original star trek worst episodes

10 worst Star Trek episodes, according to the fans

With so many episodes of Star Trek out there, there were bound to be some horrible missteps. A group of fans hashes through space hippies, stolen brains and an awful series finale to find the worst of them all.

Brainless Spock under remote control.

I'm sitting in the DeForest Kelley theater at the 50th anniversary Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, dressed as an original-series starship captain and surrounded by members of my tribe. We're here on an hour-long mission to figure out the 10 worst episodes of Star Trek ever made. Any series is fair game.

I have my personal favorite choices for worst episode. "Spock's Brain" from the original series comes to mind. Here's the premise: Aliens steal Spock's brain! And that's all you need to know about how big a stinker that episode is. "The Way to Eden" (space hippies!) is another strong contender. "These Are the Voyages" was the series finale for prequel show "Enterprise." It sucked on so many levels by reducing the main cast to glorified cameos and including the pointless and frustrating death of a main character.

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The Best/Worst Star Trek Episodes Of All Time: The Original Series

Published in The Best/Worst Star Trek Episodes Of All Time: The Original Series | 630 words

Only the eldest remember what it was like to wait for the latest Trek episode to come out each week, but many remember watching rerun after summer rerun, endless days of Star Trek mingled with Wild West West or Wonder Woman or the A-Team.

Trekkie generations after mine have their own favorites, but I fell away from the Trek following around the same time as Voyager, due to TV-less circumstances that had little to do with Star Trek. So for me, the original Star Trek is the shiznit – I’d estimate I watched each episode at least a half dozen times and probably, embarrassing, maybe a little more, as a kid.

When I raised the question among the staff, we found many had definite opinions, and we all had a Star Trek that was particularly ours. For me, it’s definitely the first series, although I will confess to watching a lot of The Next Generation as well.

Best Episodes of All Time – Star Trek

The Trouble With Tribbles will always be high on my list. -Cat Rambo
Amok Time — Kirk and Spock fight! -Rae Bryant
One of my favorites that wasn’t really a ST episode – “GalaxyQuest”, which skewers and celebrates ST, even down to the fans of Trekkies and Trekkies 2. Cat Rambo

Worst Episodes of All Time – Star Trek

“The Way to Eden”. The “space hippies” episode. Spock is cool, but Kirk is an uptight authoritarian (or a “Herbert” in space hippy slang). The ending is so heavy-handed that it cracks me up every time. -Mark Bukovec The one with the gorn, when Kirk builds a crude spear thrower out of a bush and some rocks. The gorn is way too reminiscent of a bad Godzilla movie, and the science is…well, illogical. -Cat Rambo Spock’s Brain and The Naked Time – Samantha Chapman

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25 WORST Episodes Of Star Trek EVER

The most heartbreaking list for Trekkies...

Odds are, if you've been a Star Trek fan for any real amount of time, there are going to be some episodes on this list that you're just waiting to see appear. Star Trek has almost always been about optimism and a bright future, with some exceptions (looking at you, Discovery s1) but that doesn't mean that it hasn't dropped the ball along the way. With issues ranging from writers' strikes to just bad decision making, there are many entries in the canon that should never be shown to aspiring fans. Truly, there are some episodes that only a Mother could love.

This list breaks down the worst of the worst, spread across all of the entries to the franchise. It is very possible that some series will be represented a little more regularly than others but that is not to say that the rest of that series isn't worth the investment. Its just that these episodes are all examples of bad investments.

From supernatural beings to stuck up princesses, stolen brains to plain, old fashioned racism, these episodes are all perfect examples to use if you are looking to turn someone away from Star Trek as whole. Whether we can forgive these entries or not remains to be seen, but here are the 25 WORST episodes of Star Trek ever (so far!)

25. Assignment: Earth - TOS

This is a funny little episode that is on this list for perhaps an unfair reason. It's not a bad hour of television - it's simply a bad episode of Star Trek.

Robert Lansing appears as Colonel Gary Seven, an agent sent from the future. He is a compelling protagonist and his relationship with his assistant Robert Lincoln, played by Terri Garr. Garr famously hated the experience of filming the episode so much she refused to talk about it in later years, citing her fear of being probed by Star Trek questions as the reasons for this.

The episode was written as a backdoor pilot to a potential Gary Seven spin off, with the futuristic agent working in 20th century Earth. Gene Roddenberry was keen on the idea and keen to keep the stars, but as NBC had no involvement in the casting process it seemed a doomed operation from the beginning. Nothing materialised.

Therefore, there is an episode of the Original Series that was openly created to be a different show, separate from the plot of the series. Even the opening scene puts the Enterprise in orbit of 20th century Earth for...reasons to do with research? While the almightly temporal prime directive had not come into effect by that stage, it is a fairly thin plot device to get them there. It's most certainly not the worst episode, but it could be skipped without any loss to the show as a whole.

Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick

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Every Episode of Star Trek, the original series, Ranked (with comments)

Main Page TOS | TAS | TNG | DS9 | VOY | ENT | DSC | ST | PIC | LD Whole Enchilada

TOS Ranking by Titles Only

The O.G. (Original Geekdom) of the Star Trek universe remains beloved by many Trek fans over and above any other series and –although I had seen most of these episodes countless times before– in watching them again for this ranking, I understood the love.

Underneath the thriftily constructed sets and bright uniforms designed to highlight this new thing called “color TV,” underneath 60s tropes and the dictates of network television, something’s afoot. It’s something stealthily subversive in its very DNA pushing back at those constraints. Not unlike The Twilight Zone , it wants to say something about the human condition. It wants to say something about today that may well have been true yesterday and may well be true tomorrow.

In short, in dozens of episodes, it’s aged remarkably well.

So, if you haven’t watched this series, or watched it recently, take a look at some of the episodes, especially in the top tier. They’re still a product of their time, but I’m sure you’ll see why this series is the one that launched what may eventually be a thousand starships.

Note: Everything below may contain spoilers and definitely contains some snark.

James Kirk Scratch through the 60s leading man bombast and you find a consummate leader who contains multitudes. He’s a relatively young starship captain thanks to his ambition and his ability — including knowing how to motivate people to do their best. Underneath the brashness and penchant for flying leg kicks is a wonky tactical genius who is willing to pursue peace at almost any price. Though unconventional in execution, his reverence for Federation ideals is second-to-none. He remains the ur-captain of Star Trek .

Spock An eternal icon of Geeky Cool and the first example of a Vulcan that pops into countless people’s heads… yet this half-human-yet-green-blooded devotee of logic is anything but a typical Vulcan. Ironically (yet not illogically) that’s what makes him so Vulcan. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, baby!

Leonard “Bones” McCoy Karl Urban’s subsequent portrayal and some of Deforest Kelley’s interviews hint at the truth: Bones is sick of your bull. Say what you mean and get him what he needs to heal this patient. He’s not a miracle worker, a bricklayer, or any of a dozen other things. He is, however, the poster physician for the irascible healer with the heart of gold.

Sulu Almost always calm, capable, and collected, he’s nevertheless a space cowboy who speaks to the swashbuckler in all of us.

Uhura Another quiet role model who was seen handling the various bridge stations when the need arose, albeit not enough in the series proper.

Montgomery “Scotty” Scott The original miracle-working engineer casts a long shadow, but would probably just as soon sit down with you to enjoy a glass of whisky… or perhaps something green. Just don’t ask him to stop using colorful metaphors or the haggis is in the fire for sure.

Chekov Hey, hey, it’s a Russian! And people say he’s Russian around!

Okay, nobody says that, but for the few of you who started humming along, it was worth it. Did you know that “The Monkees” were invented by Chekov’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather in Minsk? True story…

78) “Turnabout Intruder” Season 3, Episode 24 There are worse episodes of Trek overall, but until Enterprise , this was sourest of sour notes to end a Star Trek series on. And remember: for those of us who first watched Star Trek in syndication before Picard and his crew appeared, this was The End of TV Trek (sorry, TAS). Because Janice Lester in the hands of an enterprising writer could have been a nuanced villain, unfairly denied a Starfleet commission. Instead, it’s dated, sexist claptrap.

77) “And the Children Shall Lead” Season 3, Episode 4 With a premise that could arguably be the most horrifying and dark as anything Trek has seen, we instead get glacially-paced menace from a game show host in a feathered mumu.

76) “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” Season 3, Episode 15 Boring when I first saw it and no different now. There are pluses in the introduction of the Enterprise’s self-destruct sequence and the incomparable Frank Gorshin, but the crew seems to alternate between dancing around the fact that the Allegorical Aliens before them are obnoxiously simplistic and generally padding for time until the episode ends. Don’t wait. Skip it.

75) “The Empath” Season 3, Episode 12 A ponderous, budget-conscious episode set in a very 60s black box theater with a performance artist. Our main antagonists are Talosian wannabes, one of whom can’t figure out you should fire your weapon when someone’s attacking you (and all the weapon does is force you to move in unconvincing slow motion). Not the worst episode of the original series, but by no means good.

74) “The Mark of Gideon” Season 3, Episode 16 If every alien culture has machinations this boring, we should never put to space. Allegorical, but ludicrous.

73) “The Way to Eden” Season 3, Episode 20 The fact that Skip Homeier plays both a Nazi (in “Patterns of Force”) and a space hippie is amusing. This episode is not. Damn hippies.

72) “The Lights of Zetar” Season 3, Episode 18 Look, far be it for me to nix an episode with a cute librarian, but this episode is a ponderous mess.

71) “The Alternative Factor” Season 1, Episode 27 After ever-increasingly good episodes in Trek’s first season, we’re given this plodding bore — even though the fate of the universe may be at stake. Robert Brown acquits himself well enough as Lazarus and Lazarus — and hey, is that Janet MacLachlan as Lt. Masters? Still, the episode never seems to really catch fire.

70) “Is There in Truth No Beauty?” Season 3, Episode 5 I will concede there may be truth in beauty if we all move on from this episode which is both fitful and forced.

69) “Spock’s Brain” Season 3, Episode 1 While this episode isn’t the worst of the original series, it earnestly competes for the title. Really not worth re-watching without adult beverages.

68) “Miri” Season 1, Episode 8 As with so many of less-than-stellar Trek episodes, this benefits greatly from playing things straight — to say nothing of the performances from Kim Darby and Michael J. Pollard. Definite demerits for the pointless “identical Earth.”

67) “The Savage Curtain” Season 3, Episode 22 Abraham Lincoln appears floating in space and things go downhill from there. Demerits for making the conqueror of the largest land empire the world has ever known (Genghis Khan) a thuggish Asian stereotype.

66) “Spectre of the Gun” Season 3, Episode 6 One of those episodes from the original series that isn’t bad, but it sure ain’t good. The staging is clearly an attempt to minimize the episode budget and the story feels like it’s going back to the same well of powerful aliens testing the Enterprise crew, et cetera, et cetera.

65) “The Gamesters of Triskelion” Season 2, Episode 16 I’m not saying it’s bad, I’m just saying that, If I’m being honest, I would not wager too many quatloos on this episode.

64) “The Omega Glory” Season 2, Episode 23 The strange fate of the Exeter is almost entirely overshadowed by an identical Earth suspension of disbelief that require warp engines to power.

63) “Wink of an Eye” Season 3, Episode 11 Those technologically advanced aliens are after our women AND men for mating! Because, you know, they couldn’t try and use their technical acumen to handle their reproductive issues and don’t understand how two different species mating won’t produce viable offspring.

62) “Assignment: Earth” Season 2, Episode 26 In retrospect, the episode isn’t out and out awful, but it’s such an egregious attempt at a backdoor pilot, it sidelines the Enterprise crew in an unwelcome fashion.

61) “Mudd’s Women” Season 1, Episode 6 Roger Carmel does great as con man Mudd, but the episode seems slow and unengaging by modern standards.

60) “The Deadly Years” Season 2, Episode 12 It’s not an awful episode, but what with re-using the corbomite ruse and having the key to people’s survival be Chekov, there’s a limit to how excited we can get.

59) “Catspaw” Season 2, Episode 7 An intriguing, but ultimately unfulfilling episode that plays with the time-old Trek trope of magic in a rational universe.

58) “Shore Leave” Season 1, Episode 15 Look, I’m not saying this episode is bad. Any episode with samurai, tigers, and Alice from Wonderland can’t be entirely awful. I am saying that the endless fight scene with Finnegan exemplifies the episode’s inability to get on with it.

57) “The Naked Time” Season 1, Episode 4 While seeing the crew of the Enterprise get space drunk is not without its charms — both King Riley and swashbuckling Sulu are fun — it’s not an outstanding episode. Bonus points for the time-travel tease at the end, but demerits for not actually connecting it to “Tomorrow is Yesterday” as originally intended.

56) “Plato’s Stepchildren” Season 3, Episode 10 Yes, we get the first inter-racial kiss on American television. Yes, Michael Dunn is great as Alexander. But is it a banner episode? No, it is not.

55) “All Our Yesterdays” Season 3, Episode 23 The penultimate entry of the original series is marred by slow pacing, but aided by some of the introspective character study.

54) “The Corbomite Maneuver” Season 1, Episode 10 An entirely Trek tale of first contact that gives you a good taste of the original series characters, but, sadly due to the limitations of television, no taste of tranya.

53) “Charlie X” Season 1, Episode 2 You will be forgiven for thinking this might be the Twilight Zone ‘s “It’s a Good Life” transposed to the Enterprise. Not bad, but nothing special. Uhura’s singing will either be a plus or a minus for you.

52) “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” Season 1, Episode 7 In light of TV since this aired, from the reimagined Battlestar Galactica to the more recent incarnation of Westworld , a lot of this will come across as quaint — and the plotting is a tad repetitive. Still, decent performances and bonus points for the Lovecraft reference.

51) “The Paradise Syndrome” Season 3, Episode 3 Because O’Brien hasn’t been born yet, Kirk gets to suffer horrendous heartbreak.

50) “This Side of Paradise” Season 1, Episode 24 Spock rediscovers his emotional side thanks to hippie spores and Jill Ireland. It plays better than you’d expect, even if it gives outsize validity to umbrage and anger as problem solving tools.

