Bottle Episodes

[stardream]

Trying to wrap my head around the concept of a 'bottle' episode. I've heard the term tossed around and as far as I can figure out it is an episode that takes place entirely on the ship. I've seen the following list.

Season 1
Parallax
The Cloud
Eye of the Needle
Jetrel
Learning Curve

Season 2
Projections
Elogium"
Twisted"
Meld"
The Swarm

Season 5
Someone to Watch Over Me

Season 7
Q2

I would think there would be a few more in there. Wouldn't Worst Case Scenario fit the criteria? It takes place on the ship. For that matter how about The Killing Game or One? Nothing Human...How about Lineage and Repression?

Does it also mean that a casual viewer watching an episode would be able to follow along without knowing a lot of the background of the show?

 

[Triskelion]

Put simply, they were the shows that got budget cuts in order to pump up the sweeps shows. I think "taking place on the ship" means no outside or on-location shots, and fewer FX. So I don't think "The Killing Game" would qualify. I remember one of the DVD extra tracks mentioned doing more jury-rigged type effects for these episodes. I think "Worst Case Scenario" would qualify.

As for newbies being able to follow along a bottle episode, I suppose it would make sense figuring out an episode like "Learning Curve" over one of Voyager's many "serious" efforts like "Dark Frontier" or "Equinox", or goodness no, a "Tuvix" or "Threshold".

Not sure if "bottle" refers to bookending better episodes or going inside the ship in the bottle, showing up to work drunk, or watching it drunk, or all of the above.

 

[Zek]

Not sure if "bottle" refers to bookending better episodes or going inside the ship in the bottle, showing up to work drunk, or watching it drunk, or all of the above.

I once had similar questions about bottle shows that OP had asked. I cannot remember where I read this but while educating myself on them the article had confirmed the name comes from the "ship in a bottle" idea.

 

[hux]

To me, a Voyager bottle episode is one that takes place exclusively on the ship but that doesn't necessarily mean only filmed on the ships set.

For example, I'd say the Fairhaven episodes are Voyager bottle episodes because "technically" they take place solely on the ship.

Some are better than others. Heroes and Demons is a a bottle episode but not that brilliant.

My favourite is probably Twisted.

 

[stardream]

To me, a Voyager bottle episode is one that takes place exclusively on the ship but that doesn't necessarily mean only filmed on the ships set.

For example, I'd say the Fairhaven episodes are Voyager bottle episodes because "technically" they take place solely on the ship.

Some are better than others. Heroes and Demons is a a bottle episode but not that brilliant.

My favourite is probably Twisted.

How could I forget Fair Haven! I would think that and Spirit Folk would count.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

How could I forget Fair Haven! I would think that and Spirit Folk would count.

I've tried very hard to forget them.

 

[stardream]

How could I forget Fair Haven! I would think that and Spirit Folk would count.

I've tried very hard to forget them.

Maybe that's what I was trying to do. It almost worked.

So a bottle episode is not necessarily the same thing as a 'filler' episode?

 

[Catarina]

Killing game is not a bottle show. The fx budget...$$$.

Bottle shows also tend to have less story value but there are some bottle shows I love.

 

[The Caretaker]

The definition of a bottle show is one that takes place entirely on pre-existing sets, and therefore requires no on location shooting or additional sets being built to accommodate production, hence them being budget saving episodes. The Irish holodeck episodes are therefore not bottle shows.

 

[hux]

That's the real world definition of a bottle episode. In universe, a bottle episode could simply be a show where the crew don't leave the ship (which would include Fairhaven episodes).

 

[RoJoHen]

The definition of a bottle show is one that takes place entirely on pre-existing sets, and therefore requires no on location shooting or additional sets being built to accommodate production, hence them being budget saving episodes. The Irish holodeck episodes are therefore not bottle shows.

Indeed. The whole point of a bottle episode is that it uses stuff you already have laying around.

 

[Amaraen]

I had never heard the phrase "bottle episode" before. Thank you for explaining it, now it will be something interesting to watch for.

