitors in series finale of Star Trek: Discovery.
• The crew races to retrieve Burnham while battling alien warships in "Life, Itself".
• Star Trek fans have more to look forward to, with a new streaming-original Section 31 movie and a Starfleet Academy series on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery 's five-year mission is at an end , but Michael Burnham may not be around to make the voyage home. As seen in the new trailer for the show's series finale, the USS Discovery 's captain is trapped in a strange new world. She may find, however, that it holds all the secrets behind the final episode's title - "Life, Itself".

Following up on last episode's cliffhanger conclusion, Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) was chasing down the antagonistic Moll ( Eve Harlow ) when they were both sucked into a wormhole. As seen in the trailer, that has left Burnham in a new dimension beyond imagination - the home of the Progenitors, a mysterious, ancient alien race that seeded the galaxy with life in the distant past. Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal, Burnham's crew on the Discovery , including Saru ( Doug Jones ), Sylvia Tilly ( Mary Wiseman ), Hugh Culber ( Wilson Cruz ), Paul Stamets ( Anthony Rapp ), Book ( David Ajala ), Adira Tal ( Blu del Barrio ), and new addition Rayner ( Callum Keith Rennie ) race to retrieve her, even as they battle a fleet of alien warships. Can Burnham be saved? What will she learn from the Progenitors? Is this Discovery 's final mission? Find out this Thursday, May 30, when the extra-sized finale episode "Life, Itself" premieres on Paramount+.

What Happened in Season Five of 'Star Trek: Discovery'?

The fifth season of Discovery saw the titular ship and her crew traverse the galaxy on a cosmic scavenger hunt, searching for an ancient artifact that may answer the mysteries of the Progenitors, a powerful alien race introduced in the shocking conclusion of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " The Chase ". However, they soon find they have competition; Moll (Harlow) and L'ak ( Elias Toufexis ), a duo of spacefaring scavengers with their own designs on the secret. That also brought Captain Burnham and company into conflict with the Breen, a powerful and hostile alien empire first glimpsed during the climactic Dominion War story arc of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . With one episode left, the secret is within Burnham's grasp - but will they take it? Or will the Breen use it to sunder the Federation and dominate the galaxy?

Although Star Trek: Discovery is coming to an end, Star Trek fans have more to look forward to on Paramount+. Star Trek: Section 31 , a new streaming-original movie starring Michelle Yeoh , is on its way, as is the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Lower Decks . Star Trek: Strange New Worlds just wrapped filming its hotly-anticipated third season , while new spinoff Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will shoot this summer, with newly-added cast member Holly Hunter in tow.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

Star Trek: Discovery 's series finale, "Life, Itself," will premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, May 30 . Stay tuned to Collider for future updates, and watch the new trailer for "Life, Itself" below.

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Netflix’s Eric, Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale, and more new TV this week

Plus: The end of Hulu’s Under the Bridge, Hacks season 3, and more

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Share All sharing options for: Netflix’s Eric, Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale, and more new TV this week

The week has barely started (if you’re in the U.S. and reading this on the Monday holiday: even less so!), and already there’s a whole lot of TV to get through.

With any luck, the long weekend gave you some time to catch up with things — after all, as our summer preview is any indication, there’s only gonna be even more coming soon. But while a bunch of new stuff might be coming up, there’s plenty to watch this week alone. Under the Bridge and Hacks are both wrapping up really strong seasons, while shows like Pyramid Game and We Are Lady Parts are just ramping up.

Here are all the best new TV premieres and finales this week.

New shows on Netflix

Genre: Drama miniseries Release date: May 30, with all episodes Showrunner/creator: Abi Morgan Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Gaby Hoffmann, and more

Vincent (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a puppeteer happily living and working in 1980s New York City. Then, his 9-year-old son goes missing on the way to school, plunging Vincent into a dark, volatile depression. Vincent believes his son will come back if only he can get Eric, a monster based on a drawing his son did, to the screen.

Genre: Teen show Release date: May 30 Based on the book by: Holly Smale Cast: Emily Carey, Sarah Parish, Emmanuel Imani, and more

Harriet (Emily Carey) is just another geek trying to get by in high school, even if it means brushing off some mean girl bullies to do it. But everything changes when — against the odds and Harriet’s wishes — she finds herself scouted to be the next hot supermodel.

New shows on Hulu

The veil season finale.

Genre: Spy thriller Release date: May 28 Showrunner/creator: Steven Knight Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Yumna Marwan, Josh Charles, and more

The stage is set in London for a deadly attack. But Imogen (Elisabeth Moss) and Adilah (Yumna Marwan) are also on the move. And with Imogen keeping her master plan secret from even us, it seems likely that this attack could go either way.

Under the Bridge finale

Genre: True-crime mystery Release date: May 29 Showrunner/creator: Samir Mehta, Quinn Shephard Cast: Lily Gladstone, Riley Keough, and more

There’s nothing about the murder of Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) that feels easy to swallow, and it’s a testament to Under the Bridge that the show has been able to balance the complexities of that reality in its seven episodes so far. Now, it’s coming to a close — one that no doubt will carry the weight of every ounce of tragedy in this story.

