Top 10 ALL SERIES

[JirinPanthosa]

Only ten episodes? How do I even narrow that down?

TNG: Tapestry
TNG: Best of Both Worlds
DS9: In The Pale Moonlight
TNG: The Defector
DS9: The Siege of AR-558
TOS: Balance of Terror
TOS: City On The Edge of Forever
DS9: Call To Arms
TNG: The Pegasus
DS9: Paradise Lost

[Honorable Ensign]

Ah, this was hard!

10. "I, Borg"--TNG
9. "Lower Decks"--TNG
8. "Children of Time"--DS9
7. "Observor Effect"--ENT
6. "Inner Light"--TNG
5. "Measure of a Man"--TNG
4. "City on the Edge of Forever"--TOS
3. "Duet"--DS9
2. "All Good Things..."--TNG
1. "Living Witness"--VOY

I wasn't trying to spread that between the series, but it looks like I ended up with quite a mix anyway.

[BillJ]

A Taste of Armageddon (TOS)
The Cage (TOS)
Where Silence Has Lease (TNG)
Contagion (TNG)
In the Pale Moonlight (DS9)
Death Wish (VOY)
Impulse (ENT)
The Omega Glory (TOS)
The Ultimate Computer (TOS)
Where No One Has Gone Before (TNG)

[heavy lids]

1.) Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast - DS9
2.) In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light - DS9
3.) Devil in the Dark - TOS
4.) Measure of a Man - TNG
5.) The Best of Both Worlds, pts. I and II - TNG
6.) Balance of Terror - TOS
7.) The Drumhead - TNG
8.) Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - DS9
9.) The Defector - TNG
10.) Once More Unto the Breach - DS9

[heavy lids]

4Cardassia wrote:

---

I honestly believe that the majority of Star Trek's most gripping, memorable, and thought-provoking episodes have come from Deep Space Nine. That does not mean I am unappreciative of the ground work laid by its predecessors. In fact, I became a Star Trek fan through The Original Series and later The Next Generation. However, DS9 has the record for most masterfully written, acted, and produced hours in the franchise. Here is my personal list of top 10 Star Trek episodes:


1) Tacking Into the Wind (DS9): It amazes me that this episode gets so little recognition. Perhaps it's because "Tacking" gets buried beneath the rest of the Final Chapter arc. Regardless, this is DS9 at its finest and just so happens to be my favorite episode in the franchise. In only forty-five minutes, this episode manages to capture everything that made this show great. Episode highlights include:

• Damar’s path to redemption. Seeing Damar’s transformation from drunken puppet leader to heroic freedom fighter was one of the most exciting and rewarding storylines the show ever accomplished. Nowhere is this more apparent than in “Tacking Into the Wind,” when Damar is forced to recognize Cardassia’s collective guilt and need to move forward. During the episode’s tension-filled climax, Damar kills the rigid and prejudiced Gul Rusot to protect Kira, symbolically doing away with the old Cardassian ways.
• Kira leading a Cardassian rebellion. This idea was simply a stroke of genius. Bringing Kira over to assist Damar’s Cardassian terrorist operation brings the Bajoran/Cardassian arc full circle. There’s a delicious sense of irony and poetic justice about having the Cardassians be put in the same position as the Bajorans a decade prior.
• Odo and Kira’s touching romance. While I was initially unsure about this relationship when it started back in season six, episodes like “Tacking Into the Wind” prove why Odo and Kira have the purest and most touching romance ever shown in Star Trek. By this point, Nana Visitor has already cemented herself as the best actress to ever grace Star Trek. With “Tacking Into the Wind,” she gives perhaps her best performance yet!
• Ezri’s insightful, yet frank criticism on the state of the Klingon Empire. This is surely Ezri’s finest moment.

And I can go on and on! Everything– visuals, music, acting, dialogue, and mood– seems to come together here. "Tacking Into the Wind" hangs the fates of entire interstellar civilizations precariously in the balance. Yet while the episode is set against an epic struggle for survival, the real drama remains driven by the characters and their relationships with each other.
Upon watching episodes like "Tacking Into the Wind," "The Siege of AR-558," "Chimera," and "The Changing Face of Evil," it amazes me that DS9 was able to go out on such a high note. While its contemporary series chugged along in their final seasons, cranking out one rehashed plot line after another, Deep Space Nine was busy introducing new characters, telling daring new stories, and shaking up the status quo. For anyone that needs a reminder about how great DS9 can be, check this episode out again!