I do not believe that being a "bottle episode" will automatically mean that an episode is inferior. Sometimes, by not being able to rely on special effects or extra budget scenes, they are required to rely on acting/directing and an interesting story. Not to say that always happens ...

 

[RoJoHen]

I do not believe that being a "bottle episode" will automatically mean that an episode is inferior. Sometimes, by not being able to rely on special effects or extra budget scenes, they are required to rely on acting/directing and an interesting story. Not to say that always happens ...

Absolutely. Some of my favorite episodes from many shows have been bottle episodes.

 

[Melakon]

One of the best bottle episodes ever is TNG: The Drumhead.

 

[Thomas Eugene]

Is The Gift a bottle episode then? Or is it not because we can see a few seconds of Kes being aboard that shuttle, not aboard Voyager?

In any case, I think it's one of the better episodes.

 

[stardream]

Is The Gift a bottle episode then? Or is it not because we can see a few seconds of Kes being aboard that shuttle, not aboard Voyager?

In any case, I think it's one of the better episodes.

I just watched that. They had the weird special effects where she 'changed' the molecular structure of objects and when she turned all ghosty.... There were explosions in the corridor and a shuttle exploded. Don't know how much all of that 'counts'.

 

[arch101]

The definition of a bottle show is one that takes place entirely on pre-existing sets, and therefore requires no on location shooting or additional sets being built to accommodate production, hence them being budget saving episodes. The Irish holodeck episodes are therefore not bottle shows.

Yep. After becoming familiar with the concept years ago with Trek, I now enjoy noting when other shows do this. Like when ER would do an entire ep just in the ER or when Big Bang Theory spends a whole show in the boys apartment. These shows are usually cheaper and quicker to make. Budget savers.
On Trek, I used to notice Bottle Shows would happen around eps with lots of location shoots or big special effects extravaganzas. Save a bit here, spend it over there. TV accounting. I always wondered if they planned in advance just how many Bottle Shows they needed each season to make budget?

 

[Seven of Five]

I imagine so. Although perhaps sometimes they would have to have a quick turnaround on a bottle episode towards the end of the season if they went over budget at some point?

I think that's what happened with Shades of Gray on TNG, after going severely over budget at some point.

EDIT: Found a list of bottle shows from Memory Alpha, which for some reason I'm having trouble making a link to the actual article?

It also has some bits from interviews over the years regarding bottle shows.

Anyway what I was going to say is that bottle episodes are sometimes some of the best of the year, and trump the more expensive episodes.

The following episodes are considered bottle shows:

TOS:
"The Naked Time"
"The Doomsday Machine"

TNG:
"Lonely Among Us"
"Where Silence Has Lease"
"Shades of Gray"
"A Matter of Perspective"
"The Offspring"
"Suddenly Human"
"Clues"
"The Drumhead"
"Conundrum"
"Force of Nature"
"Lower Decks"
"Eye of the Beholder"

DS9:
"The Forsaken"
"Duet"
"Invasive Procedures"
"Cardassians"
"Melora"
"Whispers"
"The Wire"
"Civil Defense"
"Visionary"
"Distant Voices"
"Explorers"
"Facets"
"Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
"In the Cards"
"Time's Orphan"

VOY:
"Parallax"
"The Cloud"
"Eye of the Needle"
"Jetrel"
"Learning Curve"
"Projections"
"Elogium"
"Twisted"
"Meld"
"The Swarm"
"Someone to Watch Over Me"
"Q2"

ENT:
"Shuttlepod One"
"Dead Stop"
"A Night in Sickbay"
"Doctor's Orders"
"Similitude"
"Daedalus"
"Observer Effect"

 

[The Caretaker]

Time's Orphan was definitely not a bottle show, it had location filming on "Molly's planet". I remember reading that The Assignment was produced as a bottle show as it was made to save money for Trials & Tribble-ations.

 

[Amaraen]

Does it count as a bottle episode if they have to hire a guest actor/actress?

How is "A Matter of Perspective" a bottle episode? Did they not have sets on the holodeck from the research station? "Eye of the Beholder" also seemed to have new sets with the nacelle.