New shows on Max

Hacks season 3 finale.

Genre: Comedy Release date: May 30 Showrunner/creator: Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky Cast: Hannah Einbinder, Jean Smart, and more

It’s all happening for Deborah (Jean Smart), now that she finally got her dream of hosting a late-night show. Only suddenly, there’s some last-minute doubt: Will Ava (Hannah Einbinder) be allowed to come along for the ride?

New shows on Paramount Plus

Pyramid game.

Genre: Thriller Release date: May 30, with all 10 episodes Showrunner/creator: Choi Sui Cast: Bona, Jang Da-a, Ryu Da-in, and more

Seong Su-ji is a new student at the Baekyeon Girls’ High School, and everything is already feeling like a fight for survival as she battles bullies and studies alike. And then she’s introduced to a new ranking system that lets people secretly vote for who they think should be a class outcast. Now, Su-ji has to decide whether to keep going along (and possibly accepting the violence that comes with it) or else lead an uprising against this shadowy “Pyramid Game.”

Star Trek: Discovery series finale

Genre: Star Trek Release date: May 30 Showrunner/creator: Akiva Goldsman Cast: Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Wiseman, Doug Jones, and more

The end of an era! By which I mean not only the season we got of 900 years in Star Trek’s future, but also Discovery , which wraps up this Thursday. It’s the end of the first Star Trek show of the modern era, and is free in a way Star Trek hasn’t been in a long, long while , all while paving the way for more Trek to come.

New shows on Peacock

We are lady parts season 2.

Genre: “Yeah, I’m in a band” teen comedy Release date: May 30, with all episodes Showrunner/creator: Nida Manzoor Cast: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, and more

We Are Lady Parts is back and ready to record their debut album. Which means it’s the perfect time for more bandmate shenanigans — including battling a rival Muslim band, playing a festival, exploring your “villain era.” All that and Malala Yousafzai is supposed to show up sometime this season!

New shows on Apple TV Plus

Loot season 2 finale.

Genre: Comedy Release date: May 29 Showrunner/creators: Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard Cast: Maya Rudolph, Joel Kim Booster, Nat Faxon, and more

The Wells Foundation — and Molly (Maya Rudolph), the billionaire woman who runs it — are nearing their greatest success yet. Which, of course, means reality is about to come crashing in with some major personal decisions. How will the dust settle in the season 2 finale?

New shows on Showtime

Couples therapy season 4.

Genre: Documentary series Release date: May 31, with one episode; on-air premiere at 10 p.m. EDT on June 2 Showrunner/creator: Dr. Orna Guralnik Cast: Real-life couples in therapy

It’s a new season of Couples Therapy, and an all-new cast of couples to undergo real therapy with Dr. Orna. The result will be unpredictable — couples therapy, after all, is about figuring yourselves out together, not necessarily saving the relationship. The good news? It will most likely be cathartic, one way or another.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike.

• Akiva Goldsman
• Alex Kurtzman
• Jenny Lumet
• Anson Mount
• Christina Chong
• 1K User reviews
• 38 Critic reviews
• 9 wins & 33 nominations total

Episodes 31

• Captain Christopher Pike …

• La'an Noonien-Singh …

• Lt. Erica Ortegas …

• Una Chin-Riley …

• Nurse Christine Chapel

• Nyota Uhura …

• Dr. M'Benga

• USS Enterprise Computer …

• Lieutenant George Samuel 'Sam' Kirk

• Jenna Mitchell

• Captain Batel …

• Admiral Robert April

• Captain James T. Kirk …

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• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Bruce Horak , the actor who plays Hemmer, is legally blind, just like his character's species, the Aenar, who are also blind.
• Goofs There are some rank insignia mistakes. Number One is introduced as "Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley" yet she is wearing the rank insignia of a full commander: two full stripes. A Lieutenant Commander's rank insignia is a full stripe under a thin stripe (in TOS it is a full stripe and a staggered stripe). It is not uncommon for a ship's first officer to be a Lt. Commander if they have not been in the position long. Spock at this point is a Lieutenant but he is wearing Lieutenant Commander's stripes; a Lieutenant just has one stripe. La'an is the ship's chief of security and the ship's second officer. She is also wearing Lt. Commander stripes but is addressed as a Lieutenant, but it would make more sense for her to be a Lieutenant Commander. Either way both of their rank insignia are not matching the rank they are addressed by. Ortegas is addressed as a Lieutenant but is wearing Lieutenant Commander's strips. A Lieutenant Commander may be addressed as a Commander or Lieutenant Commander but never as just a Lieutenant, so either her rank insignia or the manner she is addressed by the rest of the crew is in error.

[opening narration]

Captain Christopher Pike : Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

• Connections Featured in Nerdrotic: Woke Hollywood is FAILING, and That's a Good Thing (2022)

User reviews 1K

• May 6, 2022

Technical specs

• Runtime 52 minutes
• D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos

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