2) In the Pale Moonlight (DS9): One of the most controversial episodes in the franchise, "In the Pale Moonlight" does what Deep Space Nine does best: an intense character study and ethical analysis set against a engrossingly rich and complex political backdrop. Avery Brooks is often criticized for his unique acting style, but I think he conveys Sisko's inner confliction and escalating doubt with near perfection. The sense of foreboding throughout is palpable, especially considering that the outcome will have a lasting impact on the entire Star Trek universe. This episode has an intensity that I just never saw in any of the other Star Trek series.

3) Rocks and Shoals (DS9): Once again, Deep Space Nine demonstrates its own unique brand of Star Trek. Though the Dominion War rages, DS9's writers prove that the show's focus remains on its characters, not on space battles and action sequences. Instead, the recent change in status quo during the Occupation arc is used as a means of further exploring the wonderful cast the series has assembled over the past five seasons. Director Mike Vejar provides his usual distinctive visual style which only adds to the emotional weight of the episode. Two separate stories are intertwined in this piece, both equally fascinating. Kira's descent into Dominion compliance coupled with Sisko's realization of the futility of war makes for one terrific hour of television.

4) Yesterday's Enterprise (TNG): This episode proves that TNG can be just as dramatic and compelling as DS9 when it wants to be, albeit without the lasting political consequences. Just like the episodes listed above, one of the primary strengths of "Yesterday's Enterprise" is its attention to detail. The stark militaristic feel of this war weary Starfleet is unsettling and the decision to give Tasha Yar a proper sendoff was a stroke of genius. The intriguing premise and refreshing change in style, not to mention stellar performances by all involved, make this a top contender.

5) The Changing Face of Evil (DS9): "Changing Face" is one roller coaster of an episode that will leave you breathless and cheering for more. It also further demonstrates how sweeping and cinematic the series has become. This is a thrilling hour of television full of ironies and revelations, seamlessly hopping from one storyline to another. What amazes me is that DS9 still manages to pack more character moments than any of its fellow series, despite also baring the weight of the single largest story arc ever conceived for Star Trek. Within the last ten minutes alone, viewers will experience tragic loss, stunning realizations, and an exhilarating new prospect for episodes to come.

6) The Best of Both Worlds (TNG): Star Trek's most shocking cliffhanger, "The Best of Both Worlds" retains its original thrill all these years later through use of a brilliant score, nail-biting tension, and meaty dialogue for nearly all the cast. The Borg are as terrifying as they ever will be and the reveal at the end of "Part I" opens endless possibilities. Though the conclusion to this two-parter may have been less enthralling as the beginning, it has little effect on the overall excitement of this story.

7) Call to Arms (DS9): Like TNG's "The Best of Both Worlds," this installment captures a sense of foreboding and inevitability as the Alpha Quadrant is plunged into chaos. The final act almost manages to surpass "The Best of Both Worlds" in terms of building excitement for the season to come. The problems created in "Call to Arms" seem so insurmountable that it leaves viewers unsure whether the resolution will come by next episode. Though this season finale ends with a Federation defeat, the episode comes off as a triumph in that it opens up endless new opportunities for the show's characters and setting.

8) The Visitor (DS9): Who said this show was only about war and political intrigue? This episode takes an interesting sci-fi idea and combines it with DS9's rich backstory and unique character relationships to make a true classic. “The Visitor” goes to show that high concept science fiction doesn’t have to be riddled with incomprehensible technobabble.

9) The City on the Edge of Forever (TOS): The first Star Trek episode I ever watched, "City" still impacts me as it did all those years ago. Discovery of ancient alien worlds, time travel, romance, social commentary, and a poignant conclusion—everything comes together in this episode to form a TOS classic and fan favorite.

10) The Inner Light (TNG): This episode is one of the highlights of TNG's run and transcends the science-fiction genre. Many praise it as Star Trek's greatest achievement and I certainly can see why. In the end, the haunting music and Patrick Stewart's usual acting talent is all that's needed to convey Picard’s gradual recovery and sense of loss.

All great episodes...it's so hard to narrow down your favorites. Enjoyed reading this post.

[JiNX-01]

TOS: Balance of Terror
TOS: Journey to Babel

TNG: Best of Both Worlds
TNG: The Inner Light

DS9: In the Pale Moonlight
DS9:Trials and Tribblations

VOY: Scorpion
VOY: Bride of Chaotica

ENT: In a Mirror Darkly
ENT: Similitude

[HaventGotALife]

I tried. I can't cut any of these episodes. The list feels incomplete without them.

1. The Best of Both Worlds, Part I and II (TNG) -- Many people think the first half is better, I don't think it is. There is a palpable disillusionment in the second half. Picard is dead, the weapon doesn't work, and the Enterprise has to repair itself. Where do they go from here? It is a tense episode and the stakes are as high as they can get. The resolution is fantastic--to turn their machine efficiency against them. Sleep. So easy. I love it!