49) “Elaan of Troyius” Season 3, Episode 13 Shakespearean in concept, but not in execution, this would-be Trek Taming of the Shrew has some interesting twists, but nothing to make it shine.

48) “Tomorrow Is Yesterday” Season 1, Episode 19 A straightforward, but nevertheless engaging time-travel tale, with requisite moments of cleverness in the treatment of time travel tropes.

47) “The Apple” Season 2, Episode 5 An okay episode that helps establish Kirk’s attitude towards the Prime Directive as well as the series’ ideas about expendable crewman (beam down all the ones you need!). Vaal seems to have a 70s horror movie attitude against intimacy.

46) “Requiem for Methuselah” Season 3, Episode 19 Another Shakespearean episode: this time, we touch on The Tempest and, by extension, Forbidden Planet . Not bad, but strangely uninvolving.

45) “Operation: Annihilate!” Season 1, Episode 29 At first glance, you might discount these the plastic vomit creatures, but I’d say they rank pretty high on the freaky/insidious villain scale, what with destroying multiple planets, and having a hive mind with which to threaten <echo> THE GALAXY </echo>. Bonus points for showing the crew using trial and error to defeat the little buggers and blinding Spock, later realizing only ultraviolet light is needed. Definite demerits for throwing in some of Kirk’s family simply to kill them off. The inner eyelid is both cool and a deux ex biologie — though since they build on its evolutionary purpose in later Trek, I guess it’s cool.

44) “Whom Gods Destroy” Season 3, Episode 14 This episode seems to exist for three reasons. First, to prove that not all episodes of the third season suck. Second, to demonstrate how enterprising the producers were at re-using props and costumes from previous seasons. And third: to stage a scenery chewing competition between Garth, Marta, and Kirk. This last part is easy because it’s set at an insane asylum and the first two characters are flamboyantly cray-cray. Next to Khan, Steve Ihnat’s Garth is one of the standout villains from the original series. He is crazy, but absolutely dangerous between his ability to shape-shift and his penchant for blowing things up. I would totally have the character suffer a relapse just to bring him back. Bonus points for Batgirl’s poetry readings — and really: where can we buy Garth’s boots?

43) “Metamorphosis” Season 2, Episode 9 A decent enough entry in the series, right in line with other episodes that explore alien motivations. However, it does seem to suffer from a bit of a slow pace.

42) “Dagger of the Mind” Season 1, Episode 9 Come for Morgan Woodward’s crazed Dr. Van Gelder. Stay for Spock’s mind meld. The stuff on the surface with Cpt. Kirk and Lt. Noel? Not so much.

41) “For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky” Season 3, Episode 8 A surprisingly packed and touching episode including notions of generation ships, a love story, and blind faith and dogma. It’s just marred a bit by pacing and execution.

40) “The Return of the Archons” Season 1, Episode 21 With this episode, you get a good sense of mystery (with hooded, inquisitorial enforcers!), Star Trek doing its version of The Purge (albeit 60s style), and –most importantly– quality Kirk-talks-computer-to-death. You’re sure to enjoy it whether or not you’re of the Body.

39) “The Man Trap” Season 1, Episode 1 The first episode broadcast isn’t all that bad in a thoughtful, monster-of-the-week kind of way — and I’m given to understand the monster in question still gives some people nightmares.

38) “Obsession” Season 2, Episode 13 A solid episode expanding Kirk’s character and motivations with an alien creature that is totally not a benign Calvin Klein fragrance. Redshirts beware!

37) “By Any Other Name” Season 2, Episode 22 A decent episode which quietly underscores how important peaceful coexistence is for Kirk and the Federation in general. Bonus points for Scotty’s tactical drinking game.

36) “Patterns of Force” Season 2, Episode 21 The egregiously bad premise historian John Gill makes in not only violating the Prime Directive, but installing a fascist government on another world is greatly tempered by the Enterprise crew fighting and defeating Nazis.

35) “The Enemy Within” Season 1, Episode 5 Shatner gives a bravura performance in this Star Trekyl and Hyde episode. Bonus points for using the phaser to heat rocks and the adorable space dog.

34) “I, Mudd” Season 2, Episode 8 Probably the closest Star Trek gets to going full Monty Python with the crew’s “Confuse-a-Cat” performance at the end, which I admit, delights me every time. Let’s face it: logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad.

33) “Bread and Circuses” Season 2, Episode 25 Okay, I’ll accept we’re just going to drive the “alternate Earths” into the ground with the original series — and this bit of modern Rome is fun, with some great villains showing that they don’t need to have all the latest technology to be devious and cunning. However, your mileage may vary with the final twist.

32) “The Changeling” Season 2, Episode 3 A goofy episode that some people might like if they’re in the mood for a high redshirt bodycount or want a low-budget version of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture in one third of the time. Just be warned that you need to deal with Spock mind-melding with a machine and Uhura apparently being okay the following week even though her entire memory gets erased .

31) “The Squire of Gothos” Season 1, Episode 17 It is medically impossible for one to be as delighted with this episode as much as General Trelane (retired) is delighted with himself. Nevertheless, we are forced to enjoy William Campbell’s all-in performance as the proto-Q he so totally is.

30) “The Cloud Minders” Season 3, Episode 21 A look at class and racism that has some action and nuance enough so it holds up as a classic Trek treatment of the ideas. Also, Spock almost gets his groove on.

29) “The Ultimate Computer” Season 2, Episode 24 A solid adventure that explores automation and, let’s be clear, some exciting space combat (even more so with the special edition VFX which I did not include in the ranking). Bonus points for William Marshall as Daystrom.

28) “Court Martial” Season 1, Episode 20 Prepubescent viewers will enjoy this about as much as Casablanca , but if you give this a view as an adult, you’ll get a hint of the façade that is the “perfect” Federation we see explored further in Deep Space Nine . You’ll also be treated to good (if 60s dramatic) performances by pretty much the whole supporting cast including Percy Rodriguez, Joan Marshall, and Elisha Cook Jr.

27) “The Menagerie” (Parts I & II) Season 1, Episodes 11 & 12 This two-parter represents quintessential Trek, in all the good and bad ways that implies. But really, the majority of that is good, with thoughtful sci-fi, some classic twists in trying to out-think the Talosians (and be out-thought by them), as well as revealing a huge side of Spock’s personality and his sense of loyalty.

26) “The Galileo Seven” Season 1, Episode 16 A tense episode, not because you think any of the main characters will die (this is 60s TV), but worthwhile to see Spock in this unique command situation.

25) “A Piece of the Action” Season 2, Episode 17 If you’re going to keep having imitation Earths, you might as well have some fun with them. The conceit of an entire planet modeled after Chicago mobs of the 20th Century is ridiculous, but pursued with such conviction, you have to go along for the ride (but don’t let Kirk drive). Shatner bluffing his way through the game of Royal Fizzbin is such a comic highlight that Nimoy almost starts laughing.

24) “The Immunity Syndrome” Season 2, Episode 18 Settling once and for all whether Earthlings or Vulcans will fare better against giant space amoebae, this reasonably action-packed episode gives you some classic Kirk-Spock-McCoy interactions.

23) “The Tholian Web” Season 3, Episode 9 There’s a lot going on in this episode from dimensional rifts to mutiny — and a lot of people love this one because of Tholians and their titular web, but the pacing saps the episode’s energy, much like the Enterprise’s warp engines.

22) “That Which Survives” Season 3, Episode 17 Call me a sucker for a visual effect that’s been around for over a century (seriously, I’ve seen it used in a pre-WWI Russian short), but Losira’s freaky transfer effect combined with the quiet menace portrayed by Lee Meriwether make this a memorable episode. Bonus points for Scotty’s Macgyvering.

21) “Return to Tomorrow” Season 2, Episode 20 Another Trek tale that deals with godlike beings — and the story unfolds like a sort of myth in terms of power, love, and betrayal. Good stuff.

20) “Who Mourns for Adonais?” Season 2, Episode 2 It’s hard not to like this uneven episode, probably because it grabs us from the beginning with a giant green space hand. Nevertheless, it mines meditative ground where Trek often explores in the future of gods and belief, technology and magic.

19) “The Enterprise Incident” Season 3, Episode 2 A reasonably exciting episode that keeps you on your toes, albeit with some suspension of disbelief for the hijinks. Demerits for having a “Klingon-Romulan alliance” just so Romulan ship designs didn’t have to be scared up.

18) “Errand of Mercy” Season 1, Episode 26 An ambitious episode that introduces the Klingons, the whole cold war atmosphere between the Klingon Empire and the Federation, and the Organian Peace Treaty that casts a shadow across the rest of the original series. The constraints of a single 60s TV episode, even with the VFX additions of the special edition, creaks under the weight of extensive world-building. Nevertheless, the main story is still solidly entertaining, with John Colicos stealing just about every scene he’s in, setting the tone for Klingons to this day.

17) “Wolf in the Fold” Season 2, Episode 14 An inventive story that, let’s be honest, has misogynist elements that really haven’t aged well. However, the mystery moves along briskly with a fun sci-fi twist and good performances all around.

16) “The Conscience of the King” Season 1, Episode 13 While it doesn’t top its inspirations (both Shakespeare and classic Greek tragedies), this episode is amazingly engaging even today, with great performances by the regular cast and some great turns by Arnold Moss as Karidian and Barbara Anderson as the seemingly ingénue, but really insane daughter. We get great McCoy-Spock scenes, good Kirk-McCoy scenes, and a lot more hinted at Kirk’s background.

15) “Arena” Season 1, Episode 18 When I finally got to read the Fredric Brown short story upon which this is based, it’s kind of hard to go back to this less-nuanced version, but to harp on that would be unfair. Television rarely gets to get into the inner life of its characters like literature and this is first-class Trek all-around. you just need to embrace the cheesy reptile costume and papier mache rocks. Do that, and you get a master class in Kirk Fu, including Kirk’s underlying humanity.

14) “A Taste of Armageddon” Season 1, Episode 23 A great allegorical tale from the age of Mutually Assured Destruction where Kirk gets to show off what a clever barbarian he is and you learn that you do not mess with Scotty. You bring a knife, he’ll bring a starship ready to obliterate the inhabited surface of your planet. It’s the Aberdeen way.

13) “A Private Little War” Season 2, Episode 19 A satisfying downer of an allegorical episode whose story DNA can be found later in many a DS9 tale.

12) “Day of the Dove” Season 3, Episode 7 An exciting if wacky episode of an alien that feeds off aggression. The plot moves briskly, Michael Ansara is wonderful as Kang, but the overall execution doesn’t take it over the top.

11) “Friday’s Child” Season 2, Episode 11 A great entry in the “cold war encounters” with the Klingons giving us an interesting culture in the Capellans, a good guest turn from Catwoman -er- Julie Newmar, plus McCoy in the spotlight.

10) “The Trouble with Tribbles” Season 2, Episode 15 Not only is this one of the best episodes of the original series and all Trek, it serves as a bellwether for people. You may want to re-examine your friendship with anyone who outright hates this episode or at least recommend they get more fiber in their diet. It is absolutely delightful, balancing a chock full of plot with great humor.

9) “The Doomsday Machine” Season 2, Episode 6 First-class space opera episode absolutely buoyed by a great performance by William Windom as Commodore Decker and Sol Kaplan’s intense score. A winner all around.

8) “Amok Time” Season 2, Episode 1 Personal and general Vulcan worldbuilding with the always interesting Spock? Absolutely!

7) “Space Seed” Season 1, Episode 22 This episode casts a huge shadow across the Trekverse for both establishing and confounding continuity, but it’s perfectly fine to watch on its own merits — due in no small part to a commanding performance by Ricardo Montalban.

6) “Balance of Terror” Season 1, Episode 14 An exceptional sci-fi treatment of The Enemy Below and a must-see episode of the original series, this installment packs in a lot of origin along with introducing the Romulans to Trek mythology. Gold stars to Mark Lenard, William Shatner, writer Paul Schneider, and director Vincent McEveety.

5) “Journey to Babel” Season 2, Episode 10 This adventure goes to eleven as we get diplomatic intrigue, attempted assassinations, and family drama aboard the Enterprise. Writer D.C. Fontana gives us a little bit of everything, including giving McCoy the last word.

4) “The Devil in the Dark” Season 1, Episode 25 One of the most quintessential episodes of the original series which really captures that Trek attitude towards peaceful exploration. There’s great turns especially by Kirk, Spock, and the apprentice bricklayer, McCoy. Mad props to actor and stunt performer Janos Prohaska for making the Horta more than just a weird pizza carpet.

3) “Where No Man Has Gone Before” Season 1, Episode 3 Now we’re cooking with stellar gas! The second pilot of the original series is an indulgent slice of space opera, containing all the delights that a spiritual heir to the likes of Forbidden Planet should. If you go in with that in mind, you can get past any awkwardness or velour.

2) “Mirror, Mirror” Season 2, Episode 4 Jerome Bixby’s inventive and action-packed story makes for an episode of Trek so iconic, you know it the instant I mention, “Spock’s beard.”

1) “The City on the Edge of Forever” Season 1, Episode 28 Look: you knew this was going to be at the top. Everyone cites it. Yes, the 60s melodrama of it all has diminished its impact over the past 50-odd years. Yes, you get better banter between the Enterprise crew in other episodes. However, upon watching it again, it’s still a damn fine single dose of sci-fi that excites audience imaginations full of what-if scenarios to this day.

Star Trek's 7 Best And 7 Worst Episodes Ranked

Among television's longest running franchises, "Star Trek" launched in 1966 and has since produced 12 television series compiling a total of more than 800 episodes. From its first season on the air, "Star Trek" started producing some of science fiction's best stories, from all-time classics that have transcended the genre to fan favorites that have become pop culture staples. But that's not to say that everything "Trek" has ever produced has been of the highest quality. Every generation has their favorite series, and each new show has its fans and detractors.

But which episodes rank among the franchise's finest across its more than five decades, and which are its biggest clunkers? We've tried to narrow it down, but it's not an easy list to compile. We were forced to leave off some of the all-time best of "Trek," including standout "Deep Space Nine" entry "Duet" and the "Enterprise" episode "Twilight." Narrowing down the worst episodes "Trek" has to offer was no easy feat either, as there simply wasn't room for many colossal stinkers; the "DS9" episode "Move Along Home" and the original series episode "Spock's Brain" both avoided a place on the "worst" list.

