Best episodes ever...

[Xhiandra]

Trying to select different types of episodes:

5. Lower Decks
A simple yet innovative premise: let's focus on the lower-ranked officers for once and observe the main crew through their eyes, beautifully executed.
Characters we barely knew (or didn't know at all) are swiftly devellopped and, by the time of the climax, we actually care about them; turning this episode into a real tearjerker.

4. The Inner Light
When Trek delves into more poetic ventures ("DS9: The Visitor"; "VOY: Blink of an Eye",...), it usually hits the mark and "The Inner Light" is no exception.

3. Darmok
A pretty thought-provoking episode, and one that lacks neither in emotion nor action.

2. Who Watches the Watchers
Smart writing, shrewd treatment of a delicate matter, engaging plot, no shortage of actual suspense, a real treat.

1. The Measure of a Man
So many themes evoked in one episode! So many allegories and layers! So many quotable lines!
Definitely some of the best writing shown on Trek (and on TV in general), expertly delivered by all involved, most of all Sir Patrick Stewart.

Ok, ok, I failed to pick different types of episodes, that's 2 emotional ones and 3 intellectual ones. Well, to my defense, that's what TNG does best, for action and humour, DS9 is where you look.
I would've needed 10, tbh.

[DanCPA]

Reading this thread has reminded me of all the great episodes.

I'm shocked that Unification isn't on any list...

[zarkon]

TighsEye wrote:

---

Reading this thread has reminded me of all the great episodes.

I'm shocked that Unification isn't on any list...

Why? Nimoy being in it is cool and all, but it's rubbish.

For my money:

1)Q Who
-The best TNG episode. Not so much for the borg - who are at their best written here, mysterious and implacable, but for the cracking dialogue between picard & q.
2)The Survivors
-Amazing concept, incredibly well acted out by the guest stars. The final confrontation between picard and kevin still sends a chill down my spine.
3)Measure of a Man
- Another brilliant concept, and both picard & rikers legal presentations are great. Riker closing his with a Farpoint pinnochio callback was fantastic. Spiner played data's reactions to events very well.
4)The Nth Degree
"No problem, here's how to build one"
5)Reunion
-Was close between this, 11001001 and All Good Things, but in the end, the great work started with Sins of the Father was magnified here, and worf's surprising, but in the end logical (for him) decision regarding duras just about tips it over to my top 5. Shame they never did anything with the kid he ends up with

[Midas]

I was always partial to "The Ensigns of Command".