2. The Measure of a Man (TNG) -- Especially with the new footage, this is much more a character piece about Data, and the implications of the law are clear--slavery. It is a wonderfully written and learned script.

3. The Cage (TOS) -- It still applies today. How many of us could be farmers today? Robots that control our society--it's here. And in a generation, the Cage may look prophetic. That said, it's wonderful storytelling as well. I actually care about Captain Pike and his speech about how we aren't meant to be in a cage--fantastic. Just masterful science fiction. The best thing Gene Roddenberry ever wrote for Star Trek.

4. Q Who? (TNG) -- Before DS9 made a whole series about it, this is the pilot of Rick Berman's Star Trek. The change in the Federation--to learn about them before we attack, trying to make peace. This is another learned script.

5. First Contact (TNG) -- Before the 6th and 7th season, this was a part of Picard's character--to be a diplomat. I like how the show is told from the point-of-view of the planet. I love the debate between the old guard and the new ideas. I love the art of diplomacy shown here in this episode. A personal favorite of mine that I have watched 10 times in the last 2 years.

6. Rocks and Shoals (DS9) -- In the middle of a war, we find out about the relationship of the Jem'Hadar to the Vorta. We find out about the enemy. And in the middle of this war, Sisko shows humanity to the enemy in ways that isn't very common in DS9. Just a masterful episode.

7. The Search, Part I and II (DS9) -- Not since the pilot had DS9 gone this big. And they do some fantastic work in this episode. The establishment of the founders and their motivations, the approach of Starfleet to this problem and the effect the Borg had on us, Sisko being successful in the mission leads to a host of new problems. It just does a lot for the series and is great storytelling.

8. Hard Time (DS9) -- Just masterful Deep Space Nine; to take the downside of Earth's paradise. This is what the show is trying to do, and I cry every time I see Miles with the phaser.

9. In the Pale Moonlight (DS9) -- This episode is the ultimate moral conundrum. Do we have a quick war or do we have a moral war? Compare this Sisko to the one in Rocks and Shoals and you will see the effect of the war.

10. Errand of Mercy (TOS) -- Before Deep Space Nine, there was Kor and the brutal Klingon Empire. While I haven't seen it in awhile, it's definitely a high-point in the series, and not only for its historical significance. It talks about the need for war to resolve differences. That blindly wishing peace on everyone doesn't solve any of their differences.

Honorable mentions:
- The Visitor (DS9) -- Makes me cry everytime I watch it.
- Emissary (DS9) -- By far, the best pilot that actually served as a pilot. I care for Sisko before it's over.
- Far Beyond the Stars (DS9) -- In the show about oppression, DS9 tells us why this series is still relevant.
- The Offspring (TNG) -- This is like "The Measure of a Man II." Wonderful episode, and again, it makes me cry when Lal finally dies.
- Darmok (TNG)-- The language barrier and the imagination to come up with that story. Just amazing.
- The Changeling (TOS) -- Kirk is fantastic and at its best staring down this totalitarian machine.

[Loci2378]

When you are looking after 700 episodes, everyone has it's own favorite list of episodes.

TOS, in my opinion, has the most (storywise) best episodes, after then TNG. VOY has it's highlights, but not even great then TOS/TNG. DS9 has a great overall storyline, but not in terms of single storys. ENT doesn't intrest me like TOS/TNG and VOY. Sadly, the show was turned down after it's going better on Season 3 and even more Season 4.

Here is my TOP 10 list:

1. The Best of Both Worlds (TNG)
2. Amok Time (TOS)
3. The City on the Edge of Forever (TOS)
4. Cause and Effect (TNG)
5. Yesterday's Enterprise (TNG)
6. All Goods Things (TNG)
7. The Doomsday Machine (TOS)
8. Mirror, Mirror (TOS)
9. Future's End (VOY)
10. Year of Hell (VOY)

[DalekJim]

1) In The Pale Moonlight (DS9)
2) The Inner Light (TNG)
3) City on the Edge of Forever (TOS)
4) The Visitor (DS9)
5) This Side of Paradise (TOS)
6) Conscience of the King (TOS)
7) Darmok (TNG)
8) Duet (DS9)
9) Far Beyond The Stars (DS9)
10) Yesterday's Enterprise (TNG)

[Windows_Me_Guy]

(1) This side of paradise (2) METAMORPHOSIS (3) for the world is hollow and i have touched the sky (4) THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME (5) the lights of zetar (6) ELAAN OF TROYIUS (7) all our yesterdays (8) THE MAN TRAP (9) the return of the archons (10) CATSPAW