But fret not, fanboys. Regardless of your tastes, you're sure to find something to love or hate on this list of the seven best and seven worst episodes of "Star Trek" to date.

Worst: Let He Who is Without Sin (Deep Space Nine)

"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" may have gone darker than any "Star Trek" series had before, but it also embraced comedy more than most, with several episodes like "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" and "The Magnificent Ferengi" leaning heavy into humor. However, the problem with its worst episode, "Let He Who is Without Sin," is that it's not a comedy when it probably should have been.

In the episode, Worf and Dax take their honeymoon on the "Trek" pleasure planet of Risa. To Worf's displeasure, Rom, Leeta, Quark, and Bashir all tag along. While marital strife strikes when Dax reconnects with a former lover played by singer Vanessa Williams, Worf is unexpectedly recruited by a group of ultra-conservative dissidents who see him as a kindred spirit. So while Bashir, Quark, and Leeta are off sunbathing, Worf and his new friends sabotage the planet's weather control systems and ruin everyone's day with soggy food. Yes, that's a plot point from a real episode of "Star Trek."

The biggest problem with "Let He Who is Without Sin" is it tries to mix high drama with light laughs and winds up failing at both, while watering down one of the best "Trek" characters in the process. The relationship elements are played up for unsuccessful attempts at comedy, while the dissident group's scheme never really makes a lot of sense. The cast's ugly bathing suits don't help matters.

Best: Blink of An Eye (Voyager)

In the "Star Trek: Voyager" Season 7 entry "Blink of an Eye," Voyager comes across an unusual planet where time moves faster than the surrounding space, meaning that for every second that goes by on the ship, several days pass on the planet's surface. But when Voyager becomes caught in a strange energy field in orbit, they are forced to watch as the primitive planet below races through thousands of years of societal evolution.

At first, the crew considers this a mere curiosity, viewing their study of the planet as a glimpse into their own past, or as Chakotay puts it, "the greatest anthropological find" of their careers. But soon they discover that their presence has been having an unintended consequence, causing periodic seismic disturbances on the planet while the slowly maturing society begins to view the starship in their sky as some form of deity. Eventually, when the people below progress to 21st century levels of technology, explorers from the planet visit Voyager and ultimately help free them from the energy field.

Undoubtedly a compelling sci-fi tale, what makes "Blink of an Eye" unique is how it tells the story as much from the perspective of the people on the planet as those of Voyager's crew. We meet them as cave dwellers before they mature into enlightened philosophers and eventually interstellar explorers, demonstrating how curiosity about the world around us drives us to make new discoveries. A thought-provoking and sometimes moving drama, "Blink of an Eye" is easily the best of "Voyager."

Worst: Justice (The Next Generation)

The first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is riddled with some of the worst episodes of the series, but one of its biggest offenders is the episode "Justice." A few "Star Trek" writers have commented on series creator Gene Roddenberry's arguable preoccupation with sex and sensuality in the series (via TrekCore ), and here we got a real taste of what he could do with more relaxed TV standards of the 1980s. Visiting the planet Rubicun III, we are treated to half-naked men and women whose entire culture seems centered on carnal pleasure. But it's also a world where even the most trivial crime carries a death sentence.

At the heart of the story, though, is teenaged Wesley Crusher, who mistakenly steps on some hedges and incurs the society's wrath, prompting its leaders to hold him for summary execution. Now caught in the middle of a diplomatic incident, Picard must find a way to make peace and rescue Wesley while still respecting the sovereignty of Rubicun III's laws. A bland script that lacks any suspense despite the high stakes, coupled with one of the corniest concepts for an alien planet — and some of the lamest costumes you'll ever see in the series — make "Justice" laughably bad.

What makes matters worse though is that it's poorly produced episodes like this one that helped shape the impression of Wesley Crusher as an obnoxious bore, drawing the ire of fans for years.

Best: Memento Mori (Strange New Worlds)

The latest "Star Trek" series "Strange New Worlds" debuted in 2022 to virtually universal critical acclaim , bringing the franchise back to its roots with a livelier tone and episodic adventures. And while "Star Trek" has a history of uneven first seasons, the debut year for Captain Pike, Number One, and Mr. Spock was one for the record books, delivering at least one episode that is deserving of a spot on the franchise's best-of list.

The series' sixth episode, titled "Memento Mori," is the show's submarine story in the grand tradition of classics like "Balance of Terror," "Starship Mine," and even the feature film "The Wrath of Khan." The story pits the Enterprise against the dreaded Gorn, a mysterious and deadly race of violent alien conquerors who lure Pike into a trap. Disabled and hiding in a nebula, Pike and crew are outnumbered, outgunned, and must use their wits to stay alive. But if security chief La'An can finally confront her unresolved childhood trauma, she might be able to help them fight back and escape.

A nail-biting thriller full of high-octane action, pulse-pounding suspense, and classic "Star Trek" problem solving, it's everything Trekkies could hope for in the franchise's finest. But beyond all the excitement, it's the exploration of La'An and the raw emotion of her dark past that provides the real heart of the episode.

Worst: The Way to Eden (The Original Series)

Just as the first season of the original "Star Trek" boasted most of the series' best installments, the show's third and final year included most of its worst. That includes "The Way to Eden," lovingly referred to by fans as "the one with the space hippies" and the episode that makes it loud and clear what era the producers were living in at the time and exactly how the writers felt about the emerging bohemian generation.

Not exactly the most exciting episode the franchise has ever seen, the story entrails the Enterprise rescuing an eclectic group of oddly dressed travelers from a passing starship in distress. The free-spirited refugees are led by the cult leader Dr. Sevrin and his followers include a musician, an old friend of Chekov's, and the daughter of a prominent ambassador. They are all part of a growing movement that preaches a new idyllic philosophy that rejects technology, and they are searching for a fabled hidden world called Eden that they hope will be their new home.

Its openly dismissive, perhaps even hostile attitude towards the counter-culture group clearly meant to parallel the hippie culture of the late '60s is the least of the episode's problems. The ludicrous premise, an ineffective story, and a downright silly musical number make "The Way to Eden" unintentionally funny and impossible to take seriously.

Best: Yesterday's Enterprise (The Next Generation)

A grimmer episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" than audiences may have been used to at the time, the Season 3 episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" is viewed by many as a turning point in the series. With a fascinating alternate universe concept, enthralling performances, and plenty of surprises, this was the moment when "TNG" came into its own and established itself as a best-in-class sci-fi series.

The shocking story takes a major turn in its opening moments when a starship emerges through a rift in space, instantly changing reality as we know it. Picard's Enterprise-D is no longer a ship of peaceful exploration, but a gloomy, militant battlecruiser. The Federation is embroiled in a decades-long war with the Klingons ... and it's a war that the Federation is losing . The ship that comes through the rift is the Enterprise-C, the previous ship of the line that was thought destroyed defending a Klingon outpost from a Romulan attack more than two decades earlier. Now Picard must decide whether to send the ship back into a battle that will definitely kill its crew in an effort to avert 20 years of war.

A classic among "Star Trek" moral dilemmas in the middle of a high concept premise, "Yesterday's Enterprise" also saw the return of early series cast member Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar, who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save all of history. Surprising, captivating, and unexpectedly dark, this episode forever changed the way fans saw the series.

Worst: Threshold (Voyager)

"Star Trek: Voyager" is rarely seen as the best of the franchise, but at least it offers relative consistency. That is, except for its bad episodes, which are among the most boring and inexplicably bizarre in "Star Trek" history. Several notably awful entries like Season 2's "Elogium" or the boxing-themed episode "The Fight" both narrowly missed this list. But neither of those painfully awkward installments are as infamously terrible as "Threshold."

Our sad tale beings with Paris testing a new experimental transwarp drive that he believes could get the crew back to Earth in seconds. Never mind that Neelix, Torres, Kim, and Paris crack the secret of transwarp — a puzzle that Starfleet has grappled with for more than a hundred years — literally over a late-night cup of coffee; they figure it out, and Paris finds himself going faster than anyone has gone before. Unfortunately, this has the unintended side effect of evolving him into a new stage of human life, which is effectively a giant amorphous slug. After kidnapping Captain Janeway and having a brood of slug babies with her — we swear, we're not making that up — the Doctor reverses the mutation, and all is normal again.

Though the visual effects in the episode are spectacular enough to earn the series an Emmy, the story's inexplicable script and preposterous story — even for an outlandish sci-fi series — turned it into one of the biggest punchlines in the franchise.

Best: In the Pale Moonlight (Deep Space Nine)

"Deep Space Nine" took "Trek" to places it had never been in its later seasons when the Federation goes to war with the Dominion. Years before it became the fashionable norm for television, "DS9" went in a serialized direction and the series produced a number of standouts that focused on topics that "Trek" had rarely covered in the past. The best of the later-season lot, "In the Pale Moonlight," is a tense political thriller that could only have been told on "DS9" and may be the finest example of the depth that the series was capable of.

The episode takes place the middle of the war with the Dominion. The Federation is seeing heavy losses. Determined to turn the tide, Sisko realizes the only way to tip the balance of power is to bring the Romulans into the Federation-Klingon alliance. But to do it, he'll have to test his morals and ally himself with Garak, a Cardassian spy and assassin. Together, they hatch a plot to deceive the Romulans into thinking the Dominion has targeted their empire, but if they're caught it could push the Romulans into an alliance with the Dominion instead.

One of the strengths of "DS9" is its ability to push the boundaries of moral dilemmas, and they did it again in "In the Pale Moonlight," which forces Sisko to wrestle with his conscience as he breaks every rule to save millions of lives. Meanwhile, star Avery Brooks delivers a tour de force performance, while a sharp script full of political intrigue turn this into one of the most engrossing installments in "Trek" history.

Worst: And the Children Shall Lead (The Original Series)

Episodes with children can always be hit or miss, and "Star Trek" has seen a few of both kinds. There's "The Corbomite Maneuver," a beloved episode featuring an early appearance from a 7-year-old Clint Howard, and "Miri," which uses a group of children as villains. But the 1968 episode of the original "Star Trek" titled "And the Children Shall Lead" was not quite as successful, further dragging down the less-than-stellar third season. Ultimately the plot itself proves childish, even downright silly, and there's not much the talented cast can do to save it.

The story concerns the survivors of a wayward ship whose adult crew members are all killed under unusual circumstances. But once aboard the Enterprise, the children invoke the spirit of a being called Gorgan, a mysterious ghostly alien being who urges them to take over the ship and slaughter the crew.

It wasn't easy to narrow down the worst episodes of "The Original Series." Candidates like "Spock's Brain" and the weirdly misogynistic body swap episode "Turnabout Intruder" barely avoided the "worst ever" label. But in the end, we had to agree with series star Leonard Nimoy who cited "And the Children Shall Lead" as the most awful episode the series ever aired.

Best: The Best of Both Worlds (The Next Generation)

For all of the franchise's focus on cerebral sci-fi, outer space exploration, and interstellar diplomacy, some of the best "Trek" episodes are suspenseful action-thrillers and there is no better example than the legendary two-parter "The Best of Both Worlds." Closing out the series' phenomenal third season and opening its fourth, the game-changing story would have ramifications for decades. It reintroduces the Borg, first seen in Season 2's "Q Who," and turns them from a curiosity into the franchise's newest big bad.

In the episode, Riker is grappling with whether to accept a promotion to captain, which would mean leaving the Enterprise. But just as Picard pushes him into taking a command of his own, the Enterprise detects the Borg making a direct run at Sector 001 — Earth. While a Federation battle fleet is decimated, the Borg kidnap Picard and turn him into one of their own. Now it's up to Riker to stop the Borg, save Earth, and — if he can — rescue Picard from the clutches of the inhuman cyborg menace.

A gripping, edge-of-your seat drama from start to finish, "The Best of Both Worlds" is punctuated by one of the best season-ending cliffhangers in television history. It also cemented the series as more than a mere spinoff, signaling that "The Next Generation" was now the "Star Trek" in the cultural zeitgeist.

Worst: Sub Rosa (The Next Generation)

The seventh season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" saw a noticeable dip in quality. Lackluster installments like "Masks" and "Emergence" could have made this list if not for what is generally considered the most laughable story in the series, "Sub Rosa." Criminally wasting a rare Dr. Crusher-focused episode, there is no dramatic thriller here — merely a cheesy ghost story straight out of a 19th century harlequin romance novel.

The episode begins with the Enterprise paying a visit to a Federation colony that has patterned itself after medieval Scotland, presumably so the story could have a fairytale look to match its premise. There, Dr. Crusher attends the funeral of her grandmother and inherits a strange heirloom candle. In her grandmother's diary, she discovers stories of her affair with a mysterious young lover named Ronan. Before long, this charming and lustful man appears and seduces Dr. Crusher as well. But we soon learn that Ronan is actually an alien being who lives in the candle and is really feeding off of the doctor's life force.

But the problems here go beyond the uncomfortable romance, as there's simply not enough story to fill out the episode. This leads to a goofy subplot in which Geordi and Data try to fix the colony's weather control system so they can all enjoy the town's annual Caber Toss. But "Sub Rosa" did have one tangible upside, as it introduced producers to actor Duncan Regehr, who would go on to the portray recurring character of Shakaar on "Deep Space Nine."

Best: The City on the Edge of Forever

There are plenty of all-time great episodes of the original "Star Trek" series that could have made this list, but there is one clear winner if you're looking for its very best: Season 1's "The City on the Edge of Forever." Combining a quintessential instance of time-travel on "Star Trek" with a tragic love story, the episode turned what had been to that point mostly a fun space adventure series into an emotional romantic drama with stellar results.

Based on a story by acclaimed science fiction luminary Harlan Ellison, the episode sees McCoy thrust back in time where he unwittingly alters Earth's past so that Starfleet and the Federation no longer exist. When they head back to find McCoy and restore the timeline, Kirk and Spock stay at a halfway house in 1930s New York where the Enterprise captain falls in love with missionary worker Edith Keeler (Joan Collins). Tragedy strikes again when Spock discovers that Edith is at the center of the divergence that changed history, and that she must die to save the future.

The show's strong script is elevated further by some of the show's best performances from stars William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and guest star Collins. A timeless star-crossed love story, "The City on the Edge of Forever" stands tall as one of the best episodes in "Trek" history more than half a century after it first aired.

Worst: Code of Honor

Even the worst episodes of "Star Trek" can have at least some redeeming value, whether it's a kernel of a good idea or a single strong performance. But the notoriously awful "Code of Honor" has nothing at all to grasp onto and is downright offensive in more ways than one. But the fact that it's one of the rare first season episodes to give Tasha Yar something of substance to do makes it all the more regrettable, as actress Denise Crosby would quit the series not long after.

The problems for the episode appear right away, when the Enterprise visits a far-off world that is the only place to find a much-needed vaccine. The locals are portrayed as primitive and backwards and are all played by black actors with heavy foreign accents, making "Code of Honor" an incredibly uncomfortable watch right from the get-go. But to make matters worse, the world's leader becomes enamored with security chief Tasha Yar (Crosby) and forces his wife — who is viewed as his property — to fight her to the death for both her freedom and for the life-giving medicine.

Devoid of any moral message that might justify such blatant racial stereotyping, even the cast is embarrassed by this one. But what makes it all the worse is that it's horribly directed and poorly acted with goofy dialogue and cheap-looking sets and props. With "Code of Honor," "Star Trek" crossed the line from bad to truly unwatchable.

Best: The Visitor (Deep Space Nine)

Though the series was known for its ongoing war sagas, the "Deep Space Nine" episode "The Visitor" eschewed action and war to tell an intimate and emotional character-focused story. Told in flashbacks, "The Visitor" introduces us to an elderly Jake Sisko (Tony Todd) who is nearing death and recounting his life story to a young woman visiting his home.

Years earlier we witness a crisis aboard the Defiant that leaves Captain Sisko dead, with the teenaged Jake (Cirroc Lofton) forced to watch as his father disappears before his eyes, apparently killed by a random power surge. But we soon learn that Sisko is trapped in a layer of subspace, and he emerges in his son's presence at random points in time throughout the young man's life. As the elderly Jake continues his story, the episode spans decades, and we see that as Jake gets older, he puts aside his own family and career and becomes obsessed with bringing his father back.

A touching episode with more than one moving moment that will bring tears to even the toughest eyes, "The Visitor" is a story of family that will resonate with anyone who fears the loss of a loved one, and the lengths we might be willing to go to in order to prevent it. Powerful performances by Tony Todd, Cirroc Lofton, and Avery Brooks help to make it not just the best episode of "Deep Space Nine," but arguably the best in the entire franchise.

Star Trek: The 5 Best Episodes From The Original Series (& The 5 Worst), According To IMDB

The iconic original Star Trek series was beloved for its fantastic sci-fi adventures - but not every episode was a winner.

Despite being off-air for several decades, the original Star Trek series retains its place as one of the best science-fiction TV shows of all time. It set standards for modern sci-fi and became a pop culture phenomenon that has endured over the years in the form of several spin-offs, novels, and comics.

RELATED: Star Trek: 5 Reasons To Get Back To Movies (& 5 To Stick With TV Shows)

With three seasons, Star Trek has its fair share of great and awful episodes. Many of them are well-known for their iconic status within the fandom and television history as a whole, but others are infamous for their outlandish plot, bad writing, and terrible characters . Thankfully for new fans, IMDb can help them skip over the bad episodes and go straight for the best ones.

10 Worst: The Spooky Set Dressing Of "Catspaw" Is Overcome By Its Boring Plot (6.2)

While orbiting a seemingly uninhabited Pyris VII, a mysterious entity places a curse on the Enterprise that demands Captain Kirk leave the planet, lest the rest of the crew be killed. Kirk, Spock, and Doctor McCoy all beam down to investigate and happen upon a castle filled with iconography from Terran fairy tales like black cats, witches, and dungeons.

The episode is quite slow and dialogue-heavy, with many unnecessarily long scenes where the villains just stand around showing their powers and explaining the plot. The lack of action makes "Catspaw" a pain to watch, and not even the appearance of a cute cat can save it from being one of Star Trek 's most boring episodes.

9 Best: "The Doomsday Machine" Kept Viewers On The Edge Of Their Seats (8.8)

When patrolling system L-370, the Enterprise intercepts a distress signal from a fellow Starfleet ship, the Constellation . Upon beaming to the destroyed vessel, Captain Kirk finds Commodore Decker, who tells him about a large alien machine that destroyed the entire system around them and killed his crew. This doomsday machine's only purpose seems to be annihilating everything in its path, with no apparent way to stop it.

"The Doomsday Machine" is one of Star Trek 's best episodes, with fast-paced writing that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats while exploring themes like revenge, survivor's guilt, and trauma through the character of Matt Decker. All in all, it's a classic example of what makes Star Trek such a beloved show even now.

8 Worst: "The Alternative Factor" Can't Conquer Bad Writing (5.8)

In "The Alternative Factor," Kirk receives a mission from Starfleet urging him to investigate a bizarre disruption affecting the entire galaxy. While trying to find the source of the problem, Kirk and Spock encounter Lazarus, a man who claims to be escaping from a horrid humanoid creature.

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The episode's biggest issue is the writing. Apart from making the plot impossible to fully grasp until the last third of its runtime, "The Alternative Factor" gave fans one of the worst Spock characterizations in the entire first season. Kirk himself even comments on it in a strangely self-aware fashion that falls completely flat and does nothing to help the episode out.

7 Best: "The Trouble With Tribbles" Hilariously Balances Multiple Storylines (8.8)

Upon arriving at Deep Space station K-7 to assist on a dispute with the Klingons , the crew of the Enterprise finds itself troubled with more than they were expecting. Apart from the Federation's most violent enemies, Kirk must deal with an entitled Federation official, his genetically-altered grain, and a swarm of small, furry creatures called tribbles who never seem to stop reproducing.

"The Trouble With Tribbles" has it all: comedy, the perfect amount of tension with the Klingons on board, and cute animals that, as Doctor McCoy says, humans have trouble resisting. The episode works incredibly well despite its intersecting storylines, which all tie together nicely in the end.

6 Worst: The Illogical Premise Of "Spock's Brain" Falls Flat (5.7)

After beaming aboard the Enterprise and incapacitating the entire bridge, an alien woman steals Spock's brain to power a machine that rules an underground community in her planet. Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy, Scotty, and a non-sentient Spock must then search for Spock's surgically removed brain before his body ceases to function.

RELATED: 10 Best Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation, According To IMDb

The premise already establishes "Spock's Brain" as one of the more questionable Star Trek episodes, but the strange narrative choices are what ultimately alienates the audience. Having a race of beautiful women who, despite their power, seem to have no thoughts of their own is certainly...a choice, to say the least.

5 Best: "Balance Of Terror" Introduces The Romulans (8.9)

In the middle of officiating a wedding between two crewmen, Kirk receives a distress call from an outpost at the edge of the neutral zone between the Federation and Romulan territories. A lone Romulan ship is suspected of destroying various outposts within the neutral zone, leading Kirk into tactical combat with an alien race the Federation hasn't engaged with in over a century.

"Balance of Terror" features one of the series' best space battles , highlighting Kirk and his crew's adaptability in critical situations. The episode also introduced the Romulans as an enemy Vulcanoid race with several differences from Spock's culture.

4 Worst: "The Way To Eden" Stumbles Along The Road To Paradise (5.4)

The Enterprise is tasked with apprehending and transporting a rogue group who reject modernity in "The Way To Eden." Once aboard, the group explains that their main goal is finding Eden — a paradise where they can live away from technology — before covertly attempting to take over the ship to fulfill their mission.

It's easy to see why the episode is so disliked. While "The Way To Eden" is an interesting exploration of hippies during a time when the movement was most prominent, the ridiculous antics of the new characters, their unnecessary songs, and, most importantly, the atrocious writing make the episode one of the worst in the series.

3 Best: The Fan-Favorite "Mirror, Mirror" Launched A Thousand What-Ifs (9.1)

After a transporter malfunction strands Kirk, McCoy, Uhura, and Scotty in a parallel universe, the quartet must fit in with a more violent version of the Enterprise crew while they try to find a way back. Along the way, they meet the alternate version of Spock, who notices the change in his crewmates and begins suspecting their origins.

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A combination of a popular trope, entertaining writing, and great character moments, "Mirror, Mirror" is as famous as an episode can get . Apart from being regarded as a fan-favorite, it also spawned an array of novels and comics centered around various mirror universes. It also features Spock with a beard, which immediately makes it unforgettable.

2 Worst: "And The Children Shall Lead" Is Rife With Plotholes And Child Actors (5.2)

In "And The Children Shall Lead," the Enterprise receives a distress call from a Starfleet outpost in Triacus, where Kirk and his landing party discover the site of a massacre. Much to their astonishment, the children of Triacus act as if nothing has happened, but further investigation shows that there's a sinister explanation behind their strange behavior.

Some of this episode's sins include the unforgivable amount of plotholes and out-of-character moments, as well as Melvin Belli's acting as Gorgan, the main villain, and, not surprisingly, the inclusion of children.

1 Best: "The City On The Edge Of Forever" Is Beyond Iconic (9.3)

When McCoy crosses a time portal into the 1930s, Kirk and Spock must go after him and prevent him from changing the past. Once back in time, they meet Edith Keeler, a kind social worker who allows them to help out at the mission she owns while they wait for McCoy, who despite crossing first is set to arrive later. Spock finds out that Edith's death is the event that will change the timeline, forcing Kirk, who has fallen in love with her, to make a terrible choice.

"The City On The Edge Of Forever" is not only popular with Trekkies but is also widely cherished by the cast and crew, with Gene Roddenberry and Leonard Nimoy citing it as one of their favorites. Despite a slow start, the episode immediately picks up after Kirk and Spock step back in time, delivering what many consider to be the best Star Trek episode ever.

NEXT: Live Long & Prosper: 10 Best Quotes From Star Trek's Spock

10 Worst Star Trek Episodes

😲 Comment below (without indignation, if possible), or post your personal list. Some Trek episodes (or even movies) suck. The reasons are diverse, but most often the principal problem lies in the narrative. Here is my personal list of the worst ten. But as much as I dislike them, they are still a part of the Star Trek Universe.

10 VOY: Spirit Folk

For those who thought "Fair Haven" was not yet boring enough, here comes a second episode set in the eponymous old Irish town, or rather in what the Voyager crew imagines to be typically Irish. "Spirit Folk" is remembered for Harry Kim kissing a cow and for the Doctor dressing up as a priest. And that's it. Oh well, I forgot the holographic characters who become self-aware (although or just because they are programmed to be stupid?) and who destroy the holographic controls with holographic bullets. Oh my... Read the full review .

9 VOY: 11:59

This dull story set in present-day America is neither science fiction, nor does it further advance Voyager's storyline in any fashion. What's more, if it had not been for Janeway's clone, her equally caffeine-addicted token Irish ancestor played by Kate Mulgrew, it wouldn't have been recognizable as a Voyager episode at all. Agreed, all this is no reason to put down the episode. Yet, I don't watch Star Trek to see a story about a planned shopping mall with awkwardly forged ties to the actual series (unlike in DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars", where a similar idea was made into a really meaningful story). Read the full review .

8 DS9: Meridian

This story seems to come straight from a pulp novel: A business woman meets a handsome outdoorsman and abandons her job for him. This is so sexist that it hurts - even more so with the prospect that the two would vanish into a magic kingdom out of this world. It is supposed to be science fiction after all - or rather fantasy? To add insult to injury, the woman is Jadzia Dax, and apparently just because her character was considered the only plausible "victim" for such a treatment. This is all way out of character and way beyond credibility. I only wonder why this so obviously inappropriate story pitch was accepted in the first place. Read the full review .

7 ENT: Doctor's Orders

I used to care a bit more for this episode when it was still called VOY: "One" and Phlox's name was Seven of Nine. The rehash named "Doctor's Orders", about essentially the same delusions of a solitary character, may be the most boring episode of the franchise. I remember I almost fell asleep when I first watched it. Nothing of note happens, at least nothing that could surprise us and nothing that would have any consequences. Read the full review .

6 DS9: Profit and Lace

I was prepared when I watched this dreaded cross-dressing episode for a second time after many years, as I had a bottle of beer ready to make it a bit more endurable. The idea to have Quark pose as a woman named "Lumba" is already dumb enough. But why does Quark have to wear high heels that he can't walk with? And why does Dr. Bashir go as far as treating him with hormones, while he doesn't do anything about the pitch of his voice? The whole farce had just one lasting effect: It ultimately overstrained the Ferengi theme. "Profit and Lace" is the last time in DS9 that their culture is in the focus. Read the full review .

5 TOS: The Omega Glory

"The Omega Glory" rehashes themes ad nauseam that were already included in the previous three "parallel Earth" installments of season 2. It could still have been half-way interesting, had Captain Tracey not been an insane criminal and had Omega IV not been incredibly Earth-like even without interference. There is nothing of note in the episode but the perhaps biggest cringe moment of Star Trek, as the Yangs solemnly carry a US flag that is in tatters, everyone rises from their seats in reverence and Kirk is to speak the "holy words" (followed, of course, by a fight as he fails to say the exact gibberish they want to hear). Read the full review .

4 TAS: The Slaver Weapon

This is much like a companion episode to TOS: "The Alternative Factor" because it too consists of concepts that don't fit together to a story at all. Writer Larry Niven adopted the setting and characters from his Known Space universe, which are out of place in Star Trek. The course of the plot is accordingly bumpy. The history of the Slavers and the cultural background of the Kzinti are awkwardly cluttered together. Hardly any of pieces of background information contribute anything to the plot, or make sense at all. And the same can be said about the characters, Kzinti and Starfleet alike. Read the full review .

3 ENT: A Night in Sickbay

A lot comes together in "A Night in Sickbay" that simply doesn't belong together: Archer's stubbornness towards the Kreetassans, his worries about Porthos, his uncalled-for sexual frustration. Each topic alone would have been suited for nothing more than a trivial side plot in a normal episode, if at all. But in their combination, the story ranges from tacky (Freudian slips) over unappetizing (Phlox's messy toenails) to plain annoying (Archer's dream sequence). I hope it's not Brannon Braga who speaks through Jonathan Archer: "I'm doing the breast I can." Read the full review .

2 TOS: The Alternative Factor

For over five decades, this used to be the poorest outing of the whole franchise. "The Alternative Factor" seems to take us into a universe that is governed by anti-logic. While the story comes with an awkward amalgamation of concepts to start with, the abysmal screenplay and the sloppy execution add insult to injury. The episode clearly suffers from many rewrites and from the fact that Lazarus actor John Drew Barrymore didn't show up for the shooting and had to be replaced with Robert Brown. This may explain at least a few of the countless things that have gone awry. Read the full review .

1 SHO: The Trouble with Edward

This Short Treks episode is the only one on this list and in the whole franchise that I sincerely hate and that I can't watch without a feeling of disgust. "The Trouble with Edward" fails for a lot more reasons than just the sick humor it attempts to relay. Even if I could laugh about it, it would still be a cynical piece on an antisocial idiot and his arrogant superiors, and as such diametrically opposed to the very idea of Star Trek. In my view, this is the most Anti-Trek and the worst Trek episode ever produced. Read the full review .

In case you miss TOS: "Spock's Brain" and VOY: "Threshold", they are not quite among my ten least favorite episodes because, well, they are somewhat entertaining after all. TNG: "Shades of Gray" may be a clip show, but is watchable nonetheless. ENT: "These Are The Voyages" narrowly didn't make the list.

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/rankings/ten-worst-episodes.htm

Last modified: 02 Jan 2023

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Fleet Yards

Spock's Brain: Why The 'Worst' Star Trek Episode Divides Fans

W hen an episode includes immortal dialogue like "Brain and brain! What is brain?" you know it's headed for infamy. But sometimes, as any "Star Trek" fan knows, infamy breeds affection.

"Spock's Brain" is widely known as one of the worst outings in the history of the original series, even making the top 100 in David Hofstede's immortal tome "What Were They Thinking? The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History." The Season 3 episode sees the Enterprise approach an unidentified spacecraft. When the ship passes the craft's orbit, it knocks everyone unconscious. When the rest of the crew awakens, they find Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in the sick bay -- alive, but inexplicably missing his brain. The frequently lovable James T. Kirk (William Shatner) leads the crew on a desperate search for the brain thief. She turns out to be Kara (Marj Dusay), who wants to enslave men universe-wide and turn them into brainless cavemen. It's up to Kirk to put Spock's brain back in his head. Meanwhile, McCoy (DeForest Kelly) remotely controls Spock's brainless body.

The episode has earned much disdain over the years -- it sits at a 5.6 on IMDb , making it one of the worst-ranked episodes of the show, and even Shatner and Nimoy expressed their distaste for the episode, despite it becoming a legendary part of Spock's backstory . Yet the episode does have some defenders among "Star Trek" fans. "Yes I know that Leonard Nimoy hated it and I don't blame him, as he has nothing interesting to do in the entire episode. However I find myself enjoying the episode every time I watch it. There is just something very charming about it," confessed u/JeremyAPerron on the "Star Trek" Reddit.

Read more: Star Trek Stories That Are Actually Horrifying

Star Trek Fans Have Defended Spock's Brain

In spite of its reputation, a number of "Star Trek" fans admit they actually like the cheesy nature of "Spock's Brain." u/OpsikionThemed knows it's not a smart episode, but that's not why they like it. "It's a fun episode! Dumb as a sack of hammers, but hardly deserving of its 'worst ever' reputation," they said. Most fans who like the episode note that the dramatic line delivery, nonsensical plot, and completely off-kilter science are all part of the episode's charm. In the end, the large divide of opinion seems to boil down to how serious one needs their "Star Trek" to be. In short: "Spock's Brain is MST3K-episode bad, and that's why it's one of my favorites," noted an anonymous user.

Even a number of IMDb fans are fond of the episode. "It's certainly one of the loonier plots, especially when McCoy wires the brainless Spock body for remote control. But the great thing is how the whole thing is treated completely seriously by all the actors," observed user Bigaiv .

In the end, "Spock's Brain" will likely go down in history as the campiest edition of the original series, even as it becomes less reviled over time as one of the show's worst episodes . After all -- how bad can it really be if it inspired a Phish song?

Read the original article on Looper

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The 10 best Star Trek: The Original Series episodes, ranked

The Enterprise crew looks alarmed in Star Trek.

It’s hard to imagine today, but back in the late 1960s, the original Star Trek was not considered a hit. The ambitious science fiction series was constantly on the brink of cancellation and was cut short only three years into its planned five-season run.

10. Mirror, Mirror (season 2, episode 4)

9. a taste of armageddon (season 1, episode 24), 8. the menagerie, parts i and ii (season 1, episodes 12 and 13), 7. the doomsday machine (season 2, episode 6), 6. the corbomite maneuver (season 1, episode 11), 5. the devil in the dark (season 1, episode 26), 4. the trouble with tribbles (season 2, episode 15), 3. where no man has gone before (season 1, episode 4), 2. the city on the edge of forever (season 1, episode 29), 1. balance of terror (season 1, episode 15).

However, it’s important to put Trek ’s apparent failure into historical context as, given that most markets in the U.S. had only three television channels to choose from, even a low-rated show like Star Trek was being watched by about 20% of everyone watching television on a Thursday night, or roughly 10 million households. This year’s season of HBO’s Succession was viewed by roughly 8 million households a week , which makes it a hit by today’s standards. Star Trek ’s audience only grew once it went into reruns in the early 1970s, and by the time Star Trek: The Motion Picture hit theaters in 1979, it was a genuine cultural phenomenon. Today, the Star Trek franchise is considered one of the crown jewels of the Paramount library.

Though arguably outshined by its most prosperous spinoff, Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: The Original Series holds up remarkably well for a vision of our future imagined nearly 60 years in our past. It’s a space adventure series that tackles social or political issues from what was, at the time, a daring and progressive perspective informed by the contemporary civil rights movement, sexual revolution, and backlash against the Vietnam War. Conveying these values through fanciful science fiction didn’t only allow its writers to get away with a lot of subversive messages, it also delivered them in a way that remains fun to watch decades later — fun enough that fans are willing to forgive when its ideas, or its special effects, crumble under modern scrutiny.

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These 10 episodes, however, unquestionably stand the test of time, and thanks to the continuity-light nature of mid-20th century television, any one of them could be your first Star Trek episode. (Be aware, however, that the order in which classic Trek episodes are listed varies depending on the source. For our purposes, we’re using the numbering from streaming service Paramount+ .)

Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Star Trek , you’re bound to be at least a little familiar with Mirror, Mirror through cultural osmosis. In this 1967 classic, Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Lt. Commander Scott (James Doohan), and Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) are accidentally transported to an alternate universe, where they encounter dastardly evil versions of their beloved shipmates. Instead of the benevolent United Federation of Planets, this ship serves the fascist Terran Empire, which threatens to annihilate a peaceful planet for refusing to submit to itsrule. Our heroes are forced to pose as their evil counterparts while they search for a way home and try to avert the genocide they’ve been ordered to perform.

This all sounds heavier than it is — like much of classic Trek , Mirror Mirror is very camp, with brightly colored costumes, over-the-top performances, and a general sense of fun. The cast is clearly having a ball playing the wicked versions of their characters (or playing the good versions of their characters playing the wicked versions), and it’s no wonder why multiple future incarnations of Trek would return to the Mirror Universe, usually for wacky adventure episodes. (For a more grim and brutal take on this same concept, visit the back half of Star Trek: Discovery ’s first season.) However, Mirror, Mirror still comes complete with Trek ’s famous humanist optimism, as Kirk tries to convince this universe’s menacing, bearded Spock (Leonard Nimoy) that regimes ruled by fear are unsustainable and, therefore, illogical. Given enough time, peace and cooperation will always win out over hate and violence.

A Taste of Armageddon may not appear on many “Best Of” lists, but it’s 100% pure, uncut Star Trek . In this episode, Kirk and company visit Eminiar VII, a seemingly peaceful planet that is, in fact, embroiled in a centuries-long war with a neighboring world. Rather than fire actual bombs at each other, the combatants conduct simulated attacks, determine the hypothetical death toll, and then order the “dead” citizens to report to disintegration chambers. When Kirk and his landing party are recorded as casualties, they decide to put an end to Eminiar VII’s supposedly “civilized” method of warfare.

While Kirk arguably has no right to interfere with how this sovereign planet conducts its affairs, the point of A Taste of Armageddon is to reflect on America’s attempt to make constant military conflict more palatable, or even invisible to the average American. Or, in a larger sense, it’s a commentary on the ease with which a culture can become accustomed to death and violence, so long as it’s part of an established routine. Because these simulated bombings leave homes, industry, and even the military infrastructure itself totally unharmed, it’s easy to forget that Eminiar VII is even at war — that is, until it claims your life or the life of someone you love.

When even these losses are framed as necessary sacrifices to maintain normalcy, it minimizes the incentive to make peace. Kirk (and, by extension, writers Robert Hamner and Gene L. Coon) argues that war is revolting no matter how much you dress it up, and that it must be brutal, terrifying, and omnipresent for all involved, or else it will never stop. The past half-century of perpetual U.S. military intervention abroad has proven this thesis to be chillingly accurate.

If you’re watching Star Trek on Paramount+, you’ll notice that the episode it has listed as “season 1, episode 1,” The Cage , isn’t exactly the show you were expecting. Instead of the famous Captain James T. Kirk, the USS Enterprise is under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter), and apart from Mr. Spock — who smiles?! — the rest of the crew is also unfamiliar. That’s because The Cage is Star Trek ’s original pilot episode, which was rejected by NBC, leading to a second pilot being commissioned with a new cast and modified tone. The Cage wouldn’t air as its own episode until 1988, but during production of Star Trek ’s first season in 1966, a budget crunch led to writer/creator Gene Roddenberry repurposing footage from the already-completed pilot into a new script in the form of flashbacks.

This fiscally minded decision endowed Star Trek and its characters with a history, instantly making the universe a bigger and more interesting place. The two-part Menagerie sees Spock, the only remaining character from the original cast, commandeer the Enterprise for the sake of its previous captain, Christopher Pike. On the way to a forbidden planet, Spock uses mysterious footage from an adventure 13 years in the past to explain his rash actions.

If you’ve already watched The Cage , then The Menagerie will seem like a glorified clip show, in which Kirk and company spend half the runtime watching a previous episode. However, before the streaming era, The Cage was usually the last episode of The Original Series that a fan would see, rather than the first. In recent years, however, The Cage and The Menagerie have taken on a new role, as bookends to the adventures of Christopher Pike, as portrayed by Anson Mount on modern spinoff Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Strange New Worlds (as well as the second season of Star Trek: Discovery ) take place after The Cage , but before The Menagerie , allowing us to get to know Kirk’s predecessor in his own context, as well as developing the bond between Pike and Spock that will eventually drive the Vulcan to mutiny. Even without any of this context, however, The Menagerie is an exciting two-hour event, an eras-spanning mystery that will make you wonder why NBC passed on the Star Trek pilot in the first place.

Due to the production constraints of 1960s television, the original Star Trek didn’t often aim for large-scale, awe-inspiring space action. The Doomsday Machine is the closest that classic Trek ever came to “epic,” and as compelling a story as it is, it’s also Exhibit A as to why such a thing was impractical with the resources available. Though its original effects required no small amount of ingenuity (they couldn’t afford to give their Enterprise model battle damage, so they bought one off the rack from a toy store and distressed it), the results look mighty corny on a modern high-definition television.

Still, the episode gained fame as boasting the largest-scale action of the series, as the Enterprise teams up with her badly damaged sister ship, the USS Constellation, to take on a huge planet-eating weapon. It also presages a theme that would become common in Star Trek feature films , as the Constellation’s grief-stricken Commodore Matt Decker (guest star William Windom) embarks on a foolhardy quest for revenge against the monster that bested him. (Trek would revisit Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek: First Contact .)

The episode still works in a cheesy B-movie sort of way, which some fans would argue is the way it should still be enjoyed. However, when the series was remastered for high definition in the mid-2000s, the decision was made to recreate most of the special effects shots for the series using modern technology, since the originals were never expected to hold up to modern standards. Most of these recreations are very faithful, to the extent that uninitiated viewers might not even realize they’d been replaced. In the case of The Doomsday Machine , however, the producers and effects artists returned to the episode’s original script and attempted to realize writer Norman Spinrad’s initial vision for the space battle sequences. The team at CBS Digital doesn’t sacrifice the overall aesthetic of the series, but they do give us a peek at what The Doomsday Machine — and by extension, the entire Original Series — might have looked like with a feature film budget.

There may be no better introduction to the character of James T. Kirk than The Corbomite Maneuver . The first episode produced after the series was picked up (though it didn’t air until later in the season), The Corbomite Maneuver finds the Enterprise at the mercy of a massive alien vessel and accused of trespassing in its territory. Unable to outrun or outgun his mysterious adversary, Kirk does what he will later become famous for doing — he cheats. Or, rather, he changes the conditions of the contest from one of technological superiority to one of cunning and guile. In the process, we get to learn a bit about how each of the main characters handles the intense stress of a seemingly hopeless scenario, contrasted against the more relatable Everyman Lt. Bailey (guest star Anthony Call). Though the action rarely leaves the bridge of the Enterprise, it is, in its own way, one of the most thrilling episodes of the series.

Moreover, The Corbomite Maneuver sets the tone for Star Trek as a series. It’s an hour of adventure that is punctuated by moments of thoughtful introspection, warm friendship, and corny jokes. Its depiction of Starfleet and the Enterprise are clearly inspired by military tradition, but the message of the episode is one of compassion and patience rather than conquest. These are scientists, not soldiers, and while they experience fear and doubt, none of their human frailties are a match for their curiosity. If this is what the future of humanity looks like, we want to be a part of it.

When Star Trek is running on full thrusters, it is equal parts silly and profound. In The Devil in the Dark , the Enterprise is sent to the aid of a mining colony where workers are being hunted and killed by an unstoppable monster made of rock. We know that the monster is made of rock because the characters say so; It looks a lot more like it’s made of spray-painted Styrofoam and a shag rug. But as the tension rises and the mystery deepens, the goofiness of the rock monster becomes irrelevant, or even a boon to the story.

Though it begins as a hunt for a merciless alien creature, The Devil in the Dark becomes a story about prejudice and the universality of what we (in our limited earthly experience) would call “basic human rights.” This message is conveyed through cheesy 1960s TV production values and some very hammy acting, but the results are pure and unpretentious, the sort of storytelling that is equally impactful on a jaded adult and a wide-eyed child.

Here in the post-post-postmodern 2020s, we’re all total pros at deconstructing genre tropes. The practice of subverting the audience’s expectations as to what kind of story they’re watching or who the good guys and bad guys are wasn’t new in 1967, either, but in the sci-fi film and television of the era, the big scary monster is usually just a big scary monster. The Devil in the Dark exemplifies one of Star Trek ’s most enduring themes: that the unknown might seem terrifying, but if you take the time to understand it, it’s actually beautiful.

Star Trek is always science fiction, but its format offers a lot of flexibility in terms of how to interpret that genre. Even within the course of a single series or season, most Star Trek shows alternate between a variety of tones and secondary genres, from grim political drama to steamy romance, or in the case of this episode, kooky workplace comedy. The Trouble with Tribbles pits Captain Kirk and his gallant crew against their most stubborn foe yet — bureaucratic red tape. Assigned to look after a container of grain that Federation administrators insist is gravely important, the Enterprise becomes entangled in a very silly misadventure involving an invasive species of adorable, self-replicating furballs. For a captain accustomed to dealing with high-stakes diplomacy and galactic defense, this is his worst workweek ever.

As lousy a time as Kirk is having, The Trouble with Tribbles is tremendous fun. It is neither the first, nor the last broadly comedic episode of Star Trek , but it is the gold standard by which all Trek comedies are measured. Like any good Trek, it has stakes, a fun science fiction premise, and charming moments of character, but everything is set just a little bit askew, and the characters have noticed. It isn’t parody, it’s situation comedy, only a situation that you’re unlikely to find yourself in unless you’re the crew of a Federation starship. Almost every subsequent Trek series would chase that Trouble with Tribbles heat at least once ( Star Trek: Lower Decks is basically The Trouble with Tribbles: The Series ), with varying levels of success, but the original remains an untouchable classic.

After The Cage was rejected by NBC, Desilu Studios (under the leadership of comedy queen Lucille Ball herself) took a second swing at the series, with a new cast and a faster paced action-adventure story. This second pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before , introduces William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, as well as George Takei as Lt. Sulu, James Doohan as Scotty, and Leonard Nimoy’s new, more stoic interpretation of science officer Spock.

The episode sees Kirk’s friend and mentee, helmsman Gary Mitchell (guest star Gary Lockwood), bombarded with cosmic radiation that grants him increasingly godlike powers. As Gary grows more dangerous and cruel, Kirk must weigh his love for his friend against his duty to his crew. The scenario immediately establishes the dynamic between Kirk and Spock (compassionate leader versus his coldly practical advisor), though Spock’s regular debate partner, the emotionally driven Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), would not appear until Trek was ordered to series.

Where No Man Has Gone Before is a little less fun and colorful than the episodes that followed, with a tone more closely resembling heady 1950s sci-fi films like Forbidden Planet or The Day the Earth Stood Still . In a way, it’s the classic Trek episode that feels the most like Star Trek: The Next Generation ; It’s talky, deliberately paced, just a little bit sterile. In Where No Man Has Gone Before , the galaxy is not only wondrous, but also eerie and unsettling. Had this been the tone the series stuck with, it might not have become a global sensation, but as a single episode, it stands out as one of the very best.

To some Trekkies, ranking The City on the Edge of Forever anywhere but at No. 1 is unthinkable. This time travel tale – written by sci-fi author Harlan Ellison and then heavily revised by Trek story editor D.C. Fontana — won Star Trek its first Hugo Award, and is widely considered to be the finest hour in the history of the series, if not the franchise as a whole. The episode’s legendary status is well-deserved, but we don’t quite have the heart to declare it the ultimate Star Trek episode, on account of how little of it takes place in the 23rd century or aboard the Starship Enterprise. The City on the Edge of Forever is an outlier, and as such, naturally stands apart from the pack, giving it an edge in any conversation about Star Trek . Its placement here at No. 2 is sort of a counter to that advantage.

Make no mistake, however — despite mostly being set in New York in the year 1930, City on the Edge is Star Trek to its core. Sent back in time to correct an accidental alteration of Earth’s history, Kirk and Spock take up residence in a homeless shelter run by idealistic philanthropist Edith Keeler (guest star Joan Collins). Keeler turns out to be the key historical figure whose destiny must be fulfilled, but there’s a problem — Kirk has fallen in love with her. This romance complicates the mission, as Kirk and Spock are confronted with a grave moral dilemma with their entire reality hanging in the balance. Keeler is a visionary who believes in the beautiful future that Kirk calls home. But, in order for that future to exist, must something terrible be allowed to happen in her present? It’s an emotionally gripping tale that, if it had been told on a modern television show, would have changed its characters forever.

Star Trek is built on a central contradiction. It’s an adventure series about officers in a fleet that we are told, unconvincingly, is not a military organization, aboard a vessel that carries enough firepower to demolish a continent. It’s a show about peace in which things have a habit of blowing up. To reconcile this cognitive dissonance, one need only look to this key episode of The Original Series , Balance of Terror . In this early chapter, the Enterprise witnesses an Earth base being destroyed by an old enemy, the Romulan Empire. The Romulan ship has the ability to become invisible both to scanners and the naked eye, and attempts to escape to its own side of the neutral zone between their two territories before it can be apprehended.

The Enterprise is ordered to capture or destroy the Romulans before they make it home. Whether or not they succeed, there may be war. Kirk has his orders, and as we soon discover, so does the Romulan commander (guest star Mark Lenard), who is no happier about this turn of events than Kirk is. Throughout the episode, we cut back and forth between the action on the Enterprise and aboard the Romulan vessel, as two keen military strategists attempt to outmaneuver each other and stay alive, both locked in a struggle they’d rather had never begun.

Balance of Terror is a sci-fi twist on a submarine battle, but more than that, it’s a commentary on war, the rivalries between nations, and the wounds and prejudices they create. The Enterprise isn’t loaded with photon torpedoes because Starfleet is itching for a fight — it’s armed because sometimes it has to be, and when Kirk and his crew ride into battle, there’s nothing glorious about it. On the other side of any conflict is a person or people who have their own mission, their own values, and perhaps even their own reservations about fighting. It is not possible to avoid every fight, to preempt every war with diplomacy. But when blood is shed, there is no victory and there are no winners. There is tragedy, and there are survivors. And, finally, there’s the hope that the next time these two nations clash, they’ll be a little more willing to talk to one another.

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We’re sure we could debate all day about whether or not Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a superhero show, but if it is, it’s the best one ever. The saga of high school student (and later, college dropout) Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her double life as the magically empowered Slayer still holds up as one of the great action-adventure series in American TV history. The show broke ground in several ways, including its user of carefully plotted seasonal arcs, its explorations of gender and sexuality, and its unique and quirky dialect. As Buffy and her best friends Willow (Allyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendan) grew up, so did the series, becoming more emotionally and structurally complicated. It’s a formative text for an entire generation of viewers and storytellers, to the extent that its pervasive influence has actually become a problem. (Must all heroes be superintelligent quip machines?) Its legacy has also grown more complicated, as allegations of creator Joss Whedon’s casually cruel and unprofessional behavior toward his cast — particularly its female actors — has tarnished his legacy as a television innovator and feminist ally. TV is a collaborative medium, but Whedon is impossible to separate from his work -- he wrote and directed the entire top half of our list of favorite episodes and a lot of the bottom half, too. Make no mistake: There is no level of quality that Whedon’s work could attain that would excuse his alleged mistreatment of his subordinates and co-workers. However, speaking for ourselves, the work still holds up incredibly well, and it’s a series we can’t help but revisit again and again. Editor's note: Spoilers ahead.

10. Chosen (season 7, episode 22)

While you may not think of genre storytelling as the most fertile ground for developing fascinating, complex characters, sci-fi TV proves the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. Over the long history of sci-fi on television, we've gotten a number of hugely compelling characters who have grown and changed over the course of seasons and years.

Whether these characters are human, alien, or something else entirely, each one of them has compelled us, and sometimes, they've even managed to worm their way into our hearts forever. 10. Kerr Avon (Blake's 7)

It's been a long hiatus for Doctor Who fans, but the series is back with a new 60th anniversary special called Doctor Who: The Star Beast. This is the first of three specials that will feature the Tenth Doctor performer David Tennant appearing as a new Fourteenth Doctor. Tennant's Doctor is also joined by Catherine Tate's Donna Noble, his former companion from the fourth season.

The Doctor has had numerous companions for his time travel adventures over the last six decades. But when compiling this list of the seven best Doctor Who companions, we decided to stick with the companions from the modern revival series that started in 2005. There is only one exception to that rule, and that's because the character in question had the unique chance to play a major role in both classic Doctor Who and in the modern era. But if you want to know who landed the top spot, you'll have to keep on reading. 7. Captain Jack Harkness

Worst Star Trek episodes

1. Star Trek

2. Star Trek

William Shatner and Roy Jenson in Star Trek (1966)

3. Star Trek

The omega glory.

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Majel Barrett, DeForest Kelley, and Sabrina Scharf in Star Trek (1966)

4. Star Trek

The paradise syndrome.

DeForest Kelley, Barbara Babcock, and Liam Sullivan in Star Trek (1966)

5. Star Trek

Plato's stepchildren.

6. Star Trek

The way to eden.

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and Persis Khambatta in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

7. Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Denise Crosby, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

8. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Code of honor.

Marina Sirtis and Jay Louden in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

9. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Frank Corsentino, Robert Towers, and Douglas Warhit in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

10. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Anna Katarina in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

11. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Leonard Crofoot, Patricia McPherson, and Karen Montgomery in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

12. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

13. Star Trek: The Next Generation

When the bough breaks.

Marina Sirtis in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

14. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Skin of evil.

Patrick Stewart and Michelle Phillips in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

15. Star Trek: The Next Generation

We'll always have paris.

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

16. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Diana Muldaur in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

17. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Unnatural selection.

Patrick Stewart, Paddi Edwards, and Jaime Hubbard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

18. Star Trek: The Next Generation

The dauphin.

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

19. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Jonathan Frakes in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

20. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Shades of gray.

Patrick Stewart and Kathryn Leigh Scott in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

21. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Who watches the watchers.

Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Patrick Stewart, and John Vickery in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

22. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Night terrors.

Gates McFadden and Franc Luz in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

23. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Ashley Judd and Wil Wheaton in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

24. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Brent Spiner and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

25. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Hero worship.

Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Patrick Stewart, and Rick Fitts in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

26. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Jonathan Frakes and Melinda Culea in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

27. Star Trek: The Next Generation

The outcast.

Shay Astar and Noley Thornton in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

28. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Imaginary friend.

Renée Jones in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

29. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Michael Dorn and Michael Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

30. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Norman Large in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

31. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Brent Spiner, Patrick Stewart, Michael Corbett, and Margaret Reed in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

32. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Force of nature.

Gates McFadden in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

33. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Brent Spiner in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

34. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Wil Wheaton in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

35. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Journey's end.

Gates McFadden and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

36. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Terry Farrell, Colm Meaney, Avery Brooks, Brett Cullen, Christine Healy, and Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)

37. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Cecile Callan in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

38. Star Trek: Voyager

Jennifer Lien, Kate Mulgrew, Roxann Dawson, and Tim Russ in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

39. Star Trek: Voyager

Robert Duncan McNeill and Ethan Phillips in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

40. Star Trek: Voyager

Parturition.

Robert Beltran in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

41. Star Trek: Voyager

Robert Duncan McNeill and Kate Mulgrew in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

42. Star Trek: Voyager

43. Star Trek: Voyager

44. Star Trek: Voyager

Robert Beltran, Kate Mulgrew, and Roxann Dawson in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

45. Star Trek: Voyager

46. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Robert Beltran and Roxann Dawson in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

47. Star Trek: Voyager

Kate Mulgrew in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

48. Star Trek: Voyager

Sacred ground.

Robert Beltran, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Tim Russ in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

49. Star Trek: Voyager

Unforgettable.

50. Star Trek: Voyager

Kate Mulgrew and Kevin Tighe in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

51. Star Trek: Voyager

Robert Picardo and Larry Drake in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

52. Star Trek: Voyager

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Den of Geek

Star Trek: In Defense of Enterprise’s Worst Episode

This Enterprise episode is sometimes accused of having “killed Star Trek,” but is that really fair?

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Archer looks at a sick Porthos from the other side of a medical barrier

Don’t worry, this isn’t a defense of “These Are The Voyages.”* We’re here today to talk about the other “worst episode of Enterprise ,” season two’s “A Night In Sickbay.”

“The episode that killed Star Trek .” “One of the worst episodes of the whole Star Trek franchise.” “Almost as bad as ‘These Are The Voyages.’” These and similar opinions of “A Night In Sickbay” are all over the Internet. The episode frequently appears on “worst episodes of all time” lists alongside “Spock’s Brain” from The Original Series and Star Trek: Voyager ’s “Threshold.”

I have no intention of arguing that this is a great or outstanding episode of Star Trek – it’s not. But nor is it anything like as bad as those other two notorious examples. Does anyone turn into a lizard? No. Do any crew members abduct other crew members to have lizard sex with them? No. Does anyone’s brain get taken out and yet their body still, inexplicably, functions? No. It’s about time we went over a few of the more common complaints about this episode, to see if it really deserves its terrible reputation.

Complaint 1: Archer behaves like an idiot, and no trained diplomat should behave the way he does.

The episode’s events are kicked off when Archer takes his dog Porthos down to an alien planet on a sensitive diplomatic mission, and then gets upset when the aliens are insulted because the dog peed on one of their sacred trees, while poor Porthos nearly dies after coming into contact with an alien pathogen.

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Viewers have complained that Archer’s behaviour in this episode is childish, that no “trained diplomat” should ever think it was appropriate to bring a dog on a sensitive visit, and that the episode makes the Captain look like an idiot. He spends most of the time railing at the aliens, the Kreetassans, avoiding taking any responsibility for what happened, and suggesting that he might refuse to apologise.

Bringing Porthos may not have been the brightest idea in the world, but it isn’t the act of total idiocy critics have made it out to be either. Archer himself points out repeatedly that they told the Kreetassans he was planning on bringing Porthos, and the Kreetassans said nothing about their sacred trees, plus they endangered Porthos’ life by not running proper checks on his genome. Should Archer have known better than to try to bring the dog with him at all, considering an alien species may not understand the nature of the dog-human relationship? Yes, and T’Pol tells him as much in the episode. Is he completely irredeemably stupid for thinking that he’d taken appropriate precautions and wanting to give his dog some exercise? No.

Archer’s reactions are also aggravated by the fact that the Kreetassans are, to put it mildly, gigantic pains in the backside. In their previous encounter, in the first season episode Vox Sola , the Kreetassans took offense because the Enterprise crew ate in front of them, which they consider vulgar. Except the crew didn’t just turn up to their planet touting takeaway – they were eating in their mess hall on their own ship. You know, the room set aside specifically for eating, an important social activity in Earth culture. The Kreetassans’ reaction is ridiculous and made worse by their reluctance to explain the problem, a reluctance they show again in this episode. Sure, Archer should grow up and get over it, but his frustration, while unprofessional, is very human.

It’s also worth bearing in mind the title of the episode – this takes place over the course of a sleepless night during which Archer is afraid Porthos is dying. He is stressed, emotional, and on edge, and he’s lashing out. By morning (and with Porthos thankfully having survived) he has cooled down and started behaving more appropriately again. And none of Archer’s complaints are actually communicated to the Kreetassans – he’s sounding off to his crew and his colleagues about a frustrating situation. He may not be the world’s best diplomat, but there are real life diplomats guilty of worse offences.

Complaint 2: Archer shouldn’t be whining so much about his dog.

How you feel about this one is going to depend partly on how you feel about dogs, or about pets in general. As a person who has slept in the lounge to watch over and comfort a sick dog, I have every sympathy with how Archer feels. If my dog is sick, you can bet I’m not at my best at work, especially if I’ve also had very little sleep. Archer’s way of explaining this, calling Porthos “my beagle, my pal”, may be a cringe-worthy way to put it, but those of us with “subservient quadrupeds” at home really are very attached to them.

Incidentally, given that Phlox’s bizarre treatment for Porthos involves drowning and reviving him, this episode initiates the dog into the grand tradition of Star Trek episodes that “kill” main characters only to bring them back to life again.

Complaint 3: Archer’s romantic feelings for T’Pol come out of nowhere and aren’t convincing.

While many viewers consider Archer’s romantic feelings for T’Pol in this episode to be a one-off story thread that was never picked up again, this is actually the end of a slight romantic thread between the two of them that started in season one, but largely fizzled out afterwards. Archer’s defence of T’Pol in “Fusion” could be assumed to be no more than a Captain protecting a member of his crew, but as well as several aside glances over the first season, they snuggle up together under a blanket in “The Andorian Incident”; in “Fallen Hero,” Vulcan ambassador V’Lar tells them she sees a “great bond” of “friendship” between them, and in “Shockwave Part 1,” T’Pol tells Archer she has his back. That may not sound like much, but in 90s Trek terms, that was practically a relationship.

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The suggestion of an Archer/T’Pol romance would come up once more, in season three’s “Twilight.” Nothing to do with sparkly vampires, this episode had originally been suggested as a romantic storyline between Captain Janeway and First Officer Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager , a couple who flirted mercilessly for seven years before Chakotay was inexplicably paired with Seven of Nine at the last minute. Re-written for Captain Archer and his First Officer, this episode is often considered one of Enterprise ’s best – so it’s not the sexual tension between Archer and T’Pol itself that is the issue with “A Night In Sickbay,” merely the sloppy execution.

The main reason the idea of a romance between the two has such a poor reputation is that the way it’s brought up here feels rather strange, with Phlox insisting Archer’s concern for his dog is actually stress caused by underlying sexual tension, and some very dubious “Polarian slips” (“the breast I can,” really? With poor Jolene Blalock in that catsuit?). It’s true that the dream sequence in which Porthos’ funeral becomes a romantic moment between Archer and T’Pol, followed by yet more sexy “decontamination”, is rather silly, but it is just a dream. No one mated with each other and had lizard babies, and dreams are often weird – it’s not that bad a scene.

But the idea in itself isn’t inherently terrible – T’Pol and Archer do work well together and she is an obviously attractive woman. However, when she calmly tells Archer any kind of relationship would be inappropriate he does the right thing and moves on, and that’s the end of that. It’s a simple story of an attraction at work that isn’t pursued.

Complaint 4: The humor doesn’t work.

Some of the episode’s bad reputation is the result of its attempts at humour. The opening panning shot across Hoshi “decontaminating” T’Pol, who is “decontaminating” Archer, who is “decontaminating” Porthos, is presumably meant to be funny. The problem is, the exploitative “decontamination” scenes are so problematic in general, it just isn’t very funny, but rather makes it seem like the show is trying to sexualize the dog.

Similarly, the daft sequence at the end of the episode, where Archer has to go through a bizarre ritual in order to apologise to the Kreetassans, is a simple case of humour gone wrong. It’s too silly, his hairdo is bizarre, and it makes no sense. But again, no one turns into a lizard, or randomly picks a fight with some cavemen. It’s not great, but it’s hardly the worst Star Trek has to offer.

The main sources of humour in the episode are, of course, Phlox’s various shenanigans overnight in sickbay. He trims his toenails, he brushes his tongue, he and Archer chase a bat around. If you don’t find any of that funny, then sure, you may find the episode grating. Perhaps I just have a terrible sense of humour, but what can I say – I thought it was funny. Judging by this episode’s Hugo nomination, I’m not the only one.

This episode is sometimes accused of having “killed Star Trek ” and blamed for Enterprise ’s dwindling viewing figures and eventual cancellation. It’s true that it has flaws and it won’t be bothering any “Best Of” lists. But it doesn’t deserve its place on all the ‘Worst Of’ lists either. It’s a good chance to get to know Phlox a bit better, a fascinating and genuinely alien character who didn’t get the spotlight often enough. The interaction between Phlox and Archer here is genuinely fun to watch. It’s light and fluffy and silly, and maybe that’s not your bag, but that doesn’t make it bad. It shows Archer at his worst, at his most childish and petulant, but how can we really get to know any character without seeing them at their lowest? By the end of the episode, he has regained his sense of duty and is fulfilling his role as normal once again. He had a bad night – so do we all, sometimes. It’s about time we cut him, and this episode, some slack.

* Though if that was a season finale, rather than a series finale, and if it hadn’t killed off a major character, it really wouldn’t be that bad either.

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…

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Star Trek: Discovery Reveals A Voyager Enemy Played A Big Role In The Temporal Wars

10 best dr. bashir star trek ds9 episodes, star trek: picard vs. tng filming was "night and day," says admiral shelby actress.

There are deep ties between Star Trek and Seinfeld, with over 30 actors appearing in both iconic shows.
Notable actors like Phil Morris and Brian George had roles in both Seinfeld and various Star Trek series.
Connections between Star Trek and Seinfeld continue through current projects, showcasing the lasting impact of these beloved TV shows.

Unsurprisingly, given their prominence throughout the 1990s, there was considerable crossover of actors between the Star Trek franchise and Seinfeld . Premiering in 1989, the Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld-created sitcom left a huge cultural impact that continues to be felt to this day. The same can be said for Star Trek: The Next Generation , which premiered two years earlier in 1987 and launched three further Star Trek TV shows that kept Gene Roddenberry's vision alive throughout the 1990s. As TNG and Seinfeld were two of the most popular shows on TV, it was inevitable that jobbing actors would secure guest roles on both series .

The connection between Star Trek and Seinfeld continues today, with Jack McBrayer, who voices Badgey in Star Trek: Lower Decks , appearing as Steve Schwinn in Jerry Seinfeld's new Netflix movie Unfrosted . Overall, there are around 30 actors who have appeared in both the Star Trek franchise and Seinfeld 's nine seasons . For example, Teri Hatcher, who had an uncredited role as Lt. Robinson in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 4, "The Outrageous Okona", also appeared as Jerry's girlfriend Sidra Holland in three episodes of Seinfeld .

Every Seinfeld Season Ranked Worst To Best

Deemed one of the greatest sitcoms ever, Seinfeld was a show about nothing for 9 seasons, but which season contained the best shows about nothing?

10 DS9's Armin Shimerman as Stan

Ds9's quark actor didn't enjoy his experience on "the caddy.".

In Seinfeld season 7, episode 12, "The Caddy", Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) meets Stan (Armin Shimerman), a golf caddy who's convinced he can turn Kramer into a professional. Unfortunately, a car crash caused by Elaine's friend Sue Ellen Mischkie wearing a bra in public puts paid to Kramer and Stan's ambitions. It's a small role for Shimerman that shows flashes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Quark , particularly when he advises Kramer to sue Sue Ellen for her family fortune.

Sadly, Armin Shimerman didn't enjoy his Seinfeld experience (via TheThings ) telling a convention audience that the cast were " non-communative, ugly, non-responsive " and " insular ". In response, Star Trek fan and Seinfeld 's George Costanza actor Jason Alexander said on his podcast, Really? No Really? , that he felt they were always a " welcoming cast ". Clearly, Armin Shimerman, himself a member of a huge ensemble cast on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , disagrees.

9 Phil Morris as Jackie Chiles

Kramer's lawyer had various star trek roles between 1966 and 1999..

Phil Morris is best known as Cosmo Kramer's long-suffering attorney, Jackie Chiles in Seinfeld , but the actor had been appearing in Star Trek since childhood . Phil Morris' first appearance was one of the children in Star Trek: The Original Series , season 1, episode 11, "Miri". Years later, Morris returned to the franchise with a small role as Cadet Foster in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Morris' young cadet asked Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) if they might get a hero's welcome, to which Kirk memorably replied " God knows, there should be. "

Star Trek: The Original Series

*Availability in US

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Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew - Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) - with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.

Phil Morris also appeared alongside the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine cast as two different characters, the Klingon warrior Thopok in "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places", and Jem'Hadar soldier Remata'Klan in "Rocks and Shoals". Phil Morris' final Star Trek role was as John Kelly, the tragic 21st century astronaut whose corpse the USS Voyager discovers in "One Small Step". Morris gave his best Star Trek performance as Kelly , delivering moving monologues that were later accessed by Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in an attempt to piece together what happened to him.

One of the starships in Star Trek: Picard season 3's Frontier Day parade was the USS John Kelly, named after Phil Morris' Star Trek: Voyager character.

Star Trek: Voyager Cast & Character Guide

In its seven seasons, Star Trek: Voyager introduced many new faces to the Trek universe. Here is a breakdown of the show's main cast and characters.

8 Voyager's Richard Herd as Mr. Wilhelm

Tom paris' dad was george costanza's supervisor in seinfeld..

Richard Herd played the recurring role of Admiral Owen Paris in Star Trek: Voyager , the disappointed father of Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and early mentor of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) . However, the maverick Tom Paris was a breeze compared to Seinfeld 's George Costanza, whom Richard Herd's Mr. Wilhelm supervised in multiple episodes of Seinfeld . Herd made his debut in Seinfeld season 6, episode 18, "The Jimmy", in which George was accused of stealing sports equipment from the New York Yankees.

Star Trek: Voyager

The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Voyager, is a sci-fi series that sees the crew of the USS Voyager on a long journey back to their home after finding themselves stranded at the far ends of the Milky Way Galaxy. Led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, the series follows the crew as they embark through truly uncharted areas of space, with new species, friends, foes, and mysteries to solve as they wrestle with the politics of a crew in a situation they've never faced before.

Mr. Wilhelm was already a fairly inept supervisor, but working with George between Seinfeld season 6 and 8 drove him insane. In Seinfeld season 8, episode 7, "The Checks", Wilhelm joined the Sunshine Carpet Cleaning cult, after George hired them to clean the carpets at Yankee Stadium. Mr. Wilhelm later returned for Seinfeld 's controversial finale , delivering damning prosecution evidence against George as he and the cast stood trial.

Richard Herd also played L'Kor in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's season 6 two-parter, "Birthright".

7 Voyager's Tom Wright as Mr. Morgan

The tuvix actor was one of george's yankees colleagues in seinfeld seasons 5 & 6..

Another of George's Yankees colleagues in Seinfeld was Mr. Morgan (Tom Wright), with whom Costanza had a series of run-ins. In his first appearance, "The Pledge Drive", Morgan is impressed by George because he eats a candy bar with a knife and fork, a decision he quickly regrets. Ultimately, George accidentally got Mr. Morgan fired with an involuntary wink in Seinfeld season 7, episode 4, "The Wink".

Tom Wright is best known to Star Trek fans as Tuvix from Star Trek: Voyager , the tragic hybrid of Neelix (Ethan Phillips) and Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ). Much like the unfortunate Mr. Morgan, Tuvix was also unceremoniously ejected from his position aboard the USS Voyager, albeit in a manner more brutal than an involuntary wink. Tom Wright later returned to the franchise as Ghrath in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4, episode 1, "Storm Front" . Ghrath was a member of the Na'kuhl, one of the powers involved in the Temporal Wars.

Rayner reveals the links between Star Trek: Discovery's time bug and a deep-cut Star Trek: Voyager enemy, tying them to the Temporal Wars.

6 TNG's Michelle Forbes as Julie

Ro laren was george costanza's girlfriend in "the big salad".

Julie (Michelle Forbes) was just one of many women who were far too good for George Costanza over the course of nine seasons of Seinfeld . In "The Big Salad", George torpedoes his relationship with Julie because he feels that she took credit for buying lunch for Elaine (Julia Louis Dreyfus). It's a typically petty move from George, and Michelle Forbes' withering delivery of the line " I just handed someone a bag " is a perfectly pitched put-down.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Julie is a minor entry in the long list of Michelle Forbes' acting roles outside Star Trek , but it's another big 1990s TV show that she can tick off her list. As well as playing Julie in Seinfeld , and Ro Laren in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Michelle Forbes also appeared in multiple episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street as Dr. Julianna Cox. With roles in three of the biggest TV shows of the 1990s, there's little wonder that Michelle Forbes is still in demand to this day .

5 DS9's Brian George as Babu Bhatt

Jerry ruined the life of dr. bashir's father..

Brian George is a well-known British-Israeli actor who has appeared in multiple cult classic shows like Quantum Leap and The X-Files , as well as beloved sitcoms like New Girl and The Big Bang Theory . In Seinfeld , Brian George played Babu Bhatt, who first appeared in "The Café" , in which he opened up a restaurant which quickly went under thanks to some unsolicited advice from Jerry. Babu later returned in "The Visa", when Jerry's attempts to make amends only led to Babu being deported. Babu was one of the many prosecution witnesses called in the Seinfeld finale's trial.

Brian George was one of many Star Trek actors who returned for the Seinfeld finale, including Teri Hatcher, Phil Morris, and Richard Herd.

Between his appearance in "The Visa" and his return for the Seinfeld finale, Brian George played Richard Bashir in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , season 5, episode 16, "Doctor Bashir, I Presume". At the end of the episode, Richard agreed to serve a prison sentence for his role in genetically augmenting Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) as a child. Brian George later returned to the franchise as O'Zaal, the Antarian ambassador who coordinated the race that Tom Paris competes in the Star Trek: Voyager episode, "Drive" .

Julian Bashir's an augment, a doctor, and a secret agent, and his best Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes encapsulate these aspects of his character.

4 Star Trek: First Contact's Jack Shearer as Mr. Tuttle

Admiral hayes' interviews george for a job in "the barber".

In a classic Seinfeld set-up, George Costanza pretends to have a job at a company after the man interviewing him, Mr. Tuttle (Jack Shearer) dismisses him mid-job interview before telling him if he's been successful. Seinfeld season 5, episode 8, "The Barber" aired a few months after Jack Shearer had made his first of many Star Trek appearances . In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1, episode 17, "The Forsaken", Shearer played the Bolian ambassador who joins Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) on a fact-finding mission to the Gamma Quadrant.

Jack Shearer later appeared in Boston Legal , which starred his Star Trek: Deep Space Nine co-star, Rene Auberjonois, and William Shatner.

Jack Shearer later played a Romulan diplomat called Ruwon, who plotted to destroy the Bajoran wormhole and Deep Space Nine to prevent the Dominion from reaching the Alpha Quadrant. Out of make-up, Jack Shearer played two different Starfleet admirals, Strickler in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Non Sequitur", and Hayes in both Star Trek: First Contact and the Voyager episodes "Hope and Fear" and "Life Line". As "Non Sequitur" takes place in an alternate reality, it may account for Jack Shearer playing two completely different admirals .

3 TNG's Elizabeth Dennehy as Allison

The drake's fiancée became the drakette in seinfeld season 4..

In Seinfeld season 4, episode 22, "The Handicap Spot", Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Elizabeth Dennehy played Allison, the fiancée of Jerry and Elaine's friend The Drake (Rick Overton) . It's a small role, given that Allison and The Drake's relationship ends in a break-up, forcing Jerry and Elaine to try and reclaim their engagement gift. Dennehy made a brief, uncredited performance as "The Drakette" in the finale of Seinfeld season 4, having reunited with her fiancé.

Elizabeth Dennehy's episode, "The Handicap Spot" marks the first appearance of Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza in Seinfeld .

To Star Trek fans, Elizabeth Dennehy is best known as Lt. Commander Elizabeth Shelby from "The Best of Both Worlds". The arch-rival of Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Shelby became Riker's Number One when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was assimilated by the Borg Collective . Shelby returned in Star Trek: Picard , becoming the second of the starship Enterprise's three female captains by commanding the USS Enterprise-F during the ill-fated Frontier Day parade.

Admiral Shelby's Elizabeth Dennehy reflects on the very different experiences she had filming Star Trek: The Next Generation vs. Star Trek: Picard.

2 DS9's Melanie Smith as Rachel

Gul dukat's daughter romanced jerry seinfeld..

Melanie Smith was the third, and longest serving, actress to play Tora Ziyal in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . From being enslaved by the Breen Confederacy to execution at the hands of Legate Damar (Casey Biggs), Ziyal had a devastating DS9 arc, with Melanie Smith playing the character in seasons 5 and 6. The tragic daughter of Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) was miles away from the character of Rachel Goldstein, who appeared in three episodes of Seinfeld .

With three appearances in Seinfeld , including a double episode, Rachel Goldstein was Jerry's longest running on-screen girlfriend in the series.

Rachel and Jerry start dating in the two-part episode "The Raincoats", in which they get caught making out during a screening of Schindler's List . Later, in the episode "The Hamptons", Rachel causes tension between George and his girlfriend Jane by casting doubt on the size of his manhood. Eventually, Rachel dumps Jerry in "The Opposite", but he's not that cut up about it, deciding that someone else will come along.

1 Seinfeld's Jason Alexander as Noum and Kurros

The george costanza actor appeared in star trek: voyager and prodigy..

Jason Alexander is best known for playing George Costanza in all nine seasons of Seinfeld . In a 2011 interview with the official Star Trek website , Jason Alexander spoke of how he was drawn to the "humor and poetry" of Star Trek 's stories. The Seinfeld star also cites William Shatner's Captain Kirk as the person who inspired him to become an actor in the first place. Knowing that he was a fan, Star Trek regularly offered Jason Alexander roles, but he turned them down because he wanted to play an alien, and not a human character.

Estelle Harris, who played George's mother in Seinfeld appeared as an unnamed Nechani woman in Star Trek: Voyager season 3, episode 7, "Sacred Ground". Heidi Swedberg, who played George's ill-fated fiancee Susan, appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Rekelen in season 2, episode 18, "Profit and Loss".

Jason Alexander finally got his wish when he was cast as Kurros in Star Trek: Voyager season 5, episode 20, "Think Tank". Kurros was part of an interspecies group of alien geniuses, who wanted to add Seven of Nine to their number. More recently, Jason Alexander has voiced the character of Lt. Noum in Star Trek: Prodigy season 1. It's unknown if Noum will return for Prodigy season 2, but it's fair to say that with two alien roles, Jason Alexander's Star Trek ambitions have been well served.

All episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy are available to stream on Netflix.

All other episodes of Star Trek are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: Prodigy is the first TV series in the Star Trek franchise marketed toward children, and one of the few animated series in the franchise. The story follows a group of young aliens who find a stolen Starfleet ship and use it to escape from the Tars Lamora prison colony where they are all held captive. Working together with the help of a holographic Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), the new crew of the USS Protostar must find their way back to the Alpha Quadrant to warn the Federation of the deadly threat that is pursuing them.

Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life's most perplexing yet often trivial questions. Often described as "a show about nothing," Seinfeld mines the humor in life's mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Co-starring is Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry's ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry's neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry's eccentric neighbor, Kramer.

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15 Worst Star Trek Episodes Of All Time
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These are the voyages ...
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WORST 10 STAR TREK EPISODES OF ALL TIME

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COMMENTS

Ranking All 79 'Star Trek: The Original Series' Episodes from Worst to
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The 15 Best Worst Episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series
10. "Spectre of the Gun". There seems to be a following for this famous episode, in which Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty and Sulu face death at the hands of the Earp brothers in a recreation of ...
Worst Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes
Worst Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes. Kirk, Spock, Abraham Lincoln and Vulcan legend Surak are pitted in battle against notorious villains from history for the purpose of helping a conscious rock creature's understanding of a concept he does not understand, "good vs. evil".
The 10 Worst Star Trek Episodes Ever According To IMDb
THE NEXT GENERATION: SUB ROSA. Occasionally, TNG would make an episode focused solely on Dr. Beverly Crusher, for better or worse. In the case of "Sub Rosa," much worse. When the Enterprise visits a colony for the funeral of her grandmother that recreates the Scottish Highlands, Beverly learns some dark family secrets .
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Paramount Television. "The City on the Edge of Forever". First aired: April 6, 1967. The hands-down best episode of "Star Trek" is a riveting tale of time travel and altered history. When ...
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Here's the final bottom 10 as decided by the fans in order of slightly-less-horrendous all the way down to the absolute pits: 10. Precious Cargo (Enterprise) 9. The Alternative Factor (Original ...
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The Worst Star Trek Episodes From Every Series. When the first episode of Star Trek: ... Season 3 of The Original Series is generally considered the least impressive, with "And the Children Shall Lead" - with a user rating of 5.2 - proving no exception. The episode has the heroes discover a Federation colony in which all the adults have ...
30 Worst Star Trek Episodes
Dax falls in love with one of the residents of a multi-dimensional planet, while on DS9 an alien requests a holosuite program of Kira from Quark. Director: Jonathan Frakes | Stars: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Terry Farrell. Votes: 2,166. 30 Worst Star Trek Episodes.
Star Trek: Original Series Episodes Ranked Best to Worst
Star Trek: Original Series Episodes Ranked Best to Worst. 1. Star Trek (1966-1969) TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi. When a temporarily insane Dr. McCoy accidentally changes history and destroys his time, Kirk and Spock follow him to prevent the disaster, but the price to do so is high.
The Best/Worst Star Trek Episodes Of All Time: The Original Series
Worst Episodes of All Time - Star Trek. "The Way to Eden". The "space hippies" episode. Spock is cool, but Kirk is an uptight authoritarian (or a "Herbert" in space hippy slang). The ending is so heavy-handed that it cracks me up every time. -Mark Bukovec. The one with the gorn, when Kirk builds a crude spear thrower out of a bush ...
25 WORST Episodes Of Star Trek EVER
Whether we can forgive these entries or not remains to be seen, but here are the 25 WORST episodes of Star Trek ever (so far!) 25. Assignment: Earth - TOS. This is a funny little episode that is ...
Every Episode of Star Trek, the original series, Ranked (with comments
The O.G. (Original Geekdom) of the Star Trek universe remains beloved by many Trek fans over and above any other series and -although I had seen most of these episodes countless times before- in watching them again for this ranking, I understood the love.. Underneath the thriftily constructed sets and bright uniforms designed to highlight this new thing called "color TV," underneath ...
Star Trek: The 10 All Time Best (And 10 Worst) Episodes, Officially Ranked
Best: In The Pale Moonlight (DS9) Deep Space Nine was a major departure from the tried-and-true Star Trek formula. With the show's dark, even bleak, tone, it wasn't afraid to explore the underbelly of the "utopian" Federation, or the horrors and devastation of war. In "In the Pale Moonlight", Sisko, desperate to bring the Romulans ...
Star Trek's 7 Best And 7 Worst Episodes Ranked
Here are Star Trek's 7 best and 7 worst episodes ever ranked. ... There are plenty of all-time great episodes of the original "Star Trek" series that could have made this list, but there is one ...
Star Trek: The 5 Best Episodes From The Original Series (& The 5 Worst
Despite being off-air for several decades, the original Star Trek series retains its place as one of the best science-fiction TV shows of all time. It set standards for modern sci-fi and became a pop culture phenomenon that has endured over the years in the form of several spin-offs, novels, and comics.. RELATED: Star Trek: 5 Reasons To Get Back To Movies (& 5 To Stick With TV Shows)
Star Trek: The 10 Worst Episodes Of The Entire Franchise, According To
Code of Honor - TNG. In episode four of Star Trek: The Next Generation, their mission was to acquire a vaccine found only on Ligon II, a planet inhabited by an all-dark-skinned tribe. The monarch there agrees to the exchange but kidnaps Lt. Natasha Yar as a consolation prize to become his wife. The queen, however, is angered by her husband's ...
Top 5 Worst Star Trek The Original Series Episodes
We've had a look at the best, now lets look at the worst. These are the 5 Worst Star Trek The Original Series Episodes.Patreon: www.patreon.com/rowanjcoleman...
Every STAR TREK Series, Ranked from Worst to Best
Here's our ranking of every Star Trek series, from worst to best. 11. Star Trek: ... Many episodes of Voyager, especially in the first few seasons, ... Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)
Ex Astris Scientia
TAS: The Slaver Weapon. This is much like a companion episode to TOS: "The Alternative Factor" because it too consists of concepts that don't fit together to a story at all. Writer Larry Niven adopted the setting and characters from his Known Space universe, which are out of place in Star Trek. The course of the plot is accordingly bumpy.
Spock's Brain: Why The 'Worst' Star Trek Episode Divides Fans
The episode has earned much disdain over the years -- it sits at a 5.6 on IMDb, making it one of the worst-ranked episodes of the show, and even Shatner and Nimoy expressed their distaste for the ...
The 10 best Star Trek: The Original Series episodes, ranked
10. Mirror, Mirror (season 2, episode 4) 9. A Taste of Armageddon (season 1, episode 24) 8. The Menagerie, Parts I and II (season 1, episodes 12 and 13) 7. The Doomsday Machine (season 2, episode ...
Worst Star Trek episodes
Worst Star Trek episodes by nystromac | created - 16 Nov 2013 | updated - 08 Apr 2016 | Public All Star Trek episodes I have rated 4 or below. Refine See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. Instant Watch Options; Genres; Movies or TV; IMDb Rating; In Theaters; Release Year;
List of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes
The series originally aired from September 1966 through June 1969 on NBC. [1] This is the first television series in the Star Trek franchise, and comprises 79 regular episodes over the series' three seasons, along with the series' original pilot episode, "The Cage". The episodes are listed in order by original air date, [2] which match the ...
Star Trek: In Defense of Enterprise's Worst Episode
The episode frequently appears on "worst episodes of all time" lists alongside "Spock's Brain" from The Original Series and Star Trek: Voyager's "Threshold."
10 Star Trek Actors In Seinfeld
Phil Morris is best known as Cosmo Kramer's long-suffering attorney, Jackie Chiles in Seinfeld, but the actor had been appearing in Star Trek since childhood.Phil Morris' first appearance was one of the children in Star Trek: The Original Series, season 1, episode 11, "Miri".Years later, Morris returned to the franchise with a small role as Cadet Foster in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.